The River Exe Café is a custom built floating restaurant which is located in the beautiful surrounding of the Exe Estuary. It's only accessible by boat, either by a Puffin Water Taxi or by your own boat. We are open from 1st April to the 30th September each year.

During the season, we open Tuesday to Sunday, we do open on bank holiday Mondays. When there's a bank holiday Monday, we then close the following Tuesday.

Please ensure all guests are included in your numbers at the point of booking (including babies and children). This is so the water taxi does not go over its licensed capacity.

Please select the date you wish to book on the calendar below. We will be in touch one month prior to your booking to ask for card authentication to secure your booking.

Getting to us...

A return river cruise with the Puffin Water Taxi is automatically booked for when you reserve a table.

The booking time you select is your water taxi departure time, tables are booked from half past the hour on arrival at the restaurant.

You have 2 hours to enjoy the fine food, drink and views aboard then the taxi will pick you up and drop you back to Exmouth.

The entire experience is 3 hours from start to finish.

A return taxi fare is, £8 per guest (14+ years of age) £4 per child (6-13 years of age) newborns and children up to 5 are free of charge.

Taxis depart from Exmouth Marina, Visitors pontoon EX8 1XA

Have more questions about the Puffin Water Taxi? Please visit our FAQ pages for all the answers

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

All cancellations are subject to our Delivery, Returns & Cancellation Policy

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Please amend the guest numbers required on the drop down, and ensure ALL guests are included in your numbers at the point of booking - including children and babies. The largest group booking we can accommodate is 24 guests.

Do you have your own boat?

Guests arriving by private craft can now secure restaurant reservations using the booking form below.

Tables are booked from half past the hour for 2 hours. More information on own boat bookings can be found on our FAQ Page .

Did you know you don't have to have a restaurant reservation to enjoy the River Exe Cafe? If you have a private craft, canoe or even paddleboard you can stop by for a light bite and a drink from 12pm until close. Just look for the flags flying on our pontoon, that signals we are open. We have a section of the outside seating just for you! Our ‘Boaters Menu’ is available to order from the outside hatch from 12:30pm-8:30pm (5:30pm on Sundays) The Kitchen is closed between 4:30-5:30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Outside tables are offered on a first come first served basis. 

For guests wishing to visit us by paddleboard or canoe please be aware that the River Exe has a large tidal range and mobile sandbanks so please factor in the tides and weather for your journey. The Exe Estuary management partnership has put together a handy Exe Estuary Water Users code.

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Please ensure you have your own transport to the restaurant if you book here

Booking tips

For each hour we can accept 24 guests. If the time you want is not available, this means we have reached the capacity for that hour so hit the 'see alternative' function when prompted, this will display all the reservations for that table size until the end of the season.

Tables of 2 are our most popular table size, if that table size isn't available it may mean that they are all reserved. Why not bring some friends! Try searching for an increased table size, you may have more luck.

Weekend tables and Friday nights are always the first tables to get booked up, try searching during the week if tables at a weekend are taken.

The best way to get a table is by checking the booking system the day before you want to come. It's also worth calling us on the day you want to come (often around 10am is best) and we can then offer you any cancellations for that day or the next. If you wish to enquire about availability or be added onto our waiting list Click here.

THE CROWS NEST

Drone shot of the restaurant at sunset

How the Crows Nest works

The Crows Nest opened in 2023 and is offered to guests with a restaurant reservation on a first come first served basis. It offers 360 degree unspoilt views of the River Exe and a totally unique dining experience. It is open to the elements so only offered on days with suitable weather conditions.

There is a flat fee of £50 per table for your 2 hour reservation. This area is for over 14s only. We have 3 tables available each sitting up to 5 guests. You can express an interest in sitting upstairs at the point of booking.