Our favourite top 5 restaurants in East Cambridge
Let’s talk about East Cambridge. This is where it all started for Cambridge many years ago. In medieval times, Stourbridge Common was the site of one of Europe’s largest fairs – a bustling centre for shopping, eating, and revelry that offered temptations of every kind. As soon as the infrastructure improved, the fair wasn’t needed anymore, and the then locals moved to the west, which is now known as the city centre of Cambridge.
Fast forward from 1211, East Cambridge has undergone many changes throughout the years. Recently, new neighbourhoods, such as Marleigh, have been created, and young families flock to the East of Cambridge, wanting to be close to the open green spaces and the river. So what about eateries? Here are our top 5 favourite restaurants in the East of Cambridge.
Fine Dining – MJP at the Shepherds
The award-winning Chef Mark Poynton opened his restaurant, MJP at the Shepherds, on the outskirts of Cambridge in 2020. The Ancient Shepherds in Fen Ditton is a beautiful 15th Century restaurant with rooms and just a short walk from the River Cam. Mark’s style is modern seasonal cuisine serving casual fine dining cuisine, which can be served as shared platters or as a tasting menu or let the team create a surprise tasting menu for you. Don’t forget to check out the special offers on weekdays.
This restaurant is technically not in Cambridge, but it is so close to East Cambridge that I wanted to include it, too.
Sri Lankan Fusion Cuisine – Coconut Cambridge
Tucked away in a row of shops and next door to Abbey People community centre on Barnwell Road, you’ll find Coconut Cambridge, a delightful Sri Lankan fusion restaurant. Their menu features a tantalising selection of dishes infused with freshly prepared aromatic spices, offering a delicious fusion of flavours from around the world. Our favourites are the curries, especially the black pork belly curry and the hot butter squid. The menu also includes a very nice selection of vegetarian dishes. Check if they have hoppers, as this is not a fixed item on the menu. BYO alcoholic drinks.
Indian & Bangladeshi Cuisine – Pipasha
Opposite Cambridge United Football Club on Newmarket Road is Pipasha restaurant, one of the most popular Indian restaurants in Cambridge. It is not surprising that it is celebrating its 25th birthday with such a huge following. Pipasha’s team focuses on blending authentic Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine with modern techniques.
The owners, Abdul and Modu, have created a restaurant that serves great food and serves its local community. The restaurant regularly collects donations for local food banks and provides essentials and food to the community.
Pub with a riverside beer garden – The Green Dragon
The Green Dragon in Chesterton is one of the oldest pubs in Cambridge. It is well-known in the local area for one of Cambridge’s best riverside beer gardens and is rumoured to have been Oliver Cromwell’s playground.
There is a fine array of cask ales on draft, a good selection of wines, delicious Lebenase-inspired home-cooked fresh food and Sunday Roasts during the winter months. The Green Dragon is a stylish Cambridgeshire local bursting with character and charm, with a huge open fire roaring on chilly days. It’s the best spot in Cambridge to watch the rowers on the river Cam and the May and the Town bumps throughout June. Although the Green Dragon doesn’t have a children’s play area, you can find one opposite the beer garden on the other side of the river.
Pizzas on the River Cam – Calverley’s
Calverley’s Brewery and Taproom at the Engineer House on the Riverside is a unique location in East Cambridge, serving excellent craft beer and wine, coffee and soft drinks. Calverley’s is a small batch brewery based just off Mill Road in the heart of Cambridge. Founded by the two brothers Sam and Tom in 2014, who are intent on brewing a diverse range of beer inspired by the worlds eclectic beer styles.
The Engineers House is located at the Cambridge Museum of Technology, steeped in history it was originally built to house the incumbent Chief Engineer at the pumping station, but in recent years has become part of the museum where both the public and visitors can enjoy refreshments provided by Calverley’s Brewery and artisanal pizza straight from the wood fired oven by Al Forno.
Italian Cafe at Marleigh – Salento
Salento opened its doors in one of Cambridge’s newest neighbourhoods in April 2024. Not only does it serve the local community, but it also serves people from far and afield, as many local Italians flock here at least once per month to enjoy the Italian food and hospitality.
Salento is run by a father and daughter and serves delicious Italian food, such as sandwiches, pastries, sweet treats, Arancini, classic homemade pasta dishes, Scrocciarella pizzas and other comforting Italian meals. Recently, they have added English fry-ups on Sundays at the request of their guests.
Join Salento to savour the taste of South Italy and enjoy an antipasto board with a bottle of wine or a Spritz to celebrate the weekend! No need to travel by car: it is a lovely journey by bike or walk along the River Cam and woodlands.
Check out the other favourite top 5 places in Cambridge
Are you visiting Cambridge or a local and not sure where to find the best places to eat, hang out, shop or where to go for the best fun or walks in Cambridge? We’ve done the hard work for you.
