Our next stop from Margate was the historic seaside town of Ramsgate, followed by Broadstairs.

For our stay in Ramsgate we booked the Albion House, a charming boutique hotel set inside a 18th Century building overlooking the seafront. The hotel is minutes from the coastline, the beach and the main town centre. Situated on a hill, it offers some great sea views and in general was an elegant place to stay.

EAT

We visited the following places to eat during our short visit to Ramsgate and Broadstairs on the basis of online reviews/recommendations. All places take reservations and it’s advisable to book in advance.

Little Ships, Ramsgate

Little Ships is named after the hundreds of ‘little ships’ that left Ramsgate to rescue British and allied servicemen from Dunkirk in May 1940. It is a sea-facing restaurant and cafe with a rotating menu, focusing on seasonal and local produce. They have a lovely alfresco space and their tables by full height windows are the primo seats to snap up. Our dinner included dishes such as Barbecued Orchard Pork Chop and Sea Bass in Thai-style Coconut and Crab Sauce – all very nice!

La Magnolia Ramsgate

La Magnolia, situated on top of a hill, is the perfect place on a sunny day for alfresco lunching, gorging on pasta, sipping on white wine and soaking in the views of Ramsgate Marina. Initially, we thought the place looked a bit ‘touristy’ but the service and the food won us over! We feasted on Tagliatella Crab e Gamberi (Fresh egg tagliatelle with white crab meat and king prawns in a brandy and salmon cream sauce) and Risotto Genovese di Mare (squid, salmon, mussels and crab meat, topped with a sea bass fillet, with a white wine, onion and parsley sauce).

Townleys Ramsgate

Townleys is the restaurant attached to the aforementioned Albion House. As guests of the hotel, we took advantage of the short commute and dined here twice, but the place is open to the general public as well. Brunch here was an upscale affair, with dishes such as Eggs Florentine, Sweet Potato Hash and Eggs Benedict on the morning menu.

We also booked the restaurant for a date night on the last evening of our stay in Ramsgate. It was lovely to see how the restaurant transforms into a romantic evening venue, complete with candles and flowers, to create the perfect ambience. We tucked into Heirloom Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella Salad and Prawn Cocktail for starters, followed by Free-Range Chicken Kiev and Pan-fried Sea Bass for mains. Overall, a fabulous venue for dining, no matter what time of day it is.

One other place that was recommended to us that we didn’t manage to visit was Marc Pierre’s Kitchen. If you have eaten here, let me know what dishes you recommend in the comments section below.

Botany Bay Hotel, Broadstairs

During our visit to the stunning Botany Bay, we stayed at Botany Bay Hotel and also had dinner here one evening. Whilst the food here is a typical gastropub offering, you simply can’t fault its location literally minutes from the sandy beaches, cliffs and rock pools of Botany Bay. If you are planning a day visit, I definitely recommend a lunch booking here.

Posillipo Broadstairs

Posillipo is a family-friendly Italian restaurant and pizzeria, with branches in Faversham and Canterbury. During our visit, we gorged on the likes of Risotto Salsiccia (Italian pork sausage meat, spicy n’duja and saffron) and Strascinati Salsiccia (Flat round pasta with Italian fennel sausage meat, broccoli, cream and Grana Padano Cheese). Portions are massive, the cooking impressive and the service welcoming. The best seats to book are the ones on their terrace, where you can marvel at the magnificent Viking Bay.

We didn’t actually stay in Broadstairs so didn’t get to explore much more in the area in terms of food and drinks. Other places recommended to us were Wyatt and Jones and their takeaway restaurant next door Flotsam and Jetsam, as well as the The Tartar Frigate for seafood.

DRINK

Wetherspoon Ramsgate

Wetherspoon is well known for its cheap pints, but that’s not what makes Wetherspoon Ramsgate special. The pub is located inside The Royal Victoria Pavilion, an enormous Grade II listed building which was originally built as a concert hall, then a nightclub as well as a casino. If like me, you like a bit of architectural history, this is one of most stunning buildings, right on the seafront. Not only is the space inside magnificent and steeped in Victorian & Edwardian details, but they have a large rooftop terrace as well. Well worth a visit; just be mindful of the seagulls stealing your food!

Belle Vue Tavern, Ramsgate

Belle Vue Tavern will remain forever etched in my memory as the pub with breathtaking views. Dubbed ‘Balcony of Kent’, the beer garden at the rear of the pub has stunning views across Pegwell Bay and out to The Channel. The pub building itself has an interesting history. I highly recommend this place for a visit when you are in Ramsgate.