The Best Restaurants in Bekesbourne, Kent, United Kingdom (2025)

It was a welcoming and wonderful experience, I planned a surprise dinner for my partner with friends. Gabe helped me out big time, pulled off the surprise and helped set up the table with decorations. The restaurant was beautifully presented, and the cocktails were amazing! Thank you for making the experience memorable, Gabe 🙌🏾😁

Las Iguanas is hands down the best place to go for a fun, vibrant dining experience! From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was buzzing with energy, and the staff were beyond amazing.They were so lovely, friendly, and attentive throughout the entire evening, making us feel right at home. Now, let’s talk about the cocktails! They have an incredible selection, but the piña colada is an absolute standout—perfectly blended, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweetness. Easily one of the best I’ve ever had! The happy hour deals are also fantastic, making it the perfect spot to unwind with friends or celebrate a special occasion. On top of that, the food was delicious with a great variety of flavors and dishes to choose from. It’s clear that Las Iguanas puts a lot of thought and effort into every part of the experience, from the quality of the drinks to the warm, welcoming service. Whether you're popping in for cocktails or a full meal, this place never disappoints. I can’t recommend it enough this is truly the best spot in town for great food, amazing drinks, and outstanding service. I’ll definitely be back!

Didn’t have any food. However the drinks are great and 2 for 1 is even better! Staff are friendly and easy to talk to.

Came as a group of 5 to celebrate my sisters birthday. We had the bottomless brunch which was absolutely brilliant! Our server Lucian was on it making sure we always had drinks. He was a good laugh and service was quick. Thanks Lucian and Las Iguanas - we'll be back for sure!

Incredible food, lovely staff an overall really comfortable dining experience. Highly recommend for a quick breakfast, brunch or lunch. My companions had their meals prior, but the staff were happy to offer just the sides and a drink without any fuss. Perfectly situated along the way to Canterbury cathedral and surrounding areas.

Absolutely adore this place! Me and my partner were so happy we found this during our trip and had become a firm favourite! Will definitely be back next time we’re in the area! Food is absolutely delicious, the atmosphere is lovely with the roaring fire on a cold November morning. The best eggs we’ve had in the UK, and my other half says the French toast with the honeycomb butter is to die for!

My friend and I came to this place for a quick lunch. We both ordered a bacon and chicken toast and it tastes really good - probably some of the best toasts I’ve ever had in the UK. The breads are perfectly toasted and delicious - definitely a hidden gem. The price is quite reasonable too.

I had the best breakfast here since the beginning of my stay in the UK. I rate the whole experience very good. The service was nice and helpful. We didn't wait long after placing the order. The dishes were wonderful - fresh, tasty, pleasing to the eye and palate. Compliments to the chef. Delicious coffee. I will definitely come back here, even though the queue in front of the entrance is not getting shorter 😄 It's really worth it!

Fabulous fresh and delicious food - the shiro was as good as I’ve had, lovely injera with a perfect sour tang, and the coffee with full ceremony is a joy. Best new place in Canterbury.

Been a few times to this great little restaurant. The food is outstanding, try one of their mixed plates with injeera bread and a tasty Asmara beer.

An absolute hidden gem! Incredible flavours and textures, a proper foodie experience and very friendly staff. Eat here, tonight!

Great food in an amazing location close to the Canterbury Cathedral. The restaurant is a fusion between classic dishes (you can find pizza, pasta, burgers) and Romanian cuisine. Romanian cuisine focuses on good meat and good quality ingredients, if you want to try some authentic dishes I would recommend the smoked aubergine salad, mititei and for dessert the Dracula's heart (actually called papanași, freshly made in the kitchen, the waiting is worthwhile). The service is very friendly and helpful and the restaurant looks amazing!

We went to La Cabana on graduation day, and we were lucky that they had tables free for us and seated us very quickly. The staff were lovely and very accommodating. The food was really tasty and great portion sizes! The atmosphere was great, with a nice intimate restaurant with great music. We would definitely come again, and would absolutely recommend to go to!

Fabulous pub! We went with friends on Sunday and had the delicious Sunday Roast. It was really great. We particularly loved the Cheesy Leeks and the Yorkshire Pud. The beef was perfectly cooked. Can't wait to go back!

Just had a wonderful Sunday roast. Even tho we didn't book, they found us a teeny table! The pub was heaving, the atmosphere great, the food amazing... fantastic roast beef with loads of veggies, deliscious Yorkshire puddings, gravy, cheesy leeks, carrots, parsnips, roast tatties... very good indeed!! Thank you very much!

Absolute little hidden gem. The Food is always delicious. Generous portions too and always consistent with quality. ROAST DINNERS ARE A MUST HAVE. There's nothing better than a pub with a brilliant work force behind it. Emma and her great team are amazing.

If you want a friendly country pub for a good quality meal you will struggle to beat the Mermaid. The warm cosy setting inside is enhanced by the lovely friendly welcome from staff and the other customers. We only called in for a drink, but stayed for food because of the atmosphere inside. The food choice is limited, but that means what is offered is great quality food. We had the fish and chips and the pie and mash, which was all beautifully cooked and presented. We had our dog with us and she also enjoyed the fuss from customers and the other four legged visitors in the pub. This is a proper country pub, like many villages used to have. We hope it never changes and will be back again soon. Thank you to the staff and customers for making this such a splendid pub.

What an amazing culinary experience! Excellent Food! Excellent Service! Excellent Value! £45 for the set menu which ended up being six courses, every course cooked and presented to perfection! Best ever dining experience! Thank you 🙏🏻

We have dined here for a special occasion. The fire place was on and it added to overall atmosphere. We went for a longer menu. It was one of the best meals of our lives. Especially the lobster was just amazing. Every little piece was perfectly executed and balanced. Oysters were delicious as well. And the wine selection is very extensive.

