Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Devon

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Devon? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Swan Inn

4.8

4.8 (34)

£25 and under

Pub

Plymouth

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Swan Inn.

The Swan Inn, Noss Mayo is the perfect resting place after spending the day on the water or walking round the many local coastal paths.
We are a small family run pub set within the village of Noss Mayo.
We believe in serving fresh local food and drink, great service, in comfortable environment.
Come and enjoy a local cask ale and locally sourced produce, sitting in one of the most relaxing, beautiful places in Devon. We are dog and family friendly.
Being such a small, but very busy pub our storage is limited which means we always have a small menu. This does however mean that we have daily deliveries of fresh produce. Our fresh fish is delivered daily from Rex Down, Plymouth Fish Market, and our meat is supplied fresh every day by Gribbles, suppliers of the very best butchery the South Hams has to offer.
We pride ourselves on offering great alterative dishes for those with special dietary requirements, ensuring that there is always a great choice for everyone.

Top review

Phil

Dined 7 days ago

As usual, great food and friendly efficient service.

Stage

4.9

4.9 (882)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Exeter

About the restaurant

ALL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED WHEN BOOKING.
*Booking the 'Bar' means Chef's Table which is on extra high stools by the kitchen.*
PLEASE ONLY CHOOSE BAR IF THESE ARE ACCESIBLE TO YOU

Use the 'special request' box to denote all dietaries

e.g 2 x pescatarian, 1 x pregnant, 1 x GF

If unsure, please email.

Stage, an immersive tasting menu experience.

WEEKDAY LUNCH - 4 courses at 12:30pm - £30
LUNCH FLIGHT - drinks pairings - £25

WEEKEND LUNCH - 6 courses from 12:30pm - £55
LUNCH FLIGHT - drinks pairings - £45

DINNER - 6 courses from 6pm - £55
DINNER FLIGHT - drinks pairings - £45

Space is limited so please let us know if you plan to bring a dog, buggy or wheelchair. Stage does not provide high chairs.

Please note Stage's seating utilises upcycled materials and most seats are without backs or are on high stools.

Tables are required back after dinner for another party on 6pm sittings.

Top review

Fred

Dined 4 days ago

Superb lunch on 2 July, with a fabulous menu: a little fish heavy but all the better for that. Everything was excellent - it was the first visit for the friends we went with and they were massive impressed by the quality and cost.

Emilia

4.9

4.9 (186)

£26 to £40

Italian

Ashburton

About the restaurant

Created Tom Hill and Clare Lattin of Ducksoup in Soho and Little Duck in Hackney, Emilia is their version of a small Italian Osteria (transported to the Devonshire countryside) serving seasonal, everyday Italian inspired dishes using locally grown ingredients. Tom oversees the menu and together they cook and share a love for Italian food and natural wine. The dining room is hosted by Lucy Mastroddi and Paul Seckler along with Alice Phillips.

Top review

Sabrina

Dined 7 days ago

Delicious food, helpful staff, charming intimate atmosphere

Knead Pizza

4.8

4.8 (112)

£25 and under

Pizzeria

Plymouth

About the restaurant

***** For large bookings (over 10) please email bookings@knead-pizza.co.uk****

Knead Pizza brings authentic Neapolitan-style pizza to the heart of Plymouth, housed in the stunning 15th-century Prysten House—one of the city’s oldest buildings. Our pizzas are made using traditional methods, high-quality ingredients, and cooked to perfection in a wood-fired Marana Forni oven, delivering the perfect balance of chew and char. We offer vegan options, seasonal specials, and a curated drinks menu, all served in a relaxed and welcoming space. Whether you’re dining in, grabbing a takeaway, or booking a private event, Knead Pizza is all about quality, community, and great food. Join us for an unforgettable pizza experience in one of Plymouth’s most historic settings!

Top review

jon

Dined 4 days ago

One of the best pizzas I've ever had in a delightful setting with delightful staff! Highly Recommended!

The Elephant Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (2818)

£41 and over

Modern European

Torquay

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Elephant Restaurant
The Elephant is a bright, informal restaurant which is situated near the beautiful Torbay harbour. It was the first restaurant in Torquay to be awarded a Michelin star which it maintains today. We aim to source all our ingredients locally and sustainably, many from our dedicated farm in Brixham.

Run by chef proprietor, Simon Hulstone and his wife Katy. Food is cooked by a talented team of chefs and served by friendly, professional team of staff.

