Independent Restaurants & Cafes

By Street in Norwich City Centrei

I might not be up for this task but I wanted to prove there are more independent places to eat in Norwich per square mile than most other cities. Norwich City Centre is 2,047 square miles, meaning you can walk around the outside, cross through the middle and do a dance all in less than an hour.

There I was a few months back and a friend said there wasn’t many independently owned places to eat in Norwich – I nearly choked on my crumpet! It was one of those ‘are you joking’ moments – I mean I could list dozens just of the top of my head. 

So, I asked her to choose any street in Norwich – She said St Giles, EASY I said and I endeavoured to list just a few of the fine independently owned foodie heaven places just down that one street – I even forgot a few.

But who wants that when I can list ‘em ALL, every single one by street.

And if I’ve missed any – message me quick and I’ll add em in – 

Upper to St Giles Street – 

  • Bread Source – bakery and cafe
  • Cupcake & Co – café and cakes
  • Les Guerrigues – French bistro & wine bar
  • Gali  – Fine Dining Indian
  • Roger Hickman’s – Fine dining
  • Italia Nostra – Family owned Italian
  • St Giles Hotel – Art Deco Restaurant & Bar (presently under receivership) 
  • Cherry Leaf – Coffee House 
  • Waffle House – Sweet & Savoury waffles
  • Al Dente – Italian with home-made pastas & Deli
  • Pono – Healthy eating salad bar & Smoothies
  • Soyokaze Japanese 

Bethel Street– 

  • Coach and Horses – traditional pub with European tapas
  • The Green House – Vegetarian shop & Cafe

Goel Hillgoing to 

  • Café Britannia on Guild Hall – day time restaurant run by the prison.
  • The Cellar – wine bar and bistro
  • Wild Thyme – Vegetarian (upstairs above ***Rainbow health foods)
  • Ground – Café 
  • Paolos –  Italian with pizzas

Lower Goat Lane

  • Moorish – falafel take out and eat in
  • Ron’s Kitchen (was Finnies) – take-way smoothies, pizza slices & more
  • Mambo Jambo – party food tex-mex
  • Biddys – Tea rooms
  • Copper Kettle – proper Caff

St Gregory’s Alley

  • Alchamista – coffee house

Potter Gate– 

  • The Grosvenor – The best fish & chips in town including eat in.
  • Strangers – coffee shop & café.
  • Rabbit – Café.
  • The Gin Temple – bar & deli platters.
  • The Belgium Monk – Mussels and beer.
  • Tofurei – vegan deli with takeaway.
  • Pottergate Pantry – take away sarnies.

Dove Street– 

  • Chatime – Bubble Tea shop.
  • The Vine –  pub and Thai.

Maddermarket & Exchange Street– 

  • Noodle & Pot – Authentic Chinese with home-made noodles.
  • Figbar – Gastro desserts and bakes, licenced.
  • Iron House – Bistro style dining.
  • Café 33 – All day Brunch and home-made cakes.
  • Bar Tapas – Spanish Tapas.
  • Butcher Buoy – Irish Bar with food.
  • Jive Bar – Mexican & Cocktails.
  • Jarrold’s – have The Exchange for pizza, Benjis for lunch and on the top floor is their posh canteen.

London Street in to Opie Street– 

  • Ji Chicken Shop – ok there’s one on Cambridge but its good Asian Fried chicken.
  • Gonzos – Bar & café with amazing burgers.
  • Artel – All day brunch & coffee café.
  • Café Gelato – Real Italian Gelato, crostini & hot drinks.
  • Namaste – South Indian Vegetarian.
  • Thai Kitti – 

St Andrews Hill & Bridewell Alley

  • Saporita – Italian run pizza bar.
  • Bishops – French run fine dining restaurant.
  • The Dining Rooms – may be part of Cinema City but its run independently with fresh produce and a changing menu, plus bar.
  • Mustard – day time café.
  • Alley Ole – Now Closed.
  • Thai Lanna – Thai with a set lunch menu.
  • The Red Roaster – coffee shop & café.

St Benedict’s– 

  • The Plough – traditional pub with menu, inc. burgers.
  • B’Nou – now a cocktail bar (was a Spanish inspired Tapas restaurant)
  • House – café with some evening pop ups.
  • Farmyard – Bistronomy, bistro style relaxed fine dining.
  • Bengal Spice – Long established Indian.
  • Don Pepe – Traditional Spanish restaurant.
  • Benedict’s – Richard Bainbridge’s modern style fine dining restaurant. 
  • Pinocchio’s – Night time Italian restaurant.

St Andrews Street into St Georges Street– 

  • St Andrews Brew House – bar with food
  • Ameretto – Deli, takeaway & café.
  • Café at St Georges– day time café, occasional evening pop up.
  • The Last Wine Bar – gasto restaurant.

Bedford Street– 

  • Franks Bar – sister of North, casual modern dining.
  • Bedford’s – Restaurant with events.

Colgate – 

  • Colgate Bistro at Golden Star – pub with food.
  • Merchants of Spice – Evening Quality Indian.

