Oysters in Whitstable

The Old Neptune

The pub on the shingle of Whitstable beach, on this spot since the 1850s, known for sunset views, fish and chips, oysters and live music. The kitchen closes earlier than the bar, so plan to eat by 4pm on most days.

Marine Terrace, CT5 1EJ

5 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Wed 11:30am-9:30pm · Thu-Sat 11:30am-11pm · Sun noon-9pm

Pearson's Arms

Wood-panelled pub almost on the beach at Horsebridge, with a bar and snug downstairs and a restaurant upstairs looking over the bay. Known for a long cocktail list, with live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a £5 pint offer Monday to Wednesday from noon to 8pm.

Sea Wall, Horsebridge, CT5 1BT

2 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Tue noon-10pm · Wed-Thu noon-11pm · Fri-Sat noon-midnight · Sun noon-10pm

The Lobster Shack

Beach restaurant at the far end of the East Quay, run by the Whitstable Oyster Company, serving lobster, Whitstable rock oysters and fish and chips with views over the estuary and a log burner for colder months. No reservations; reach it through the East Harbour entrance.

East Quay, Whitstable Harbour, CT5 1AB

3 min walk from Harbour Street

Daily noon-7:30pm (autumn hours)

The Sea Farmer's Dive Taproom

Seafront taproom at Horsebridge with a cosy fireside room and diving and seafaring decor, serving local and craft lagers, ales and ciders alongside oysters, with outside seating looking out to sea. There are no toilets on site.

The Barrel Store, Horsebridge Road, CT5 1BU

1 min walk from Harbour Street

Mon-Thu noon-9:30pm · Fri-Sat noon-9:45pm · Sun noon-9pm

Keller

Wine bar and restaurant from the team behind the Fordwich Arms, opened in June 2026 in the former RuLu's deli. Seasonal sharing plates cooked over a charcoal oven; book online. Dogs are welcome at the outside tables.

28 Harbour Street, CT5 1AH

Mon-Tue closed · Wed-Sat noon-2:30pm, 5:30pm-8pm · Sun noon-4pm

Wheelers Oyster Bar

Whitstable's oldest restaurant, trading since 1856 behind its pink and blue frontage, with a seafood counter, a two-room dining room at the back and a busy takeaway trade. It has no drinks licence, so bring your own (small corkage fee), and book well ahead.

8 High Street, CT5 1BQ

Mon-Tue 10am-5pm · Wed closed · Thu 10am-5pm · Fri-Sat 10am-8pm · Sun 10am-5pm

Whitstable Oyster Company

Seafood restaurant in the old oyster stores on the beach at Horsebridge, serving oysters from the company's own beds, natural, Royale or Rockefeller, alongside simply cooked fish of the day, with a terrace over the estuary. Book by phone.

Royal Native Oyster Stores, Horsebridge, CT5 1BU

1 min walk from Harbour Street

Mon-Sat noon-9pm · Sun noon-7:30pm

The Oyster Shed

The Whitstable Oyster Company's oyster bar on the South Quay, newly extended into a seafood restaurant and bar with a large seating area, shucking oysters to order alongside battered cod, rope-grown mussels and steamed lobster, with food to take away too.

South Quay, Whitstable Harbour, CT5 1AB

3 min walk from Harbour Street

Hours not published, so check before you go.

The Forge

Seafront shack with picnic tables on Sea Wall, serving oysters, local beer, coffee, scampi and chips and hot sugared doughnuts. Under the same ownership as the Whitstable Oyster Company, and very busy in summer.

1 Sea Wall, CT5 1BX

2 min walk from Harbour Street

Busiest in summer; hours not published.

Crabworks

Harbour hut next to Aqua Shellfish serving soft-shell crab brioche, popcorn mussels, crab sandwiches, 'loaded crab fries', padron peppers and Whitstable rock oysters, raw or battered.

Hut 9, Harbour Market, Whitstable Harbour, CT5 1AB

3 min walk from Harbour Street

Open daily (times not published)

West Whelks

Family fishing business working since 1947, selling native oysters and whelks from its own boats direct from the harbour wall at weekends.

Harbour wall, Whitstable Harbour

3 min walk from Harbour Street

Weekends (times not published)

Hotel Continental Brasserie & Bar

Public bar and restaurant at the seafront Hotel Continental, overlooking the beach and the Thames Estuary, serving a classic menu built on local produce and Whitstable oysters. Card payments only.

