
Devon's small-scale food producers were trailblazers in the 'real food' revolution and business is booming. There are more new-wave local cheeses to be savoured here than anywhere else in England. Also look out for cider and wine, along with traditional breeds of livestock and local specialities like Dittisham plums.
The south coast is famous for its fish: crabs from Start Bay, River Dart oysters, Brixham mussels, sea bass and more. Restaurants snap up what they can before the big boys get their hands on the catch.
AgaricNick Coiley is a local food crusader, and his restaurant in a converted shop is a showcase for Devon produce and home enterprise - witness Dartmouth crab salad with smoked paprika and lime mayonnaise, grilled turbot with samphire or best end of lamb with an asparagus tart and rosemary gravy.
30 North Street, Ashburton, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Holne Chase HotelIn a perfectly unique location, this former Hunting Lodge to Buckfast Abbey is set in extensive park and woodland just inside Dartmoor National Park and with private walks alongside the River Dart and through the Holne Chase Nature Reserve, it is a very special and romantic place to stay.
Tavistock Road, Ashburton, Devon - Cuisine: Traditional British
River Cottage Canteen & DeliRiver Cottage Canteen & Deli in the carpet town of Axminister was celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalll's first foray into restaurants.
Trinity Square, Axminster, Devon - Cuisine: British
Blagdon ManorSteve and Liz Morey's Grade II-listed manor house is set amid amid acres of rural Devon pastures and they have nurtured the place with real care.
Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Steamers RestaurantThis one-time chandlery and village bakery was converted into a local restaurant in 2003 and chef Andy Williams has been at the stoves since the very beginning.
New Cut, Beer, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
Lathwells RestaurantTucked away on one of Bideford's narrow cobbled streets, a short walk from the quay, Radwells ticks all the necessary boxes as a enthusiastically run neighbourhood restaurant.
4 Cooper Street, Bideford, Devon - Cuisine: European
Penhaven Country House HotelPart of a lush North Devon estate not far from Bideford, Penhaven is very much a model country retreat with rustic pleasures in abundance: there a delightful woodland walks to be enjoyed, and guests often spy badgers going about their business in the undergrowth - not to mention ducks and a host of other wildlife.
Rectory Lane, Bideford, Devon - Cuisine: International
The Oyster Shack'A lesson in seafood' is how co-owner Chris Yandell describes this enterprising venture. The place is a summer time hot-spot – especially when the sun shines and you can sit outside and enjoy impeccably fresh fish served by jolly, laid-back staff.
Milburn Orchard Farm, Bigbury, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
Burgh Island HotelThis famous grade II Art Deco hotel is situated on a private island 200 metres off the coast of South Devon.
Burgh Island, Bigbury on Sea, Devon - Cuisine: Fusion
The Normandy ArmsTucked away in the south Devon countryside within easy reach of Totnes and Dartmouth, this centuries-old village pub was re-named in honour of the World World II exercises that took place on nearby Slapton beach prior to the Normandy landings.
Chapel Street, Blackawton, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Masons ArmsHidden away down tiny tortuous Devon lanes, but only a leisurely ten-minute stroll from Branscombe beach, the fourteenth-century Masons Arms looks an absolute dream from the outside – and it doesn't disappoint once you have walked through the door.
Main Street, Branscombe, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
PilgrimsIt is essential to make a reservation as far in advance as possible at this restaurant. That says it all really!Chef David Sicobo takes fish straight from the boat, his meat and vegetables from local farms.
64b Fore Street, Brixham, Devon - Cuisine: French
22 Mill StreetTucked away just off the high street in the charming village of Chagford on the edge of Dartmoor, 22 Mill Street is a cosy 22 seat restaurant that sets out to provide a mixture of culinary excellence and professional yet relaxed service all combining for the ultimate in dining experiences.
22 Mill Street, Chagford, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Gidleigh ParkTo find Gidleigh Park, you need to negotiate a seemingly never-ending and fearsomely narrow lane: 'keep heart, you're almost there', says the sign.
, Chagford, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Mill End Hotel'There's something about this place that makes people smile,' wrote Paddy Burt in the Daily Telegraph. Mill End really is a converted eighteenth-century mill (complete with its original water wheel and the River Teign meandering through the garden) and it sits idyllically in peaceful Dartmoor countryside a couple of miles from Chagford.
Sandy Park, Chagford, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Elizabethan InnDown country roads in a tiny hamlet between Chudleigh and Teignmouth, this aptly named, five-centuries-old inn looks and feels like a quintessential English country pub, complete with beams, pews and a pretty cottage garden.
