A Hophead’s Guide To Eight Fun & Fantastic Dartmouth Pubs!

While Dartmouth is well known for being a place of historical interest thanks to the incredible architecture here, there’s a lot more to this wonderful town than just that. You can enjoy the beach, museum or take part in activities like cycling, watersports or join in on the array of festivals held throughout the year.  

There is no doubt that Dartmouth is a great place to visit with plenty to do. But there’s another reason we love this town so much – the fantastic selection of pubs in Dartmouth!  

Regardless of how you spend your time here, if you’re like us then after a day of adventuring you’ll want some good pub grub and a refreshing pint. 

Luckily for you, we’ve decided to put together a list of what we believe are the best pubs in Dartmouth! 

As you’ll see there’s lots of incredible food available, refreshing pints, quirky pubs and even somewhere for ghost hunters to enjoy…….

So sit back and relax, while we guide you through Darty’s pub culture! 

The Eight Best Pubs In Dartmouth For Beer, Food & Fun!

1. The Seven Stars

This pub has tunnels, underground cellars, a hidden smugglers hatch, and behind the bar there’s even a mummified mouse wrapped in a ten-shilling note – it’s no wonder word on the street is that The Seven Stars is haunted! In fact rumour has it there’s a ghost that likes to come out at night and smash glasses… 

As for the mouse on display, no one quite knows why it’s there. However no one dares remove it out of fear it is protecting the building!

Sadly for most during their time at Dartmouth’s oldest pub nothing weird happens, instead expect to be warmly welcomed at the bar area which itself is picturesque thanks to the wooden ceiling beams and big window that lets all the light in.

On tap there’s a range of ale, with Dartmoor Jail Ale being one of the regulars alongside usually something from Otter Brewery too. There’s nibbles and starters to choose from to enjoy with your pint, such as the Pork Bites, or choose to head straight for the mains.

You’ll find a great mix of the usual pub grub here, as well as a few European and Asian dishes on offer, but the Tiger Prawn Noodle Curry and Devon Burger come recommended. There’s a decent selection of sandwiches and desserts that fill out the menu too.

Once you’ve eaten then why not grab a drink and play one of the board games they have here. And if you start losing you can always toss the board on the ground when no-one is looking and blame the ghost…..

Address: 8 Smith Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9QR

2. The Cherub Inn

So we’ve brought you the oldest pub in Dartmouth, how about a pub in the oldest building? Well The Cherub Inn is located in the oldest building in town!

A glance at the incredible 14th century exterior alone should be enough to convince you to visit, and it’s not an understatement to say this Tudor building draws in customers based on its looks alone.

Inside you’ll find many of the original features such as wooden beams (made from old ships!), stone walls and a wonderful winding staircase that takes you up into the warm and friendly restaurant.

This place isn’t all looks and no substance though, and the upstairs restaurant is proof of that. Both the lunch and evening menus are varied with a selection of British and international dishes, as well as plenty of seafood options – the sea is on their doorstep after all. This isn’t any old pub grub though – we thought the food was exceptionally good.

Starting dishes like the Crayfish & Mango and the Smoked Salmon with Apple & Pear, give you an idea of the creative dishes you can get here. But you can also get pub classics too, like the Sausages of the Day, and the Lasagna. There’s plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well, which is always an added bonus.

Downstairs is where you’ll find the pub/bar area, and also that’s where ale lovers will rejoice as there’s an impressive six handpumps serving a mix of local and national ale. St Austell Proper Job tends to be available, but you may enjoy something from Otter Brewery. Honestly, we don’t think there’s anything better than drinking ale in a historic old pub – it just feels like the right way to toast history.

On top of the picturesque surroundings and good grub, there’s occasionally live music at The Cherub Inn, so make sure to check their Facebook page to see if there’s anything on when you’re in town.  

This family friendly pub welcomes dogs into the bar area, has a cosy atmosphere throughout, and is a special place to enjoy a pint and soak in the history. It’s easily one of the best pubs in Dartmouth.

Address: 13 Higher Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9RB

3. YARN

Another fantastic unique venue in Dartmouth worth visiting is YARN, an intimate pub and eatery that packs a big punch.

While this place may be small – it almost resembles a micropub – they compete easily with the bigger pubs in Dartmouth due to the quality on offer, service and friendly atmosphere.

YARN do a very good breakfast and brunch, however we recommend going in for a burger as this place has become famous locally for them.

Why? Well the quality is fantastic, the portion size is pretty generous, and the burgers are creative. There are loads to choose, from the usual ‘classics’ to more inventive ones. The ‘Yankee’, made from beef, cheese, bacon, peanut butter & jam is one such example.

Often the best thing to enjoy with a burger is a pint of craft beer, and you can get one of those here too. That only adds to the whole ‘micropub’ feel of course. They have a good wine list too, but YARN are frequently bringing new drinks in so regulars often get the chance to try something different.

In our opinion this isn’t just one of the best pubs in Dartmouth, it may be one of the best burger places too!

Address: 4a Smith Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9QR

4. Bayards Cove Inn

Another historic pub in the heart of Dartford is Bayards Cove Inn which dates back a good 500 years! It’s not just history they have here though, there’s also live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm. So it’s a fantastic weekend spot.

