Plymouth's food scene clusters in three places: the Barbican for seafood and old pubs, Royal William Yard for waterfront dining, and the city centre for everything else.
The historic harbour is the obvious place to eat fish. Boats land their catch at the fish market across the water, and the restaurants along Southside Street and the quayside make the most of it. The area also holds some of the city's oldest pubs, several with genuine claims to centuries of trading.
The restored naval victualling yard is now the city's best-looking place to eat, with restaurants, a brewery taproom and cafés set among grade-I listed buildings on the water. It is a twenty-minute walk from the city centre along the waterfront, or a short bus or taxi ride.
The Black Friars Distillery on the Barbican has been making gin since 1793 and is the oldest working gin distillery in England. Tours run daily and end, sensibly, in the cocktail bar.
Plymouth Market in the city centre is a covered market with fresh produce, fish, cheese and street food counters. The West End streets around it hold the city's independent food shops, bakeries and cafés.
Seafest on the Barbican each September is the biggest food event in the calendar — free entry, seafood stalls, chef demonstrations and marine conservation activities. Royal William Yard runs regular makers' and food markets through the year.
Fresh crab and scallops landed at Sutton Harbour, Plymouth Gin, cream teas done the Devon way (cream first, then jam — and yes, it matters locally), and a growing number of South West craft breweries with taprooms across the city.
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