Radio Margate Cafe in Thanet

Jools and co opened for us on a Tuesday for a private birthday dinner. Delicious food and outstanding vibe. Many thanks from everyone.

The most incredible tapas! Super cool place with amazing atmosss and great service. A must visit if you’re anywhere near Margate. Can’t wait to go back in the summertime! ✨✨✨

Had an epic Sunday roast at Lillies- quite possibly the best I’ve ever had! Tons of food and everything was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere and hospitality is cozy and friendly, and it was wonderful to take our time and not feel rushed- you could sense how relaxed other diners were there as well. Looking forward to going back again soon!

One of the nicest meals I’ve ever had - they stayed open for us late on a wintry Thursday and we had an absolute feast, be sure to get the boquerones. Special shoutout to Hazel the dog who was an absolute sweetie - we will definitely be back !

What a fabulous find! Amazing cocktails, mouthwatering food and such a friendly vibe. Definitely will be back - if you are visiting Margate don't miss this place and they have a soringer spaniel!

Lovely friendly staff and great atmosphere. Nice food but not very authentic, after living in Galicia I could tell the difference but others won't.

Another fabulous evening, courtesy of Jools 👏! Tasty tapas, classy rioja, musical treats , and great company. Keep on keepin’ on, Jools 🙏🏼.

This place is a great find. Good vibe, friendly service and tasty food. It was a little slower than you might be used to but it seemed to be family run with one chef and the vibes were fun and service was friendly so we didn’t mind. Favourite standout food was Croquetas, and the Tigres. Devine. Price was super reasonable for a bottle of wine and a big meal we paid under £100 Worth a stop if you’re in Margate for the weekend

Excellent food...great atmosphere...amazing service. I highly recommend it!

This is as good tapas as I have had anywhere, you can tell the ingredients are really high quality, great cooking , great staff and great atmosphere.

We visited Lilie’s whilst in Margate for a couple of days last week and were blown away! The food was all delicious and the service was friendly and generous. We particularly enjoyed the octopus and the chorizo, but everything was superb! Prices were very reasonable and we enjoyed meeting Hazel, who is an exquisite maître d. We will definitely be back when we next come to Margate.

We had a brilliant meal at Lilie's on Saturday night - we were a group of 12 and the team were so accommodating with our booking and pre-order. All the staff were so friendly and welcoming, and the food was all delicious. We were given a private table downstairs where we could play our own music, so it was a great atmosphere. It was also great to meet Hazel!

We came for dinner on a hen do weekend - a group of 10 of us. Delicious food, great service - they even gave us the whole downstairs and a speaker to play our own music. 10/10.

Delicious food from the chef! Pleasantly surprised with the quality of Spanish dishes out of this Margate establishment. Very friendly staff and even friendlier Hazel made the weekend in Margate one to remember! Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in town.

Can't wait to visit again! Tapas with a twist! The crab meat is a must try!

Literally didn't realise we had a Tapas restaurant so close by, so had to try it. Food was gorgeous, the portion sizes were excellent and the atmosphere was chilled and relaxed. Ate WAAAAY too much but definitely worth the wobble home afterwards! Would definitely recommend this place, we'll be going back for more!

Holy smokes! It is delicious. There isn’t a single thing on the menu that isn’t a 10/10. And the people are 10/10. Would go to Margate again just to have that octopus dish again.

Came with a big group from work had an amazing time such a good atmosphere the staff were more than accommodating the food was AMAZING we loved it so much, thank you guys

Came with a big group for a work trip, the absolute loveliest people. Amazing food, service and everything else. Will definitely come back again and would recommend anyone visiting Margate stops by.

Very tasty! We especially liked the Tigres and the prawns

“To know how to eat well, one must first know how to wait.” The above quote sets the scene for their amazing tapas menu and, as any tapas fan knows, that if it's great there's a wait. But, taking time is what's so good here. Delicious dishes, portions that extend over the borders of some smaller tapas plates you may get in certain tapas bars. Creative twists and combinations in each tapas, excellent 'the real deal' sourdough, and a very good choice of wines & beers / cocktails. Plus, a fabulous chef... We were so well looked after by Lilie's lovely granddaughter in wonderful decor and adjacent to views to the sea. What's not to like. Faultless, Fun and we'll be back again fer sure 😉👌🏼🙌🏻 thanks for a super evening! Highly recommended...

