Andrew And Sarah's Guidebook
Food & Drink
Our recommended selection of food and drink establishments and coffee places
The best coffee shop in the city centre. It gets very busy at weekends and serves fabulous coffee and vegetarian food, cakes and pastries. There is a JG Bakery opposite so if there is a queue and just fancy a take away, head to the bakery for take away coffee. Card payments only.
19 moradores locais recomendam
Jaunty Goat Coffee Company
57 Bridge StThe best coffee shop in the city centre. It gets very busy at weekends and serves fabulous coffee and vegetarian food, cakes and pastries. There is a JG Bakery opposite so if there is a queue and just fancy a take away, head to the bakery for take away coffee. Card payments only.
This is the bakery opposite the coffee shop so if you just fancy a take away head here and take down to the river. Card payments only.
Jaunty Goat Coffee - Bakery
50a Bridge StreetThis is the bakery opposite the coffee shop so if you just fancy a take away head here and take down to the river. Card payments only.
Really great to have a good quality sushi restaurant in the city centre. Always tastes super fresh, you can eat in or take away. I’d book in advance to sit in and if you want to fully experience the culture ask for the floor seats. Whilst they do offer a take away service that you pick up (could always check if they are on deliveroo) don’t leave until late in the day to put your order in. Sometimes if they are really busy and running low ons rock they’ll stop taking orders for take away.
Hamayuu
59 Watergate StreetReally great to have a good quality sushi restaurant in the city centre. Always tastes super fresh, you can eat in or take away. I’d book in advance to sit in and if you want to fully experience the culture ask for the floor seats. Whilst they do offer a take away service that you pick up (could always check if they are on deliveroo) don’t leave until late in the day to put your order in. Sometimes if they are really busy and running low ons rock they’ll stop taking orders for take away.
Opposite Bar Lounge and with the same owners, they’ve recently added additional seating on the side which is a covered verandah. They specialise in steak so it’s a real experience when you go and they fully explain all the cuts of meat, how best to serve it etc. Would advise booking in advance, it’s been closed for a while because of their refit so it’s busy once more now it’s reopened.
16 moradores locais recomendam
Upstairs At The Grill - Chester
70 Watergate StOpposite Bar Lounge and with the same owners, they’ve recently added additional seating on the side which is a covered verandah. They specialise in steak so it’s a real experience when you go and they fully explain all the cuts of meat, how best to serve it etc. Would advise booking in advance, it’s been closed for a while because of their refit so it’s busy once more now it’s reopened.
What is lacks in curb appeal it more than makes up for in the quality of Southern Indian food. One of our favourites! Eat in or take away, we’d highly recommend it. Always book in advance if you are set on eating here.
7 moradores locais recomendam
Koconut Grove
City RoadWhat is lacks in curb appeal it more than makes up for in the quality of Southern Indian food. One of our favourites! Eat in or take away, we’d highly recommend it. Always book in advance if you are set on eating here.
If you love Thai food then try this place out! Eat in or take away the food is delicious.
6 moradores locais recomendam
9 Elephants Thai Drink & Dine
11A Upper Northgate StIf you love Thai food then try this place out! Eat in or take away the food is delicious.
You can’t book this place and it gets busy. Tapas dishes with daily specials, they recently expanded their Bistro into a tapas restaurant (their Tapas was next door and tiny) and it still gets full!!! Be prepared to have a drink and wait at the bar! Card payments only.
20 moradores locais recomendam
Porta Wine & Tapas Bar
140 Northgate StYou can’t book this place and it gets busy. Tapas dishes with daily specials, they recently expanded their Bistro into a tapas restaurant (their Tapas was next door and tiny) and it still gets full!!! Be prepared to have a drink and wait at the bar! Card payments only.
Italian restaurant, always busy so good to book ahead. Serving traditional hearty dishes.
13 moradores locais recomendam
Ristorante Sergio
18a St Werburgh StItalian restaurant, always busy so good to book ahead. Serving traditional hearty dishes.
Food, drinks and afternoon tea. This is owned by the Grosvenor hotel so is great quality and quirky venue. Need to book ahead.
12 moradores locais recomendam
Oddfellows Restaurant Chester
20 Lower Bridge StFood, drinks and afternoon tea. This is owned by the Grosvenor hotel so is great quality and quirky venue. Need to book ahead.
The iconic 5* Chester Grosvenor Hotel, if this is your thing then head here for early evening aperitifs and oysters or choose to dine in the brasserie. Feel free to request a table by the window to people watch. You can book in advance which we’d recommend especially if you are looking to visit in and around the festive period.
11 moradores locais recomendam
The Chester Cross
Eastgate StreetThe iconic 5* Chester Grosvenor Hotel, if this is your thing then head here for early evening aperitifs and oysters or choose to dine in the brasserie. Feel free to request a table by the window to people watch. You can book in advance which we’d recommend especially if you are looking to visit in and around the festive period.
Small menu but the dishes are really tasty!! Eat in or take away, they will also deliver.
