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

Recently opened restaurant offering lots of real (I mean REAL) authentic South Asian cuisine for a reasonable price. They offered really good suggestions on their menu which were tasty and as close as possible to buying from a restaurant in Sri Lanka. The owner suggested some really good cocktails carrying spicy tastes. Great experience and great service. Going to be my favourite place for dinner outs.

Food is amazing, you can really tell that the food is made fresh. Staff are very friendly, drinks are nice. Highly recommend the dosas as the fillings is done nicely.

Tried this place out after seeing the reviews and wanting to go somewhere new for me. I was not disappointed. The food was very good, however the real outstanding part was the customer service. The owner came out and gave us samples of the dishes we ordered so he could tailor the spice levels more to the liking of the people who ordered it. Exceptional service and very good food, highly recommended

Fantastic first time ordering takeaway from Sha Masala. The food is outstanding - very authentic Sri Lankan food, which was fresh and bursting with flavour. We were not easy to deliver to due to road closures, yet the restaurant went that extra mile to get our delivery to us. Great service. Great value. Thank you and hope to see you in the restaurant soon.

1. **Food**: The food is fresh and delicious, and every bite is a surprise. 2. **Environment**: The environment is elegant and comfortable, relaxing. 3. **Atmosphere**: The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant, giving people endless fun. 4. **Service**: The service is attentive and thoughtful, making you feel at home. My friends and I loved it and will definitely visit again.👍

Very friendly and attentive staff, great menu selection. We had some tapas, with good size portions. We had 4 plates plus some bread and that was plenty for a Sunday lunch. Next time I will order the paella (which they make fresh and to order with your preferred ingredients) or the argentian steak.

Myself and Editorial Consultant reviewed The Ole Rochester on Sunday 7th July. We were pleasantly surprised at the ambience and decor of the restaurant. It was a nice bright, open space and had such a welcoming feel. Ole Rochester, is a beautiful Spanish eatery in the heart of Rochester, nestled within the quirky retail ambience of the High Street. The setting is a magnificent atmospheric restaurant, with vibrant murals spanning the huge walls.  Upbeat music adds to the vibe, echoing its Spanish roots. The service was impeccable and high-level without being intrusive. We ordered the Olives, Bread, and Manchego to start a generous platter furnished with  fine garnishing detail. This set the palate for two mains of Sea Bass, Agave sauce, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and the Seafood Paella. Dishes were plentiful and exquisitely presented. The Sea Bass fillets had a delicious crunchy outer, and the sea of vegetables and potatoes was delicious and complemented the delicate flavor of the fish. The Seafood Paella was very filling, delicious, and a generous portion. It could easily be for two people.  This was  downed by a delicious glass of The Ole Rochester's original Sangria.  We were pleasantly too full to attempt desert, however, we made the decision that we would definitely be back again, and this time we would make room for desert. Overall a truly fabulous experience in a characterful, dynamic setting.

Found this little gem by complete accident one Sunday afternoon. The service by the young waitresses is superb, they cannot do enough for you and I felt like nothing was a problem. Had the fish and chips which was a good sized portion and the most delicious homemade baileys cheesecake. Would definitely return.

Went to the Tudor Rose with my father in law one Saturday. We didn’t book and turned up just before the kitchen closed which was a shame but the staff were very nice and told us light bites would be available shortly. They came out with the menus as soon as we could order and the food came out quickly and was very good. We spent quite a few hours there and really enjoyed it. Amazing location, pretty pub, big beer garden, highly recommended.

Great service by Soph and Jo enhanced by tasty food, and a cosy traditional pub in a quaint setting. The ladies made extra effort to chat to our children and make them feel special. Alongside the broad menu and specials, there's also a full vegitarian and vegan menu, kids options, and light lunch choices.

Amazing staff and food really friendly atmosphere and the lamb shank was amazing the masala spicing kept my mouth watering for the whole meal my partners pork was amazing as where the puddings and kids roast 😋 😀 👌 😍

Was in the area and looking for somewhere nice for a sit down lunch that wasn’t a chain restaurant. We found this place and it was brilliant, a proper pub! Dogs were welcome inside which was good to see, there is a good selection of drinks at the bar and the menu was well stacked and I was spoilt for choice. The food was great, I had the ham egg and chips which came with peas. The portion sizes were more on the generous side (big win) but what let it down was the portion size of the peas, they literally came in a little dish that you would get sauce brought to your table in, you could have shot it down the hatchet in one. Other than that it was brilliant and I will come back again if I am ever in the area.

