As the temperatures rise and the sun shines, tuck into a delicious meal, washed down with a cold drink and dine alfresco in one of The Suffolk Coast's top restaurant's and pub's gardens and terraces. From gastropubs to grills, coaching inns to cafes, book a table and dine out this summer...
Our restaurants use the freshest local produce, and so menus can often change. Before setting off, it's worth a quick check of their websites for up to date menus...
East Point Pavilion
With view of beach and sea, East Point Pavilion is the perfect place to head for some delicious street food after a day on the beach. This uber cool venue hosts a programme of live music and open mic nights, markets and events, and is home to a range of street food traders serving Mexican, Indian, sandwiches, pastries, cakes, desserts and a huge range of craft beer, wine, cocktails, teas, coffees, milkshakes and soft drinks.
Find a spot inside or head out into the garden to find a picnic bench and soak up the summer sun.
Find out more at www.eastpointpavilion.com
Sur-Mer at The Suffolk
Following the hugely successful pop up L’Escargot Sur-Mer, George Pell and the team opened The Suffolk in August 2022 following a dramatic yet sensitive renovation of the historic 17th century building. Located in the heart of Aldeburgh, The Suffolk is home to a 60-cover restaurant named Sur-Mer, complete with rooftop terrace boasting with sea views.
The menu is something to marvel with dishes including signature Butley Native baked lobster with garlic butter and chips, Roast Fillet of Halibut, Champagne & Avruga Caviar Sauce and Wild Suffolk Venison Pappardelle. Followed by Pump Street Chocolate Crémeux, Artichoke Cream, Pear & Almond Tart, Crème Fraiche and Orange & Pistachio Iced Parfait, Grand Marnier Sauce.
Book a table at https://the-suffolk.co.uk/
Fire & Feast
If you love good food, woodfires and getting away from it all then Fire and Feast Suffolk is the place for you. Offering pop up suppers that celebrate the best of Suffolk produce, Sunday brunches, woodfire cooking experiences and a peaceful wildflower camping meadow beneath dark skies; the family farm is just the place for an alfresco meal with friends in the giant tipi or a lazy Sunday brunch.
On Saturday evenings between late May and mid September the Fire and Feast giant tipi provides relaxed rustic suppers by firelight using produce from the kitchen garden and local Suffolk farms. Diners can enjoy a drink in the potager garden, dine in the tipi and watch the sun go down around the fire bowl sipping locally roasted coffee.
Book a table at https://www.fireandfeastsuffolk.co.uk/
The Tipi at Snape Maltings
The Boardwalk on Southwold Pier
The Boardwalk on Southwold Pier serves a varied range of dishes made from locally sourced produce. The menu can often include dishes such as pan fried seatrout in lemon butter sauce; Wild mushroom & artichoke linguineto; Beef burger; Deep-fried Halloumi burger and beer battered fish & pier cut chips name but a few.
The restaurant has tables inside and out, so you can sip a glass of wine whilst feeling the gentle sea breeze in your hair, watching the stars above and the waves shimmer as the sun sets.
Book a table at https://www.southwoldpier.co.uk/business/boardwalk-restaurant/
The Ship at Dunwich
The Ship at Dunwich is a popular pub and restaurant in the coastal village of Dunwich, described by Conde Nast Traveller as “The pick is The Ship at Dunwich, a little pub with rooms that dishes up huge portions of fried fish - cod, haddock or plaice - with some of the finest chips in the land. Washed down with a glass of Adnams Southwold Bitter, this comes close to heaven”.
Find a table in the the covered outdoor dining area or the secluded garden and choose from the delicious menu which frequently includes Line-caught haddock & chips; Slow roasted portobello mushrooms with butterbean mash and herb dressing; Caramelized red onion beef burger and Ships fish of the day.
Followed up by Black forest brownie; Sticky toffee pudding; Assorted Aldeburgh ice cream & sorbets and East Anglian cheese with Baron Bigod, Binham, Blue, Norfolk Dapple and chutney & crackers.
