With such a wide variety of things to do on the Isle of Wight during your Holiday, for all ages, you’ll want to come back again and again.
Whilst you won’t be able to fit everything into a single visit, ‘Visit Isle of Wight’ have highlighted some of the great attractions, activities and places to visit for you to choose from.
You can find their superb website HERE
There are many great restaurants/pubs/cafes on the Island, many near Bonchurch. Please enquire about booking to avoid disappointment.
YUMMY EATERIES (mainly) near SEA SHELLS BY THE BEACH
Please check if these are open and if they allow dogs where no mention is made.. Suggestions and recommendations (such as “amazing”) are from previous guests, on line experiences and several mentioned in the Sea Shells cottage guest message books. Enjoy!
THE BISTRO, 30 Pier St, Ventnor PO38 1SX 01983 853334
STRIPPED BRASSERIE (old HSBC bank in Ventnor) 07948 664172
THE TRUE FOOD KITCHEN in Ventnor.14 High Street ,Ventnor. Telephone 01983 855674
THE KITCHEN at LONDON HOUSE ,Ventnor 01983 638856
THAI JOURNEY RESTAURANT,High Street, GODSHILL PO38 3HH 01983645550
MUSHI-THE REX IN VENTNOR , 23 Church Street 01983 853355 with a car park opposite, new owners 2025
THE DONKEY SANCTUARY, WROXALL, Lower Winstone Farm PO38 3AA 01983 852693 ON SITE CAFE and divine donkeys. You need to check opening days and hours but really lovely and free entry. Anything spent is put to a wonderful cause.
AMACORD PIZZERIA RISTORANTI 25 High St, Ventnor PO38 1RZ Fabulous Italian pizzas and burgers made by owner/chef Fabio. Not open every night so plan early Phone: 07481 621157
BONCHURCH INN ,Bonchurch Shute, Upper Bonchurch PO38 1NU Italian and English ,relaxed old fashioned decor,highly rated by Sea Shells guests.Courtyard for children and dogs. Has a very meaty lasagne known as “best in the world”01983 852611
SPYGLASS, Ventnor Esplanade near Falaise car park. PO38 1JX Very popular,families, dogs,music in evenings .Eat outside looking over Ventnor harbour 01983 855338 lunches from 12 midday every day.Long queues at busy tomes to order at the till. TIP. Have a second choice in mind as often run out .
MASALA BAY (posh type curry!) 9-11 Pier Street PO38 1ST opens all evenings 01983 854600. Also delivers take aways.
THE ROYAL HOTEL,Belgrave Road, Ventnor PO38 1JJ tel 01983 852186 Always need to book,elegant fine dining and cream teas. (near Botanic Gardens) and parking instructions.Sunday carvery.
OCEAN VIEW FISH AND CHIPS 1,Newport Road,Ventnor PO38 1AE tel 01983 852865 Take away only and do not deliver, often closed so always ring.opens 5.00pm and last phone orders to collect before 7pm. Pristine kitchen and crispy batters. Park round the back, just past it on the left.
THE BUDDLE INN St Catherines Road, Niton Undercliff,Niton PO38 2NE tel 01983 730243 cosy ,stone walled coaching inn. Open fire in winter ,dogs welcome in day but double check for evenings
COOK AND BAKER, High Street ,Godshill highly recommended PO38 3HZ modern cafe with luscious cakes and lunches. Park in Old Smithy Car Park. Godshill is gorgeous and well worth a visit. Thatched cottages and a Model Village for children.
NEW CHINA HOUSE (chinese) 7 Church Street Ventnor PO38 1SW tel 01983 852288 opens 5pm every night Take away (will deliver) or eat in. I think take away best.
THE SMOKING LOBSTER Esplanade, Ventnor PO38 1JT tel 01983 855938 highly rated by Sea Shells holiday guests. Line caught sea bass /fresh lobster , exotic dishes.Out of season please ring to check when/if open
TWO COOKS 28 Pier Street, Ventnor PO38 1SX 01983 855544 Cosy, wonderful breakfasts (home-made sourdough bread and coffee to keep you awake all day!!), lunches , scones. Tables close to each other, gets very busy. DELIGHTFUL owners. cash or pay via your bank on an App (cash available from nearby Co-op ATM) A dog can be squeezed in on the sofa by the window.
THE TAVENERS High Street Godshill PO38 3HZ 01983 840707 lovely atmosphere restaurant/pub .park in Old Smithy car park or back of Taveners with permission first. Dogs welcome in stone walled back dining room (mention this when booking a meal) Sunday carvery closed Mondays opens 11am to late other days.lovely range of food.
THE SEAPOT. 15-20 min walk along the promenade from your cottage. Outside seating and beach hut dining only. Seafood platters /cakes/ice cream etc Random opening but usually 11am-3pm on sunny days April -October but not FridaysPhone: 01983 857787 Kerry, the owner and chef has a facebook page to send a messageWheelers Bay Rd, Ventnor PO38 1HP
BESTY AND SPINKYS Ocean Blue Quay, esplanade ,Ventnor PO38 1JR 01983 857444 Fantastic breakfasts and best veg sausage .opens every day incl Christmas day for breakfasts and early lunches, closed by 2pm although some later openings in high season.Situated right by the IOW paddling pool so super for young children. Dogs very welcome. Flat 20 min walk from Sea Shells along the promenade.Super clean loo!
