Secret gardens to discover this Summer
Whilst walking through Whitstable’s high streets you may feel there is not much opportunity to dine alfresco but many of the cafes and restaurants have hidden gardens where you can relax in the sun or some shade whilst enjoying fabulous food and drink. We hope that helps you find your favourite little oasis in the summer months and also a lovely spot for all year around too.
Here’s a guide to some of those gardens
If you have never been to a half Croation bar before then this is your chance, with not only a selection of Croation wines and beers but also between Thursday and Sundays Balkan cheeses, sausages, and home-made Burek, a savoury Balkan filo pie with a meat & a veggie option.
Coffees available with a cake selection too and to top it all a stunning little oasis out back, colourful and bright just like inside, if you want to sit outside and feel like you just got off a plan, this is your spot!
The Garden Café at the Whitstable Umbrella Centre
This fabulous community café has a large garden, St Mary’s Town Garden, backing on to the Shaftesbury Road car park, with mature trees and shrubs it’s a little oasis off the high street.
Serving wonderful home made soups, savoury bakes (sausage roll heaven) and cakes and so much more. With opening hours in the summer from 8.30 till 4pm.
The café’s ethos is Food, Diversity and Inclusivity and always has great vegetarian options.
With a cake display that’s impossible to walk by without being tempted, there is a special cake of the week every week so you will never run out of flavours to try, a great friendly team and pretty good coffee, you will love that behind it is a great space for enjoying that cake outside.
They also do lunch so you can start with cake and stay all day! On the way in or out though don’t forget to sign the wall if you can find a space!
Whitstable Café
This is a lovely traditional café on the High Street that regulars and locals love, traditional café fare plus a great Bagel menu!
They don’t do social media so no link but their beautiful blue signage is hard to miss.
Outside is their lovely courtyard tucked away and the team will be happy to point you in the right direction, enjoy a lovely salad, sandwich, hot breakfast or their New York Bagel and relax.
Revival will make you feel you are already in their garden as you step inside with their window seats with a water feature, instantly cool.
But out the back is their lovely garden and it’s a fabulous journey to get there, check out the cakes, then the clothing, books, homewares and more.
Revival is in conjunction with Mind East Kent and you can feel the healing vibe throughout. They offer daily projects and events as well as great vegetarian menu with vegan and gluten free options too.
This bright colourful space & it’s team will welcome you in to their oasis of calm
Stepping inside A la Turka you feel that you are on holiday in Turkey, the décor is beautiful and cool, and as you walk through you can see straight out to the tables and chairs waiting for you in the garden.
To make the most of the garden they are offering a lunch menu for just £ 11.00 for 1 course and £ 15.95 for 2 courses. As they are open in the evenings you can dine under the stars, local weather permitting of course.
Authentic Turkey food and hopefully sunshine, what more do you need.
This French Galette & Creperie café is perfectly formed but inside and out, with a delicious menu and daily specials you can pretend you have just popped over the channel.
Once again, a fab team to look after you and a gorgeous garden to relax in.
There are always a lovely selection of cakes and pastries too and brunch bites such as Croque Monsieur, Madame & Mademoiselle plus filled baguettes & stuffed croissants.
This beautiful old building is an authentic 17th century English tea shop family run for the last 32 years. Offering breakfast, traditional family lunches including their must do 3 course lunch, sandwiches, salads, tarts and of course delicious cakes and puddings. A great selection of teas & coffees are served all day but I am sure you will be tempted to have something delicious to go with it. Peter Cushing was a regular here so don’t forget to ask Carol all about him.
Over in Tankerton, all of the cafes, bars and restaurant have pavement seating and outside terraces but there are a couple of secret gardens too
This go to Coffee, Cake, Cheese scones, Ice cream parlour and lunch spot also has a gorgeous garden full of beautiful fragranced flowers, it really is a beautiful spot to catch up with friends or just enjoy you time with food, drink and a book.
It’s also licensed so you can enjoy a glass of fizz in the garden.
Of course it also sells bears and many other seasonal gifts and homewares so you can shop on our way back out, and if you haven’t found room for Darren’s beautiful home-made cakes then take some home with you!
This wine bar & ale house/Antique shop has a large conservatory and garden for when they open in the afternoons.
They have a great selection of wines and beers and also do charcuterie boards to accompany them.
There are always garden antiques outside too so you can ponder a purchase over a glass of wine or two.
