Places to eat in Cambridge

For a city thronging with visitors and students as well as its native population, you won't be surprised to learn that Cambridge has something for everyone when it comes to eating out. There are over 500 different places to choose from, including Michelin-star menus and local specialities. Check out our comprehensive guide to Cambridge restaurants to get your taste buds really tingling.

If you like a side order of music with your mocha, the Relevant Record Café on Mill Road could be just the place for you. The basement houses a buzzing record shop, stocking a wide range of vinyl from reggae and ska to punk and hip-hop, while upstairs there’s a café serving soup, sausage rolls, salads and sandwiches – not to mention sweet treats.

Turkish snacks are on the menu at Café Blue Sage, which can also be found on Mill Road. Falafel, Turkish coffee, home-made mezes and baklava are among the specialities. You might also like to try the pogaca, a distinctive type of bread traditionally baked in ashes.

For a taste of Italy, look no further than either Aromi or Savino’s. Aromi serves up Sicilian delights, such as arancini (fried risotto balls) and focaccia. There’s also sourdough pizza, of course, and a selection of paninis as well – just be warned that it’s so popular, it can get crowded at peak times. Savino’s is a traditional Italian café bar with a loyal following among locals who swear by their Illy roast coffee. If you’re feeling hungry, they also offer authentic ciabatta, pastries and desserts such as tiramisu.

A favourite haunt of hipsters is Urban Larder, which boasts the motto ‘coffee served with a larder love’ and prides itself on its locally sourced food. Found on The Broadway, they push the boat out with some of their sandwiches, which include fillings like blue cheese and butternut squash, while there’s a tempting array of other snacks too, such as bagels and cakes. The pistachio and lemon cake is particularly popular, while Urban Larder also offers gluten-free options.

Where to get the best coffee in Cambridge is a hotly-disputed topic, but if you want to make up your own mind, two good places to start are Bould Brothers Coffee and Stickybeaks Café. There’s not always a lot of room at Bould Brothers because it’s such a popular spot – but its adherents are happy to stand if they have to in order to sample the range of cappuccinos, macchiatos and flat whites. The baristas offer a rotating selection of guest coffees and with muffins and brownies on the menu too, there’s plenty to tempt you inside.

If you’re a fan of street food then you’re in for a treat as a visitor to Cambridge. The city has its own collective of street food traders called foodPark, which has been run since June 2014 by its founder Heidi White. Throughout the year, it serves up lunches from around the world, from buttermilk fried chicken burgers and Austrian schnitzels to Sri Lankan street food and sweet churros. It is based at three different sites on the outskirts of the city – Cambridge University’s West Cambridge campus, which is just over a mile from our North (Girton) hotel, Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge Railway Station. Plus, there are regular night market events too.

If you want to stay close to the city centre, then Cambridge Market Square is the place to head for. This is where Cambridge Farmers' Market is held every Sunday from 10am to 4pm, which sells every kind of organic produce imaginable, as well as showcasing arts and crafts from local potters, sculptors and even photographers.

On Thursdays from 7am to 4pm (except for the last week of December and the first week of the new year), the square also plays host to the co-operative bonanza that is Cambridge Country Market. On sale, you'll find all kinds of home-made produce, including baked items, preserves and honey.