The Best Fish and Seafood Restaurants in Poole

Poole’s long connection with the sea makes it one of Dorset’s most natural destinations for a seafood meal. Around the harbour, we can find everything from oysters and locally landed fish to traditional fish pie, Mediterranean-inspired shellfish and elegant dishes served with sweeping waterside views.

The strongest seafood restaurants in Poole are not all attempting to offer the same experience. Some are ideal for relaxed fish and chips beside the harbour, while others are better suited to celebrations, date nights or an unhurried lunch. These five choices combine dedicated seafood restaurants, an award-winning Old Town dining room and one of Poole Quay’s most characterful pubs.

Best for: fresh daily fish in a relaxed waterfront setting

Rockfish occupies the former Poole Pottery building directly on Poole Quay, with a spacious dining room, high vaulted ceilings, an open kitchen and a small number of outdoor tables overlooking the harbour.

The restaurant specialises in sustainably sourced seafood, with fish supplied by the company’s own fishing boat and supplemented by catches selected from Brixham and other local markets. Depending on availability, diners can choose fish landed that day and have it grilled or fried to order. Fried fish is served with unlimited chips or a salad, giving the meal the familiar comfort of fish and chips while placing much greater emphasis on the catch itself.

Rockfish is one of the easiest recommendations for mixed groups. The setting feels special enough for a celebration, but the menu and atmosphere remain informal and family-friendly. It is also a convenient choice for visitors combining lunch with Poole Museum, the Old Town or a harbour cruise.

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Best for: an elegant seafood dinner in Poole Old Town

Tucked along Market Street, Guildhall Tavern offers a more refined alternative to the busy restaurants lining the Quay. The award-winning seafood and grill restaurant uses locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and presents them in an elegant but relaxed dining room.

Seafood plays a central role in the restaurant’s identity, with the kitchen particularly recognised for its handling of fish and shellfish. The menu changes seasonally, so diners may encounter locally landed fish, crab, lobster and other shellfish prepared with Mediterranean influences.

This is the place we would choose for an anniversary, date night or long evening meal rather than a quick plate of fish and chips. Its Old Town location also gives the experience a different atmosphere from Sandbanks or the Quay, surrounded by historic streets and some of Poole’s most attractive older buildings.

Because dishes change with season and availability, it is worth viewing the current menu before booking rather than visiting for one particular item.

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Best for: a special-occasion meal with harbour views

Rick Stein’s Sandbanks restaurant occupies one of the most impressive dining positions in Poole, with broad views across the harbour from its main restaurant and waterside terrace.

The upstairs dining room offers the more formal experience, centred on fresh fish, shellfish and classic seafood cooking. The downstairs Seafood Bar & Kitchen is more casual, with seafood small plates, tacos, burgers, fish and chips and changing fresh-fish dishes. This makes it possible to enjoy the setting without necessarily committing to a lengthy formal dinner.

The restaurant is particularly appealing during a long lunch or around sunset, when the harbour becomes part of the occasion. During warmer weather, the terrace provides an opportunity to eat outdoors beside the water, subject to availability and conditions.

It is one of the more expensive options in this guide, but the combination of seafood, service and location makes it a natural choice for birthdays and celebrations.

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Best for: traditional seafood in a historic Quayside pub

With its distinctive green tiled frontage, The Poole Arms is difficult to miss among the larger businesses on Poole Quay. The family-run pub dates back to 1635 and describes itself as the oldest pub on the Quay.

Despite being a pub rather than a conventional restaurant, seafood is the main attraction. Its current menu includes homemade fish pie, smoked haddock, pan-fried sea bass and the Poole Arms seafood casserole, its Mediterranean-influenced take on bouillabaisse. Oysters, mussels, prawns and crab also feature among its seafood choices.

The experience is traditional, informal and full of local character. This is where we would go for a hearty seafood lunch accompanied by a pint rather than delicate fine dining.

One important detail for families is that, because of its licensing arrangements, the pub does not admit anyone under 18. 

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Best for: a varied meal in a historic harbourfront building

Custom House is not exclusively a seafood restaurant, but its waterfront location, seasonal cooking and regularly changing fish dishes make it a worthwhile choice for groups who want seafood without requiring everyone at the table to order it.

The Grade II-listed building stands directly on Poole Quay and provides an atmospheric setting for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Its seasonal menus combine fish with meat and vegetarian dishes, all freshly prepared using carefully sourced ingredients and local suppliers where possible.

This is a particularly practical option for mixed groups. One person might choose the current fish dish while someone else orders meat or a vegetarian main, avoiding the compromises that can come with visiting a specialist seafood restaurant.

The historic surroundings and harbourfront position still provide a strong sense of place, especially when combined with a walk through the Old Town or an evening on Poole Quay.

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