Nice harbour created for the enjoyment of tourists in a working fishing port. Fresh seafood is available by the harbour, however some of the outlets are a little too touristy. Overall a pleasant place to visit

Whitstable Harbour is a prominent feature in the coastal town of Whitstable, located in Kent, England. Known for its rich maritime history and vibrant local culture, the harbour has been operational since 1832 and has played a crucial role in the town's development, particularly in fishing and oyster cultivation. Key Features of Whitstable Harbour: Oyster Fishing: Whitstable is renowned for its oysters, and the harbour has been central to this trade for centuries. Railway History: The harbour was once connected to the world’s first passenger railway, the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, which opened in 1830. It remains a working harbour, with a fleet of fishing vessels primarily focused on shellfish. The harbour is a popular tourist destination, offering a variety of activities such as boat tours, seafood restaurants, and markets. Whitstable Oyster Festival: An annual event celebrating the town's oyster fishing heritage, featuring food stalls, music, and entertainment. Harbour Market: Regular markets held in the harbour area where local artisans and vendors sell crafts, food, and other goods. Harbour Village: A collection of small shops and eateries housed in converted shipping containers. Art and Exhibitions: The harbour often hosts art installations and exhibitions, contributing to Whitstable's reputation as a hub for artists. Visitors to Whitstable Harbour can enjoy Seafood Dining, numerous restaurants and eateries offer fresh, locally sourced seafood. Boat Trips: Options include fishing trips, wildlife tours, and excursions to the nearby Red Sands Maunsell Forts. Walking and Cycling: Scenic routes along the coastline provide beautiful views and a chance to explore the town's heritage. Whitstable Harbour blends historical significance with contemporary attractions, making it a vibrant focal point for both locals and tourists. A fantastic day out at Whitstable Harbour that offers a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and cultural experiences, soaking in the vibrant community atmosphere, and making it a memorable outing. I highly recommend it.

Missed the market, but there were plenty of good food and drink options regardless. Prices are generally higher than elsewhere in Whitstable but that’s to be expected given the location and trendier vibe.

We visited Whitstabke harbour and had a wonderful dayout. The harboir is a busy area, bustling with rich history of oysters, yacht club and full of people roaming and enjoying their time. The harbour is at its best on high tides . Good place for relaxing and to enjoy quality time to enjoy the vast endless water ahead. The harbour has good quality food courts with an adjacent local market that makes the place quite popular. We took the 30 min boat ride trip which was a wonderful experience to go out and enjoy in the open water.

A great couple of days in Whitstable. Lovely walk along the front rounded of by a fish n chip supper sitting along the seafront.

Superb area to visit, spent the day there, plenty to do and see in the harbour, restaurants and bars a plenty and you can catch a bout tour.

Lovely selection of top quality Whitstable arts, crafts, food and drink. I highly recommend you taking the time to visit.

First place you need to visit if you are traveling to Whitstable. What an incredible place to have seafood, it was amazing. Delicious, tasty, we arrived just 4 min before they closed the kitchen and we managed to order 3 plates and 1 starter. The plating, the taste, the service everything worth it! Super recommend it. We will come back!

The dining areas are compact and bijou so it does pay to book as they like to pace the kitchen. The food is unctuous and packed with flavour. Many of the dishes on offer have Far Eastern influences and flavours. This is unusually a BYO but there is a brilliant off licence opposite. The tiny but… for us was some of the fish was a tiny bit overcooked but it’s a delicious place for lunch and we will return.

Fabulous place. Best crab cake I’ve ever had. Lovely walk in counter space to sit if lucky, otherwise book. Service is no fuss and efficient, good came quick and was a high standard. Staff helpful with questions. We spent & £19 and shared crab cake with fries and an incredible sauce, curry smoked haddock fish cake and then got homemade breads and pesto. Should have ordered more and look forward to coming back.

Definitely a busy place. When we got there, only a handle of seats was available and they were all taken. We ordered takeout. We just needed to tell what we wanted to the staff with our names. When the food is ready, your name would be shouted out. Price is ok compared to other oysters 🦪 shops around. We found the deep fried oysters were quite interesting. The raw ones were fresh, no incidents afterwards.

