The UK may be famous for fish and chips, but its seafood scene goes far beyond that classic takeaway. With a long coastline, busy fishing ports, and access to excellent oysters, scallops, lobster, crab and fresh fish, the country has plenty of restaurants worth planning a trip around. From the dramatic coast of Cornwall to the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, seafood restaurants in the UK offer very different experiences. Some focus on simple, fresh cooking, while others turn local ingredients into sophisticated tasting menus. If you are looking for somewhere memorable to enjoy seafood in 2026, here are 20 of the best seafood restaurants in the UK to put on your list.
1. Loch Bay – Isle of Skye, Scotland
For a seafood experience surrounded by spectacular scenery, Loch Bay on the Isle of Skye is difficult to beat. The restaurant is located in the small village of Stein on the northwest side of the island, making it a particularly attractive choice for travellers exploring Skye.
Loch Bay holds one Michelin Star, and the Michelin Guide describes it as one of the UK’s outstanding places for seafood. Its tasting menu focuses heavily on locally caught produce, including seafood inspired by the surrounding waters.
What I particularly like about this type of restaurant is that the location and food feel connected. You are not simply eating seafood in a restaurant; you are experiencing ingredients that make sense for the landscape around you.
- Seafood-focused tasting menu
- Local Scottish ingredients
- Michelin-starred dining
- Beautiful Isle of Skye setting
- A good choice for a special occasion
- If you are already planning a road trip around Skye, this is the kind of restaurant that can turn an ordinary evening into one of the highlights of the journey.
- Best for: Special occasions and food-focused trips.
- Tip: Because Skye is a popular destination, check the restaurant’s current opening dates and booking arrangements well ahead of your visit.
2. Porthminster Beach Café – St Ives, Cornwall
Cornwall is one of the first places I would think of when planning a seafood trip around England. With the Atlantic Ocean on its doorstep, the county has a strong connection with fishing and coastal food.
Porthminster Beach Café in St Ives is a great example. The restaurant is right beside Porthminster Beach, so the setting is almost as important as the food. Michelin currently lists it among its UK seafood selections.
The appeal here is different from a formal fine-dining restaurant. You can combine a seafood meal with a day exploring St Ives, walking along the beach, or visiting the town’s galleries.
- Excellent coastal location
- Seafood-focused menu
- Ideal for a relaxed lunch
- Great option during a Cornwall road trip
- Easy to combine with sightseeing in St Ives
- If you want seafood with a proper seaside atmosphere rather than a formal dining room, Porthminster Beach Café is worth considering.
- Best for: A relaxed seaside meal.
3. The Seahorse – Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is another fantastic destination for seafood lovers. The historic town sits on the River Dart and has long had strong connections with the sea.
The Seahorse is one of the restaurants that makes Dartmouth particularly interesting for food travellers. It appears in the Michelin Guide’s current UK seafood selection and is listed as a seafood restaurant.
What makes this kind of restaurant appealing is the combination of destination and dining. You can spend the day exploring Dartmouth before settling down for a seafood-focused dinner.
The menu is centered around seafood rather than treating fish as just another option. For visitors who enjoy trying different varieties of fish and shellfish, that makes the experience much more interesting.
Best for: Food lovers exploring Devon.
Tip: Dartmouth is popular with visitors, especially during the warmer months, so it is sensible to check availability before making the restaurant the centrepiece of your evening.
4. Scott's – London
You do not have to travel to the coast for excellent seafood. London has one of the UK’s most diverse restaurant scenes, and Scott’s in Mayfair is one of the city’s well-known seafood destinations.
The Michelin Guide currently lists Scott’s among London’s seafood restaurants. It is a very different experience from eating seafood beside a Cornish beach, but that is exactly why it deserves a place on this list.
Scott’s is suited to travellers looking for a more polished restaurant experience in central London. It can work particularly well for a special lunch or dinner while exploring Mayfair and nearby attractions.
- Central Mayfair location
- Seafood-focused dining
- Smart atmosphere
- Suitable for special occasions
- Convenient for a London city break
- For visitors who want to combine sightseeing with an upscale seafood meal, Scott’s is an easy option to consider.
- Best for: Elegant seafood dining in London.
5. The Seafood Restaurant – Padstow, Cornwall
Padstow has become one of Cornwall’s best-known food destinations, and seafood is a major reason why travellers come here.
The Seafood Restaurant is currently included in the Michelin Guide’s UK seafood selection. The restaurant’s location in a famous Cornish harbour town makes it a natural stop for anyone interested in combining coastal scenery with seafood.
Padstow itself is worth exploring before or after your meal. You can walk around the harbour, browse the small shops, and enjoy the atmosphere of one of Cornwall’s most popular seaside towns.
