Instow Barton restaurant in North Devon

Caroline has created a real gem. Very great and with a lot of love.

The best place to stay in the area. Beautiful house, lovely rooms with views, very quiet, really amazing food. Worth the extra little hike up the hill if you're a walker.

Fantastic weekend break at Instow Barton. Location is peaceful and quiet whist ideal for access into the village and for local amenities. Room was spacious and well appointed. Caroline and Colin were extremely welcoming and the breakfasts were incredible! Highly recommend and we will be back.

Lady at reception was very very welcoming . Room was lovely! Really clean and beds are comfy! Breakfast was lovely! Everything was set out beautifully . Will definitely stay again! 100% recommend .

Such a beautiful suite & fantastic breakfast. Definitely worth booking. Run by a lovely couple in a stunning location.

If you like BIG breakfasts then go there!🥐🥓🥚🍳🧈🍪🍰🥛🫖

Warm friendly hosts, and five star accommodation and breakfast. The breakfast menu was great, and delicious. The farmhouse is in a quiet location with comfortable beds, bedding and pillows (not always easy to enjoy a good nights sleep away from home). The house and location makes Instow a lovely dog friendly break, with Appledore just across the estuary. We will not hesitate to return.

Lovely quiet spot, great host, fab breakfast, plenty of choice. Comfortable bed, room spotlessly clean.

Great breakfast, kind hearted host, would visit again

Perfect stay! Everything from the room to host was exceptional, would come back in a heartbeat.

Lovely stay ...great breakfast, excellent host....5 out of 5....

We were walking the South West Coastal Path during the first week of September and we stayed h ere for just the one night. Excellent room, really nice hosts, Instow is a lovely place to spend a few days, with Instow Barton just outside the town, well worth a longer break, and next time it will be. Fantastic breakfast, make sure you work up an appetite!

Amazing breakfast, really comfy bed, nice room and just a short walk to the sea.

A beautiful B&B with an amazing breakfast So much food we could not eat it all. Run very well and safely in these strange times.

This is the second time we have had a takeaway dinner from Instow Barton, the communication with the restaurant is excellent via their Facebook page and messenger. Also the service is prompt and timing is excellent. Now to the important bit the food,the food was excellently cooked and very tasty to be able to do for Loin of Pork in cider and white wine sauce with all the accoutrements is a credit to them. My wife who doesn’t like chocolate said it’s the best chocolate mousse she’s ever tasted.

This was a bespoke dinner to celebrate a friend's 70th birthday and it was excellent in all regards! the food was delicious and the service exceptionally good. Highly recommended. They have some accommodation as well.

Just had a lovely night stay at the Barton Instow every thing I repeat every was five star ONLY disappointment WAS restaurant book up so Fish and chip dinner at Graylings and just had a fab breakfast with home made bread thank you Bill and Marg Kenyon

I can’t actually remember when we visited, sorry (I can only remember it was cold Out!). Fantastic greeting and presentation. Thoroughly enjoyed the food. It was a delight. There was no rush.

Lovely food and building. Owner friendly and welcoming.

Restaurant is geat for a special occasion if you're local .... if you can get booked! It's very popular, intimate and personal.

Cocktails and canapés (complimentary) to start. Menu small but excellent quality king prawns with chilly and garlic fillet steak with pepper sauce and a cheese board, lovely. Defiantly will go back and highly recommend.

Lovely food; very fresh; well presented with great service in a relaxed atmosphere. Set menu but choice was good

Just Wow. From the moment we stepped in the foot we felt like valued customers. Nothing was too much trouble. Very professional. The interior is stylish but more importantly very clean. So many places offer cocktails these days but seldom seem to get them right but Instow Barton does :)Everything we ate was cooked to perfection and although we had a short wait for our food to arrive it was perfectly acceptable and I add reassuring that it hadn’t been zapped in a microwave! This will be our first choice when next in Bideford. Thank you.

Eight of us had dinner here on Friday night. From the moment we parked, we were all bowled over by the beautiful building and surroundings.We welcomed in, talked puppies and then moved through to the garden terrace for canopies and cocktails. Delicious.We chose our food for the evening and enjoyed the early evening.We went through and received our wine before our starters arrived.I had the garlic mushroom tartlet which was fantastic. I then had the lamb shank for my main.The food was exquisite and the service impeccable! I can't believe just two people manage to look after and feed so many people and so well. A real credit.I can't wait to go again next time we are visiting the Bideford area.

