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Posh Restaurants on the Isle of Wight
I am terrible at trying to blend in at posh restaurants on the Isle of Wight.
Without fail, I will embarrass Mrs Guru by mispronouncing some French dish or noisily slurping diet coke with a straw before hoicking the ice out with a spoon.
If you don't suffer from an embarrassing spouse, you might enjoy a trip to one of these posh restaurants.
The choice on the Isle of Wight is really rather good, so we will just focus on those that make it into the Michelin guide. It's worth mentioning that appearing in the Michelin guide isn't the same as winning a Michelin star. There aren't currently any Isle of Wight restaurants with a Michelin star, but these are the next best thing and should impress your hot date.
I'll also add some waffle at the end about some other posh restaurants that we have been to on the Isle of Wight. Of course, you might prefer a simple restaurant with a sea view, somewhere cheap, or a pub with a playground.
Anyway, here are six posh restaurants on the Isle of Wight (in no particular order):
Without fail, I will embarrass Mrs Guru by mispronouncing some French dish or noisily slurping diet coke with a straw before hoicking the ice out with a spoon.
If you don't suffer from an embarrassing spouse, you might enjoy a trip to one of these posh restaurants.
The choice on the Isle of Wight is really rather good, so we will just focus on those that make it into the Michelin guide. It's worth mentioning that appearing in the Michelin guide isn't the same as winning a Michelin star. There aren't currently any Isle of Wight restaurants with a Michelin star, but these are the next best thing and should impress your hot date.
I'll also add some waffle at the end about some other posh restaurants that we have been to on the Isle of Wight. Of course, you might prefer a simple restaurant with a sea view, somewhere cheap, or a pub with a playground.
Anyway, here are six posh restaurants on the Isle of Wight (in no particular order):
1. The Hambrough, Ventnor
The Hambrough is an eight bedroom hotel with a restaurant attached. It got a whole heap of attention about 15 years ago when it won a Michelin star. Its head chef at the time was about 12 years old (I'm exaggerating slightly, he was in his mid-20s and is called Robert Thompson).
It doesn't have a Michelin star but it's still in the Michelin guide. We've stayed at the hotel and eaten breakfast at the Hambrough but haven't had an evening meal there yet. The blurb says they do a 'modern twist on classic combinations'.
The Hambrough is a good choice if you want a sea view, even though it is set back a bit. Ventnor is on a massive hill so almost every building is well positioned for gazing out to sea. The downside is that parts of the town occasionally move a bit more than they should. Residents wake up and find that their conservatory is a little breezier than it used to be.
This is unlikely to ruin your visit to the town. Combine your visit with a walk along the coastal path from Ventnor to Steephill Cove. It's a terrific walk and you can justifiably get a pudding.
TripAdvisor scores are 4.5/5, but that's the score including reviews for the hotel.
It doesn't have a Michelin star but it's still in the Michelin guide. We've stayed at the hotel and eaten breakfast at the Hambrough but haven't had an evening meal there yet. The blurb says they do a 'modern twist on classic combinations'.
The Hambrough is a good choice if you want a sea view, even though it is set back a bit. Ventnor is on a massive hill so almost every building is well positioned for gazing out to sea. The downside is that parts of the town occasionally move a bit more than they should. Residents wake up and find that their conservatory is a little breezier than it used to be.
This is unlikely to ruin your visit to the town. Combine your visit with a walk along the coastal path from Ventnor to Steephill Cove. It's a terrific walk and you can justifiably get a pudding.
TripAdvisor scores are 4.5/5, but that's the score including reviews for the hotel.
2. The Terrace, Yarmouth
Mrs Guru and I greatly enjoyed our visit to the Terrace. I was on my best behaviour and she persuaded me to wear a shirt, despite my protestations that "Mark Zuckerberg wears hoodies everywhere, so why can't I?".
The restaurant sits on top of the Wightlink booking office. That may sound about as appealing as dining at a baguette stand at Clapham Junction but it's actually really lovely. You get views of the ferry coming and going as well as Yarmouth Castle.
When we visited, Plan A was to hire one of the pods on the outdoor bit. This dream was scuppered by high winds so we ended up inside whilst rain battered against the window.
We plan to return on a sunny evening so that it looks a bit more like the photos.
Its TripAdvisor score is 4.5/5.
The restaurant sits on top of the Wightlink booking office. That may sound about as appealing as dining at a baguette stand at Clapham Junction but it's actually really lovely. You get views of the ferry coming and going as well as Yarmouth Castle.
When we visited, Plan A was to hire one of the pods on the outdoor bit. This dream was scuppered by high winds so we ended up inside whilst rain battered against the window.
We plan to return on a sunny evening so that it looks a bit more like the photos.
Its TripAdvisor score is 4.5/5.
Mrs Guru thought to photograph her meal at The Terrace in Yarmouth. I was too busy eating.
3. The Brasserie by Smoking Lobster, Cowes
We've not made it to the Smoking Lobster in Cowes yet, but I can still waffle about it at great length.
