The autumn and winter months call for cosy dining – and these restaurants are here to deliver. From hearty roasts and carveries to perfectly pillowy pizzas, here are five restaurants in and around Cambridge to add to your must-visit list this autumn.
While nothing quite beats a pub garden or riverside restaurant in summer, the cooler weather of autumn sees us craving cosy eateries with hearty menus and a warm, homey ambience.
We’ve rounded up our favourite cosy restaurants in Cambridge and the surrounding areas – including options on how to book and upcoming special events.
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa
BURY ROAD, NEWMARKET
With a focus on fresh, local ingredients and generous flavours, the menu at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa’s two-AA-Rosette Squires Restaurant evolves regularly to showcase the best seasonal produce Suffolk has to offer. Embracing the rich flavours of winter, over the coming months you can expect to see characterful dishes of regional game alongside locally reared meats and earthy root vegetables.
Afternoon tea is also available, featuring an enticing selection of delicate finger sandwiches and savouries, freshly baked scones and seasonal patisserie. Or simply settle beside the roaring log fire in the Roxana Bar with a favourite drink – the perfect winter retreat!
Find out more at bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk
Pint Shop
PEAS HILL, CAMBRIDGE
Pizzas have arrived at Pint Shop! And boy, are they sumptuous. Served all day, every day in the bar and garden, these Roman-style pizzas boast light and fluffy sourdough bases, enriched with olive oil. Toppings include a classic Marg – featuring a gin twist on the ever-popular vodka pizza sauce – as well as double pepperoni and hot honey, harissa lamb, white sauce and Sussex brie, and pork belly and sausage.
A champion of sharing dishes, Pint Shop’s pizzas are perfect for two (or three to snack on), with the generous base coming in at around 15 by 11 inches. You can also order them as a half pizza if you’re out for a solo lunch or want to try more than one topping.
Find out more at pintshop.co.uk
De Luca
REGENT STREET, CAMBRIDGE
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, De Luca is the home of Italian-inspired cuisine, made on-site using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The Christmas menu includes Italian twists on Christmas classics, including a stuffed turkey breast served with sausage and herb stuffing, a pan-fried salmon dish, a classic lasagna and a roasted butternut squash risotto, with tiramisu, vanilla panna cotta, a new blueberry cheesecake or affogato with Baileys as a decadent dessert.
There are also lots of autumn/winter special offers to be enjoyed, including two courses for £25 and a bottomless lunch (booking required).
Find out more at delucacucina.co.uk
The Orator
ROUND CHURCH STREET, CAMBRIDGE
Enjoy hearty dining at its best at The Orator Brasserie and Bar, located on the historic site of the Cambridge Union in the city centre, tucked cosily behind the Round Church. The autumn/winter menu here focuses on classic cooking and home comforts: spiced soups, warming stews and the finest cuts of British meat.
From 23 November, winter dishes will be available on The Orator’s everyday menu from Monday to Sunday, and on the three-course set menu priced at £45 per head. Private dining facilities for groups are also available.
Find out more at cus.org/the-orator
Provenance Kitchen and Orchard Barn
HILL FARM ROAD, WHITTLESFORD
Seasonality is a thread that’s woven throughout Provenance’s offerings. Each year, apples are hand-picked from its orchard and put to good use. Last autumn, they were pressed locally by Cambridge Juice Company to create Provenance’s own apple juice, which won a Great Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food.
Autumn also sees the orchard become the setting for an Orchard Feast, with guests gathering around a long table beneath the apple trees to enjoy a seasonal menu cooked over fire (tickets now available via the website). Meanwhile, in the kitchen, menus change with the seasons, with ingredients sourced from nearby farms and producers.
Find out more at provenancekitchen.com
Looking for more dining ideas? Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Cambridge