We read about this place in the timeout magazine article about day trips from London. The town is absolutely charming, and this place was definitely worth a stop in. I would say that the staff could be a little bit kinder, they seemed a little bit stressed out and not really happy to deal with some basic questions. i’m sure it is difficult to operate this kind of an establishment in a tourist town, but you guys can do a little bit better. Our oysters were delicious and it seemed like everybody enjoyed what they had. You would think so since this is a fishing port and they’re getting everything fresh from the sea. I would say it seems a bit pricey for what it is. Pro tip, the place is BYOB and you can get a bottle of something nice very close by to bring in with you. The interior is very cute.

Came for the Guinness battered oysters and wasn’t disappointed. Probably exceeded my expectations! Crispy squid was good too. Give the spring rolls a miss.

Absolutely loved this place, service and food were 100% and will definitely be returning 😋 booking in advance is definitely advised.

I seem to visit here regularly. It is a very calming and enjoyable place to visit. There are cafes and restaurants, good parking... something for all ages. It has a nice promenade, and one end has Whitstable Castle. Just down near the sea is the hotel seen in the photo.

Blue flag beach, water is somewhat warmer than in many Kent places and it is quite clear. The place itself it is not crowded. Also this place offers nice walks and the Whitestable itself is within walking distance

If you looking for less people and something similar to Brighton beach...this is it!! It's peaceful and beautiful. And lots of fast food and pubs close to beach to all directions.

Lovely beach, with plenty of space. Very nice to walk on the long footpath. From the top of the hill there are several benches, where you can appreciate the amazing views.

Tankerton beach is a nice place with clear blue water. Less folks and a partway where you can walk for more than 30 minutes. The only issue is the excessive speed of some children riding their bikes on the partway.

I love this beach, so lovely and peaceful. Such a trendy little area. Beautiful Pebble beach. Lovely town n really nice locals & visitors around like no drunks etc. it’s great for the families and everyone who is looking for a great time, family fun or picnic. U can get amazing photos of sunrise or sunset at the top of slopes. A few options of places to eat or drink at beach but there’s a lot in high street which is not far. This town is really good for seafood.

Wonderful location. Free parking along the shore, long beaches. Very picturesque. Cafe with toilets to the rear. Mainly stoney beaches. View of the Maunsell sea forts in the distance. Wind turbines. Beach huts. Very pleasant all round.

Lovely museum. I went to see the Rail 200 exhibition about the Crab & Winkle line from Whitstable to Canterbury in 1830. But it has a lot more interesting artefacts and information about things like oysters, fishing, Peter Cushing etc and definitely worth a visit.

My 1st time to Whitstable. Lovely museum to visit. Nice lady tells me history of the steam trains etc. So many charities shops 2 see and do man beautiful shops to see. Old history buildings and wall mural to watch out for. Love the mussels £12.50 for 8. Busy road in high street so watch out when crossing. Pebbles beach. A nice small harbour and stalls. I didn't get to see some sights. I would go back.

Delightful museum. A bunch of us were there for the Peter Cushing exhibition but there's more to it than that. Friendly staff who'll be happy to open up the rich seam of Whitstable's history. Stop by, you wont regret it.

I visited on Saturday 10th of June (tourist from London). The museum is smaller than I expected but it has a lot of useful information about the town. There is a lot of history mentioned, what I found interesting was the great fire of 1869, and the time line of the Whitstable to Canterbury Railway. The special exhibition was mainly about Peter Cushing, and there was a part dedicated to English King's and Queens with an updated section about the coronation of King Charles III. This museum is suitable for everyone, there is a small garden which is nice to be in on a warm day. Entry fee is very small for tourists (£3). I would recommend exploring for about an hour or longer if you were to visit.

The museum should be your first stop if/when you visit Whitstable. You will be able to appreciate everything you'll see in town after seeing all that this place has to show you: the history of the harbour, the shipbuilding, the Invictus, the Oyster, deep-sea diving, regatta, the community and some of its celebrity residents who have passed away. And to top it off, the museum has staff who are happy to provide answers to any questions you might have.

