Top 10 Gastronomic Delights of The Suffolk Coast

Spend the day in Felixstowe and you can enjoy great views of this super-busy port from the View Point Café. This warm and friendly café with both indoor and outdoor seating serves all day breakfasts, snacks, fish and chips, 'dish of the day', cakes, ice cream, teas and coffees.

Offering Mediterranean style fayre, Café Bencotto's sophisticated yet informal interior complements the food freshly prepared in the open plan kitchen. And, for the early birds, they now have a mouth-watering breakfast menu.

The Alex Café Bar and Brasserie has a fabulous seafront setting just across from the promenade in Felixstowe where you can watch the world go by whilst enjoying great food and drink!

When visiting the towns of Leiston and Saxmundham, pay a visit to the Café at Darsham Nurseries. Sit in the light and airy dining room and tuck into a creative menu featuring range of vegetables, fruit and herbs directly outside and in the 'potager', or kitchen garden. Or you might like to sit amongst the vines and palms in the exotic surroundings of the Urban Jungle Cafe near Beccles!

The Ramsholt Arms is a popular riverside pub and great for alfresco dining being situated on the banks of the River Deben. The pub is also recommended in the Michelin guide and in July 2015 was voted one of the top 20 places to dine alfresco in the UK by the Sunday Times!

Enjoy the secluded courtyard or dine amongst the apple trees in the extensive gardens at The Ship at Dunwich. Tuck into their celebrated fish & chips – with locally caught fish – before indulging yourself with one of the delicious traditional English puddings.

After a day exploring the beautiful Suffolk countryside, stop off for a pub lunch or dinner at The Unruly Pig; serving award-winning food and boasting a delightful garden complete with terrace, outside tables with umbrellas and if it turns a bit chilly as the sun does down, patio heaters. 

Whether it's a hearty breakfast, a simple lunchtime snack, a relaxed meal with friends, indulgent dinner or traditional Sunday roast, you can be sure of a great meal at The Westleton Crown. The 12th-century coaching in has bi-folding doors which open out onto the pretty enclosed garden.

Michelin recommended and dog-friendly, The Ufford Crown, near Woodbridge, serves a delicious daily changing menu, and is also great for families with a picturesque garden and children's play area.

And what better alfresco dining than having fish & chips on the beach? All along the Suffolk Coast you'll find great fish & chips whether you're in Lowestoft, Southwold, Dunwich, Aldeburgh or Felixstowe. Named as the best fish & chip shop in the UK, Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop is just a stone's throw from the sea, so find a spot on the seashore, rip open the paper and tuck into steaming hot cod and chips. 

Turn back the clock and enjoy afternoon tea in the quaint Southwold Boating Lake and Tearoom. At this quirky 1940s-style tearoom in Southwold, you’re always guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome.

Staying in Southwold, you could always pop into The Swan Hotel on the High Street for a spot of afternoon tea before taking a stroll down to the harbour or the beach.

With views out to sea, at The Hotel Victoria you can enjoy a pot of tea along with finger sandwiches, onion and sausage rolls, scones, cakes and tarts. Or head just a short way along the prom to the The Hatfield Hotel; sit out on the deck and soak up the sun (or opt for a table indoors if it's on the chilly side) and listen to the waves lap at the shore as you pour yourself a cuppa and dive into a cream slice or two!

Enjoy spectacular views of the championship golf course at Ufford Park Hotel as you indulge in a selection of sandwiches, homemade cakes and scones with your choice of either tea or coffee, or treat yourself to a glass of Prosecco or an Adnams Gin & Tonic. There's a children's afternoon tea also available, including choice of drink, sandwiches and sweet treats. 

The opulent and historic surroundings of The Orwell Hotel in Felixstowe are the perfect setting for tea which includes scones with clotted cream and preserves and a selection of cakes, savouries and sandwiches.

And if you’re visiting Snape Maltings be sure to call into The Granary Tea Shop and Café 1885. Perfect for afternoon tea set in one of The Suffolk Coast's most stunning landscapes.

