The lowdown on where to get the best to eat in and around Cambridge during the winter months
Out-of-town delights
Venture out of Cambridge and into the countryside for a fabulous feast at 
one of these top dining destinations
Cambridge Canteen
Stylish and spacious, Cambridge Canteen in Whittlesford specialises in gigantic gourmet burgers (above). They’re known for their inventive creations and their Ultimate Christmas Burger is no exception.
A huge hit with diners last year, it features a turkey and chipolata patty with cranberry stuffing, topped with smoked cheddar and cranberry dressing and served on a brioche bun. The Christmas menu, which is priced at £25 for three courses, features a traditional roast and tempting puds like toffee apple bread and butter pudding.
Crown and Punchbowl, Horningsea
Cambscuisine always hit the mark, whether with slow-cooked barbecue deliciousness at SmokeWorks or elegant British fare at the Chop Houses.
The Crown & Punchbowl in Horningsea is typically excellent, turning out an indulgent and inventive menu in a lovely setting. With its rural charm and scrumptious food, it’s a great pick for a winter get-together or Christmas party.
From 28 November to 24 December, they’re offering a set Christmas menu priced at £24 for two courses and £29 for three courses. Diners can choose dishes including beetroot and vodka cured salmon, oxtail and cheek Wellington with potato terrine, and sticky toffee pudding for afters.
Red Cow, Chrishall
Lovely rural hideaway The Red Cow, Chrishall, has everything you might want from a winter meal out: open fires, twinkly lights adorning ancient beams and delicious food.
Tuck into a hearty feast made with carefully sourced ingredients and wash it down with a choice of great real ales. Open Tuesday to Sunday, this delightful dining destination is super friendly too, always offering a warm welcome.
The Three Horseshoes
One of Cambridgeshire’s most celebrated fine dining eateries for many years, the Three Horseshoes at Madingley has recently come under new management. It’s now in the safe hands of John and Julia Hoskins’s company Huntsbridge, which in fact ran the restaurant up until 2007 and also owns the very highly regarded Old Bridge at Huntingdon. As well as refreshing the interior, they’re looking to build on The Three Horseshoes’ already stellar reputation – and if the Christmas menu is anything to go by, we can’t wait to see what’s in store.
There’s a choice of Christmas party menus, as well as a rather lovely sounding Christmas Day lunch which begins with champagne cocktails and nibbles, features a roast Norfolk bronze turkey with vegetables and ends with Christmas pudding with rum sauce and brandy butter.
If you fancy going a little less traditional, there’s lots more to tempt, including cured and roasted Gressingham duck with figs, or whole baked turbot cooked with shellfish, herbs and lemon-roasted new potatoes. The feasting continues on Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, all of which will be offering special menus – check out the website for all the details.
www.threehorseshoesmadingley.co.uk
King William IV, Heydon
Surrounded by the gently undulating Cambridgeshire countryside, the King William IV in Heydon should be right up there on your list of out-of-town dining destinations. The building, which dates back to the 16th century, is delightfully quirky and atmospheric, complete with crackling fireplaces, beams and cosy nooks aplenty. Veggies will find lots to tempt on their excellent Vegetarian Verve menu, and their roast dinners are famously delicious too.
Image: Daisy Dickinson
The Christmas menu for 2016 includes enticing entrées like cream of onion soup with truffle oil and parsnip crisps, or baked Camembert with red onion marmalade and crostinis. For mains, get stuck into rump of lamb on crusted new potatoes with fig and balsamic sauce, a festive nut roast or a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings. The Christmas menu is priced at £28.95 for three courses, plus coffees and mince pies.
The Plough, Coton 
A countryside pub in Coton, The Plough is a short cycle from Cambridge and offers top-quality dishes made with local produce. Pop in for a great Sunday roast, seasonal ales, or their festive party menu, which costs £30 a person for a three-course feast.
The menu features a twice-baked cheese soufflé with poached pear and braised beef shin with horseradish cream. They’ve also got classic roast turkey, and vegetable and chestnut Wellington as well as decadent desserts.
