Make sure to bring your appetite with you when on holiday in Northumberland! England’s northernmost county is a veritable smorgasbord of culinary delights, making the most of the fertile countryside and coastline to grow, fish, farm and forage the highest quality ingredients to create the tastiest dishes. It’s no wonder then that in-the-know chefs have been drawn to this beautiful county to open restaurants, bistros, inns and cafés to showcase dishes created using local ingredients.
Whether you’ve been on a bracing walk or spent a day exploring the county’s best places to visit, you’ll want somewhere memorable to eat when hunger strikes. To help you, here’s our collection of the very best restaurants, cafés, and bistros to enjoy while staying in Northumberland.
The Treehouse Restaurant, Alnwick
The Alnwick Garden, Denwick Lane, Alnwick NE66 1FJ
It’s not every day you get to dine out in a treehouse, unless of course you’re staying in Alnwick and have The Alnwick Garden on your doorstep! Oh yes, one of the most unique dining experiences in Northumberland (and possibly even the UK), this treetop wonder invites you to feed your soul in a most magical of settings. Think fairy lights wrapping around tree trunks, carved chairs that look as if they’ve been plucked from your favourite fairytale, and a wrap-around balcony that promises winsome views through the canopy.
The menu is just as delightful as the decor, with a satisfying selection of British favourites with a wisp of influence from around the world. Start with some pumpkin ravioli before moving onto duck breast with fondant potato, and end with a classic serving of sticky toffee pudding. Or, visit on Sunday for a slap-up roast with all the trimmings - a storybook end to any week!
The Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland
The Square, Blanchland DH8 9SP
This lovely spot started life as a guest house for the neighbouring 12th-century abbey, and is swathed in charm and character. Surrounded by the Northumberland moors, The Lord Crewe Arms is a beautiful retreat away from it all and a perfect place to visit if you’ve been out for a bracing walk, or seek a special meal tucked away from the hubbub of everyday life.
Whether you’re after a pint of local ale by the fire with some snacks, or a soul-warming meal or even afternoon tea, there’s something for everyone here. Evening dishes include local venison haunch with haggis cottage pie, masala-spiced halibut with onion bhaji and braised fennel, and warm Bakewell pudding with clotted cream. If you stop by for afternoon tea, expect a lip-smacking array of sandwiches, scones, sausage rolls, cakes, macarons and gateau - delicious!
Bistro 23, Alnmouth
Alnmouth, Alnwick NE66 2RJ
Set in the pretty seaside town of Alnmouth by the estuary of the River Aln, and just a few miles south-east of Alnwick, the fabulous Bistro 23 is a wonderful spot for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. This is one you’ll definitely need to book ahead, as it’s a favourite amongst locals. Using the freshest of local ingredients to make hearty, flavoursome dishes, you can look forward to such delights as slow-cooked Northumbrian beef in red wine, mushrooms, and bacon, fish of the day cooked to order, and butternut squash and chickpea tagine.
Famed for their generous portions and warm welcome in a relaxed atmosphere, they also serve a great choice of drinks to complement dishes. This is an ideal choice after a day on Alnmouth’s sandy beaches, or after a walk along the Northumberland Coast Path, or even perhaps following a round of golf at England’s fourth-oldest golf course.
The Rat Inn, nr Hexham
Anick, Hexham NE46 4LN
Nestled on the village green in the pretty hamlet of Anick near Hexham, The Rat Inn is an award-winning 18th-century country pub. With open fires and flagstone floors inside and a gloriously sunny garden outside for warmer days, it’s a fantastic place to visit throughout the year. Famed for its seasonal menus, it’s a firm favourite for dining out, with a cosy bar, dining room, conservatory and outdoor tables for warmer days.
Alongside a great selection of real ales and delicious wines and spirits, the food menu offers the best of British, changing with the seasons and what they can source locally. Dish examples include pork and black pudding terrine with spiced chutney and toast, Barnsley lamb chop with French beans, and locally-sourced steak cooked to your liking (including Dexter cotes de boeuf for two). There’s a good selection of veggie and vegan options, and if you’re there for lunch, they offer hearty sandwiches, and the oh-so-popular Sunday lunches are a must.
Jaspers Bistro, Amble
8 Bridge Street, Amble NE65 0DR
Any seafood lover must pay a visit to Jaspers Bistro in Amble, where chef (and owner) Ryan creates beautiful, tasty dishes. Using the freshest of fish and seafood, the menu changes with the tide, but you can look forward to such dishes as bouillabaisse, crab risotto, smoked salmon four ways, whole sea bream and scallops with tapenade. This tiny restaurant is oh-so-popular with just a handful of tables, so you’ll definitely need to book well ahead of your visit, but you’ll be very glad you did.
