Places to eat in Worcester

Launched in 2014, Ostler’s at No.1 has quickly become one of the best restaurants in Worcester. A short walk across the River Severn from our Worcester city centre hotel, the small, cosy restaurant overlooks the racecourse and serves up an imaginative selection of food that veers from jerk pork ribs to tandoori lamb shank. The food isn’t cheap – you’re looking at just under £20 for mains – but it’s routinely excellent and locally sourced as much as possible meaning it’s as fresh as can be.

Saffron’s Bistro on New Street is a similar style restaurant but with not quite as high end. Running since 1995, they’re a true Worcester institution known as much for their excellent food as they are for their friendly service and 60-strong collection of gin – perfect for pre- and post-dinner cocktails.

For a taste of the far east, look no further than the Thai Gallery Restaurant on Friar Street, just off New Street. Housed in a timber Tudor house, the food is a million miles from the medieval building it’s housed in, as the nine-page menu includes a well-priced array of Thai starters, curries, rice dishes, soups and noodles.

Further down Friar Street towards the Cathedral is Galleria Italiana, an authentic Italian eatery that dishes up a wide range of antipasti, pasta, monthly specials, risotto and pizzas which can also be ordered gluten-free. Decked out in fairy lights, exposed brick walls and stylish red and white furniture, Galleria gets busy, especially at the weekend, so make sure to book ahead for a table.

Back up towards the Crowngate Centre, and just over the Worcester Bridge from our Worcester city centre hotel is Massalla Lounge, consistently one of the best Indian restaurants in the city over the last decade. The contemporary dining room is offset by the authentic curries, biryanis and baltis that can be customised for each order.

A relaxed café/bistro, the Friar Street Kitchen – on Friar Street, fittingly enough – sprang to life in 2017 and is dedicated to the best of British food with an emphasis on local meat and steak, although there are vegan and vegetarian options too. Open for lunch and dinner, the small space quickly fills up with customers and the smell of freshly seared steaks – a winning combination for meat eaters!

Just nearby at 44 Friar Street is Mac & Jac’s Cafe Deli, a family-run licensed café open for breakfast and lunch, with plenty of tea, coffee and cake options, most of which are home-baked.

At the other end of town, The Balcony Cafe will fit the bill for culture-lovers as it overlooks the Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am-4.30pm, tuck into their home-cooked lunch menu spanning stylish sandwiches, soups and salads – but make sure to leave space for a slice (or three) of cake!

If afternoon tea in vintage surrounds is your, erm, cup of tea, then head for G&Tea near the Cathedral. Cute, charming and chintzy, the menu spans everything from tea and coffee (with no less than 14 loose-leaf teas), homemade cakes and scones and a full lunch menu. Our favourite is the gin teapot cocktails, however, perfect for relaxing after a hard day exploring Worcester.

Finally, there are several impressive fish and chip shops in Worcester, but the Ambleside Fish Bar is well worth the five-minute drive from our Worcester M5 hotel. Friendly, well-priced and with huge portions – sharing a portion of chips between two is normally enough – it’s a great option for food on the go.