Local Secrets is a guide to what's on Cambridge Restaurants, Cambridge Pubs and Bars.

Cuisine

The universities, tourism and the science and technology parks give Cambridge a boost as a regional hub for restaurant dining. The hungry millions who visit or come to the area every year for study and work eat at the cafes, restaurants and the hundreds of local pubs. This helps to support a larger range of places, especially in the mid-to-budget range, than a population of just over 100,000 might otherwise support. In recent years a few more high-end establishments have opened, giving Cambridge an even more cosmopolitan and refined culinary range.

Though short on the more exotic cuisines, such as African cooking, you will find at least a few representatives of American styles, including Mexican, Latin American, and stronger ranges for Asian, especially Chinese, and even a smattering of, Asian fusion, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese cuisines. The relative lack of these regions reflects the lower levels of historical contact between Britain and these countries. In contrast, of course, Continental and French styles have a long history and, increasingly, Northern European cookery has a stronger showing, including Polish restaurants.

But the largest groups and most widespread ethnic cuisines come from the Mediterranean, with lots of places serving Greek, Italian, Spanish and Turkish dishes, and South Asian, especially Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine. The Mediterranean cuisines became popular, actually, after World War II, in part by soldiers bringing back a taste for the new flavours, and then by the opening of greater popular travel to the continent. Lately, places opened by the end of the Cold War, such as Croatia with its seafood dishes, have gained a foothold. The interest in Indian, and of late Bangladeshi cuisines, stems from the long historical ties between Britain the Subcontinent. The colourful curries and breads of these regions have a strong following among British diners, with some dishes rated as national favourites. Cambridge alone has over 25 Indian and Bangladeshi pubs and restaurants in the city limits.

British cuisines, ranging from the contemporary to traditional, from pub food to regional styles, of course have the lion's share of outlets, and the interest cookery in general has raised the game for all. Cambridge has one of the only Michelin-starred restaurants in the region in the Midsummer House, and in 2009 was to gain its first restaurant sponsored by a TV chef. Jamie Oliver was to open a large restaurant in what was once the central city library and has for years been the tourist office. Located in the large Guild Hall building on market square in the heart of historic Cambridge, this new, the new restaurant promises to add new features to the local talents for the culinary high brow.

Within the city, head for the historic district, especially Kings Parade and Bridge Street, for the more mainstream chains and independent venues, and for a best value and ethnic variety, the increasingly self-conscious ethnic enclave of Mill Road. Scattered more widely find the pubs, who under pressure from increased alcohol duties, the indoor smoking ban and rents, have embarked on the gastro route, many with considerable success in moving beyond the humble pint.

Outside of Cambridge dining is split into country pubs and venues in the surrounding market towns such as St Ives, Huntingdon, Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill, Royston, Saffron Walden and St Neots. Often the best dining in the countryside areas is found in pubs, hotels or golf clubs, who have made themselves destinations for travellers moving around mid-England. The pubs in particular have branched out, now frequently offering Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisines, sometimes alongside traditional British favourites. The larger and more attractive towns, such as Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Saffron Walden and Newmarket offer the most town centre culinary variety.

The fun of dining comes in part from variety and on Local Secrets you'll find at your fingertips, all the cuisines in Cambridge, Ely, St Ives and Huntingdon, Newmarket, Haverhill, Royston, Saffron Walden and St Neots. Independent reviews reveal the best of each, with member ratings and often special offers and benefits at those locations who have a commercial presence on Local Secrets.



 American - Mexican/Tex Mex
Venue Showcase: California Kitchen California Kitchen (Bury St Edmunds)
Totally awesome place to eat
Venue Showcase: Fox The Fox (Burwell)
traditional pub in Burwell with a Mexican twist
Venue Showcase: Nanna Mexico Nanna Mexico (Cambridge)
Fresh authentic Mexican food
     
