Discover the best bars and pubs in Cambridge.
Our favourite watering holes in Cambridge.
Curated by the award-winning Cambridge Food Tour, local foodies who like to share the best of Cambridge with you!
OUR FAVOURITE BARS IN CAMBRIDGE
Bar 196
Mill Road – CB1 3NF
- Excellent cocktail bar
- Small – only seats 20 guests
- In summer outside seating
- Sharing platters and cheese
- Mingle with locals
Novi Cambridge
Regent Street – CB2 1DB
- In historic centre
- Botanical cocktails
- Excellent food
- New York style roof terrace
- Venue over 3 floors
Hotel Du Vin
Trumpington Street – CB2 1QA
- In historic centre
- Cellar bar
- Snugs to reserver for parties
- High tea available in the bar
- 5 min. from Kings Parade
Six at Varsity
Thompsons Lane – B5 8AQ
- Roof terrace and Top floor bar
- Stunning views of Cambridge
- In Historic centre
- Food available on roof terrace
- Restaurant in the top floor bar
The Gonville Hotel
Gonville Place – CB1 1LY
- Close to Parkers Piece
- In the historic centre
- Dog friendly
- Life music in the weekends
- Check out Cotto Restaurant
The liquor loft at Stolen
King Street – CB1 1LN
- In historic centre
- Slightly off the beaten track
- Quirky Liquor loft in old Brewery
- Excellent small plate food
- Terrace, restaurant and court yard
OUR FAVOURITE PUBS IN CAMBRIDGE
The Petersfield
Sturton Street – CB1 2QA
- Excellent local pub
- Mingle with locals + dog-friendly
- Close to Mill Road
- Seasonal menu
- Off the beaten track
The Free Press Pub
Prospect Row – CB1 1DU
- One of the oldest Pubs
- Best Scotch egg in town
- Mingle with locals + dog-friendly
- In historic centre
- Slightly off the beaten track
The Clarendon Arms
Clarendon Street – CB1 1JX
- Cosy pub with restaurant
- Mix with locals + dog-friendly
- Daily specials
- In historic centre
- Slightly off the beaten track
The Cambridge Brewhouse
King Street – CB1 1LH
- Local pub with microbrewery
- Mix with locals
- Excellent pub food ( large portions)
- In the historic centre
- Slightly off the beaten track
The Punter Pub
Pound Hill – CB3 0AE
- Stone throw away from the centre
- Mix with locals + dog friendly
- Courtyard terrace and big barn
- Food from 12 to 3 pm and from 6 to 9 pm
- Food from 12 to 10 Sat – till 9 pm Sunday
The Architect
Castle Street – CB3 0AH
- Design your own food
- Excellent fish and chips
- New owners
- All day food
- Terrace
The Waterman
Bene’t Street – CB2 3QN
- Most famous pub of Cambridge
- Check out the RAF bar
- Drink the DNA beer
- All day food
- Large terrace
The Eagle
CB2 3QN
- One of the oldest Pubs
- Check out the ceiling of the RAF bar
- Drink the DNA beer
- All day food
- Courtyard terrace
The Champion of the Thames
King Street – CB1 1 LN
- Excellent traditional pub
- No food served
- Pick up food from Urban Shed
- Sunday Cheese & Biscuits
- Open fire
The Pint Shop
Peas Hill – CB2 3PN
- Best Craft Beer Pub
- Over 62 Gins
- Heated beer garden in the winter
- All day food from midday
- Open at 11 am on Saturday
The Old Bicycle Shop
Regent Street – CB2 1DP
- Home brewed beer
- Great cocktails
- Excellent brunch
- Small terrace at the back
- All day food
The Flying Pig
Hills Road – CB2 1LQ
- A must do for a foodie – TripAdvisor
- Explore Foodie Cambridge
- Delicious food and drinks
- Professional guides
- Go off the beaten path
Mill Pond Pub
Mill Lane – CB2 1RX
- At Mill Pond
- Good start point for walk along the river
- No beer garden – take away drinks
- Food all day from 11.00 am to 10 pm
- Open till midnight at weekends
The Old Spring
Ferry Path – CB4 1HB
- Close to Midsummer Common
- Popular local pub
- Terrace
- Food from 12-2.30 pm and 6-9.30 pm
- Food from 12 – 9.30 weekends
The Burleigh Arms
Newmarket Road – CB5 8EG
- Close to the Grafton Centre
- Near to Midsummer Common
- Beer garden
- Food from 12-2.30 pm and 5-9 pm
- Food from 12-9 pm weekend’s
OUR FAVOURITE BEER GARDENS IN CAMBRIDGE
Calverley’s Brewery
Hooper Street – CB4 2NZ
20 min from Kings College
- funky Craft brewery
- rotating street food
- local hangout
Excellent Craft beer!
Thirsty Beer Garden
Mackays of Cambridge – CB1 1BY
20 min from Kings college
- German beer garden
- rotating street food
- local hangout
Fri eve + Sat +Sun
The Pint Shop
Peas Hill – CB2 3PN
2 min from Kings College
- Craft Beer Pub
- Covered beer garden
- local hangout
No deals – Go for Bar food
Thirsty Service
Various locations
20 min from Kings College
- pop-up in Churches
- rotating street food
- local hangout
Music too – check out FB
OUR FAVOURITE WINE MERCHANTS IN CAMBRIDGE
Thirsty Cambridge
Chesterton Road- CB4 1EN
20 min from Kings College
- funky wine merchant
- rotating street food
- local hangout
Shop and big back room
CUC Winebar
Mill Pond – CB2 1RU
10 min from Kings college
- CWM & University bar
- Tuesday-Sat evening
- Music/Theatre
In summer Street food
CWM Cherry Hinton
Cherry Hinton Road – CB1 7|BX
30 min from Kings College
- Wine Merchant
- Take away SmokeWork
- local hangout
Check out their tastings!
CWM Bridge Street
Bridge Street – CB2 1UJ
5 min from Kings College
- Central Camb
- cheese & meat
- wine merchant
Check out the Scotch eggs!
About the author
Gerla de Boer is the founder of the award-winning Cambridge Food Tour in Cambridge, UK. She is a globetrotter foodie and always keen to get under the skin of a city or country she visits. She likes to get off the beaten track to get to know the latest food, fine local produce, visit their local markets and check out the hot places to eat in town. These experiences she takes back to Cambridge to create amazing food tours and events.
We are the local experts in creating unique food tours and events with an in-depth knowledge of the local Cambridge food scene and close partnerships with local businesses.