Margate Old Town vs Seafront Dining: Discover Buoy & Oyster

When planning a meal in Margate, there are plenty of places to consider. The town's Old Town is known for its independent character, while the seafront offers the chance to enjoy food with the coast right in front of you. If you are deciding between exploring the Old Town and choosing a restaurant beside the beach, Buoy & Oyster provides a memorable seafront dining experience centred around fresh seafood, seasonal ingredients, drinks and beautiful coastal views.

Located in Margate, Buoy & Oyster is a family-run and independent restaurant that has been welcoming guests since 2015. The restaurant is dedicated to top-quality seafood and seasonal ingredients, while its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere makes it suitable for both casual meals and special occasions.

Old Town or Seafront Dining?

Margate offers different experiences depending on where you choose to spend your time. The Old Town provides an opportunity to explore the town's character before stopping for food, while seafront dining adds the atmosphere of the coast to your meal.

At Buoy & Oyster, the sea is an important part of the experience. The restaurant's beachfront terrace offers uninterrupted views of Margate Main Sands, creating a setting where guests can enjoy their meal while looking out towards the water. The terrace is available for bookings from May to September, weather permitting, and guests can book a sunset evening with cosy blankets provided.

For anyone who wants their meal to be part of the seaside experience, this makes Buoy & Oyster a particularly appealing choice.

Fresh Seafood Inspired by the Coast

One of the main reasons to choose Buoy & Oyster is its focus on seafood. Owner and chef Simon Morriss works with local suppliers and the kitchen team to create seafood-focused menus that follow the seasons.

The restaurant works closely with a Broadstairs-based fishmonger, with the majority of its menu coming directly from one of the fishmonger's 18-day boats. These boats fish the waters around Margate, Whitstable, Ramsgate, Folkestone and Broadstairs. This approach allows the restaurant to make use of seafood from the surrounding Kent coastline while keeping its menus seasonal and responsibly sourced.

The seafood offering includes fresh oysters, seafood platters, shellfish, mussels, local lobster and other coastal dishes. The restaurant also provides meat and vegetarian options, so there is a choice for different tastes.

Discover the Seafood Bar

For a more relaxed alternative to traditional restaurant dining, Buoy & Oyster has a dedicated seafood bar located beside the open-plan kitchen.

The seafood bar provides a lively environment where guests can enjoy fresh oysters, shellfish, small plates and seafood platters while watching the chefs prepare their meals. The full restaurant menu is available in both the restaurant and seafood bar, giving diners flexibility in how they enjoy their visit.

The oyster selection is another highlight. Buoy & Oyster serves freshly shucked oysters seven days a week, while its Oyster Happy Hour runs Monday to Friday from 4 pm to 5 pm, offering 2-for-1 oysters.

Seafood Platters for Sharing

If you are visiting with friends, family or a partner, the seafood platters offer an opportunity to share a variety of coastal flavours.

The restaurant's Fruits de Mer platter showcases shellfish, local crab and lobster, together with oysters. Buoy & Oyster describes its seafood platters as a feast for the eyes and stomach, with the dishes created using fresh daily catch and British seafood.

This makes a seafood platter an appealing option for a leisurely lunch, romantic dinner or evening with friends.

Drinks with Your Seafront Meal

Drinks are also an important part of the Buoy & Oyster experience. The restaurant's seafood bar is described as a perfect place to enjoy a cocktail with friends, while its drinks offering includes classic and contemporary cocktails.

For something particularly distinctive, guests can try the restaurant's showstopping Bloody Marys. These are topped with fresh seafood such as oysters and king prawns, while a vegan Bloody Mary is also available for a plant-based option.

The drinks menu works particularly well with the seafood-focused setting. Guests can enjoy cocktails alongside oysters and platters, creating a relaxed experience that suits everything from a casual afternoon to an evening by the coast.

The seafood bar also offers 2-for-1 Margaritas from Monday to Friday between 4 pm and 5 pm, alongside the 2-for-1 oyster offer.

A Family-Friendly Choice

Seafront dining does not have to be reserved for couples or adults. Buoy & Oyster describes itself as a family-friendly restaurant, with dishes designed to cater to different tastes.

The menu includes classic fish and chips as well as the signature seafood platter, while children under 12 can choose from the Little Sailors menu. The restaurant recommends earlier lunch bookings between 12 pm and 1 pm or earlier dinner bookings between 5 pm and 6 pm when dining with younger children.

This makes Buoy & Oyster a practical option for families who want to combine a meal with a day beside the sea.

All-Day Dining by the Sea

Another advantage of choosing Buoy & Oyster is its flexible dining schedule. The restaurant is open for all-day dining seven days a week from 12 pm to 9 pm. Whether you have been exploring Margate earlier in the day or want to enjoy a later meal, there is plenty of flexibility.

The restaurant also runs Mussel Wednesdays, with unlimited mussel refills throughout the day every Wednesday. From September to April, guests can also enjoy traditional Sunday roast specials alongside the full restaurant and seafood bar menus.

Stay Above the Restaurant

If you want to spend more time in Margate rather than simply visiting for a meal, Buoy & Oyster also offers accommodation.

There are four unique, design-led apartments located above the restaurant, with two offering direct sea views. This allows guests to dine downstairs and then stay overnight, making the restaurant a convenient option for a longer coastal break.

Why Choose Buoy & Oyster?

The choice between Margate Old Town and seafront dining ultimately depends on the experience you want. If you are looking for a meal where fresh seafood, drinks and coastal scenery come together, Buoy & Oyster offers a strong reason to head towards the seafront.

From freshly shucked oysters and British seafood platters to locally sourced lobster, mussels and classic fish and chips, the menu celebrates the surrounding coastline. Add cocktails, Margaritas and showstopping Bloody Marys, and you have a dining experience that is about more than simply eating.

Final Thoughts

Margate Old Town vs seafront dining is a choice between two different ways of enjoying the town. For those who want to combine a meal with views of Margate Main Sands and a strong focus on seafood, Buoy & Oyster offers an inviting alternative.

With its family-friendly atmosphere, seasonal seafood, seafood bar, beachfront terrace, cocktails and distinctive Bloody Marys, it provides a relaxed place to enjoy the best of Margate's coastal setting.

Whether you are visiting for lunch, dinner, drinks or a longer stay, Buoy & Oyster brings food and the seaside together in one memorable destination.