Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Dorset

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Dorset? 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 Anchor Inn

4.7

4.7 (852)

£25 and under

British

Bridport

About the restaurant

You'll find us nestled snugly right on Seatown Beach, hidden along one of the many coves that litter Dorset's famous Jurassic coastline. Once a smugglers haunt, the pub now serves a seasonal menu with a focus on seafood and fresh local produce.

Complete with wood fires and Palmers award winning ales, the pub is the perfect location to refuel after a day on the coastal path or for a special evening meal with friends or family.

Top review

Chris

Dined on Jul 21, 2025

Good food and service but you certainly pay a high price for the excellent location

Pho Bournemouth

4.7

4.7 (359)

£25 and under

Vietnamese

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Pho Bournemouth is a healthy Vietnamese restaurant with loads of vegan and gluten free options.

We specialise in phở, the Vietnamese noodle soup and also serve delicious curries, rice dishes, wok-fried noodles, and fresh salads too. Our starters such as summer rolls and spring rolls are perfect for sharing with friends and family. We also offer an entirely gluten free dessert menu with dishes like Pandan waffles, condensed milk ice cream and a Vietnamese affogato.

Over a third of our menu is vegan, and nearly all of it is gluten-free, so we are a great destination for people who follow those particular dietary restrictions. We are also accredited by Coeliac UK.

Aside from our lovely food we offer a brilliant range of healthy juices, as well as delicious wine and beer, and a fantastic cocktail menu too.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Ps, we are dog friendly so your 4-legged friends are always welcome.

Top review

Lynnette

Dined 5 days ago

Went with work colleagues for a birthday. Beautiful Food, beautifully presented and well priced. Service was attentive and friendly. Would Definitely recommend

Lulworth Lodge

4.6

4.6 (432)

£25 and under

Bistro

West Lulworth

About the restaurant

Set a pebble's skim from the iconic Lulworth Cove, our all-day ground floor bistro serves contemporary food sourced from the local ingredients.

For lunch service we offer our seasonal ‘a la carte’ menu and a nibbles / sandwich menu, so please drop by for a crab sandwich or cream tea on the terrace. Dogs are welcome on the terrace as well as in the restaurant.

We are sorry to say we are unable to take reservations for the outside seating area, however you can always just walk in !

Top review

Rachel

Dined 2 days ago

Delicious food, super speedy service, Very children friendly, waiting staff excellent

Côte Brasserie - Bournemouth

4.6

4.6 (93)

£25 and under

French

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Join us at Côte to discover modern French food in Bournemouth, right in the heart of town. Nestled in an art deco building opposite the city arcade, Côte Bournemouth offers a truly exquisite dining experience over two floors, with a balcony boasting views across the town centre. We're just a short walk from the beachfront and the beautifully landscaped Lower Gardens - so why not take in the sea air, or wander amongst glorious floral displays, before stopping by to enjoy something delicious from our menu of classic French dishes? So whether it's date night, a family get-together or a meal with friends, we'd love to welcome you in to enjoy our outstanding French food in Bournemouth.

Top review

tomVIP

Dined on Jul 15, 2025

Starters offer delicious as was tarte au citron. Great idea

Da Vinci's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

4.5

4.5 (628)

£25 and under

Italian

Poole

About the restaurant

Welcome to Da Vinci’s, the best Italian restaurant on Poole Quay and only a stone’s throw away from the water’s edge. Established in 1993, Da Vinci’s is a family-run business, specialising in fresh, local ingredients, cooked in true Italian style.

Whether you are seeking a casual pizza supper in a cosy Italian atmosphere or a special meal in a venue that can cater for your special occasion, Da Vinci’s has the answer.

Our beautiful Italian restaurant in Poole has a cosy downstairs right on the Quay front and own upstairs dining room features seven windows overlooking the harbour.
We are family friendly (hey, we’re Italian!) have highchairs and can provide smaller portions of pasta for children.