Fore Street, Chudleigh, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
The Earl of PortsmouthOriginally known as the London Inn, this village pub was re-built by local estate owner the Earl of Portsmouth after a fire in 1869.
The Square, Chulmleigh, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
AngeliqueAngelique, the new name for the renowned New Angel restaurant is in a picturesque setting on Dartmouth's South Embankment with beautiful harbourside views across the Dart and Angelique is unique in its ability to offer guests a choice of dining experiences.
2 South Embankment, Dartmouth, Devon - Cuisine: Contemporary French
Dartmouth ApprenticeThe Dartmouth Apprentice, sister restaurant to the successful Hoxton Apprentice in North London opened in July 2008 set in the magnificent former church of St Barnabas next to the river Dart.
St Barnabas Church, Dartmouth, Devon - Cuisine: Italian
Jan and Freddies BrasserieJan and Freddie Clarke are the ebullient duo behind this lively brasserie in the centre of Dartmouth, within walking distance of the boats and the river and simply called Jan and Freddies Brasserie.
10 Fairfax Place, Dartmouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
The Seahorse RestaurantThe Seahorse Restaurant Dartmouth opened in April 2008 and is idyllically situated on the banks of the River Dart, overlooking the mesmerizing marine scene of boats to-ing and fro-ing on the estuary.
5 South Embankment, Dartmouth, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
Nobody InnThe curious name of this quintessential sixteenth-century Devon pub refers to an incident long ago, when travellers seeking sustenance were greeted by the landlord's voice intoning the throwaway line 'Nobody in!!'Present incumbent Nick Borst-Smith has been in residence for more than three decades and is much more welcoming and friendly towards his customers.
, Doddiscombsleigh, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Drewe ArmsA gem of a rural pub set high above the wooded slopes of the Teign Valley, the Drewe Arms will forever be remembered as 'Auntie Mabel's'.
The Square, Drewsteignton, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Plantation House HotelBuilt as a rectory during the eighteen century, there is something rather ageless about this cream-painted house on the sunny side of the Erme Valley.
Totnes Road, Ermington, Devon - Cuisine: Modern
@Angela'sClose to Exeter Cathedral and Exeter St Thomas railway station, @Angelas Restaurant is committed to using eco-friendly produce sourced from the finest local suppliers so expect high quality seafood, meat, game and vegetarian dishes.
38 New Bridge Street, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
ABode Exeter, MC Café Bar & GrillNestled in Exeter's historic Cathedral Yard, ABode Exeter occupies the city's oldest hotel, bringing chic modern style to its formal surroundings.
Cathedral Yard, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Combe House Hotel and RestaurantTo reach Combe House Hotel, make your way along the one-mile drive that meanders through the 3,500-acre estate bordering this magnificent Grade I-listed Elizabethan manor.
Gittisham, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
La Petite MaisonSituated just a short drive from the centre of Exeter, Douglas, Elizabeth and Naomi Pestell's utterly charming, family-run restaurant has more than a touch of French auberge about it, and the building displays its heritage with white stucco, a bow window and a Dutch fireplace in the curiously curved main dining room.
35 Fore Street, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Michael Caines at ABode ExeterSuperstar chef Michael Caines was born and bred in Exeter, so it was natural that he should begin his latest empire-building venture here.
Cathedral Yard, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
No 21 Cathedral YardSet against the imposing backdrop of Exeter's Gothic cathedral, this exciting contemporary venue (formerly the Carved Angel Café) not only has unrivalled views but offers visitors a fine choice of creative modern food based on West Country produce.
21 Cathedral Yard, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
OlivaTim Golder and family have given this fourteenth-century listed building (formerly Il Giardino) a new lease of life as a colourful and atmospheric Mediterranean restaurant.
6-7 Fore Street, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Mediterranean
St Olaves Hotel, Treasury RestaurantSt Olaves is a small and intimate hotel situated in the heart of the historic City of Exeter. You will discover this oasis of an hotel sitting in its own walled garden in the oldest part of the city, only 400 yards from the Cathedral itself.
Mary Arches Street, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Thai OrchidA four-centuries old stonemason's cottage at the end of a row of terraced houses hard by Exeter cathedral is the unlikely setting for this smart, peaceful and surprisingly upmarket Thai restaurant.
