10 Best Local Restaurants in Cambridge

Smokeworks is a BBQ restaurant that has 2 locations in Cambridge. The first to open is in Free School Lane. Casual, contemporary and above all fun, it’s quirky too. When you want to get the waiter’s attention, simply flick a switch and watch the light on your table come on.

The food’s the star, however. Barbecue glazed ribs are cooked low and slow until the meat’s practically falling off the bone. Pile on some tasty carbs – try the fries laden with cheese and jalapeño peppers or a plate of mac and cheese fritters – and tuck in.

The Clarendon Arms is one of Cambridge’s best gastropubs. This cosy, convivial place is like a welcoming hug in tavern form, whether you’re one of the regulars or a visitor. It’s had plenty of time to practice: some say the deeds date it from 1812, though most likely it opened in the mid-19th century.

Today, people come for the highly regarded fish and chips. Other pub grubs such as shoulder of gammon, chilli con carne or their classic Sunday roasts are equally good. If you seek a mental workout, time your visit for a Monday night when you can participate in the weekly quiz while munching on a plate of chips.

The Old Bicycle Shop breathes new life into what was once a Cambridge institution. When Howes Cycles closed in 2013, it had been in business for 173 years. Charles Dickens, it’s thought, bought a bike there. But times change, even in pedal-friendly Cambridge.

Fortunately, the shop’s new incarnation as a restaurant preserves much of the place’s character. Saddles and handlebars hang on the walls, while other bicycle parts have been transformed into table lamps. The food is heavily (though not exclusively) vegetarian and vegan. Global influences abound – try their harissa hummus with baba ganoush or chickpea, sweet potato and beetroot Sri Lankan curry.

Parker’s Tavern focuses on unfussy British dishes created from locally sourced fresh ingredients. All the classics are here: slow-roasted pork with crispy crackling, buttered sole with brown shrimp, braised lamb, rib of beef, and roasted Norfolk duck.

Parker’s Tavern also offers a quintessentially English afternoon tea, inspired by Winnie the Pooh. The range of sweet and savoury treats includes finger sandwiches, bite-size pastry boats filled with crayfish and dill, macarons, and of course the obligatory scones with jam and cream.

Pint Shop is a trendy gastropub in Cambridge that’s housed in a Grade II-listed building from 1830. The building was once the home of novelist E.M. Forster and later an office. In 2013, it became the Pint Shop boasting industrial chic décor and a cute, walled beer garden.

Meat lovers can feast on pork belly, lamb chops or jerk chicken, while there are stuffed courgettes, beer-battered tofu and vegan burgers to satisfy those who prefer to eat a plant-based diet. Wash down with a glass of real ale – the day’s keg and cask beer offerings are chalked up on a board on the wall.

Bedouin is as close as you’ll get in Cambridge to dining in a Bedouin tent. This cosy North African restaurant brings the flavours of the desert to this corner of East Anglia. Rugs and blankets imported from the Sahara line the walls and create a canopied ceiling. Metal lanterns and kilim cushions layer the look.

You’ll be transported to the Maghreb as you taste flavoursome dishes such as bastillas, which are filo pastry parcels filled with spiced chicken, onions and toasted almonds. There’s a fine selection of tagines, each served with bread or fluffy couscous. Round off your meal with fig tart or rice pudding.

Limoncello has been a fixture on the Cambridge dining scene for a quarter of a century. This Italian deli and bistro serves up a varied menu that’s sure to satisfy fans of the cuisine. Upload a picture to your favourite social media feed and they’ll give you a free shot of Limoncello as a thank you.

Start with crunchy bruschetta topped with truffled mushrooms or creamy burrata accompanied by sun-blushed tomatoes and just the right amount of fresh pesto. Follow up with one of their delicious stone-baked pizzas or a hearty portion of risotto, gnocchi or tortellini. Save room to indulge in tiramisu or lemony Torta della Nonna.

DoppelGanger Burger serves up delicious patties with a difference. Here, there’s no sign of the ground beef you’d expect. Instead, the kitchen team proves that you don’t need meat to create a great burger, serving up an innovative menu of plant-based alternatives.

Prepare to be impressed. Sample menu items include patties topped with jerked oyster mushrooms, lime and chilli slaw, coconut mayo and ginger beer pickled spring onions. Other toppings include Korean BBQ jackfruit, pickled pear and jackfruit, lime slaw and miso mayo.

Tradizioni is a successful Italian restaurant in Cambridge specialising in pizza. Inside, you’ll find a simple contemporary-style space. There are a few cafe tables outside on the pavement that are a joy on a sunny day. If you’re inspired to replicate what you’ve eaten at home, there’s a deli too.

Meat eaters should try the pizza Andrea, topped with tomato, mozzarella, mushrooms, Italian sausage and pepperoni, or the Agnello which features lamb ragù. Vegans and vegetarians will enjoy numerous plant-based options. There’s also a selection of pasta, meat and fish dishes to choose from.

Stolen and Liquor Loft is a casual eatery whose name reflects the diverse range of dishes on its menu that it has pinched from cuisines around the world. The décor is also a nod to the theme, with an eclectic and colourful scheme that’s fun and cheery.

The menu is divided into street food small plates and more substantial dishes. Graze on spring rolls, duck dumplings, salt and pepper squid or crab mac and cheese, or dive into steaming ramen in a chilli and miso broth, or a po’boy sandwich crammed with seafood.