Short answer: Fig & Thyme Kitchen does the best brunch on the Barbican — arrive at opening. Pier One on the Hoe opens at seven with a log burner. Royal William Yard is a Georgian naval yard full of restaurants.
Fig & Thyme Kitchen on the Barbican. Arrive at opening rather than later — it is small and it fills.
Pier One on the Hoe opens at seven and has a log burner in the middle of the room. It is popular with dog walkers, which tells you what sort of place it is.
A vast 1830s naval victualling yard converted into restaurants and bars, with coastal walks around it and a ferry across to Cornwall. Thick granite buildings, good food, and the most atmospheric place to eat in the city — particularly in winter.
On Southside Street, with a good-value set lunch — the sensible choice if you are eating before an afternoon at the aquarium.
The Waterfront below the Hoe sits right on the water with views across the Sound.
Fig & Thyme, Pier One and the Waterfront all take dogs. Devil's Point at Stonehouse gives you three hours of free parking and a headland walk, and you can walk round to Royal William Yard from there.
The National Marine Aquarium ticket gives free re-entry for a year, so a long lunch and half an aquarium is a perfectly sensible plan here.
Devon's good rooms are small rooms. Book at weekends and always for Sunday lunch, and ring rather than trusting a booking form out of season.
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