From the freshest seafood to the creamiest chocolate, we took a culinary tour of Whitby to try the best dishes and restaurants!
Hands up if your favourite thing to do while visiting Whitby is eat and drink. We imagine hands flying in the air, and you are not alone. With so much fantastic food, trying Whitby's glorious cuisine is one reason we visit repeatedly. Here is our culinary tour of Whitby, featuring must-try dishes and restaurants.
Whitby Fish Dishes
Trenchers – Fish and Chips
No visit to Whitby is complete without savouring the classic fish and chips. There are SO many places to get fish and chips in Whitby; we have listed them here. We repeatedly visit one fish and chip restaurant, and all our friends rave about Trenchers. Trenchers is impressive, and it's not just us saying it. There are countless fantastic reviews to back it up.
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One of the things we love about Trenchers is the option to choose from varied portion sizes, making it perfect for a bit of lunch.
The fish is fresh and flavourful, and the batter is light and crispy. Their curry sauce is especially outstanding. The menu offers a wide range of options, including fresh seafood salads, crab, lobster, fresh fish, homemade pies and lasagnas, vegetarian choices, gluten-free options, and a dedicated children's menu.
Trenchers – Whitby Scampi
When visiting Whitby, try the local speciality, Whitby Scampi. Trenchers Restaurant is the perfect place to savour this delicious dish, featuring golden-fried scampi with mushy peas and tartar sauce.
New Quay Rd, Whitby YO21 1DH
The Marine – Crab Sandwich
Treat yourself to a crab sandwich at The Marine for a lighter option. This simple yet flavourful dish features sweet and succulent crab meat piled high between slices of freshly baked bread. The Marine's relaxed atmosphere beside the harbour is lovely, too.
13, Marine Parade, 13 Marine Parade, Whitby YO21 3PR
The Magpie Cafe – Seafood Platter
If you're eager to sample an assortment of seafood, consider ordering a seafood platter at The Magpie Cafe. This generous platter typically includes a variety of locally sourced seafood, such as prawns, mussels, crab, and smoked salmon. The Magpie Cafe often has a queue outside and for a good reason. The food is excellent.
Read our review of The Magpie Cafe here.
14 Pier Rd, Whitby YO21 3PU
Savoury Dishes
The White Horse and Griffin – Traditional Yorkshire Pudding
A visit to Yorkshire, let alone Whitby, wouldn't be right without a hearty roast dinner and a giant Yorkshire Pudding on the side. While in Whitby, try the traditional Yorkshire pudding at The White Horse and Griffin. Served as part of their Sunday roast, it pairs perfectly with roast beef and rich gravy.
87 Church St, Whitby YO22 4BH
Pie and Mash – Humble Pie N Mash
You'll find Humble Pie N Mash in the heart of the Captain Cook District, along Church Street. They specialise in selling delicious pies! Whether you prefer them on their own, with mash, or topped off with gravy, they are served in front of an open fire and cosy surroundings. Their mouthwatering fillings include Romany Hommity (potato, garlic, cheese, and spices), slow-braised steak and stout, and roast vegetable and goat’s cheese.
87 Church St, Whitby YO22 4BH
Moutreys – Pizza and Pasta
We love to visit this restaurant in Whitby. The wood-fired oven, open plan kitchen, and rustic iron-clad décor create a unique ambience for a romantic meal or a laid-back evening with friends.
The restaurant offers comforting Italian dishes, including fresh pizzas, flavourful pasta, savoury meat dishes, and freshly prepared seafood. It takes pride in using only the finest ingredients and sourcing local produce whenever feasible.
Our favourite is the “Americano Hot” pizza. We have tried several pizzas at Moutreys over the years, but this is our favourite!
9 Grape Lane, Whitby, YO22 4BB
Whitby Sweet Treats
Justin Confectionery – Chocolate
Justin’s in Whitby has been creating handcrafted chocolates and fudges since 1981. If you stroll along Church Street, you'll easily spot this sweet little shop. The delightful aroma of chocolate will lead you right to it!
Their confections are carefully crafted using premium, natural ingredients. They take pride in locally sourcing some ingredients, including Whitby sea salt. Additionally, they offer a selection of vegan treats. In addition to the classic chocolates and fudges, Justin's is renowned for its unique Whitby-themed chocolates, such as Captain Cook’s Cannon Balls and Dracula’s Coffins.
129 Church St, Whitby YO22 4DE
Botham’s of Whitby – Lemon Buns
We must acknowledge Botham’s Bakery, founded in 1865 by Elizabeth Botham. She initially sold bread and cakes from a basket at the local market before acquiring the premises on Skinner Street. The business has flourished over the years and is currently managed by the fifth generation of her family.
The bakery offers a wide variety of artisan bread, bracks, tea bread, biscuits, and cakes. These can be purchased from the shop or savoured with tea or coffee blends in the tea room.
We have to mention lemon buns! They are crafted from soft, sweet dough and packed with juicy sultanas. Topped with creamy white lemon icing, they perfectly complement the flavours. Marks & Spencer has introduced a similar product. James Martin mentioned them on TV, and there’s even a recipe for them in Paul Hollywood’s cookbook. However, it’s important to emphasize that Botham’s lemon buns are the only authentic original recipe made in Whitby for over a century.
35/39 Skinner St, Whitby YO21 3AH
Trillo’s – Black Ice Cream
Trillo's has been making the best ice cream for a hundred years, using only the finest ingredients with no artificial colourings or preservatives. Aside from the Dracula-inspired flavour, they offer all the usual favourites and more unusual ones like cookies and cream, rhubarb crumble, banoffee, amaretto, and black cherry. You can get your Trillo's ice cream from the hut by the bandstand or the Trillo's ice cream van parked on the West Cliff by the Whale Bones.
Fantastic Drinks
Whitby Distillery – Whitby Gin
You have probably seen and tried Whitby Gin in the many pubs, restaurants, and shops in Whitby. Although they initially lacked experience in distilling, the creators of Whitby Gin were driven by their passion and commitment to producing a top-quality gin that would honour the diverse natural beauty of their cherished home. They meticulously selected signature botanicals such as heather from the North York Moors, sugar kelp, and local honey to celebrate various aspects of the North Yorkshire coastline. A one-hour distillery tour takes you behind the scenes of the distillery and is your chance to learn about how they craft their award-winning spirits.
8 Botany Wy, Whitby YO22 4QX
Whitby Brewery – Ales
Overlooked by Whitby Abbey, Whitby Brewery is renowned for producing some of the finest ales in the country. Utilising only the highest quality floor-malted barley and whole hops, Whitby Brewery offers a diverse range of ales to cater to everyone's tastes. One of their popular offerings is the 4.2% Smugglers Gold, a delightful golden ale made from pale barley with smooth maltiness. For those who prefer darker ales, the brewery also offers the 5% Black Death, created with the Whitby Goth Weekend in mind. This ale boasts a distinct liquorice flavour complemented by hints of chocolate and coffee.
Read our review of Whitby Brewery.
East Cliff, Whitby YO22 4JR
From its classic fish and chips to unique local delicacies and sweet treats, there's something to please everyone. Whether you're dining at a cosy café or indulging in food by the harbour, the flavours of Whitby will leave a lasting impression! They will have you returning for sure.
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