Cambridge boasts an exciting and diverse food scene. This can sometimes feel overwhelming for visitors, but worry not! I am a lifelong Cambridge resident, with many years of exploring this thriving restaurant scene under my belt and I am excited to share with you my hand picked favourites for people looking to get the most out of their trip in our fair city.
I will only be recommending restaurants I have visited personally, with a link included below which will take you straight to an in-depth review for more detail. The list is ongoing and will be updated as I visit more restaurants.
Have we missed any? Let me know here
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The Pint Shop, Peas Hill
Meat. Bread. Beer.
Sometimes, it is the simplest ideas that work the best and there is no better place to demonstrate this theory than ‘The Pint Shop’. Located in the tourist hub of Cambridge, this classic British pub offers an extensive range of locally sourced craft beer and unique takes on traditional dishes.
Type: Traditional, Pub Grub
Make sure you try: Scotch egg
The Taj Tandoori, Cherry Hinton Road
Whenever I am given the choice of where to go for dinner, I always pick the Taj Tandoori. It has been a favourite of mine for years, especially since its refurbishment, which has transformed it into one of the most stylish and atmospheric restaurants in the city.
It serves Bangladeshi cuisine but also experiments with what they call “Pan-Asian” (a mix of Indo-Chinese, Indian fusion burgers, and even Bangladeshi style Sunday roast dinners!).
You can save yourself a few quid too, with its “bring your own beer” policy, making it one the most competitively priced restaurants on the list.
Type: Indian, Bangladeshi, Pan-Asian
Make sure you try: Their shamee burger or Bangladeshi Sunday roast for something truly unique.
Scott’s All Day, Mill Road
Home to “the best pizza in Cambridge”, Scott’s is famed for its Detroit style deep-pan pizza, boozy brunches, and locally sourced ingredients. In fact, you can see where they source their meat from across the road at the Mill Road butcher. They also serve craft beer, which comes from a brewery a mere 2 two-minute walk away at Calverley Brewery – This is as local as it gets!
Type: Pizza, brunch, craft beer
Make sure you try: Their Detroit style deep-pan pizza (not available anywhere else in the city)
Mercado Central, Green Street
While Cambridge may not be overflowing with Spanish restaurants, Mercado Central stands out as an essential must-visit for any visitor. Located on the scenic Green Street at the very heart of Cambridge, the spirit of Spain comes alive through a tempting array of both contemporary and traditional seafood dishes. Don’t forget to check out their specials board, which frequently features steaks made from grass-fed beef.
Mercado Central is one of my personal favourites in the city and one of the few reviews I have written where I struggled to find a single fault.
Type: Spanish, seafood
Make sure you try: Monkfish
Bread & Meat, Bene’t Street
The best sandwiches in town 😎 Bread & Meat offers roasted meats, served in sourdough bread, with poutine on the side. All within a casual dining experience, making it the perfect place for friends to meet up or to quickly pick up a bite to eat while on the go.
Type: Sandwiches, roasted meats, poutine
Make sure you try: The poutine
Kobe Steakhouse, Bridge Street
Have you ever seen steak marbelling like this? 😍
Kobe Steakhouse is one of the only restaurants in Britain that is a member of the prestigious Kobe Beef Association in Japan. This isn’t just a title – it’s an official authorisation to sell authentic Kobe beef sourced directly from Tajima cattle (a specific type of Japanese Black Cow known for its superior meat).
For any steak fans out there, this isn’t to be missed!
Type: Steak, Japanese
Make sure you try: Taking advantage of their set lunch menu for their incredible steak without breaking the bank
Little Petra, Hills Road
Little Petra, a small independent restaurant that consistently earns high praise for its authentic Jordanian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Guests are not only treated to vibrant, beautifully presented dishes but also an extensive selection of Jordanian wines, enhancing the authentic experience. With consistent quality, generous portions, and reasonable prices, Little Petra has solidified its reputation as a local gem, offering a genuine taste of the Middle East.
Type: Jordanian
Make sure you try: Lamb Moussaka
Aromi, Peas Hill 🇮🇹
Aromi is a Sicilian restaurant that is so popular people will literally queue out the door to get a seat. Once you sit down, however, you will quickly understand why, as you are rewarded with pizza with the softest bases and ingredients that will slap you around the face with flavour. All with some of the creamiest gelato you’ll find in the city.
Type: Sicilian/Italian
Make sure you try: Their n’duja pizza
Golpo, Hills Road 🇧🇩
Award-winning authentic Bangladeshi flavours that have been described as serving the type of food that the Indian restaurant owners eat when they go home. This contemporary take on a vibrant and exciting cuisine has one of those rare menus where everything is 5 stars!
Type: Traditional Bangladeshi
Make sure you try: Bongo Beef and their extensive range of Mocktails
The Burleigh Arms, Newmarket Road
The Burleigh Arms is another great example of a picturesque English pub that is located right next to the scenic Midsummer Common. It serves a mix of traditional cuisine inspired by local and global flavours, all for a competitive price.
Type: Pub, Traditional, Global
The Cherry Pit, King Street 🇺🇸🥧
Are you an American feeling homesick for pumpkin pie? Then The Cherry Pit is the one for you. Set in a small cafe, in the style of a 1950’s diner, this quirky shop also sells vinyl as well as a selection of different pies.
