FOOD + DRINK
On the foodie trail in ... Margate cont ...
TURNER CONTEMPORARY THE BUS CAFE
BUOY AND OYSTER
SHELL GROTTO
nobody really knows how or why the 70 feet of underground tunnels got there , but they ’ re pretty impressive and a must-visit while you ’ re in the area if you ’ re looking for something a little different to do .
This visitor attraction is also especially good if you ’ re not blessed with sunshine during your stay , as you can escape the elements deep underground . The grotto boasts 4.6million shells over 2,000 square feet of mosaic and it ’ s quite captivating . You won ’ t need to spend long there – allow around half an hour – but it ’ s well worth a visit while you ’ re in Margate .
shellgrotto . co . uk
Sundowners at sunset All shelled out and ready for another refreshment ? Make your way to Margate ’ s Parade . The street runs parallel to the beach and is peppered with cool and quirky bars where you can sip on a sundowner and watch the sun set . Check out The Glass Jar – an independent cocktail bar serving up everything from classics like Martinis and Old Fashioneds to concoctions like the banana bourbon sour . Pull up a pew and sip and savour while the sun sets .
theglassjarmargate . co . uk
Seafood and sights Just a few steps from Margate ’ s cocktail bars , you ’ ll find Buoy & Oyster – a seafood restaurant serving up classic and contemporary dishes with a side of far-reaching views over Margate ’ s bay and beyond .
The double AA rosette restaurant offers a relaxed , yet stylish dining experience , serving up some of the best seafood for miles around with fresh oysters , seafood platters and fruits de mer all taking centre stage . That said , if you fancy something a little different , it ’ s also well-known for its meat offering , and if you ’ re visiting on a Sunday , be sure to order one of its infamous roasts that people travel from miles around to enjoy .
buoyandoyster . com
After a full day of eating and drinking your way around Margate , it ’ s time to climb the hill back to Cliftonville and rest your head ready for more culinary adventures tomorrow .
DAY 2
Transport treats Breakfast is , of course , the most important meal of the day , so you need to make sure you do it right . In Margate , that means visiting The Bus Cafe . There ’ s something both special and surreal about eating breakfast on the top deck of a red double decker bus overlooking the sea , but the breakfast and brunch offerings here are the perfect way to start your day . With the likes of crumpet sliders and award-winning hangover breakfasts on offer , everything is cooked fresh from the bus kitchen and tastes even better washed down with a cup of coffee from local roastery Garage Coffee , based in Hoath near Canterbury .
thebuscafe . co . uk www . insidekent . co . uk • 67