13 Independents in Maidstone Town Centre you Need to Try!

When you think of the best places to eat in Kent, Maidstone probably doesn’t come to the forefront. That’s fine but I am here to tell you why you are missing out. While there are plenty of big commercial restaurants that get their share of the limelight, there are also some lesser-known spots that deserve a mention. Today, we're diving into 13 lesser-known independents in Maidstone town centre you need to try.

---

1. Funky Feast Street Food Bazaar

Location: Love Food @ Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre, Barker Road, Maidstone. ME16 8S.
Website: https://www.funkyfeast.co.uk/
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and North African inspired.
Must-Try Dish: Ask the chef to surprise you…. Trust me.

Funky Feast, although a hidden gem, has some amazing achievements. It is the highest-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in Maidstone and 3rd highest in all of Kent. It also just won gold at the Taste of Kent Awards for Street Food Experience. The food there is served as a mezze with a pick 3 for this amount kind of deal. It's in the mid-tier for cost but worth every penny. Great if you have any dietary requirements too.

---

2. The Skull Bar

Location: 31 Royal Star Arcade, High Street, Maidstone, ME14 1JL
Website: https://deliveroo.co.uk/menu/maidstone/maidstone-center/the-rainbow-skull-vegan-grill
Cuisine: Smash Burgers & Hotdogs
Must-Try Dish: Chilli Willy Burger (Double Patty)

This is Maidstone’s only alternative/rock bar with loud music, great cocktails and craft beer. We aren’t here to talk about that though. We are here to discuss the amazing Burgers and Hot Dogs they have on offer. These burgers are truly awesome and the reasonably priced burger and fries meals are a great option for a lunch or pair it with a bunch of cocktails for a night out starter.

---

3. Pitta Souvlaki

Location: 25 Pudding Ln, Maidstone ME14 1PA
Website: https://pittasouvlaki.uk/
Cuisine: Greek
Must-Try Dish: Chicken Gyro Plate

Great street food offering with super authentic Gyros with some of the loveliest guys serving the food. Grab a gyros for lunch or dinner and if you are feeling extra peckish go for a plate on your own. Not so peckish? Grab one between two and it will be easily enough!

---

4. La Villetta

Location: 8 Pudding Ln, Maidstone ME14 1LN
Website: https://www.lavilletta.co.uk/
Cuisine: Italian
Must-Try Dish: Pancetta nduja e miele

La Villetta is a great restaurant for a special occasion. With high-end Italian food offerings available this location is perfect for a date night, birthday meal or celebratory dinner. The cosy feel of the restaurant makes it a perfect location all year round.

---

5. Old Boat Cafe

Location: Between the two bridges, River Medway, Fairmeadow, Maidstone ME16 0SL
Website: https://theoldboatcafe.com/
Cuisine: Cafe Style
Must-Try Dish: Boater’s Breakfast

One of the only riverfront places to eat in Maidstone Town Centre. Situated on a barge that you can sit on to eat or perch in their outdoor seating area on the riverside the old boat cafe is a great location for breakfast or lunch whilst the sun is shining. The team at the Old Boat also offer amazing ice creams for your riverside walk.

---

6. La Taberna

Location: Corpus Christi Hall, 51 Earl St, Maidstone ME14 1JP
Website: https://lataberna.co.uk/index.html
Cuisine: Spanish/Tapas
Must-Try Dish: The Paella (You have to book it in advance)

A lovely restaurant in an old church. Traditional Spanish flavours are served in a lovely setting. A perfect option for a special occasion with an amazing outdoor area you can eat in too if the sun is shining.

---

7. Pad Thai Live/Beach Bar

Location: 11 Royal Star Arcade, High St, Maidstone ME14 1JL
Website: https://padthailive.com/
Cuisine: Thai
Must-Try Dish: Pad Kaprow with a fried egg

The food is cooked in an open kitchen right in front of you, it is reasonably priced and you can eat it in the beach-themed bar, the restaurant or in the Royal Star Arcade in the open seating area. They often have karaoke and other events if you are looking for some entertainment with your dinner.