Just watch out, as it sells out fast!
Type: Retro, Pies
Make sure you try: Cherry pie and pumpkin pie
D’Arry’s, King Street 🇬🇧🧀
If you are a tourist, then naturally you want to sample the best a country has to offer. With Britain in mind, there is no better place to visit than D’Arry’s, on King Street. By offering a wide variety of artisan British cheeses from their own on-site cheese monger, you’ll be absolutely spoiled for choice, all while being surrounded in a traditional yet quirky restaurant, that truly encapsulates the essence of Cambridge.
Type: Cheese specialist
Make sure you try: Their raclette or fondue
Tzatziki @ The Royal Standard, Mill Road
Tzatziki is my favourite Greek restaurant in Cambridge and better still, it resides within a pub with an excellent selection of imported Belgiun beers. Their gyros wraps are absolutely out of this world but you will struggle to find anything on their menu you won’t love.
Type: Greek/Street Food 🇬🇷
Make sure you try: Their gyros or mozzarella sticks
The Old Bicycle Shop, Regent Street
The old bicycle shop is so Cambridge it hurts. Located in an old bike shop that is over two centuries old, this industrial yet stylish restaurant offers seasonal dishes made from ingredients that are locally sourced.
If you are looking for the full Cambridge experience then no restaurants comes close.
Type: Traditional, Seasonal
The Cambridge Chop House, Kings Causeway
Located a mere stones throw away from Kings College, the Cambridge Chophouse has been a favourite with locals and tourists alike for years. This restaurant also has the best people watching spot while also having some of the tastiest steak around. I particularly enjoy the “old English” interior that feels like a real slice of Cambridge.
Type: Steak, Traditional
Make sure you try: Their pork crackling
Navadhanya, Newmarket Road 🇮🇳
Cambridge meets Indian fine dining, with this stunning restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide. In terms of cost to quality ratios, this might be the best value cuisine in the city, with a set menu offering unbelievable value for the quality, resulting in a night to remember for even the most discerning pallets.
Type: Indian, Fine Dining
Make sure you try: Their ever changing set menu
Bedouin, Mill Road
A restaurant decorated in the style of an African Bedouin tent offers an experience unlike anything else in Cambridge. Their North African food will intrigue as well as impress, as you dine surrounded in walled rugs while sitting on low tables. This is a great place for special occasions or romantic evenings (in fact, my wife and I had our first ever date here).
Type: North African
Make sure you try: The hot pot
Raja, King Street
For anyone visiting the UK, trying an Indian is an absolute must. Having curry and a pint of beer is as British as drinking a cup of tea. If you are looking for a great Indian then look no further than Raja. The team not only offers a great selection of curries but does a superb thali selection, for a more authentic Indian experience too.
Type: Indian/Bangladeshi
Make sure you try: The thali platter
Fancett’s, Mill Road
A small independent French-inspired restaurant located in the very heart of Mill Road. Recommended by both the Michelin Guide AND The Good Food Guide 2024, Facettes offers unbelievable value for the quality.
I’ll leave it at that, shall I?
Type: French🇫🇷
Make sure you try: Booking well in advance!
Kibou Japanese Bar & Kitchen 🇯🇵
If you are looking for a Japanese restaurant in Cambridge that has it all, then Kibou is it!
Expect everything from sushi, to traditional Japanese cuisine, and even an afternoon tea experience, all within one of the most vivid and stylish restaurants in town. This is a restaurant with real energy and great for special occasions.
Type: Japanese, sushi, afternoon tea
Make sure you try: Their afternoon tea experience for something a little different!
The Dumpling Tree, Perne Road
This one may be a little far out for tourists in the centre but if you do decide to make the journey, then you will be handsomely rewarded with some of the best Chinese in the city. The restaurant is spacious and has a stunning interior with an exciting menu that specialises in Yunnan cuisine. They have just started doing China Town style banquet meals too!
Type: Yunnan, Chinese 🇨🇳
Make sure you try: The Thousand Layer Pork
Efes, King Street
Efes is an institution in Cambridge. In fact, it has been serving the Cambridge locals with its traditional Turkish cuisine for (coming up to) 30 years. In that time, I have never heard a bad word said about it, with a cult like following constantly calling it the best Turkish food in the city…and I’m inclined to agree!
Type: Turkish
Make sure you try: The set menu for incredible value.
The Permit Room, Trinity Street
Created by the team from the nationally recognised Dishoom chain, the Permit Room is an all-day bar and restaurant, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Just walk in and relax in its unique modern style and exciting modern take on popular Indian classics.
Type: Indian, fusion
Make sure you try: Their infamous Black Daal and the Chicken Ruby (both pictured above)
The Mill Road experience
Read our list of all the best places to eat in down Mill Road
Mill Road is the undisputed foodie hub of Cambridge. There are dozens of small independent restaurants all lined up offering cuisine from around the world. The best thing is, when you stumble across one, you feel like your own little discovery, tucked away in plain sight, adding real magic to the place.
My recommendation is to take a leisurely stroll down the iconic street and take your pick. With so many diverse restaurants, you will be sure to find a restaurant that you will never forget.
Read our list of all the best places to eat in down Mill Road
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