The doors of Cambridge hospitality are opening at long last and we couldn’t be more ready to dine with a roof over our heads! Here’s a carefully selected list of the 37 places we just can’t wait to book.

The Old Bridge, Huntingdon

This handsome, ivy-clad, 18th century townhouse hotel is back open for business on May 17th and is taking bookings now for the restaurant where you can enjoy seasonal, classic dishes worthy of a special trip from the city. Book a room with their Dinner, Before & Breakfast deal and a pre-dinner tasting at Old Bridge Wine for the ultim experience.

High Street, Huntingdon. Visit oldbridgehuntingdon.co.uk, Instagram: @oldbridgehuntingdon

The River Terrace, St Ives

Do us a favour and visit The River Terrace website. If your first reaction isn’t, “Wow…” to the picture of that VIEW, then we can’t help you. From a Full English Breakfast to Cauliflower Cheese on Toast, Korean Chicken Burger OF THE GODS and weekend tapas, check your diet at the door and indulge yourself.

1 & 2 Manor Mews, St Ives. Visit: riverterrace.cafe.co.uk, Instagram: @the_river_terrace

Cambridge Gin Lab

Described as an “interactive space in the centre of Cambridge dedicated to the appreciation of gin” we love everything about Cambridge Gin Lab. Visit: The Classroom (to learn about gin), The Study (to learn, but while drinking), The Tasting Room (yes OK, excellent) and The Shop (where you can blend your own gin, no appointment necessary).

Also, look out for a glorious gin-punting collaboration with @rutherfordpunting, bookable via the Rutherford’s website.

Green Street, Cambridge. For further “gin”formation, visit: cambridgegindistillery/pages/laboratory, Instagram: @cambridgeginlab

Espresso Library

When we close our eyes and imagine what brunch might look like in Heaven… this comes pretty close. Smashed avocados, golden yolks, pancakes smothered in all the good things and perfect flat whites. Plus, don’t forget to turn your gaze up if you’re into cycling…

East Road, Cambridge and St Andrew’s Street, Cambridge. Book Online at: espressolibrary.com, Instagram: @espressolibrary

Stir

With bread so good it’s actually coined a new term in Cambridge (“Stir-bread”), we can’t wait to relax in our favourite local café again. The best croissants in Cambridge and fabulous coffee, Stir is especially nice to you if you have your children with you (thanks guys) and an it’s all -round great place to grab a table and while away the afternoon with friends.

A second branch of Stir is coming soon to Histon! Watch this space.

Chesterton Road, Cambridge. Visit: stircambridge.co.uk, Instagram: @stircambridge

Provenance Kitchen, Whittlesford

Independent, modern, British food in a bright, spacious and airy restaurant. We’ve enjoyed the gorgeous courtyard and meadow garden but we can’t wait to go inside. Their roasts are consistently rated the very best for miles around.

Hill Farm Road, Whittlesford, Cambridge. Visit provenancekitchen.com, Instagram: @provenancekitchen.

The Chop House

In the heart of Cambridge, just 50 yards from King’s College Chapel, you can escape the camera flashes outside and book a cosy, quirky corner in the atmospheric cellars. Enjoy traditional British cuts and chops, plus a highly imaginative wine list.

King’s Parade, Cambridge. Visit: cambridgechophouse.co.uk , Instagram: @Cambscuisine

Millworks

The perfect spot of a light lunch and the working watermill is a great distraction for any children joining you for the meal. They love a collab at Millworks too, so watch out for @fitzbillies English muffins and @hotnumberscoffee.

MillWorks, The Watermill, Newnham Road, Cambridge. Visit themillworks.co.uk; Instagram: @Cambscuisine

The Three Horseshoes, Madingley

The scene of special occasions for decades, book a table here for hearty, comforting dishes, fresh fish and Sunday roasts. Outside is beautiful, but we’re looking forward to heading inside on May 17th to cosy up in a corner by the fire. Dogs are welcome too.

High Street, Madingley, Cambridge. Visit threehorseshoesmadingley.co.uk, Instagram: @Cambscuisine

Pint Shop

Built in 1830 this grade two listed building is home to one of the jolliest pub restaurants in town. E.M Forster once lived in this building, so you can tell that to your friends while you get your chops round a world famous “Pigs in Blanket” Scotch Egg with chilli and cranberry brown sauce.

Peas Hill, Cambridge. Visit pintshop.co.uk, Instagram: @pint_shop, Twitter: @PintShop.

Giggling Squid

The latest resident of the old Tourist Information building in the centre of Cambridge, Giggling Squid offers delicious Thai Cuisine in one of the most impressive looking rooms you’ll find anywhere in the city.

