Michelin Plaque 
AA 1 Rosette Places to Eat in Topsham — A Guide from The Galley Restaurant
An honest guide to the restaurants, pubs and farm shops within walking distance of Fore Street — written by the team at The Galley, who have been cooking here for 36 years.
Topsham has more good places to eat than a village its size has any right to.
A historic port town at the mouth of the Exe, four miles south-east of Exeter.
Topsham's main street — Fore Street — has been a trading route since the Roman occupation, and the density of independent restaurants, pubs, and food shops on it reflects four centuries of merchants who knew how to eat well. What follows is an honest guide to where to eat and drink in Topsham, written by the team at The Galley, who have been cooking here for 36 years.
Book a tableThe Galley — seafood and fine dining on the Exe Estuary.
The Galley is a fish and seafood restaurant that has been on this stretch of quayside for 36 years. The menu changes daily with what landed at Brixham Harbour and Newlyn Fish Market that morning — sourced through our local producers — Head Chef Dan Kavanagh calls the markets before writing the menu. Michelin Plaque 2026, AA 1 Rosette, TripAdvisor's highest-rated restaurant in Topsham with a 4.7 from 1,225+ reviews.
À la carte, priced per dish. Prix Fixe: two courses £22, three courses £27, Tuesday to Saturday at lunch and as an early-bird dinner (6–7pm). Closed Sunday and Monday. On Friday evenings the kitchen also runs a traditional fish and chips takeaway — day-boat market fish, battered and boxed to carry home. Booking strongly recommended for weekend dinners; walk-ins welcome at the bar. 01392 876078. Read more About The Galley.
Other places to eat — from pubs to farm shops.
A short, honest list of the other places we'd point you to. Not exhaustive, and not ranked.
The Salutation Inn
Rooms, restaurant, and a fishmonger on site
The other significant dining room on Fore Street — a hotel and restaurant that also runs a fishmonger from the ground floor. The kitchen focuses on seafood and Devon produce, with a more relaxed and pubby atmosphere than The Galley. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Wednesday to Saturday, with a Sunday menu. Good for larger groups and walk-ins.
The Lighter Inn
Riverside pub with food and estuary views
A traditional Devon pub sitting directly on the quay, with views across the Exe. Serves classic pub food — pies, burgers, fish and chips — in a room that looks out on the estuary. Reliable for a casual lunch or a drink with the water outside the window. Less formal than either Fore Street restaurant; no need to book for most of the week.
The Globe Hotel
St Austell Brewery pub near the quay
A St Austell Brewery pub with accommodation, a short food menu, and a beer garden. Straightforward pub food in a well-kept room; useful for a quick lunch or a pint after a walk along the estuary path. Open daily.
The Passage House Inn
Traditional pub at the water's edge
One of Topsham's older pubs, sitting at the narrowest point of the estuary where the ferry used to cross to Topsham from the far bank. Seasonal, locally sourced menu — seafood, pub classics, and Sunday roasts. A quieter option than the Fore Street pubs; worth the short walk from the main street.
The Bridge Inn
Grade II listed ale house on the River Clyst
Topsham's most famous pub, and a nationally known real-ale house. The Bridge Inn has been run by the same family for more than a century, in a Grade II listed building that dates in part to the late 16th century. Queen Elizabeth II visited on 27 March 1998 — her first official visit to a pub — and its interior is recognised as one of the most historically important in the country. It's a drinkers' pub first: better known for its cask ale than for a food menu, so go for the beer and the history. A ten-minute walk from Fore Street, up on the hill where the road crosses the Clyst.
The Lord Nelson Pub & Kitchen
Real ales and a full kitchen at the top of the village
A 200-year-old pub at the top of the High Street, at the entrance to the village, taken over by Jon, Jayne and their daughter Mia in 2023. Usually three West Country real ales on, a full menu of freshly cooked food, live music on Saturdays, and its own car park — the most straightforward choice if you want a proper pub with a kitchen rather than a restaurant. Open through the week.
