Where to eat and drink in Deal: our pick of the best-reviewed places

Deal has quietly become one of the best places to eat on the Kent coast, and it isn't just us saying so: national food writers, restaurant guides and thousands of diners on Tripadvisor and OpenTable keep coming back with the same verdict. Here's our pick of the town's most highly rated places, from a five-pound pizza to a proper sit-down dinner, along with their websites where they have one, so you can check hours and book ahead.

For a view with your meal

81 Beach Street sits right on the seafront in a handsome period building, serving seasonal, locally sourced plates with a strong following for its seafood. It's one of the most reviewed restaurants in Deal, with well over a thousand reviews and a consistently high rating.

81 Beach Street, Deal CT14 6JB · 01304 368136

Deal Pier Kitchen is at the very end of the pier, inside an award-winning glass-walled building with 360-degree sea views. By day it's a relaxed, no-booking cafe for breakfast, brunch and lunch, so be prepared to queue on a sunny weekend; in the evenings it turns into a steak-and-lobster restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays, and a pizza pop-up on Thursdays, both bookable in advance.

Deal Pier, Beach Street, Deal CT14 6HY

Dunkerley's has been a Deal institution for more than 25 years, run throughout by the Dunkerley family. It's an established seafood restaurant with rooms right on the seafront, known for its extensive wine list and a terrace looking straight out over the Channel to the pier.

19 Beach Street, Deal CT14 7AH · dunkerleys.co.uk

For something quick and casual

Holy Dough, a small pizza shop on Mill Road opposite the Co-op, has built up a devoted local following for its Detroit and Neapolitan-style pizzas, generous with the cheese and fairly priced. It's tiny, so it's better known as a takeaway than a sit-down spot, and it doesn't have its own website, but it's easy to find on social media.

Mill Road, Deal (opposite the Co-op)

Little Harriettes of Deal Tea Rooms, on Broad Street, is a small, traditional tea room serving homemade cakes and afternoon teas on fine bone china. It's one of the most highly rated places to eat in Deal, loved for its cosy, old-fashioned charm, though its popularity means pre-ordering for a full afternoon tea is recommended.

7 Broad Street, Deal CT14 6ER · 01304 369748

For a proper pub

The Kings Head, nearly 400 years old, sits right on the seafront with views across the Channel and a summer display of flowers that's become a local landmark. Expect real ales, a traditional dark-wood interior, and food that regularly wins praise from both locals and visitors, alongside outdoor music on Beach Street Square through the summer.

9 Beach Street, Deal CT14 7AH

Booking and checking hours

Opening hours and menus can change with the seasons, and some of these places don't take advance bookings at all, so it's always worth checking a restaurant's own website or giving them a call before you set off, especially in the evenings and at weekends.