30 Places to eat in Newcastle Upon Tyne City Centre 2025

Newcastle’s food scene has quietly become one of the best in the North of England. I know that sounds bold, but after years of eating my way through this city, and trying new places, I genuinely believe it. We’ve got everything from Michelin-starred fine dining to £3 pizza slices, and Greggs of course. If you are wondering where to eat in Newcastle Upon Tyne city centre, I got you.

The great thing is most of these restaurants on this list are Independent restaurants or started in the North East. From the bustling street food vendors at Grainger Market to restaurants that have earned their Michelin stars, my favourite places cover the full spectrum. Whatever your mood is, Newcastle’s food scene will have something to suit it. If you are looking for bakeries in Newcastle, for dessert, I also got you on another post.

Of course there are many restaurants here and I may have missed some, so if you can suggest what I missed in the comments, and will try them out, and add them to the list.

List of Contents:

1. Budget-Friendly Eats (Under £10)
2. Mid-Range Casual Dining spots (£10-£20)
3. Special Occasion Dining (£20+)
4. Quick Bites & Casual Spots
5. Buffet at Newcastle Upon Tyne
   

Where to eat in Newcastle Upon Tyne city centre:

Budget-Friendly Eats (Under £10)

1. Grainger Market Food Vendors

Address: Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5QQ

I’m starting with Grainger Market because honestly, this Victorian covered market is where Newcastle’s food scene really shines. Built in 1835 and named Britain’s Favourite Market in 2020, it’s become the city’s street food destination. If you are visiting even for a day trip and not sure where to go eat as long as it not on Sunday, then Grainger Market is a good go to especially for families.

Nan Bei Dumplings serves one of the best dumplings in Newcastle. You can sit on the high seats, and watch them make the dumplings by hand. Get the soup dumplings if they have them (but careful, the soup inside is boiling hot), and expect to pay around £5 for dumplings and a bao. They also have wanton noodles which is good!

Slice does thin-crust pizza by the slice for £3 each run by Italians. They are very popular, and big slices too! The queue moves fast and two slices make a great lunch for £6. or a Calzone for 3.5. You can get a full pizza for about 20, and share with a family or 4 or a group of friends.

Acropolis is my partner’s favourite (he’s Greek, so that’s high praise) and mine too. Their gyros are £7 to £9 with massive portions. One could honestly feed two people.

There are at least a dozen more vendors worth trying at Grainger Market. I’ve written a complete guide to Grainger Market with all the details, so check that out if you want the full rundown.

2. Greggs

Don’t judge me for saying this but you are in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and Greggs is quick, delicious and hard to go wrong. Local own of course as it started here in the North East. Steak Bake, Vegan Sausage roll (to me is nicer than the normal one, less salty), pizza, their potato wedges are so good, and download the app, you get a freebie when you sign up and for your birthday too.

The one in Eldon Square has sit in area or if you fancy the Greggs pub second floor to Fenwicks which is seasonal.

This is always a good shout if you want something quick, warm and yummy, especially before a match day in St James Stadium or after before heading out for drinks.

3. Frankie & Tony’s Sandwich Bar

Address: 19 Ridley Pl, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8JN

Frankie and Tony’s sandwich bar has been around for many years and it’s quite the staple for everyone around the city centre. They also have giant jacket potatoes, and also you can choose your filling as you like. Great sarnies!

Mid-Range Casual Dining in Newcastle City Centre (£10-£20)

4. China Town Express

Address: 63-65 St Andrew’s St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5SE

Love China Town Express. They are located on the corner of Stowell Street, China Town Express opposite the Chinatown Gate, and has been serving affordable, authentic Chinese food for years. It’s not fancy but the portions are great and decently priced. The kind of place where you see loads of Chinese students eating, which is always a good sign. And I have been going for years, their Thai style fried rice, Sweet and sour pork are so good! It’s like the usual takeaway Chinese but better, less gravy and more meat.

