UK Food Guide: Leicester, England

After spending six weeks exploring–and, most importantly, eating in–Leicester, I feel pretty confident in my ability to recommend great restaurants in the area. I essentially stuffed my face every chance I got while staying in the UK, and I have to say that some of my favorite meals I’ve eaten since traveling were eaten in Leicester. After my extensive research (i.e. spending way too much money dining out), I’ve gathered a collection of my favorite spots to eat and drink in the city.

While Leicester may seem unassuming at first, the amount of different restaurant options in the city was really impressive! From Indian food to fish and chips, to classic Italian cuisine to good old American cheeseburgers and fries, there’s restaurants to satisfy any palate, and then some. Whether you’re looking for a cute coffee shop, a new favorite dinner restaurant, or a spot to grab a quick drink with friends, you’ve come to the right place!

1. Northern Cobbler

The first spot we ever got breakfast in England was Northern Cobbler. It’s a lovely little cafe right on Queens Road with lots of coffee options, breads, bagels and pastries to choose from. Their banana bread with clotted cream paired perfectly with an iced latte, though pretty much everything on their menu looked delicious!

The interior of the coffee shop is a minimalist’s dream: clean white walls, large wooden tables and chairs/stools, big windows overlooking the street, and plenty of space to gather with friends or get some work done quietly (though the wifi was never working when we went, so keep that in mind if you’re bringing your laptop).

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Banana bread with clotted cream
• Iced oat milk latte

2. Bondade

Bondade quickly became our favorite cafe in Leicester–the moment we walked in, we were met with cozy couches and chairs, pops of color, and the scents of fresh coffee brewing and breakfast items cooking. It’s a perfect spot to hang out or work, with no shortage of yummy foods and drinks. I work best with background noise and food to pick at, so I loved getting to order breakfast and zone out for a few hours in this cozy space.

Their menu is seasonal, mainly changing the flavors of their staple items every so often (think maple bacon pancakes one season, banana blueberry the next). Their avocado toast was a favorite of mine, topped with pomegranate seeds and crumbled feta (they have lots of vegan options, too!).

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Avocado on toast
• Strawberry smoothie

3. Fingerprints

We only went to Fingerprints once, but they served me arguably the best Eggs Benedict I’ve had throughout our travels so far. Our Airbnb hosts actually recommended this spot to us on our way out the door one morning, and we ditched our initial plans to try it out with high hopes and hungry bellies.

It’s a super small cafe tucked between larger shops on Queens Road, so if you aren’t paying attention and no one’s sitting outside, you’d probably miss it. Walking in, it feels very homey, with lots of art on the walls and a big chalkboard menu behind the counter. We opted to sit outside when we went, and it would have been tight if there was anyone else out there–the tables and chairs are super small and packed together pretty closely. Regardless, it was a great meal before we headed out for a day of shopping!

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Eggs Benedict

4. Port and Nata

We’d walked by Port and Nata countless times before we were finally so intrigued that we had to stop in. No matter what time of day, we always saw people sitting outside at their tables, talking, eating and laughing. It looked like a great vibe, so we went for breakfast one morning and were met with probably the friendliest staff I’ve met abroad so far. They helped us with the menu, explaining the Portuguese dishes and complimenting our orders when they were similar to theirs. The service was incredible, and the food was just as good!

I ordered the “sticky maple bacon Rabanadas” which are Portuguese French toast, and they came with huge slices of bacon, maple syrup and fresh berries on top. I’d been getting used to savory breakfasts, so this super sweet dish was a welcome disruption to my usual routine, and super unique! The bread was much crispier than traditional French toast, but still very sweet and paired incredibly with the salty bacon and juicy berries. I may have spent a little too long meticulously cutting everything up evenly so I could have a bit of each flavor in every bite, and I suggest you do the same.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Sticky maple bacon Rabanadas

5. The Tiny Bakery

Oh, how I wish we had found this place sooner than a week or so before we left England. The name does not do it justice–this place is tiny. Like, only room for two people to walk in at a time, tiny. Despite the lack of space (or maybe even because of it), I immediately fell in love with the array of pastries in the window, bagels hanging on the wall, stacks of bread loaves and tiny tarts cooling in the fridge. It reminded me of the small bakery in New Hampshire that I used to work in, and I instantly felt that warm sense of comfort that only freshly baked goods can bring to a baker.

