Durham's Top Tables to Book Now
Experimental tasting menus, unmissable brunches and cosy riverside cafes - Durham has it all
Coarse
Reform Place, North Road, Durham DH1 4RZ
0191 380 5776
coarse.restaurant
An understated restaurant on Durham’s North Road, the food here is nonetheless fantastic. The focus here is on making fine dining accessible for all, offering a well-priced six-course tasting menu using local and seasonal ingredients. Head chef and co-owner Ruari MacKay started his career training under Michelin-starred chef Terry Laybourne at Jesmond Dene House, so you know the food is going to be good, and he has since opened sister venue Isla on the same street.
The Cellar Door
41 Saddler Street, Durham DH1 3NU
0191 383 1856
thecellardoordurham.co.uk
Head along Durham’s Saddler Street and you’ll find a mysterious door about half-way up, behind which hides a charming fine-dining restaurant which opens up to outdoor tables overlooking the river. The Cellar Door is big on provenance, producing the best quality dishes using sustainable ingredients from the local area.
The Curious Mr Fox
35a The Riverwalk, Durham
DH1 4SL
0191 329 3559
thecuriousmrfox.co.uk
In pride of place just off Framwellgate Bridge (and with enviable views of Durham Cathedral and the river), The Curious Mr Fox offers a good range of small plates, sharing boards, light lunches and afternoon tea. We’d always recommend dining al fresco here when possible to enjoy the view of Durham’s cobbled streets.
El Pincho
16 Riverwalk, Durham
DH1 4SJ
0191 374 1298
elpinchodurham.co.uk
Part of Durham’s clutch of Riverwalk restaurants, El Pincho serves traditional tapas, Greek appetisers and Moroccan specialities. A vibrant and lively spot, relax with good food and a tipple or two, with great views of the river. We recommend the grazing platters to share amongst friends, and the minted lamb kebab wraps are delicious.
FIIK
12 Elvet Bridge, Durham DH1 3AA
0191 380 0057
fiikdurham.co.uk
A new addition to Durham’s growing culinary scene, FIIK offers a tasting menu with a difference. Changing every four weeks, the menus are themed, and packed full of puns in keeping with the restaurant’s fun and laidback approach to fine dining. A small space, the team are friendly and love to chat about what is on offer when you visit.
Faru
29 Silver Street, Durham
DH1 3RD
0191 380 5451
faru.co.uk
The debut restaurant of Jake and Laura Siddle, who both previously worked at Kenny Atkinson’s Michelin-starred restaurant House of Tides, Faru has taken Durham by storm, quickly earning its own spot in the Michelin Guide. Offering a 10- and four-course tasting menu, tuck into innovative dishes like beef with szechuan and coal, crab with lemon and lovage, and rhubarb with cardamom and buttermilk.
Flat White Kitchen
40 Saddler Street, Durham
DH1 3NU
21a Elvet Bridge, Durham
DH1 3AA
0191 384 0725
flatwhitekitchen.com
It’s not often that there isn’t a queue out the door at this city centre staple. This café within a renovated 17th century town house is a firm favourite with the locals and students alike serving coffee, cake and unmissable brunch. The pancakes here are more than worth the queue to get in – including their fluffy ricotta pancakes served with fresh fruit, maple syrup and cinder toffee butter. It also has a sister venue (Flat White Café) just around the corner, offering hot drinks and light lunch options.
Isla
53 North Road, Durham DH1 4SF
0191 384 3378
islabycoarse.restaurant
From the same bright minds behind Coarse, Isla offers an excellent range of small plates, brunch options and Sunday lunch in a relaxed, light and minimalist venue. There’s also a small area for al fresco dining and guests can tuck into everything from burrata with roasted beetroot and candied walnuts, to fishcakes with spinach and tartare cream.
Lebaneat
47 North Bailey, Durham DH1 3ET
0191 384 6777
lebaneat.co.uk
With a smaller second location also in the city centre, this is a regular haunt for students and locals alike on Durham’s North Bailey. Serving up affordable Lebanese food in large portions for more than a decade, think chicken skewers, slow-cooked lamb, rice dishes, wraps, shawarma and hummus sides.
Notch
96 Elvet Bridge, Durham
DH1 3AG
0191 380 6155
facebook.com/notchdurham
Perched on Elvet Bridge, this is a great vantage point for al fresco dining in the summer. Taking the spot of the now-relocated Tango, Notch serves cocktails, as well as lunch, small plates and dinner. Enjoy a laidback dinner with friends overlooking the scenic river.
The Rabbit Hole
17 Hallgarth Street, Durham
DH1 3AT
0191 386 5556
therabbitholedurham.co.uk
The must-visit destination for Cantonese-fusion dining, this restaurant in Durham tends to fly under the radar, hidden on a casual residential street.
Whitechurch Durham
29 Church Street Head, Durham DH1 3DN
0191 386 8897
whitechurchdurham.com
Slightly outside Durham’s centre, this independent eatery is pretty as a picture, with light and airy interiors. Breakfast options include truffle toast and buttermilk pancakes, and lunch options include steak frites, cauliflower hash and smash burgers. It’s also a popular choice for Sunday lunch.
Zen
Court Lane, Durham DH1 3JS
0191 384 9588
zendurham.co.uk
Tucked away inside a residential area, Zen remains one of the most popular eateries in the city, offering authentic Thai cuisine in a thoroughly Instagrammable venue. The cocktails here are really good and change regularly to keep things fresh.