5. Davey’s

Address: 26 MARKET STREET , Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Davey’s started during lockdown and has become a Newcastle success story. Their breakfast smash burgers are excellent (around £8 to £12), and they’ve just opened a sit-down restaurant in the city centre at 26 Market Street.

They also do Davey’s Mexicano at St James’ Stack now, serving their famous birria tacos. These slow-cooked beef birria tacos that you dip in their gravy are genuinely some of the best tacos I’ve had, around £10 to £12.

6. Stix

Address: St Andrew’s St, Newcastle upon Tyne

Hands down the best Korean fried chicken in Newcastle. Seriously! They are incredible! They started at The Stack and now moved into their own full fledge restaurant on the hill leading to Stowel Street.

Their Korean Fried chicken is perfectly crispy outside, juicy inside, and you can get different sauces like Gochujang spicy, cheese and more. Get the half and half if you can’t decide if you order 10 pieces or more. Around £10 to £15 and the portions are generous.

Their kimchi fried rice is excellent too. And serves ramen as well. Just know you’ll leave smelling a bit like smoke because of the open kitchen, but it’s so worth it!

7. Master Wang Noodle Newcastle

Address: 36 St Mary’s Pl, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7PQ

My absolute favourite noodle spot! Opposite Civic Centre near Northumbria University, Master Wang serves authentic handmade biang biang noodles and other Shaanxi specialties. These thick, chewy, hand-pulled noodles are delicious and everything is under £12.

They have 2 sizes, small and large. Most small dishes are under 10 and large costs bit more. They also have rice dishes, my favourite is the beef and potato stew with rice, and kung pao chicken rice. (I have to go order some now, thinking about it while writing this haha).

Oh and don’t get me started with their broths! Each soup noodles they have, I truly don’t know how they do it, but their broth is so full of flavourful, full depth of flavour. Of course their noodles are amazing, the thick wide flat ones, the normal thinner noodles and made there, you can hear the chef pounding them.

Super popular with Chinese students, and now I see more locals visiting which tells you everything about the quality. Just note they’re closed Sundays. And ask which are spicy if you cannot handle it. The owners who work there are super friendly.

8. Chilli Padi

Address: 6-10 Leazes Park Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PF

Ah everyone in Newcastle Upon Tyne knows about Chilli Padi. One of the best Malaysian food near St James’ Park. Their portions are massive, the flavours are bold, and prices are incredibly reasonable at £8 to £12. Their nasi lemak (coconut rice with fried chicken, peanuts, boiled egg, ikan bilis and sambal) is my go-to.

Since I can’t find good Indonesian food, this is where I go to satisfy my cravings and get the flavours from South East Asia.

Everything is halal and they have loads of vegan and vegetarian options which are ridiuclously delicious. My best friend is vegan and we had tried some, the aubergine claypot is so good, and of course Kangkung in garlic sauce. They do amazing Malaysian drinks too, including teh tarik (pulled tea). It gets busy on match days because of the location near the stadium.

Their smoked chicken has something of a cult favourite and I get it. It is delicious, it crisp, coated in that delicious smokey, bit sweet sauce and completely balanced.

For me, I adore their chicken laksa, Kway Teow Goreng, Wan tan Hor, Nasi Lemak and salad you Tiaw. I often take newbies here and they love the kway teow goreng as the first introduction, or Beef rendang (has more flavour than the chicken but chicken is also nice if you can’t have beef). And nasi lemak, I don’t know how they make their chicken, but it’s so good better than most I had in London.

9. El Coto

Address: 21 Leazes Park Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PF

El Coto has been serving tapas in Newcastle since before tapas was trendy. Tucked away up Leazes Park Road (one of Newcastle’s hidden medieval lanes), this place is cosy and serves over 30 different tapas options.

