Isle of Wight- your recommendations

[Atalune]

We usually go to at ives or padstow for a short U.K. break. We have been to Harrogate and York too. But this year we have settled on the Isle of Wight for the June half term.

I’d love your favourite Resturant recommendations please. I’ve read reviews and so on but some insider knowledge would be great.

We are a family of four. I have a booking for the smoking lobster so far and am on the wait list for the hut. We are staying in shanklin and have a car. We like everything! Kids are 10, 13.

Thank you

Isle of Wight is excellent for food and children.

Our favourite places with children include;
Royal in Ventnor for a smart meal or celebration. Drinks on their raised terrace overlooking the bay, very good food and if you ask them ahead, they’ll usually let children use the pool whilst you have a drink.

Smoking lobster in Ventnor is in a lovely setting with very good food.

Spyglass is very reasonable pub food in prime position. Something for everyone but gets very busy. Live music sometimes too.

A nice spot for lunch is the SeaPot in Monks Bay - between Ventnor and Bonchurch. Best crab sandwiches on the island and very good moule. It used to be public lavatories.

Steep hill Cove is a good walk from Ventnor with good seafood at the Beach Shack. Good rock pools and the chance of meeting someone famous sometimes.

The Cow at Tapnell farm is good if you are carnivores. Thompson’s in Newport is very high end. Number 33 in St Helens is our current favourite but children need to be well behaved as it’s tiny.

The Dell cafe at Appley is excellent food and service with Island roasted coffee. More lunch/brunch than evening but on the beach and with Puckpool park immediately behind for children.

Garlic farm is surprisingly good food.

The dairyman's daughter at arreton barns is one of our favourite. Absolutely love Isle of Wight

If you haven't already, book your ferry crossing with tesco vouchers to save ££££.
We liked the bandstand restaurant in Sandown, The garlic farm and Brook Beach for fossilised dinosaur prints.

Thanks @FizzyPink @SouthOfFrance
You have been so helpful.
Turns out we are booked in East Cowes. The Folly is a 10/15 min drive. Can’t find anything walking distance (we are by the sea) The surf lesson is a genius idea. Both teens want to do it.

www.tackt-isle.co.uk/hire/kayaks/

This is the Kayak hire/SUP place at St Helens. It's an interesting beach/river area, and a nice cafe/ice cream place nearby so you can make a day of it.

www.iowsurf.com/

Surf lessons. Think there are other companies too.

Here's another suggestion too, a guided fossil walk along a beach.

Dinosaur Isle (the dinosaur museum) do them, as does this place here: wightcoastfossils.co.uk/guided-tours/