Wheeler Street, Cambridge. Visit gigglingsquid.com, Instagram: @gigglingsquid, Twitter: @GigglingSquid

Parkers Tavern

A British brasserie restaurant lead by Tristan Welch where every dish is a gutsy reimagining of a British classic, sourced from field, fen and England’s seas. Very nice for an Afternoon Tea too if you fancy a glass of sparkles and smoked salmon sandwich.

Parkers Tavern, Parkers Piece, Cambridge. Visit parkerstavern.com, Instagram: @parkers_tavern, Twitter: @parkers_tavern.

Hot Numbers Roastery, Shepreth

The undeniable scent of roasting coffee hits you as soon as you get out of the car, then it’s the meadow views, and finally, it’s the leather sofas and freshly baking bread as you walk in. You’ll never want to leave once you settle in.

Dunsbridge Turnpike, Royston. Visit hotnumberscoffee.co.uk, Instagram: @hotnumberscoffee, Twitter: @hotnumbers.

Sticks n Sushi

Come on then, own up. How much money have you spent here over the last two years? Did you get the much Instgrammed “Sticks n Sushi takeaway” during lockdown? Well, look, with the year we’ve all had, we deserve and actual table next time. Just book yourself in and order whatever you like…We’ll pay. (Joke. We will absolutely not be paying, are you mad? But hope you have a lovely time).

Wheeler Street, Cambridge. Visit sticksnsushi.com, Instagram: @sticksnsushi.uk, Twitter: @sticksnsushi_UK

Scott’s All Day

On the most bustling corner of one of Cambridge’s most bustling of roads, sits Scott’s All Day, your neighbourhood pizzeria. Book in for a bottomless brunch or dinner where your drinks are refilled automatically and you can tuck into as much sourdough pizza as your heart desires.

Mill Road, Cambridge. Visit scottsallday.com, Instagram: @scottsallday

Restaurant 22

Now you really do need to book for this one. Get your diary out and make a date you will never forget. It’s reopening from May 22nd where the printed menu alone is a thing of beauty, let alone the actual food. Previous tasting options have included: “aged beef tartare, oyster and wasabi and gariguette strawberry, lovage and buttermilk”. We don’t even know what that means but we know we want it very much.

Chesterton Road, Cambridge. Visit restaurant22.co.uk, Instagram: @restaurant22_cambridge, Twitter: @Restaurant22Cam

Oyster Lab

Fancy an oyster? If your answer is “errr, yes always” then watch out for these guys who could pop up anywhere. Keep an eye on them at @cafefoy and @thesenatebistro. Tickets for the latter are on sale now.

Find them on Instagram @oysterlabcambridge.

Cambridge Cookery School

Here you will find brunch, lunch, fizz, wine and new summer cocktails as well as cookery classes and a deli every Wednesday to Sunday.

Purbeck Road, Cambridge. Visit cambridgecookery.com.

The Boot, Histon

This is the perfect destination pub/restaurant in the centre of Histon. Re-opening with a new summer menu including yellowfin tuna niçoise salad and Peruvian-glazed free-range chicken and sweet-potato salad. If you’re the designated driver they also have a delicious range of Mocktails – try an Apple and Ginger Spritz or a Zest Fest.

High Street, Histon. Visit boothiston.com, Instagram: @theboothiston, Twitter: @theboothiston

Kingston Hummus and Wine

One of the most exciting new openings we’ve had in Cambridge for ages. The food is simple, understated perfection. Think anchovies with vanilla butter, tahini drizzled cauliflower, a whole heeaped mountain of oysters freshly shucked from the bar and a toasted lamb ‘kebab’ with pickles (Katie’s dish of the year so far).

Yep. We’ll be going here a lot.

Kingston Street, Cambridge. Visit kingstonarms.co.uk, Instagram: @kingston.hummus.wine

The Ivy

Wonderful food in surroundings that are vibrant, celebratory and safe.

Visit theivycambridgebrasserie.com, Instagram: @theivycambridge

196

Let’s go for cocktails just because we can! Get us a Polynesian Rum Punch and we’ll see you down there!

Mill Road, Cambridge. Visit 196bar.com, Instagram: @196bar

Novi

Let’s go for cocktails again! The night is young! This time we’re going to Novi and it’s botanical cocktails, vibrant brunches and sumptuous smoked BBQ dishes thanks to an in-house smoker.

Regent Street, Cambridge. Visit novicambridge.co.uk, Instagram: @novicambridge

Mercado Central

Inspired by Spain’s historic markets, have a casual lunch in the open kitchen or book the upstairs dining rooms for a special dinner. We’ve been staring at the pictures of this food for some time and it’s one of the first places we’re heading to after May 17th.

Green Street, Cambridge. Visit mercadocentral.co.uk, Instagram: @mercado_central_cambridge

Tawa Kitchen

Different from your typical Indian Restaurant in some wonderful ways. Tawa promote wellness inside and out. Expect authentic, inventive, fresh Indian cuisine.