Tiny museum packed with items relating to the Whitstable area and includes a Small giftshop. There is a £3 charge for tourists visiting the museum.

I really enjoyed this little museum. Lots of nuggets of local information which made our stay in whitstable more interesting... Maunsell forts, Invicta and the floods. Learnt about the oyster industry and the town during the war. Even a bit about Peter Cushing. Only open odd times though.

Fantastic spot. The best of the seaside. Space, beaches places to eat and chill. You need these standards as the seaside towns can become a little bit run down. You don't want to be ripped off, but you don't want it to be too cheap. That it allows standards to drop under an unacceptable level. The beach isn't the best because it's pebbles, but that's not going to stop me from maintaining a five rating.

Wonderful local mini shops adjacent to the harbour which is full with oyster themed products, paintings as well as food courts. The market place is a great addition which provides with good knowledge about the culture and history of city. This is a must visit to explore the local treasures while visiting the harbour.

Went there on a hot day, it was amazing, food cravings satisfied. Oyster, fish and chips were really good and fresh. Whitstable bay 🍻was perfect for the weather.

Nice place to go. Lots of stalls and shops to visit. As well as all the lovely restaurants along the way for different tastes and budgets.

Great spot, fabulous oysters, epic pizza and some lovely little stalls for a mooch around. Perfect

Lovely lively market stalls with lots of take away and eat in restaurants, boat trips available too

A very trendy, windswept, beautiful working harbour. I bought some handmade leather goods as presents.

Not been here for a long time and wish we had come back sooner. Very busy and fortunately dropped in ahead of time to reserve a table. Despite being busy the service was friendly and helpful, food almost came too quickly as would have happily lingered longer. Whitebean Hummus and the asparagus tortilla were delicious but hard to find fault with any of the dishes we tried.

OMG it's just so good...after 2 weeks in Andlusian Spain (predominantly eating our weight in octopus) we just needed a foodie fix, and boy did HST deliver; great service, amazing food & good choice of wine....& delighted to find Galician Octopus (pictured here with the accompanying potatoes) as their special....and yes it was...very special.

We had a wonderful time here as the food was amazing. Some highlights would be the fried baby squid and grilled tiger pawns. We also ordered pan con tomate, padron peppers and duroc pork ribs. The portions were relatively large and the service was excellent. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys Spanish food.

Fabulous evening meal and great service at the Harbour Street Tapas. 100% recommend this restaurant as a must go to place in Whitstable. Booking is essential!

Delish lunch with my son 😋, it was a pretty dreary day, so put some sunshine in it! Octopus was our favourite, superb balance of flavours. Fluffy crispy patatas bravas, croquetas chicken and leek, could have eaten a bowl full !!

Amazing Spanish food (and I used to live in Spain)! Good wine and all reasonably priced. The staff were attentive and friendly. Would come back!

Such a fantastic meal! Everything we ordered was beyond delicious! So so tasty and one of the best meals we have had in a long time. All the staff were so welcoming and friendly and the atmosphere was lovely. My partner has an egg allergy and the staff were so kind and helpful, they really took the time to go through the menu to show him what he could have and were extremely accommodating. A special thank you to waitress Leah who was especially considerate and knowledgable about allergies. Sometimes eating out can be a little tricky but she made the whole experience very easy and enjoyable for us :-)

First place you need to visit if you are traveling to Whitstable. What an incredible place to have seafood, it was amazing. Delicious, tasty, we arrived just 4 min before they closed the kitchen and we managed to order 3 plates and 1 starter. The plating, the taste, the service everything worth it! Super recommend it. We will come back!

The dining areas are compact and bijou so it does pay to book as they like to pace the kitchen. The food is unctuous and packed with flavour. Many of the dishes on offer have Far Eastern influences and flavours. This is unusually a BYO but there is a brilliant off licence opposite. The tiny but… for us was some of the fish was a tiny bit overcooked but it’s a delicious place for lunch and we will return.