Traditional Spanish tortilla, patatas bravas, grilled chorizo, gambas al ajillo. The wine list is entirely Spanish and the staff are also Spanish and will be able to recommend the best options. Tapas are £4 to £8 each, aim for three to four per person. The lunch menu is excellent value for just under 18 pounds for 3 tapas between noon and 5pm weekdays.

10. Chop Chop

Address: 147 Northumberland St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7DQ

One of the best spots located on Northumberland street by the Haymarket metro, come here for their roast duck and roast meats. They have proper Chinese BBQ with the ducks and meats hanging in the window. The roast duck is crispy-skinned and flavourful, around £12 to £15 with rice or noodles. The portions are generous. It’s so hard to get good roast duck in the North East, London is still the place to go but Chop Chop is pretty good!

11. Jasmin Chinese Bakery & Restaurant

Now Jasmin is a hidden gem to a lot of people here in Newcastle. Those in the know, knows this place very well and visits every weekend, me included. They don’t do advertising because the students know, the commnuity knows and some local people do too. Jasmin, for me is the best Chinese bakery in Newcastle. Their Hong Kong-style egg tarts are amazing, and they do proper Chinese bakery items for £1 to £3, their options of bread are limited compare to bread point, but their buns are big, fluffy and more delicious in my opinion.

The restaurant serves Hong Kong dishes including excellent noodle soups like beef flank noodle soup wantan noodles, and you can choose the meat, the noodle type and the sauce. They have rice dishes as well around £8 to £15. This is where the local Chinese and Hong Kong community actually goes. They get the bun with spam and egg inside or pork chop which is so so good!

Address: 24 Fenkle St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5XN

12. Little Lobo

Address: 31-35 Starbeck Ave, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1RJ

Little Lobo is along Sandyford Road, just bit outside of the city centre but close enough. They do excellent Mexican food. They are the little sister to their main restaurant in South Shields. They have amazing burritos, big sizes, fresh tortillas they make themselves and fresh ingredients. Portions are huge and everything is around £8 to £12. Perfect for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

13. Filto

This is a new addition to Newcastle City Centre food scene. They are popular, and serves Breakfast and brunch spot in Sandyford. Instagram-worthy dishes aimed at the student crowd. Great for brunches, avocado toast, loaded pancakes. Around £8 to £14 and the portions are good.

14. Redhouse

Address: 32 Sandhill, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3JF

When you want proper comfort food, Redhouse delivers. Their pies are made fresh daily with flaky pastry and generous fillings. Steak and ale, chicken and leek, seasonal game pie in winter. They are located at the Quayside in an old quirky building that feels like you are back in time.

Pie and mash is £12 to £15, Sunday roast £16. The sticky toffee pudding is brilliant too.

15. Fat Hippo

Newcastle-born burger chain that’s become a local success. The burgers are massive, messy, and delicious. Double patties, loads of toppings, brioche buns. Burgers are £10 to £13.

Loads of veggie and vegan options that are actually good. The loaded fries are dangerous and the milkshakes are so thick they need to melt a bit first.

16. Thai House Cafe

Located on Clayton Street, this is one of the best Thai places to go. This is literally the spot most Thai people here told me to go, and who am I to disagree. It is delicious. Their portions are massive, its a casual sit down place. They sell dessert and thai delicacies on Sundays. My go to is their Pork Knuckle rice and egg, and I am telling you, the pork is so tender, meaty, and oh so perfect with rice, and you can get Thai crackers for extra crunch to go with it, washed with Thai milk tea.

Address: 93 Clayton St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5PZ

17. Tonkin

Address: 89 Clayton St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5PZ

If you fancy Vietnamese Food, this independent spot in Clayton Street, actually next to Thai House Cafe, is a beauty. Their Pho is so good, light, full of flavour and their spring rolls both summer spring rolls and the crispy fried ones are so so good, also get their salted egg tofu, its delicious.