Due to the style of cooking we cannot produce dairy free menus & therefore cannot provide vegan options.

A deposit is required to make reservations on special days of the year, on our special events, or for tables of 6 or more. This is paid over the phone by calling 01803 200044.

Children's menu is only available at lunch for ages 10 and under.

Tasting menu only available in the evening unless requested via phone in advance.

Top review

peter

Dined 1 day ago

Crab and scallop starters then monkfish and lamb mains both superb. Brilliant white wine recommended (beret noir), great service, friendly, casual atmosphere with tables well spaced.

Shoals

4.8

4.8 (1026)

£25 and under

Seafood

Brixham

About the restaurant

Shoals Seafood Restaurant is the brainchild of Sean and Sarah Perkes. Established in 2014, the once storage room for the open air seawater pool has been transformed into a unique fish lovers dream. The small family run restaurant and outside terrace provide beautiful coastal views across the bay and beyond.

Top review

Sherell

Dined 3 days ago

Lovely food great service and an absolute gem. Fresh home cooked food and lovely atmosphere

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4.8

4.8 (2969)

£26 to £40

Comfort Food

Exeter

About the restaurant

Harry’s Restaurant in Exeter is set in the heart of the city and has been gratifying appetites for 26 years. Rated as one of the best restaurants in Exeter on TripAdvisor, Harry’s has established itself to become the go-to dining den on the neighbourhood food scene.

Founded in 1993 by the Pounds family, Harry’s is still independently owned and run today. The eclectic restaurant, bar and private dining room all sit within the iconic gothic style building, formerly Harry Hems’ 19th century architectural sculptors workshop.

Top review

Robin

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Excellent meal and a fabulous evening. The staff were very friendly and super efficient. A+++

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Blackpool Sands Cafe and Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (63)

£25 and under

Seafood

Dartmouth

About the restaurant

Join us for relaxed beachside dining with the most stunning backdrop. Our restaurant is right on Blackpool Sands, the most beautiful Blue Flag beach. Our Head Chef Sam has created a range of fantastic dishes from beachside staples to seafood specials. Join us daily from 9am to 4pm (later in Summer months); with breakfast served until 11.00am and lunch available until close. Teas, coffees, drinks, cakes and pastries served all day. Delicious Sunday lunch through the Winter months. Our restaurant is also open on Wednesday evenings in the Summer. Please check our social media for other evening pop ups!

Top review

Lanara

Dined 6 days ago

We held our book club meet up here and the food was exquisite, the view exceptional and id highly recommend it to others.

The Church House Inn, Harberton

4.7

4.7 (25)

£25 and under

British

Totnes

About the restaurant

The Church House Inn is a pub nestled in the heart of the village of Harberton near Totnes, south Devon. We serve honest food, fine wine and local ales. the building was built roughly 1450 and has been an inn/ pub ever since, bosting one of the most amazing rooms you will have ever been in for a pint or hearty meal, draped in history and character.

Our food menu changes daily and with the seasons. We serve straight forward food, using traditionally cooking techniques. Produce is sourced from the local area of the beautiful Devon countryside and fishing town of Brixham. please visit our website for our most current menu.
we also have a games room for pool and darts, and a heathy sided bar witch we keep for drinkers.

Top review

Lucy

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Fabulous food and a wonderful place. Great service too!

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Experience

July Pub Quiz

Experience

Mid Summer Sunday Roast

The Castle Inn

4.7

4.7 (60)

£26 to £40

Pub

Okehampton

About the restaurant

An award winning 16th century Devonshire pub with thirteen bedrooms, situated in the historic and picturesque Dartmoor village of Lydford.

With low ceilings, wonky walls, open fires and character in abundance. We are situated in the Dartmoor National Park just off the A30 between the market towns of Okehampton and Tavistock (both 10 minutes away) in the quiet, charming village of Lydford, just 200m from the entrance to the majestic National Trust site of Lydford Gorge. We are surrounded by invigorating walks, horse trails and national cycle routes, with cosy corners and roaring fires in the winter months and large beautiful gardens to enjoy in the summer, there’s something for everyone year round.

The pub has a main bar, snug, restaurant, heated and lit stretch tent, thirteen bedrooms and large beautiful gardens. Our menu features pub classics alongside British favourites, always seeking to make the very best of the fantastic produce on our doorstep.

Top review

Stuart

Dined 7 days ago

Fantastic pub and restaurant. Couldn’t fault anything thoroughly recommend. Make sure to book ahead it is very popular and rightly so. We will be back.

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