29 Beach Walk, CT5 2BP

8 min walk from Harbour Street

Mon-Fri 7am-10am, noon-2:30pm, 5:30pm-9pm · Sat 7:30am-10:30am, noon-9pm · Sun 7:30am-10:30am, noon-4pm

Quayside

Harbour Street pub with a food focus on seafood favourites, serving from noon whenever the bar is open.

67 Harbour Street, CT5 1AG

Mon-Tue noon-4pm · Wed-Thu noon-9pm · Fri-Sat noon-11:30pm · Sun noon-7pm

Tidehouse

Seafront bar and restaurant on Beach Walk, opened in September 2025, with a largely Italian-inspired menu, a fish counter and a terrace with sea views. Look out for cockles, oysters, cured salmon, Ramsgate crab and charcuterie boards.

5 Beach Walk, CT5 2BP

8 min walk from Harbour Street

Mon-Tue noon-8pm · Wed-Thu 10am-9pm · Fri 10am-11pm · Sat 9am-11pm · Sun 9am-8pm · Monday and Tuesday times are printed unclearly on its site, so check

Oyster Pearl

Pub restaurant on the Seasalter coast road mixing British and Asian dishes with a seafood focus. Food noon to 9pm Monday to Saturday and noon to 5pm on Sunday.

185 Faversham Road, Seasalter, CT5 4BJ

42 min walk from Oxford Street

Mon-Thu noon-11:30pm · Fri-Sat noon-12:30am · Sun noon-11:30pm

The Sportsman

Michelin-starred pub on the Seasalter marshes, known for seasonal menus built on fish landed that morning, local wines and its own bread, butter and salt. Weekend tables book up six to eight months ahead and midweek one to two months ahead. No children under 10.

Faversham Road, Seasalter, CT5 4BP

5.1 km from Oxford Street

Mon closed · Tue-Sat noon-1:45pm, 6:30pm-8:30pm · Sun 12:30pm-2:45pm

JoJo's

Long-established Tankerton restaurant with estuary views, serving Mediterranean-style meze, meat and locally landed fish as sharing plates, with mutton and feta koftas a regular favourite. Book the restaurant online; seats at the cocktail and tapas bar need no booking.

2 Herne Bay Road, Tankerton, CT5 2LQ

30 min walk from Harbour Street

Mon-Tue closed · Wed 6pm-10:30pm · Thu-Sat noon-4:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm · Sun noon-5pm

Birdies

French-style bistro on Harbour Street, open since 1984, with a seafood-led menu that changes daily, good-value set lunches and a courtyard garden. Book online or by phone; tables of six or more need a £10 per person deposit.

41 Harbour Street, CT5 1AH

Mon 6pm-8:45pm · Tue-Sun noon-2:45pm, 6pm-8:45pm

Aqua Shellfish

Waterfront harbour hut selling local seafood and shellfish, fish pâtés and prepared fish to cook at home; orders can be kept in the fridge for collection later in the day.

Hut 7, Harbour Market, Whitstable Harbour, CT5 1AB

3 min walk from Harbour Street

Hours not published.

Whitstable Harbour Market

Huts and stalls on the South Quay selling oysters, seafood, fish and chips and street food, including New York-style pizza by the slice, with seating around the harbour. Nearby fish stalls sell pots of cockles with vinegar for about £1.

South Quay, Whitstable Harbour, CT5 1AB

3 min walk from Harbour Street

Summer: Thu-Fri 10am-4pm · Sat-Sun 10am-5pm · winter hours differ

Land + Sea

Tankerton restaurant serving brunch and lunch, with sharing-style dinners from Wednesday to Saturday and a deli counter of freshly made food to take home. Reviewers praise the seafood and vegetarian options; takes reservations.

139D Tankerton Road, CT5 2AW

22 min walk from Harbour Street

Mon-Tue closed · Wed-Sat 8:30am-11:30am, noon-3pm, 6pm-10:30pm · Sun 8:30am-11:30am, noon-3pm

Seven Seas Fish Bar

Fish and chip shop and restaurant on Canterbury Road with seating and table service, takeaway, and delivery through Just Eat.

22-24 Canterbury Road, CT5 4EY

3 min walk from Oxford Street

Mon-Tue 4:30pm-9pm · Wed-Sat 11:30am-2pm, 4:30pm-9pm · Sun closed