5 Cathedral Yard, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Thai
The GalleyA converted 300-year-old cottage overlooking the Exe estuary, the Galley remains one of the focal points of affluent Topsham (just outside Exeter).
41 Fore Street, Exeter, Devon - Cuisine: Eclectic
The Dartmoor Union InnA one-time cider press and village union room, this sixteenth-century hostelry is reaping the benefits of a major revamp. It has been stylishly and sympathetically reborn without sacrificing any of its local character - even though the interior is now a Country Living mix of deep leather sofas, piles of logs and wine racks.
Fore Street, Holbeton, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Rydon InnA 300-year-old Devon longhouse turned self-styled ' gastro pub', the Rydon Inn is now a highly popular pub/restaurant with an enthusiastic family-friendly attitude: it's 'just great', according to one UK Restaurant Guide user who has made the place a regular haunt.
Bude Road, Holsworthy, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Drewe ArmsThe Drewe Arms is a 17th century thatched pub situated in the idyllic village of Broadhembury at the edge of the Blackdown Hills near Honiton.
Broadhembury, Honiton, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Quay RestaurantOriginally the White Hart pub, this handsome brick and stone building on the Ilfracombe Quay development gained fame when it was bought by the godfather of Brit-Art, Damien Hirst (in conjunction with Simon Bousquet-Browne).
11 The Quay, Ilfracombe, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Ilsington Country House HotelThe vast expanses of Dartmoor National Park surround this secluded country house hotel, which stands high on the rolling hills overlooking Haytor.
Ilsington Village, Ilsington, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
DecksTaking its cue from the enviable location at the edge of the beach, Decks offers a relaxed Mediterranean style of dining.
Hatton Croft House, Instow, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
The Grove InnDeborah Law and Robert Smallbone defected from London in 2002 to run this seventeenth-century thatched pub in unspoilt North Devon.
, Kings Nympton, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Buckland-Tout-Saints, Queen Anne RestaurantDrive up a winding wooded lane to reach this stunning Queen Anne manor house set in four acres of beautifully tended gardens and grounds deep in Devon's South Hams.
Goveton, Kingsbridge, Devon - Cuisine: Anglo French
Dartmoor InnPhilip and Karen Burgess has proved their worth as dedicated supporters of West Country produce and local enterprise since taking over the Dartmoor Inn.
Lydford, Lydford, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Rising Sun HotelThe Rising Sun is an award winning 14th Century thatched smugglers inn overlooking a tiny picturesque harbour and Lynmouth Bay.
Harbourside, Lynmouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern
Church House InnTaking its name from the nearby village church, this venerable white-painted pub can trace its origins backs to the middle of the fourteenth century.
Village Road, Marldon, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Old Rectory HotelBuilt three centuries ago for the rector of Martinhoe's medieval church, this understated and sympathetically refurbished hotel stands in glorious isolation on the northern fringes of Exmoor National Park.
, Martinhoe, Devon - Cuisine: International
Bovey CastleThe latest addition to Peter de Savary's elite collection of luxury retreats across the world, Bovey Castle is surrounded by the 368 square miles that make up Dartmoor National Park.
North Bovey, Moretonhampstead, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
The Rock InnDating back to 1750, this venerable Dartmoor pub nestles snugly under the famous stony outgrowth known as the Haytor Rocks.
Haytor Vale, Newton Abbot, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Moores' Restaurant & RoomsKate Moore oversees proceedings out front, while Jonathan cooks at this friendly, unassuming restaurant-with-rooms in the centre of Newton Poppleford.
6 Greenbank, Newton Poppleford, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Lewtrenchard ManorStanding idyllically in its own gardens and parkland, Lewtrenchard Manor is a proud, many-gabled Jacobean mansion complete with mullioned windows, superb carvings, fabulously intricate ceilings, huge oil paintings and seemingly acres of panelling.
Lewdown, Okehampton, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Percy'sTony and Tina Bricknell-Webb settled here in 1996, when the enterprise was little more than a 400-year-old Devon longhouse plus a barn and a few guest rooms.
Coombeshead Estate, Okehampton, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Tanners RestaurantHoused in one of the oldest surviving domestic buildings in Plymouth (originally a merchant's house) Christopher and James Tanner's eponymous restaurant continues to go from strength to strength.
Prysten house, Plymouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Veggie Perrins"I didn't get where I am today by eating meat- or by not visiting the Veggie Perrin's Web Site!" What more can we say!