- Strong connection to Cornish seafood
- Harbour-town setting
- Good choice for a food-focused Cornwall trip
- Easy to combine with other Padstow attractions
- Suitable for seafood enthusiasts
- If Cornwall is already on your itinerary, adding Padstow to the trip gives you an opportunity to experience both the scenery and the region’s seafood culture.
- Best for: A Cornwall food trip.
6. Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen – Port Isaac, Cornwall
If you are exploring Cornwall and want a seafood restaurant with a strong connection to the coast, Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen in Port Isaac is a great option. The Michelin Guide currently includes it in its UK seafood selection.
Port Isaac is a small fishing village, so the setting adds something special to the meal. Rather than treating seafood as an afterthought, the restaurant puts fish and shellfish at the centre of the experience.
- Located in historic Port Isaac
- Seafood-focused dining
- Excellent choice for a Cornwall food trip
- Ideal for seafood lovers looking for something more refined
- Best for: A special seafood meal during a Cornwall road trip.
7. The Seafood Ristorante – St Andrews, Scotland
St Andrews is best known for its golf and historic university, but it is also a good destination for seafood. The Seafood Ristorante is currently listed by the Michelin Guide as a seafood restaurant in St Andrews.
The restaurant is particularly appealing if you want to combine sightseeing with a memorable meal. Spend the day exploring St Andrews before sitting down for fresh seafood.
The location makes this a convenient choice for travellers who do not want to travel far from the town’s main attractions.
- Scottish seafood
- Attractive coastal setting
- Good choice for a special meal
- Easy to combine with a St Andrews visit
- Best for: Couples, food lovers and visitors exploring St Andrews.
8. The Suffolk – Aldeburgh, Suffolk
For a different side of England’s seafood scene, head to the Suffolk coast. The Suffolk in Aldeburgh is included in the Michelin Guide’s current seafood selection.
Aldeburgh has a long-standing connection with the sea, making it a natural destination for travellers interested in seafood. A visit here also gives you the chance to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a traditional English coastal town.
I would particularly consider adding it to a Suffolk weekend rather than travelling there solely for dinner.
- Coastal Suffolk location
- Seafood-focused menu
- Good option for a weekend trip
- Great combination of food and seaside atmosphere
- Best for: A relaxed coastal getaway.
9. Whitstable Oyster Company – Whitstable, Kent
Whitstable is one of the UK’s most famous destinations for oysters, so it makes sense to include Whitstable Oyster Company on a seafood-focused UK itinerary.
The restaurant is currently included in the Michelin Guide’s UK seafood selection.
What makes Whitstable interesting is the town itself. You can walk around the harbour, explore the seafront and enjoy the local atmosphere before or after your meal.
If oysters are your favourite seafood, this is one destination that should be on your radar. You can also look at the day’s other seafood choices rather than limiting yourself to one dish.
Best for: Oyster lovers and travellers exploring the Kent coast.
10. The Sea, The Sea – London
London has no shortage of seafood restaurants, but The Sea, The Sea offers something different from a traditional British fish restaurant. The Michelin Guide currently lists it among London’s seafood restaurants.
Its location makes it easy to include in a London food itinerary, particularly if you are already exploring Chelsea and nearby areas.
For visitors who want a modern seafood experience without leaving London, this is an interesting addition to the list.
- Modern seafood-focused dining
- London location
- Good choice for food-focused travellers
- Suitable for a memorable city meal
- Best for: Modern seafood dining in London.
11. The Pierhouse – Port Appin, Scotland
For a seafood meal with a beautiful Scottish coastal setting, The Pierhouse in Port Appin is an excellent choice. The restaurant is currently included in the Michelin Guide’s UK seafood selection.
The location is a big part of the experience. Port Appin is a small coastal village surrounded by dramatic Scottish scenery, making this a great stop during a road trip through western Scotland.
- Beautiful coastal surroundings
- Scottish seafood
- Relaxed destination-dining atmosphere
- Great addition to a Scottish road trip
- Best for: Travellers who want seafood with spectacular scenery.
12. Ondine – Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh may be known for its historic buildings and castles, but the city also has a strong seafood scene. Ondine is currently listed in the Michelin Guide’s UK seafood selection.
It is a good option if you want to enjoy seafood without leaving the city. After exploring Edinburgh’s Old Town and other attractions, you can make dinner at Ondine part of your food itinerary.
The restaurant focuses on seafood while giving visitors a more polished dining experience than a typical casual fish restaurant.
Best for: A seafood-focused city break in Edinburgh.
13. Barry Fish – Leith, Edinburgh
If you prefer somewhere with a more relaxed feel, Barry Fish in Leith is another interesting choice. Michelin currently lists it among its UK seafood restaurants.
Leith is Edinburgh’s historic port district, so eating seafood here feels particularly appropriate. It is also a useful stop if you want to explore an area of Edinburgh beyond the main tourist centre.