Darts Farm
Farm shop and food hall, five minutes from Topsham
Not in Topsham itself but close enough to be worth mentioning — Darts Farm is one of the best farm shops in the South West, with a butcher, fishmonger, deli, bakery, and multiple café and restaurant spaces on site. Worth building a trip around if you're driving. Five minutes east of Topsham on the A376.
Getting to Topsham, parking, and timing.
Fore Street is the main spine — almost everything is within a five-minute walk of the street.
By train
Exeter Central to Topsham on the Avocet Line.
Twelve minutes · approximately every 30 minutes.
Topsham station is about a ten-minute walk from Fore Street.
By car
Fifteen minutes from Exeter city centre via the B3182.
Parking at Holman Way car park — closest and least busy.
Taxi from Exeter city centre: approximately £12–15.
By bike
The Galley is right on the Exe Estuary Trail.
A blue cycle sign routes you past the door.
Bike storage during dinner — just ask.
When to book
Topsham is busy on weekends from spring through autumn.
The Salutation and The Galley book up earliest.
For a Saturday dinner, book at least a week in advance. The pubs are generally walk-in friendly.
Visiting in summer? See our guide to the Exe Estuary in summer.
Things to do in Topsham
Independent shops, the antiques quarter, and estuary walks.
Where to stay in Topsham
Hotels, inns and B&Bs in and around the village.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in Topsham?
TripAdvisor's top-rated restaurant in Topsham is The Galley, with a 4.7 rating from over 1,225 reviews and Travellers' Choice 2025. It holds a Michelin Plaque and AA 1 Rosette — the highest formal recognition of any restaurant in the village. The Salutation Inn is the other strong option for a full sit-down meal; The Lighter Inn and The Globe are better suited to casual pub dining.
Where can I eat lunch in Topsham?
The Galley serves a Prix Fixe Tuesday to Saturday — two courses £22, three courses £27, at lunch and as an early-bird dinner (6–7pm). The Salutation Inn does lunch from Wednesday to Sunday. The Lighter Inn and The Globe serve food through the week for casual lunches. Darts Farm, five minutes out of the village, has cafe and restaurant options from early morning.
Is Topsham worth visiting for food?
Yes. For a village of around 4,000 people, Topsham has an unusual density of independent food businesses: two serious restaurants on the same street, three waterside pubs, a farm shop within five minutes, and a handful of delis and independent food shops along Fore Street. The estuary setting adds to it — the walk along the quay before or after a meal is one of the better things to do near Exeter.
What are the best pubs in Topsham?
Topsham has five traditional pubs in and around Fore Street. The Bridge Inn on Bridge Hill is the most famous — a Grade II listed ale house run by the same family for over a century, and the first pub Queen Elizabeth II ever officially visited. On the water, The Lighter Inn and The Passage House Inn both serve casual food with estuary views. The Globe on Fore Street is a St Austell Brewery pub with rooms, and The Lord Nelson, at the top of the High Street, pours West Country real ales alongside a full food menu. For a sit-down seafood meal rather than pub food, The Galley and The Salutation Inn are the two restaurants on Fore Street.
Which pub in Topsham did the Queen visit?
The Bridge Inn, on Bridge Hill. Queen Elizabeth II visited on 27 March 1998, for the pub's 101st anniversary — her first official visit to a pub. It is still a working Grade II listed ale house, run by the same family that welcomed her, and its interior is recognised as one of the most historically important in the country.
How do I get to Topsham from Exeter for dinner?
By train: Exeter Central to Topsham on the Avocet Line, approximately twelve minutes, running every thirty minutes through the evening. Topsham station is about a ten-minute walk from Fore Street. By car: fifteen minutes via the B3182; parking at Holman Way. Taxi from Exeter city centre: approximately £12–15.
Topsham's quayside, on the plate.
For a full sit-down meal at the village's TripAdvisor #1 restaurant. Tuesday to Saturday, lunch and dinner. Walk-ins welcome at the bar.