Home to some mouthwatering local produce – from creamy cheeses to smoked fish – Suffolk should be on the must-visit list of any foodie worth their salt. And with such an array of delicious, home-grown ingredients on offer, it’s no surprise that Suffolk is also home to some excellent pubs and restaurants who use the wide range of local produce to create some truly inspiring menus.
Whether you’re looking for pubs in Suffolk where you can sup a pint of real ale in front of a roaring fire, or Suffolk restaurants where you can work your way through a tasting menu, with each mouthful more delicious than the last, we’ve rounded up 15 of the best places to eat and drink in Suffolk.
But with all that eating and drinking, you are likely to need somewhere to have a doze after the feast. Take a look at our collection of Suffolk cottages by clicking the button below to find somewhere that’s just as special as the pubs and restaurants you’ll be frequenting.
Suffolk cottages
Best Suffolk pubs
The Queen’s Head, Blyford
From the outside, it looks like a quintessential and traditional Suffolk pub with its whitewashed walls and thatched roof, but the menu at the Queen’s Head is truly innovative. The talented chefs here produce an array of mouthwatering food made from ‘known grown’ local ingredients or produce from their kitchen garden. Highlights include a Blyford Red Baron burger with Baron Bigod cheese, Lowestoft-landed fish and chips, and Henstead Marsh Ox liver and onions. Paired with a pint of Adnams, brewed 6 miles away in Southwold, this is one of the best places to eat in Suffolk.
Old Cannon Brewery, Bury St Edmunds
One of the best pubs in Suffolk for beer lovers, the Old Cannon has an on-site brewery which produces 11 delicious real ales with fantastic names like The Gunner’s Daughter and Powder Monkey. This doesn’t mean they’ve skimped on the quality of the food, however, with the menu groaning with pub favourites such as sausage and mash, burgers, and baby back ribs. And, if it’s not enough to simply sample the local ale, you can take a brewery tour too!
The White Horse Inn, Sibton
Offering some of the best pub food in Suffolk, The White Horse Inn places an emphasis on good food done well, showcasing Suffolk’s bountiful produce from countryside to coast. With a classic lunch menu, an ambitious main menu, and a mouth-watering Sunday roast on offer, there’s something to enjoy whenever you visit. With 2 AA Rosettes and having been the five-time winner of the Good Pub Guide Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year, don’t take just our word for it!
The King’s Head, Woodbridge
In the heart of the popular town of Woodbridge, The King’s Head is a traditional, crowd-pleasing pub where you can meet the locals, dine on pub classics and relax after a walk along the River Deben. It’s also one of the best dog-friendly pubs in Suffolk, where hungry hounds can make friends with the resident pub dog, Sydney, and tuck into something from the Mutt’s Menu – we think the honey dried pig snout sounds especially tasty.
The Ship, Dunwich
There are plenty of good Suffolk pubs by the coast, but The Ship in Dunwich is one of the very best. Its seaside location is evident throughout, from the freshly landed catch on the menu, to the bold, nautical décor and even in its history – it’s said that this pub once was frequented by smugglers on the Suffolk coast. Those in search of Suffolk gastropubs will think they’ve struck gold once they’ve seen the menu, plus the beach is only 150 metres away if you need to walk off the excesses!
Best Suffolk restaurants
Ramsholt Arms, Woodbridge
Once featured in the Michelin Guide, The Ramsholt Arms is a riverside pub in Suffolk with a restaurant overlooking the beautiful River Deben. As you can expect from its waterside location, fish features heavily on the menu – with pub classics such as deep-fried whitebait, shell-on prawns and a fish platter all making an appearance. While you dine, you can enjoy the view of the boats and waterfowl swimming placidly by.
Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, Kesgrave
The restaurant at the boutique Kesgrave Hall hotel is a destination in itself, serving up a leisurely array of meals from brunch through to evening brasserie meals. Everyone is well-catered-for here, with a vegan menu and a kid’s menu supplementing the impressive main menu, and starters come with the option of ‘ample’ or ‘generous’, the former being a perfect accompaniment to drinks. Milsoms Kesgrave Hall is also one of the best places for afternoon tea in Suffolk, if you fancy treating yourself!