We got an assortment of treats, from raspberry loaves to fruit pastries, to chocolate tarts and savory rolls. Each of them were unique and delightful, and we had a lovely morning sharing bites of each item and exchanging mumbles of approval through our full mouths. We only visited once and I’m still thinking about the treats we ate there–do not skip this spot if you find yourself in Leicester!

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Chocolate & strawberry tart
• Fruit pastry
• Vanilla raspberry loaf

6. Mowgli

We stumbled upon Mowgli when we were eating next door; so many people were coming out of their doors looking like they had just had the time of their lives inside, so we knew we wanted to try it out soon after. Turns out it’s actually a pretty big chain restaurant throughout the UK, but you wouldn’t think so once you’re inside. The atmosphere is very cool, and the interior design is so unique and intentional that it seemed like a standalone restaurant, and we thought we’d found a hidden gem (not so hidden after all, but still a gem).

Mowgli serves Indian street food in a charming setting, with swinging seats, twinkly lights and industrial decor. The menu is made up of cocktails, appetizers, small sharing plates and desserts, and you truly can’t go wrong with anything you order. Pictured to the right are the Mother Butter Chicken, Prawn Curry, Paneer, Treacle Tamarind Fries and Chat Bombs–all amazing. And don’t even get me started on dessert…

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Mother Butter Chicken
• Treacle Tamarind fries

7. Zizzi

If you’re craving cheap (but good) Italian food from a chain restaurant, Zizzi is the spot for you. We walked by this spot after a day of shopping at Highcross, took one look at the menu, and decided we needed pasta. Something I liked about being new to the UK was not knowing which spots were chains and which restaurants weren’t (except for when we saw TGI Friday’s literally everywhere). I definitely like to get a more local experience when dining in new places, but not knowing if a restaurant was a chain before we ate there gave us a more unbiased outlook on the food. Zizzi was one of those spots that surprised me when I found out it was a huge chain–I wouldn’t have guessed it when we sat down to eat, or after actually eating the food, which was great!

I got the Rigatoni Pomodoro which had bufala mozzarella on top, and paired with white wine and an empty stomach, it really hit the spot. Add in the chocolate banana brownie sundae I devoured afterwards, and it was a pretty perfect meal for someone running on one iced coffee and 4 hours of shopping. Their specials looked great as well, but were mostly sold out when we got there. One thing I did not enjoy to the fullest was their pasta crisps, which were essentially Taco Bell cinnamon twists with savory spices instead of cinnamon. They were way too hard–I think it was literally dried pasta rolled in spices.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Rigatoni Pomodoro
• Chocolate banana brownie sundae

8. Brew Dog

I’m so happy we came across BrewDog just before we left England, and it happened totally by chance–we had literally just sat down in a different restaurant, and the moment we walked in we knew we didn’t want to eat there. It was hot, sweaty, and the restaurant was run by the same company that ran a spot in Scotland we didn’t like at all. We took one look at the menu, then a look out the window, and thankfully we saw the BrewDog sign looking back at us. With an “anything its better than this place” attitude, we headed across the street hoping that this brewery sold food, too, and we were so pleasantly surprised when we walked inside.

It felt like we walked into a brewery back home in New England, and I was so convinced that BrewDog was an American chain that I immediately looked up their origin (which is Scotland, actually). The big booths, good music, huge bar, cool art and aroma of burgers and fries immediately put me in a great mood, and we settled in a corner booth to enjoy our beer flight and meals. I think there was a special menu when we went, because I haven’t been able to find the burger and vegan hot dog we ordered on any menus since–but they were truly divine after a long day walking around in the UK heat. Just look at that drizzle on the hot dog!