---

8. WeAreChicken

Location: Love Food @ Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre, Barker Road, Maidstone. ME16 8SF
Website: https://deliveroo.co.uk/menu/maidstone/maidstone-center/wearechicken-maidstone
Cuisine: Chicken shop
Must-Try Dish: Cool Ranch Southern fried chicken wrap

This is the love child of Notorious BRG and a classic chicken shop. The guys at Notorious have created a great traditional-style chicken shop serving cracking chicken wings and wraps. Great for sharing or devouring on your own.

---

9. Angel Cafe

Location: Thomas Place, Maidstone, ME14 1FP
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Angels-cafe-maidstone-100086263955010/
Cuisine: English
Must-Try Dish: Sunday Carvery

A charity run restaurant providing different food every day of the week. You can also grab an ice cream for 10p for your child too. They have a roast on a Sunday and do fish dishes with fish sourced from Billingsgate Market (You have to preorder it though).

---

10. Uniquely Bohemian/Boho Tea House

Location: Unit 1, Granada House, Gabriel's Hill, Maidstone ME15 6JR
Website: https://uniquelybohemian.com/
Cuisine: Cake/Cafe
Must-Try Dish: Lavender & Poppy Seed Cake

Probably Maidstone’s prettiest cafe. If you haven’t been in for a coffee and a cake you are truly missing out. The cakes are homemade and they often have vegan cakes available too. The Cakes are absolutely lovely!

---

11. Hungry Hombre

Location: Le Olde Thirsty Pig, 4A Knightrider St, Maidstone ME15 6LP
Website: https://hungryhombre.co.uk/
Cuisine: Latin American/Mexican
Must-Try Dish: Chipotle Chicken Nachos

A real hidden gem. Situated in the Thirsty Pig pub, Hungry Hombre is flinging out some incredible Latin American food. The nachos are potentially the best in Kent. You need to try all the sauces from here too!

---

12. Greek Paradise Bakery

Location: 93 Week St, Maidstone ME14 1QX
Cuisine: Greek/baked goods
Must-Try Dish: Spinach Triangle

A great addition to Week Street, the bakery has a range of Greek sweet and savoury goods perfect for breakfast or lunch. It has a modern and friendly vibe inside and is a great place to grab a drink and bite to eat.

---

13. La Besta

Location: Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex, Barker Road, Maidstone, ME16 8SF
Cuisine: Italian
Must-Try Dish: Pepperoni & Honey Calzone

One of the newest Italian joints in town and in the Lockmeadow complex. La Besta has a great range of pizza, calzones and pasta perfect for sharing or eating on your own. With really light dough and great classic Italian flavours, you can’t go wrong.

---

Maidstone, with its eclectic mix of eateries, has something for every food lover if you veer off of Earl Street.  Whether you're a local or just visiting, these 13 hidden gems provide a delightful gastronomic journey through the town. So, the next time you find yourself wondering where to eat in Maidstone, remember this list and treat yourself to some of the best culinary experiences the town has to offer.

---

Honourable Mentions:

Notorious BRG
The guys at Notorious BRG have smash burgered their way out of being a lesser-known independent with 3 branches now across Kent and London. They deserve a mention though as an independent you need to visit.

Frederic’s
We owe a lot of the culinary revolution in Maidstone to the Frederic’s team. They paved the way for independents in the county town. Especially in the Earl Street Area. Their French Bistro is a lovely destination for lunch or dinner.

Gem of Kent
A long-standing independent in the town centre providing great quality Turkish food for years. It’s a great place to eat for a date night or large group dinner.

---

Author: Karl Cowell

Karl is the owner of Kent Drinks Co, a Maidstone resident and a business owner. He eats out around the town most weeks and loves supporting local independent bars and restaurants.