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Salcombe is a picturesque coastal town located in the South Hams district of Devon. It's known as a haven for sailors, golden sand beaches, crabbing traditions, hiking trails and a rich arts scene. It's not cheap, today Salcombe is the most expensive place to buy a seaside home in the UK, holding a population of 1800 in winter and 19,000 in summer.
If you're planning a trip to Salcombe and wondering where to grab a bite, look no further. This guide has you covered, from quick takeaway joints to laid-back cafes and satisfying restaurants, I'll get straight to the point on what's worth the price.
The best overall:
The Winking Prawn
A beloved beachside café by North Sands known for its immaculate seafood (with a bbq tent outside during the summer), ice cream van, and relaxed atmosphere. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite after a swim or settling in for a leisurely meal, the cheerful staff and vibrant nautical décor will charm you.
The prices aren't particularly cheap, but portion sizes and food quality makes every penny worth it. Two standout items on the menu I had were the Popcorn Shrimps (£12.55) and the Duck baguette (£12.35) or the local hand picked crab (£14.15). The Popcorn Shrimps, lightly breaded and crispy, offer the perfect flavour with every bite. The tangy dipping sauce accompanying them complements the seafood perfectly. The seafood platters are perfect for an extravagant lunch or dinner to impress friends and family.
The Quickest and Cheapest lunch:
The Pasty Shack
Located in the centre of the main towns high street, The Pasty Shack has a few seats outside the shop so you can sit and eat your hot fresh pasty. They have a great plethora of options, with all the classics as well as sausage rolls. The actual buttery flakey pasty to filling ratio is perfect and the chicken, bacon and leek (£4.75) was my particular favourite from my week here. They have daily specials which tend to pack a lot of flavour and greatly differ from the usual British classics, I particularly loved the chilli beef and moroccan lamb.
Best Takeaway Lunch Spot:
The Salcombe Delicatessen & Sandwich Shop
With the friendliest staff, this shop sells fresh salads, sandwiches and baguettes, offering a very wide variety of fillings (linked here). My ham, mozzarella, pesto and sun-dried tomato wholegrain baguette was the perfect filling lunch for a mere £6.85. They also offer local Devon produce and made ready meals, gluten free pastries and products, sausage rolls, pork pies and hampers and gifts. There dessert selection contained the most delicious selection of cakes and treats, my personal favourite was the honeycomb chocolate slice that had a great soft yet crunchy texture.
Best Takeaway Dinner Spot:
Salcombe Original Takeaway
This is a popular takeaway pizza spot located central in Salcombe's main high street. The pizzas are made in front of you from scratch and you can taste the freshness in the dough and toppings. They offer a large selection of different toppings, including more niche toppings like duck (priced at a hefty £17.30, yet insanely delicious) and daily specials that may take your fancy. The full sized Margarita is £11.50, a good pricing point. You can wait for the pizza for around 5 minutes to even 15 minutes on very busy days, so I recommend ordering online in advance if you don't want to stand around. You must get the £1 garlic dip that accompanies the pizza perfectly, especially to make those plain crusts taste heavenly! I found that the pepperoni kids size pizza accompanied with their cheap yet plentiful side salad was the perfect amount to keep me full and provided the perfectly balanced meal.
Watch the Tik Tok located at the bottom of this article to see the pizzas.
Salcombe Dairy at Salcombe Original Takeaway:
The town is home to the famous Salcombe Dairy, a local ice cream producer known for its delicious, handmade treats. Their ice cream has become a beloved staple among locals and visitors alike. I enjoyed the salted caramel as well as the chocolate overload flavour with white and dark chocolate chips and sauce in a smooth silky vanilla ice cream.
One scoop in a cone or cup is priced at £3.30.
The Most Fun:
The Kings Arms
A popular spot in the Salcombe community and by the harbour in the high street, The Kings Arms is a traditional English pub with a warm and inviting clean interior and a bar section that opens up at night. The menu at The Kings Arms is a celebration of hearty, classic British dishes containing fresh local seafood that'll satisfy your appetite. From traditional fish and chips to succulent roast dinners, each plate is prepared with care and an evident passion for comfort food. Their lunch and dinner serves main dishes starting at £13.50 and a fish and chips priced at £17, if your price range is on the higher side, it's a good choice, with good portion sizes.
What made me choose the Kings Arms as the 'most fun' location, is the bustling environment at night and occasional events (such as the upcoming rum tasting night) and musical performances that get people up dancing and singing.
The More Expensive Choice:
The Crab Shed
Tucked away from the main high street, situated along the glistening waters of Salcombe (which on a sunny day, provides the perfect ambiance), The Crab Shed is a culinary gem that seafood lovers won't want to miss. A highlight for me was their signature whole Salcombe Cracked Crab (£32), crab linguine (£19.50) and the mussels (£13.65 / £24), as they were so high-quality and fresh. The Crab Shed had a focus on letting the natural flavours of the seafood shine through, combined with skilful preparation, resulting in dishes that are both satisfying and memorable.
The Best Hotel Setting:
The South Sands Hotel
With a beautiful view of South sands and the modernistic yet rustic posh hotel and pool, this restaurant is on the higher-end of the price scale, with mains starting at £17.50. The menu is not huge but offers a good range of seafood and burgers, as well as salads, steak, crispy tofu and stir-fry. I also like how they support local food producers.
A Tik Tok from The Nook that includes many of these recommendations:
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