- Located in historic Leith
- Seafood-focused menu
- Good option for exploring Edinburgh’s food scene
- More casual destination than a formal fine-dining restaurant
- Best for: Travellers looking for seafood in a lively Edinburgh neighbourhood.
14. One Fish Street – Bristol, England
Bristol is another UK city with a growing food scene, and One Fish Street is a seafood restaurant currently listed by Michelin.
Its city-centre location makes it convenient for visitors exploring Bristol. Rather than travelling to the coast, you can enjoy a seafood-focused meal while staying within the city.
- Bristol city-centre location
- Seafood-focused dining
- Good option for food-focused travellers
- Easy to include in a weekend city break
- Best for: Visitors exploring Bristol who want a dedicated seafood restaurant.
15. Little Fish Market – Brighton & Hove, England
Brighton is one of England’s best-known seaside destinations, so it is naturally a good place to look for seafood. Little Fish Market is included in the Michelin Guide’s current UK seafood selection.
I like Brighton as a seafood destination because you can combine the meal with a full day by the sea. Walk along the famous seafront, explore The Lanes, and then finish the day with a seafood dinner.
- Seaside location
- Seafood-focused restaurant
- Great choice for a Brighton weekend
- Easy to combine with sightseeing
- Best for: A seaside food trip.
16. Fish Shop – Ballater, Scotland
Fish Shop Restaurant, Ballater is an interesting choice for travellers exploring Aberdeenshire and the Cairngorms. Michelin currently lists Fish Shop among its UK seafood restaurants.
The restaurant is a good example of how seafood can become part of a wider Scottish countryside trip. After exploring Ballater and the surrounding area, you can make a seafood dinner part of the itinerary.
- Scottish seafood
- Charming Ballater setting
- Good choice for a countryside food trip
- Suitable for a special meal
- Best for: Travellers exploring Aberdeenshire.
17. Dulse – Edinburgh, Scotland
Dulse is another seafood-focused option in Edinburgh and is included in the Michelin Guide’s current UK seafood selection.
What makes Edinburgh useful for a seafood trip is the variety. You can spend the day exploring the castle, Old Town and city streets before heading to a seafood restaurant in the evening.
- Seafood-focused menu
- Central Edinburgh option
- Easy to combine with sightseeing
- Good choice for food lovers
- Best for: A seafood-focused Edinburgh city break.
18. Sardine Factory – Looe, Cornwall
For travellers heading to Cornwall, Sardine Factory in Looe is another restaurant worth considering. It appears in the current Michelin seafood selection.
Looe is a traditional coastal town, so this is a particularly good option if you want your seafood meal to be part of a seaside getaway.
- Cornish coastal location
- Seafood-focused dining
- Good addition to a Cornwall itinerary
- Relaxed seaside atmosphere
- Best for: A coastal Cornwall trip.
19. The Shore – Penzance, Cornwall
The Shore in Penzance is another seafood restaurant currently featured in Michelin’s UK seafood selection.
Penzance is a useful base for exploring the far west of Cornwall, including nearby coastal attractions. A seafood dinner here can easily fit into a longer Cornwall road trip.
- West Cornwall location
- Seafood-focused dining
- Convenient for exploring Penzance
- Great for a food-and-coast itinerary
- Best for: Travellers exploring West Cornwall.
20. Kebbells – Broadstairs, Kent
The Stone Crab is not Kebbells, so for accuracy, Kebbells in Broadstairs is the restaurant to use for #20. Michelin currently includes Kebbells in its UK seafood selection.
Broadstairs is a charming seaside destination in Kent, making it a natural choice for anyone who wants to combine a coastal day with seafood dining.
- Traditional seaside setting
- Seafood-focused restaurant
- Good option for a Kent weekend
- Easy to combine with coastal sightseeing
- Best for: A relaxed seaside food trip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best seafood restaurant in the UK?
The UK has many excellent choices, including Loch Bay, Scott’s, The Seahorse, and several restaurants in Cornwall.
Which UK region is best for seafood?
Cornwall and Scotland are especially popular for fresh seafood and coastal dining.
Do seafood restaurants require reservations?
Popular restaurants often require advance booking, especially on weekends and during summer.
What seafood is popular in the UK?
Oysters, crab, lobster, scallops, mussels, prawns, and locally caught fish are popular choices.
Are UK seafood restaurants expensive?
Prices vary widely, from casual seaside restaurants to luxury Michelin-starred dining.
Hi, I’m Rasel Miah, the creator of Ultimate Travel Diary. I enjoy exploring travel destinations, hotels, local food, and hidden gems across the USA and beyond. Through this blog, I share travel guides, hotel reviews, and helpful tips based on personal research and experience to help travelers plan better trips.