There’s something about pub grub that we all love – it could be the good quality, home cooked food, the 'gastro pub' experience or the convivial atmosphere of a country pub.

With a thatched roof, tap-drawn cask ales, tiled floor and billiards table, it doesn't get much more country pub than The Sorrel Horse in Shottisham. During Spring, Summer and Autumn, the pub is open seven days a week serving lunch and evening meals and on Sundays breakfast/brunch too. There's a garden at the front and rear of the pub as well as the Pightle, complete with corral for tethering your horse!

Head to the seaside town of Southwold and you're spoilt for choice when it comes to great pub grub! Enjoy a walk on the common and marshes and head towards the harbour to The Harbour Inn. Find a table inside or out and order from the daily menu which showcases the freshest and finest local seafood including shrimps, sardines, monkfish, herring milts, with other pub classics too.

Walking from the town along Ferry Road, you will find The Sail Loft; open for lunch, dinner, Sunday lunch, brunch and afternoon tea, the relaxed atmosphere is perfect for families and casual dining. Using local ingredients the menu includes lobster bisque risotto, smoked haddock & leek chowder, Texan steak burger, Cajun pulled lamb wrap, Adnams beer-battered cod fillet and roasted, line-caught hake fillet. 

Alternatively, if you're exploring the historic town of Saxmundham, you can enjoy the all-day menu, plus afternoon tea and Sunday brunch at The Sail Loft's sister pub The Bell at Sax. Dishes typically include crisp suckling pig escalope, roast seabass, dressed local crab and summer truffle, green pea & mozzarella risotto.

Situated on the village green in Walberswick, The Bell Inn is perfect for a hearty meal after a day crabbing or on the beach. Packed with Suffolk charm the historic pub features beamed ceilings, open fires, quirky snugs, hidden alcoves and worn flagstones floors. The menu captures the best of Suffolk produce, offering a choice of delicious freshly prepared, locally sourced and home-cooked lunchtime and evening meals. There are a variety of nooks and rooms to dine in, from the informal and relaxed bar area, by the fire in the dining room, or outside in the garden looking out to sea.

Another Adnams pub for you to try is The Five Bells Inn at Wrentham. Serving a range of home-cooked classics at lunch and dinner alongside a good selection of Adnams beers, spirits and wines to accompany meals which include confit rabbit with pickled carrots, radish & tarragon, Adnams Copper House gin-cured salmon with red onion and parsley salad & soda bread and grilled Blythburgh free-range bacon chop. 

The 16th century Queen's Head at Bramfield is ideal for a family dinner after a country walk (dogs are welcome too!). Serving food all day, the menu which is predominantly British with a twist and is well known for a vast selection of gluten-free dishes and offer a great choice for coeliacs. 

A historic, grade II listed pub in the heart of Aldeburgh, The Cross Keys serves delicious locally-sourced dishes and an award-winning range of Adnams beers, spirits and wines.

Serving everything from a quick drink to a 3-course meal, The Parrot in Aldringham oozes character with solid oak beams, open fire, wonky walls and low ceilings. The menu uses local ingredients including meat direct from Salter and King butchers in Aldeburgh, fruit and vegetables from the greengrocer in Leiston, fish from sustainable stock in Lowestoft and other goodies from John Westrup in Thorpeness - a truly Suffolk menu!

After a day spent messing about in boats on the Meare, find a table at The Dolphin Inn in Thorpeness. A small, family-owned pub which serves great food alongside a varied selection of Adnams ales, gins and Aspalls cider. The Dolphin has a varied evening menu using fresh local ingredients from local suppliers in dishes such as grilled seabass fillet, grilled fillet of cod, chilled Buddha bowl with summer vegetables, cous cous, sweet potato wedges and tahini dressing and 10oz Salter & King ribeye steak. At lunch, you can order from the BBQ menu with beef burger, Cumberland sausage ring, baked red mullet, charred minute-steak and spicy harissa & chickpea burger to choose from. 

Who can walk past a bakery and not steal a longing glance at the vast array of mouth-watering cakes, bread, sausage rolls, freshly made sandwiches?

