Whether it’s a romantic night out with your partner, a joyous family celebration or a much-needed catch-up with friends, there are plenty of great places to eat and drink in Kent.

From trendy smash burgers and spicy chicken wings to celebrity chefs and fine-dining menus, these are the county’s most exciting new restaurants that you’ll want to book in 2024.

Barge Burger, Faversham

Earlier this year, the team behind Faversham’s successful pizza restaurant Papà Bianco spotted a second gap in the town’s lacking food market. The owners opened their second venture, Barge Burger, in October, just a stone’s throw from the pizza joint which was voted the county’s best pizza place by KentOnline readers.

The new neighbouring eatery serves, you guessed it, burgers. It’s still working on expanding the menu, but currently ‘grill god’ George is cooking up three different burgers with double patties, toasted brioche buns and smash sauce.

Details: Barge Burger can be found at Standard Quay in Faversham and is open from Tuesday to Saturday.

Bear Lodge Restaurant, Hythe

Who knew you could find great food at a zoo? Kent’s largest wildlife park, Port Lympne Reserve in Hythe, recently opened its Bear Lodge Restaurant, aptly named because of its views out to the spectacled bear enclosure.

The restaurant is open for weekend diners and offers up something different each day. Friday night is curry night, with a menu created by head chef Suresh, while on Saturday you can tuck into family favourites such as sausage and mash, burgers and apple crumble. There is also a full roast dinner menu on Sundays.

Details: Bear Lodge Restaurant can be found at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve in Hythe and is open 5pm to 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 12pm to 4pm on Sunday.

Bella Vita, Dover

After receiving four and five star reviews online, the owners of Folkestone’s Bella Vita celebrated their success by opening a second restaurant in Dover. The new Italian eatery took over the former Dover Patrol restaurant, overlooking the seafront, in the autumn and owners Hasan and Lucia Dogan are hoping it will attract visitors from all over the world.

Dover’s Bella Vita menu is slightly different to its Folkestone counterpart and includes classic dishes such as deep fried calamari, lobster ravioli, mushroom risotto and spaghetti carbonara.

Details: Bella Vita can be found at The Esplanade in Dover and is open 12pm to 10pm Wednesday to Sunday and 4pm to 10pm on Tuesday.

Bleú Steakhouse, Staplehurst

This steakhouse might have only been open for just over a year, but it’s already made its mark. In September, the restaurant was named Best New Restaurant in the country in the British Restaurant Awards, beating 10 other restaurants to win the title.

The grill aims to bring London dining to Kent, with high-quality cuts of meat and freshly made signature sauces such as chimichurri and truffle mayo. The steaks are all 45 day aged and topped with black truffle butter, with cuts such as sirloin, T-bone, rib eye and fillet available.

Details: Bleú Steakhouse can be found at High Street in Staplehurst, near Tonbridge and is open 5pm to 10.30pm Tuesday to Sunday.

Café Nucleus, Rainham

The Café Nucleus team, who already had a trio of award-winning eateries under their belt, opened their fourth venture in Medway earlier this year. The fine-dining restaurant and art gallery opened at the former Simon Langton Solicitors in Rainham and boasts bold decor and a wine chamber with up to 2,000 handpicked wines.

Like other Nucleus venues, the new restaurant offers a top-end menu on select evenings, created by chefs from London hotels, while there is a more casual menu offered during the day and a takeaway service with coffee and snacks.

Details: Café Nucleus can be found at Langton Studios, 35a High Street, in Rainham and is open 9.30am to 5pm Sunday to Thursday and 9.30am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

The Long Rest, Canterbury

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, you might want to book a table at the newly-opened Long Rest. The board game cafe, owned by couple Isabella Bowden and Ben West, is stocked with 152 different games including Monopoly, Jenga, Star Wars Cluedo and Risk. Visitors can access the library for £5.75 per person.

However, if you just want to pop in for a bite, you won’t be charged a cover fee and can instead just order whatever you fancy from the menu. It will mostly be snacks, sandwiches and hot drinks available for now, all of which have been sourced from local businesses.

Details: The Long Rest can be found at Butchery Lane in Canterbury and is open from 1pm to 10pm on Tuesday, 10am to 10pm from Wednesday to Saturday and 10am to 8pm on Sunday.

The Restaurant MS, Folkestone

It’s been a bumpy road for Mark Sargeant’s seaside restaurant. The celebrity chef closed The Restaurant MS, in Clifton Gardens, earlier this year before giving it a second shot in October with a vow to "do it right this time".

The reopened restaurant offers French-inspired cuisine as well as crafted cocktails. The menu also includes locally caught seafood such as steamed fillet of seabass, confit of john dory and oak smoked haddock.

Details: The Restaurant MS can be found at Clifton Gardens in Folkestone and is open 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9pm, Wednesday to Friday, 12pm to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday and 12pm to 3pm on Sunday.

Riparo Lounge, Broadstairs

The owners of Cosy Club, who opened their Canterbury restaurant in 2022, have set their sights on another Kent location. The new Riparo Lounge, a cafe-bar with a family vibe, is set to open at the former Debenhams site at Westwood Cross shopping centre in Broadstairs in February.

While the menu hasn’t been revealed just yet, the lounge will be open for brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks. There will also be games, books and colouring pencils for children. If the Cosy Club restaurants are anything to go by, visitors can also expect an eclectic mix of decor and interiors.

Details: Riparo Lounge can be found at Westwood Cross in Broadstairs and will be open from February.

The Royal Crown, Rochester

Rochester’s historic town centre pub underwent a makeover in the autumn, including a name change that gives a nod to its royal heritage. The renovations at the Royal Crown cost £1.2 million and include black and gold paint, a fireplace, new furniture and a private dining area overlooking the river.

The Shepherd Neame pub also created a brand new menu for its reopening which includes gourmet pub food. Visitors can tuck into bar snacks such as honey and mustard pigs in blankets and Marmite roast potatoes, as well as toad in the hole and steak and ale pie.

Details: The Royal Crown can be found at the High Street in Rochester and is open from 11am to 11pm, Monday to Thursday, 11am to 1am Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 10.30pm on Sunday.

Wing Kingz, Canterbury

It might not be fine dining, but if it’s good enough for Premier League footballers then it’s good enough for us. Chicken wings and sports bar Wing Kingz is now set to open in March after initial plans to welcome customers from January have been pushed back, but the chain’s other eateries have been visited by the likes of Ivan Toney, Dele Alli, Troy Deeney and Mario Balotelli.

The casual spot boasts four different types of wings – vegan, boneless, grilled and buttermilk – alongside 12 dipping sauces, plus burgers, wraps and nachos. There will also be food promotions such as all-you-can-eat wings and a hot sauce challenge.

Details: Wing Kingz can be found at Sun Street in Canterbury and will be open from March.