 British - Contemporary
Venue Showcase: Anchor Inn The Anchor Inn (Sutton Gault)
a little bit of heaven anchored in the Fenland
Venue Showcase: 'B' 'B' (Cambridge)
'B' Bar is the essence of enjoyment
Venue Showcase: Boathouse Restaurant The Boathouse Restaurant (Ely)
Traditional British cuisine with contemporary style
Venue Showcase: Crown Inn The Crown Inn (Linton)
Freehouse, restaurant & accomodation
Venue Showcase: Doubletree by Hilton, Cambridge Garden House Doubletree by Hilton, Cambridge Garden House (Cambridge)
Dine in the finest location in Cambridge
Venue Showcase: Dyke's End Inn The Dyke's End Inn (Reach)
A pub in Reach that feels like home
Venue Showcase: Edwinns Bar and Restaurant Edwinns Bar and Restaurant (Cambridge)
Home of affordable fine dining in Cambridge
Venue Showcase: Eltisley The Eltisley (Eltisley)
A flavour of the traditional
Venue Showcase: Fitzbillies Restaurant Fitzbillies Restaurant (Cambridge)
Famous for cakes; excellent evening dining
Venue Showcase: Graffiti Restaurant Graffiti Restaurant (Cambridge)
Fine dining in stylish contemporary hotel
Venue Showcase: Merry Monk The Merry Monk (Isleham)
Good food, good sized portions at a fair price
Venue Showcase: Michaelhouse Centre Michaelhouse Centre (Cambridge)
Tasty cafe food in a beautiful church interior
Venue Showcase: Moller Centre The Moller Centre (Cambridge)
Stunning Scandinavian architecture
Venue Showcase: Mouth Music Mouth Music (Cambridge)
Food to make your taste buds sing
Venue Showcase: Needhams Restaurant Needhams Restaurant (Witchford)
Fine food in an intimate rural setting
Venue Showcase: Plough The Plough (Coton)
Modern gastro-pub outside Cambridge
Venue Showcase: Punter The Punter (Cambridge)
Exciting gastro pub!
Venue Showcase: Rupert Brooke The Rupert Brooke (Grantchester)
atmospheric interior with modern cuisine
Venue Showcase: Sauce Sauce (Cambridge)
Cambridge's funkiest new lounge bar
Venue Showcase: Vaults The Vaults (Cambridge)
Cambridge's leading independent bar and restaurant
 
 British - Pub Food
Venue Showcase: Benson Blakes Bar & Grill Benson Blakes Bar & Grill (Bury St Edmunds)
Easy going drinking and dining
Venue Showcase: Black Bull The Black Bull (Balsham)
Traditional pub & restaurant with accommodation
Venue Showcase: Fountain Inn The Fountain Inn (Cambridge)
traditional on the outside, modern on the inside
Venue Showcase: Fountain Inn The Fountain Inn (Soham)
Find something for everyone
Venue Showcase: Green Man The Green Man (Six Mile Bottom)
The home of great British sizzling steaks
Venue Showcase: Lazy Otter The Lazy Otter (Stretham)
Relax on any day of the week at The Lazy Otter
Venue Showcase: Lion & Lamb The Lion & Lamb (Milton)
A traditional village pub serving quality food
Venue Showcase: Old Spring Public House The Old Spring Public House (Cambridge)
modern/traditional pub & restaurant.
Venue Showcase: Queen Adelaide Queen Adelaide (Croydon)
Warm and welcoming traditional English freehouse
Venue Showcase: Red Bull The Red Bull (Newnham)
Simple pleasures in stylish local
Venue Showcase: Rose The Rose (Stapleford)
unique dining experience in relaxed surroundings
Venue Showcase: Three Horsehoes Inn Three Horsehoes Inn (Houghton)
Restaurant quality food at pub prices
Venue Showcase: Three Tuns The Three Tuns (Fen Drayton)
Great food, great beer, Warm welcome
Venue Showcase: Three Tuns Three Tuns (Willingham)
Be welcomed with a smile
Venue Showcase: Tram Depot The Tram Depot (Cambridge)
a contemporary pub with fine food and ales
Venue Showcase: Waterman The Waterman (Cambridge)
Traditional pub with home cooked food
   
