Where To Eat In Suffolk

Feeling a little sad now that Christmas is over? You may want browse through our list of our favourite Suffolk pubs and restaurants to try and keep that festive feeling alive through your jolly Christmas bellies!

Our first stop would have to be The Harbour Inn in Southwold. Offering a traditional, welcoming atmosphere, this harbour side pub serves hearty classics from 12noon – 9pm. It is pet-friendly and has a spacious garden to the rear which overlooks Southwold common with views towards the town and lighthouse. It also has seating on the harbour side, so you can sip your Adnams as the sun sets and watch a variety of yachts sail down the River Blyth.

If you cross to the other side of the river, you’ll arrive in the charming coastal village of Walberswick. Here you’ll find two excellent pubs – The Anchor and The Bell Inn. Staff favourites at The Anchor include the smoked haddock and salmon fishcakes, chargrilled Red Poll beef burgers and the mushroom and stilton gnocchi. In the summer, the Anchor has a weekend BBQ serving up local shellfish and Tamworth pork accompanied by delicious seasonal salads.

Head towards the river and you’ll come to The Bell Inn which is popular with families due to its varied menu for children, spacious rear garden and play area. The Bell Inn offers vegetarian options such as grilled haloumi with a quinoa and roasted pepper salad, alongside hearty, meaty classics such as confit of duck leg or lamb shank tagine with pistachio cous cous. For a lighter bite, visit their barn café which serves tea and coffee, freshly filled sandwiches, homemade pies and a tempting selection of cakes and treats.

Aldeburgh is home to Regatta, which is a popular restaurant situated right on the high street. Robert Mabey; Regatta’s head chef and restaurateur; trained at London's La Gavroche before setting up his business in Suffolk. The varied menu includes tiger prawn tempura, gravadlax with dill mustard sauce, Gressingham duck on carrot and cumin purée plus delicious vegetarian options such as wild mushroom, celeriac and goat’s cheese lasagne. Other delicious dishes such as the oak-smoked salmon and whole smoked prawns with garlic mayonnaise, have been smoked in Regatta’s own smokehouse.

Heading towards southern Suffolk, a visit to The Anchor in Woodbridge is a perfect pit stop! Popular with locals and visitors alike, The Anchor is a great place to socialise after a walk along the River Deben or before an evening out at the Riverside Cinema. Its varied menu includes English classics in addition to dishes with European and Asian flavours. If you like a little spice in your life, try the ‘Istana lamb curry’; a truly exotic main course option.

For more spice and all things nice, a visit to The Chilli Company in Stowmarket is a must. This unique business stocks everything you may possibly want to cook up a fiery fiesta of a feast including Extra Hot Smoky Chipotle Sauce, Spanish Pimenton Bravas Gourmet Sauce and the curiously named Blairs Original Death Sauce. The Chilli Company also has a popular café which serves light lunches and selection of cakes and pastries.

If you prefer to stay at home and whip up your own gourmet meals, Suffolk has a wonderful selection of farm shops where you can pick up seasonal fruit and vegetables, locally reared meat and poultry, artisan breads and homemade chutneys and jams.

Suffolk also has an enviable selection of farmers markets throughout the county offering a wonderful selection of fresh produce. Staff at Suffolk Secrets love eating and buying locally as we’re sure that the taste of a freshly picked vegetable straight out of the Suffolk soil couldn’t possibly taste much better! Start planning your foodie and gourmet tour of Suffolk today!