Fantastic food and great atmosphere good time had by all

We chose this restaurant because of the good reviews. We liked the rustic and homely feel of the place. The menu was limited, and this could be an issue for some. We all chose the braised beef, which was two chunks, a bit stringy and was too salty for all of us. It was not the sort of dish we would normally have chosen on a night out, but chose it because of the limited menu. Again limited dessert menu, and not even the option of just having ice cream. The canapés, and cocktail is a nice touch, but overall we were a little underwhelmed.

Been in for a few drinks during my holiday, however tonight decided to have something to eat. The food was to die for. Ordered the seafood platter it is £60 but is a shared one and its huge. Well worth the price. The staff was lovely as well. If I'm ever down here again defenitely coming back!

Beautiful house, attention to every detail spot on. Food was exquisite - hospitality from start to finish was of a very high standard. Deserves to do really well.

OMG! Do it..... I stayed here as a solo traveler booked by Mac Adventures while walking the SWCP. Everything was perfect from the welcome to the scones, the comfy bed and amazing breakfast. If my wife had been with me we would have opted for dinner which looked amazing but instead I went to the beach bar for fab lobster and crab tagliatelle.

We were staying in the b&b; and booked for dinner twice in the on-site restaurant, which was also gorgeous. There is a limited menu, which is changed weekly but this just made it easier as choosing would have taken ages. Amazing value for money.

First visit here for meal, even though only live local, absolutely lovely

We were staying in the hotel for one night and decided to eat in the restaurant. We were so glad we did as it was VERY special. The canapés and cocktail were a lovely surprise and the rest of the meal did not disappoint. The quality of each dish was superb and beautifully presented. The whole meal was excellent value for money. Caroline made us so welcome and the elegant room enhanced the whole experience. We can’t wait to return.

If you ever visit North Devon and didn't sat at Instow Barton you need to seek medical help ! It's one of the best ever hotels I have stayed in and I travel for my job worldwide great hosts Caroline and Colin room was amazing food amazing hospitality amazing it's a must for every one visiting North Devon , your loss if you don't A&S

Amazing! Extremely comfortable and the restaurant is excellent

what a lovely place. came here for are friends Birthday. if your looking to be treated as lord of the manor and to be served with great food and well looked after look no further. book well in advance there is a waiting list and I'm not surprised..

I really can't praise this restaurant enough. Our party of 10 received a very warm welcome (from Caroline, I believe) who sat us in a most beautiful room, a bit like sitting in a friend's sitting room. We were given a welcoming cocktail and small welcoming bites which we all loved, followed by our starters. we were all looking at each other in shear delight at the wonderful tasting food, it's a bit pointless describing what they were as I believe they constantly change, nobody was disappointed. Then onto some of the best cooked mains we've had anywhere. Again, not a disappointment anywhere, we all loved the food. The pear tarte that followed, well, the best I've ever had!! Our party was to celebrate a 70th birthday, we all left knowing we'd chosen well and we will go back some day soon when are in the area. Prices are modest for the quality on offer, it doesn't get better than this, our thanks to Instow Barton

Idyllic location up a very quiet lane. Beautiful old farm house stayed for a weekend amazing food and service. Highly recommend. Location great for exploring this part of Devon.

Really enjoyed our meal here, thought it would be dearer than other places but found for what we had it was the best value meal we had. food was very good and service was friendly and efficient. Menu changed each week so even going twice had a different menu and all dishes were lovely. Not many tables so best to book would recommend and will be back this summer

What a find! Easily accessable with ample parking. The restaurant rooms were spacious with great drawing room ambience complete with open fire. The food was excellent and very reasonably priced. The right balance between quality and quantity. The fish cakes were tasty with an amazing chilli dip served in a shot glass. The sole dish was excellent and beautifully presented. The downside is that we have to wait up to 8 weeks to go back as that is the waiting time! Also it would have been nice to have met the creator of such gastronomic delights. Next time? Thank you for a memorial evening.