Nice atmosphere and decor, with the staff being super nice and friendly. Suggested a few dishes. Food was great, I particularly liked the tortilla.

In a nutshell, magnificent. After coming here having read great reviews, high expectations were exceeded. A must if you're visiting Margate.

Went for a weekend away in Margate and our dinner at Lillie's was a highlight. The staff were absolutely lovely and ended up talking to all of them individually at various points throughout the evening. The restaurant dog, Hazel, was a clear winner for everyone's favourite and deserved all of the attention. The food and wine was delicious! Would highly recommend making the trip to Lillie's if in Margate.

Love coming here. Food is amazing and the waiting staff are so attentive and friendly. Being dog friendly is an added bonus! Definitely worth the drive down!

Music a bit loud for us but very friendly waitress did everything she could to improve for us. Enjoyed tapas. Nice not to have to walk all the way into town

Amazing food! The croquettes and chorizo al vino were personal faves. The pomegranate + date negroni also deserves a special mention !! Super relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and a great menu

Delicious tapas, I wanted everything on the menu

A lovely tapas bar in Margate! Service is spot on and everyone is really nice. Really recommend

The gem on The Cliff. Brought here by a friend with local knowledge. Incredible food with a chef who prioritises a smaller menu rather than that of one that caters to the masses. Always a promising sign for me. The location offers a different perspective of the seafront and of Margate itself with a quieter and less touristy environment with far better ocean views than many offer across the way. Patatas bravas the best I’ve had in the uk, the crab winning over my previously non-shellfish eating friends and some very interesting fusion introductions in the menu which showcases and adventurous side of this small independent for the road ahead. Highly recommend for anyone seeking views, amazing food and drink in its the service to match without being drawn in to a tourist trap.

Absolutely phenomenal food, incredible flavours, beautiful vibes and gorgeous staff. Would recommend to anyone x

Amazing tapas food with amazing service. Opposite the beach too! Props to the chef

First time of dining at lilies and it was absolutely delicious. One of the best Tapas I’ve ever had. The dill butter was something else. Every dish was 10 out of Ten .

We arrived very late to Lillie’s without a booking and the staff were super friendly and accommodating especially for a group of 7! The hosts recommended some dishes for us to try and we chose some of our own, every dish was super tasty and left us wanting more. At the end of the meal the chef came out and said hello and had made us some amazing cheese and tomato filo pastries to finish of our meal! We were all raving about the food for the whole night and will be recommending to anyone who visits Margate! 10/10 I’m sure we will back.

Well this isn’t quite what it once was. Bit of a shame.

Cracking beers, great tapas. A Margate staple.

Super tasty. Super service. Super fun super duper. Worth 4.9 + every time. Thank you for such a great evening of tapas

Lilie's hosted me and my friends for lunch for my hen do this weekend and it was amazing!! They closed the restaurant for us so we had the place to ourselves. They made sure we were really well looked after and the food was absolutely delicious. Couldn't have asked for a better experience, thank you!!

We booked Lillie’s a fortnight. Fire travelling to Margate and boy are we glad we did. The restaurant was fully booked but they kindly let us sit outside for 90 mins before the reserved table showed up. We eat out a lot, love Spanish Food and wow - Lilie’s chef can cook! Amazing crab, chorizo in red wine with a sweet honey taste I’ve not encountered before, empanadas with tuna and capers, a tortilla like no other! The service was great (thank you), the wine recommendation amazing. Five star!

A total gem. Outrageously good food! ❤️

Delicious food at fantastic prices. Jules and the team are amazing and Hazel is a superb mascot for the restaurant. Never had a bad meal here and never left hungry- a must visit!

It was excellent. Food is tapas-adjacent but tastes much fresher and has more flavour than most tapas. Thoroughly recommend. Plus the sound track included CCR, the Doors and Black Sabbath, you don't get a lot of th at in your average tapas bar.

Absolute Gem of a tapas bar.. very impressed.. we will certainly be back .. highly recommended

Best tortilla I’ve ever had, and I’ve been going to Spain for 50 years

Fantastically accomplished Spanish cooking in a really easy going, comfortable restaurant. Can’t wait to go back!

