The Best Restaurants in Kingston, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Keep it simple, a selection of pasties, a sausage roll, and a steak pie, plus some good cider/beer. Served from a hatch which does admittedly cause a bit of a queue, but eaten on tables outside in the sun was worth the wait. Don't miss sticking your head inside to the museum room on the far left and the atmospheric lounge on the right.

Is nice pub to be there after a bit hiking around Dancing ledge, a lot britains goes there to have a glass of beer 🍺, nice talking, good view. Also they have a small museum about fósils found around. They hay a good variety local beers 🍻 simple but nice taste traditional food.

After a lovely sunny walk we ended up at the Square & Compass. We had an ale and mulled cider with a steak pasty and a chicken leek and bacon pie. Service was quick and the staff were polite and friendly. We sat in one of the snugs. The whole place is a living museum and you step back in time once you cross the threshold. Service is through a hatch in line with the entrance, it became very congested very quickly with only a few people being present. Not so easy to navigate once you add a tray with drinks and food on it.

Excellent and very popular pub in a very pretty little village. Has excellent views from the front seating area to the sea. There are quite a few footpaths that converge in the area so it is very popular with walkers. The food is excellent, and it has a tiny, and very strange little museum.

Went for a Sunday roast. Options beef, chicken or pork with all the trimmings. Puddings were lovely, cherry pie and custard and 3 scoops of ice cream… there were more but the cherry pie got me. Large seating area inside with nice decor and large bar. They also allow well behaved dogs. Seating outside also available. Would recommend booking .

A wonderful Christmas dinner experience celebrating my mother in law's 80th birthday. There were 15 of us, we ordered before the day and the food came out all together, piping hot and well presented. If anything there was too much food, the portions were very large. We had no space for the delicious looking mince pies that arrived after dessert so we asked for a box and took them home! Everybody said how delicious there food was. I had soup and the pie both delicious. Such a lovely night and very helpful staff.

Stayed at the caravan site, tried a meal on our first night as couldn't be bothered to drive out, pay for parking and search for a pub on a Monday night when all restaurants are closed in Swanage! (Mid Sept 22), had a great steak, season to perfection and partner had whole sea bass so went back 3 nights out of 4n there! lasagne one night great, homemade, and curry's good for £11 Inc prawn crackers

Went to the salt pig last night. Great service and great atmosphere. Locally sourced ingredients and everything tasted vibrant, fresh and well cooked . 10/10

Me and my wife came here for dinner on New Year’s Eve, it was the perfect way to celebrate the year. The food was excellent and we loved watching the chef cook over the coals before plating up. The service was great and all the staff were super friendly, the whole restaurant had a great atmosphere. We’ve been here for breakfast and coffees on many occasions, but will definitely be back for dinner in the future. I would highly recommend a visit!

10/10 on all accounts! Fantastic menu, quality meat cooked to perfection and amazing presentation and flavours, kind and helpful staff. I had the steak and also tried the pulled pork and pork chop, the whole group were beyond happy! Pulled pork had amazing flavour. Desert was delightful too. Highly recommend this restaurant and as a big foodie, I'd invest in opening one up in my hometown if I could! Come to Oxford please!!

Lovely old pub in Swanage High Street. Absolutely fantastic food and great beer/wine at very reasonable prices. Menu specials vary day to day .You need to book a table if you want to eat.

I visited the Black Swan Inn with my large family for a meal on Sunday and we all absolutely loved it. The food was delicious, the service was 10/10 and the chef even came out twice (unrequested) to chat to us about different food intolerances. It was such a friendly atmosphere and the garden is a beautiful sun trap! We will 100% be back!

I was recommended this pub by a local and they were so right about the good food - in my opinion. The staff were friendly and knew the menu well and could recommend which ciders were best too. You do need to book ahead as they are well known for good food and therefore usually booked up. I chose Fish Pie with vegetables and Tiramisu and I enjoyed both. The perfect meal for my last night in Swanage and I'll be going back next year - when I stay in Swanage again, that's for sure.

Went to this pub in Swanage and I wasn't disappointed. The food was fantastic and the staff were great. Good value for the whole meal (8 people). I had the lamb shank with mashed potatoes, vegetables with a lovely ju. For dessert I got the Bailey New York cheese cake, with ice-cream. I would definitely recommend it.

We booked Sunday Lunch at the Manor. It was lovely menu and the food was presented beautifully. Yes staff were very attentive and polite. The parking was good and on site. I would recommend booking for Sunday but be prepared for a really special experience.

Had a lovely dinner here and would highly recommend. All the staff were very welcoming and friendly and they were very happy to let us bring our dog as well. Food was delicious and a good range of options as well for vegetarians. Beautiful building as well! 👌

I had lunch at the restaurant of Mortons Manor after a nice walk from Wareham to Corfe Castle. The hotel is located close to the entrance of the castle and has a parking lot, which is very useful in the small (and beautiful) town. The service was great and the food really good Also, prices are fair, particularly if you consider the quality of the ingredients. I definitely recommend this place.