 British - Traditional
Venue Showcase: Abbots Restaurant & Bar Abbots Restaurant & Bar (Hemingford Abbots)
English & Mediterranean-style food with atmosphere
Venue Showcase: Axe and Compass Axe and Compass (Hemingford Abbots)
15th Century thatched-roofed village pub
The Cambridge Chop House (Cambridge)
Venue Showcase: Chequers The Chequers (Pampisford)
cosy village pub, good food at reasonable prices
Venue Showcase: Christ's College Christ's College (Cambridge)
16c hall & other elegant dining rooms
Venue Showcase: Churchill College Churchill College (Cambridge)
16c hall & other elegant dining rooms
Venue Showcase: Clare College Clare College (Cambridge)
2nd oldest College in Cambridge
Venue Showcase: Corpus Christi College Corpus Christi College (Cambridge)
Magnificent paneled dining hall
Venue Showcase: Crown Inn The Crown Inn (Broughton)
Fine food and real ales
Venue Showcase: d'Arry's d'Arry's (Cambridge)
d'Arry's Wine Shop, fine wine and cuisine
Venue Showcase: Downing College Downing College (Cambridge)
Elegant neo-classical dining hall
Venue Showcase: Duke of Wellington Duke of Wellington (Willingham)
the pie and salad pub
Venue Showcase: Emmanuel College Emmanuel College (Cambridge)
Quintessential venue with superb cuisine
Venue Showcase: Fitzwilliam College Fitzwilliam College (Cambridge)
The best of the old and the new
Venue Showcase: George Inn The George Inn (Babraham)
a pub restaurant with fine dining and good value
Venue Showcase: Girton College Girton College (Cambridge)
Set in 50 acres of trees and grassland
Venue Showcase: Gonville & Caius College Gonville & Caius College (Cambridge)
Fine food & wine in a 14c setting
Venue Showcase: Homerton College Homerton College (Cambridge)
First class hospitality
Venue Showcase: Hughes Hall Hughes Hall (Cambridge)
Ideal for central meetings close to the station
Venue Showcase: Jesus College Jesus College (Cambridge)
Excellent cuisine and friendly service
Venue Showcase: King's College King's College (Cambridge)
Dine in grandeur
Venue Showcase: Lucy Cavendish College Lucy Cavendish College (Cambridge)
Beautiful gardens and Victorian splendour
Venue Showcase: Madingley Hall Madingley Hall (Cambridge)
With fresh and seasonal catering
Venue Showcase: Magdalene College Magdalene College (Cambridge)
Unique and charming atmosphere
Venue Showcase: Murray Edwards College Murray Edwards College (Cambridge)
Dine in the spectacular 'Dome'
Venue Showcase: Newnham College Newnham College (Cambridge)
Graceful Queen Anne style
Venue Showcase: New Wellington New Wellington (Newmarket)
Friendly atmosphere with great food
Venue Showcase: Old Cannon Brewery The Old Cannon Brewery (Bury St Edmunds)
Venue Showcase: Pembroke College Pembroke College (Cambridge)
A distinguished ancient setting
Venue Showcase: Peterhouse Peterhouse (Cambridge)
The first of the Cambridge Colleges
Venue Showcase: Queens' College Queens' College (Cambridge)
Grand fireplaces, portraits and beams
Venue Showcase: Rainbow Vegetarian Café Rainbow Vegetarian Café (Cambridge)
vegetarian food that everyone likes
Venue Showcase: Red Lion The Red Lion (Hinxton)
Proudly traditional English country pub
Venue Showcase: Riverside Restaurant and Granta Bar Riverside Restaurant and Granta Bar (Cambridge)
Excellent restaurant with great views of the River
Venue Showcase: Robinson College Robinson College (Cambridge)
Excellent service from experienced team
Venue Showcase: Selwyn College Selwyn College (Cambridge)
Friendly college in quiet residential location
Venue Showcase: Sidney Sussex College Sidney Sussex College (Cambridge)
Attractive gardens for summer functions
Venue Showcase: St Edmund's College St Edmund's College (Cambridge)
Okinaga room offers spectacular city view
Venue Showcase: St Catharine's College St Catharine's College (Cambridge)
Historic buildings in central location
Venue Showcase: St John's College St John's College (Cambridge)
Serene atmosphere in ancient courts
Venue Showcase: Three Horseshoes Inn The Three Horseshoes Inn (Abbots Ripton)
a warm welcome awaits at the Three Horseshoes Inn
Venue Showcase: Three Tuns The Three Tuns (Cowlinge)
17th Century Freehouse - a truly traditional exper
Venue Showcase: Trinity Hall Trinity Hall (Cambridge)
Beautiful riverside setting for private dining
Venue Showcase: Westminster College Westminster College (Cambridge)
Private dining in the Principal's Lodge
Venue Showcase: White Horse The White Horse (Barton)
A friendly village pub in Barton
     
 British Regional
Venue Showcase: Origin8 Origin8 (Cambridge)
real food that tastes great
   
 Cafe Food
Venue Showcase: Cazimir Cazimir (Cambridge)
Cazimir is back and it's better than ever before
Venue Showcase: Cafe Carrington - Grafton Centre Cafe Carrington - Grafton Centre (Cambridge)
beverages and home-made food in the Grafton Centre
Venue Showcase: Carringtons cafe restaurant Carringtons cafe restaurant (Cambridge)
where the locals go
Venue Showcase: Haddenham Galleries Haddenham Galleries (Ely)
An Aladdin's Cave
Venue Showcase: Tap Room The Tap Room (St Ives)
Enjoy, share, relax, belong
Venue Showcase: Trockel, Ulmann & Freunde Trockel, Ulmann & Freunde (Cambridge)
An oasis of colour and warmth
Venue Showcase: Wilcrofts Home Cooked Food House Wilcrofts Home Cooked Food House (Bury St Edmunds)
Dedicated to locally sourced food
   