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Hazy Jane Guava (IPA - New England/Hazy)
• Fried bacon chicken burger
• Cauliflower wings

9. Timo

If you head in the opposite direction of the city center, you’ll come across a little street in Leicester with a small collection of restaurants and bars. We were craving Italian food, so we loaded up Google Maps, found a spot called Timo, and started walking with very few expectations. We’d never been down that way before, but it was a nice 20 minute walk on a cool evening. The surrounding streets seemed pretty drab, but once we spotted the restaurant and the handfuls of people lining the outdoor tables at other bars and pubs, we had a good feeling about Timo.

The lobster ravioli was delicious, as was the aubergine ravioli and vegetarian lasagna. I don’t eat a lot of seafood pasta, but this really hit the spot, especially after a few cocktails. The restaurant itself is small, but it was empty when we arrived so we got the table in front of the large open window, so we were able to people watch outside while we chatted and ate our meals. All in all, it was a great little spot we might have missed if we hadn’t been craving Italian food! Keep reading to see the insane desserts we had here, too.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Lobster ravioli
• Traditional ravioli

10. The Old Horse

We passed this pub every time we walked to the city center for went for a walk in the park, so when we were craving pub food (as we often did), we decided to try it out. There was TONS of space, both outdoors and indoors, with a street-front patio area, multiple huge rooms inside, a back patio and a beer garden even further back. We opted for the beer garden, found a picnic table to sit at, and felt a little out of place at first. It was quiet and filled with an older crowd, so we must have seemed odd walking in as two young American girls. It started to fill up as we sat there, though, and we had time to take in the menu.

We started off with huge frozen ciders, which definitely didn’t help our touristy vibes at an old school pub, but they were super yummy. We both went with baguette sandwiches which were delicious, and we got a “box” of cheesy fries for the table, which turned out to be a literal pizza box filled with French fries. Way too much for us to finish there, but they made for decent leftovers.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Pulled pork baguette
• Frusen ciders (frozen hard cider)

11. Vicky's Chippy

Vicky’s was about a 40 second walk from our Airbnb, and was the first dinner we ordered once we arrived to England. We were starving, tired, and craving pizza, and this spot did the trick for sure. I got a chicken tikka pizza with masala fries, and Amanda got the “small” fish and chips (which turned out to be bigger than her head). In hindsight, I could have eaten the fries as my entire meal–and kind of wish I had, since they were better than the pizza.

I don’t know why, but the vibe of this shop reminded me of the sub shop next to Nashoba High School in MA–just your typical walk-up counter with sandwiches, pizzas and sodas, with a few of those fake wooden booths to sit at. Definitely a take-out spot, which was nice considering it was open late and less than a minute away from our flat. The food was average, but definitely satisfied the cravings!

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Masala fries

12. Merchant of Venice

Another spur of the moment restaurant choice while walking through the center of Leicester–this spot served the biggest pasta serving I think I’ve ever had. Truly, it felt like two plates of pasta. I finished half of the plate and felt fully satisfied, and I probably should have stopped or saved the rest, but I powered through because it was so good. Definition of comfort food here: a huge plate of spaghetti carbonara covered in parmesan cheese.

The environment was cute: Venice-themed decor, swinging seats by the window, dark wood and lots of old paintings. The staff was super friendly, and one server struck up a conversation with us, delighted by the fact that even though we were from the US, we knew where Albania was (what a testament to the American education system, huh?). Anyway, the vibes were good, the cocktails were yummy, and the pistachio cheesecake was to die for. Could have done with about half the amount of pasta, but for under £15, it was well worth it.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Hugo (cocktail)
• Spaghetti carbonara
• Pistachio cheesecake

13. Turtle Bay

Turtle Bay was another restaurant right near Highcross that we visited when we wanted a different vibe than the traditional UK pubs or chains we’d been eating at. It might still have been a chain restaurant, but it was super lively and bright, serving 2 for 1 cocktails and lots of Caribbean food. Unluckily, we had just missed their drink deal by the time we sat down, but the frozen cocktails were still yummy.

