Location: Southwold
Top Restaurants in Southwold
Top Things to do in Southwold
Where to Eat in Southwold: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Southwold is a small town on the English North Sea coast in the Waveney district of Suffolk. It lies at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is about 11 miles (18 km) south of Lowestoft, 29 miles (47 km) north-east of Ipswich and 97 miles (156 km) north-east of London, within the parliamentary constituency of Suffolk Coastal. The "All Usual Residents" 2011 Census figure gives a total of 1,098 persons for the town. The 2012 Housing Report by the Southwold and Reydon Society concluded that 49 per cent of the dwellings in the town are used as second homes and let to holiday-makers.
Things to do in Southwold
1. Sutherland House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Sutherland House is not just Southwolds only seafood restaurant, it is also a neighbourhood restaurant which serves local food for local people.
Reviewed By Howard W - London, United Kingdom
We were visiting Southwold for a first weekend away as a family with our 4 month old and were really hoping to visit Sutherland House given the excellent reviews, sadly when my wife tried to book a table we were informed that children and babies were welcome at dinner or even lunch time.
Still, every cloud has a silver lining, I strongly recommend the Sail loft 10 minutes down the road or the excellent Le Roc, literally next door. The food at both is very good in completely different ways modern British vs southern French/Mediterranean and both restaurants were exceptionally accommodating and welcoming. I'd strongly recommend these as great restaurants for guests of all ages.
2. Coasters
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 802 reviews
Reviewed By Beaklington77 - London, United Kingdom
Great, friendly service, something of a gem in Southwold and easy to overlook in the Adnams dominated town. Variety and quality of the food is top notch and certainly worth a visit!
3. Sole Bay Inn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 591 reviews
Traditional family pub with a warm friendly atmosphere, located just underneath Southwold's famous Lighthouse. Food served 7 days a week, 12 noon to 9pm.
Reviewed By Adam P - Ipswich, United Kingdom
I’ve enjoyed countless lunches at The Sole Bay Inn, which basically serves as the “brewery tap” for the neighbouring Adnams brewery. I usually have the beer-battered fish and chips but wanted a light lunch last Saturday as we were having a big meal in the evening. My ploughman’s was perfectly sized, and the staff were more than happy to bring me some more bread, which was lovely and fresh. I couldn’t recommend this pub highly enough. It’s easily one of my favourites in Suffolk.
4. The Lord Nelson
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 951 reviews
An award winning traditional family run pub with a full range of cask marque awarded Adnams Beers! We have an everyday bar menu and Our specials change daily to reflect the season and accommodate the fresh ingredients we are able to source from our suppliers. Our aim is to offer great, home style food at a great price. We believe in using local suppliers who are able to provide us with the freshest ingredients.
Reviewed By gertie61 - Northants
Visited Southwold and The Lord Nelson was definitely one of the best pubs. The choice of real ales and gins was brilliant and the food was excellent, at a reasonable price. Some of the pubs were charging ridiculous prices for food but the Lord Nelson was always bustling and they were practically empty. We stayed in Southwold for two nights and both nights ate there. Will definitely go back.
5. Sole Bay Fish Co.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 735 reviews
http://www.solebayfishco.co.uk/index.php
Reviewed By RetiredEater - Suffolk, United Kingdom
What can you say about a place that serves excellent food but still leaves you wondering? The Sole Bay Fish Company catch fish, then cook and serve it in an attractive restaurant down a suspension-torturing track (you couldn’t call it a road) in Southwold harbour. The menu is short, which is a good sign, of course, and when we went there service was just as it should be.
We both had sea bass fillets, with a simple but tasty salad. I had a grilled crevette on mine, and it was superb. So far, so good. A nice Mediterranean meal. But why didn’t I think more seriously before ordering? Chips (they were good chips) didn’t seem incongruous if you thought of them as frites. But mushy peas (also good) seemed a decidedly odd accompaniment to fish cooked in olive oil and a dressed salad. Something like ratatouille might have been more appropriate. Those wanting fish and chips could choose exactly that; but this was a sort of north-south hybrid, and it didn’t work for me. My fault, I suppose, for not paying enough attention to what was likely to arrive on my plate.
And that’s the other thing. The meal was served on rather narrow boards (or trenchers, or platters, or whatever you call them), which meant that, for example, cherry tomatoes kept making a bid for freedom and rolling onto the table. The mushy peas, served in mushy pea holders, had to be ladled out when required, either straight into the mouth or slopped onto any available space on the board. What made this so mystifying was that, when we sat down, there was a neat stack of perfectly serviceable plates on our table, which were whisked away and never seen again.
I’m not sure whether desserts are available. We weren’t offered any, but didn’t have room anyway.
I would go again, but I’d study the menu a little longer.
6. Mrs T's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 372 reviews
Fish and chips with small eating in section along the harbour road, in a wooden shack
Reviewed By FredaEngland - England
Good haddock and chips cooked to order. The chips were new potatoes and not greasy. The fish batter was also crisp and not greasy. Would recommend.
7. Adnams Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 422 reviews
The Adnams Café offers a stunning location to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Southwold. Enjoy freshly baked breads and cakes, fresh salads and soups and hot meals all served to your table by our friendly staff. Take the opportunity to relax on Seating areas created using the old copper stills from the brewery or outside in our picturesque courtyard. And if you needed more incentive to visit then there's free Wifi too!
Reviewed By AlunP101 - Cowbridge, United Kingdom
Excellent vegetarian breakfast for me and my partner and with a quirky twist. I had Adnams smokey beans with mine and my partner had eggs with chilli sauce on avocado sour dough toast with cherry tomatoes. All very nice indeed. Environment is good, interactive, not too full today due to the inclement weather conditions. As for people coming in with dogs, whats the problem? They are kept well away from preparation of food, are well behaved and serve to add to a more relaxed feel to the environment, while also helping to remove the pretentious and pompous reputation which is oh so prevalent in Southwold.
8. Black Olive Delicatessen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 211 reviews
Reviewed By italiastar - surrey
Bought a beef and stilton pie to eat at home. For the price it was lacking in meat, and stilton was too overpowering - enough to spoil it. Now disappointed to find that these are mass produced pies that can be bought in supermarkets all over the country.
9. Gun Hill Beach Kiosk Southwold
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
Gun Hill Beach Cafe/kiosk is situated under Gun Hill right on the edge of this wide safe part of the beach. Serving teas ,proper coffees, warm and cold snacks, home-made cakes and of course ice creams. Also sells beach toys and equipment. Easy parking near by in Ferry Road, where public toilets are also found.Open Easter until end of October daily and weekends in the winter
Reviewed By paulawytchard - Woodbridge, United Kingdom
What a brilliant place ! A hot mug of tea /coffee with a hot bacon roll for breakfast sitting on the beach at the weekend for 3 quid is fantastic value and a loyalty card ,get your 10th cuppa free !
10. Beaches & Cream
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
We have one of the largest selection of imported goodies in the area from America, Japan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and more, so if it's Tim Tams, Lucky Charms or Jelly Belly Beans you'll know where to come! :) Our ice cream is either local or Italian and we always have a choice of at least 15 flavours :) If it's a souvenir you're after, we've got that covered too, see you soon!
Reviewed By Paulsmithcasty - Malaga, Spain
Beaches and cream is a lovely little shop In Southwold. It majors on ice cream but also sells a large selection of sweets including quite a few imports from USA. The is a good selection of different flavours and cones or tubs - the largest cone is huge! They taste delicious.
