Food and Drink in the North East

Pleased to Meet You, 41-45 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1EW - Visit now

Over 100 gins behind the bar and classic British dishes in the restaurant: Pleased to Meet You in Newcastle is the best of both drinking and dining, with top cocktails and a strong menu served in an elegant setting.

Fat Hippo, 36 Saddler St, Durham DH1 3NU, DH1 3NU - Visit now

Staking a claim to serve the best burgers in Durham, Fat Hippo’s motto is ‘good food, messy fingers, and juicy burgers’. This tempting burger restaurant is just a short walk from Durham Cathedral and castle, too.

Let There Be Crumbs, Roker Terrace, Roker,, Sunderland, SR6 9ND - Visit now

Hand crafted patisserie and exquisite afternoon teas: cakery and tearoom Let There Be Crumbs in Sunderland presents a winning combination, particularly for those with a sweet tooth.

Trakol, Hillgate Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2FD - Visit now

Showcasing seasonal and ethical cooking, the menu at Trakol in Newcastle is dotted with dishes created using techniques including preservation, dry ageing and cooking over fire. It’s critically acclaimed – and housed in a shipping container.

Tango, 96 Elvet Bridge, Durham, DH1 3AG - Visit now

Built into the Old Elvet Bridge in Durham, Tango is an independent restaurant that provides the best in comfort food with a modern flavour.

Poetic Licence, Roker Terrace, Roker,, Sunderland, SR6 9NB - Visit now

Adjacent to the Roker Hotel in Sunderland is Poetic Licence, a bar and kitchen serving small batch gin, fantastic cocktails, craft beer and soul food on the seafront.

Sachins, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3SG - Visit now

Sachins has been serving Punjabi cuisine in Newcastle for over 30 years, its much loved frontage still recognisable but with a full refurbishment having transformed the interior. Go for authentic dishes, including gunpowder chicken and Amritsari prawns.

Nadon Thai, 69-70 Crossgate, Durham DH1 4PR, DH1 4PR - Visit now

This highly-rated Thai restaurant in has branches in both Durham and Newcastle; family run, the kitchen serves up classic Thai dishes with a modern influence.

CoffeeHaus, John St, Sunniside, Sunderland, SR1 1QD - Visit now

With its stylish interior and locally sourced suppliers, it’s no wonder newcomer CoffeeHaus in Sunderland is being hailed as a hot new venture. Drop in and find out why.

Blackfriars, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN - Visit now

Meals are served at long wooden tables in keeping with the architecture of this former refectory of a friary in Newcastle, which dates back to 1239, now a traditional British restaurant – and the oldest dining room in the UK.