Book a table at https://www.shipatdunwich.co.uk/
The Westleton Crown
For character and rustic charm it has to be The Westleton Crown, a 12th-century coaching inn close to Southwold and Aldeburgh. The interiors are inspired by the surrounding wildlife and landscape, with bi-folding doors which open out onto the garden, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner alfresco.
The main menu typically includes Pan roasted chicken breast; Baked goats cheese with BBQ courgette & minted peas; Chargrilled 8oz Norfolk sirloin steak; East Anglian beef burger; Beer battered haddock with beef dripping chips and mushy peas and Roast delica squash gnocchi.
Finish your meal with Maple roast pineapple, coconut & lemongrass parfait; Caramel chocolate mousse; Roast rhubarb, gingerbread and yoghurt panna cotta and East Anglian cheeses.
Book a table at https://www.westletoncrown.co.uk/
The Unruly Pig
Multi award winning The Unruly Pig (Winner & Number 1 – Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropubs Awards 2022) is situated in the quiet village of Bromeswell just a short drive from Woodbridge. The gastropub uses fresh, local and seasonal, British food with an Italian influence. The menus are seasonal and utilise the freshest picks from the market each day, so the menu is ever changing.
Some of The Unruly Pig’s best selling dishes include veal sweetbread ‘ossobuco’; Wild garlic risotto; Paccheri pasta; Wild bass; Black pork; 40-day aged sirloin steak tagliata; Guinea fowl and bistecca alla fiorentina.
Mouthwatering desserts can typically include dishes such as strawberry & lovage; Lavender & honey custard tart and tosier 70% chocolate delice.
Book a table at https://theunrulypig.co.uk/
The Queen's Head at Bramfield
The Queen’s Head at Bramfield is tucked away in a quiet village and the stunning gardens overlook the pretty St Andrew’s Church in Bramfield, home to the only round detached tower in Suffolk. This popular fresh food pub boasts 16 tables in the garden, all with parasols and upgraded lighting for this season.
The menu often includes mains such as pan roasted chicken supreme with black pudding and chive mashed potato; Slow cooked steak & ale pie; Pan seared seabass fillet; The Queen's Fish Pie; Nut & Squash Wellington; Cider battered fish & chips; The Fiery Queen Burger and mixed vegetable curry. With desserts to choose from such as cappuccino sticky toffee pudding; Chocolate chip cookie cheesecake; Cinnamon dusted churros and cherry Bakewell frangipane tart.
The pub is very doggy friendly and even sells Frozzys Frozen Dog Yoghurts!
Book a table at https://queensheadbramfield.co.uk/
The Parrot
Dating back to the 16th Century, The Parrot is situated in the quiet and pretty village of Aldringham. You can soak up the spring sunshine and find a bench in the private walled garden and enjoy meals which can include baked fillet of plaice with garden peas and akin on fries; Slow cooked goat curry; Vegetable cannelloni; Pork tenderloin with potato rosti; Pan-fried red mullet with bombay potatoes; Salter & King 10oz rum steak and Leek & Cauliflower tart.
Desserts to enjoy are 'Death by Chocolate', chocolate brownie with chocolate ganache; Fisher's Gin & lime cheesecake with elderflower jelly; Sticky banana cake with caramel sauce & plant based ice cream and Hazelnut Barvarois.
The bar serves a range of local ales and wines, alongside their own aperitifs including owner Chris' seasonal gin!
After your meal, you can enjoy a game of boules on one of the pistes in the beer garden!
Book a table at https://www.aldringhamparrot.com/
The Dolphin Inn
In the heart of Thorpeness, The Dolphin Inn is the perfect place to head after a day at the beach or sailing on the Meare. The historic pub has an impressive garden and the menu features fresh local ingredients including meat from the local butcher in Aldeburgh, fish directly from the markets in Lowestoft sourced only from sustainable stocks, bread from the famous Pump Street Bakery in Orford, vegetables grown locally from a greengrocer in Leiston and milk from a local dairy.