We went to the restaurant for our anniversary. What a brilliant place. The restaurant is small but perfect with a roaring fire - ideal for this time of year.

Never had a bad meal yet. Caroline a welcoming host and the food and wine areexcellent. Our only complaint is that sometimes we are unable to get a booking as it has become so popular. Can’t wait to visit again.

Managed to jag a late table. Started with appetiser homemade olive bread, samosa & goat cheese blini, followed by bakes mussels absolutely delicious. Main was hake cooked to perfection. Couldn't manage a dessert ! As always fantastic hosts & food! Can't wait for next time !

Excellant B+B, comfortable,quiet, superb little touches that make you feel special and thought about as a guest. everything you'd want is laid on from the tea/coffee making facility to the personnel bath robes in your room would not hesitate to stay again

We have just enjoyed a fabulous meal here with many delights and surprises. Locally sourced produce beautifully cooked. Caroline and Colin go the extra mile to make sure we had a wonderful experience.

What a Lovely place to stay, very comfortable bed ,breakfast was very nice. Our hosts give you just the right amount of attention. Milo the dog had a good time.

Breakfast was lovely. Rooms are a bit tired.

Just like eating a fantastic meal in a friend’s beautiful house. We loved it all, from the cocktails and amuses bouches to the steak and delicious puds. Great service from Caroline. A delightful experience on a chilly evening.

We all liked the choice of courses on the menu which made it difficult to choose what to have , but none of us were disappointed. Delicious top quality food well cooked and beautifully presented. Caroline manages to magically make sure that everyone has everything they want and still finds time to have a chat and serve. On of the best places to eat locally by far.

I came here whilst on holiday with my parents, we joined some friends and had a lovely evening. We were welcomed by Caroline who had some aperitifs and cocktails ready and then I had the Salmon starter which was so tasty whilst the others had the asparagus, pancetta and hollandaise sauce which was delicious. I then had the steak with mushroom sauce cooked to my preference whilst my parents had the chuck steak which they loved. We finished it off with churros and chocolate, cheese board and strawberry tartlet. I cannot rate this restaurant enough after 30 years of coming to Instow this place is one of the best and Caroline was an amazing host!! Thankyou so much!

Lovely place to stay, just far enough from the beach area, but close enough to walk. Dog friendly, well appointed and friendly. Great for a weekend exploration base.

Wow! What a great little place. Read other reviews and decided to try this restsurant during our weekend away in Appledore. We were lucky enough to get a table for 2 at short notice for last night. Delicious home prepared food, limited choice but should suit most and they ask at reservation if any special requirements so sure they would cater for individuals with prior notice. Menu changes every 2 weeks...we had venison ravioli and Cornish fillet of mullet.....gorgeous. The complimentary cocktail and nibbles on arrival was a generous and really nice touch. Very good food at very good price.

Having heard good reports we went to check it out. We were not disappointed one bit. Following the genuine warm and friendly welcome we were escorted to the dining room, a pleasing, homely, room and once the farmhouse's lounge. The home made complementary canapés arrived on slate accompanied by the complimentary cocktails. Both delicious and we were off. The menu may seem limited but less is really more. With their choice of 2 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts (including the cheese) your palet is in for a treat. Sittings are phased so the husband (chief) and wife (server) can give you individulal attention, and they do.

What a wonderful jewel on our doorstep.. beautiful service, warmth and hospitality; stunning location. And yes - the food was the most delicious restaurant food I have eaten in some time. We have already booked to visit again!

Had a wonderful evening with friends to celebrate my husband’s birthday. Have never been to this great little restaurant before but have tried to get in on a couple of occasions without luck.

We were extremely lucky to have called just as they had received a cancellation for Xmas Lunch. The whole ambience of the occasion was perfect. Unhurried but attentive service, lovely envoronment and beautifully cooked and presented food. If we lived locally this Restaurant would be a firm favourite of ours. Highly Recommended!

We have been lucky enough to visit Instow Barton twice in December. One occasion an overnight stay - starting with an amazing afternoon tea in front of a toasty log burner. Tea and the best mince pies you will ever taste! Super evening meal and a fabulous bottle of wine. Our room was beautifully decorated and a real luxury. More of the same at breakfast. Fresh fruit, homemade bread, jam and home cured bacon. A real treat.

