A WEEKEND IN: MARGATE
- thistimelastweekblog
- Jun 8
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 23
Up-and-coming gets thrown about a lot these days, but Margate is one of the success stories (we’ve been burnt by a few lately that need a little more emphasis on the latter part of the title). Generation Boomer might find it hard to accept, having grown up with the Kentish seaside town in its tired years, but with boutique hotels and independent restaurants popping up, colourful old-town streets and it being just under two hours on a train from London, Margate should very much be on your radar. It feels buzzy but not busy. Full of hotspots but not overwhelmingly that you’ll have fomo that you can’t do it all. It’s the perfect blend of happening ‘up’ and undiscovered ‘coming’. Below we’ve pulled together all the places we very much consider worth visiting, whether you’re down for the day or making a weekend of it.

Breakfast & brunch
Breakfast included. We can only think of two other words less relevant in our lives and that’s ‘all inclusive’. As it is, there aren’t enough meals in the day to fit in every food spot on our list, so we can’t be wasting one at our accommodation. Margate is full of breakfast, brunch and coffee spots and here’s a round-up of our faves.
First was the hunt for a good coffee and Doubloons delivered with their innovative and unusual cold brew blends, we originally found this spot on our first visit when it was a mere pop up, back a year later and they have their very own shop front which we love to see! Be quick, this is only around until the end of September 2023. Big Shot Diner is hot on filter coffee and can be found along the parade, overlooking the golden plains of Margate Beach. Clue’s in the name, Big Shot Diner also serves up diner-style food - think mammoth grilled cheese sandwiches and loaded waffles. For a snack to-go, Staple Stores is a new artisanal bakery located in the Turner Contemporary gallery, and is known for its impressive cronuts and pastry creations. Oast is another wholesome neighbourhood bakery on the way to Cliftonville, a short wander along the seafront, turning in-land at the iconic beacon that is the Lido pillar, and head straight for their delicious chocolate orange cardamom buns and freshly-baked breads. Savoury-philes should seek out Picnic Deli, the trendy provisions stockist for all your sandwich, cheese and natural wine needs. One of stokey’s finest, The Good Egg, has made the journey from the big smoke to the seaside. This Middle Eastern-inspired brunch house is famous for its babka and is great for a quick bite to take away, or to dine in with the shakshuka and its proper brunch menu. For hearty sandos, homemade sausage rolls and a hint of sea-view, Forts Cafe oozes east-end hipster whether you like to admit you love it or not. Meanwhile, very much the opposite lies waiting back in the old town; Wildes is the ultimate all-day boozy brunch spot with rattan interiors, chillout tunes and a day-to-night vibe that spills out onto the streets.
Lunch & dinner
If you thought you were spoiled for choice at breakfast…prepare yourself for lunch and dinner.
In the center of town is Pomus, a trendy neighborhood wine bar and bottle shop showcasing the finest produce from Kent on its carefully curated monthly menu of sharing plates with a sister site, Pom on the Pier, having opened this summer along the buzzy harbour arm and is wine-focused with a select menu of fun cocktails and picky bits. Already settled into the harbour arm is Sargasso, the seaside outpost of East London’s Brawn serving seasonal small plates . Eat here, taste the wine and keep your eyes peeled for Sargasso Sundays music events. Seafood lovers can enjoy daily-changing menus at Angela’s and sister restaurant Dory’s, both with a strong focus on local, sustainably-sourced fish. Angela’s is an intimate restaurant just off the esplanade with handwritten blackboard menus, bistro dining chairs and statement table tops made from - we had to ask as we originally thought they were a masterpiece of shell - compressed recycled-plastic. Head to Dory’s for a lighter lunch of pickled, cured and raw seafood small plates.
Eating food from your own plate seems almost archaic in the wake of small plates, but at the newly-opened kitchen at Sete it is a welcome relief. We would tell you to order the sausage and white bean cassoulet, but their chef whips up a lot of the menus almost daily. Serving over 50 wines by the glass, they make it easy to taste a variety of wines without breaking the bank. This is probably the longest we have gone without mentioning pasta, but you’ll find traditional dishes at Bottega Caruso. This family-run Italian restaurant that sits in the heart of the old town also sells its fresh pastas, artisan tomato sauces and other treats, while putting on pasta-making classes and supper clubs too. For a concise menu and intimate feel, head up the hill to Colina at Fort Hotel. Filled with mid-century modern furniture and nods to the building's history, their kitchen is inspired by Southern Europe with daily specials jotted on the chalkboard, just how we like it.

