Top Exeter restaurants you need to try in 2025
Exeter is packed full of amazing restaurants, offering cuisines from around the world and some of them are even award-winning. As blue January comes to an end and Valentine's Day is on the horizon, many will be looking for somewhere to indulge in a meal out.
With so much on offer, it can be overwhelming to decide where to go but if you're looking to celebrate the romantic day (or any other special occasion), it's always best to book quickly.
To help make that tricky decision easier, we've put together a handy list of local restaurants. There's something to suit every taste, dining style, occasion and price point. To make things even better, you can feel great knowing that if you eat at one of these spots, you're supporting a local Exeter business.
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In no particular order, here are DevonLive's top picks for restaurants to try in 2025:
Oh my Kimchi!
At the end of last year, Exeter got its first ever Korean restaurant, opened by three friends who bonded over their mutual love of the cuisine. They described their new venture as "healthy fast food with a fast food layer", where fresh dishes, including Korean fried chicken, ttogkkoch and kimchi fried rice can be ordered on screens.
Despite being open for just a few months, the restaurant on Blackboy Road has been a huge success, amassing more than 80 raving Google reviews.
Crave
After months of the prominent restaurant building standing empty on Exeter Quay, the owners of Crave finally brought it back to life when they opened last summer. They say their menu has a "surf and turf vibe" with plenty of small plates to choose from, including oysters, scallops, fried chicken and flat bread, as well as classic mains such as burgers and fish and chips.
Stage
It seems as though Stage wins another award or accolade every week, including glowing reviews from food critics like Observer food critic Jay Rayner. The restaurant on Magdalen Road offers a less typical approach to dining, offering four or six course tasting menus. It's not just the professionals that love it but it is a favourite among local foodies who also give the place high praise.
Herbies
While it might be a local institution for Exeter veggies, having been the city's first vegetarian restaurant, Herbies on North Street is loved by meat-eaters too. In fact, Mikey Betts, who became the new owner last year, said that he isn't a vegetarian himself.
He said he wanted to continue the restaurant's 40 year legacy but also promised some new additions, including a Sunday roast.
Al-Farid
Al-Farid is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the taste buds, with the ornate decor inside its restaurant on the Cathedral Green. The award-winning eatery, which has been in Exeter for more than 20 years, specialises in Moroccan and Lebanese cuisine, including a wide-ranging mezze menu.
iFood Thai Taste
You can sit down at iFood Thai Taste's restaurant on Sidwell Street but it is especially popular for takeaways. In fact, it was the only spot in Devon to be shortlisted in Deliveroo's Restaurant Awards last year.
It's best known for its generous portion sizes of Thai favourites, including a variety of curries, fried rice dishes, pad Thai and noodles.
The Flat
Sometimes you're really just craving a pizza and The Flat on Fore Street specialises in just that, particularly vegetarian and vegan pizzas. The tiny restaurant makes for a cosy dining experience and, being so popular, that means it is usually fully booked well in advance. For those lucky enough to live locally, they also offer a collection service.
Rendezvous
Although it markets itself as a wine bar, Rendezvous is also well-loved for its food menu, offering upmarket yet casual dining. Visitors to the restaurant, which is tucked away in Southernhay, can choose from dishes including guineafowl, olive crusted hake and spinach and ricotta ravioli. Customers who leave reviews online rave about the "professional" food and cosy atmosphere.
Pop Kitchen
Pop has brought the independent feel back to Bedford Street with its bright restaurant, specialising in indulgent comfort food. It offers Detroit-style deep dish pizzas, ribs, wings, as well as lighter lunch options and even coffee and pastries.