The Mac and cheese balls we ordered as an appetizer were delicious, but my “jerk chicken” Mac and cheese had no “jerk” in sight. I was anticipating a super creamy, saucy, spicy dish, but the chicken turned out to be pretty dry, with no sauce on it at all. The pasta was good, but the whole thing felt a little off to me until I added some BBQ sauce from the table. That was a quick fix I’m glad I made, but the dish definitely could have used more sauce on its own. Amanda’s Buddha bowl, however, looked amazing–it was filled with fruit, veggies, rice, cheese, and a lot more things I’m probably forgetting. The atmosphere was pretty cool, though, and I think it would have been cooler if we’d eaten inside where the music was playing, lights were flashing, and more people seemed to be congregating.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Any frozen cocktail
• Mac and cheese balls

15. Martin Bros. Micropizzeria

I’m a sucker for a craft pizza restaurant, and this place hooked me the second I walked in. It was like a mini brewery that served great pizza and appetizers, which is like heaven to me–so needless to say, I loved Martin Bros. Our hosts recommended this spot to us as well, though I’m sure we would have stopped by even if they hadn’t.

I got the “Stannis Burrateon”, which was a yellow tomato pizza with burrata, buffalo mozzarella, basil and EVOO. I think Amanda got the Margherita, which is always a classic. Paired with their cider (I forget what it was called, oops), it was a great meal all around. They also had a sneaky delicious tiramisu, which I wouldn’t expect from a micropizzeria, but it was pretty big and pretty tasty.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Stannis Burrateon
• Tiramisu

16. Pho

This was the only Asian food we ate during our time in England, but it was great when we were craving something other than pub food and pasta! Pho is a dish I’ve actually only had a few times in my life, but every time I eat it, it reminds me that I need to start eating it more. Luckily, this restaurant (aptly just named “Pho”) had as many different kinds of pho as you could imagine, plus a huge selection of other Asian dishes. I opted for the steak pho, which came in a bowl bigger than my head, filled to the brim with yummy shaved steak and tons of veggies and greens.

Sadly, I didn’t save the photo I took of my actual bowl of pho, but I did get a photo of our spring rolls before we finished them! The veggie spring rolls were to die for–crispy, crunchy, super flavorful, and they came with the best peanut sauce I’ve ever eaten (pictured to the right). Not kidding, I started dipping my chopsticks in it after we finished the spring rolls because I couldn’t get enough.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Steak pho with greens
• Veggie spring rolls with peanut sauce

18. Rainbow & Dove

On our very first day in Leicester, we got dropped off at a bus stop in front of Rainbow & Dove. We peeked inside while waiting for our Uber, and if the interior of the bar didn’t convince us, the sign outside for “6 for £10 shots” sure did. We only got to stop by once during our time in England, but it was definitely my kind of bar vibe. R&D is one of Leicester’s most prominent gay bars, boasting a welcome environment and fun cocktails for all. They also serve food during the day and small plates later at night, but we didn’t try anything when we stopped in.

The inside is super cute, with fun (and some NSFW) artwork on the walls, neon lights, bright colors and vintage couches and chairs. It’s sort of an elevated industrial look that's very vibrant but still comfy. There are no shortage of cocktails, shots, pitchers, or really anything else you can think of–two guys were teaching the bartender how to make jam donut shots when we got there, and he struggled through as happily as can be. So if you don’t see what you want on the menu, just ask and it can probably be whipped up for you! However, I will note that their sister bar, Dover Castle, does not have an extensive cocktail list and really only serves beer and shots. We had to explain what a vodka cranberry was, and felt lucky that they made us a couple before we left.

Overall, the vibes were great, the deals were awesome, and it’s a great spot to grab a drink with your friends and meet people, or even just sit and chat for a while.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Pornstar martinis
• Any of their pitchers - raspberry fizz is great!

