Independent Hospitality Week: Where to Eat & Drink Local in Newcastle

Restaurants

Us Geordies are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating at locally owned, independent restaurants in Newcastle – in fact, a recent study by Bionic ranked the Toon as one of the best cities in the UK for independent eateries.

For diners hankering after some refined British cuisine, there’s no shortage of independent restaurants to try – from Blackfriars and its sister restaurant Dobson & Parnell to local favourites like 21 and The Broad Chare. Or, if you  want to go all out, why book a table at Solstice or House of Tides? The brainchild of local chef Kenny Atkinson, both restaurants boast a Michelin star so you know you’re in for a classy culinary experience.

There are plenty of independent restaurants to head to for great European cuisine in Newcastle too. As its name suggests, fine French cuisine is the name of the game at The French Quarter – a gorgeous little restaurant nestled in an old railway archway on Westgate Road. For delicious Italian food, look no further than Zucchini Pasta Bar or Pani’s Café. The former serves up fresh, hand-rolled egg pasta dishes, while the latter specialises in traditional Sardinian recipes.

Fancy spicing it up a little? Get those taste buds really tingling with a meal at one of the city’s many locally owned Indian restaurants. Khai Khai serves up “Indian comfort food” and is one of the Newcastle’s most popular Indian restaurants (even Gordon Ramsay is a fan!), while its sister restaurant Dabbawal specialises in Indian street food classics. Sachins, meanwhile, has been delighting local diners with its Punjabi cuisine for over 40 years and Dakwala – despite being a relative newcomer to Newcastle’s dining scene – has quickly gained a loyal following thanks to its delicious Bombay canteen-style eats.

Venturing further into Asian cuisine, Sushi Me Rollin’ is the place to head for sensational sushi teamed with signature cocktails while its Grey Street neighbour The Muddler specialises in Pan-Asian small plates. For authentic Korean fare, head to Soju & Goji on Dean Street for dishes like japchae, bulgogi and Korean BBQ.

Or, if you’re after some grub on the go, we can certainly recommend Zapatista – which proudly boasts the title of Newcastle’s first independent burrito bar and has two branches in the city centre. For a slice of cheesy goodness, don’t miss out on Quayside eatery I Scream For Pizza for their delicious New York-inspired pizza available by the slice or as 14” or 20” pies.

And, of course, we’ve got to give a shout out to the fabulous food traders at Grainger Market. There, you can pick up everything from tasty tapas at La Gamba and authentic Greek street food at Acropolis to fresh seafood stotties at Lindsay Bros – plus much, much more!

Cafes

In the mood for a cuppa? Newcastle is home to a tonne of independent and locally owned cafes too, ideal for a caffeine fix and a quick bit to eat.

Over on Carliol Square, there’s Tiny Tiny – a cafe owned by local coffee connoisseur Joe Meagher that teams tea and coffee with tasty breakfast and brunch dishes and even boasts its own brand, Roast Smith Coffee. Clayton Street favourite Olive & Bean has been keeping the city caffeinated for almost 20 years and serves delicious breakfast and lunch dishes plus plenty of homemade sweet treats like cakes, brownies and tiffins.

On Newcastle’s grand Grey Street you’ll find Blakes, a cosy independent coffeeshop and local favourite that offers a wide range of cuppas and tasty breakfast food (try the breakfast stottie – you won’t regret it!) and over on Queens Square, The Coffee Trader is perfect for a caffeine pick-me-up after hitting the shops on nearby Northumberland Street.

The city’s backstreets hide a treasure trove of indie cafes too. Down on Monk Street, on the edges of Newcastle’s Chinatown, Lagom serves up everything from cortados to cappuccinos and was recently named the best coffeeshop in Newcastle at the 2025 England’s Business Awards. Tucked away on High Bridge, Laneway & Co is a modern coffeeshop that prides itself on serving only the highest quality coffees from the UK’s best roasters while Pink Lane Coffee roasts its single-origin coffees in-house for maximum flavour and is located just a stone’s throw from Central Station – perfect for a pre-train trip cuppa.

But, if it’s a cup of tea you’re hankering after, there’s no better place to head than Claremont Teahouse. Located in a gorgeous building on the edge of the Newcastle University campus, it offers over 60 varieties of loose-leaf tea – from rooibos and oolong to fruit and herbal teas – alongside breakfast, brunch, lunch and a must-try afternoon tea.

