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- Category: things to do
- Updated: 15th March 2023
Places to Eat in Stamford
You're never short of places to eat in Stamford. One thing this town does well is food! A wide selection of cuisine is available, from rustic Turkish Meze to authentic Neapolitan pizza; you'll find something to suit all tastes. Many of our eateries also boast great wine & cocktail menus, so we're certainly spoiled for choice! Here are our top ten picks for eating out in Stamford.
Orbis
First up is the uber-cool Orbis. A shining example of world cuisine done right! For a reasonable budget, they offer a fantastic small plate menu with options such as the delicious yuzu crispy chilli squid and the incredibly popular bang bang cauliflower (which happens to be my favourite dish on the menu!). Also available is a superb brunch menu, with special event days throughout the year and a great cocktail selection too. The atmosphere is buzzy, and the decor is on point - it feels a bit like a big city restaurant fitting pretty well into a small town. During the summer, their rooftop terrace is also open for drinks at sunset- truly something special. On a final note, everything on their menu is gluten-free. Winner! Orbis is definitely a must-visit if you ever find yourself here in our charming little town.
11 All Saints' Pl, Stamford PE9 2AR
The Slanted Door
Fine dining more your bag? The Slanted Door gets its name from the beautiful yet slightly wonky 16th-century building it's housed in. This restaurant is small and cosy, tucked away on St Mary's street- one of the prettiest shopping streets in town. I'd recommend this as an option for a first date or intimate catch-up with friends, but I reckon they'd do entertaining for big groups with equal success. The menu is fancy but not pretentious, and with a highly renowned chef on board, the food surely won't disappoint. Their drinks selection is also great; they offer a vast cocktail menu with specials such as the Japanese Old Fashioned and also make a cracking Margarita. If you find yourself here between 3-6 Tue-Thu, their drinks offer of cocktails for £6 is a surefire winner.
43 St Mary's St, Stamford PE9 2DS
Pizza Da Mario
Next up is an absolute favourite of ours. Pizza Da Mario is an authentic artisan pizzeria serving some of the best pizzas this side of Naples! Perfectly cooked in their totally instagrammable pizza oven and paired with a great selection of wines. The restaurant is snug in the winter as there are only a few tables, but the outdoor seating in the summertime can't be beaten. It truly has a Mediterranean feel and is the perfect addition to the local community. I'd recommend the Capricciosa with a perfect red. Nothing more is needed.
1 Sheep Market, Stamford PE9 2QZ
Zada
If you're after somewhere dark & cosy with really, really good Turkish food, then Zada is perfect. It's decorated with traditional Turkish flare, the portions are huge, and taste is high on the agenda. They describe their food as unpretentious and abundant. I would agree with both! You can truly relax here and tuck into some serious grub, leaving etiquette at the door. Their meze dishes are great sharing options, with vegetarians and vegans catered for very well. This restaurant feels like somewhere I'd love to spend a winter's evening with friends or celebrate something kinda special. Definitely give Zada a try if you're here for a while.
13 St Mary's Hill, Stamford PE9 2DP
Cloisters
Now onto something a little different. Cloisters- our local Italian offering, is more of a date night, sophisticated dinner option, quieter than some of the other choices on this list, but in an excellent way. It's that place you go for great food, escapism and good service. A bonus is the deli recently opened as a side hustle to their primary bistro offering. During the day, you can head over and shop for salamis, cannoli and olives or order a whole hamper of antipasti goodness for entertaining at home. Cloisters really does have everything.
9 St Mary's St, Stamford PE9 2DE
Cosy Club
Now, this next one is part of a well-known chain, but it's one I couldn't leave out. The building is a stunner - the former postal delivery office for the town; it has that rugged warehouse feel, industrial and tatty, but just the right kind of tatty. The space is huge, with separate restaurant and bar seating. To the left are comfy sofas and bar tables for drinks or a daytime coffee, and to the back is the main eatery. The menu is eclectic but tasty, with the bonus of a good brunch menu too. During the day, at the weekend, you'll find plenty of families in here as it's buggy friendly and the kid's menu is plentiful, but of an evening, this becomes somewhere to head for drinks at the start of your night out. Genuinely a jack of all trades. Just to add, I'm sitting in this very restaurant as we speak, blogging away with a coffee and a bowl of fries. (Healthy lunch, but sometimes needs must!)
The Old Delivery Office, Horse Shoe Ln, Stamford PE9 2RB
No 14 St Marys
Ah, one of our absolute faves! What a gorgeous, gorgeous place this is! No 14 St Mary's wine bar and wine shop is something very special indeed!
Technically not officially offering itself as a restaurant but rather a wine bar attached to a flourishing wine business; no 14 just so happens to provide some, in my opinion, some of the finest tapas around. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable about all things grape and will pair the best drinks with both your food and your taste preference. Whether you're a fellow wine aficionado or a total novice, you'll be sure to have the right drink at your table. The other thing I must mention about this one is the feel of the place. You'd be perfectly at home on a Parisian street in this establishment; such a European feel. I love No 14 and would recommend it to anyone as a must-visit!
14 St Mary's Hill, Stamford PE9 2DP
The George Stamford
If you're heading to Stamford and don't already have The George on your radar, I'd be very surprised. The building is integral to the town's history, with experts estimating it to be around 900 years old. In recent years it has been modernised but in keeping with its important historical credentials. The George has several dining options ranging from afternoon tea in the Garden Room to fine dining in the Oak Room. Children are very welcome, although the latter is formal, so there may be alternative options better suited in town for an enjoyable family dinner. I have young ones myself and would consider the George for special occasions but something buzzier with the kids any other time. If dressing up for a delicious dinner at the 'jewel in the crown' of Stamford is what you're after, then The George is most definitely where you need to be.
71 High Street St Martin's, St Martins, Stamford PE9 2LB
Paten & Co
This is one of my most regularly visited Stamford eateries! It's the perfect blend of fun and dressed-up. Their menu is eclectic and tasty; the atmosphere is buzzy and full of life. I'd recommend the small plates option and share between friends. It all tastes so good it's hard to choose a favourite from the menu, but both the lamb kofta and the mac n cheese are delicious in equal measure. Seating is booth style which I love as it's great for a group of friends, lending privacy but a social feel to the group. You can also squash in if you're simply heading for a pre-dancing cocktail or three! The perfect start to a night, Paten & co rarely disappoints.
7 All Saints' Pl, Stamford PE9 2AG
Kanchhi
One of Stamford's newest restaurants, Kanchhi, which serves Nepalese and Indian cuisine, is a culinary delight! It sits right in the heart of town and is the perfect option to spice up your evening. They offer a traditional tandoori menu and a wide array of mains you wouldn't find elsewhere in Stamford- the Himalayan goat curry as an example! This restaurant is a beautiful new addition to the town's eateries and one not to be missed.
11 Broad St, Stamford PE9 1PG