You can sip on a pint of Adnams as you enjoy dishes such as Salter & King beef burger; Grilled fillet of local cod; Whole baked gilt head bream; Blythburgh bone-on pork chop; Jamaican sweet potato & red pepper curry and Chard, spinach & feta, filo pie. Finish with a dessert of Trio of chocolate, white chocolate mousse, warm dark chocolate brownie, chocolate shortbread; Limoncello tart with torched marshmallow & raspberry sorbet; Peanut butter cheesecake with salted caramel ice cream and Spiced rum banana bread with salted caramel sauce and coconut ice cream.
Book a table at https://www.thorpenessdolphin.com/
The Bell Inn
Book a table at The Bell Inn at Walberswick and you can enjoy delicious dishes whilst taking in the views over the sand dunes and out to sea.
The menu often features dishes such as Pan-roasted butternut squash, Romanesco, artichokes and potato gnocchi; Chargrilled minute steak with Suffolk Blue, roasted figs and pickled walnuts; Chicken katsu curry burger; Adnams Wild Wave cider braised pork sausage; Fish pie and Steamed shellfish, white wine, garlic and leek chowder sauce.
There's also a range of sandwiches and smaller plates and desserts of sticky toffee pudding; Blackberry and Adnams quince curd; Dark chocolate, espresso and Tonka bean tart and Baked Alaska.
Book a table at https://bellinnwalberswick.co.uk/food-and-drink
The Harbour Inn
Visit The Harbour Inn in Southwold and choose a table on the terrace with views over the town marshes or the patio at the front overlooking Blackshore Harbour and the River Blyth.
The menu can include pub classics such as grilled whole plaice with lemon & caper butter; Cheddar-glazed fish pie; Suffolk steak burger; Cod & prawn Goan curry; Red lentil, wild mushroom & heritage tomato hot pot; Halloumi burger and Smoked Suffolk ham & eggs. 'From the Fryers' there's Adnams Ghost Ship beer battered cod or haddock and chips; Chili, coriander and lime tempura battered halloumi and chips; Breaded wholetail scampi, chips, peas, lemon, tartare sauce and Devilled whitebait, dressed leaves, lemon, granary bread and butter.
There's also a children's menu with fish pie; cod & chips; ham, egg & chips and chicken goujons to choose from.
Book a table at https://www.harbourinnsouthwold.co.uk/food
The Five Bells Inn
Away from the hustle and bustle of Southwold, you can enjoy outdoor dining at the pretty and spacious village pub, The Five Bells Wrentham. Ideally situated for a meal after a day of exploring The Suffolk Coast, the menu uses the seasonal and local produce in the dishes which often include Traditional Ploughman’s (oak-smoked Suffolk ham and Cheddar) served with warm crusty bread; Hot fish platter with squid, scampi and Panko prawns with chips; Twice-cooked pork belly with a creamy mash; Mediterranean pasta bake topped with Parmesan; Oak-smoked Suffolk ham, two fried Low Farm eggs and chips; Chicken Korma with rice; Minted lamb burger and Moroccan-spiced tagine.
There's also a range of sandwiches and smaller plates, and if you've got room you can enjoy a dessert of zesty lemon curd pie; Sticky toffee pudding in butterscotch sauce; Homemade cheesecake; Five Bells cheeseboard and a selection of ice creams.
The pub also has a good selection of Adnams cask and keg beers on the bar, and an excellent range of Adnams Southwold-made spirits, as well as a comprehensive wine list.
Book a table at https://www.fivebellswrentham.co.uk/food-and-drink
The Brudenell Hotel
Dine with a view at the beach-side Brudenell Hotel in Aldeburgh. A few steps from the sea, the terrace extends the width of the hotel with panoramic views out to sea. Dine with the sun on your back to the gentle sound of waves breaking on the sea shore.
