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

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!

Very warm and cozy location. Staff is very friendly and profesional. Amazing food and fair prices.

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.

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 🙌🏾😁

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!

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!

Nice little on the way in Canterbury from Canterbury West station. Very friendly staff and lovely cafe. We had breakfast/brunch and ordered the Rancher and the House Smoked Salmon and Avo with two tea. Very good and different from your normal breakfast offerings. Worth a visit.

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!

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.

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.

My wife, kids, and I stayed in UK for an entire week for vacation and spent all of our time in London, Brighton, and Canterbury and this was the best meal by far that we had during our time in the UK. Their spirits and beers are brewed and distilled in-house and are all delicious! I highly recommend getting a flight of the infused gins and try a few half pints of their beers. It's all delicious. I personally had the Cajun chicken burger. 10/10 would definitely eat here again given the chance.

The Foundry Brewpub is a good option for a Saturday afternoon. Perfectly acceptable, really. The food? Decent enough and good value for what you get. But here’s the thing—it just felt like it was missing that little spark. You know, the vibe that makes you want to settle in for a few hours and soak it all up. The atmosphere was a bit flat for my taste, but maybe I caught it on an off day. It’s certainly not unpleasant, just not exactly brimming with character. However, there’s one thing that will definitely leave an impression—the toilets. Oh yes, the mysterious “combo trap.” I won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say navigating the facilities here is an experience in itself.

Excellent brewpub with a large selection of beers, four on cask the remaining 11 on keg. Great atmosphere and great beer. They also have a large selection of spirits distilled on site. I had the tasting paddle of 5 different beers in one third measures then tried 25ml of their single malt whisky. The Foundry black was my favourite beer and the whisky was delicious. I didn't eat here but the food served at the table next to me looked and smelt good. The staff were friendly, helpful and very efficient at their job. I'm very tempted to book myself on a tour next time I come to Canterbury.

Very nice brewery/pub. Friendly service! They looked well after us. Food was good, pubfood, not perfect. I bet the brisket hadn’t been smoked for 8 hours. It was tasty though. The beer tasting menu was very nice. Maybe better not served all at once.

We had a lovely dinner with the family. Very child friendly restaurant. The ambiance and food are fantastic! We highly recommend the Beef Wellington. Their home made ice-cream is delicious too. Definitely recommend!!!

Some of the best dishes I have ever tasted. A beautiful setting, attentive staff. Great wine list with plenty of affordable options by the glass, designed for experimentation. But the food is by far the brightest star. The savoury blue cheese cheesecake with beetroot jam is the most stunning dish I have tasted this year; and the flavour will be something I remember for years to come. Everything was excellent, but also deserving of special mention was the dark chocolate torte with hazelnuts blackberry sorbet. A stunning mixture of flavours, executed perfectly.

We had Sunday Roast here. The chicken was grilled to perfection. The beef was also very tasty but one piece tasted like lamb(?). Portions not that big, but in the end big enough. The Lager beer tasted like a top fermented beer but was good. Dessert then really made this meal perfect, especially the sticky toffee pudding! Coffee a bit too acidic for my taste.

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!

Got the Mushroom Fettuccine, a Gin Cocktail with elderflower and shared a sticky toffee pudding. The food was so good, with good portions that were not too large. The sticky toffee pudding was heavenly! The service and ambience were also excellent, our servers were quick to give us recommendations and were warm and friendly. Would definitely come back when we are in Canterbury again!

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.

El Sol is a fantastic find near the cathedral, offering a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere. The paella is a must-try—worth the wait and absolutely delicious. The tapas were also top-notch, showcasing a variety of traditional Spanish flavors. The service was outstanding, with friendly and attentive staff who made the experience even better. Whether you're nearby or just passing through, El Sol is well worth a visit.

This restaurant is great with lovely Tapas and a very cosy feel. Really enjoyed the octopus, the chorizo and fab padron peppers. Took 1 star off as when it's busy, it's a bit tight for space. Our table on 15th November was right next to the bar area where everyone waits for their table. Try the food though!

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

Friendly staff, fun decor and delicious food. First time visiting and am new to Mexican foods so the staff helped me understand the menu items better to make my choice. Went for the spinach leek and cheese tacos and they were so good and paired wonderfully with the beans and guac. Excited to return and try more!

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!

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:)

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!

Wow, what an amazing experience. Came here for our 23rd anniversary meal, and went for the 12 course tasting menus with matched wines. After the first couple of courses I was a little worried that we would not be full by the end, but by the end of the tenth course we were both struggling to take another bite. Had the food not been so good, we may have given up, but it was amazing and we persevered, and now we are both uncomfortably full but so happy with what we have eaten. The service was impeccable, you rarely get it so good in this country. The food was rich, delicious and wholesome, and varied enough to keep the most eclectic palate happy. The wines were incredibly well paired, and each one delicious in their own right, but elevated to another level with the paired food. It is a little off the beaten track, but worth going out of your way to find. No regrets at all with choosing this marvellous restaurant, we will be singing praises to our friends and family and would heartily recommend to anyone.

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!

Absolutely amazing! A real italien restaurant with so much flavours.The staff is lovely and the food is really tasty. A nice choice of dishes - much enough to hesitate. We really enjoyed our venue (and we are french so imagine haha) We really recommend the wine as they it is served in a lovely glass and start with the focaccia it brings you directly in Italy Price is aligned with the quality of the food

Really pretty dining room and nice and friendly environment. Classy but also comfortable. Very nice meal but we were waiting for almost 1 hour to get our food and had to order a couple of things twice because one of the waiters seemed a bit new and kept forgetting it. I highly recommend ordering desert, they are a true work of art and delicious as well.

Absolutely amazing. From the moment we walked in the atmosphere was warm, friendly and welcoming. We were served by two fabulous, friendly people! The food! Wow. From the bread and olives to the ravioli, red mullet and sea food stew, not to mention to delicious panacota with mascapone and the fantastic cheese board. We cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. We will be back 🤗😊

Went as a couple. Didn't realize they open at 18:30 so we were just a little early. So if you do want an early dinner do consider this. The sitting area is upstairs. I couldn't tell if they have a lift so something to consider if you have mobility issues. We got to pick the table as we were the first to arrive.Waiters were attentive throughout our meal. The meal itself was lovely and beautifully presented, but I would say portion wise you probably need a starter, main sides or deserts to fill you up. This does mean the bill adds up. So would recommend it but be prepared to dig a little deeper into your pockets if you want to go away satisfied