The restaurant is within a small hotel called Foresters Hall that was previously called North House. The new owners changed the name and opened a Cowes branch of a popular Ventnor restaurant called the Smoking Lobster.
The Ventnor branch appeared on a TV programme on More 4 where Ainsley Harriott and Grace Dent visited and made lots of exaggerated noises whilst eating seafood on a grey day.
As you'll gather from the name, the Smoking Lobster specialises in a seafood.
If you visit the Cowes one, I would combine it with a walk from Cowes to Gurnard. There are particularly good sunsets along here which make an ideal opportunity for a smooch (think twice before you order a garlic dish).
TripAdvisor gives The Smoking Lobster in Cowes 4.5/5.
The restaurant is within a small hotel called Foresters Hall that was previously called North House. The new owners changed the name and opened a Cowes branch of a popular Ventnor restaurant called the Smoking Lobster.
The Ventnor branch appeared on a TV programme on More 4 where Ainsley Harriott and Grace Dent visited and made lots of exaggerated noises whilst eating seafood on a grey day.
As you'll gather from the name, the Smoking Lobster specialises in a seafood.
If you visit the Cowes one, I would combine it with a walk from Cowes to Gurnard. There are particularly good sunsets along here which make an ideal opportunity for a smooch (think twice before you order a garlic dish).
TripAdvisor gives The Smoking Lobster in Cowes 4.5/5.
4. Aquitania at Seaview Hotel, Seaview
We've been scuppered a couple of times whilst planning to eat at Aquitania, so it's still on my to-do.
It's had a good reputation for a long time and has previously held a Michelin Bin Gourmand. That's a special Michelin award for posh food that is also good value.
I would combine this one with a walk to or from Appley. The coastal path along here is very nice. It's easier to park for free in Seaview than it is in Ryde, so I would park up near the restaurant and then go for a walk.
Of course, there's a risk that you will just give up on the walk and go for dinner early.
TripAdvisor reviews are currently 4/5.
It's had a good reputation for a long time and has previously held a Michelin Bin Gourmand. That's a special Michelin award for posh food that is also good value.
I would combine this one with a walk to or from Appley. The coastal path along here is very nice. It's easier to park for free in Seaview than it is in Ryde, so I would park up near the restaurant and then go for a walk.
Of course, there's a risk that you will just give up on the walk and go for dinner early.
TripAdvisor reviews are currently 4/5.
5. The Red Lion, Freshwater
The Red Lion looks like lots of other country pubs on the Isle of Wight. It's a lovely old building on a pretty little street with a beach about a mile away.
However, it serves up proper posh food with delicate little dishes. It's not the sort of place to go for a gut busting meal but we liked it a lot when we visited in 2024. My table was a bit wobbly but I got over that.
You don't get a sea view, but they've got a garden.
TripAdvisor reviewers give the Red Lion 4.5/5.
However, it serves up proper posh food with delicate little dishes. It's not the sort of place to go for a gut busting meal but we liked it a lot when we visited in 2024. My table was a bit wobbly but I got over that.
You don't get a sea view, but they've got a garden.
TripAdvisor reviewers give the Red Lion 4.5/5.
Another photo thanks to Mrs Guru - this time from the Red Lion.
6. The Hut, Colwell
The Hut has the best location of the six restaurants in this guide. It sits on the seawall between Totland and Colwell in the West Wight.
It's the sort of place that Trendy Wendy loves. You can expect to see her photographing her food for Instagram, then photographing herself against the sunset, then furiously hashtagging and then finally getting round to eating and perhaps talking to her spouse (before filming a reel on the way home to share her POV etc).
The menu is mostly seafood and it has a pumping soundtrack of trendy music. I liked our brunch at The Hut very much and I loved the view, but I wasn't sure I fitted in with my Dad-shandals and my £1.99 sunglasses from Home Bargains.
It's the sort of place that Trendy Wendy loves. You can expect to see her photographing her food for Instagram, then photographing herself against the sunset, then furiously hashtagging and then finally getting round to eating and perhaps talking to her spouse (before filming a reel on the way home to share her POV etc).
The menu is mostly seafood and it has a pumping soundtrack of trendy music. I liked our brunch at The Hut very much and I loved the view, but I wasn't sure I fitted in with my Dad-shandals and my £1.99 sunglasses from Home Bargains.
I did manage to take this photo of my latte at The Hut
Other posh places to eat on the Isle of Wight
This is not an exhaustive list, but some of the other posher places that we've eaten at include:
- The Rock at The Albion Hotel opened in 2024. The hotel had a £6m refurbishment after years as a rather unappealing looking hotel. The location is outstanding, with waves crashing around Freshwater Bay. We had a terrific breakfast here and have sat out for drinks a few times but haven't made it for an evening meal.
- The Royal Hotel is the Isle of Wight's longest established posh hotel. It's a lovely old hotel with staff that actually appear to be hospitality professionals rather than clueless teenagers having loud conversations about how drunk they were last night. Non-residents are welcome to dine at The Conservatory, which is the dining room.
The dining room at The Rock at The Albion in Freshwater Bay is practically on the beach