Rudest owner…Had a lovely friend’s birthday meal and then asked for the bill, waited 30 mins for it and then were shouted at by the owner saying we were overstaying our welcome, despite our only reason for not leaving yet was waiting for the bill. Such a shame and way to ruin a lovely evening, especially given that the food was great and the other staff members were fantastic and really nice.

Absolutely love this brilliant little restaurant. We love coming to Lilie's - the restaurant is cozy and fun, the tapas is the best around and there's a top notch drinks menu. Jools has created something truly excellent. I recently hosted my birthday party at Lilie's and it was perfect. Jools and his team were so accomodating and worked so hard. Fully recommend. Thanks guys and we'll see you soon.

Amazing in every way! Felt very welcome and the food was so fresh and tasty. Really impressed, best meal out in a very long time!

Loved our dinner at Lillie's. Great food with very generous portions and lovely hosts. Meeting Hazel the dog was an added bonus

The best prawns I’ve ever eaten! This was such a find, amazing food, lovely friendly staff and great value for money. We’ll definitely be back! 🌟

Jules is a true gent at Lilie’s! The restaurant was fully booked due to incredible weather, but he opened up for us to have lunch. And what an awesome experience! The venue, Jules and his food is pure colour & flavour. We immediately felt at home, taking to a good N chilled bottle of white, menu regulars and specials very telling of the incredible produce Kent offers. Croquettes de Jambon came beautifully perched on top of saffron aioli, accessorised with green dressing that’s telling of a chef with wicked character making every plate a photo shoot. Chorizo Al Vino was juicy, rich and the chorizo almost soaked up the quince, garlic and red wine that we dived into with local bread from Staples and dill butter. Being with my Madrid partner, we were keen to try the Tigres. Bechamel, dill and green lip mussels bubbling away in the shell and crisped off. Yummy! The Octopussy was another work of art with tender octopus and potatoes that gave freshness to a hot day, bathed with crisp sea air from outside. A picturesque setting for two, but I bet a great place to party too! One of the specials was crab beignets that were stunning and like every dish, required all sauces mopped up with hearty wedges of bread… the true Spanish way! We finished with Raspberry Muscavado and lemon curd brûlée. A super cute journey, with Jules playing great tunes in the background, dancing and singing. You can’t cook good energy like Lilie’s without the character as a key ingredient Jules brings. We had great chats and totally resonated with how some people and places are politically correct, rather than being themselves. The head boy and girl at school, when who you really want to hang out with is the drama class, listening to tunes and geeking out over comic books. Thanks Jules, you and Lilie’s rock!

Wow, just wow. The best restaurant we've been to this year so far without any doubt. Every dish was delicious, the service was great and it was impressive how he managed waiter, barman and chef with several tables at once. Absolutely go and try this place if you like Tapas.

The food here was amazing! Generous portions for being tapas, in my experience. Service was great as well, one person was doing all the cooking and serving on the night we went but somehow he managed it all!? We liked the music and vibes as well, and getting to hang out with Hazel the dog was a great bonus.

The best food in Margate! What a treat flavours are insane! We are real foodies and I am telling you the flavours in every dish are unbelievable! If these guys don't get a Michelin next year I will be very surprised! Homey vibe and Spanish feels...you will not regret it 👌🏼

We had a great dinner for 18 of us in the basement, the ladies who looked afterwards were so attentive and fun. And the food was spot on!

Firstly, big thank yous to the whole team at Lilie’s! They were able to accommodate all 17 of our party downstairs with ease. Drinks were delicious, service - prompt & attentive, and the food was packed with flavour. 10/10 would re-visit

Some of the best tapas we’ve ever had! And we’ve eaten a lot of tapas all over the world. The hospitality was amazing, the margaritas outstanding, and Hazel, the most adorable dog. 1000% recommend. We’ll be back soon!

Hugely surprised and impressed at the quality of food. Has all the classics on offer but with some really authentic items. The Chorizo in Quince and red wine sauce should be bottled. Lovely staff, great decor, felt right at home as soon as we stepped in. Viva la Lilie's

Better than Barcelona! Great for a casual evening with friends and family. Service was amazing and staff really friendly and welcoming. The food here is exceptional and the croquettas de jambon and patatas bravas was better than I have had in Spain. An absolute MUST place to eat.