The food was exceptional as was the wine selection which included a number of English vineyards. We chose the â la carte menu and were very pleased with the choices. I suppose the only comment we would make is that it's basically a pub albeit an elevated one and the service reflects that. Which doesn't mean that anyone was rude - far from it - but there was a fair bit of shouting and loud talking in/out of the kitchen and up/down the bar. My expectation when paying £75pp is that the staff would perhaps be a little more circumspect but in no way did it detract from the absolutely amazing food.

I had a wonderful time at the Fordwich Arms. The food was delicious and the staff very kind! I had the Hake, The Quail, the pistachio and raspberry tart. My fiancé got the Pork instead of the Hake.

We had a lovely time here. The lamb dish was our absolute favourite but the others were all very good as well. Would definitely recommend and can't wait to come back!

Went to Canterbury and found this lovely restaurant by the river. Sat outside and all I can say is wow. Special set menu Monday - Friday in the day, very reasonable for the quality. Had one of the best beef carpaccio’s I’ve eaten (best was in Paris) and then a cracking nduja/salami wood fired pizza that I only just finished… shame to waste amazing food. One of the nicest menu’s I’ve seen in a while… fancied everything. The service also gets a special mention (lady with the smile and braces) couldn’t have done more for us and you can tell they had been trained well. Highly recommend if you come to Canterbury… inside good vibes and good music. Best to book especially at weekends. Happy Eating :)

We sat outside under the heaters and beside the stream. In spite of being the only ones outside the servers were responsive and attentive. The food was nice but did not blow us away. For the price we were very happy with our lunch.

Great Mexican! Super yummy food & nice vibe. Been my fave spot for years while I lived in Canterbury. Came back 5 years later & it’s still the same great quality food, full of flavors. Funky art on the wall is for sale too! Thank you:)

Great food, quick and friendly service with a cosy ambience. The Lamb Stew that I had was delicious and the accompanying salsa was fresh with the right amount of spice. Left feeling full and Happy!

Cafe Des Amis is always a favourite place to go in Canterbury, the food is always good, service is prompt and the cocktails are so good. Definitely recommend booking as it can get really busy. I never walk away from here disappointed

This is the best meal I’ve had in Canterbury and I understand why this restaurant has lasted so long. It’s one of the busiest restaurants too so you do have to book (it was packed even on a dreary February weekday ). The decor is colourful and wonderfully eccentric. Every member of the staff was warm and friendly despite the fact that they were very busy. I ordered a chicken fajita which came with generous, fresh portions of everything and deliciously cooked chicken. It’s worth noting that although the menu shows fajita for two that can also do single portions on request (I nearly didn’t have one at all because I don’t know this). Other members in the party all complemented the food. Overall it was excellent and I strongly recommend it.

I have been visiting The Cook’s Tale for at least eight years now and I always have a wonderful experience. The food is simply delicious! It's fine dining quality at a mid-range price. If you are able to take advantage of one of their monthly deals, it's insanely good value for money. The service has always been very attentive. As a vegetarian I love the quantity and variety of vegetarian dishes - it's clear they aren't some afterthought. Something else that I really appreciate about The Cook’s Tale is that unlike many other restaurants in a similar price range they don't automatically add gratuity to the bill, it's left to you to decide how much you want to tip. If you are considering visiting The Cook’s Tale, stop thinking and go now! You won't regret it.

My husband and I booked for the Indian high tea. It was on an offer and we love high tea, so we figured we would try it. It was all so amazing. There was a tone of variety of both sweet and savoury and the masala chai tea we got was very nice. The service was quick and attentive. Such a fun and unique twist- our favourite was the spiced chocolate cake and the potato sandwich. We cleaned our plates!

We had a wonderful lunch at The Cook's Tale Restaurant in Canterbury! As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by Asher, our host, who was friendly, welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the menu. He made sure our dietary requirements were carefully addressed and guided us through the options. We opted for the Meat and Vegetarian Thali, and both were absolutely delicious — full of vibrant flavors and beautifully presented. What truly stood out was the exceptional service. During our meal, Chef Alfie came over to check on us, asking if we were enjoying our food and if we had any feedback. It was a lovely personal touch that made the experience even more memorable. The restaurant itself had a cosy, festive atmosphere, with Christmas decorations adding a warm touch to the environment. Overall, a fantastic dining experience, with excellent food, great service, and a welcoming ambience. Highly recommended!

Wonderful cuisine with amazing flavours and loads of tasty surprises. If you want a 5 star experience don't forget to book well in advance. Knowledgeable and friendly staff complete the experience. Not your average spice house. One of the best I have ever tasted. Enjoy !!

Staying in a nearby hotel for Christmas but had to come here as have heard so much about it. A few pubs in Bridge and this one seemed certainly very nice but typical of a good country pub. BUT tried only a bar snack and thought YES I get it. I want to come back and have a meal soon.

The food was faultless - the crab starter was beautiful, my partner said the trout starter was the best trout he’d ever had and then the roast beef lunch was sensational. The young lady that served us was also lovely, so friendly and professional - refreshing. Would wholeheartedly recommend and this was my 234th Michelin meal so feel I can say that it was super! Credit to the team and a lovely pub setting

The locals must wonder what they did to deserve such a local restaurant. Serves exemplary one star cooking, with creative starters and generous meat sharing mains. Comfortable pub atmosphere.