Eating and Drinking in North Norfolk
Pubs and Restaurants
We are very lucky in North Norfolk to have a plethora of great pubs and restaurants to choose from. Most are dog-friendly and nearly all will need booking even in low season!
I'm going to start in just beyond Hunstanton and work my way around the coast village by village.
Our first great restaurant is The Rose and Crown in Snettisham, it has consistently good food, a great atmosphere and a brilliantly fun beer garden and play area for kids. I like to eat in the bar as it has more personality than the conservatory.
Next stop is Hunstanton, it has The Lodge which has a relaxed but trendy vibe. If you want to really spoil yourself there is The Neptune with it's 3 AA rosettes and Michelin Star.
After Hunstanton, I'm skipping a couple of villages and arriving in Thornham, lots to enjoy here. But just before we get there Drove Orchards has Eric's fish and chip shop is a proper eat in licensed restaurant, they fry in beef dripping and it's amazing! You can’t book and it is often busy, but you can get great takeaways too. Also at Drove Orchards is Shucks which is a new restaurant in a yurt, I haven't yet tried it but I've heard good things. Also in Thornham, there are two great restaurants/pubs, The Lifeboat and The Orange Tree.
Titchwell has two restaurants; The Titchwell Manor which is always excellent and Briarfields which I haven't been to for years but hear very good things about.
Now along to Brancaster, The Ship has great food and a private dining room if you have a large party, great for celebrations.
Brancaster Staithe has two of my favourite pubs. The Jolly Sailors was just awarded best family pub of the year, muddy dogs and children welcome with a great play area. They specialise in pizzas and during the summer have an ice cream hut, BBQ, and bar in the garden. You can't book (unless you are a party of 15), but they serve food all day in the summer months if you want a lunch table be there at 12 to grab one! Also in Brancaster Staithe is The White Horse which is a more grown up pub with a restaurant that has the most incredible views of the marsh to the sea. You'd be amazed at how many coastal pubs don't have a view...
Burnham Market has The Hoste which is a super trendy gastro pub in the center of the boutique village, great for people spotting. New to Burnham Market is Socius and 20 North Street both which I have only heard people rave about and I’m desperate to try them both out!!
Burnham Overy Staithe has The Hero which has recently been refurbished and taken over by the people who have a pub further along the coast. The food is very good and generally locally sourced, it can get quite expensive.Holkham has it's very own pub The Victoria which is the ideal place for a pint after a long walk on Holkham beach. The food is as good as the atmosphere and there is a great play area for kids.
Wells-next-the-Sea has several pubs, The Fleece, The Globe and The Crown, all are very good. Most people (and dogs) enjoy the Beach Café in the car park for an ice-cream or piece of cake and a cuppa after a walk.
Further round the coast there is the Stiffkey Red Lion is worth a lunch. Morston has a great pub The Anchor and it also has Morston Hall with it's Michelin star and triple rosette AA award amongst many others. Wiveton Café is only open from the 23rd March, it gets very busy and you would be wise to book.
The last place that I'm going to recommend on the coast is the amazing Cookies in Salthouse, it is a fish shop that has become a legend in its own right. It hasn't got a license so if you feel like a drink take your own, the lobster mixed platter is delicious and very reasonably priced! Take cash as they didn't take cards the last time I went.
Two inland pubs to mention, The Railway in Docking has a new chef and I’m getting some great feed back about it, it’s a real local with pool table and sky sports. Next is my favourite pub of all, it's in Stanhoe and is called The Duck it is perfect, amazing food, fabulous service, and a really nice vibe - love it!!! The Duck are winning lots of awards which they deserve but will undoubtedly make it very hard to book.
If you're a real food lover you should try and take advantage of the two weeks 'Restaurant Week' between at the end of October to November. Great deals all along the coast for lunches and suppers for set price menus.
Remember you can drink responsibly and take advantage of the Coasthopper all along the coast, from Kings Lynn to Cromer. Taxies are well worth booking well in advance along with babysitters, let me know as I'm happy to assist in finding good ones.
Book your foodie trip to North Norfolk now, nearly all the restaurants are dog friendly.