CANTINA Ventnor highly rated 01983 855988 I think early opening (breakfasts) and later dinner/cocktails .phone to check
THE HAMBROUGH RESTAURANT Hambrough Road, Ventnor PO38 1SQ tel 01983 856333 Very special ,must book.
GOLDEN SANDS Esplanade, Ventnor PO38 1JT tel 01983 717518 fabulous fish and chips eat in or order and take away/eat on the beach and many other tasties Brilliant ice creams.Can sit outside or inside,real seaside holiday feeling .Tends to close by 6pm in season and closed out of season from October until end of March.Dogs maybe allowed inside if you ask, casual and lovely.
THE COW Tappnell Farm House, Newport Road,Yarmouth PO41 0YJ tel 01983 758725 Families with teenagers have recommended the burgers.
BEST DRESSED CRAB in Bembridge. Highly recommended for quality seafood.
FISHERMAN’S COTTAGE. THE ESPLANADE,(FURTHEST END) SHANKLIN, PO37 6BN, 01983 863882 Dogs welcome
THE WHITE MOUSE INN “Amazing” CHURCH PLACE, CHALE, VENTNOR, PO38 2HA 01983 730431 DOGS WELCOME
THE POINTERS INN, HIGH STREET, NEWCHURCH, PO36 UNN 01983 865202 “Amazing” DOGS WELCOME
WHITE HORSE, HIGH STREET, WHITWELL, PO38 2PZ 01983 685424 DOGS WELCOME
STEAMER INN, ESPLANADE, SHANKLIN,PO37 6BS 01983 862641 DOGS WELCOME (same owners as Spyglass, Ventnor)
THE WATERFRONT BAR and RESTAURANT, THE BEACH, MADEIRA ROAD, TOTLAND BAY PO39 0BQ 01983 756969 DOGS WELCOME “Amazing out of this world seafood”
THE HUT,COLWELL CHINE ROAD, COLWELL BAY, FRESHWATER PO40 9NP 01983 898637 “Amazing/expensive/ laid back posh/yachties” Try and go on the Military Road to get there which is breathtaking. I am unsure as to whether you can take dogs to The Hut.
YARBRIDGE INN, BRADING,SANDOWN, PO36 0AA 01983 405585 DOGS WELCOME INTO DESIGNATED AREAS
ALAMO, 5 ESPLANADE, RYDE PO33 01983 638234 OUTSIDE ONLY FOR DOGS
THE REEF BAR AND RESTAURANT, ESPLANADE, SANDOWN,PO36 8AE 01983 403219 DOGS OUTSIDE ON LOWER TERRACE SO MENTION IF BOOKING.(Sandown needs a facelift but this restaurant is glam,modern and clean)
CRAZY’S MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT AND BAR, 49 HIGH STREET ,RYDE,PO33 2RE 01983 562670 “Amazing” I very much doubt dogs are allowed .looks modern and snazzy! People rave about it!!
BOADWALK CAFÉ, SANDOWN PIER,ESPLANADE,SANDOWN,PO36 8JT 01983 405556 “Amazing food” NO DOGS ALLOWED ON THE PIER
THE FIGHTING COCKS, (good if you have small children as an outside play area and Sunday roasts lovely) HALE COMMON ,ARRETON, NEWPORT, PO30 3AR 01983 865254 DOGS YES BUT CHECK WHERE.
BLUEBERRYS (AWARD WINNING CAKES,breakfasts, lunches etc) Winchester House Car Park, Shanklin, PO37 6HS. This car park is adjacent to Blueberrys. Another address comes up on google which is 45 Littlestairs Rd, Shanklin but ignore this . Blueberrys is at the bottom of that garden! 01983 866378 Dogs very welcome. Please check closing times for 2025
THE BEACH HUT KITCHEN and BAR, Forelands Field Road,Bembridge, PO35 5TR (owned by Emma Guy renowned seafood chef ) 01983 874270 check if dogs allowed. Meant to be very popular so probably book.
CRAVE ( ICE CREAM PARLOUR) “THE VENTNORIAN”, 5 Spring Hill, Ventnor, PO38 1PE 01983 472143 Amazing home made ice creams and milkshakes. Take away. Open from April until October
Please let me know if you come across somewhere amazing! Read through the reviews in the Sea Shells cottage message book. Some guests leave very helpful reviews of restaurants, walks and trips out.
Finally, it’s impossible to list every recommended restaurant but have a look at ISLE OF WIGHT GURU https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/pubs-restaurants-sea-view-isle-of-wight.html
and join ISLE OF WIGHT OVERNERS FACEBOOK where you can ask so many questions and get answers from the island community