Top review

nicholas

Dined on Jul 6, 2025

great food great ervice sat outside enjoyed livee music made a birthday treat very enjoyable will book again soon

Quay Inn, Wareham

4.5

4.5 (98)

£25 and under

British

Wareham

About the restaurant

The Quay Inn is set right on the the quay at Wareham overlooking the river Frome, and has been welcoming patrons since it was built in 1747.

In addition to a fantastic array of high-quality local ales, beers, and refreshments, we offer mouth-watering food menus featuring the unique Black Rock grill, along with a variety of traditional snacks and meals. Enjoy top-notch entertainment throughout the year and a warm welcome every day of the week.

Top review

Carol

Dined 2 days ago

Lovely friendly team doing a great job. Good varied menu and knowledgeable when it comes to Allergies. Our regular go to Inn reasonably priced and with a good bar

Ivy Bournemouth

4.4

4.4 (157)

£25 and under

British

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Nestled in the coastal town of Bournemouth, The Ivy brings a taste of luxury to the local dining scene. Discover menus featuring modern British cuisine to brasserie classics and fantastic vegan and vegetarian dishes, with something for everyone to love. From breakfast through to dinner seven days a week, the restaurant offers a luxurious haven in a stunning and elegant setting.

Top review

Lyn

Dined 1 day ago

A delightful place to dine, the staff were really attentive, food extremely tasty and the restaurant is very pretty and comfortable. Would definitely recommend!

Discover more

Experience

Summer At The Ivy Set Menu

Experience

Breakfast with the Naughty Elves

Experience

New Year's Eve: A Sparkling Affair

Hive Beach Cafe

4.3

4.3 (968)

£25 and under

Seafood

Bridport

About the restaurant

Iconic coastline, fantastic food
Serving fresh, locally and ethically sourced produce, focusing on fish and seafood, lovingly prepared to our customers from near & far.
The Hive Pavilion with wrap-around patio & a seasonal addition of the Top Marquee each offering far-reaching sea views and evening sunsets to each table.
Check in on arrival will be at the front desk in our main marquee. Please note at peak times there may be a slight delay on arrival for your table. Booked tables will be available for the time you have reserved, early access will not be permitted.

Top review

Janna

Dined 1 day ago

Decided to try it out, saw on FB a few times, was far from being disappointed . Well worth the long drive, will definitely be back.

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Natty's Jerk Bournemouth

4.3

4.3 (16)

£25 and under

Caribbean

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Wah gwaan, Bournemouth? We are Natty's Jerk - a Caribbean food experience and Uber Eat's Restaurant of the Year 2024! 🇯🇲

Since 2017, our "fambily" has been serving up a modern twist on Jamaican cuisine and the community has been our rock. 💚💛❤️

Head down to our Shack in Portsmouth to experience where it all began, or let us transport you to J.A with the atmosphere and rich flavours of Natty's Jerk Kitchen & Rum Bar, Bournemouth. We can't wait for you to try!

Top review

Laura

Dined on Jul 16, 2025

Great atmosphere, excellent food and drinks. Everything was tasty. We just had quite a long wait for our food.

Discover more

Experience

The People's Unlimited Wing Thursdays

Experience

Natty's Jerk Sunday Roast

Lore of the Sky

4.2

4.2 (106)

£25 and under

Barbecue

Shaftesbury

About the restaurant

Perched within the historic Compton Abbas Airfield, Lore of the Sky is a bold new smokehouse restaurant from Guy Ritchie’s team.

Set in the heart of Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this is where aviation heritage meets Texas-style barbecue. Whether you’re watching vintage Spitfires take flight or soaking in the panoramic views over Shaftesbury, Lore of the Sky offers an unforgettable dining experience and less than an hour from the Jurassic Coast.

Our menu is a celebration of deep flavour and smokehouse tradition. Crafted by Head Chef Alex Brown, each dish—from oak-smoked pork belly to loaded nachos and rich jackfruit burgers—is smoked on-site using the legendary J&R Oyler Smoker, the first of its kind in the UK.

With every bite, you’ll taste our commitment to quality, locally sourced ingredients, and fire-powered finesse.

Top review

Jacqui

Dined 5 days ago

Very nice venue and breakfast was very tasty and an added bonus that flights were taking off whilst we were there.

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