97 Mayflower Street, Plymouth, Devon - Cuisine: Vegetarian
Barbican KitchenChristopher and James Tanner have made quite a name for themselves at their eponymous restaurant in the city and shot to fame with regular TV appearances.
Black Friars Distillery, Plymouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
KubesWell known local Chef/Proprietor John Powe takes over on the site of the old Chez Nous in the centre of Plymouth with his new venture Kubes.
13 Frankfort Gate, Plymouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern English
Langdon Court HotelOnce home to Katherine Parr (the sixth wife of Henry VIII), this majestic Tudor mansion has been immaculately preserved as a listed building.
Down Thomas, Plymouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
The Artillery TowerOne of the oldest military towers in Plymouth (dating back to the sixteenth century) is the unlikely setting for Peter and Debbie Constable's popular restaurant.
Firestone Bay, Plymouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
The TreasuryThis is a classy bar-restaurant that's not too expensive and the atmosphere is great. It's a good meeting place where you can pop in for a coffee, lunch or dinner.
Catherine Street, Plymouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern
Jack in the GreenSituated beside the old A30, some three miles from Exeter, the Jack in the Green has evolved into one of the most stylish pub/restaurants in east Devon.
London Road, Rockbeare, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Soar Mill Cove HotelThe Makepeace family are justly proud of their hotel, which is beautifully placed in an 'area of outstanding natural beauty'.
Soar Mill Cove, Salcombe, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
OdeDevon-born Tim Bouget learned his culinary skills at the Waterside Inn, Bray before cooking all over the world. In 2006 he returned to the UK and opened Ode in his native county.
21 Fore Street, Shaldon, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Hotel RivieraA 'grande dame' among Sidmouth's hotels, the Riviera naturally takes its inspiration from the South of France and the Côte 'd'Azur.
The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon - Cuisine: International
The Salty MonkIn a former life, this delightful restaurant-with-rooms was a salt house used by the Benedictine monks who traded salt at Exeter cathedral.
Church Street, Sidmouth, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Tower InnBuilt around 1347 to accommodate the men working on the Collegiate Chantry of St Mary and later used as the college guesthouse for dispensing alms and sustenance, the Tower Inn is still in the hospitality business.
Church Road, Slapton, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Glazebrook House HotelOnce a gentleman's residence, this classically designed eighteenth-century house stands in delightful gardens on the fringes of Dartmoor National Park.
, South Brent, Devon - Cuisine: European
The Mason's ArmsTake one dreamy, thatched thirteenth-century cottage pub on the fringes of Exmoor, add a whiz-kid chef from the Waterside Inn, Bray, and allow to settle for six months.
Knowstone, South Moulton, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
The Kings Arms'Seafood and Wine' is the order of the day, and Rob Dawson and Virginia Heath run the place as an easy-going family affair and visitors can look forward to bags of personal hospitality and innovative modern food based on the best produce the region has to offer.
Dartmouth Road, Strete, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
Browns HotelBrowns Hotel is a lovingly-restored 17th century coaching inn set in the centre of Tavistock and it oozes old English charm with its cosy open hearths, warm oak beams, exposed stonework and slate flags subtly enhancing its chic contemporary makeover.
80 West Street, Tavistock, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Horn of PlentyOver the years, the Horn of Plenty at Gulworthy has acquired near-legendary status in the West Country. The setting – in five acres of trim gardens and wild orchards high above the Tamar valley – is worth a detour in its own right, and the 200-year-old stone house has lost none of its inviting charm.
Gulworthy, Tavistock, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Hotel EndsleighBuilt in 1812 as a family bolthole for the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, this Georgian sporting lodge was given the full, high-fashion treatment by Olga and Alex Polizzi, who transformed the place into dream-ticket, state-of-the-art destination hotel.
Milton Abbot, Tavistock, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Peter Tavy InnAt the end of a country lane, by the village church, this down-to-earth hostelry has been doing great service to the community for more than five centuries.
Peter Tavy, Tavistock, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Bedford HotelWith its award winning restaurant The Bedford Hotel makes an ideal base for touring the West Country and its many historical houses and gardens within striking distance: The Eden Project, The Garden House, Cothele and Buckland Abbey to name but a few.
Plymouth Road, Tavistock, Devon - Cuisine: Modern
Vanilla Pod at the Cridford InnThe Vanilla Pod Restaurant at the Cridford Inn is a family business run by husband and wife team Ian and Tracey Nixon who built up a strong and loyal following in Torquay but have recently moved the restaurant to The Cridford Inn, located in the picturesque village of Trusham just outside Exeter in the Teign Valley.