Fabulous place. Best crab cake I’ve ever had. Lovely walk in counter space to sit if lucky, otherwise book. Service is no fuss and efficient, good came quick and was a high standard. Staff helpful with questions. We spent & £19 and shared crab cake with fries and an incredible sauce, curry smoked haddock fish cake and then got homemade breads and pesto. Should have ordered more and look forward to coming back.

Definitely a busy place. When we got there, only a handle of seats was available and they were all taken. We ordered takeout. We just needed to tell what we wanted to the staff with our names. When the food is ready, your name would be shouted out. Price is ok compared to other oysters 🦪 shops around. We found the deep fried oysters were quite interesting. The raw ones were fresh, no incidents afterwards.

We read about this place in the timeout magazine article about day trips from London. The town is absolutely charming, and this place was definitely worth a stop in. I would say that the staff could be a little bit kinder, they seemed a little bit stressed out and not really happy to deal with some basic questions. i’m sure it is difficult to operate this kind of an establishment in a tourist town, but you guys can do a little bit better. Our oysters were delicious and it seemed like everybody enjoyed what they had. You would think so since this is a fishing port and they’re getting everything fresh from the sea. I would say it seems a bit pricey for what it is. Pro tip, the place is BYOB and you can get a bottle of something nice very close by to bring in with you. The interior is very cute.

Came for the Guinness battered oysters and wasn’t disappointed. Probably exceeded my expectations! Crispy squid was good too. Give the spring rolls a miss.

Absolutely loved this place, service and food were 100% and will definitely be returning 😋 booking in advance is definitely advised.

Booked table 10 upstairs - table with a view of the sea. There are a few stairs to get to the top if you have mobility issues. There is also seating in the main entrance which is the bar area and down a few steps is another seating area and the toilets (the only toilets) staff were really friendly and attentive without being overwhelming and the food was excellent. We had Orzotto - creamy and. Dry delightful with a side of mozzarella and tomatoes - which went very well. Coffee to finish and well worth the visit .

I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Pearson's Arms in Whitstable, and honestly, it’s exactly what you want from a seaside pub. While the exterior might look unassuming, stepping inside is like getting a warm hug. It instantly feels welcoming, especially on a chilly day, thanks to that lovely open fire crackling away in the hearth. When I visited it was very busy, and there was nowhere to sit which was a pity. What I particularly appreciate is that The Pearson’s Arms operates as a genuine free house. This means they aren’t tied to one single brewery, and it shows in their selection. The range of real ales, local Kentish brews, and fine wines on offer is genuinely impressive and clearly curated with care. It's fantastic to have such freedom of choice when you're looking for the perfect accompaniment to the sea air. I went for lunch, opting for a seasonal seafood dish, which was clearly made with locally-sourced ingredients and expertly cooked. The upstairs dining area, with its fantastic views over the bay, gives it a gastro-pub feel, while the bar downstairs retains that proper, cozy English pub charm. Now, a crucial tip: if you plan on visiting for their renowned Sunday roast or just a weekend meal, booking a table is absolutely advisable. I saw just how busy it gets—the place was absolutely packed! Don't risk turning up without a reservation, or you'll likely face a long wait. It's a highly popular spot for a very good reason. I’m already planning my next trip back; it’s a perfect slice of Kentish coastal hospitality.

