Cambridge Restaurants and Dining

(Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK)



Cambridge Restaurants and DiningWhilst there are a reasonable number of restaurants within the city of Cambridge, the resident population of students is perhaps not the most discerning crowd of diners, meaning that many eateries specialise in simple cheap food, rather than fine dining for foodies.

Local Cambridgeshire pubs provide a great place for a lunchtime meal, often coming with beer gardens overlooking the River Cam, while those who favour pizzas and pasta will be able to choose from a surprisingly large selection of Italian-themed restaurants. However, it is worth avoiding the most touristy areas, with better quality and better value found elsewhere, down some of the backstreets.

Also, many of the wine and cocktail bars in central Cambridge offer their own unique brand of dining, often including extensive menus. Local hotel restaurants provide a further alternative, with some boasting live music and evening entertainment.


Cambridge Restaurants and Dining

Breakfast

If you plan to eat breakfast outside of your hotel, then Cambridge comes with a variety of options. Well worth looking out for is the Michaelhouse Cafe at St. Michael's Church on Trinity Street, where a mouthwatering breakfast is served from 08:00 onwards, Monday to Saturday. Also located in central Oxford is Martin's Coffee House on Trumpington Street, which stands close to the Fitzwilliam Museum and is a great place to experience a comforting English fry up at its very best.

Lunch

Traditional public houses are widespread throughout the city of Cambridge and many are highly regarded for their fine 'pub grub', with lunchtime specials often being offered to enticed potential diners. Lunch tends to be taken anywhere between 11:30 and 14:30, with most pubs serving food and bar snacks from midday onwards. Those looking for a good selection of eateries will find clusters along King Street, King's Parade, Market Hill, Free School Lane, Trinity Street, Midsummer Common, St. John's Street, Magdalene Street, Park Street, Prospect Row and Orchard Street.

The centrally located Grand Arcade on St. Andrew's Street is home to a choice of coffee shops and dining venues, with the Brasserie restaurant within the John Lewis store coming highly recommended and capable of seating more than 160 diners. Roughly a ten-minute walk away, the Grafton Shopping Centre is home to an additional department store restaurant at its branch of Debenhams, together with further eateries such as Bella Italia, Burger King and Costa Coffee.

Cambridge Restaurants and Dining

Fast-Food Outlets

Cambridge offers a number of fast-food restaurants, including burger bars, fish and chip takeaways, bakeries and sandwich shops. Familiar brands include Domino's Pizza on Hills Road, Greggs on Fitzroy Street, KFC on East Road, McDonald's on the Rose Crescent, Nando's on St. Andrew's Street, Pizza Hut on Regent Street and Subway on Mill Road.

Dinner

Cambridge restaurants and bistros usually open their doors for dining at around 18:00 and stay open until 23:30 or later, although for many, the local pubs are hard to beat, both for their 'real' English food and lively atmosphere. Some now even feature free Wi-Fi access.

Many pubs serve food throughout the day, with some of the best including the likes of the Boat House Public House on Chesterton Road, the Cambridge Blue on Gwydir Street, the Eagle on Benet Street, the Kingston Arms on Kingston Street and the Salisbury Arms on Tenison Road.