19. Gelato Village

Our Airbnb didn’t have a freezer, so if we ever wanted ice cream, we had to venture out to get takeaway or buy it at the grocery store and then inhale it right when we got home. Once we visited Gelato Village, that was our preferred method of ice cream eating. I know it sounds naive of me to say that we had “authentic Italian gelato” in Leicester, England, but it’s true! The owners Antonio and Daniele are from Turin originally, and they source some of their ingredients directly from Italy. You can tell that they truly care about creating authentic gelato and sharing it with another part of the world, so when we tried out some flavors, there was no surprise that it was absolutely delicious. Now, after having been to Italy and eating gelato there as well, I can safely say Gelato Village is just as good!

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Stracciatella (mine also had cherry)
• Strawberry
• Pistachio

21. Timo

Also bringing Timo back to the list to talk about their drinks and desserts. What an experience we had here once it came time to get something sweet. I started dinner off with something called the “Mafia’s Kiss”, which was amaretto, Southern Comfort, peach juice, and both sweet mix and sour mix. Holy sh*t, was it good. It was a great start to the night, and once I had my savory meal and it was time for sweets again, we each ordered one treat to share with the table.

When my affogato came out to the table, I knew it would be prepared at the table, but I was not expecting the full-on performance of a lifetime from the staff member who did it. We’re talking gloves, arm flourishes, hand-crushing the biscuits, pouring the Baileys from high above the glass–it was impressive and a little shocking, to be honest. I wish I’d gotten a video. But the affogato was just as wonderful as the preparation, and the rest of the desserts were, as well. I could argue that this was the prettiest tiramisu I’ve seen during our time abroad so far, and the passionfruit cheesecake was unlike anything I’d tasted before!

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Mafia’s Kiss (cocktail)
• Passionfruit cheesecake
• Affogato
• Tiramisu

22. Friends Tandoori

My one regret about our time in England is not getting more Indian food. I could eat chicken tikka masala all day, every day, but it’s not always the most popular option when you’re traveling with others and have to agree on something that everyone wants. When we did get Indian food, however, we were lucky to have such a great spot just down the road from us. The dishes we got from Friends were fresh, flavorful, and super filling, which is all key when ordering Indian food. Honestly, I’m still dreaming about their huge pieces of garlic naan.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Chicken tikka masala
• Butter chicken
• Garlic naan

23. The Clarendon

If you’re looking for a traditional English pub in Leicester, this is as classic as you’ll probably get. Roomy interior with dark wood, big bar, leather chairs, covered outdoor seating with picnic tables and groups of tables and chairs, tons of beer and chips and pub food–it was classic food in a classic atmosphere, and you can’t really go wrong with that. Their burgers and fries hit the spot, and it felt like we were back home at a brewery eating burgers and chatting with tons of other people next to us doing the same. It wasn’t outstanding, but it was bang average, and sometimes, that’s just what you need.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Swiss parma burger

24. The Marquis Wellington

I imagine this restaurant would be nice on a night out where you’re expecting to be around crowds of drunk 40+ year olds, but when you’re looking to have a casual lunch or dinner, I’d suggest sitting inside or going on a weekday. The food was average for what you’d find at a pub, but the lack of self- and spacial-awareness from the old people standing around outside definitely ruined the vibe. I can’t tell you how many strangers walked directly into my chair within the hour we were there. Points for the cute dogs that were there, though.

Abby’s Recommendation:

• Hunters chicken burger
• Avoid the drunk boomers!

25. Bodega Cantina

Once I’d finally had enough of my Chipotle cravings, we decided to go out in search of burritos. Bodega Cantina was in a great location (right next to Mowgli, just outside of the mall area), but the food was a little subpar. I got a pepper and avocado burrito, but ate almost the whole thing before I got down to a huge chunk of something that was neither pepper nor avocado. Couldn’t stomach the rest of it after that. I’m sure the other foods were great, though, and there was a huge selection of cocktails to choose from!

Abby’s Recommendation:

• House nachos

26. St. Martin’s Coffee Shop

St. Martin’s Square is a great spot right outside of the Highcross shopping area in Leicester–it’s home to Mowgli, among a few other restaurants, as well as this cute little coffee shop I stopped by toward the end of our time in England. I didn’t eat there, but it looked like they had some great breakfast and brunch options, along with tons of coffee. It’s a cute date spot, work spot, or just a hang out spot with friends!