Hanoi Social by 9E
Small menu but the dishes are really tasty!! Eat in or take away, they will also deliver.
The long awaited new Chester market, lots of food options, plenty of seating. Fully stocked bar and coffee/cake options. Usually have live music Friday and Saturday night. Can get very busy at weekends. Thai is very very good but expect to queue.
Chester Market
Upper Northgate StreetThe long awaited new Chester market, lots of food options, plenty of seating. Fully stocked bar and coffee/cake options. Usually have live music Friday and Saturday night. Can get very busy at weekends. Thai is very very good but expect to queue.
Serves good pub food and has large outside space. Great in the Spring/Summer and sometimes they have BBQ teepee outside if you fancy something off the standard menu. Great for families too. Good Sunday roasts. Need to book in advance.
17 moradores locais recomendam
The Architect
54 Nicholas StServes good pub food and has large outside space. Great in the Spring/Summer and sometimes they have BBQ teepee outside if you fancy something off the standard menu. Great for families too. Good Sunday roasts. Need to book in advance.
The most lovely ice cream, situated down on the river. Services coffees, cakes and light bites too. You can also buy tubs of their ice cream to take away. 🍦🍦
Snugburys on the River, Chester
The most lovely ice cream, situated down on the river. Services coffees, cakes and light bites too. You can also buy tubs of their ice cream to take away. 🍦🍦
Take a rest in the park, inside and outside seating. Serves light bites, ice cream, drinks and cakes. Located near to the children’s park and miniature train that runs around the children’s play area.
The Lodge Cafe
Take a rest in the park, inside and outside seating. Serves light bites, ice cream, drinks and cakes. Located near to the children’s park and miniature train that runs around the children’s play area.
New to the high street, offers food and drinks. Cocktails are fab and the food is fine dining. Open until 2am.
Boheme
New to the high street, offers food and drinks. Cocktails are fab and the food is fine dining. Open until 2am.
Fine dining experience and booking is essential. Recently relocated to this spot as their last venue was always full!!
21 moradores locais recomendam
Chef's Table
7 Music Hall PassageFine dining experience and booking is essential. Recently relocated to this spot as their last venue was always full!!
Great for families
These places are great for everyone but very welcoming of children
Located by the river it accommodates families really well. Has outside terrace area, small indoor cinema to occupy children, popcorn machine, great menu for breakfast with bottomless coffee and also a sports bar. You need to book well in advance to ensure you get a table, they do accept walk-ins but you’ll be lucky at weekends or during school holidays to get in. If there is a sporting game you want on, try to book a booth with a TV then you can watch it whilst you eat and drink 🍺
43 moradores locais recomendam
Hickorys
Souter's LaneLocated by the river it accommodates families really well. Has outside terrace area, small indoor cinema to occupy children, popcorn machine, great menu for breakfast with bottomless coffee and also a sports bar. You need to book well in advance to ensure you get a table, they do accept walk-ins but you’ll be lucky at weekends or during school holidays to get in. If there is a sporting game you want on, try to book a booth with a TV then you can watch it whilst you eat and drink 🍺
Owned by the same people who have burger shed, Urbana serves fabulous pizzas and a small selection of other dishes. They welcome families and tend to provide colouring pens and paper. We would advise booking as small venue.
8 moradores locais recomendam
Urbano 32
32 Bridge StOwned by the same people who have burger shed, Urbana serves fabulous pizzas and a small selection of other dishes. They welcome families and tend to provide colouring pens and paper. We would advise booking as small venue.
Relaxed and good quality Italian food. Gets very busy, all the time so need to book in advance. You could just try turning up and you might be lucky and get a table if there is only 2 of you but anymore than that you will be disappointed. All dishes are great but the pizzas are highly recommended as well as any of the pasta dishes. They are taking some time off during August 2022 (not sure of exact dates) but if you walk past they have a sign on their door with the dates on.
38 moradores locais recomendam
La Fattoria
25 Lower Bridge StRelaxed and good quality Italian food. Gets very busy, all the time so need to book in advance. You could just try turning up and you might be lucky and get a table if there is only 2 of you but anymore than that you will be disappointed. All dishes are great but the pizzas are highly recommended as well as any of the pasta dishes. They are taking some time off during August 2022 (not sure of exact dates) but if you walk past they have a sign on their door with the dates on.
Pub Scene
Whilst some of these venue serve food too they are predominantly bars
Bar Lounge has been one of the best places to go in the city centre for the past 20 years. They have indoor and outdoor seating and gets the late afternoon sun. The food is very good so definitely factor in some of that or just some of the tasting boards. You have to book ahead and they’ve continued with table service following the pandemic and you can only have a table for two hours. We feel that’s a bit of a drawback but it’s still as busy as ever….
33 moradores locais recomendam
Barlounge Chester
75 Watergate StBar Lounge has been one of the best places to go in the city centre for the past 20 years. They have indoor and outdoor seating and gets the late afternoon sun. The food is very good so definitely factor in some of that or just some of the tasting boards. You have to book ahead and they’ve continued with table service following the pandemic and you can only have a table for two hours. We feel that’s a bit of a drawback but it’s still as busy as ever….