Food here is seriously outstanding. Best pub meal I have had in a long time. Owner is also a lovely lady - made us feel very welcome and looked after!

We stayed just one night for a wedding at Cooling Castle Barn. Brilliant, convenient transfer by Gav to and from the venue which was, a much appreciated, inclusion in the room rate. Very friendly pub with a fabulous chef who doesn’t stop smiling even when she’s run off her feet. All staff were lovely and obviously dedicated. Nice, clean, spacious room with lots of added extras, again, much appreciated. Evening meal and cooked breakfast were excellent! Would definitely stay again.

We stayed here for a wedding at cooling castle. The team were really lovely and helpful. The lift to and from the venue was an amazing touch. Gav made sure we got back safely and even popped the kettle on. Food was really great! The room was clean and spacious.

Had a lovely meal here on Monday evening. Food was excellent and portions are very generous, just what you want from a local pub. Staff there are very pleasant and friendly. We were recommended there by friends and we were not disappointed. We will be back!

Friendly staff and dog friendly in the bar. Went on a Friday evening and it was super busy in both the bar and restaurant so food took a while to come out. It was a little noisy for us but it was great to see a local pub doing well

Chloe Caldwell Photography - Cooling Castle Barn is a simply beautiful wedding venue. Surrounded by countryside, the barn itself is a beautiful, elegant setting with an authentic, rustic feel. The staff at Cooling Castle Barn are attentive and welcoming, to guests and suppliers alike. It was a pleasure working alongside them. I can't wait to return for more weddings soon. - Chloe Caldwell Photography

The most perfect wedding venue! Everything is so well run and nothing is too much for the team. Holly was our day manager and she was amazing! From the minute we booked which was only 6 months in advance they were all amazing and so organised. We had the best day we could of ever imagined! I was allowed to have my dream come true of having my horse at my wedding without any hesitation from the venue.

From the moment I found Cooling Castle Barn online, I had fallen in love with this venue, to the day we viewed we both knew we wanted to book our wedding day here. The team at cooling are some of the most gorgeous people, nothing is too much and they happily answer all of your questions. Holly was our day manager and she a stunning person, she made the whole day run so smoothly alongside Stephen our Toast Master. Without a doubt have their toast master in your wedding day if you can because it takes all of the stress away from you and your bridal party. They know exactly what they need to do and when and it is just the little things that help make you live in the moment. Best day of our lives, stunning venue, amazing food and large portions, party and laugh until your heart is content!! Our Wedding day was in May 2024.

We had our wedding at Cooling Castle Barn on a beautiful Sunday in the summer, and it was amazing. The staff and organisation on the day were spot on (including the great ceremony master) and took a lot of pressure off the maid of honour and rest of the wedding party. We got married in the garden which looked beautiful and needed minimal decoration, and the barn itself felt magical. The food was good (and really pleased they were able to do a customised canapé from my home country). And it was great that our family and close friends could stay in the rooms on side. I would definitely recommend Cooling Castle Barn as a wedding venue to others.

I have just celebrated my 30th birthday party at The Boathouse and what an absolutely perfect venue! Everyone commented on how lovely it was and all of the staff were so helpful! I would fully recommend booking this venue if you have a celebration coming up!

I hosted my partners 30th here and it was such a great venue! The food was great and they catered for gluten free. Their in house DJ was really good and everyone has such a good time! They even went out of their way to go to the shops to buy a certain spirit that my mum drinks!! Thank you again! (We have also eaten here separately to the party as well and know the food is nice!)