Black Lion Hotel, Long Melford
If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Suffolk for a Sunday roast, look no further. The Black Lion is famous for its family sharing roast, where you can gather everyone around the table and tuck into a board of meats (or vegan options) with all the trimmings, such as seasonal vegetables, stuffing, and pigs in blankets. It’s a fun and sociable way of catching up with loved ones while enjoying some delicious food too.
The Mariners, Ipswich
One of the most unusual places to eat in Suffolk, The Mariners is the brainchild of Frenchman Julien Jourdain, who travelled around south-east Asia finding culinary inspiration before running a restaurant aboard a 19th-century Belgian gunboat. The menu is suitable eclectic, with Gallic classics like oven-baked camembert and snails rubbing shoulders with Asian flavours such as satay chicken and curried aubergine, many of which also showcase Suffolk-grown produce. It’s a must-visit if you’re visiting Ipswich.
Ash Smoked Fishes, Aldeburgh
It’s not quite a pub or restaurant in Suffolk, but if you love food, you need to visit Ash Smoked Fishes. Found in a weather-beaten shack on Aldeburgh beach, this smokery uses traditional methods of cooking and preserving freshly landed fish, carrying on a centuries-old Suffolk heritage. The menu changes according to the catch of the day, but often features a smoked fish tasting platter, smoked trout filo tart, and the smokery’s speciality of crusted cod. With the option of taking away or sitting on the seafront benches, this is a true taste of Suffolk.
Best Suffolk fine dining
Rococo’s at Satis House, Yoxford
Set in a Grade II-listed Georgian country house, Rococo’s is a fine-dining, contemporary restaurant perfect for a special occasion. The menu features firm favourites with a high-end twist, such as fillet of seabass with olive salsa, leek and pea tagliatelle, and chocolate brownie with salted caramel ice cream, while the Satis cheese board is an excellent way to round off a special meal, especially when paired with a glass of port!
The Crown Hotel, Southwold
This grand hotel’s restaurant is found in the Georgian Parlour, giving it an elegant feel which is the perfect setting for a memorable meal. Visit for a breakfast of Lowestoft smoked haddock and poached eggs before enjoying a windy walk on the beach, or dine on a feast of local produce for lunch and dinner. Being in Southwold, home of the Adnams brewery, the Crown Hotel’s drinks menu is excellent too – we’d recommend the Adnams Rising Sun gin.
Scutchers Restaurant, Long Melford
People travel for miles around to dine at Scutchers, which has been serving award-winning food since 1991. Showcasing seasonal and local ingredients, the menu will delight foodies; favourites include the head chef’s own home-smoked salmon, whole grilled Dover sole, and the house creamy rice pudding. If you want to take a treat back to your holiday cottage, the Scutchers shop sells meals to take away as well as bottles of wine from its extensive wine menu.
Maison Bleue, Bury St Edmunds
Included in the Michelin Guide, Maison Bleue is one of the best places to eat in Suffolk if you enjoy classic French cuisine. Chef patron Pascal Canevet creates the very finest dishes at this restaurant, combining Gallic tradition with Suffolk produce. Highlights include ballotine of Sutton Hoo chicken, Blythburgh pork tenderloin, and south coast cod fillet, while no meal is complete without ‘le plateau de fromages Francais’ – a showcase of delicious treats from the restaurant’s famous cheese trolley.
The Bildeston Crown, Ipswich
Boasting three AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, The Bildeston Crown has to be one of the best Suffolk restaurants around. The ever-changing menu borders on experimental at times, while still leaving room for classics. Stand-out dishes include braised shoulder of Suffolk venison ragu and pasta, cannon of Suffolk lamb with crispy sweetbreads, and dark chocolate fondant with peanut butter parfait. Finish off your meal with a freshly brewed coffee and something from the hotel’s very own sweetie jar!
Stay with us in Suffolk
If you’ve been inspired to visit Suffolk and spend your days and nights dining on delectable dishes, then take a look at our range of holiday cottages in Suffolk to find your base for a gourmet getaway.
Suffolk cottages