Quite possibly the most instagrammed bakery in the UK, Pump Street Bakery & Cafe in the coastal village of Orford not only sells freshly baked breads and pastries (baked fresh every morning), but also mouth-watering bean to bar chocolate and to accompany your sweet treats, order a cappuccino, latte, espresso or tea. 

Want to treat yourself? Or perhaps you’ve a special occasion to celebrate. The Suffolk Coast has great fine dining available. 

The Brudenell Seafood & Grill in pretty Aldeburgh has panoramic sea views from every table with a décor that is inspired by the vibrant colours that can be found on The Suffolk coast throughout the year. The menu features fresh local fish, seafood and free-range meats, all lovingly prepared by our head chef.

Staying in Aldeburgh, The White Lion Bar & Brasserie Bleue is inspired by a modern desire to return to simple, 'back to basics' food and impeccable service, offering freshly prepared dishes in contemporary surroundings.

There are few places better on The Suffolk Coast to enjoy the blue skies and sunshine than Orford, a small fishing village known for its bounty of excellent local food and peaceful atmosphere. And at the heart of the village is The Crown and Castle where executive chef, Ruth Watson, prepares great food.

The Crown at Woodbridge is a 2AA rosette restaurant and bar recommended in the Michelin guide serving the best of Suffolk produce with contemporary style and care, along with an impressive cocktail menu should you wish to make a night of it!

In Southwold you should pay a visit to The Crown Hotel. The food is famously good and the wine list is wonderful too. The Crown was awarded Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year for the 2nd year in a row by The Good Pub Guide 2014 and a TripAdvisor 2015 Certificate of Excellence. 

If you're staying in Southwold, be sure to book a table at the newly transformed Swan Hotel. The hotel's signature restaurant, The Still Room is open to residents and non-residents but booking is essential. The stylish restaurant feels like a private members club with its stunning copper bar and exciting menu which features poached sea trout with chicory, daikon, horseradish and heritage potatoes, cod with curried carrot, broccoli, minted yoghurt & puffed rice, lamb rump with pea, leak, tomato, anchovy, pinenut and dauphine potato and to finish marshmallow, honeycomb, rhubarb ice cream, coffee panacotta with amaretto gel and chocolate fondant with salted caramel and Aero. 

Make sure you book a table at the brand new restaurant, bar and conservatory at The Hog Hotel in Pakefield, Lowestoft. With 3 menus on offer from the classic British Sunday lunch menu, a casual dining menu and a 5-course tasting menu, which each month features the dishes of a different country. 

After a day of shopping, wandering around museums and watching the boats bob on the marina as you sip cocktails at Isaacs on the Quay, head to the Salthouse Eaterie on Ipswich Waterfront where the dishes are modern and will surprise you with a curious twist of something deliciously different.

Suffolk Food Hall at Wherstead, near Ipswich, is the place to find great local food. Started by Suffolk farmers who wanted to ensure friends had the best access to much of the fresh and original food produced locally; the Food Hall brings together the best local specialists and has a wide selection of artisan and luxury food and drink including a market hall, scratch baker, traditional butcher, fishmonger, delicatessen, chocolatier and greengrocer.

Once you've stocked up on local ingredients, head to The Food Hub Cookery School to learn how to use them! The state of the art catering kitchen is set on a working farm at Kenton Hall Estate; delivering seasonal and sustainable cookery courses. Whether you are an amateur cook or a food enthusiast let these courses inspire you. 

The oldest artisan ham producer in the UK, Emmett's Stores was established in 1820 and still resides and operates from its original premises. Famous for its Suffolk black ham, which was a favourite with many including The Queen Mother, Delia Smith and Rick Stein, you can also stock up on bacon, pickles, preserves and chutneys.

And for a true-taste of The Suffolk Coast, pop to Pinneys fill your basket with oysters caught from Butley Creek in Orford, plus a range of fish and shellfish smoked in the traditional smokehouse. 