I had the pleasure of being served by Catherine during my recent visit to Bill's Restaurant, and she truly made the experience exceptional. From the moment we arrived, Catherine greeted us with a warm smile and a genuine, welcoming attitude. She was attentive without being overbearing, ensuring that our drinks and food arrived promptly and exactly how we had ordered. Her knowledge of the menu was impressive, and she made some great recommendations based on our preferences, which we really appreciated. Throughout the meal, Catherine checked in just the right amount, making sure we were comfortable and enjoying everything. It's clear she takes great pride in her work and truly cares about her guests' experience. Thanks to her excellent service, we had a fantastic dining experience at Bill's and will definitely be back. Catherine is a true asset to the team, and we look forward to seeing her again on our next visit!

This is maybe the third time I’m visiting this place and I can definitely say it’s worth visiting 10000%. The food is AMAZING, the portions are large and the prices are good. I recommend the two ways truffle chicken and as a side macaroni and cheese! Also the calamari is great here! The service never disappoints! All the times we were served, we were served by lonely and kind people! They are always attentive, checking on us frequently and asking if there is anything we need! Shout out to Catherine, she was very kind and attentive! The atmosphere is amazing! It is by the river and it has a beautiful view! Worth visiting! PS/ Students that have UNiDAYS get 20% off on Friday-Sunday❤️

Food is amazing. Specials food menu and new cocktails are a must try. The entire kingston team is absolute gem. Shai is an energy pack, she makes everyone happy and evenings are absolutely magical in her presence ❤️

Really nice place to be..food was very delicious..service was 5 star attention to details…definitely a place to be for nice dinner…only drawback is choice of whiskey’s is very limited

Excellent find. Food was excellent. Welcoming and friendly staff. Would highly recommend. Only thing I’d say is that they probably need more staff as it seemed really popular. Thank you. A lovely special meal on the last night of our Purbeck holiday.

Great food. Very generous portions. Was delicious. Everything had a lot of flavour and was so well priced. Would definitely recommend and very good value for money.

Absolutely stunning place in Swanage. In fact one of the nicest places we’ve visited during our visit whilst staying at Poole. Beautiful views over the harbour, great drinks and food menu, staff are all lovely and very attentive. Dog friendly. Can’t say enough nice things.

We came one night for a drink and some oysters and promptly came back for dinner the next night. Gorgeous views, fresh seafood and young, friendly staff. Definitely worth a visit 😊

This was such a lovely stop in Swanage. The highlight of the day was sitting and enjoying the view here with a nicely composed cocktail. I would definitely prioritise visiting this place especially when the sun comes out!

Second time we’ve had lunch here coming by JetSki. The views are perfect and the staff attentive. We really enjoyed the food and were pleasantly surprised by the standard of it. It’s surprisingly hard to a find a decent standard of food these days at a fair price and this place does a great job and with a young team too.

Superb dramatic ruined castle in a beautiful setting, towering over the picturesque village that shares its name. The castle's grey stone walls date back 1,000 years, and their imposing presence contrasts with uplifting views across the surrounding hills and heathland. Information boards reveal more about the castle's history as you walk around the site, and there's a small visitor centre with a café, gift shop and toilets just outside the grounds. The castle is open all year round except over Christmas, and the price of entry is reasonable for such an iconic place. Dogs on leads are welcome. There's free parking just outside the castle grounds at the edge of the village. Be sure to take a walk around the village as part of your visit, it's one of the prettiest in the UK and connected by heritage railway. There's a great view of the castle from the small hill immediately to the west - definitely worth the walk up.

It is a really nice visit because it isn't only the ruins of the castle that you are visiting but the village and surroundings. It has a car park and a restaurant so you start from there crossing the big road and going up smoothly. It is a really nice walk and the views are extraordinary. There are activities for children and a historical walk through the demolished walls of the castle. Very good information about the history and recreation. In the village there are very pretty houses, independent shops and restaurants.

Great way to spend a couple of hours if you are passing, wish there was more information boards around the place as its quite interesting seeing the history along with the destruction, Corfe is also nice too, little museum by the entrance run by the parish council and is free. Parking is a bit mare though especially with the narrow streets. Horses form courses though.

A castle where you can fully explore at your own pace enjoying both the history and outstanding views over the local area. There is a national trust car park a short walk away, but it's worth noting this fills up quickly in the summer months. Car parking is limited to 4 hours for non-members. If you are a member parking time isn't limited, so it's perfect to go on a walk, as well as explore the castle and village.

Went as part of a group for a lunch at opening time. Considering we were unannounced the staff were brilliant. Food was served pretty quickly, tasted amazing and was good value. Definitely plan to visit again when next in swanage

On holiday in Swanage and had a lovely meal. I had calamari for starters they were so fresh and delicious. My husband is vegan and his needs were catered for too. The portions were very generous and service fantastic. Really enjoyed our meal.

A fantastic restaurant with great food and excellent service. Their pizza is especially outstanding. The cocktails and beers were lovely and everyone was very friendly. Warmly recommended.