a little R+R – Refuel and refresh in Folkestone Harbour

Folkestone is full of fantastic places to refuel and refresh during your visit. The Lonely Planet has chosen some of our best places in their recent guide. Whether you’ve been shopping at our Sunday markets, or supporting the wealth of local independent retailers, or need a place to meet up with friends to celebrate, Folkestone has the right place for you.  Folkelife has curated a list of venues for a little tipple, or meal for the family.

the goods yard

The Goods Yard at Folkestone Harbour is a venue that always makes you feel like you’re on holiday.  Set back with stunning views of Folkestone and the English Channel, plus over to France on a good day, you can relax with so many different types of food on offer.  There’s something for everyone.  The traders are open from 4pm on a Friday and through the weekend.  The Sunday Marketplace runs from April to October with local artisans selling their wares.  Find somewhere to sit down and rest whilst shopping.  There are major sporting fixtures and films on the Harbour Screen when The Goods Yard is open.

Lighthouse Champagne Bar

Stroll to the end of Folkestone’s Harbour Arm to the most magical location for a bar in the UK.  It’s an award winning bar with not just Champagne on offer.  If you need warming up there’s hot chocolate laced with liqueur or specialty beers and wine too.  Look out for their evenings of food where your cosy party will certainly have a fabulously memorable time.  During the summer, it’s the best location to sit back and enjoy the porpoises running the Channel whilst you sip your drinks.

portenio

This authentic Argentine Grill restaurant on Harbourside at the Harbour Arm is run by Paula Cambra.  Cosily tucked behind glass doors for the winter, or sprawled over the harbour for the summer, enjoy some incredibly tasty dishes all year round.

rocksalt with friends

Rocksalt is Folkestone’s finest restaurant with the best views over the harbour.  Whether it’s low tide or high tide, the view changes daily.  This is a fantastic place to treat the family for a special meal and a great place to go for pre-dinner drinks at the upstairs bar.  You might want a different sea view at their sister restaurant Little Rock, on the beachside of Folkestone Harbour. The Pilot Bar is also open for coffee, tea and hot chocolate during the day, and a warm place to sit for cocktails of an evening. The Rocksalt Group also owns a number of pubs, one being The Radnor Arms at the western end of town.  This is a wonderfully cosy place for festive drinks and the food is as you’d expect – delicious.

beachside

To the west of Folkestone Harbour Station there’s an oasis of fun and relaxation with Putters! the adventure golf course and café.  Family friendly menus and golf clubs to fit the tallest to the shortests, this is a must for a sunny day.  Next door, with views of the sunset, is Brewing Brothers.  This is one of the largest venues on the Harbour site and has an authentic Italian pizza oven producing the best pizzas in town.  There’s also the best prawns you’ve tasted in a long time plus corn on the cob that will excite the taste buds.

Harbour Coffee Company

There’s always freshly brewed coffee to be had on the Harbour Arm at the Harbour Coffee Company.  The team have installed an upstairs seating area where you can enjoy their home-roasted beans, blended to perfection.  You might want to treat yourself to a toastie too, or perhaps an almond croissant?  Sailbox next door is their sit-down venue for really good family favourites and is open 7 days a week.

the harbour inn

Staying in the harbour area there is the seaside pub belonging to The Pullman Family.  The Harbour Inn has a menu full of fresh fish and fantastic pub favourites.  Venturing up The Old High Street you could visit one of the other restaurants in the family at Lubens – for freshly baked pizza; Market Square – bistro-style food during the day and the Market Square Food Market in the basement, and the original Pullman pub on Church Street with its wood fire and relaxed tone.

coffee, breakfast and cake

If you have time to stop for a coffee whilst perusing the local independent shops on The Old High Street in Folkestone then we highly recommend Steep Street Coffee House – for their own blend of coffee and delicious cakes.  Marley’s next door serves breakfast for Kings and Queens and is not to be missed.  Folklore at the bottom of The Old High Street serves coffee, tea and the rest during the day, and by night is a cocktail bar of epic proportions.  There’s something exciting happening 7 nights a week with Drag Bingo, the weekly table-top games night, quizzes and films.

Photo credits: Steep Street – Madaline Negrila