Our Family’s 10 Favourite Places to Eat in Bridport – and Why We Love Them
- Outbuildings
- Jan 29
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 9
Ok, we may be a little biased. But, in our humble opinion, Bridport has some of the best places to eat in West Dorset (along with some of the best pubs, shops and beaches!).
In fact, ever since ITV’s smash-hit show, Broadchurch, put Bridport and West Bay in the national spotlight, local food producers have become ever more inventive with their offering and Bridport’s foodie scene has thrived.
We now have some of the best cafes and restaurants in the region, so you’re sure to find something to suit your palate and budget when you come to stay with us in Bridport (including our very own on-site restaurant, The Cart Shed).
To help you decide where to go - breakfast, lunch and dinner - we’ve listed 10 of our family’s favourite places to eat in Bridport; all tried and tested by the Outbuildings' family and our hand-picked team. Tasty stuff.
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
The Watch House | Best for: full English on the beach
Loved by Billy
For over 30 years, there's been a beach cafe in West Bay (just down the road from Bridport and Outbuildings). Long gone, however, are the days when this cafe was a greasy spoon! Today, it's a trendy beachside hangout for locals and visitors alike.
If you're not staying with us (we serve delicious home-cooked Dorset breakfasts 7 days a week, FYI), then head to the beach. You just can't beat a full English or Chesil smoked kippers whilst breathing in the fresh sea air (don't tell our Chef).
In the summer, the Watch House is popular - so be prepared to queue for a table (you could grab an ice-cream whilst you wait).
Find it: West Bay, Bridport DT6 4EN
Good to know: Vegan and vegetarian options are available
Open: Weds - Fri, 10am - 3pm; Sat 10am - 4pm; Sun 10am - 5pm
Soulshine | Best for: lazy brunches
Loved by the whole family
With its soulful, easy-breezy vibe and focus on fresh ingredients from small-scale producers (like our own menu), Soulshine is a great bohemian hideaway when you want to feel good about the food you eat.
Artisan is the watchword here: so expect imaginative menu choices with a healthy piling of vegan and vegetarian options.
We love one of the Shakshuka as a mid-morning brunch and the Soulshine baked beans on sourdough toast. And if good coffee is your thing, then the team also own a coffee bar just along the road (called Goose and Badger).
Find it: 76 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NN England
Good to know: Vegetarian-friendly, Vegan, Gluten-free options available
Open: 9:30 am – 3pm, 7 days a week; 6pm - 11pm, Weds - Sat
LUNCHTIME
Rise, West Bay | Best for: 'write-home-about' sandwiches
Loved by Ed and Dom
This vibrant, trendy restaurant sits at the heart of West Bay on the river's edge. Inside, there's plenty of space for all-day family eats or late-night bites with friends, but it is popular, so you may want to book.
We love the sandwiches, which are called 'write-home-about sandwiches' and don't under-deliver (the Ultimate Toasted Steak Sandwich is dreamy). They also serve a mixture of wonderful salad dishes too, should you fancy something green and good for you.
In the summer, take a table outside on the deck by the water. In the winter, there's a 'hygge-style' lounge with a log-burner where you can chill with a coffee whilst your table inside is prepped. See you there?
Find it: West Bay DT6 4EZ
Good to know: Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available
Open: Mon and Sun, 9am – 5pm, Tues - Sat, 9am - 10pm
Rise Market & Bakery | Best for: pastry on the run
Loved by Dom
Sometimes you just need to grab and run! As hoteliers, we know all about that! Rise Market and Bakery is a simple pit-stop when you're in a hurry and crave a pastry with coffee to go.
You'll find it set just off the Sea Road East Roundabout - handily near the garage - so you can pull in and be on your way again in no time. They've a great selection of freshly-baked bread and pastries and a decent hot drinks menu, too.
It's hard to resist looking around the rest of the shop with its artisan foodie treats and locally-made gifts, so if you've finished your stay with us at Outbuildings and are hitting the road, swing by to see what extras you can pack into your luggage (if your bag isn't too full from gift-shopping at our on-site shop, that is).
Find it: 16-18 East Rd, Bridport DT6 4AA
Open: Mon – Frid 8am – 6pm; Sat 8am - 5pm; Sun 8am - 4pm
The Anchor | Best for: Ploughman's lunch by the sea
Loved by the whole family
Just outside of Bridport, in the seaside hamlet of Seatown, you’ll find The Anchor. Without doubt, it’s one of the most wonderful pubs to hole up in after a breezy beach walk or a trek over Golden Cap. Perched on the beach, with views over Lyme Bay, The Anchor has served pints for 160 years – so they really know what they’re doing.
Enjoy a traditional ploughman’s lunch on the seafront terrace or sit inside the restaurant for a dinner that’ll impress every kind of foodie. We love The Anchor’s beer-battered haddock, washed down with a nice bottle of local wine and finished off by someone else doing the drive back to Outbuildings!
Find it: Sea Hill Lane, Seatown, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6JU
Good to know: Vegetarian-friendly, Vegan, Gluten-free options available
Open: Mon – Sun, 12pm – 10pm
DINNER
The Cart Shed | Best for: relaxed food with chilled vibes
Loved by the whole family
Our Head Chef would never forgive us if we didn't recommend our own on-site eatery: The Cart Shed!