Took a while to get a table booked but what a lovely restaurant. Very small, only a few tables but given a most warm welcome and a complementary French 75 cocktail - very nice too...Small menu but was all best of local produce, homemade breads and each meal was prepared by someone who knows how to cook. Menu changes weekly and easy to see why you have to book well in advance. Highly recommended....

For our Christmas dinner (7 of us) we managed to book here & it was one we will never forget.

Great food Great wine Lovely setting - unhurried. Definitely worth a visit. Need to plan as booked so far ahead.

Our first visit and will certainly not be our last. We had despaired of ever finding a restaurant in the area that was going to be a proper 'special treat'.......and somehow Instow Barton had managed to be a secret from us! It was our wedding anniversary and we had a delightful evening. The meal was splendid, as was the wine, and extremely reasonably priced.....and the service was exemplary. Personally, I could have done without the complimentary cocktail to begin, but that's just my taste....perhaps on my next visit I'll see if they might offer an alternative....a beer?? Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening and my only reservation against an enthusiastic recommendation is that the more well known the Barton becomes then the harder it will be for us to get a table, given that they are only open three nights a week!

Another great meal at this restaurant service was attentive and the atmosphere very friendly as usual this was only surpassed by the delicious and inspirational food thanks

beautiful farmhouse and lovely restaurant. well looked after all evening . canapes and cocktails while we looked at the menu and every course was amazing ! with freshly grown veg and locally sourced meats . exceptional meal and extensive wine list

This is a very small dining room seating around 18 people. We were a group of eight. Six of the group had eaten here several times before, so we were the newbies. It is a very short well chosen menu that changes weekly. There was also a good value wine list. All of the food was of a very high standard and enjoyed by the whole table. The only surprise is how good value it is. This quality in such a friendly and relaxed place would normally cost much more.

Our third visit and yet again friendly personal service, well cooked quality tasty food and great complimentary cocktails and nibbles. We love the ever changing seasonal menu and at a very reasonable price in very attractive surroundings. Can't wait for our next lot of visitors to book our next visit but you do need to book well in advance so not to be disappointed. A real gem and close to home.

We never knew this wonderful little gem existed until we were taken there for dinner. I don't think I would have ever found it on my own! The welcome was warm and relaxed and the meal and service excellent. I have nothing but praise for the owners and the way that they have made their restaurant so very attractive. The food was excellent as were the wines and the pre-dinner cocktails and I look forward to another visit in the not too distant future.

We visited as a group of 10 friends (which required pre-ordering our meals) and had the best night. The setting is relaxed and informal, with an air of something special.

I don't want to say too much because it will spoil the little touches that make it really quite special. Small intimate restaurant. Food was superb. Limited menu choice but with advance notice of needs owners will cater to suit. Lovely people.

We stayed one night at Instow Bartow, at the end of a three week trip around the countryside. After a variety of lodgings and restaurants, Instow Barton topped them all. The menu was divine, especially the appetizers and cocktail. Our room had a view of the church and was spacious and lovely.

Caroline and Colin are to be congratulated in every way for producing a perfect evening for the occasion of my husband's birthday celebration. We were a group of 19 and each and every one of us was very impressed with the high quality meal and fantastic service received.The whole celebration far out weighed my expectation and nothing was too much trouble for this delightful couple. I cannot praise or thank them enough for hosting such a memorable evening. We will definitely be returning and recommending them highly to friends and family.

We were invited to a friends 60th at Instow Barton and what a lovely event it proved to be. A delightful setting made even more special by delicious fresh food, excellent wines and friendly, helpful staff. This is truly a hidden gem.

Fantastic friendly service superb food wonderful little extras this is truly a gem in Instow and we will definitely be returning.

We were looking for somewhere special to take Australian visitors that was not too far away and Instow Barton was highly recommended to us and we booked well ahead, as advised. It was just what we wanted. Quintessentially Devonian farmhouse with a warm welcome and an open fire in a cosy dining room - great! The food was very good indeed. The shared pre- starters of warm bread etc were very welcome but when the generous starters arrived we realised that we had already over- indulged. The goujons of fish were delicious and enough for a main course. Across starters and main courses we covered most of the menu between us and everyone was delighted with their choices. Most of the party were defeated by pudding time but the couple of trencherman who could not resist were very happy and extolled the virtues of their choices. Delightful service and lovely homely atmosphere.. Highly recommended.

