Newbury is home to not one, but two Michelin Star restaurants. They offer some of the finest cuisine in the country in some truly unique settings. You can read about both below. However, don’t let them distract you from some of the other excellent places to eat in Newbury. There’s a bistro on Cheap Street that some argue is even more deserving of that most coveted culinary accolade. We’ve also picked out our favourite places for cakes and full English breakfasts, the best sushi bar in the business, a Thai restaurant that’ll bring tears to your eyes, and much, much more.
Places to eat in Newbury
Restaurants
It’s not every day you find an Italian restaurant where absolutely everything is made by hand. Here in Newbury, Mio Fiore does exactly that. From stone baked pizzas to the most exquisite ravioli, this stunning restaurant on Market Street should be right up there with your top options when it comes to places to eat. Portions are good, so too are prices. Close your eyes and take a bite, you’d think you were in Naples, not Newbury.
It seems strange that we’re pointing you in the direction of Cheap Street for fine dining. However, it’s where you’ll find Henry & Joe’s, the restaurant many people will tell you is in the top three in Newbury. We’ll warn you now, if you want a table then be sure to book well in advance; Henry & Joe’s uses only the finest, freshest British produce in a creative menu of exquisite eating that makes it very, very popular. The food is stellar, but at its heart, this is still a bistro, so it’s unpretentious and the service is warm and welcoming.
If Henry & Joe’s is only top three in Newbury, the other two are going to have to be out of this world, right? Yes, they both have Michelin Stars. First up is The Woodspeen. This beautifully restored 19th-century farmhouse restaurant is an absolute delight. Much of the menu’s veggies are grown on the farm, while the meat is all locally sourced and of the highest quality. The chefs are maestros. Somehow they also manage to run a celebrated cookery school. The food is plated to perfection, and tastes as good as it looks. Plus, you can wash it down with an award-winning wine list. It goes without saying, it’s not cheap. However, you absolutely get your money’s worth. You’ll find it on Lambourn Road, just a five-minute drive from our Newbury Town Centre (London Road) hotel.
Newbury’s second Michelin Star restaurant is The Blackbird in nearby Bagnor. From the outside, it looks like a pretty village pub, on the inside it’s more of the same. However, the whole experience goes up a gear or two when your food arrives. It’s well and truly extraordinary. Considering the quality of eating, and the ingredients used, the set menu is reasonably priced. While the bar is a bit bric-a-brac, the selection of ales is good, and the wine list is exceptional. Oh, and then there’s the small matter of the Sunday roast, which is the best that’ll ever enter your face.
Before we move onto cafes, if you enjoy spice and all things nice then get a taste of the Orient in a couple of our other favourite restaurants. The Sushi Maki is a casual little sushi bar on Market Place. Whether you believe us or not, it’s the best sushi we’ve eaten in the UK. The service is fast and friendly, prices are good, sit at the bar and you can watch the chef make sushi in front of you. Every bite is a taste sensation. It can be a bit daunting deciding what to have; we’d recommend the dragon roll, the snow crab temaki, and the hosomaki salmon.
Last up is Khonkaen, the Thai restaurant that’ll knock your socks off. You’ll find it on Bartholomew Street, just down the road from the Kennet Shopping Centre. The food’s properly authentic and packed full of flavour. If you’re feeling brave we recommend trying some of the dishes towards the spicier end of the menu, particularly the Phad Kra Pao.
Restaurants
Cafés
Cafés
If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a cup of tea and something to eat during the daytime, our top recommendation is The Tea Shop by the Canal. As the name suggests, it’s perched on the waterside with wonderful views across Victoria Park on the opposite side of the canal. The decor is quaint and quirky, full of mix and match teapots and tableware, but it all adds to the café’s unique charm. The eggs benedict is well and truly a delight, while the selection of loose leaf and bagged teas is top notch.
Of a similar ilk is The Flower Pot Cafe, which you can find on Market Street, opposite the Kennet Shopping Centre. It’s just a five-minute drive from our Newbury Town Centre South (A339) hotel and well worth visiting, whether merely for a quick coffee and homemade cake, or a great big brunch. Don’t be suspicious of the reasonable prices, the food is freshly made, big on flavour and well portioned. It’s a tough call, but The Flower Pot probably does our favourite full English in all of Newbury.
To round things off, let’s head back to Cheap Street, where the Empire Cafe whips up proper English cafe eating in a setting that’s like taking a trip back in time. There’s a simple menu of great, traditional home-cooked breakfasts and lunches for you to choose from, a cup of tea costs a pound, and the cakes are the best in Berkshire.