18. Meat Stack

Address: 41-43 Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1UG

Located on Bigg Market, they started at Grainger Market and went out on their own. Serving amazing burgers and beef dripping chips/fries. It’s become quite the favourite amongst the locals and international alike. Cost between £10 to £20 depending on the burger and set menu.

19. Aiden’s Kitchen

Address: 11 Starbeck Ave, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1RH

Also on Sandyford road, about 10 minutes walk from Haymarket Metro. They are possibly a bistro style maybe, limited seating but enough if it’s not too busy. They have brunch food, cakes and coffees. Pancakes, fry ups, had their korean fried chicken sandwich in milk bread once and it was really good, and yes, I was surprised and very pleasantly surprised.

20. Tiny Tiny

Address: 9, 11 Carliol Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6UF

I adore this place, they are located behind what used to be a fire station, it’s not far from Northumberland st. And they are huge inside, plenty of seating though it gets so busy during the weekend. You will find people on their laptops, groups having a chilled afternoon with coffee and cakes or couples with food. They have a great selection of speciality coffee and cake and tea. But also their food is delicious. It’s quite a brunch spot too.

I can highly recommend their Mexican Bean Rancheros and Turkish Eggs, and Continental club sandwich. I seen their French toast walk by and it looked so good, have to try next time. Their portions are very good size, big for me, normal for some. It’s a nice vibe inside.

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Special Occasion Dining (£20+)

21. House of Tides

Newcastle’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, tucked away in a stunning 16th-century merchant’s house on the Quayside. The tasting menu is £95 per person, £145 with wine pairing.

But chef Kenny Atkinson has created something genuinely special. The menu changes seasonally and showcases the best of North East England produce. Lindisfarne oysters, Northumberland lamb, locally foraged ingredients. The building itself is gorgeous with original exposed beams.

This is where you go for anniversaries or milestone birthdays. Booking is essential, sometimes months in advance.

22. Blackfriars Restaurant

A 13th-century former friary that’s now one of Newcastle’s most atmospheric restaurants. This Grade I listed building has original medieval features throughout, and you can still see them while eating modern British food.

Chef Andy Hook focuses on seasonal North East produce. Craster kippers, Northumberland beef, locally caught fish. The Sunday roasts are legendary at £24.50. Mains are £18 to £28.

What I love about Blackfriars is how it manages to feel both fancy and welcoming. The staff are genuinely lovely, and so accommodating. And if there’s anything you should try is definitely their Sunday Roast! It is incredible!

If you are coming in the summer, they have lovely outdoor space, and sometimes they do events.

23. Cook House

Started in a shipping container and grew into one of Newcastle’s most exciting restaurants. Located in a converted Victorian engine house in the Ouseburn, the industrial setting is cool with exposed brick and steel beams.

The menu focuses on seasonal, sustainable ingredients. Tasting menu is £55, Sunday roast £35. They’re opening a butcher shop next door where you can buy their aged meat.

24. Peace & Loaf

Relaxed neighbourhood restaurant in Jesmond serving inventive small plates. Chef Dave Coulson creates dishes that sound simple but deliver complex flavours.

Beef tartare with smoked bone marrow, roasted scallops with black pudding, their famous cheese and onion pie. Small plates are £8 to £15, larger plates £20 to £25. The wine list is excellent and the Sunday lunch is incredible value at £28 for three courses.

25. Gaucho Newcastle

Argentinian steakhouse serving some of the finest steaks in Newcastle. It’s a chain but the quality is consistently excellent. Expect to pay £25 to £45 for a main with sides.

26. Rio Brazilian Steakhouse

Proper Brazilian rodízio experience where they bring different meats to your table. You use a red and green light system to tell them when you want more or when you’ve had enough.

They’ll keep coming with different cuts until you physically can’t eat anymore. Around £35 to £45 per person. Two locations, one on Osborne Road in Jesmond and one on the Quayside. And Newcastle United footballers love this place.

