10 Great Restaurants in Cambridge

Midsummer House is a fine-dining restaurant that holds 2 Michelin stars. You’ll find it inside a Victorian villa that sits between the River Cam and bucolic Midsummer Common, a city-centre meadow where cows graze .

Chef and owner Daniel Clifford has been at the helm for more than 2 decades, serving up a tasting menu that showcases the very best of British cuisine. Reserve ahead so you don’t miss out on dishes such as Loch Duart salmon with a white chocolate and caviar sauce, or roasted pigeon with a mushroom and chocolate purée.

MillWorks Bar and Kitchen brings the flavours of North Africa and the Mediterranean to Cambridge. The décor reflects the building’s industrial heritage with exposed steel and ductwork. A functioning mill wheel is displayed behind glass within the modish dining room.

Start with a chicken and apricot pastilla or authentic herb falafel with baba ganoush and pickles. Follow up with slow-roasted lamb shoulder, or go meat-free with a vegetable tagine accompanied by spiced couscous, yoghurt, coriander and pumpkin seeds.

Restaurant Twenty Two offers British fine dining in a Victorian townhouse which backs onto Jesus Green and the River Cam. Behind its sleek yet modest façade, you’ll find a team that turns seasonal local produce into something special.

Tasting menus change frequently at Restaurant Twenty Two. Some typical dishes include ChalkStream trout, tomato and charred jalapeño oil, herb-fed chicken wings, British monkfish elevated with galangal and kaffir lime, and barbecued Thirkleby duck with cherries and smoked beetroot.

Oak Bistro is a great place for authentic British and European food in Cambridge. This popular bistro’s hospitality mirrors that of The Oak, a coaching inn that once stood on the same site. They are both thought to have taken their name from a tree that was chopped down to build the original tavern.

Hearty traditional fare and fan favourites dominate the menu. For starters, you’ll find dishes such as slow-roasted crispy pork belly and pan-fried scallops with pea purée. Main dishes include beef Wellington, chargrilled ribeye steak, and confit duck leg.

Vanderlyle is a Cambridge restaurant that prioritises sustainability and ethical produce. It sources ingredients from local farmers and producers to create an imaginative plant-based tasting menu. As a result, dishes change with the seasons.

Some of Vanderlyle’s most popular options include confit cavolo nero with labneh, tomato vinaigrette and walnuts, mushroom and smoked salsify suet pudding. For dessert, you can't go wrong with a sweetcorn cake accompanied by cinnamon and pumpkin ice cream.

Fin Boys is one of the best seafood restaurants in Cambridge. The owners are passionate about what they do, making a point of sourcing only the freshest fish and shellfish. In doing so, this eatery support the welfare of fishing communities across the UK. 

Fin Boys takes pride in the fact that their fish never touches water or ice once it leaves the ocean. Instead, a dry-aging cabinet is used for preservation. The menu also changes regularly, so you might want to visit this spot more than once during your stay in Cambridge.  

Fancett’s is a neighbourhood bistro that specialises in authentic French delicacies. The owners have transported what they learned from their previous restaurant in Norfolk, which has earned praise from many reviewers.

Fancett’s menu is not confined by France's borders. As a result, you might find confit of French poussin alongside grilled Cornish plaice or a burrata and fig salad. Round off your meal with a decadent dessert, such as blackberry crumble soufflé or tiramisu.

Trinity is an elegant fine-dining restaurant with an extensive champagne list. Exposed brick, leather banquettes, and strip wood dividers give the place a contemporary vibe. The waitstaff is knowledgeable and offers faultless service.

Dishes are relatively pricey but worth the splurge. Standout dishes include confit rabbit and potato terrine with cauliflower purée, seared sea trout with fish cake, parsley cream and salsa verde, and stuffed aubergine with pear chutney and cauliflower curry. Save room for an indulgent dessert or Trinity's famous cheeseboard.

Navadhanya is an award-winning restaurant that specialises in elevated Indian cuisine. It is aptly named – navadhanya translates to "nine grains", which represents prosperity, good health and wealth.

Dishes are impeccably presented and made with seasonal ingredients. Deciding what to order can be a challenge, so opt for one of its 7-course tasting menus. Vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters can find something that suits their dietary preferences at Navadhanya.

The Cambridge Chop House is a casual restaurant serving great food in a relaxed setting. It occupies a corner plot close to King’s College Chapel and the Cambridge Arts Theatre. On the ground floor, light streams in through the windows while the vaulted cellar affords privacy for special occasions.

You can find a wide range of upmarket dishes, such as Waygu ribeye and Dedham Vale T-bone. If your budget doesn’t stretch that far, pub-style staples like steak and ale pie and Cumberland sausage coil are available. The Cambridge Chop House is also well-frequented for its Sunday roast.