Whistlefish Dartmouth

The Whistlefish in Dartmouth is a seafood restaurant that's earned a proper reputation among locals and visitors alike. Sit by the window and you've got the River Dart spreading out in front of you - fishing boats, sailing dinghies, and the occasional ferry creating the kind of backdrop that makes you remember why you came to Devon in the first place.

It's run with real care, which shows in the details. Fresh fish landed daily, cooked without fussing about too much. The menu changes depending on what's come in, so you might find sea bass one week and brill the next. It's the sort of place where the staff actually know what they're talking about rather than just reciting descriptions. Not fancy in a stuffy way, but done properly.

The obvious crowd here is seafood enthusiasts - if you're not into fish, you might find your options a bit thin. Give yourself a couple of hours for lunch, longer if you're lingering over dinner. Book ahead, especially weekends and school holidays. From Paignton, it's a scenic drive over to Dartmouth, worth doing regardless.

If you're staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around - South Bay Holiday Park, Waterside Holiday Park, or Hoburne Devon Bay are all within a few miles - Whistlefish makes for a proper night out. It's the kind of meal that justifies a day exploring the South Devon coast rather than staying put at the caravan.