For the Christmas Day menu, you’ll be treated to a whopping six courses (for £70), including roast turkey and all the trimmings, Christmas pudding, a cheese board, coffees and mince pies.
The Chequers, Orwell
Supremely knowledgeable service and a menu which more than delivers on taste, creativity and presentation elevates this hidden gem to a league of its own. The typically inventive Christmas menu begins with starters including chicken liver parfait with smoked chicken bonbon, kumquat and crispy home-made bread, and has mains including rump of local lamb with miso aubergine, fondant potato and Jerusalem artichoke. For dessert there’s a drambuie cheesecake with coffee ice cream which sounds like a boozy delight. Priced at £25 per person (three courses) and £20 for two.
www.thechequersoforwell.co.uk Image: Charlotte Griffiths
A taste of the exotic
Transport your taste buds to sunnier climes with a meal at one of these top international dining destinations
Pho
Winter is the perfect time to slip into Pho and warm up with a steaming bowl of goodness-filled Vietnamese deliciousness. Sip on a cocktail or fresh juice and get stuck into the menu which includes scrumptious noodle soups, fragrant Cà-ri curry, spring rolls and more.
There’s loads of space inside so it’s perfect for a large group, and the super central location (it’s just next to the Corn Exchange), means that you’re then well placed to continue the party in the city centre.
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi
With the flood of new foodie openings in Cambridge this year you’d be forgiven for having missed the memo about Sticks’n’Sushi, which popped up on Wheeler Street in the spring. 
This historic Grade II listed building has been transformed into a sleek and contemporary restaurant, which makes an excellent venue to begin a glam night on the tiles. Sip your way through the Japanese-inspired cocktails (we love the jasmine tea-infused Hanoko) and tuck into beautiful, traditional sushi and the lip-smackingly good yakitori sticks from the grill.
De Luca
De Luca Cucina on Regent Street has been a stalwart of the local dining scene for the past decade. Offering indulgent Italian fare with great wines and cocktails in a stylish, skylit setting, it’s a long-standing city centre favourite for good reason.
As ever, they’re getting into the seasonal spirit with a special set menu this winter, from which you can choose three-courses for £32.
Begin with chorizo and fontina arancini or deep-fried squid with sweet chili and ginger relish, then move on to ‘Secondi’ including baked turkey escalope stuffed with sausage meat and dates, served with roast potatoes. Desserts include De Luca’s famously boozy, creamy tiramisu, and you shouldn’t leave without popping upstairs to the cocktail lounge and enjoying a tipple or two; if you’re there on a weekend or selected Wednesdays there’s live piano music too.
www.delucacucina.co.uk Images: Daisy Dickinson
Anatolia
Based on Regent Street, Anatolia serves up a huge range of authentic Turkish food in a friendly, relaxed setting.
They’re offering a typically tasty Christmas menu which features Turkish classics like moussaka, hummus, meze and baklava – plus roast turkey for any Christmas traditionalists out there! The menu is priced at £24.99 per person.
Kaz’s
Spice things up this winter with some flavour-packed dishes at Kaz’s Indian and Bangladeshi Restaurant in Sawston. Offering all the favourites plus and an interesting range of lesser-seen regional culinary delights, it’s a must-visit for local curry lovers. We’re not the only ones who think so, this much lauded eatery has picked up numerous nods in the prestigious English Curry Awards over the years and boasts a stellar set of Trip Advisor reviews to boot.
If you fancy planning a hearty Indian feast, get in touch to enquire about their range of Christmas party offerings – they can seat up 50 diners (more if multiple sittings), and their set menus start at just £10 per head.
www.kazindianrestaurant.co.uk Image: Daisy Dickinson
Wow factor
These winter dining destinations promise an experience and setting to remember
IWM Duxford
If you’ve been charged with organising a Christmas party and you want a venue with serious wow factor, take a look the offering at IWM Duxford. If your party is large enough, you can book exclusive use of the AirSpace Exhibition and Conservation Hall; a stunning space which will be fully festooned in festive finery.
In amongst the aircraft, your party will dine on a three-course Christmas meal, complete with entertainment throughout the evening and a DJ spinning tunes until 1am.