On holiday at nearby Combrew Farms visited this restaurant following recommendations. Were not disappointed at all. The restaurant is quaint and very nicely decorated being part of the small B&B.; Caroline was very welcoming and the cocktail and canapés were delicious.

What a perfect evening we had at this lovely place great location to celebrate my 60th with family and close friends. Warm welcome by Caroline and superb food by Colin everything was delicious and beautifully presented. The oysters rockefella were gorgeous as was the turbot and the chocolate dessert was melt in the mouth! I love the cocktails that are served with a great little canape selection it sets the scene perfectly for the meal to follow! Cant wait to visit again!

We came across this almost hidden place through recommendation despite living a 10 minute walk away whilst looking for a place to have dinner for a special occasion. We visited and have been hooked since, having now visited 5 or so times including visiting with relatives, friends and seeing in New Years' Eve. The food is always impeccable and Caroline and her husband cater well for vegetarian requests, and I'm sure any other dietary need, with no hesitation at all. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, not too big and noisy as some places can get around holiday season, and the food always absolutely delicious. Could not recommend more.

I was with a group of 10 friends and this place had come as a recommendation.

Ate here for the first time. ... fantastic. .. food splendid, service great... very pleasant atmosphere. ... can't wait to go again .

Heard about this place from friends and managed to get a table three weeks ahead.

Very warm welcome and lovely cosy restaurant with open fire. Canapés and Mulled Wine Billini were delicious! Main meal packed full of flavour which suited the red wine perfectly. Will definitely be visiting again and can't wait to share this little gem with nearest and dearests. K

10 of our family celebrated 4 of our birthdays together at this lovely little restaurant tucked above Instow in the village. We have been trying to visit for a while but they were always fully booked so were delighted to at last get a table. We went the whole hog and had the 4 courses and everything from the ambience, service, quality of food and wine was superb. We will def be returning and can recommend. Many thanks for a great night.

My husband booked for us and friends as a birthday treat , we had dinner and stayed overnight . Everything was perfect from start to finish

What a find this restaurant is , we went with friends and all agreed that this was one of the best meals we have had in our area and we are all quite fussy. We had a warm welcome from Caroline and were shown into a lovely dinning room with nicely laid tables and served a complimentary tray of delicious canapés and home made bread and dip plus a quite potent cocktail each. The menu was small which we all prefer and there was a choice of 2 or 3 courses. Every course was beautifully presented,cooked well using good quality produce and of course we ended up having 3 courses. We do know that you need to book well in advance so I was almost hesitant to write a review as it makes it more difficult to book but credit where credit is due we had a lovely evening with excellent friendly service and amazing food and very reasonably priced.

Lovely atmosphere, imaginative and very tasty food and superb service. A very reasonably fixed priced menu - spot on in every way.

Tucked away a short distance from Instow beach and the 'main drag', this small restaurant lacks nothing in finesse and friendly presentation. The room was small but we were not too close to others, and the tables were (if anything) too large. A very pleasant young woman received us and did all the waiting and explaining. The food was first-class and the wine was interesting and moderately priced. The bill was low - we were being treated so we did not see the details, but surprise at the good value was expressed. Seek it out I suggest, but book early to avoid disappointment as it's not big!.

have been a couple of times and never disappointed,you can phone and they will email the menue choice for your visit, food always good although the waitress runs the whole thing on her own it goes very smoothly, always look forward to the free boozy cocktail it is quite strong they also do a booze free option. The parking is a bit limited but not off putting the prices seem very reasonable for the quality of ingredients

We went to this restaurant, for our first visit, with friends. This restaurant is a strange mixture ...... it gets the big things ( like the food!) mostly right, but it gets some little things just wrong enough to be noticeable. We walked into reception, to be met by the one member of staff that we saw all night, and were shown straight to our table. No bar area for an aperitif. It was Friday evening but only two, of the five or six, tables were occupied and the room was almost silent - fine if you are on a table for four, it would have become a little intimidating for a couple. I know that there are mixed views about background music, but it does aid 'atmosphere'. In fact almost as we arrived 4 of the other 6 diners left and there were two tables of 4 & 2 left!