There’s a healthy mix of seating from casual sofas up to formal dining, as well as a mini outside area at the front where you can soak up the sun and people watch.

Food is served every day from 8am so if you’re out exploring and in need of some extra energy, this is a great place to pop in.

They have a focus on using only fresh local ingredients and make a big effort to support local suppliers so you’ll find that many of the menu items are seasonal.

That means the menu does change, but we can provide some examples of what to expect: In the past they’ve had starters like the Crispy Squid, and the Butternut Squash Arancini, while for mains there’s mean the likes of Lamb Kofta, and freshly caught Fish of the Day. As the menu is seasonal we can’t say what will always be available, but expect lots fresh seafood and plenty of local produce.

In terms of regular ales here you can expect Bays Gold and St Austell Cornish Best Bitter. However we know ale isn’t for everyone so luckily the bar is fully stocked with plenty of other drink options.

This is a family and dog friendly pub too, with lots of character and live music at the weekend. No wonder it’s so popular! 

Address: Bayards Cove Inn, 27 Lower Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9AN

5. Seale Arms

Another pub in Dartmouth that’s popular for live music is the Seale Arms! They have regular live music, which is advertised in advance on their Facebook page so you can check if there’s any bands playing when you’re in town.

But whether there’s a band playing or not, the atmosphere tends to always be upbeat here. Now, that could just be down to the Sharp’s Doom Bar everyone’s drinking, but it could also be down to the fact that there’s a Sunday quiz night where you can win cash, there’s TVs to watch live sport, there’s a pool table to enjoy, and the bar is fully stocked with a whole array of drinks!

What else is on offer? Well what about some pizza, as The Seale Arms has a great selection available.

Pizza is one way to warm you up, but in the winter months the bar feels cosy and warm thanks to the roaring fire. That just happens to be the perfect place for your four-legged companion to keep warm after they’ve checked out the doggy station for some refreshments.

Yep, even your dog can get a drink and a snack at this pub as the Seale Arms is one of the most dog friendly pubs in Dartmouth.

Address: 10 Victoria Road, Dartmouth, TQ6 9SA

6. The Sail Loft

When an old building in desperate need of attention is picked up by people with vision and flair for interior design, something really special can be created. That’s exactly what’s happened at The Sail Loft, a building that’s sailed past centuries since the 1600s and now stands proudly as one of the most unique pubs in Dartmouth.

This family and dog friendly pub and bar now serves incredible food in one of the most Instagram-worthy settings we’ve ever come across.

The small beer garden gets the sun through the afternoon and into the evening, and once the sunsets it’s time to head back to the bar and into the stunning interior where you’ll find plenty on offer. On tap The Sail Loft have Atlantic Pale Ale and Salt Jute IPA to name a couple of the many options, alongside plenty of ciders, spirits and wines stocked and ready to order. Once you’ve got your drink, head up to the modern yet ‘Bali-esque’ lounge to relax. However dogs and children under 10 are not allowed on this floor.

As for the food, The Sail Loft have a variety of different fries, pizzas and wings available on Fridays and Saturdays. They also have gluten free pizza bases and vegan cheese so all diets are catered for.

Occasionally there will be live music here too, for example to coincide with the Dart Music Festival. They sometimes have other special events happening as well, and if they are planning something it will be advertised here.

‘Special’ doesn’t really describe how beautifully presented this pub is. It’s one of those places you need to see for yourself.

Address: 26 Foss Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9DR

7. The Ship in Dock Inn

We have always been fans of a pub that is small in size but big in character, and that’s exactly why people love The Ship in Dock so much!

You get a mix of modern and traditional here, plenty of comfortable seating, and a menu filled with classic gastropub dishes that are as comforting as the pub itself.

It doesn’t matter if you decide to dine on one of their pizzas, burgers, lasagna or curries, as we are sure you’re going to be happy with whatever arrives at your table.

There’s a good selection of ale and lager on tap too, alongside a nice selection of wine and spirits. They often show live sport on the TV here as well, and on top of that you can bring your dog along!

Address: 1 Ridge Hill, Dartmouth, TQ6 9PE

8. The Shambles

We love somewhere a bit different and if you do too, The Shambles in Darty is somewhere you have to visit.

We’ll explain the story behind the pub in a sentence: One owner wanted a doll repair shop, the other wanted a pub so they combined the ideas – and with that The Shambles was born. 

Once inside you can see this is no ordinary pub as there is so much to look at while you enjoy your pint. Luckily there’s plenty of comfortable seating, the atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming, and there’s a real homely feel, so it’s a great place to sink into a seat and then have a drink and reflect on your day.

There is plenty on tap to choose from alongside wine and spirits, so you’ll have lots of choices when visiting. And if you’ve had a few pints and think one of the dolls looks cross with you for having one too many, then you could be right – the creative lot at The Shambes have added emotion to their faces!

Quirky is often overused these days, but The Shambles is just that and more. And it’s not just one of the quirkiest pubs in Dartmouth, it’s one of the quirkiest around!

Address: Higher Street, Dartmouth, TQ6 9RB