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Food and Culture
Tantalise your tastebuds and take in the North East’s rich culture.
Eating out in Newcastle
Our food scene is a unique blend of high-end restaurants, hidden-gem gastro pubs, casual cafes and independent restaurants offering any cuisine you can imagine.
Whether you’re looking for a classy night out on the Toon or a more relaxed dining experience, the city has something to suit everyone.
Here are some of the best local, independent dineries to try in and around Newcastle.
Cal’s Own
Cal’s Own pizzeria is famed in the North East, thanks to the owner and founder’s commitment to creating authentic Neapolitan pizza through learning from the masters. In fact, it’s one of only two restaurants in the UK with the prestigious Association Verace Pizza Napoletana accreditation. You won’t want to miss this Newcastle staple, based in Jesmond, that gives you an authentic taste of Italy and Brooklyn in one.
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House of Tides
This four AA rosette-winning Michelin star eatery behind the Newcastle quayside captures two quintessential elements of Newcastle: outstanding food and stunning architecture. Despite all this, it’s not pretentious at all and prides itself on offering gourmet food in a relaxed, casual dining environment.
Dabbawal
Dabbawal brings Indian street food culture to its two locations in and around Newcastle city centre. The restaurant hires highly trained, experienced staff to deliver authentic, delicious Indian cuisine perfectly every single time. Plus, the restaurant’s beautiful interiors need to be experienced in person.
Riley’s Fish Shack
One of the best-known eateries outside of Newcastle city centre is Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth. Sourcing its delicacies from local boats and offering catch-dependent daily specials, it’s well-known in the North East and a must-try.
Blackfriars
Step back in time with this beloved restaurant that’s truly a hidden gem in the city centre of Newcastle. Nestled away behind the equally famous foodie location Stowell Street, it’s an authentic 13th-century friary that’s beloved for its food and atmosphere.
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The Tanners Arms
Known locally as The Scranners Arms (brush up on your Geordie slang if that means nothing to you), this gastro pub serves up some of the best pub grub in the entire region. Its loaded fries are a must-try, and it also does delicious fried chicken and incredible burgers.
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse
With four locations in the North East, Rio Brazilian Steakhouse is becoming a regional staple. Its restaurant experience is just as good as its food, with the interior design replicating the Tijuca urban forest and a traditional Brazilian dining experience.
The Botanist
With spectacular aerial views of Grey’s Monument and the award-winning Grey Street, plus stunning interiors to boot, The Botanist has been a local favourite since it opened. Try its famed hanging kebabs and indulge in some couture cocktails while you dine.
Stowell Street
Newcastle’s own Chinatown is filled with restaurants offering various Chinese cuisine experiences. King Neptune has a sublime banquet menu, while Little Asia is renowned in the city for its standout hotpots. Fancy some karaoke after your feast? Red Diner is the place to be.
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Your favourite chains
Newcastle’s independent eateries form an essential part of your Geordie experience. But if you have a favourite national restaurant that you’re loyal to, you’ll be pleased to know that you can mix up your favourite restaurants with those local to the region:
- Nandos
- Fat Hippo
- TGI Fridays
- Turtle Bay
- Pizza Hut
- Frankie & Benny’s
- Wagamama
Culture
Newcastle has one of the most thriving arts and culture scenes in the UK – from our multitude of museums to theatres big and small, you won’t regret visiting these cultural hotspots to take in performances, art and artefacts you won’t find anywhere else.
Laing Art Gallery
The Laing Art Gallery holds regularly changing exhibitions of historic, modern and contemporary art, and events including artist and curator talks and family activities. It’s an historic part of Newcastle, having been founded in 1901. Alexander Laing, a Newcastle businessman who had made his money from his wine and spirit shop and beer bottling business, is the person we have to thank for the Laing Art Gallery.
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Musuems
The Hatton Gallery
Newcastle University's Hatton Gallery, based on the Newcastle University campus, has been at the heart of cultural life in the North East since the early 20th century. The Hatton’s diverse collection includes over 3,000 works from the 14th–20th centuries. The Hatton stages a programme of modern and contemporary art exhibitions, and events including artist and curator talks and family activities. We work closely with students from Newcastle University and exhibit their work on an annual basis, so you’ll be able to take in the work of the students you’ll be helping in your job – no matter your role.
