Places to eat and drink around Durham City

Below are a selection of places to eat and drink around Durham. If you'd like a printable list then click here for a pdf version.

Conference Dinner

Menu
Starter:
Welsh rarebit and Gruyere tart with spring onion, rocket and grain mustard dressing
Main Course:
Pan seared breast of chicken with fondant potato, squash purée, roast parsnip and chicken jus
Vegetarian Main Course:
Provençale vegetable tian with fondant potato, pimento purée, baby courgette and black olive crumb
Dessert:
Chocolate and salted caramel torte with malted milk ice cream and chocolate crisp
Chilren's Menu (£14 per child)
(Children under 5 years of age eat free)
Starter:
Fingers of honeydew melon with orange sorbet
Main Course:
Spaghetti with bolognaise sauce
Vegetarian Main Course:
Vegetarian Main Course: Spaghetti with tomato and herb sauce
Dessert:
Ice cream

Pub food & British Cuisine

The Court Inn (Pub)
Behind Barclays opposite the Studentsʼ Union (map).
Tel: 0191 384 7350; £
A wide range of very hearty pub food. Generous portions. They can sit large groups.
Whitechurch (Pub)
Just across the road from the Science Site, near conference venue (map).
Tel: 0191 3868897, ££
Located just across the road from campus, it has opened just last year with an interesting menu.
The Cellar Door
On Saddler St., roughly opposite Waterstones (map).
Tel: 0191 3831856, £
As the name suggests, from the outside this just looks like a door between two other buildings. Larger groups can enjoy their great pizzas and pasta in the cellar dining room.
The Market Tavern (Pub)
On Market Square (map)
Tel: 0191 386 2069; £
Traditional British Pub serving traditional British Food at reasonable prices.

Indian

The Capital
Past the traffic lights on Claypath (map).
Tel: 01913 843429; ££
Often regarded as the best curry house in Durham. Very wide selection of dishes and sundries.
Spice Lounge
Behind the Church on Market Square (map).
Tel: 0191 383 0927; ££ Another great curry house tucked away down the alleyway behind the church on Market Square. Again, a full range of Indian food on offer ranging from mild to ʻblow your head offʼ spicy!!
Alishaan
At the end of North Road(map).
Tel: 0191 370 9180; ££
Indian restaurant, with modern decor and atmosphere and excellent food. They can sit large groups of people.

Italian

Bistro Italiano
On Claypath, near The Capital (see above, map).
Tel: 0191 383 0374, ££
Consistently and reliably considered the best Italian restaurant in Durham!
Capriccio
Close to Market Square, on Saddler Street (map).
Tel: 0191 370 9550; £
Serving good classic Italian cuisine, more authentic than some of the large chains.
Ask Italian (c)
Part of the Millennium/Gala Complex (map).
Tel: 0191 383 2567; £
Chain Italian restaurant. Relatively more popular than other Italian chains. They can sit large groups.
Zizzi (c)
Close to Market Square, on Saddler St (map).
Tel: 0191 435 2102; £
Chain Italian restaurant. Close to Capriccio.
Pizza Express (c)
Close to Market Square, on Saddler St (map).
Tel: 0191 383 2661; £
Chain Italian restaurant serving mainly pizza. Close to Zizzi and Capriccio.

Mexican/Tex-Mex

Tia's
Up Claypath Street, before the traffic lights (map).
Tel: 0191 383 9001; ££
More than your just your typical Mexican fare. Tasty Fajitas and burritos plus other, less spicy options. Make sure you try the “Tiaʼs Rose” - a local speciality!
Nando's (c)
Part of the Millennium/Gala Complex (map).
Tel: 0191 384 5424; £
Chicken, chicken, chicken is on the menu for a meal at Nandoʼs. Choose one of their hot sauces to spice up your pirri pirri chicken (Vegetarian options are also available!). They can sit large groups of people.

Spanish & Tapas

La Tasca (c)
Saddler St., just before turn for the Cathedral (map).
Tel: 0845 126 2958; ££
The UKʼs leading chain of tapas bars. Good quality tapas thatʼs great for large groups.

East Asian

Thai River
Across Framwellgate Bridge, by the river (map).
Tel: 0191 597 8774; ££
Very good Thai restaurant with classic Thai dishes and a nice location overlooking the river Wear.
Nadon Thai
Not too far from Thai River. Just off North Road up Crossgate. (map).
Tel: 0191 3741157; ££
Another good Thai restaurant with Oriental decoration. Good food.
Zen
Opposite The Court Inn (map).
Tel: 0191 384 9588; ££
Funky modern decoration, serving up Asian Fusion cuisine. Excellent food and good service. It’s atmosphere and good food makes it quite popular.
Fifty-Six Restaurant
Up the North Road, close to the Durham Bus Station (map).
Tel: 0191 374 1679; ££
A new Chinese restaurant; small cozy interior; very good food but not the best service!
Sense
Up on Claypath, close to the traffic light (map).
Tel: 0191 374 1679; ££
Another good Chinese restaurant.
Ajiwai
On Claypath St., In front of the Gala Complex (map).
Tel: 0794 0117 138; £
Fancy sushi or any other Japanese dish? that’s almost your only option. Their food is very good though.

Middle Eastern

Akarsu Turkish Restaurant
Close to the Market Square, on Silver St. (map).
Tel: 0191 383 0292; ££
Very good Turkish food with friendly staff and Turkish decoration; if it’s your birthday, or someone you know, and you want to have a bit of fun, try Akarsu.
Lebaneat
They have two branches; one on Saddle St, another up on Claypath (map).
Tel: 0191 384 6777; £-££
Yummy Lebanese food.
Meat N Meze
On Claypath, a bit further up the Gala complex (map).
Tel: 0191 447 4760; ££
Perhaps the newest restaurant in Durham. Try it with your own responsibility! They serve Lebanese food.