A really lovely place to eat. We made a reservation to make sure we got in, we knew we'd be arriving late-ish and wanted something near where we were staying. As we both love tapas this was an obvious choice. It was a lovely introduction to the "feel" of Margate. From the minute we walked in to the moment we left we were made to feel welcome and comfortable. Our waitress (apologies, I forget names quickly) was lovely. The atmosphere was casual and warm. While, initially, the food selection felt limited it really isn't when you get down to it, there's plenty of choice with a variety of things to suit most people plus additional specials. What we had was cooked well and delivered quickly with dishes arriving when ready. I particularly liked the peppers - they seemed to be simply roasted with salt and pepper but were just lush. I would absolutely recommend this place, it's a shame we don't live closer so we can visit more often. Thank you!

What a great place 100% will return loved it.

Lovely spot in margate! Owner is soo lovely, charismatic and an amazing chef! Enjoyed every bite, portions are massive. Highly recommend visiting when you're here :)

Outstanding! Can’t recommend this place enough. The atmosphere is always lovely, the tapas Jools makes is heartwarming and soul healing, Charlotte’s pop up sushi is also killer. One of my favourite places in town.

Amazing sushi, best in town, the tahini nigiri was the highlight of the night!

Attended the sushi pop up 12Mar2024 Great atmosphere - especially liked Hazel the dog. Service could have been a little quicker and portions a little larger considering the price. Food was very nice but the cocktails were what let it down marginally; this the average review. Atmosphere was admittedly great though! Aka Hazel the dog and and the fact it was rather full!

Fit us in before a reservation which was lovely of them. Food was amazing, recommend the potato bravo and the frittata for sure!!

Wow, this place is great! Some of the best Tapas I've had and a really relaxed atmosphere. It's also the most dog friendly restaurant I've ever been to..... Love it!

Superb roast lunch. Very reasonable £. Quick service.

Wow. Simply stunning tapas. The locally sourced scallops in chilli and garlic butter available on the specials menu were unreal. We also thoroughly enjoyed the tuna puffs, pisto and padron peppers. Definitely a gem in Margate.

Fabulous, cosy, friendly- the warmness inside of this unassuming, tucked-away seaside spot makes it feel like you've gone to an old friend's home for a dinner party- delicious food, clearly made with a love of great ingredients, flavours and personal style, with an inviting and familiar atmosphere. A really wonderful little place to eat and have a drink in Margate, with a super little team running it all- Will make sure we head back in soon!

The absolute nuts of a restaurant and love the Sushi night !.

1st time of visiting with our son for Sunday lunch really enjoyed the meal the lamb was perfectly cooked veg was delicious couldn't fault it worth a visit.

Great food, great guy, great Thai dye

Fantastic restaurant. Buzzy vibe on a Saturday night, bright colours and a restaurant dog - bonus. The croquettes, delicious, in a wonderful saffron sauce, excellent chorizo, and lovely peppery pardon peppers. A short but sweet wine list, ideal. Only let down by kitchen being awkwardly slow - we received one dish at a time (as normal) but with far too long gaps in between, finishing the meal somewhat oddly with our bread and butter. This restaurant has so much potential, a little extra help in the kitchen and it'd be a dream.

Wow! The most amazing tapas. Everything was cooked to perfection and the service was great too. We'll definitely return when back in Margate.

Jools, the staff and Hazel (the dog) are just fantastic. The food is incredible and the choice of music is excellent; absolute gem of a place. I’ll be recommending this to my friends and family. See ya all again soon!

Why are you reading this and not booking a table? They fitted us in at the last minute and served up an absolute banger of a meal. Fresh, tasty, catered for allergies and the service was incredible. This is a gem of a place.

Look , the review score already speaks for itself so let's just say that if Anthony Bourdain was around this is a venue I feel he would have spent the whole evening at. Please make time for Lilles it's worth it . I promise .

Awesome evening here. The chef worked tirelessly all evening knocking out plate after plate of amazing fare. We loved every thing. Full or flavour and colour. Great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Had a great night at Lilie’s. The food was delicious, service friendly and a really lovely atmosphere. Can’t wait to come back.