Smaller group? Book in for one of the seven shared party nights taking place throughout November and December – check out the website for more details.
Six
Since opening its doors this summer, the Varsity Hotel’s new restaurant Six has had locals gushing for its stunning design, superlative cocktails and scrumptious food. You’ll find this sophisticated eatery on the sixth floor of the hotel; the impressive views of the city beautifully showcased by floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sipping on an expertly blended cocktail while enjoying the city’s skyline is a real treat, and the whole place feels excitingly glamorous. If you’re after a winter gathering with altitude, check out the Christmas menu (priced at £38) which includes sumptuous treats like Napoli salami with rocket, figs and shaved Parmesan, or roasted turkey ballotine served with crushed roast potatoes, parsnips and jus. For dessert, we love the sound of the Mince Pie Mess, with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Mmmm.
Christmas at King’s
For a bit of old-school Cambridge grandeur, a festive feast or elegant drinks reception at King’s College is surely hard to beat. Dine in style while soaking up the stunning architecture of one of the city’s most treasured landmarks and enjoy dishes like mulled wine gravadlax, fillet of south coast brill and deconstructed Christmas trifle for dessert.
The college offers a range of options, from the intimate Saltmarsh Rooms which boast views of the Chapel and lawn, to the magnificent Hall, which can accommodate up to 294 people. Bespoke private dining packages are available for groups of ten or more.
Cool and modern
Fancy something stylish and contemporary? Try these local eateries
Pint Shop
Every local foodie knows (or should know) that the Pint Shop is one of the eateries at the forefront of Cambridge’s ongoing gastro revolution. Specialising, as their slogan promises, in ‘Meat. Bread. Beer’, this popular Peas Hill venue is going from strength to strength, having recently opened the doors to their second outpost in Oxford.
This year’s Christmas Menu – priced at £30 for three-courses – is a cracker, showcasing exactly the kind of well-thought-out, mouthwatering grub we love them for. Kick things off with sharing starters of pulled and potted ham with spiced clementines, walnut and Stichelton croquettes and brown shrimp, white cabbage and fennel salad. Then (we hope you’ve got your eating trousers on), tuck in to overnight pork belly with crispy crackling and roast squash, or whole grilled plaice with creamed leeks and black cabbage. It’s a meaty menu but veggies are catered for with a main of salsify, mushroom and shallot tart with tarragon and mustard sauce. Round things off with a classic warm figgy pud and brandy cream or a less traditional but utterly delicious sounding Christmas Sundae, featuring pear ice cream, Brazil nut brittle and chocolate sauce. Heaven!
Hilton, Cambridge City Centre
In addition to weekly Sunday Carvery Lunches (£12.95 per person), there’s a stack of options available at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre hotel on Downing Street this festive season, whether you’re looking for a party night, casual lunch with friends or family, a Christmas Day feast or a ritzy New Year’s Eve shindig.
Book a lunch or dinner and enjoy a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings or other tempting dishes in the stylish restaurant, with a menu priced at £35 per person, or dust off your dancing shoes and get your glad rags on for a party night.
If you’re a smaller group, the Joiner party nights offer a perfect blend of Prosecco, a festive feast and a dance floor, whilst there’s also the option for private parties if you’ve got a larger number. Want to take away the pressure of whipping up a feast at home? Book in for Christmas Day itself when the staff will treat you to a stress-free day of indulgence, complete with fizz, great food and festive cheer (£80).
Finally, you can see in 2017 in style at the New Year’s Eve Gala Night, which offers a sumptuous meal and a DJ, for £85 per person.
CAU
Buzzy, central and boasting to-die-for steaks, CAU has established itself as one of Cambridge’s best-loved city centre spots. The Bene’t Street restaurant will be serving up a seasonal menu this winter that features the usual impressive range of Argentinean beef, alongside some innovative nods to traditional festive fare.
On the Christmas menu you’ll find dishes like winter pumpkin risotto with roast chestnuts, sage and plenty of salted cheese, and quince glazed brick-grilled spatchcock chicken, topped with cranberry and pomegranate chimichurri.