Located on the row on Bridge Street, Paysan offers a great selection of wine and upstairs, The Cavern of the Curious Gnome is a Belgian bar offering a great selection of varying strengths beverages. They also serve chicken and chip bowls and cheese boards.
6 moradores locais recomendam
Paysan
61 Bridge StLocated on the row on Bridge Street, Paysan offers a great selection of wine and upstairs, The Cavern of the Curious Gnome is a Belgian bar offering a great selection of varying strengths beverages. They also serve chicken and chip bowls and cheese boards.
Music and drinks, here they host live acts so check out their website or call them up to see what’s on. Iconic place in Chester.
14 moradores locais recomendam
Alexander's Live
Rufus CourtMusic and drinks, here they host live acts so check out their website or call them up to see what’s on. Iconic place in Chester.
Places to visit
Ideas on days out or things to do in and around Chester
We’d be surprised if you haven’t heard about Chester Zoo especially after the TV documentary. It gets very busy at weekends and in school holidays. If you are staying at Christmas check out booking the Lanterns experience. We are members so we don’t have to book but if you can book in advance for day tickets for the zoo we’d recommend doing that as queues at the ticket desk can get big!!
227 moradores locais recomendam
Zoológico de Chester
Moston RoadWe’d be surprised if you haven’t heard about Chester Zoo especially after the TV documentary. It gets very busy at weekends and in school holidays. If you are staying at Christmas check out booking the Lanterns experience. We are members so we don’t have to book but if you can book in advance for day tickets for the zoo we’d recommend doing that as queues at the ticket desk can get big!!
Saturday mornings are family cinema showings. Wednesday mornings you can take your babies if they are under 1 and see the latest releases. You can take food, coffee, drinks in with you too. Also have lots on in the theatre so check out their website or pop in and chat to any of the staff if there. Or if you need to catch up on work or emails, you can use their desks in the library. Please note we don’t find their website very user friendly though so we always tend to pop in to book tickets.
60 moradores locais recomendam
Storyhouse
Hunter StreetSaturday mornings are family cinema showings. Wednesday mornings you can take your babies if they are under 1 and see the latest releases. You can take food, coffee, drinks in with you too. Also have lots on in the theatre so check out their website or pop in and chat to any of the staff if there. Or if you need to catch up on work or emails, you can use their desks in the library. Please note we don’t find their website very user friendly though so we always tend to pop in to book tickets.
Sightseeing
The boat tours offer two durations, a shorter cruise around 30-60 minutes and one longer around 2 hours. We’ve always found the shorter one best, you get to see the fabulous properties overlooking the river from a different perspective before the river is surrounded by trees etc. it’s at this point the boat turns around. No need to book ahead at they run frequently throughout the day but it can get busy in the summer months.
9 moradores locais recomendam
ChesterBoat
The GrovesThe boat tours offer two durations, a shorter cruise around 30-60 minutes and one longer around 2 hours. We’ve always found the shorter one best, you get to see the fabulous properties overlooking the river from a different perspective before the river is surrounded by trees etc. it’s at this point the boat turns around. No need to book ahead at they run frequently throughout the day but it can get busy in the summer months.
Just a few minutes walk from the house you can enjoy learning about the famous amphitheatre. People descend their to enjoy picnics or for children to play so a great space for everyone.
30 moradores locais recomendam
Anfiteatro romano de Chester
Little Saint John StreetJust a few minutes walk from the house you can enjoy learning about the famous amphitheatre. People descend their to enjoy picnics or for children to play so a great space for everyone.
Entertainment
Some of these suggestions may be seasonal so always check online for what’s available and dates etc.
During the summer months choose a classic film to watch outdoors, take your own seating if you wish and picnic and relax. Usually starts being advertised around Easter but if you sign up for the eshots you’ll get notified
Moonlight Flicks
9 Pepper StDuring the summer months choose a classic film to watch outdoors, take your own seating if you wish and picnic and relax. Usually starts being advertised around Easter but if you sign up for the eshots you’ll get notified
Theatre, music, come day, film, library, work space. Always book in advance and some shows are available to book 18 months in advance
60 moradores locais recomendam
Storyhouse
Hunter StreetTheatre, music, come day, film, library, work space. Always book in advance and some shows are available to book 18 months in advance
Alexander's Live
Rufus CourtLive music and comedy nights, check out their website
Food scene
Love this place! Serves tapas size Thai food and if you book and eat in, tell them you are staying at The Red House and quote ‘Chilli’ and you’ll get 10% off your food bill (not drinks). Chilli owns it so any problems ask to speak to her and say she agreed it with Sarah!
THAI BAAN Thai street food
Love this place! Serves tapas size Thai food and if you book and eat in, tell them you are staying at The Red House and quote ‘Chilli’ and you’ll get 10% off your food bill (not drinks). Chilli owns it so any problems ask to speak to her and say she agreed it with Sarah!