The 6 Best Food Places In Durham To Try On Your Next Visit

 

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the best food places to try in Durham. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or grabbing a quick bite to eat before exploring the city centre, the appetising mix of restaurants and cafés here really tickles the taste buds. From award-winning fine dining at Finbarr’s to fish and chips from Bells, there’s something for every palate in this thriving town. 

Too full to head home? There are plenty of campsites in the Durham area where you can rest your head (and stomach) for the night. So get ready to consume our list of the best places to eat in Durham – it’s making us hungry just thinking about it…

Amaani at the Pumphouse

If you’re in the mood to feast on some top-quality cuisine, then make a reservation at Amaani, an excellent Indian restaurant just a few miles south of the city centre by the river Wear. 

From the moment you step foot inside this stunning converted pumphouse, you just know you’re in for a treat. Expect fantastic service and equally impressive food – the menu is full of traditional Indian dishes with a modern twist (their flavoursome chicken tikka masala comes highly recommended).

Tia’s

The motto of this friendly family-run restaurant is: ‘Life without Mexican food is no life at all!’ – and we’re inclined to agree. The food here is cooked fresh on the premises and only the finest ingredients are used, so it’s no wonder that their traditional Mexican enchiladas, chimichangas and fajitas are such a taste sensation.

Make the most of their food happy hour (Monday to Saturday between 5pm and 7pm) and you’ll save a pretty penny on a selection of dishes. Their frozen margaritas are particularly tasty too.

The Undercroft Restaurant at Durham Cathedral

If you haven’t yet dined in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, here’s your chance to do just that. The Undercroft is open for lunch every day of the week, and although the menu is constantly changing, there’s always a variety of sweet and savoury bites to be devoured such as the divine County Durham toasted teacakes. 

Where possible, they source their ingredients locally. In fact, the restaurant holds a Taste Durham award in recognition of their support for local food producers.

Whether you sit indoors or outside in the peaceful cloister, a meal in this medieval monument is sure to be a memorable experience.

Bells Fish and Chips

Let’s be honest – sometimes only fish‘n’chips will do, and there’s no better place in Durham for them than Bells. The fish here is sourced from sustainable fishing grounds and then cooked the proper way – deep fried in the very best beef dripping. Yum. 

This family-run business is in the town’s historic marketplace, and if you dine in on one of the two floors you’ll have spectacular views over the square. Alternatively, go for their takeaway service and find a local spot to people-watch while tucking into this classic British dish.

The Cellar Door

Many of the best restaurants in the city are on Saddler Street – a short walk from Durham cathedral – and Cellar Door is at number 41. As its name suggests, this popular restaurant sits in a 13th-century cellar conversion. It’s sandwiched between Drury Lane and a shop front and is well-liked for its international fine dining experience.

Their main menu is simply mouth-watering. Start with the Applewood smoked chicken terrine, followed by the beef Wellington with buttermilk onion rings and truffled chips. If you have room for dessert, you won’t regret ordering the dark chocolate fondant with honeycomb and vanilla. 

When the weather is good, ask for a table on the patio so you can admire some stunning views of the river Wear and the Elvet Bridge while you eat.

Flat White Kitchen

Out of all the coffee shops in Durham, this one has to be our favourite. For starters, it’s in a renovated 17th-century townhouse on Saddler Street (next to Cellar Door). It’s spread over five floors, so there’s plenty of seating and cosy hideaways where you can sip your coffee and absorb the ambience.

Their brunch is said to be the best in Durham, and it’s easy to believe after trying their ricotta pancakes with fresh fruit, maple syrup and cinder toffee butter.

 

Need to burn off some energy between meals? Browse our top things to do in Durham for some local activities. Before you visit, remember to check out our Ultimate North East Region Camping Guide too.