Allotment

By far the best place to eat in Dover, indeed one of the best restaurants for miles around, the Allotment is a relaxed, welcoming and unpretentious bistro, presided over by a characterful host and with a laid-back vibe. They use the freshest local produce here, including fish, meat and veg and salad – much of it, unsurprisingly, grown in local allotments – in really delicious homemade concoctions. You can stop by for a quick coffee and cake, but it’s well worth coming for a full meal – lunches are particularly pleasant, eaten either by the huge picture windows overlooking the high street or in the light-bathed back area near the kitchen; on warmer days it might be possible to sit in the little courtyard. The menu changes frequently, and there are always daily specials, but typical dishes might include wasabi-dressed hot beetroot with soft poached eggs and chives, an out-of-this-world goats’ cheese and asparagus tart, slow-roasted shoulder of Canterbury lamb or roasted cod with salsa verde. Conveniently located near the train station and not far from the harbour, it's a perfect pit-stop on any Dover jaunt.