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The Discovery Museum is a science and local history museum situated in Blandford Square in Newcastle upon Tyne. It displays many exhibits of local history, including the ship Turbinia and Charles Parsons' 34-metre steam-powered ship (that was once the fastest ship in the world).
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the North's biggest and best planetarium
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the 4D Motion Ride (the only one in the North East)
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live shows in the science theatre
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the new Experiment Zone (where YOU are the scientist)
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the hands-on Curiosity Zone
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a special area for under 7s – the Young Explorers' Zone
Colleagues and loved ones get a discount of £1.50 per adult ticket (including concessions), £1.00 per child ticket and £5.00 off a family ticket, up to a maximum of 4 people in the group (including the cardholder).
Alongside permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions, the Great North Museum: Hancock offers a series of inclusive special events, so there’s something for all the family. The museum hosts special events for babies and toddlers throughout the year, as well as relaxed openings for visitors with autism and their families.
"Newcastle University is very proud that the Great North Museum: Hancock has won at the Family Friendly Museum Awards. There is a lot of work throughout the region that is encouraging children and young people's engagement in arts and culture, and this award is testament to the museum's leading work in this area. The team does a fantastic job of bringing our world-leading research to audiences of all ages".
The venue offers free entry, and if you pop in during the quiet period after work between 5pm and 6pm, you can experience the exhibitions in a more relaxed environment.
Monuments
Newcastle Castle
Steeped in history, this imposing Norman fortress is a rugged reminder of northern England’s turbulent past. Newcastle Castle is where the story of Newcastle began and the reason it got its name. As well as marvelling at its ancient architecture, you can attend events at Newcastle Castle that bring its long and storied history to life. From talks to movie screenings and theatre performances, there’s always something new to indulge in at Newcastle Castle.
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Theatres
Northern Stage
Tucked away behind the Newcastle University King’s Gate building, the Northern Stage is visually a hidden gem. But it’s also the largest producing theatre in the North East! A registered charity, Northern Stage produces incredible theatre experiences that reach local, national and international audiences. With creativity and community spirit at its heart, it’s an integral part of the arts scene in the city.
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The most spectacular theatre façade on the most breathtaking street in the UK. The Grade I Listed Theatre Royal is both neo-classical monument and cultural engine, with an annual audience of 400,000 and over 400 performances each year. Here, you can experience the finest drama, the brightest West End musicals, the cream of the comedy circuit, award winning ballet and dance, family friendly shows, sensational opera – and (we think) the best pantomime in the country!
The Theatre Royal didn’t start life in its iconic current location. Granted its Royal licence by King George III, the Theatre Royal Newcastle opened on Drury Lane off Mosley Street in 1788 and soon established itself as one of England’s leading theatres. Three months before Queen Victoria ascended the throne in February 1837, the theatre moved to Grey Street, a flagship building in Grainger and Dobson’s famous city plan. It features a fine 1901 auditorium by one of the great theatre architects, Frank Matcham, after the original interior had been destroyed by fire in 1899.
Over the centuries, many of the great names of the English stage have played at the Royal, from Keane to Irving, Olivier and Dench, as well as the Hollywood greats Orson Welles, Charlton Heston and Jack Lemmon. Even Sir Ian McKellen has described the Theatre Royal as his favourite theatre!
The Tyne Theatre and Opera House is a Grade 1 listed theatre rated “in the top 4% of listed buildings” by English Heritage and is afforded a three-star (the highest) rating by the Theatres Trust, “a very fine theatre of the highest theatrical and architectural quality”.
The People's Theatre is the leading non-professional theatre company in the north of England and one of the largest and oldest established in the country. Every show is produced entirely by its members – on stage, backstage and front of house. The team at the People’s Theatre takes great pride in working to professional standards and many members have gone on to work in the professional theatre.
Live Theatre has an international reputation as a new writing theatre. As well as producing and presenting new plays, it seeks out and nurtures creative talent. Hidden away behind the famous Newcastle quayside, it’s certainly worth a visit.
GCT is an arts venue and café in Gosforth that opened in autumn 2016. It’s home to, and run by, Liberdade Community Development Trust, is a charity that gives people with learning disabilities the opportunity to belong, work and get involved in the arts and their community.