Once again delved into the Kent seaside after hearing rumblings around The Pearsons arms, after a brief scan of the menu online we had little choice but to immediately book. So a table for 4 it was. This pub and restaurant offers up some of the finest cocktails and food around, I’m sure it is adored by locals and what a Sunday it was. Without hesitation my partner and I opted for no starter however going off the lunch we had I wouldn’t hesitate to try any and all of them. Upon arrival I went straight into the drinks menu, we would usually opt for wine however I am a sucker for a Bloody Mary. And despite it taking what seemed a long time to prepare (not a criticism as it was absolutely perfect) I can say with some certainty it has raised the Bloody Mary bar exceptionally high. We were seated upstairs and the views are stunning looking out over the bay. My friends decided on lamb and beef, and raved about it. Everything cooked to utter perfection, we decided on the roast sharer, it is hard to put into words and pictures how wonderfully it is presented, with various cuts of delightfully succulent meats. I was torn between it all, the pork comes with a crackling that pretty much knocked my socks off, the chicken was so tender, the lamb and beef cooked to a perfect medium rare. A massive selection of veg, Yorkshire pudding, potatoes, gravy, the list goes on. I was sceptical around the price tag however you are getting every pennies worth of food and plenty left that they happily bagged up for us to take. I couldn’t recommend this place enough, and am eager to head along to some of there specials nights to see what else the wizards in the kitchen can prepare. After stuffing my face and enjoying a lovely bottle of Sauvignon we headed downstairs just in time to catch the amazing Thomas Abrahams. I have seen him on a few occasions but he literally had the entire pub bouncing with his solo guitar performances, rarely stopping for air. The atmosphere was incredible, everyone in such a positive mood and dancing I’m sure long after we left. I often find I’m looking for things that maybe could be different, but I wouldn’t change a single thing, it’s a solid 5*, if you get the chance to experience this Sunday greatness don’t turn it down. I look forward to returning in the near future. Hats off to the bar team, chefs, restaurant team and everyone involved in making it quite possibly the finest Sunday lunch cuisine we have experienced to date. You will not be disappointed.

Wow what a fantastic bar. Great warm welcome from the staff. We had the 5 small plates OMG they were so tasty, especially the chipolatas from Jim's family butchers down the road. Prawns were amazing as was the whipped feta just gorgeous. We were extra greedy and also had the Tel pork burger and crab monsieur and on a Monday they have draft beer for £5. Will definitely be back. They are also dog friendly 🐕

Absolutely fantastic pub! The atmosphere was brilliant from the moment we walked in — warm, lively, and welcoming. The fireplace adds a lovely touch, especially on a chilly evening, and the live music gave the place a great vibe without being too loud. It’s also dog-friendly, which makes it even better. The selection of beers and gins seemed endless — something for everyone, and all top quality. We were genuinely impressed and left very pleased. Definitely coming back!

We came for a day trip yesterday and booked with you for lunch .. cant thank you enough for the fab service... food absolute delight on the taste buds cocktails 100% delish.. staff were awesome.. so thank you again for adding to our wonderful day out

A quiet Monday evening in The Pearsons Arms, but what a lovely pub. We have 2 dogs so stayed downstairs in the bar area. Cosy snug sofa seating at the rear. Very old traditional looking pub where we were made to feel very welcome by the friendly barmaid. Service was excellent and food was fantastic. Very fresh plump mussels with chips, bangers and mash with onion gravy all cooked to perfection. Good choice of locally brewed beers and lagers. Loved it.

The food and atmosphere was excellent! Decided to splurge a little to try the grilled lobster half and it didn’t disappoint at all. It was so fresh and delicious! Paired well with the white wine. The oysters were very fresh and amazing with Tabasco sauce. Service was good but I’m only giving 4 stars because the staffs were not very proactive to welcome me upon arrival. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon slightly after 12:00pm when the restaurant had only 20% customers. Highly recommend to come before 12:30pm on a weekend because the restaurant was completely full by 1:00pm. Indoor and outdoor dining had good atmosphere. Worth a visit!

Bustling shack by the sea with tasty classics. The Lobster Shack turned out to be a wonderfully atmospheric place. I found it thanks to a GPT chat recommendation, and the fish and chips were truly delicious. We skipped the oysters—though they’re clearly a highlight for many visitors— as well as the huge seafood platter that’s very popular. From what I’d read, I expected a fine-dining spot, but in reality it feels more like a big, lively seaside fish-and-chips bar. And honestly, that suits the location perfectly. Right on the shore, with plenty of outdoor seating, it has a relaxed, authentic charm. We visited during the May Bank Holidays; it was windy, so we sat inside. It was crowded and a little noisy, but the food was worth it. The stainless-steel tables add to the down-to-earth vibe—almost as if they were once used for fish prep and simply left for diners. Parking is available nearby, though finding a space can be tricky. Overall: tasty, atmospheric, and definitely worth trying.

A simple birthday treat. Sat outside and enjoyed great quality oysters, lobster, shrimp & lobster baguette, good chips, zero beer for me and a glass of champagne for the birthday lady! Efficient and friendly service. Order from the table via QR codes. View...looking out across the estuary. Very cool and laid back.