Food was a bit disappointing, given the other great reviews. Not much flavour. EDIT following their response below (which they’ve now deleted) - you’re right, it did have flavour, if you love all your dishes to be covered in chopped tomatoes

I had the most amazing tapas last night. The food is perfect, the atmosphere and the music are lovely and the staff are very friendly. If I were to live in Margate I would visit this restaurant every week.

A lovely and surprising evening at this fun spot between Cliftonville and the town center -- tremendous Spanish tapas, not your usual `small plates' that are so prevelent in London. + dog friendly, like just about every place in Margate. Don't miss it. (they only do dinner, not lunch).

Wonderful place run by wonderful team☺️ Delicious food, great atmosphere and music. Special greetings for Hazel ❤️

Fantastic staff evening out at Lillie’s. Jules the chef cooked us a fantastic slow cooked lamb shoulder with chickpeas and local corn for the table . We ordered some extra plates and my team all thought the food was excellent! Well priced beer and good wine and the Margaritas wasn’t too bad either ! Thanks for a fabulous evening …

The food and ambience were so lovely and the staff were helpful.

Very nice place to visit. Not typical tapas dishes, which was disappointing. Staff could have explained what we were ordering as there was no description.

We went here for dinner Saturday night after finding the restaurant on line what a great find the food was excellent,the tortilla was the best we have ever had, everything we ordered was brilliant.the staff and service excellent and amazing chef, will be back soon will recommend to friends

Wow wow wow! What a gem. Anyone visiting Margate just has to make Lilie’s a must-do! Thanks to the lovely staff and obv chef and owner Jools, you guys made our ‘date night’ superb!

Absolute jem of a place serving very generous portions of quality tapas. It was clear the chef has a passion for cooking and staff care about what they do.

A complete gem. You must visit. Every dish was incredible, the staff were amazing, the chef is a total gem. We will 100% return.

It might look unassuming from the outside. But you should go in. The food is some of the most amazing you'll find and eat. Cooked to perfection with a beautiful fun and welcoming atmosphere. My first time here but I shall be back. Thanks Jools to you and all your team. Keep doing what you do it's brilliant. I dont normally write reviews but this restaurant absolutely deserves it. Enough said just try it. Even if you've never eaten tapas you are in for an absolute treat.

100 out of 10. The grunge/rock music, the cosy atmosphere, the food, the staff... I could go on! All absolutely perfect and well worth a visit👌 thanks chef Jools, we'll be back!

Delicious food, great atmosphere and amazing staff… would leave 6 stars if I could ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our favourite restaurant in Margate with great food, fantastic atmosphere and top service. Highly recommended

Had lunch at Lillies with some friends on Saturday before Margate Pride . Every dish was super delicious and authentic and beautifully presented. My friends said it was amongst the best tapas they’ve ever tasted, and can’t wait to return. Service was great too, all in all a great margate experience.

Delicious food, tapas like in Madrid ❤️ Very pleasant place and warm people, excellent service

Went to this place for dinner whilst on holiday as recommended for the food. Didn't get to sample it though as, when we arrived, me being 8.5 months pregnant with a hungry 2 year old who was crying, were told that we could only sit inside and they did not accept 'crying children' because it would disturb the adult diners. I explained that my son was hungry which is why he was crying but that wouldn't last, but to be honest I was so shocked with such a remark being made to us as new clients in the doorstep that my husband and I decided to take our custom elsewhere. May have a reputation for nice food, but hospitality to families a fat zero.

I would say this is the best restaurant on earth, but I haven’t been to them all :-) it certainly is the loveliest I’ve been to. Astoundingly tasty food, utterly charming place, gorgeously accommodating and talented chef, who even did the incredibly brilliant big drawings on the wall as wall. And perfectly situated right opposite the lido right on the seafront and close to the station. So friendly, delicious, and reasonably priced, I want to move to Margate! The tortilla and the crab cakes sort of blew my mind. Even the olives were the nicest i remember ever eating and I am an olive snob and fanatic.Thank you to chef/proprietor Jools for making it the best visit to Margate and I can’t wait to come back. We all felt very lucky to have gotten to eat here.

Superb, cool, delicious, wonderful. What a treat Lilies was. Beautiful food and great service