Broadstairs Guide: Eat, sleep, drink, things to do
With a gentler vibe to its rowdier sibling Margate, Broadstairs is a real gem of the Kent coastline - particularly for foodies.
Whether relaxing on the beach or in the well kept cliff top gardens, you’re surrounded by great restaurants, bars and cafes, for once you’ve sunned yourself enough. The seafront and town’s layout are perfectly designed for meandering between them, discovering as much of what’s on offer as possible.
Twice a year in April and October you’ll also find the Broadstairs Food Festival setting up a vast array of stalls, workshops and other activities. And if music’s more your thing, in August, Broadstairs Folk Week takes over the town, bringing an amazing atmosphere.
There’s plenty to see and do whenever you make a trip to Broadstairs - whether it’s a weekend away or a longer break. Here are just a few ideas for making the most of the town.
Things to do in Broadstairs
Viking Bay
One of Thanet’s loveliest beaches, Viking Bay is a vast stretch of soft sand with plenty of amenities at hand. Use the wooden walkways to find your spot for the day, and take a dip in the relatively shallow waters that warm up nicely on a sunny day. Grab refreshments from the Funicular Coffee House built into the cliff, and head up the stairs to Morelli’s for an ice cream when you need to cool down.
Palace Cinema
Palace cinema is one of Broadstairs' jewels. A stone’s throw from the beach, it seats just over 100 people in its single screen. As well as new releases, it also hosts special screenings of classics, concert films, rare documentaries and more. It also organises talks and walking tours delving into local cinema history, further cementing its deep ties to the local community.
Harbour Street, CT10 1ET. thepalacecinema.co.uk
Morelli’s
No trip to Broadstairs is complete without a trip to Morelli’s Gelato. Originally opened by Mario Morelli in 1932, it has remained a Broadstairs institution ever since, serving up incredible ice cream, cakes and drinks to tourists and locals seven days a week. It’s also always worth stopping to marvel at its iconic front canopy and interior design, which have been in place since the 1950s.
14 Victoria Parade, CT10 1QS. morellisgelato.com
Restaurants in Broadstairs
Bar Ingo
Run by Swedish chef Tomas Eriksson and his son Rio and open seven days a week, Bar Ingo is a warm and welcoming place serving up a delicious selection of small plates alongside carefully selected wines. With an intimate atmosphere that works just as well for a quick bite as a special occasion, it’s well worth heading off the main drag to seek this place out.
9 York Street, CT10 1PD. bar-ingo.co.uk
Twenty Seven Harbour Street
Sitting under the historic York Gate just off the seafront is Twenty Seven Harbour Street, a family-owned restaurant serving up small plates of locally sourced ingredients Thursday to Sunday. If you’re visiting outside of July and August, you can also grab one of their incredible roasts on a Sunday.
27 Harbour Street, CT10 1EU. twentysevenharbourstreet.co.uk
Fifteen Square Metres
Hidden away on a quiet residential street, Fifteen Square Metres is a cosy and intimate spot. Run by chef Tony Rodd and his wife Becky, who works front of house (as much as front and back exist in this tiny space), it feels like sitting in your own private kitchen as each amazing dish is passed from the stove top to your table.
15 Oscar Road, CT10 1QJ. fifteensquaremetres.co.uk
Bars and pubs in Broadstairs
Sonder
We challenge you to find a wider range of draft beers anywhere in Thanet, not to mention its impressive array of wine and spirits. Sonder's high ceiling and huge windows make it wonderfully bright and airy, and there are several more intimate seating areas off the main bar, if you’re looking for a different vibe.
11-13 Charlotte Street, CT10 1LR. instagram.com/sonderpub
Neptune’s Hall
A beautifully decked out old boozer, Neptune’s Hall also serves up fresh pizzas six days a week and roasts on Sundays too. One big draw is its commitment to great music, with regular appearances from DJs spinning tunes that even the hardest to please muso will have to admit is well beyond your usual pub jukebox. There are also open decks nights, and if you time it right you’ll be able to experience the incredible Mr Teds quiz night.
1-3 Harbour St, CT10 1ET. instagram.com/neptuneshall/
Delilah’s
Hidden down a tiny side street, Delilah’s cocktail bar is one well worth seeking out. Open Thursday to Sunday, it’s got real speakeasy vibes. The menu of cocktails change by the season, and there’s a decent selection of alcohol free mixes if booze isn’t your thing. There’s also a great selection of wines and snacks - tough call, but theirs might be our favourite olives in Thanet.
28 Thanet Road, CT10 1AN. instagram.com/delilahs.bar/
Hotels in Broadstairs
Royal Albion
The Royal Albion has been overlooking the Broadstairs seafront for nearly 250 years and was once a regular haunt of Charles Dickens (this is a claim you should get used to hearing as you visit more buildings in Broadstairs - he certainly seems to have got about). One of the town’s larger hotels, its big draw is definitely the sea views from both rooms and its terrace bar.
6-12 Albion Street, CT10 1AN. albionbroadstairs.co.uk
The Yarrow
This striking Jacobethan-style building erected in 1894 is operated by further education provider EKC Group, offering hospitality students the opportunity to gain real world experience alongside professional staff. Not scrimping on the luxury and with an in-house beauty salon and spa, it aims to send you back from the seaside fully rejuvenated.
Ramsgate Road, CT10 1PN. yarrowhotel.co.uk
The Corner
This boutique bed and breakfast offers twelve bedrooms across a former (very large) family home. Run by husband and wife Phil and Claire, the couple aim to ensure that your stay is a memorable experience by paying close attention to the smallest of details. It’s just a short walk from the main seafront, ensuring a quiet retreat that’s still close to the action.
49 West Cliff Road, CT10 1PY. thecornerbroadstairs.co.uk