Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Canterbury
Hardens guides have spent 30 years compiling reviews of the best Canterbury restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 28 restaurants in Canterbury and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Canterbury restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Canterbury Restaurants
1. Deeson’s British Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in Canterbury
25-27 Sun St - CT1
2018 Review: A family-run establishment, stumbling distance from cathedral and theatre, that “does what it does very well” – in particular straightforward British cooking.
2. Café des Amis
Mexican/TexMex restaurant in Canterbury
95 St Dunstan’s St - CT2
“A restaurant to lift the spirits” – this “very lively” and “very popular” Westgate Mexican has been turning out “enjoyable” and “fresh-tasting” fajitas etc for three decades now and happily there’s “lots of choice for non meat-eaters too”.
3. The Ambrette Canterbury
Indian, Southern restaurant in Canterbury
14 - 15 Beer Cart Lane - CT1
Dev Biswal’s roomy converted pub continues to do a swift trade in “Indian cuisine with a twist” (including trademark pyramid-shaped dosa). As of October 2019, Biswal has mooted closing his Sussex branch, The Devil in Rye, to focus on a new Margate spin-off, opened in 2018, as well as here in Canterbury, where he is reportedly seeking out a second venue for more casual dining.
4. Goods Shed
British, Traditional restaurant in Canterbury
Station Road West - CT2
“Located in Canterbury’s permanent farmers’ market, so it’s really buzzing at lunchtimes”, this informal spot has had a strong local following across two decades. “It’s not elaborate food – the ingredients are sourced from the market and left to speak for themselves” – but it’s backed up by a “good-value wine list”. A word of warning for winter: “the food’s good, but you’re sitting in a converted goods shed and boy it’s cold. We kept our coats on for the whole meal”.
5. Cafe du Soleil
Mediterranean restaurant in Canterbury
4-5 Pound Lane - CT1
2017 Review: A brick-walled riverside venue in a former 18th-century wool store; its “fantastic pizzas (courtesy of a proper wood-burning pizza oven)” continue to be the main event, and come “generously topped with tasty and quality produce”.
6. County Restaurant, ABode Canterbury
British, Modern restaurant in Canterbury
High St - CT1
2019 Review: “The only place in Canterbury where you can eat an approximation of fine dining” – i.e. “delicate and flavoursome” dishes (“classics with a modern twist”) and set lunches, all “at an affordable price”.
7. Cafe Mauresque
Moroccan restaurant in Canterbury
8 Butchery Ln - CT1
“Quirky – but does it for us”, this atmospheric cellar close to the cathedral has long been popular for its “good quality, authentic Moroccan food” and Moorish décor, complemented by Andalusian tapas (classified as ‘light’, ‘medium’ or ‘rich’) and paella.
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