Remember when Muscle Food Magazine voted Ely as the third worst first foodie hot spot in the UK? I do. In fact, I wrote a rebuttal about it here.
Even if you believe their poorly researched and questionable ways of measuring what constitutes a foodie hotspot, this was all the way back in 2022 and a lot has changed since then. All I can say is that Ely is now BOOMING!
Lets take a look at why Ely (in my opinion) is a real foodie hub.
Choice
You can’t be a foodie hotspot without lots of diverse choice and Ely has it in abundance, especially for place with a population of a mere 20,000. Our fair city has an incredible amount of restaurants to choose from. Yes, you’ll get your generic chains (like everywhere else) but how many cities and towns of a similar size can boast such a wide selection of cuisine?
South American – Urban Fresh (my review)
Urban Fresh offers beautiful riverside views and some of the best sticky pork you’ll ever eat. I’ve yet to find a place in Cambridgeshire that can beat it.
Japanese – Sushi & Salad (my review)
I have travelled across Japan and eaten at sushi joints throughout the world and I have yet to find a place that trumps Sushi & Salad…honestly!
This family run restaurant is the best Japanese restaurant I have ever been too and it’s right on our doorstep.
I challenge you to visit and disagree with me!
High end bakery -Grain Culture General Store (my review)
A small independent bakery that sources only from Cambridgeshire, surrounding counties, and trades with like minded businesses.
Get yourself one of their incredible sticky buns and a craft beer while you are at it. If you question their quality, remember Grain Culture supply the buns for Steak & Honour burgers – nuff said!
Ruin bar street food experience – The Yard (my review)
You would never guess that a small, quiet, and historic place like Ely would have a trendy place like this. Reminiscent of Shoreditch, The Yard offers street food from shipping containers, craft beer and cider, live music, and stellar children’s facilities.
Ely Market & “Foodie Fridays”
How much more on the nose can you get?
If you have any reason to doubt that Ely isn’t now a foodie hub, then Foodie Fridays should put this doubt firmly to bed.
Look at this diverse range of stalls and food vans…
• Authentic Italian Pizza 🇮🇹
• Greek street food 🇬🇷
• Mediterranean falafel
• German bratwursts 🇩🇪
• The “Cheese & Pie Man”
• Korean K-Dogs 🇰🇷
Toms Cakes (My review)
Tom’s Cakes is so good that I even wrote a love letter to it. Ever since it closed down in Cambridge I have lost count at the number of people complaining that Ely now has it better than Cambridge because nothing comes close. This small and unassuming cafe may not look much from the outside…or inside for that matter but the cakes will rock your socks off!
Just trust me!
Big Meat @ The Griddle Bar & Meat House (My review)
If you are big on meat then you will be hard pressed to find a better place in Cambridgeshire than The Griddle. It comes with its own indoor charcoal grill, offering a wide range of steaks and burgers. I love this place so much, I have reviewed it three times, so I ended up having to merge them all into one big blog post. This is where the cave men go!
Turkish & Seafood @ Limora (read my review)
New to the Ely food scene, Limora offers lively and vibrant dishes in a high energy and colourful restaurant, that clearly isn’t the sort of place you associate with a sleepy historic cathedral city. I highly recommend the octopus leg that might be some of the best I have had.
Family run Italian restaurant @ Mangiare’s (read my review)
Italian restaurants are common but Ely boasts a popular family-run Italian offering even more variety in the city. I am amazed at how many places at a similar size to our city fail to offer something so essential to the local restaurant scene.
Great craft beer options
There is no point in having great food without a great drink to compliment it. Luckily, Ely boasts two pubs that proudly serve an ever changing selection of craft beer.
3@3 and Drayman’s Son serve Ely well, with the latter being run by local brewery Three Blind Mice.
Nationally recognised tearoom – Peacocks Tearoom (my review)
No brag about Ely would be complete without a mention of Peacocks. This multi award winning riverside tea room is constantly ranked amongst the best in the country, with an uncountable selection of teas from all over the world. A real tea connoisseurs paradise.
No wonder there is a permanent queue outside!
Authentic South Indian with
Malabarikh Atelier’s (my review)
While we all love a classic Bangladeshi style Indian, not many places can boast a traditional South Indian restaurant. Think, masala dosa, pani puri, and their mouth-watering lobster moilee deserves an award. This friendly and colourful place will make you feel one step away from being on a beach in Goa. Not bad, Ely!
Indian breakfast at Bengal Brunch (my review)
If you thought that having one traditional Indian restaurant was impressive for a city the population of 20,000, then why not two? By day this Bangladeshi style Indian doubles up as a café offering Indian style breakfasts. This is my wife and I’s most frequently visited place for its great value, relaxed atmosphere and marvellous service.
Accessibility
It isn’t just about the food. What is the point in having all these great restaurants and food vans if it is impossible to get to?
In my post called ‘Why Ely Gets It Right‘, I explain that Ely has a railway station on the King’s Cross line, giving it great access from Cambridge and London. Its station even has better connections to the North of England than Cambridge. Not to mention the free parking city wide which makes Ely an easy place to get to for drivers and people lucky enough to live on a railway line connection alike.
Experience
Who wants to eat extravagant food from across the world in a run down dump? Not me, that’s for sure!
Luckily, Ely is a slice of English paradise, with windy alleyways, a stunning cathedral, striking riverside views, and beautiful historic buildings. You’ll often see movie studios in operation making use of Ely’s beauty. A day out here is like a city break without the faff of a Ryanair flight.
Conclusion
Ely is not only a fantastic place to spend the day sampling great food but it is growing all the time. Indian Edge has recently opened, adding another fine Indian restaurant to our restaurant scene. A new Lounge is opening soon and a brand new independent burger and steak joint is due any day now.
Don’t forget our two Thai restaurants, our Turkish, and the well respected Old Fire Engine House by the cathedral.
What are you waiting for?
Come visit Ely and indulge!
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