Eat Out Suggestions with kids or not (recommended to book in advance for July evenings, they fill up):

The George (kid-friendly British fare, courtyard garden)

The George Hotel is a bit of a Rye institution and it’s been there for ages, but it burnt down in 2019. There was a huge fire and the owners did a massive renovation project so it’s since reopened its doors. I went before and after the fire and it was really wonderful. They must have spent a fortune on it when it was re-done, and the results are amazing.”

Hoof – Farm-to-Table Burgers Just Around the Corner

35 The Mint, Rye

Hoof is a cosy, rustic burger joint with serious local roots. Owned by farmer Oliver Furnival, the beef and potatoes come straight from his family farm on Romney Marsh, just four miles away.
The menu’s all about quality – think juicy burgers, steaks, and their famous FreakShakes (a full-blown dessert in a glass, and a big hit with kids). It’s laid-back, welcoming, and a great pick if you’re after something hearty and local.

The Crown

The Crown Inn, located on Ferry Road in Rye, offers a quintessential British pub experience. This establishment is ideally situated for both locals and visitors looking to enjoy a relaxing break from exploring the historic town of Rye. The Crown Inn provides a welcoming atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely drink or a casual meet-up with friends. As is typical with traditional pubs, guests can expect to find a selection of beverages and possibly a range of pub fare. Whether you’re winding down after a day of sightseeing or seeking a cosy corner for a chat, The Crown Inn is a charming choice.

Marino’s – Classic Fish & Chips

37 The Mint, Rye

If you’re craving proper fish and chips while you’re in Rye, Marino’s on The Mint is the go-to. Just a few minutes from the house, it serves fresh fish straight from the local harbour, cooked to order and consistently spot on.
You can eat in or grab a takeaway and head down to the beach at Pett Level or Camber Sands to eat fish and chips and watch the sunset – it’s one of those simple things that always feels like a treat.

They also offer a gluten-free batter on request (just note it’s cooked in the same fryer), and you can order online here for quick collection.

People come from far and wide for Marino’s, and they queue outside if they have to. It’s right on Rye High Street, and it’s very cool. It’s not fancy at all - its more like a like a cafeteria with Formica tables, but it’s an institution. Recommendation: “A small cod and chips with mushy peas and curry sauce.”

The Globe Inn (casual pub setup with space, good for kids)

A traditional but modern country inn located in the heart of Rye, just a couple of miles from the coast. Specialises in using fresh and local produce to create good innovative home cooked food from Field Farm Sea and offer a wide selection of drinks. From the moment you walk through the door you will see a stunning combination of contemporary mixed with traditional furniture, values and food, interwoven with a marine theme in a nod to our history. Get to know the locals after a wonderful walk around the history steeped town of Rye, which is locally known as a naval base and market town with strong fishing and agricultural ties.

Mermaid Street Cafe (high chairs, kids menu)

William the Conquerer (pub grub)

Rye Harbour,

Recently refurbished, it’s a smart, friendly, traditional pub, boasting real ales, hearty pub food and a warm welcome for all. There’s a large outdoor area here too, with plenty of alfresco seating on the banks of the River Rother - ideal for spotting some of the local wildlife that make this a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Simply Italian (laidback vibe with outdoor seating)

A family business with the central core of the staff being together from the start! "We feel we welcome you into our homes and feed you and want you to enjoy your experience to escape as it were! Its means the world to us when you tell us you have really enjoyed it!". They bring over their own fior di latte mozzarella fresh every week from Naples thats so important to us! "As for our prices we are very reasonable believing in not robbing your pockets!" Pizza, Italian comfort food by Italians.

Haydens – Eco-Friendly Brunch in the Heart of Rye

108 High Street, Rye

Tucked along the High Street, Haydens is a family-run café and guesthouse known for its eco-friendly ethos and quality, locally sourced ingredients. The brunch menu covers all the bases – from full English breakfasts and cheddar eggs to pancakes and Eggs Benedict – with plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options too.

It’s a welcoming spot with a thoughtful approach to food, and a great choice if you’re after a relaxed, sustainable bite to eat in Rye.

Whitehouse Rye – Our Favourite Spot for Brunch

24 High Street, Rye

Right in the centre of town, just along the High Street, Whitehouse Rye is a firm favourite for brunch. Set in a beautifully restored listed building, it’s a relaxed café and bakery serving up everything from fluffy blueberry pancakes with vanilla mascarpone to bacon flatbreads with chilli jam and crispy onions.

Everything’s made fresh, and you can pick up a loaf of their excellent sourdough to take back with you. It’s walk-in only, so you can drop by whenever the mood strikes.

Eat Out Suggestions - adults only (resys recommended):

Rye Fish Market & Seafood Bar

Simmons Quay, Rye

A brilliant local spot for seafood lovers — grab the day’s fresh catch at the market or sit down for oysters, lobster rolls, and local wines at the laid-back weekend seafood bar. Family-run, super friendly.

The Mermaid Inn

The Mermaid welcomes travellers, to enjoy the unique experience of a 600 year old Inn, dining in a 2 AA Rosette Restaurant and relaxing in The Giants Fireplace Bar, The Tudor Bar, or spending time on the walled patio. The Cellars date from 1156 and the building was rebuilt in 1420 after The Mermaid and the Town of Rye were burnt to the ground by French Raiders on June 22nd 1377. Experience a drink in The Giant’s Fireplace Bar and imagine how the Hawkhurst Gang, local smugglers in the 1730s and 1740s, caroused in the bar. Dine in the Linen Fold Panelled Restaurant.

Webbe's

Webbe's at the Fish Cafe, Rye, offers an open plan ground floor Restaurant, our first floor Restaurant for events or functions, and Webbe's Cookery School. Paul and Rebecca Webbe, Directors, have personally designed and styled Webbe's, to suit every need and to enhance the history and style of its beautiful building.