Open for guests and visitors alike 7 days a week, it's the chilled-out hub of our boutique Farm Hotel. A place where you can grab a homemade cocktail before dinner in the courtyard, then settle in for an evening of Dorset's finest seasonal flavours surrounded by like-minded people.
Our menus are all original and imaginative - so return as often as you like for something new. And all the ingredients come from our kitchen garden or from carefully-sourced fishmongers, farmers or growers, so you only have the best tastes on your plate.
Locals love us for intimate Date Night dinners; guests love us for delicious evenings where every plate is a joy and potential new friends are seated nearby. Oh, and dogs love us because we are 100% dog-friendly!
Find it: Broad Road Farm, Bridport DT6 3TS
Good to know: Vegetarian-friendly, Vegan, Gluten-free options available
Open: Mon – Sun until 10pm, 7 days a week
Dorshi | Best for: Asian street food
Loved by George and Billy
Dumplings and ‘not dumplings’ are what the fabulous food-loving team at Dorshi serve up to their adoring Bridport fans. You’ll find this cool place to eat in Chancery Lane in Bridport, where it specialises in delicious East Asian small plates and the most amazing cocktails.
The food is fabulous (there are delicious dumpling and rice boxes to take away and dumpling and ‘not dumpling’ delights to eat sitting in). The vibe inside is equally as good, too – in fact, it’s the sort of funky atmosphere and buzz that you’d expect from a Shoreditch eatery in the heart of Bridport.
When you go, be sure to try the buttermilk chicken & the cocktails – you won’t regret it! Well, you might the next day...
Find it: 6 Chancery Lane Bartholomews Hall, Bridport DT6 3PX England
Good to know: Vegetarian-friendly, Vegan, Gluten-free options available
Open: Weds-Sat, 5:30pm - 10pm, 5:30pm - 8pm Mon
The Parlour | Best for: Neapolitan style Pizza
Loved by Billy, Karen and Ed
There are many reasons why we love The Parlour. For one, we love its secret location tucked away on Bredy Farm in the lush Dorset countryside, on the outskirts of Bridport. We also love The Parlour’s community spirit: it was started through friendship and family to bring people together over Italian-influenced food. And this Bridport place to eat delivers on point, every time.
Most of all, of course, we love the food. The wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas are divine, as are the hearty Sunday roasts that come with the best roast potatoes – second only to ours, of course. The Parlour also does take-away, so you can always grab a bite and some local cider to enjoy in the beautiful
orchard by the river. And they hold live music nights, so be sure to check out what’s on before you come and stay.
Find it: Bredy Farm Bredy Lane, Bridport DT6 4ND
Open: Various times
The Pymore Inn | Best for: traditional pub food
Loved by Charlie, the dog
The Pymore Inn dates back to the 1700s when it was originally built as a gentleman’s residence. Today, it’s a thriving village freehouse pub with a friendly local crowd and warm, welcoming landlord and landlady.
When the sun is shining, take a seat in the large walled garden for a pimms or pint of local or guest ales. The garden also houses a garden bar and kitchen which serves handmade pizzas fresh from the pizza oven.
Best thing is, it's just a 15-minute walk from the farm, and they're dog friendly!. But be warned, it’s easy to stay here all day in the summer months watching the sun go down. So make sure you book your taxi back to Outbuildings in advance!
Find it: Pymore Road, Bridport DT6 3TR England
Good to know: Vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free options
Open: Weds-Sunday, various times
BONUS FOODIE FAVOURITES
Rubicon Kitchen, West Bay | Best for: fresh seafood
Loved by Becky
As you know, we are all about supporting local producers - and The Rubicon Kitchen food hut in West Bay is no different. Thanks to their fabulous relationships with local fishermen, this family-run kitchen serves up the best seafood in West Bay (some would even say in Dorset!).
The portions are generous and fairly priced, given how fresh the seafood is, and the service of the team is excellent - they go out of their way to help diners. Go on a summer's day and try the fish tacos, the wonderful fish platter with smoked mackerel and crispy calamari, or the grilled lobster.
Naturally, being a food hut, The Rubicon isn't open all the time - so be sure to double-check before you go. Also, there is no indoor seating, so wrap up warm if it's a chilly day!
Find it: 3 The Mound, West Bay DT6 3HA
Open: From March, various times
Brassica, Beaminster | Best for: Mediterranean-inspired suppers
Loved by Ed and Dom
Brassica has no shortage of accolades and rightly so. Jay Rayner, The Times and The Independent, class it as a Dorset triumph - and we agree. Heading up the kitchen is Cass Titcombe - someone who's well-known for his extensive experience in top restaurants, so you're sure to delight in the food and the wonderful wine selection on offer.
Housed in a 16th-century building on The Square in Beaminster (a short drive from us here at Outbuildings), Brassica is a popular place for a relaxed but special evening meal. Menus change daily to reflect the local produce in season, and all wines have been chosen personally by Graham Chidgey (a specialist wine consultant with extensive experience working in the cellars and vineyards in Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy and Bordeaux).
Find it: 4 The Square, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3AS
Open: For supper, Frid - Sat, 6pm - 8:30pm
Happy Eating!
The Outbuildings Team
Comments