 Drinks/Snacks only
Venue Showcase: Cellar Bar 8 Cellar Bar 8 (Cambridge)
Bar with great entertainment
Venue Showcase: Fleur Bar & Bistro The Fleur Bar & Bistro (Cambridge)
Smart urban eatery and watering hole
Venue Showcase: Nusha Nusha (Cambridge)
Unique Cocktail Flair Bar
     
 East Asian - Chinese
Venue Showcase: Charlie Chan Charlie Chan (Cambridge)
quality Chinese food in the classical style
Venue Showcase: Peking Restaurant Peking Restaurant (Cambridge)
Nationally acclaimed authentic Chinese restaurant
Venue Showcase: Tang Chinese Tang Chinese (Cambridge)
Be tempted by the tang of authentic Chinese food
     
 East Asian - Other
Venue Showcase: Shiraz Shiraz (Cambridge)
Freshly made Middle Eastern & Persian cuisine
   
 East Asian - Thai
Venue Showcase: Milton Park English & Thai Restaurant Milton Park English & Thai Restaurant (Milton)
Thai food prepared fresh for you in style
   
 European - Continental
Venue Showcase: Alimentum Alimentum (Cambridge)
affordable, ethical, award-winning food
Venue Showcase: Horseshoe Inn and Restaurant The Horseshoe Inn and Restaurant (Offord D'Arcy)
Passionate about food - it's all about quality
 
 European - French
Venue Showcase: Le Gros Franck Le Gros Franck (Cambridge)
Awarding-winning chef cooks up tasty French food!!
   
 European - North
Venue Showcase: Polonia Polonia (Cambridge)
The best of Polish cuisine
   
 Mediterranean - Greek
Venue Showcase: Eraina Taverna Eraina Taverna (Cambridge)
A firm favourite in Cambridge
   
 Mediterranean - Italian
Venue Showcase: De Luca Cucina & Bar De Luca Cucina & Bar (Cambridge)
Modern Italian restaurant and cocktail bar
Venue Showcase: Empress The Empress (Cambridge)
a genuine local pub for everyone
Venue Showcase: La Margherita La Margherita (Cambridge)
Authentic and delicious Italian cuisine.
Venue Showcase: Massaro's Massaro's (Cambridge)
Traditional delicatessen & espresso bar
Venue Showcase: Sergio's Restaurant Sergio's Restaurant (Soham)
the sort of place you go out of your way for
 
 Mediterranean - Other
Venue Showcase: Cafe Adriatic Cafe Adriatic (Cambridge)
On Mill Rd with Mediterranean seafood & pizza
Venue Showcase: Masa Restaurant Masa Restaurant (Sawston)
Romantic setting with the best prices
 
 Mediterranean - Spanish
Venue Showcase: La Tasca La Tasca (Cambridge)
Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant
Venue Showcase: Star Inn The Star Inn (Lidgate)
Twice winner - Daily Telegraph Perfect Pub Award
 
 Mediterranean - Turkish
Venue Showcase: 196 Meze Bar 196 Meze Bar (Cambridge)
The genuine article -Turkish cuisine from experts
Venue Showcase: Anatolia Turkish Restaurant Anatolia Turkish Restaurant (Cambridge)
Laughter, chat & sizzling kebabs
Venue Showcase: Meze Meze (St Ives)
Meze and a warm welcome
Venue Showcase: Turkuaz Turkish Cuisine Turkuaz Turkish Cuisine (Newmarket)
Real Turkish tastes & flavours
   
 Seafood
Venue Showcase: George and Dragon The George and Dragon (Elsworth)
Quality restaurant specialising in the finest fish
Venue Showcase: Loch Fyne Restaurant Loch Fyne Restaurant (Cambridge)
Sustainable fresh fish, shellfish and oysters
 
 South Asian - India
Venue Showcase: Asia Asia (Cambridge)
The Pan Asian dining room
Venue Showcase: Bombay Brasserie The Bombay Brasserie (Cambridge)
In this little gem you'll enjoy a fine indian
Venue Showcase: Chequers The Chequers (Fordham)
The Chequers hits the right note every time
Venue Showcase: Hoops Tandoori The Hoops Tandoori (Great Eversden)
For the connoisseurs of Indian Food
Venue Showcase: Lalbagh Lalbagh (Bourn)
Extensive array of authentic Indian meals
Venue Showcase: Rice Boat The Rice Boat (Cambridge)
Kerala cuisine - Indian food, but not as you know
Venue Showcase: Royal Standard Royal Standard (Cambridge)
Freshly prepared authentic Indian and Thai food
Venue Showcase: Spiceland Spiceland (Sawtry)
Indian and Bangladeshi banquet and buffet cuisine
Venue Showcase: Valley Connection Valley Connection (Bury St Edmunds)
Exquisite Indian restaurant in Bury
     

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