A four storey brick built, listed building, the first completely fire proof building of its kind in the UK, built in 1907. Webbe's offers fresh fish, from the local ports of Rye and Hastings, meat and vegetarian dishes are also available.

The Union Rye

The Union is a neighbourhood restaurant and bar set in a beautiful 15th century building at the heart of Rye. The food is guided by the seasons and our menu is ingredient-led, so changes happen daily based on what we have available to us. We primarily use British produce and work with local suppliers to ensure we always source the very best ingredients we can get our hands on. The Union was awarded a Michelin Star in 2025.

The Fig – Stylish Brunch, Lunch & Cocktails in the Heart of Rye

2 High Street, Rye

Just a short stroll from One Church Square, The Fig is one of Rye’s most loved café-restaurants. Founded by Chef Rosie Furnival—a BBC MasterChef finalist with a career that’s taken her from the French Alps to the Arctic Circle—The Fig is known for its bold, healthy flavours and creative cocktails. Guests can enjoy vibrant brunch and lunch daily, with dinner served Thursday to Saturday. The ever-evolving menu is packed with seasonal, globally-inspired dishes made from high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Whether you’re after the best brunch in Rye, a laid-back evening meal, or a cocktail to kick off your weekend, The Fig is a must-visit during your stay.

They do serve breakfast all day, and they do an excellent brunch, so that’s when I would personally go, but they also do cocktails and things in the evenings if you’re after an evening out.

Rye Waterworks

The award winning Rye Waterworks is the first Micropub to open in South East Sussex. It is situated in a building steeped with history originally a water pump house for 300 years then a soup kitchen dating from the 1890s that’s now been opened up as a feature within the micropub. A family business serving nine local ales and twelve local ciders along with a selection of wines, gins & soft drinks. CAMRA (campaign for real ale) Awards 2019. 2020, 2021 & 2022.

Tillingham

This is on the outskirts of Rye, overlooking the sea and the Romney Salt Marshes. It’s a winery, so the team make their own natural British South Coast wines. It’s an amazing restaurant. "The chef [Brendan Eades] is ex-Moro, so he cooks that kind of Mediterranean, simple food done really brilliantly that I love, with lots of grilling and cooking over an open fire. There’s also a shop where they sell wine and other lovely lifestyle bits to take away with you. It’s just such an amazing spot.” Anywhere in the restaurant is lovely, but also worth a look in is the big wood-fired oven outside that they have - that’s another lovely spot serving up wood-fired pizzas (although there's no gluten-free pizza). You can sit there and overlook the countryside; it’s quite a dreamy place.

The Gallivant

Just outside of Rye on the road between Rye and Camber Sands. It’s literally on the road and a stone’s throw from the beach. It’s so fantastic because you can have lunch there and just head straight to the beach. It’s got a bit of a California theme to it, which sounds a bit weird, but I think [the owner] must have some kind of experience with that whole West Coast lifestyle. The food is fantastic and they do yoga and things in the mornings; it’s got a slightly hippy feel about it.” The menu is quite seafood-heavy and, again, they cook over charcoal and wood, so expect things like whole skate wing with new potatoes and garlic, and they do lots of local, fresh lobsters and prawns over the grill. And at brunch, they do this Iberico bacon brioche bun with homemade brown sauce or other stuffing like portobello mushrooms with confit garlic and grilled tomatoes."

Pubs - some repeats from above

The Queen's Head Inn

The Queens Head Inn is a lively pub, being frequented by both tourists and locals alike whilst the restaurant is reminiscent of your favourite aunt’s comfortable parlour and serves traditional pub food in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

The Pipemakers Arms

The Pipemakers Arms is a traditional local pub located just outside the centre of Rye (Wish Ward - about 300 yards away). Known for its friendly atmosphere and no-frills charm, it’s a popular spot with locals looking for a relaxed pint and a game of darts or pool. The pub often shows live sports and has a jukebox for music. While it doesn’t serve food, visitors can expect affordable drinks and a warm welcome. It’s a good choice if you’re after an unpretentious local with character and a loyal regular crowd.

The Ypres Castle Inn

A distinguished pub renowned for its exceptional selection of drinks and its commitment to featuring independent producers. The pub offers an ever-changing tap list of cask and keg beers, highlighting favourites from breweries such as Floc, Beak, and Burning Sky. Additionally, it serves ciders from Nightingale, lagers from Rothaus and Budvar, and a superior stout from Anspach & Hobday. For those interested in unique offerings, the Ypres Castle Inn also provides rare monastic beers from Norcia, Italy.

The wine list, though compact, is carefully curated with a focus on low-intervention and biodynamic wines from Italy and France. Local gin from Pleasant Lands Distillery is another highlight. While the pub does not serve hot food, it offers a range of superior bar snacks perfect for pairing with their drinks. The interior of the Ypres Castle Inn features a cosy atmosphere with a log fire for the colder months and displays contemporary works by local artists, adding a unique touch to its traditional decor. The pub is also known for its spacious, green garden, providing a relaxing outdoor setting for guests.

Globe Inn Marsh

A traditional but modern country inn located in the heart of Rye, just a couple of miles from the coast.

Specialises in using fresh and local produce to create good innovative home cooked food from Field Farm Sea and offer a wide selection of drinks.

From the moment you walk through the door you will see a stunning combination of contemporary mixed with traditional furniture, values and food, interwoven with a marine theme in a nod to our history. Get in from the cold, rest your feet, relax and enjoy our company by the roaring open fire, delight in the smell of the crackling wood and our delicious, lovingly prepared food. Get to know the locals after a wonderful walk around the history steeped town of Rye, which is locally known as a naval base and market town with strong fishing and agricultural ties.