Best Vineyard Restaurants in Kent

Gusbourne's primary dining facility is The Nest, their tasting room, which is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, including bank holidays. The cuisine offered emphasizes a delicious, seasonal, three-course lunch, often paired with Gusbourne's wines, featuring 100% locally sourced ingredients that showcase the impressive gastronomic offerings of the surrounding area. The ambience is that of a tranquil countryside retreat, nestled within the vineyard, offering beautiful views and a relaxed setting for enjoying wine and food, with options for casual dining on their terrace. Children are welcome for self-guided tours around the estate, and soft drinks are available for them at The Nest, though hosted experiences are not suitable for children. Dogs are permitted in outdoor spaces and on the ground floor of The Nest, but not upstairs or at ticketed indoor events, with assistance dogs always welcome. While The Nest itself is not explicitly cited as having won separate restaurant or cafe awards, Gusbourne is the only three-time winner of the IWSC English Wine Producer of the Year, and its culinary offerings are designed to complement its award-winning English sparkling wines.

Woolton Farm features The Barn, a restaurant and bar offering a curated selection of quality drinks, brunch, pizza, tea, and cake, with a focus on locally produced seasonal ingredients and dishes like Kentish charcuterie and cheese boards. This venue, open from April to September, welcomes guests Friday through Sunday, including bank holidays, serving breakfast from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and a lunch/dinner menu from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The ambience is characterized by its rustic charm, warm wooden beams, and twinkling fairy lights, creating a magical and inviting atmosphere, complemented by an expansive outdoor area with picturesque views. The farm is dog-friendly, providing dog treats and bowls at the bar, though dogs must be kept on leads, and children are welcome, with baby changing facilities available.

The Vineyard Café at Elham Valley Vineyard is open daily, from 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. It serves delicious homemade food, including breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, often using local produce and vegetables grown on-site. The menu features items like cooked meals, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, and traditional cream teas, alongside the vineyard's own wines. Overlooking the picturesque vineyard, the cafe offers both indoor and outdoor seating, providing a warm and welcoming ambience. Children are welcome, with a dedicated children's menu available, and well-behaved dogs on leads are also permitted. The cafe is a social enterprise of The Fifth Trust charity, providing valuable work experience for adults with learning disabilities who help to prepare and serve food. The Vineyard Café was recently honored with the "Outstanding Service of the Year" award at the Kent Life Food & Drink Awards 2025.

The Mount Vineyard features a Courtyard Restaurant and Bar, open Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM (kitchen closes at 9:00 PM) and on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM (kitchen closes at 5:00 PM). The establishment serves modern British cuisine, with a focus on delicious sharing platters and stone-baked pizzas, often paired with their own award-winning still and sparkling wines. The ambience is described as modern and chic, yet informal and vibrant, with a beautiful setting that includes a fully retractable roof for year-round enjoyment and underfloor heating in winter. Well-behaved children are welcome for food and drink, though tastings are adult-only, and dogs on leads are permitted in all guest areas, including the restaurant and on the Wine Deck. While the restaurant itself does not have specific awards mentioned, its dishes are designed to complement The Mount Vineyard's own range of award-winning wines.

Balfour Winery features "The Winemakers' Kitchen," a restaurant open daily for lunch from 12 pm to 3 pm, with dinner service on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 pm until 10:30 pm. It offers a British brasserie-style à la carte menu, emphasizing seasonal and locally sourced produce, with dishes crafted to complement the winery's acclaimed wines, and serves traditional Sunday roasts. The ambience is enhanced by stunning panoramic views of the vineyards and ancient woodlands. While children are welcome, a specific children's menu is not offered, and dogs are not permitted inside the restaurant but are welcome on the downstairs terrace.