Here on the Suffolk Coast, we are completely spoilt with a huge selection of local food and drink producers, selling jams, honey, Suffolk-cured ham, strawberries, asparagus, breads, cheeses and ales... you name it, we make it! And it’s all available at our local farmers markets!

For more information on markets across The Suffolk Coast, take a look at the East Suffolk Markets guide!

As you’d expect from a county like Suffolk, we have some wonderful local food producers.

Giddens & Thompson Greengrocers, located in the historic market town of Bungay, are purveyors of high-quality fruit and vegetables, providing a wide selection of seasonal, fresh and locally sourced produce, and for eggs, breads, pies and locally grown fruit and veg, stop at the Farm Cafe + Shop at Marlesford.

Featured on the menu of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a round or two of Baron Bigod Cheese made at Fen Farm Dairy just outside Bungay should definitely be heading home with you (along with raw milk and cream bought from the farm's vending machine), and to accompany your cheese, a bottle or two of Flint Vineyard's award-winning Bacchus, which was named East-Anglia Wine of the Year 2017. 

Whether you're looking to find out more about the beer brewing process, sample some local beer or simply have a relaxing drink and a bite to eat with friends and family, look no further than the Briarbank Bar and Brewery in Ipswich. Set just moments from the Ipswich Waterfront, you can learn how hand-crafted beers are made and sample a few for yourself over lunch or dinner choosing from light bites such as nachos, baguettes and jackets, or meals such an Ipswich Pie or Suffolk ham, egg and chips.

No trip to Suffolk would be complete without taking home a crate or barrel of Adnams finest! The Adnams shop in Southwold showcases their innovative range of quality beer, wonderful wines, handcrafted spirits and gifty bits and bobs.

And for something just that little bit different… we have that covered too!

Cruise the calm waters of the River Orwell with Allen Gardiner River Cruise Restaurant. This 63-foot former air/ sea rescue launch built in 1942, has ample space on deck and in the wheelhouse and a comfortable dining saloon.

Staying on the water, the Lady Florence River Cruise Restaurant provides a unique and exciting dining experience offering brunch and a la carte lunch or dinner cruises from Orford Quay, Orford.

If you're looking for somewhere that caters for all tastes, MarkG Seafood Restaurant (served Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm - 2pm) is sure to tick all the boxes; with exciting menu items such as field mushroom and tarragon pate, veg & nut roast hash, falafel burger handmade flatbread pizza and mezze boards. At all other times you can enjoy freshly caught fish and seafood dishes plus Sunday lunch in the main restaurant.

Situated in the market town of Halesworth, Cleone's Italian Restaurant at The Angel Hotel offers seasonal menus featuring classic dishes from Italy's extremely varied culinary regions, prepared in the typical 'home style' Italian way with menu options including pastas, salads, breads, meat and fish.

Staying with Italian, Oakfired at The Royal Oak in Beccles was recently named 'Best Independent Pizza Restaurant' by the Pasta & Italian Food Association. Serving genuine Neapolitan wood fired pizza and a range of Italian inspired seasonal food, local beers, ales, ciders and high quality Italian wines.

If you prefer your food a little spicier then book a table at Sea Spice in Aldeburgh. Taking lead from the ancient Spice Route and Aldeburgh’s historic role as a valued Tudor port, Sea Spice unites local Suffolk produce with classic Indian flavours originating over 4,000 miles away. Thali is served at lunch or why not try the Indian Sunday lunch featuring slightly spiced leg of lamb is slow roasted in a tandoor. 

For a true farm to fork experience, stop by the Blue Rabbit Smallholding and Cafe in Shottisham. After meeting the farm's inhabitants, stop by the cafe for coffee, cake, sandwiches and produce from the smallholding including bacon, sausages, eggs, salad, fruit, vegetables and home-made cakes.

Over the water now for the Boardwalk Restaurant on Southwold Pier. Whatever time of day, the views across the sea and around the idyllic coastal bay of Southwold are stunning from here. Hear the waves lapping beneath your feet as you tuck into a fabulous feast at lunchtime or dinner, there’s always fresh fish on the menu and a delightful range of platters to pick from.