Magdalene Street– 

  • The Street Café – Proper café with all day classic breakfasts.
  • The Mediterranean – Gorgeous Turkish dishes with mangal cooked kebabs.
  • Kurdish at Sports Bar – Authentic Kurdish with diner classics.
  • Cactus Café – casual café
  • Green Chilli – Updates Indian on the corner (was?)
  • Café Malabar – Indian with some south Indian dishes
  • Ancestors Coffee House – day time café.
  • Dhaba 15 – Street Food Indian with classics & some original dishes.
  • Ali Tandoori – Indian.
  • Norwich Kebab – take away.
  • Brummel’s Sea Food – restaurant.
  • Torero – Traditional Spanish tapas.

Fye Bridge Street going in to Tombland & Wensum Street– 

  • North – sister restaurant of Franks Bar.
  • The Maids Head Hotel – all the classics.
  • Spice Lounge – Indian
  • Tatlers – casual smart restaurant.
  • Erpington House – Vegan gastro style restaurant.
  • Crocodile – day time sarnie takeaway café.
  • Prime at Edith Cavall (pub) – black rock steak restaurant.
  • Shiki’s – Japanese restaurant.
  • The Refectory at Norwich Cathedral – smart café this modern extension. 

Elm Hill going around to Princes Street

  • Olives – great corner café for breakfasts.
  • The Tea House – small lunch time café.
  • Brittons Arms – Thatched lunch time tea rooms, with an extra selection of specials.
  • Storm in a Tea Cup – lunch time café with sweet treats.
  • Trattoria Rustica – Established Italian

Upper Kings Street going in to Kings Street– 

  • Last Pub Standing – pub and restaurant above.
  • Caspian – takeaway pizza.
  • The Café Club – small corner stylish café.
  • Café at Kings Centre – casual lunch time café.
  • Butterfly Café – European run lunch time café.
  • Bike shop – café.
  • Smokey Barn – specialising in coffee also for sale.

Rose Lane to Golden Ball Street off Castle Market Street– 

  • The Loving Hut – take-way vegetarian buffet
  • Top Kapi Kebab & Pizza – late night take-out.
  • Ephesis – kebab take away.
  • Roof Top Gardens, owned by the Gorleston Cliff Hotel family, bar & restaurant with two outdoor balconies’.

Castle Plain – 

  • Matane – Japanese Sushi bar and take away.
  • Take a Break – transport style café (I think its closed and up for sale?)
  • Kinda Kafa – Vegetarian community café.

Prince of Wales Road– 

  • Departure Lounge – day time café.
  • The Feed – Social enterprise day time café.
  • Krasades Taverna – Traditional Greek with take away kebabs.
  • Prince of India – Indian.
  • Wanfu Pavillion– Quality Chinese with a dim sum menu.
  • ALL Sorts of late night takeaways down this street too many to mention inc Olive Tree, Sicilliano, Kappi

Farmers Avenue, Timber Hill & Orford Street– 

  • Bourgee – one of 2 (Essex owned) serving up Steak & Lobster plus affordable other luxury dishes.
  • Re-Source – New, no packaging deli & café with an organic, vegan & veggie vibe.
  • Timber Hill Bakery – run by an Irish couple, serving amazing breads & pastries to take out along with deli style sarnies.
  • Donelli’s – Run by an Italian family, serving tasty wood fired pizzas.

Ber Street, round to Queens Street– 

  • Tamarind Tree – Thai restaurant.
  • Ciscoes – Pan Asian cuisine, including amazing Sushi platters.
  • Baby Buddha – Amazing lunch time Dim-Sum and quality Chinese food.
  • Flaming Galah – Australian deep filled home-made pies, mash, peas and gravy.
  • Ber Street Kitchen – day time café with a great brunch menu.
  • Roti – Indian restaurant.
  • Namaste – one of 2 in Norwich, Vegetarian south Indian.
  • Luca – Portuguese supermarket and café. 

Westgate going in to St Stephens– 

  • Goulash House – authentic Polish food with lunch time meal deal.
  • Little Haven Coffee Company – tucked up St Stephens Sq day time café.
  • House – Good Thai restaurant with a great business lunch menu.

Surry Street– 

  • Café 7 – day time café.
  • The Surry – pub and restaurant.
  • Stepping Stones Café – opposite the bus terminal.
  • Alchemista – soon to appear on the corner of the bus terminal.
  • Acorn Café at the Yoga Centre– lunch time café (on all Saints Green)

Theatre Street– 

  • Assembly House – events, afternoon tea & café / restaurant.
  • Kemps – the restaurant in Norwich Theatre Royal.

Haymarket & Gentleman’s Walk– 

  • Baan Chang on Brigg Street – Thai.
  • Brick Pizza – wood fired pizza restaurant off the Market.
  • Sir Garnet – Pub with pop ups & restaurant.
  • MARKET – a foodie’s paradise, see my market list blog.

The Royal Arcade

  • Marmalades – day time café.
  • Macarons & More – pastry shop with coffee.

180

at least with all the takeaways and market stalls

By Zena Leech-Calton ©

www.lovenorwichfood.co.uk

for my Food and Drink Walking Tours, 

Cookery School & Bloggin