Business Details
16 Years
experience
Riverside Restaurant in Canterbury Serving Wood-Fired Cuisine
Established in 2010, Cafe Du Soleil occupies a historic Woolstore dating back to the 1820s, built from reclaimed flints and ragstone blocks of Canterbury's 14th-century City Wall. Our French-British team transformed this rustic structure into a riverside dining destination, combining architectural heritage with modern culinary excellence. We specialise in wood-fired cuisine inspired by Mediterranean traditions, served in a stylish yet relaxed setting overlooking the Stour River. Our commitment to quality extends to our award-winning Domaine Gayda wines, sourced from a Languedoc vineyard co-founded by a Canterbury local. With a private dining room accommodating up to 70 guests, we cater to both intimate meals and large celebrations while maintaining our founding principles of fresh, locally sourced ingredients.Our chefs prepare all dishes to order, offering flexibility for dietary requirements and bespoke menu creation. The restaurant's unique features include an al fresco terrace, oak-beamed interiors, and a sound system for private events. We have preserved historical elements like 17th-century oak beams while incorporating contemporary amenities. Our team's expertise in blending traditional French winemaking with modern techniques ensures an exceptional dining experience. As a Canterbury landmark, we continue to uphold the standards set during our meticulous 1990s restoration, which employed Tower of Pisa stabilization techniques to preserve the riverside foundations.
Services
Starters
Pizzas
Mains
Desserts
Children's Menu
Private Functions
Gift Cards
Wine Selection
Al Fresco Dining
Catering Services
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- We offer a unique riverside dining experience in a historic Canterbury building
- Our private dining room accommodates events for 16-70 guests with bespoke menus
- We serve award-winning Domaine Gayda wines from Languedoc vineyards
- All dishes are prepared fresh to order with locally sourced ingredients
- Our chefs create custom menus for special dietary requirements
Services
Private Functions
Our upstairs dining room accommodates private events for 16-70 guests. The oak-beamed space offers flexible seating arrangements, including banquet tables for 30 or standing room for 70. We provide set menus featuring signature dishes with fixed pricing, alongside cost-effective buffet options and bespoke feasting menus. The room includes a fully stocked bar, independent sound system, and decoration possibilities for weddings, business meetings, and celebrations.
Wood-Fired Cuisine
Our kitchen specialises in wood-fired cooking using traditional techniques. Menus feature seasonal ingredients prepared in a rustic style, with dishes cooked to order. We offer starters, pizzas, mains, and desserts reflecting Mediterranean influences. The cooking method enhances natural flavours while maintaining ingredient quality. Our chefs adapt recipes to accommodate dietary requirements and create custom dishes upon request.
Domaine Gayda Wines
We serve award-winning wines from Domaine Gayda's Languedoc vineyards. The estate uses biodynamic cultivation methods and hand-picked grapes to produce fruit-driven New World style wines. Our selection includes Macabeau, Marsanne, and Syrah varieties. The winery combines centuries-old Languedoc traditions with modern techniques, ensuring quality through small-batch processing and meticulous sorting.
Al Fresco Dining
Our riverside terrace provides outdoor dining with scenic views of the Stour River. The space features comfortable seating arrangements and seasonal decorations. Guests enjoy the same wood-fired menu as indoors while experiencing Canterbury's historic riverside atmosphere. The terrace connects to our indoor dining area for flexible use depending on weather conditions.
Art Exhibitions
We showcase Mediterranean-themed papier-mch artwork throughout our venue. The pieces reflect our culinary inspiration's cultural heritage. Customers can commission custom artwork through our partner website. The displays enhance our rustic interior design while supporting contemporary artists specialising in this traditional medium.
Questions
What type of cuisine does Caf du Soleil serve?
We specialise in wood-fired Mediterranean-inspired cuisine using seasonal ingredients, with dishes cooked to order in our open kitchen.
Can I book the private dining room for events?
Yes, our upstairs dining room accommodates 16-70 guests with flexible seating, fixed pricing menus, and full bar facilities.
Are there options for dietary requirements?
Our chefs prepare all dishes fresh to order and can adapt recipes to accommodate special dietary needs or allergies.
What wine selection is available?
We offer award-winning Domaine Gayda wines from Languedoc vineyards, featuring biodynamically grown Macabeau, Marsanne, and Syrah varieties.
Is there outdoor seating available?
Yes, our riverside terrace provides al fresco dining with scenic views of the Stour River in Canterbury's historic centre.
