Abbey Wharf, Whitby: Honest Review After Eating There With a Toddler

Abbey Wharf is a restaurant and bar in Whitby. The entrance is located in the bustling Market Place, in the building that was once a Burberry Clothes Factory. The other side of Abbey Whalf overlooks Whitby’s scenic harbour. Today it’s transformed into a modern yet classically styled seafood restaurant and bar.

The Venue

Whether you’re planning a casual get-together or a grand celebration, Abbey Wharf has the perfect setting for any occasion. It has a spacious restaurant that can accommodate up to 250 guests, a takeaway section for those who fancy a quick bite, and a lively entertainment area for music events, there’s something for everyone.

You can relax on the balcony (when it’s not raining) that wraps around the building, offering stunning views of the East and West Piers. Enjoy your meal as you witness the hustle and bustle of the piers. You can watch the yachts and fishing boats, and the local rowing clubs training in the harbour.

The Drinks

The Abbey Wharf has a well-stocked bar, offering a wide range of drinks to satisfy everyone. They take pride in their own beer, the ‘Abbey Wharf Dry Hopped Blonde,’ brewed exclusively by Whitby Brewery. For the gin enthusiasts, there’s an impressive selection of over 20 gins, including the latest local delight – ‘Whitby Gin‘.

If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, their menu offers lots of choices. You can sip on a mojito as you watch the lifeboat launch from the balcony, or serve yourself a beer at the self-serve beer counter.

The Menu & Seafood

At Abbey Wharf, the food menu features a variety of seafood dishes, as well as a selection of meat dishes cooked in a distinctive Bertha, a charcoal-fired oven, that imparts a unique, smoky flavour to the meals.

For those who enjoy dining alfresco, the takeaway section offers classic fish and chips, perfect for a casual bite on the fish pier outside (but beware of seagulls, they will attach anyone with food!)

Making the Visit Extra Special

Abbey Wharf is not only about food and drink. It’s also a hotspot for live music events and performances, ensuring an entertaining and lively atmosphere for guests. Larger parties and functions can be accommodated in the upper mezzanine level, making it an ideal venue for celebrations.

Our Abbey Wharf Review

After our disappointing visit to the seafood restaurant The Fisherman’s Wife, we decided to try Abbey Wharf for lunch. We have been to Abbey Whalf a few times for drinks and always thought it was more of a bar that does basic pub flood, a bit like Revolutions or a Wetherspoons.

Honestly, we booked this on a whim and were expecting a very average experience. I looked at the menu before booking the table and was pleasantly surprised to find that the menu was heavily weighted towards fish and seafood dishes.

And they had a fish pie! My biggest regret was not getting the fish pie in The Fisherman’s Wife. They also have a phone app that gets updated throughout the day, so you know if they have run out of anything.

When we got there, we were seated, we both knew what we wanted so ordered immediately. I ordered the fish pie, my husband had fish and chips and my toddler had fish bites, chips and beans from the kid’s menu.

We sat upstairs and had views of the restaurant below. I loved it as I could see everyone else and what food they were getting. The mussels were popular for sure. As well as fish and chips. A few people had burgers and they looked really juicy. They were playing acoustic cover songs and the ambience in the restaurant was really nice. Low-level chatter with good music. It was also loud enough that the toddler making noise didn’t bother others, which is good! He get’s very excited lately and it’s awful feeling like you might be disturbing others.

The fish and chips were great – they are like proper-fish and chips, not pub style. And my fish pie was delicious. It was very creamy and had lots of fish. Including prawns that tasted fresh and meaty.

Our bill for our three meals, two pints and two cokes came to just under £60. So the prices are pretty average.

My only issue with Abbey Wharf is they didn’t have Coca-Cola on tap – only Pepsi Max (ew) and the bottle of Coke they gave me was the tiny 200ml mixer bottle. I ended up having two, they were so tiny! I wouldn’t mind if there’s regular Pepsi, but I can’t do sugar-free Coke in any form – it’s just disgusting. So please, some form of real Coke on tap or bigger bottles!

More Information and Bookings

For more information or to book a table, visit the Abbey Wharf website.

Address: Abbey Wharf, Market Place, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4DD

Abbey Whalf is dog friendly. It’s also accessible, though there are stairs to enter the building, there is a stair lift for wheelchair users.

So the next time you’re in Whitby, visit Abbey Wharf for a lovely meal. I think we will be going to Abbey Wharf again in the future. It was a relaxing experience, it felt casual but the food was nice and comforting.

Visiting Whitby? Check out the best things to do in Whitby.

Looking for other places in Whitby to eat? Checkout:

Cosa Nostra Review
The Fisherman’s Wife Review
Sander’s Yard Review
White Horse and Griffin Review
Whitby Brewery Review
Magpie Cafe In Whitby Review