Scarborough
Where to eat in Scarborough: fish and chips, seafood and pubs
Fish and chips on the harbourside, crab and whelks from the stalls, ice cream on the front and a proper Yorkshire tea are the traditional order of the day. But the old-town streets behind South Bay hold a serious set of independent cafés, restaurants and pubs. Here is where to eat, and when to go.
South Bay after dark, the seafront chippies and the old town behind it.
A tip before anything else: eat early or late in peak season, and remember that the old-town streets behind South Bay hold most of the independent cafés and pubs. Opening days and hours change with the season, so check current opening before you set off.
Fish and chips
- Lifeboat Fish Bar, Eastborough. A tiny, much-loved chippy café and takeaway in the old town, on the hill up from the harbour. Small, so expect to queue or take it away.
- The Famous Fish Pan, Foreshore Road. The big, traditional seafront chippy diner, sit-down or takeaway, right on the front above South Bay sands.
- North Bay Fisheries, Columbus Ravine. The North Bay side's own, handy for Peasholm Park and the Open Air Theatre.
- Smallfry, North Street. Family-run and cooked to order, so allow a few extra minutes. Cash only.
- East Ayton Fisheries, East Ayton. A few miles out on the A170 towards Pickering, worth the short drive if you are heading that way.
Seafood and harbour dining
Lookout on the Pier, out on the West Pier, does seafood, oysters and breakfasts with harbour views, the pick of the harbourside eating. Alongside it, the harbour stalls sell fresh crab and whelks in season, which is the cheapest and most traditional way to do it: buy a pot and eat it leaning on the rail.
Restaurants
- Embers, Victoria Road. A small, acclaimed wood-fired restaurant, the town's destination dinner. Book ahead.
- Giannis, Victoria Road. A long-running and popular Italian a few doors along, and a reliable family choice.
- Askim's, Huntriss Row. A very popular Turkish restaurant and cocktail bar in the centre of town.
Cafés and tea rooms
- The Clock Café, above South Bay. Sea views and scones by the South Cliff Italian Gardens, the best tea stop on the walk up from the front.
- Beach Hut Creations & Tea Rooms, St Thomas Street. Homemade cakes and lunches, tucked into the town centre.
- The Coffee Room, Scarborough railway station. A good coffee on the way in or out, useful if you are arriving by train or the Coastliner.
Pubs
The old town below the castle has the characterful ones. The Leeds Arms on St Mary's Street is a traditional backstreet local with well-kept ales, said to be among the town's oldest. The Angel Inn on North Street does real ale and has a beer garden, and the Golden Ball on Sandside is a Sam Smith's pub with harbour views and its own quirky house rules.
At the North Bay end, The Old Scalby Mill sits right on the Cleveland Way by Scalby Mills, with sea views and food, the natural finish to a North Bay walk or a ride on the miniature railway.
Working it into a day
Chips on the front between the beach and the castle, a pot of crab from the harbour stalls mid-afternoon, and dinner in the old town or on Victoria Road once the day trippers have gone. See things to do in Scarborough for the sights to fit around it and shops and shopping for a rainy hour.
Along the coast, Whitby is the other great fish-and-chip town, and inland our food and drink section covers Sunday lunch, pubs with a view and dog-friendly pubs across the moors.
Eating in Scarborough: FAQs
Where are the best fish and chips in Scarborough?
The tiny Lifeboat Fish Bar on Eastborough in the old town is the much-loved local favourite; The Famous Fish Pan on Foreshore Road is the big traditional seafront chippy diner; North Bay Fisheries on Columbus Ravine serves the North Bay side; and Smallfry on North Street is family-run and cooked to order (cash only). A few miles out, East Ayton Fisheries at East Ayton is worth the short drive.
Where can you eat seafood by the harbour in Scarborough?
Lookout on the Pier, out on the West Pier, does seafood, oysters and breakfasts with harbour views. The harbour stalls alongside sell fresh crab and whelks in season, which is the cheapest and most traditional way to eat it. Check current opening, seafront places often shorten hours out of season.
Are there good restaurants in Scarborough?
Yes. Embers on Victoria Road is a small, acclaimed wood-fired restaurant and worth booking ahead; Giannis nearby on Victoria Road is a long-running and popular Italian; and Askim's on Huntriss Row is a very popular Turkish restaurant and cocktail bar. Book at weekends and in school holidays.
Where are the best pubs in Scarborough?
The old town below the castle has the characterful ones: the Leeds Arms on St Mary's Street, a traditional backstreet local with well-kept ales and said to be among the town's oldest; The Angel Inn on North Street for real ale and a beer garden; and the Golden Ball on Sandside, a Sam Smith's pub with harbour views and its own quirky house rules. At the North Bay end, The Old Scalby Mill sits right on the Cleveland Way with sea views and food.