27. Pleased To Meet You (PTMY)

Located in the Bigg market, one of the alleyways near Laneway. This is a gin bar with a beautiful restaurant. They serve wonderful British food and an excellent Roast Dinner. Perfect for a great occasion, have food then move to the bar area on the side.

28. Dabbawal

Contemporary Indian restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Tyne. They go way beyond standard curry house fare with regional Indian dishes like railway curry, Goan fish curry, Kerala beef fry.

The thalis are excellent if you want to try everything. Mains are £12 to £18, thalis £15 to £20. Great value set lunch menu Monday to Friday.

29. Khai Khai (Could be both mid ranged and higher side)

Modern Indian restaurant at the very bottom of Grey Street by the Quayside focusing on Indian street food and small plates. The menu includes pani puri, railway lamb curry, and Kerala fried chicken that’s dangerously addictive. Small plates are £5 to £8, larger dishes £12 to £16. Best to do family style so everyone can have a taste.

The cocktails are excellent with Indian-inspired twists, and the space is gorgeous with moody lighting. Fun fact: Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford have both visited and many more celebrities.

30. Butakun

Japanese spot that is indepedent and sourced their produce fresh, from Japan and prides with their authenticity. They have ramen, rice dishes and an amazing selection of sashimi and sushi that is incredibly fresh, paired with Sake. Great for a date or a casual lunch or a special occasion too.

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Quick Bites & Casual Spots in Newcastle

Olive & Bean

Address: 17-19 Clayton St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5PN

While technically a cafe, Olive & Bean deserves a spot for consistently excellent food. Their Turkish eggs for breakfast are incredible, and they do proper sandwiches and hot dishes for lunch.

Breakfast is £6 to £10, lunch £7 to £12. The coffee is excellent and there’s usually a queue on weekends. Get there before 10am on Saturdays to avoid the rush.

Weatherspoons

I mean you cannot go wrong with a Weatherspoons, yes it is a chain but it is familiar and you can get reasonably priced food. There’s one in the Gate, the Miles end by the Central Station, one at Newcastle Uni, and Five Swans by St Mary’s place which has a outdoor seating area.

Buffet at Newcastle Upon Tyne

Little COSMO | All You Can Eat World Buffet Restaurant

Address: 92-98 Newgate St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5RQ

Located in front of The Gate, Little Cosmo is a relatively new addition to the Newcastle city centre food scene. It’s a buffet serving Italian, Chinese, Indian, Carvery, Japanese, Deli and desserts. Price wise is about £21.99 to £23.99. Great for families and those who loves a buffet.

Aneesa’s Buffet Restaurant

Address: Forster St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2NH

Aneesa is an Indian buffet located on Forster Street at the Quayside, it’s a very popular spot loved by locals. They serve a variety of snacks, starters, curries and desserts and they also serve other dishes such as pizzas, noodles and a carvery every Sunday afternoon

More Newcastle Upon Tyne Food Adventures:

Want to explore Newcastle’s food scene further? Here are some guides that might help:

Complete Guide to Grainger Market : Deep dive into Britain’s Favourite Market with all the best food vendors

25 Things to Do in Newcastle Upon Tyne : My complete guide to the city including more food recommendations

Newcastle Match Day Guide : Where to eat and drink before NUFC matches (trust me, you need this)

9 Best Bakeries to try in Newcastle Upon Tyne : Find out the bakeries to get the best croissants, pastries, doughnuts, and sourdough

Things to Do in Tynemouth : Including Riley’s Fish Shack, one of the best seafood spots in the North East

Climbing up Grey’s Monument : Climbing Grey’s Monument: Is it worth it and the Costs?

Riley’s Fish Shack Review: The Famous Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth: Is it worth it?

If you’re visiting from abroad, grab an eSIM before you arrive so you can easily look up bakery opening hours and directions while you’re exploring.

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How About You?

What do you think are the best restaurants in Newcastle Upon Tyne? Have I missed any of your favourites? Let me know in the comments!

Courtney xx

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