Really beautiful inside and out, lovely cleans and bright inside. Outside has the most beautiful view of the river and so hidden away that I have only just came across this lovely place through a friend. enjoyed a glass of red. The staff are very friendly and guided me through the menu. I would like to see more for plant based/ vegans such as the mushrooms could very easily have the cheese sauce separate, so that it could be an option for vegans or non vegans. I had chips, veggie Indian style barji like things that were nice, olives and bread. My friend got the Sunday carvery and really enjoyed the options. The vegan pies where finished or I would of got the same. I'm still unsure about parking as I did see a few restrictions due to being near the station so would have to call up about that. There are a few designated spaces. Overall would definitely come back with a group of friends 😊

Lovely food and staff, thay done really well due to the fact there was 30 people eating at once. Some music in the background would be nice and some soft lighting, staff could off come over more but thay was really nice and personal. recommend visiting. :)

We started on the cocktail making class before hand and what an experience, definitely need a taxi after that. Straight into the beautiful restaurant, all the staff were very attentive and accommodating to our needs. Only reason for the 4 stars was they didn't have any oysters and we were looking forward to those but do not let that deter you. Definitely a gem of a place.

I first discovered the Copper Rivet strawberry gin, which I liked so much I researched and found out about the distillery and restaurant along the river in Chatham.. and I had to experience dining at the place that made such a good quality gin. We were not disappointed.. quality cocktails, service and food.. you do pay a bit more but for a special occasion it’s just perfect.. first we had drinks outside with lovely views along the river, and blankets provided in case it gets chilly (we actually had a bit of sun!!).. and then inside the amazing building for dinner.. the food blew us away and my husband told the waitress he wanted to marry the chef 😂 which I totally understood… will definitely go back and look forward to it! And the triple cooked chips which we will have with whatever we order..

Brilliant lunch-time dining experience with highly attentive service, friendly staff and impeccable dishes in a very pleasant dining room. The lunch specials were each very impressive and incredible value for money. The dockyard area nearby was additionally very scenic. Highly recommended, will be back again!

The pumproom is the perfect place for an occasion. It’s on the pricier side, but it’s honestly worth every penny! We went for our wedding anniversary and had put it on the booking form. They welcomed us with a card on the table, we had a free cocktail and some fudge at the end of the meal too. The staff were lovely and so knowledgeable about everything on the menu. We had every course going and the flavours in every part were beautiful. Lots of combinations you wouldn’t necessarily find elsewhere, the bone marrow fondue was our absolute highlight. The cocktails menu is extensive and there’s loads with alcohols from the distillery to choose from. It’s also lovely to have the view out onto the river with Upnor castle in the distance. Such a gem to find in Chatham, we loved it!

Charming Tea Shop and farm shop situated just off the B2000 near Cliffe Woods. Very friendly place; quiet, cosy one might say. Food is excellent, portions are generous and the prices are VERY reasonable. You can eat and drink either indoors in the rustic setting of the refurbished old farm buidings, or outdoors, either on the shady terrace or out in the open. Free parking.

Friendly, personal service, with excellent quality selection and fresh, locally sourced food. Sophi's cakes are exceptional!

The reason I never gave a 5 star is because it needs to be bigger . Mockbeggar is a friend little tea room and farm shop. The food and cakes are great and nice local produce in the farm shop. Great little gem x only just moved into the area and I love it !

The staff were very friendly and helpful and theres a great selection of products.

My husband and I came to this restaurant for lunch today. The food was lovely and the staff were attentive and friendly. We enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back. An excellent restaurant to bring all the family.

Loved this place, great hidden gem if you're not from the area, but 100% worth a visit, great for kids as well. Can't wait to come back

First visit, a Thursday evening / loved it. If your Gluten free, you will find something on the menu. Ask and talk to the server. Will definitely go again. I will definitely go back - even with an automated service charge applied.

This place was absolutely lovely, delicious authentic tasting Portuguese food and wonderful service! We went here on a whim on a walk in Upnor and it really is a hidden gem. The atmosphere was lively but cosy. We got free shots before AND after our meal! The House Special is a really good deal because not only do you get one of the massive skewers, you also get olives and starters, 3 sides and a dessert! We had the lamb and the tofu veg skewers and we were absolutely stuffed after everything at the end. It was all deliciously grilled as well. The flaming chorizo was wonderful and fun. The molotof whipped egg dessert was fluffy and delightful. We chatted to the waiter Antonio after and he was so friendly, mature and polite and told us all about the restaurant. We will definitely be coming here again and bringing our friends, it was amazing value for money and the food was absolutely stunning!