Norwich is making its mark on the UK's food scene, with everything from fine dining and Michelin stars to casual eateries and street food.
It was near impossible to choose, but here's a few of our favourites...
Benedicts
Richard Bainbridge’s modern restaurant brings British cuisine into the 21st century.
The understated dishes focus on creating a rich fusion of flavours using local ingredients and traditional recipes.
Benedicts has quickly become one of the most famous restaurants in Norwich, winning multiple awards and featuring in The Times as one of the Top 100 Restaurants in the UK.
The twists on traditional English fare get bolder every year - after gaining the well-earned trust of diners, Benedicts has taken the opportunity to add more unusual wild game to the menu.
The atmosphere of the restaurant matches the food. It’s elegant and refined, but welcoming and not overly formal. Benedicts abandons the usual stuffiness of high-end restaurants, allowing patrons to enjoy exquisitely prepared dishes without the formalities.
Figbar
Got a sweet-tooth? Head to Figbar, one of only a handful of dessert-focused restaurants in the UK. Taking tea and cake to new heights, the pastries and puddings here are crafted by Executive Chef Jamie Garbutt - an experienced pastry chef with a decorated history of working in Michelin star restaurants.
Ranging from the familiar brownies and apple pies to the stacked Banana Buck-Eye cakes and artisan pastries, the delicious assortment of cakes and desserts will leave you pondering on a decision for hours. The charming patisserie has a cosy seating area for you to enjoy your pudding - once you’ve finally managed to select a dessert - and drink an accompanying coffee crafted by a barista, or one of the dozen varieties of tea available.
Blue Joanna
Blue Joanna offers pan-asian inspired street food in a casual setting, with a side of live music.
Cosy and sociable, the restaurant has a friendly vibe and intimate atmosphere. Every night, you’ll find live music streaming out of the famous blue piano - if the piano is silent, a collection of vinyl records fills the gap. The food is a modern mixture of Korean, Japanese and east Asian cuisines - all ideal for sharing. The restaurant has a decent selection of beers and cocktails, which combined with the live music, makes a visit to Blue Joanna a great place for social gatherings.
The Tipsy Vegan
While Norwich isn't exactly overflowing with vegan restaurants and eateries, it's not a completely barren landscape.
The Tipsy Vegan has been doing its part since 2017, serving up innovative vegan alternatives to both English and international cuisine. You can try Korean, Indonesian and Latin American dishes here - all with a vegan twist. The restaurant is friendly and low-key, and great for meeting with friends, thanks to its city-centre location and fantastic cocktails.
Woolf & Social
Everything about Woolf & Social is simplistic perfection. It's not about huge menus and variety, it's about doing the little things right.
The menu is small and expertly chosen; from the food to the decor, everything in Woolf & Social is artisan and minimalistic, with an emphasis on reflecting the local culture. The inspiration behind Woolf & Social was that of a traditional social club - and in keeping with the theme, the dishes are intended to be shared. Small plates of local, organic meals - from the likes of pork belly to the vegan-friendly Wild Mushroom Teriyaki - are great for sharing between large groups, and showcase chef Francis Woolf’s background in both street food and fine dining.
Jive Kitchen
Hidden in plain sight, this vibrant Mexican restaurant is tucked just off the market square, opposite Jarrolds.
Bringing Latin American street food to Norwich, Jive Kitchen is a cool and laid-back restaurant with food that packs a punch. Burritos the size of your fist, huge platters of nachos covered in guacamole and jalapeños, chicken burgers with bread substituted for donuts: the food is as striking and characterful as Mexico itself.
A Mexican restaurant wouldn't be complete without tequila, and Jive's collection is extensive. With tequila, mezcal and a whole selection of cocktails on the drinks menu, Jive Kitchen is a lively way to start - or end - the evening.
Brick Pizza
If you have a craving for pizza, look no further than Brick, Norwich’s favourite pizzeria. The people at Brick have a passion for pizza - so much so, that they sell nothing else. Perhaps because of this single-minded dedication, it’s easily the best pizza in town.
Italian ingredients cooked in Italian-style ovens to make Italian pizzas; the classics have been crafted to perfection. Brick utilises a wood-burning brick oven to bake authentic Italian pizza at 500 °C, ensuring a delightfully soft and crisp crust every time.
The small indoor seating area is really relaxed and casual - ideal for a quick bite to eat alone or with friends. You’ll find the popular pizzeria right in the centre of Norwich, on the corner of market square.
Shiki
A taste of Japan in Norfolk. The sleek Japanese restaurant Shiki is located in the trendy Tombland district, just around the corner from the cathedral.
The sushi is renowned for its quality - as Jay Rayner reported in The Guardian, it's terrific “not just for East Anglia but for anywhere in Britain.” You can grab a bento box, udon noodles or platters of fresh sushi, dumplings and a number of other Japanese delicacies. The chefs have real experience of working and training in Japan, making the modern Shiki restaurant one of the best places to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine.
Cafe Gelato
Looking for the best gelato in East Anglia? You've found it in Cafe Gelato, a sweet little ice cream parlour in the middle of Opie Street, only 2 minutes from Norwich Castle.
The gelato is all hand-made, using local ingredients where possible. The strawberries are from Norfolk farms, the milk from Burroughs & Son dairy, while the more exotic ingredients are sourced from further afield; all of the finest quality. The gelato is smoother and creamier than your usual ice cream, and comes in dozens of different flavours. From lotus biscoff to lemon sorbet, this gelato will temporarily transport you to the streets of Rome.
For the full cafe experience, you can grab some Italian coffee and biscuits alongside your gelato.
The Last Wine Bar & Restaurant
The Last has oodles of character. Housed in a former Victorian shoe factory, and split into three different levels with unique atmospheres, the trendy restaurant offers a different dining experience according to which floor you’re on.
The chic cellar level is moody and atmospheric, the bar trendy, and the upper floors’ brasserie light and modern. In the summer, you can eat al fresco in a leafy courtyard. The menu remains the same wherever you are seated - a selection of elegant British dishes, which rotates seasonally in order to best use local produce.
Living up to the ‘wine bar’ in the name of the restaurant, the wine menu is fantastic, with over 50 vintages available - ask a member of staff for recommendations, and pair the perfect wine with your food.
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