Complementing the dishes are a fab choice of drinks, from wine and spirits to beers and cocktails, and sumptuous desserts too - raspberry and Cointreau bread and butter pudding, anyone? Afterwards, head out for a stroll along Amble’s award-winning marina to let full tummies settle and take in the fresh sea air. Jaspers is also dog-friendly, so you can take your well-behaved pooch along with you.
Restaurant Pine, East Wallhouses
Vallum Farm, Military Road, East Wallhouses NE18 0LL
A visit to Restaurant Pine is a must-do for any special occasion. The Michelin Star restaurant sits within an artfully converted barn in a beautiful setting close to Hadrian’s Wall, inviting you to pair your meal with a visit to one of Northumberland’s most fascinating landmarks. The passion project of husband-and-wife team Cal and Sian Byerley, you’ll experience the best of the area’s cuisine with their astonishing tasting menu, which you can watch being brought to life in the bespoke open kitchen.
Using ingredients either foraged locally or grown within their own kitchen garden, there are no pretentions here – just a warm, intimate setting where you can try delights such as hand-dived scallop with cauliflower and kelp and cantaloupe melon with sea buckthorn and habanero. There are also six drink pairing options, so you can experience the perfect tipple as you dine, and there’s a vegetarian menu too. If you’re visiting for lunch or Wednesday and Thursday night, there’s a shorter menu available. Open Wednesday to Saturday, this is a place you’ll definitely need to book well ahead of time.
Saltwater Café Bar & Bistro, Beadnell
The Wynding, Beadnell NE67 5AS
This lovely coastal café is a seafood hotspot that specialises in fresh seafood and rib-stickingly good home-cooked meals. The Saltwater Café Bar & Bistro lies in the small village of Beadnell not far from Bamburgh, and is the perfect place to refuel, whether you’re after breakfast or lunch (when it’s a café) or dinner (when it transforms into a chic bistro). Expect well-cooked, homely fare, whether you’re tucking into a full Northumbrian cooked breakfast, tapas for lunch or the likes of scallops, rack of lamb, seafood chowder or monkfish red curry in the evening. They also do an extremely popular Sunday lunch.
For drinks, there’s tasty wine, beers, and spirits on tap, and they make a mean cocktail too - the perfect way to start your meal. Open Wednesday to Saturday, it’s best to book when coming for dinner, and with its laid-back, welcoming atmosphere, it’s ideal for couples, families and friends alike. Beadnell is renowned for its gorgeous sandy beach popular for water sports, so Saltwater is a great stop-off after a day on the beach before you head home.
Morwick Dairy, Acklington
Morwick Farm, Acklington, Morpeth NE65 9DG
If you know your ice cream from your gelato, a visit to Morwick Dairy is a treat that’s hard to beat. Here, you can choose from 20 different flavours, from classics like strawberry and toffee fudge to more unusual ones such as Alfonso mango, Turkish delight, sea buckthorn, and Dubai chocolate and cherry. Flavours change regularly, so expect different choices each time you visit, and there are always at least two dairy-free choices too. Oh, and should you have a pooch with you, they won’t miss out either, as ‘pupsicles’ are ready and waiting to get tails wagging, and dogs are welcome on a lead outside.
If you’re interested in how their ice cream is made, you can watch the team at work in their kitchen, where they use a traditional Italian recipe to create a creamier, denser gelato that uses less fat and less air than British ice cream. If you have little ones with you, there’s a play area next to the parlour so they can let off some post-treat steam, giving you a moment to sit and relax, and maybe indulge in another scoop (or two).
Rising Café, Hexham
Beaumont Street, Central Chambers, Hexham NE46 3LS
When out and about exploring the historic town of Hexham, make sure to pay a visit to the Rising Café, a 1940s-style café that boasts excellent afternoon teas, breakfasts, and lunches. With cosy seating inside and sunny outdoor seating overlooking the park and abbey, you’re guaranteed to soak up the vintage feel. And with all proceeds going towards charity Betel UK, knowing your meal is helping others is a real cherry on top.
The menu offers good, honest grub like breakfast baps, a full English, and pancakes for breakfast, and ‘superstar’ salads for lunch (such as the Sophia Lauren and Humphrey Bogart). It’s also perfect for classic cream teas, and they always have an array of delicious cakes and pastries to feast your eyes on. Staff are friendly and chatty, and the prices are easy on the pocket. With quick service, this is a great place for a breather when out and about.
Feeling hungry? Take a look at our gorgeous holiday cottages in Northumberland and start planning your getaway today.
