Places to eat in Peterborough

When it comes to eateries in Peterborough, one that occupies the upper echelons of the city’s food scene is Prevost. The Michelin Guide restaurant is based on Priestgate, less than a ten-minute drive from our Peterborough (Ferry Meadows) hotel, and housed in a stunning 16th-century mews. Head chef, Lee Clarke, is supremely talented, inventive and has ambitions of bringing a Michelin Star to Peterborough. The restaurant only offers a set menu, but that allows them to focus on plating some of the finest produce in the region. The food is incredible, the service exemplary, the setting stylish. It’s comfortably the best restaurant in Peterborough, and you do get what you pay for, but it’s not cheap, and you should book in advance if you’re coming for an evening’s meal.

Another wonderful setting for some divine dining is The Cherry House, which is barely more than a five-minute drive, or a twenty-minute walk, from our Peterborough North hotel. The restaurant itself offers fine British dining and has enjoyed continuous ownership for over 20 years. It helps that it’s housed in a stunning 400-year-old thatched cottage and has the former head chef of The Park Lane Hotel, Andrew Corrick, at the helm. The prices are good, particularly when you consider the quality of food on offer, combined with the setting, it’s definitely one of your best options for a special occasion.

When it comes to curries, there are plenty of good options for you to choose from in Peterborough. However, we’re just going to point you in the direction of Westgate, where you’ll find our favourite, The Banyan Tree, next to the Queensgate shopping centre. It’s spread across three floors, so you can be sure of getting a table. It’s authentic Indian cuisine, with an endless menu of excellent options. The staff are friendly and always willing to offer a recommendation. The portions are good, and so too the prices. If it’s curry you’re craving, you won’t leave disappointed.

To round things off, let’s talk Italian. Our favourite is Vesuvio. It’s a tiny, family-run restaurant with wonderful authentic, excellently priced Italian cuisine. It’s a bit further away than any of our other restaurant recommendations, but we keep going back for the laid-back atmosphere and excellent value eating.

Mattoni is another excellent Italian south of the city centre. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, but it’s worth hunting down, if only for the amaretto cheesecake – it’s incredible. We’ll round things off with The Pizza Parlour. It’s right in the heart of Peterborough, with a great location on Cowgate. The wood-fired pizzas are divine, and if you’re hungry, you can take on the whopping 20-inch ‘Bada-Bing’, although it’s meant for sharing.

If you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat, or a hot drink during the daytime, you should check out MD’s Coffee. The staff are lovely and friendly, the food’s homemade, the coffee is good, and there are all kinds of handmade items, such as Turkish lamps, that are available to buy. And if you’re in Peterborough visiting the passport office, it’s just over the road. Nearby, another option is Nata Lisboa. It serves some of the best coffee in the city, not to mention some of the best pastel de nata you’ll eat outside of Portugal.

Last but not least, if you need caffeine to fuel your shopping spree around Queensgate, make your way to Bewiched Coffee on Bridge Street. Their baristas are masters of the brew, and they also do delicious sandwiches, paninis and cakes.