Pubs

If you’re a beer fan wanting to support local independents, you’re in luck too as Newcastle’s independent pub community is thriving.

City Tavern resides in a gorgeous historic Tudor façade building on Northumberland Road that offers cosy vibes, award-winning ales and menu full of hearty pub food – better yet, it’s dog-friendly too, so perfect for a pint with your pup. Down the other end of the city, The Dog & Parrot an independent rock ‘n’ roll bar boasting cold beers, regular gigs and a lively atmosphere ideal for music lovers.

Newcastle’s iconic Quayside is home to lots of great indie pubs too. Nestled in the shadow of the Tyne Bridge, The Bridge Tavern is locally owned brewpub boasting one of the best beer gardens in Newcastle and an ever-changing line-up of craft beer while just a hop, skip and a jump away there’s the Crown Posada. Located in a stunning Grade II-listed building, it’s the second oldest pub in Newcastle and offers a range of real ales and a fantastic selection of whiskey too. Just around the corner you’ll find Redhouse, a traditional pub that attracts a diverse crowd and teams cask ales with hearty, handmade pies.

There’s a strong micropub scene in the city too. Mean-Eyed Cat is a cosy and colourful little haunt on St. Thomas’ Street offering an ever-evolving cast of six cask beers and eight keg beers and home to one of the best jukeboxes in town, while a short walk away on St. Mary’s Place is The Town Mouse Ale House – a five-time winner of CAMRA’s Newcastle Pub of the Year award with a wide range of keg, cask and bottled beers representing the very best of British, European and American brewing.

Over on Eldon Square, Wobbly Duck is a hidden gem of a pub nestled in the basement of a Georgian terrace building that serves up craft beer and real ale seven days a week, but you don’t get more micropub than Beer Street and Mosaic Tap. Both located in former railway arches behind Central Station, they’re quite possibly the cosiest beer haunts in Newcastle and each serve a fantastic range of craft beers.

Cocktail Bars

It’s no secret that Newcastle’s cocktail scene has boomed over the past few years, and we’re happy to report that a more than healthy handful of the city’s cocktail bars are independently owned too.

Alvinos on Pilgrim Street is a Newcastle veteran shaking up inventive concoctions with a gorgeous terrace to retreat to when the weather is warmer, while its sister bar Tokyo is a Japanese-inspired joint offering a long list of cocktails and spirits (including some amazing Japanese whiskeys!) and live DJs five nights a week.

Some amazing independent cocktail bars have made their home at Newcastle’s Bigg Market and the surrounding area. Located in what was once a Victorian public toilet, WC Newcastle is one of the city’s most unique bars and serves a long list of classic and signature cocktails while its sister venue WC Gin Closet on High Bridge is the UK’s smallest gin bar, though its small stature doesn’t extend to its lengthy gin menu.

Nearby, there’s Pleased to Meet You – a classy bar offering cocktails to suit every palate, from the fruity and tropical to dessert-inspired concoctions – and over on Cloth Market, there’s Mother Mercy. Nestled in a stylish basement space, the cocktail bar has taken the city by storm since first opening in 2019, expanding into other city centre venues – including Café Mercy on Grey Street and a space inside Fenwick – and scooping many an award along the way.

The classy cocktail bar theme continues away from the Bigg Market too. Collingwood Street newcomer The Vampire Rabbit – named after the mysterious grotesque on Newcastle’s historic Cathedral Buildings – resides in a stunning Grade II-listed building and mixes up experimental cocktails galore, while Quayside hotspot Tiger Hornsby occupies an elegant and quirky space and is regularly hailed as one of Newcastle’s best cocktail bars thanks to its good vibes and signature cocktails.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s The Mad House which boasts two city centre venues (on Pink Lane and Dean Street) and the craziest interiors in town. Guests can enjoy its crazy cocktails while sitting on toilet seats, in a ball pit and on a rocking horse while feasting on tipsy tapas, sharing dishes and a “council tapas”-themed bottomless brunch. Let’s just say that The Mad House certainly lives up to its name and is perfect for a wild night out!

So, why not sure your support for locally owned businesses in Newcastle this Independent Hospitality Week in Newcastle – whether with a meal out, a cuppa, a refreshing pint at a pub or a classy cocktail?

Main image: Independent Hospitality Week 2025, Courtesy Nationwide Caterer’s Association

Want to be in the know about everything that’s happening in Newcastle city centre? Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.