Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Dorset

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Dorset? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

TWELVE EATERY

4.8

4.8 (962)

£26 to £40

Vegan

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Sustainability and nutritional is at the core of Twelve. There are no obvious vegan cues and most of our guests don’t even make the connection that the menus is plant-based.

Twelve is defined not by what’s missing but by what it is.

Twelve Eatery is where vegans, vegetarians, pescetarians, flexitarians, omnivores and meat eaters meet to try creative dishes in a good atmosphere with stylish interiors.

We believe great food and good music should be enjoyed by everyone!

Top review

Amanda

Dined on Dec 23, 2024

Delicious plant-based food in a lovely restaurant.

The Anchor Inn

4.7

4.7 (735)

£25 and under

British

Bridport

About the restaurant

You'll find us nestled snugly right on Seatown Beach, hidden along one of the many coves that litter Dorset's famous Jurassic coastline. Once a smugglers haunt, the pub now serves a seasonal menu with a focus on seafood and fresh local produce.

Complete with wood fires and Palmers award winning ales, the pub is the perfect location to refuel after a day on the coastal path or for a special evening meal with friends or family.

Top review

Salma

Dined 4 days ago

Everything was lovely. Went for a main meal and ended up eating 3 courses. And booking a table for the next two nights again to sample more of the delicious menu. Cannot recommend.mend it enough.

TIIEN THAI

4.6

4.6 (1590)

£26 to £40

Thai

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

*** Tiien Thai has won Best Thai Restaurant in the UK 2023 ***
For more information about the award, please visit our website at: https://www.tiienthairestaurant.co.uk/reviews.
At Tiien Thai Restaurant Bournemouth, we are proud to create exceptional food that is carefully prepared and beautifully presented.
Here you will experience joy and harmony in a serene yet contemporary environment where the most exciting Thai food will be served. Also available for take away.
Our head chef, Pong Pan, sources only the finest authentic Thai ingredients to produce the most sublime flavours. His team at Tiien will guide you on a magical adventure of tastes, aromas and textures.

Top review

Ian

Dined on Dec 26, 2024

Excellent food and welcoming staff. Our second time here and we will come again.

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Popular dish

Massaman Chicken Curry

The Clubhouse West Bexington

4.6

4.6 (408)

£25 and under

Seafood

Bridport

About the restaurant

Iconic Coastline. Fantastic Food.

Serving fresh, locally and ethically sourced produce, focusing on fish and seafood, lovingly prepared to our customers from near & far.
Our Garden Pavilion, patio and relaxing garden area are seasonal additions offering far-reaching sea views and evening sunsets to each and every table.

Top review

mikeVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The service was excellent as always and nearly all the food was good. However my wife’s bread and butter pudding was both cold and very solid, perhaps not properly defrosted. A pity as everything else was excellent

Pho Bournemouth

4.6

4.6 (333)

£25 and under

Vietnamese

Bournemouth

About the restaurant

Healthy Vietnamese Street Food, we specialise in serving pho noodle soup, hearty curries, delicious chicken wings, sharing spring rolls, and much more besides...

Top review

Naomi

Dined 2 days ago

Delicious food. Great gluten free options. Great cocktail menu! Friendly staff. Quick service! Can’t wait to eat here again!

BEAR Wimborne

4.6

4.6 (27)

£25 and under

Café

Wimborne

About the restaurant

Our store in Wimborne, Dorset, breathes life into a beautiful Grade II listed building that once housed The Bell Hotel, a local landmark since the 19th century. The patio space, once home to an old glassblowing building, is the perfect little sun trap to enjoy a coffee, a bite to eat, or a cocktail or two.

Whether you’re popping in for a quick coffee or staying longer for brunch, our Wimborne store presents the perfect blend of heritage and modern comfort in the heart of this historic town.

Top review

Andy

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Great food and drink in an inviting atmosphere, with a warm welcome: who could ask for more? See you again soon.

Watch House Cafe

4.5

4.5 (215)

£25 and under

Pizza Bar

Bridport

About the restaurant

Iconic Coastline. Fantastic Food.

one of "the top 20 of the UK’s best seaside restaurants, cafes and shacks! - The Guardian
Serving fresh, locally and ethically sourced produce, lovingly prepared to our customers from near & far.

Top review

Carl

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent home cooked pizzas. Staff were spot on. Need we say more.

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Experience

Bottomless Brunch

Da Vinci's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

4.4

4.4 (603)

£25 and under

Italian

Poole

About the restaurant

Welcome to Da Vinci’s, the best Italian restaurant on Poole Quay and only a stone’s throw away from the water’s edge. Established in 1993, Da Vinci’s is a family-run business, specialising in fresh, local ingredients, cooked in true Italian style.

Whether you are seeking a casual pizza supper in a cosy Italian atmosphere or a special meal in a venue that can cater for your special occasion, Da Vinci’s has the answer.

Our beautiful Italian restaurant in Poole has a cosy downstairs right on the Quay front and own upstairs dining room features seven windows overlooking the harbour.
We are family friendly (hey, we’re Italian!) have highchairs and can provide smaller portions of pasta for children.

Top review

Steph

Dined on Dec 21, 2024

Cosy Italian, the staff were friendly and we had very generous portions. Would recommend

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Experience

2 Course Lunch Set Menu

Spice Ship

4.4

4.4 (292)

£25 and under

Pub

Weymouth

About the restaurant

Soak up our friendly service and homely charm when nestled in the coastal village of Preston. With Bowleaze Cove a mere 20 minutes stroll away, the Spice Ship is the ideal pit stop to book end a day, simply sit back, relax and enjoy our delicious menu with your favourite drink in hand. We're proud to offer a menu packed with the most appetising dishes. Our passion for taking traditional pub classics and making them the best around by using the most decadent of ingredients, makes every meal served have you coming back time and time again!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

Food was excellent and plentiful and staff were friendly. Only slight criticism would be the length of time it took to bring each course out , other than that it was amazing.

Hive Beach Cafe

4.3

4.3 (808)

£25 and under

Seafood

Bridport

About the restaurant

Iconic coastline, fantastic food
Serving fresh, locally and ethically sourced produce, focusing on fish and seafood, lovingly prepared to our customers from near & far.
The Hive Pavilion with wrap-around patio & a seasonal addition of the Top Marquee each offering far-reaching sea views and evening sunsets to each table.
Check in on arrival will be at the front desk in our main marquee. Please note at peak times there may be a slight delay on arrival for your table. Booked tables will be available for the time you have reserved, early access will not be permitted.

Top review

Gary

Dined 4 days ago

Great place to spend the New Year’s Day . Weather could of been better.

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