What a delight to find a local restaurant that prides itself on local produced products,seasonal and varied, and then sets about to create a menu with interest and passion.Skilled presentation from the cocktail to start, to the desserts and coffee to finish, all served in style in a charming relaxed atmosphere. With the menu changing weekly it is a must to go again.A real 'top class' evening.thank you

Stayed B & B at Instow Barton & ate on 2 nights in their delightful restaurant . Accommodation & breakfast was really good. The evening meals were relaxed , unusual & special.

We visited this restaurant based on word of mouth with two friends. Lovely quaint converted farmhouse providing excellent food and wine and great service with a few interesting touches with Prosseco and canapes to start. Three course meal about £25.

Visited with friends. Excellent freshly cooked food. A very enjoyable evening. Canapés to start with cocktail

We stayed at Instow Barton, booked by our nephew who is also a very talented chef! He recommended this and we were not disappointed. We had a great family dinner with a room to ourselves which made it even more special. The food was beautiful and everyone in the party agreed (10 of us) that the food was delicious. My husband and I stayed for 3 nights. The rooms were lovely, clean and comfortable. Breakfast was a selection of fresh fruits, home made granola and bread and a great cooked selection. Caroline and Colin work very hard and their efforts show. We will certainly return and would highly recommend. Thank you for making a special family evening and a very relaxing break. John and Shani Davies

We have eaten twice at Instow Barton, on both occasions we had brilliant food . The vegetables are fresh from their garden . Lovely idea of cocktail , breads and Chefs selection. We are going again next month .

What a fantastic find and we were not disappointed have been recommended and reviewed comments.

An absolute delight! Incredibly friendly owners who were delightful hosts. Lovely complementary cocktails. Brilliant locally sourced foods, cooked and served with a lot of love. Great selection of wines, and the large measures of port went down a treat! In this part of the world, it's hard to come by excellent non-touristy food. Imagine your best mates cooking top restaurant standard food in a country house and you get the idea of the atmosphere and quality. Will recommend to all visitors to Devon and north Cornwall.

Went to this restaurant on Friday with friends who have been several times before and told us "you will love it" - we did! The owners are doing an excellent job making their boutique B and B and restaurant feel welcoming and elegant - and the food is superb. Yes, as previous reviewers have noted, the menu is limited, but this is not a problem, all the dishes offered on the night we went were interesting, fresh, delicious and well presented. An added bonus is the cocktail and canapés served on arrival...Sarah is charming and efficient and succeeds in making the dining experience in her restaurant feel like a great way to spend an evening. Will definitely return!!

On arriving we were greeted warmly and taken to a delightful dining area, given the menu to choose from and canapés and a cocktail while waiting for our food. Although the menu is not extensive what we had was delicious and nothing disappointed us. The owner made us very welcome and we would certainly want to go back again. When leaving we were told that they change their menu every week which was nice to know. A great evening was had.

As someone who travels for work a lot, in and out of many hotels, I can barely describe the relief you feel at stumbling across such a delightful place. I had time to kill before a working dinner at Istow Barton so pitched up early. So glad I did. As soon as you walk through the door it all just feels so warm and welcoming, and beautifully presented throughout. The food and service was top notch, and very reasonably priced. They can't do enough for you, but also have the rare gift of combining friendliness and attentiveness with subtlety. Will most definitely be back.

We had our first dinner at Instow Barton and were very impressed with the level of service,quality of food and attention from staff . The setting was perfect for a quiet evening out with friends and the restaurant being small added to the peaceful ambiance.

From the location, food and the subtle and friendly service - the visit here was a delight !

A superb greeting. Booking time was gently guided around the chef (Colin) and realistic work loads. The welcome was efficient polite and friendly. The suggested cocktail (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) was beautifully presented. Food choice was all seasonal. If you are a vegetarian it would be best to mention this before booking to enable chef to come up with suitable options. Everything we had from cocktails to coffee was excellent beautifully presented and cooked to perfection.