Best restaurants in Cambridge

With a wonderful view of King’s College Chapel, this restaurant serves a modest menu of British classics, with a clear focus on their steaks, although they've also got every other cut of meat you can think of. On Sundays, expect a traditional roast with all the trimmings.

The Oak Bistro is a charming eatery that has been transformed from a wine bar into a bistro-style restaurant with a romantic courtyard. The continental food is rich and hearty; think beef Wellington with lashings of red wine jus and gooey chocolate fondant for dessert.

Midsummer House, overlooking the stunning river Cam, is the only two Michelin-starred restaurant in Cambridge, expertly run by chef-owner Daniel Clifford for well over 20 years. Midsummer House serves a constant stream of delicious dishes that evolve with the seasons - try the tasting menu for a real treat.

Putting people at the forefront, this small restaurant works in partnership with local farmers and growers to ensure ethically grown produce is at the heart of its plant-led menu. With only four sittings a week, to ensure workers can maintain a good work-life balance, this is one you’ll want to get booked. 

This barbecue joint is also about slow cooked, tender meats dripping in sweet, sticky sauces. Smokeworks goes all out, dishing up generous platters of glazed ribs and wings with all the sides, in a lavish affair that will satisfy all your meat cravings.

Heralded as one of the best Italian eateries in Cambridge, this restaurant delivers on quality, without always relying on the same old crowd-pleasers. The menu is conservative, which is a good thing because it means that each dish is well-thought out and carefully prepared by the kitchen.

Predominantly a place to go to try an everchanging selection of wide-ranging beers, The Pint Shop is also well worth a visit just to try the food as well. Its twists on British pub grub include treats such as pork bhaji Scotch eggs.

The Olive Grove is a wonderful mid-range Greek restaurant where you can find a smorgasbord of Mediterranean flavours, including peinirli pizza, moussaka, tasty mixed grills, and more. For a different experience at this elegant eatery, go for the three-course set menu for special occasions, which contains such delights as smoked haddock croquettes and baklava to finish.

It may be a fair stroll out of the town centre, but the Red Lion in Grantchester is definitely worth the detour. Serving hearty British dishes, you can expect everything from big old roasts and home-made pies, to sticky toffee pudding and apple crumble.

This restaurant was converted from a school hall into the vibrant, stunning trattoria it is today, serving a multitude of fresh, homemade pasta dishes. The homely restaurant also features a wonderful list of Italian wines to pair with the gorogonzola gnocchetti or fettucine al ragu.

The long-established Anchor is a modern take on pub dining with a focus on high quality ingredients. The idyllic multi-level restaurant is situated on the riverside, offering attractive views as you feast on dishes such as hot smoked salmon with pomme anna potatoes, chicken Kyiv, or a vegan cheeseburger.

Check out this quirky, antique decorated restaurant, set within Britain’s oldest bike shop. The food is European and Middle Eastern-inspired, with a particular focus on vegetarian and vegan dishes - enjoy summer minestrone soup with cannellini beans and sun blush tomato pesto, or marinated halloumi, avocado, roasted beetroot and bulgur wheat salad.

Declared by many as being home to Cambridge's best burger, Butch Annie's is a great option if you're wanting something delicous but inexpensive. Its burgers come stacked with a huge variety of different toppings, and you can also have a cocktail on the side. 

Highly ranked in the Cambridge area, this Indian restaurant serves amazing sub-continental food, including a luxurious seven-course tasting menu, curated by head chef Kamaladasan Bathrasalam who trained at Michelin-starred London restaurant Tamarind. The former pub takes inspiration from all over India and turns it into a fine dining experience geared for a contemporary setting.

La Raza is a tapas haven with a seemingly endless selection of small plates packed full of big Spanish flavours. Enjoy some pan fried scallops, baked figs with goat’s cheese, smoky charcuterie meats, sweet potato and caramelised onion tortillas, or roasted Moroccan spiced beetroot with pear & sherry
vinegar dressing - among many other enticing dishes!

The Tickell Arms may be a short drive out of Cambridge, in neighbouring village Whittlesford, but its idyllic location overlooking a large pond and expansive food menu make it worth a visit. Don't leave without trying the whole fish of the day, offered at market price.

A short drive away from Cambridge, between Newmarket and Bury St. Edmunds, the Packhorse Inn is nevertheless worth the drive. A recent renovation has seriously elevated the food offering at this former pub, and we recommend the Suffolk chicken supreme in tarragon broth, while leaving room for the pineapple and rum tarte tatin.

Hankering for a good burger? Head to The Alex for a great selection, whether you’re in the mood for the veggie, a smoky Cajun, or the Brex In featuring chorizo, blue cheese, and an onion marmalade. The atmosphere is friendly, the vibe is gastropub, and the food is delicious.

This restaurant is a delightful approach to modern British food, with chef patron Sam Carter sourcing local produce for a weekly changing menu of seasonal ingredients with a fine-dining flair, and a wonderful wine list to boot. Tasting menus are available for the whole table to share.

If it's gorgeous views of Cambridge you're looking for, Six at the Varsity Hotel is just the place. This gastropub-inspired restaurant and afternoon tea spot offers panoramic windows allowing you to see right across the city, and the crowd-pleasing food lives up to the amazing setting.