My first time in Whitstable. My husband suggested we try the Lobster Shack. We tried to make a booking, but he was told it was fully booked. We would have gone somewhere else but we went in and asked for a table for tro and we're given a choice of tables. You book your order via a QR code on the table. It worked very well our drinks arrive quickly. Not long after the food we ordered. We both had lobster thermidor a full and half lobster 🦞 it comes with chips and a salad. The food is delicious 😋 and piping hot. If you sit inside you can see the staff cooking everything, it's amazing how quick they work with a full restaurant and customers sitting outside. I definitely recommend eating here. There is a good choice of food on the menu and the service is quick.

Easily the best fish and chips Ive had. Os delicious! Highly recommend. Staff was great as well! Arrived moments after they opened, and was quickly served.

My boyfriend and I came here for the holidays. We ordered half a lobster and chips, butter shrimp with salad, and fried shrimp with chips. The restaurant atmosphere is very good. It is next to the sea, quiet and away from the hustle and bustle. There are seats inside and outside by the sea. The staff is friendly and attentive to service.

An absolute 5-star restaurant! Escape the crowds and seek out this fantastic beachfront gem serving an outstanding selection of fresh, delicious seafood. I discovered it on a previous visit and was keen to return—and it didn’t disappoint. We enjoyed oysters and prawns paired with a lovely Sancerre (available by the bottle or half-bottle, which was ideal). Later that evening, after a disappointing supper in town, we found ourselves wishing we’d just come back here instead. Already planning a return—possibly this morning—for breakfast oysters!

I searched for a resturant in Whitstable for a Saturday evening dinner with my partner. After looking at various resturants I picked Samphire based on the great reviews and enticing food pics. On arrival we received a warm welcome and was shown to our seat. The atmosphere was cozy and relaxed. We ordered some cocktails which were okay. We ordered starters which arrived separately and I had finished mine before my partner's came which the server apologised for. I chose the oysters which were really fresh and tasty. Unfortunately my partners grilled prawns really lacked in flavour. After 40 mins the mains arrived. For my main I ordered the fish pie which many reviewers absolutely raved about. It was okay at best. . . Really under seasoned and bland unfortunately. My partner ordered the steak which came with no accompaniments, so he chose the potatoe pave. The steak itself was tasty and the potatoes were okay but quite bland. The overall experience was lacking based on the reviews of others and in my opinion not worth the price. Not worth a second visit.

A real treat. Hearty and flavourful meals. Delicious ham with creamed leeks, fish pie and Creole mussels. Brilliant vegetarian options which everybody enjoyed. Traditional desserts with excellent textures. Very long and interesting wine list. Friendly staff and jolly atmosphere. The only thing that spoiled it was that a children’s dish from the children’s menu was spicy, it didn’t state this, and she didn’t eat much.

Enjoyed a beautiful lunch at Samphire to celebrate my birthday. Food is absolutely fabulous, there’s a wide drinks selection, wonderful friendly staff and service. Very very special restaurant and highly recommended.

We went to Samphire for the lunch menu. I had the Oysters with Pickled Apple to start, and they were amazing, followed by Holy Trinity Mussels and Bread & Butter Pudding. My wife had the Terrine to start followed by Holy Trinity Mussels and Sticky toffee pudding. All the food was exceptional and the staff were really friendly.

We had a great birthday lunch at Samphire! The food was delicious and we had a lovely window seat 🩷

This is a gem! I'm Celiac and the staff were super accommodating. The cheese and ham croquettes were out of this world!

They made us Rockefeller oysters by mistake so it took an extra 15 minutes. The waitress apologized and ask us if you wanted the Rockefeller oysters too and of course, we said yes. But she never brought them and just brought us the regular raw oysters. Then she charged for the Rockefeller oysters instead of the regular oysters. We had to point this and it was corrected and they also added a service charge even though the service was not good. I felt really embarrassed afterwards because I asked for the Rockefeller and never got them. The smoked shrimp were very tiny and not worth the €12 price. Spent over €100 on just a few appetizers.