Station Road (entrance on Mill Park Road), Cambridge. Visit tawakitchen.co.uk, Instagram: @tawacambridge

Navadhanya

Indian fine dining created by chefs and staff from five star hotels and Michelin backgrounds.

Newmarket Road, Cambridge. Visit navadhanya.co.uk, Instagram: @navadhany_cambridge, Twitter: @navadhanyacam

Six

Go for the views, stay for the food. We can’t wait to tower above Cambridge again and have a delicious evening at Six.

Thompson’s Lane, Cambridge. Visit sixcambridge.co.uk, Instagram: @sixcambridge, Twitter: @SixCambridge

Amelie

The light and skinny pizza offering crunch with every bite is available upstairs at The Grafton Centre. We’ve enjoyed the lockdown meal-kits but you can’t beat having it made for you.

The Grafton Centre, Cambridge. Visit amelierestaurants.co.uk, Instagram: @amelie_restaurants, Twitter: @Amelie_Rest

Zhonghua Traditional Snacks

A small but mighty local favourite, serving homemade Chinese dumplings, soups and other specialities. We’ve missed it a lot.

Norfolk Street, Cambridge.

Franco Manca

The pioneers of sourdough pizza and it comes with a large helping of gorgeous views of Cambridge Market Square if you trek up the staircase and nab a table by the window.

Market Hill, Cambridge. Visit francomanca.co.uk, Instagram: @francomancapizza, Twitter: @FrancoMancaPizz

Efes

The scene of many of special occasions. The menu hasn’t changed for years and neither has our love for this classic Turkish restaurant. Hold on a little longer - succulent mixed grill and a nice glass of red wine is just around the corner.

King Street, Cambridge. Visit efes-cambridge.co.uk, Instagram: @efes_cambridge

The Moringa Tree

We can’t wait to get back to this cosy, little café serving homemade bakes, delicious light lunches and @hotnumberscoffee.

Haslingfield, Cambridge. Visit themoringatree.co.uk, Instagram: @the_moringa_tree, Twitter: @the_moringatree

The Willow Tree

This is somewhere that’s done the outdoor dining experience really well. Magical fairy-lit tree vibes and private dining pods, but if it’s this great outside, imagine the inside! Book now and you could be days away from ordering chocolate brownie with bitter chocolate cream and salted caramel ice cream…

High Street, Bourn. Visit thewillowbourn.com, Instagram: @thewillowbourntree, Twitter: @TheWillowTree1

Bould Brothers Coffee

There are tables upstairs here, promise! What this coffee shop lacks in size it absolutely makes up for in quality and reputation. We can’t wait to sit down in here finally and savour the moment.

Round Church Street and Regent Street, Cambridge. Visit bouldbrotherscoffee.co.uk, Instagram:@bouldbrotherscoffee

Further afield

The White House

Beautifully understated luxury on the North Norfolk Coast. With an honesty bar, scrumptious breakfasts and velvet sofas this is the place to clear your mind, relax your soul and take the vacation you so badly need. TWH is the very first place Katie has booked after hotels reopen next week…

Burnham Market, Norfolk. Visit stayatthewhitehouse.co.uk, Instagram: @stayatthewhitehouse

Titchwell Manor

More Norfolk good times await you at this stunning manor house. Great food and pure luxury where you can soak up the sea air and finally take a breather.

Titchwell, King’s Lynn. Visit titchwellmanor.com, Instagram: @titchwellmanor, Twitter: @TitchwellManor

Eric’s Fish and Chips

No diet cheat-day is really worth it unless you’ve texted a friend to say you’ve had an entire large portion of fish and chips. And if you’re going to do something wrong, do it right. This is the best fish and chips for miles around.

Holt, Norfolk. Visit ericsfishandchips.com, Instagram: @ericsfandc

Maison Bleue

Multi award-winning, French, modern, fine-dining. Maison Bleue is now taking bookings for sit-down meals where you can order things like “lightly poached oysters with champagne hollandaise mousseline and leek fondue.” Almost as delicious to say as it is to eat.

Churchgate Street, Bury St Edmunds. Visit maisonbleue.co.uk, Instagram: @maisonbleuesuffolk, Twitter: @MaisonBleue

There are so many fantastic venues that we couldn't possibly mention them all on this list, but we hope it has given you some inspiration for a delicious few months to come. If your venue hasn't been included and you think the public NEED to know, just drop us an email to say hello! Our lists are never sponsored (we really are just trying to help!) - so get in touch if you have any top tips or opening news you’d like us to share.

Many thanks to the team, especially Emily Martin (Twitter: @emilyincam) for helping us compile this list. The next stop: End of Restrictions on 21st June - which just so happens to be my birthday…

Thank you for supporting Cambridge Hospitality!

Katie x

37 tables we can’t wait to book