There’s also mulled wine cheesecake for afters, plus, rather brilliantly, mince pie empanadas served with eggnog. The menu is priced at £24 for two courses or £29 for three and is available to groups of eight people or more.
Novi
A gorgeous, modern space with a great selection of expertly crafted botanical cocktails and craft beers, Novi is a winner for a night out, whatever the time of year.
After a stint hosting street food pop-ups from local favourites, they’re now offering their own food menu – and we have to say, it’s pretty impressive.
There’s a lovely range of seasonal cocktails planned for the winter months which includes the Sloe Down (a heady blend of sloe gin, berry shrub, crème de mure, lemon bitters and soda), and the delectable Don’t Dis-Pear, which features pear cognac, fresh lemon juice, pear cider caramel and sage syrup.
The food nicely straddles the balance between healthy and indulgent, with the Christmas menu featuring dishes including warm lentil salad with kale and roasted squash, and pan-roasted halibut with prawn beurre noisette, sautéed Brussel sprouts and flaked almonds.
For mains, they’re offering a huge hunk of meltingly tender slow-cooked beef cheek, served with Jerusalem artichoke puree, caramelised carrots, mandarin zest and grated dark chocolate (heaven!) and a modern take on the classic roast turkey, which is a ballotine stuffed with spinach, potato dauphinoise and thyme jus.
Images: Nicola Foley
Desserts are equally tempting, featuring chocolate soil with chestnut puree, and clementine posset with cranberry compote. All artfully presented and with exquisitely balanced flavours, we can thoroughly recommend Novi’s offering, which is priced at £32 per person for three courses (£28 for lunch).
Cosy and classic
Go traditional with a hearty feast at one of these blissful boltholes
Fitzbillies 
Known as a cosy spot for coffee and cake, did you also know that you can enjoy fabulous brunches at the Trumpington Street branch of Fitzbillies? From perfect Eggs Benedict and a classic full English, right the way through to smashed avocado on toast or confit duck potato cakes, there’s something for all tastes and always new dishes to try. Ideal for seeing off those post-Christmas party fuzzy heads!
The restaurant is also available for hire for Christmas dinners and drinks parties, where you and your group can feast on treats including slow roast loin of pork with sage and onion bread pudding and ham roast potatoes. The menu is priced at £26.50 per person for two courses (followed by hot drinks and mince pies), or £30 for three courses, and is suitable for groups of 25-70.Blue Lion
The Black Horse Inn
In Swaffham Bulbeck, The Black Horse Inn is a cosy village pub that boasts a menu teeming with locally sourced produce plus great real ales. They’re getting festive with a special Christmas menu – priced at a very reasonable three courses for £26.95 – which features soul-warming classics like squash soup, game pie, spinach and potato dumplings and roast turkey with all the trimmings. And with desserts like warm chocolate brownie with salted caramel ice cream on offer, saying no to pud would be foolish!
theblackhorseswaffhambulbeck.co.uk
Blue Lion, Hardwick
There’s lots of great gastropubs peppered around Cambridge’s fringe villages, but the Blue Lion in Hardwick is one of the best. Dating back to 1737, there’s plenty of history about this quaint local, but they’re also not afraid to inject their menu with thoroughly modern touches.
This festive season, feast on a party menu which includes game broth with cranberries and pumpernickel dumplings, or enjoy a crayfish and crab scotch egg with pink grapefruit hollandaise sauce.
For mains, there’s classic roast turkey, plus dishes including sea bass fillet with potato and fennel cassoulet, served with orange and thyme salsa.
They’re also open to sate hungry bellies on Christmas Day, offering a beautiful set of dishes which begins with festive canapés and ends with a local cheese board and fresh coffee and mince pies (£69.50 per person and £27.50 for children).
Hotel du Vin
Handsome Hotel du Vin on Trumpington Street, with its grand fireplaces, luxurious furnishings and warren of rooms, all bursting with history and character, is a dream setting for a wintery feast. They’re dab hands at turning out flavour-packed French cuisine, and the menu groans under the weight of Gallic indulgences and excellent wines – that’s before we even get to the sumptuous subterranean cocktail bar…
