MORI MORI
BUOY AND OYSTER
LITTLE SWIFT
© Thanet District Council
POWELL COTTON MUSEUM
SHELL GROTTO
As art encompasses almost everything in Margate , food is no exception . For those wanting a quieter trip to peruse the galleries , admire the beach and explore the town , Margate is brimming with cool coffee shops and cosy cafés , as well as ultra-hip wine bars and trendy spots for cocktails . One such place with incredible views of Margate sands is Little Swift , yet another venue that welcomes live acts and music . Guests at Little Swift can sip wine while watching the sun go down over the beach alongside a perfectly laid out charcuterie board of delicious local produce . If you ’ re craving a cleverly concocted cocktail , visit Mori Mori , a Japanese bento and izakaya restaurant with expertly crafted dishes – a must-go for any foodie visiting Margate .
Another foodie treasure not to be missed is Buoy and Oyster . Proud to have been awarded two AA Rosettes since 2019 and to be featured in Harden ' s UK top-rated restaurants , here diners can indulge in exquisitely cooked seafood dishes . The majority of the menu comes straight from a local fishmonger ' s 18-day boats which fish the waters off the Isle of Thanet – so eat assured that everything is local and fresh . Just next door sits Buoy and Oyster ’ s delightful neighbour , Waverly House : a seafront venue with food and beverage offerings across multiple levels . Guests can enjoy the first-floor restaurant , which offers all-day dining serving a seasonal menu and priding themselves on quality produce and ‘ honest humble cooking ’; a sit down three-course set menu focusing on the best locally sourced fish and seafood in the private dining area ; or party and dine with bigger groups of friends and family in the gallery – a brand new addition for 2023 .
Margate would not be the eclectic cultural hotspot it is without its abundance of museums and places of historical interest . Many of these are brilliantly quirky and unique , such as The Crab Museum , a whimsical ode to crabs ; the Powell Cotton Museum which houses one of the largest collections
of antique taxidermy ; and the perplexing Shell Grotto . Thought to have pagan origins , it remains a mystery how this fascinating place came to be . With underground passages and chambers intricately decorated with thousands of seashells , this is truly a local marvel .
Another museum can be found in one of Margate ’ s best hotels , the Walpole Bay . Home to a myriad of intriguing artefacts from the 1920s and more , the Walpole Bay continues to celebrate the elegant side of Margate and its cherished history . Built for discerning guests at the height of Victorian seaside mania in 1914 and extended in 1927 , the Walpole has been lovingly restored to her former glory only recently . Expect sumptuous rooms , spacious lounges , a flower-decked veranda , an Edwardian restaurant , snooker room and a 1920 ’ s ballroom complete with an original sprung maple dance floor – traditional Margate meets modern luxury at its finest .
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