Drinks
Always ones to sniff out a roof terrace, we beelined for the newly-opened No. 42 Guesthouse rooftop bar which is located in a more tranquil setting four floors up. Natural furnishings of low wooden tables, leather lounge chairs and boucle pouffes, a stylish boho sun trap which makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into a European beach bar rather than the Kent coastline. If you want to enjoy pretty cocktails with a buzzing atmosphere, all-day brunch spot Wildes has the chillout tunes going day til night. For more casual drinking spots, Little Swift and Big Shot Diner are perfect. Both these compact double-ended drinking holes are located along the parade with easy access to the sunset. While Big Shot has its small menu of diner grub, Little Swift serves cheese and charcuterie boards but if you fancy more, we were kindly allowed to bring back a Peter’s Fish Factory, i.e. the local delicacy. Finally, exclusively open on Fridays and Saturdays, you will find retro Margate Off Licence whose windows perfectly frame the iconic Lido beacon over stylish cocktails and a great soundtrack.
Stay
No. 42 Guesthouse
The boutique hotel group has opened their third door, No.42 in Margate, to join their portfolio of stylish UK staycations. Reimagining the Victorian property with a chic coastal design using earthy materials, a neutral colour palette and structural features mimicking the location's natural curves. Beds are framed with a golden freehand mural by local artist Laura Ann Coates with a large shell lampshade hanging in the centre of the room whilst the bathroom hides the perfect roll-top tub and rainfall shower. Outside the rooms is a guest pantry, stocked full with old school sweets, ice cream, baked goodies and soft drinks, a nostalgic homage to the seaside location. Although the hotel only hosts 21 rooms, it doesn’t fall short on amenities. The Pearly Cow restaurant has a bright backdrop of the beach front with banquet seating and open kitchen. Downstairs you’ll find the copper cove spa where we indulge ourselves in the ‘time together treatment’ before rehydrating on their rooftop bar.
Back for our second stay and we’re still obsessed with this modern B&B townhouse with their bold interiors and blush colour palette. The statement panelled hallway welcomes you in whilst the eclectic front room lures you to sit with beauclair armchairs, eclectic art and even perfumes in the drawing room for you to spritz before you head out. Each of the nine bedrooms, from the smallest to largest, is designed with the same soft blush tones found downstairs. Each room features a luxurious king-size bed with a crimson velvet headboard, complemented by toiletries from the local brand, Haeckels, who’s shopfront can be found a short 2 minutes walk from the hotel.
A beautiful 14 bed boutique hotel in the heart of the town and only a stone's throw from the beach. This old public house has been lovingly restored, keeping a lot of the original features whilst adding some new touches like the terracotta brick floors and mid century modern furniture in the lobby-turned-restaurant space. Below ground level is Fort Road Bar, a cosy spot for a pre-dinner cocktail featuring work from local artists and hosting local events like book clubs.
£100 a night
The Beetroot saved us when we were looking for affordable accommodation on our first visit. Paul, the owner, was a fellow north Londoner and looked after us as only the rave reviews online had suggested. Located in the heart of the old town but secluded enough for a restful night, we couldn’t recommend this independent hotel enough.
Things to do & see
In the little time we had off-duty from eating and drinking, we squeezed in our third favourite pastime - mooching. We have been loving antique furniture shopping and Margate has some great ones dotted around its winding streets. Along Northdown Road you’ll find a variety of second hand and vintage shops with Clueit Webb offering already-varnished, upholstered and tarted-up mid-century modern pieces.
If you told us ten years ago that a three-hour coastal walk would be our idea of fun, oh we would have laughed, but it is often the best way to see an area. The route is very flat and manageable, and leads you through the beautiful rock formations at Botany Bay through to Broadstairs. Stop off for a well-deserved lunch at Wyatt and Jones, situated in Viking Bay, for responsibly-sourced, seasonal seafood.
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