The terrace opens at 9am for brunch and a cuppa, while bar service begins at 11am. There's a delicious tapas menu and lighter meals and snacks including wraps, sandwiches and fries. For something a little more substantial, tuck into dishes which include the catch of the day, Adnams Dry Hopped battered fish & chips; Halibut & Cromer Crab; Roasted stone bass; Spring lamb saddle; Confit duck leg; Spring pearl barley risotto; 28 day aged rib-eye steak; Vegan burger; Sweet potato & red onion tart and crayfish & clam linguine.
Finish your meal with a dessert of Rhubarb cranachan & lychee panna cotta; Chocolate & hazelnut eclair; Lemon & elderflower sponge; Dark chocolate & raspberry tart, sticky toffee pudding and homemade petit fours.
Thorpeness Hotel & Golf Club
Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel 'Braid's Bar' and grill menu is served on the lawn in the hotel's delightful garden, which is situated alongside the peaceful Meare. Enjoy a meal before or after a round of golf on the links course or just sit and enjoy the view with your choice from the menu.
There's a menu of sandwiches and sides, plus a range of dishes including fish & chips; Scampi & Chips and ham, egg & chips; classic Caesar salad; Greek salad; Crab Caesar salad; Vegetarian macaroni & cheese; Thorpeness burger; Grilled sirloin steak; Vegan burger and BBQ chicken burger.
The Alex Cafe Bar
The Alex Café Bar boasts a fantastic seafront location overlooking Felixstowe’s south promenade. The friendly, informal venue offers the full range of bar drinks, a large selection of wines by the glass or bottle, Adnams draught ales and a large gin menu. Freshly ground coffees and cake complement the all day menu featuring delightful breakfasts, brunch, café meals and bar snacks, produced with passion in the open kitchen, by the busy brigade of chefs.
Find a table on the large heated patio overlooking the sea and choose from dishes which often include Cauliflower & romanesco cheese; Bavette steak baguette with sweet & sour onions; Tempura battered fresh hake loin; The Café Burger; Pot of fresh mussels and Cajun spit roasted chicken.
There's an exciting plant-based menu for vegans too, with meals including bubble & squeak cake with roast tomato sauce and mushrooms and Moving Mountain burger.
Book a table at https://www.alexcafebar.co.uk/
The Maybush Inn
Perched on the banks of the picturesque River Deben, The Maybush Inn boasts panoramic views of the river and beyond. This dog-friendly pub is a popular spot and the perfect place to soak up the sun over dinner.
The menu regularly features dishes such as a selection of salads; Cold fish platter with smoked salmon, smoked mackerel, prawns, roasted salmon, a selection of sauce with salad and bread; rib eye and sirloin steak; Blue cheese burger; Pork & apple burger; Homemade beef lasagne; Sausage & mash; Creamy wild mushroom linguine; Cauliflower chana masala and Mediterranean vegetable lasagne.
End your meal with Belgian chocolate brownie; Lemon tart; Vegan apple & blackcurrant crumble; Cheese board or a selection of ice creams.
Book a table at https://www.debeninns.co.uk/maybush/
The Fox Inn
Nestled in the heart of the idyllic Suffolk village of Newbourne, The Fox Inn boasts an idyllic garden, with pretty hanging baskets and an undercover area, in case those summer showers make an appearance!
The menu uses fresh local ingredients to make dishes such as Proctors Cumberland ring, pork & apple burger with pulled pork and popcorn crackling; Steak, ale and mushroom pie; Sirloin steak; Steak burger with chips & homemade burger sauce; Cajun chicken with chips; Fillet of cod baked with a pesto crust; Fish & chips; Scampi & chips; Southern fried, chargrilled & pulled BBQ chicken burger with cheese and bacon; vegan roasted celeriac, wild mushroom & shallot pie with olive oil mash and seasonal vegetables and Moving Mountains plant-based burger.
To finish, choose from cheesecake of the day; Sticky toffee pudding; Vanilla creme brulee; Chocolate brownie; Treacle tart and a selection of Suffolk ice creams.
Book a table at https://www.debeninns.co.uk/fox/