Trusham, Teign Valley, Devon - Cuisine: English
Thurlestone HotelSucceeding generations of the Grose family have presided over this luxurious coastal hotel since 1896, and it is still a grand sight - standing in 19 acres of sub-tropical gardens not far from Salcombe.
Thurlestone Village, Thurlestone, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Elephant Restaurant and BrasserieBanish any thoughts of Fawlty Towers: Torquay has come of age. The curiously named Elephant is causing quite a stir on the English Riviera and beyond: it's even snapped up a Michelin star, thanks to Simon Hulstone's culinary talents.
3-4 Beacon Terrace, Torquay, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
No 7 Fish BistroOverlooking the harbour this small family run Bistro style restaurant serves fresh fish and shellfish either from local boats and markets or Scotland.
7 Beacon Terrace, Torquay, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
Orchid RestaurantThis award winning candlelit restaurant is on one of the best waterfront locations in Torquay.
The Corbyn Head Hotel, Torquay, Devon - Cuisine: Modern English
The RegattaThe Regatta Restaurant at The Imperial is a magnificent restaurant within a truly Grand hotel. Don't just book the restaurant, there is a strict pecking order and it's the actual table that matters.
The Imperial, Torquay, Devon - Cuisine: Traditional British
The Room at the ElephantSimon Hulstone put Torquay firmly on the gastronomic map when he opened the Elephant, and he continues to causes ripples on the English Riviera with his Michelin-starred cooking.
3-4 Beacon Terrace, Torquay, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
RumourAn easy-going and buzzy perennial at the very heart of 'funky' Totnes. The original building dates back to the fourteenth century and the site has had a colourful history: it was once – reputedly – a toffee factory and later an old-fashioned coffee bar.
30 High Street, Totnes, Devon - Cuisine: Modern European
Sea Trout InnCrisp white table linen, silver cutlery, traditional open log fires and delightful patio gardens where on fine evenings you can enjoy a glass of wine or perhaps, one of the real ales on offer.
Staverton, Totnes, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
The Vineyard CaféThe Vineyard Café is a small informal al fresco eatery located on the Sharpham Estate with stunning views of the river Dart.
Sharpham Estate, Totnes, Devon - Cuisine: British
Waterside BistroSituated beside the old Totnes Bridge on the banks of the River Dart, this aptly named bistro/café/bar brings a touch of Continental cool to the town.
The Plains, Totnes, Devon - Cuisine: European
Northcote ManorA sense of rural calm and well-being pervades this wisteria-clad, eighteenth-century stone mansion in the wilds of north Devon between Umberleigh and Chedition.
Burrington, Umberleigh, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Doyles RestaurantRichard Doyle has taken over the pint-sized premises that once traded as Popham's and is rapidly establishing the place as a new local destination.
1 Castle Street, Winkleigh, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Woodbury Park Hotel, Atrium RestaurantGrand Prix motor racing legend Nigel Mansell OBE is the auspicious owner of Woodbury Park Hotel – an impressive country mansion set in 500 acres of Devon countryside complete with conference facilities, a championship golf course and the World of Racing Museum.
Woodbury Castle, Woodbury, Devon - Cuisine: Modern British
Watersmeet HotelBuilt in 1907 as an 'Edwardian gentleman's residence by the sea', Watersmeet has been gently transformed over the years into an elegant country house hotel.
Mortehoe, Woolacombe, Devon - Cuisine: European
Rose & CrownImpressively transformed from down-at-heel Devon boozer into a fashionable contemporary gastro pub, the Rose & Crown really looks the part.
Market Street, Yealmpton, Devon - Cuisine: Gastro pub
The Seafood RestaurantSituated directly the opposite the Rose & Crown - and part of the same set-up - this up-and-coming restaurant is housed in a converted barn which has been transformed into an atmospheric venue complete with oak floorboards and whitewashed walls hung with fishing prints.
Market Street, Yealmpton, Devon - Cuisine: Seafood
Prince Hall HotelThe award winning restaurant at Prince Hall Hotel offers a daily changing five-course dinner menu which combines the best of classic with new trends and incorporates as much local produce as possible including, Dartmoor venison and lamb, fish from Brixham, wild salmon and trout from the River Dart, and herbs from the garden, as well as locally produced seasonal vegetables and soft fruits.
Two Bridges, Yelverton, Devon - Cuisine: English