Places to Eat and Drink

From fine dining to gastro pubs to tea rooms to street food to takeaways, Bedfordshire is a hub of great places to sit down for a meal or just grab a quick bite while exploring. The region’s restaurants are wide ranging and exciting, with everything from 5* hotels with amazing menus, intimate corner booths in independent establishments and of course, restaurants and cafes operating out of incredible historic buildings. Luton and Bedford in particular are famous for their incredible local Asian cuisine.

There are also plentiful pubs and wine bars across the area offering a range of bar meals, artisan drinks and locally crafted ales, beers, gins and more. So, you can be sure that even the fussiest of eaters will be pleased.

Great local produce

Being full of beautiful countryside means that there is an abundance of locally sourced food which is served fresh at markets, restaurants and cafes across the county. The many market towns all have a diverse mix of food on offer with pretty much every cuisine you can think of represented at least once! You’ll find everything from quaint tea rooms, independent restaurants, familiar chains and award winning menus, so wherever you are you’ll find something to tantalise your taste buds.

Food with a view

Choosing somewhere in the countryside for your meals will give you some fantastic views, but so will sitting down with a drink and a snack in one of the towns and villages. Bedfordshire is full of historic buildings, quaint architecture and fascinating sights, so you can guarantee that wherever you are, you’ll find a great backdrop for your meals.

Specialities

Did you know that Bedfordshire is the birth place of afternoon tea? Well now you do! So, what could be better than stopping off at one of the region’s tea rooms or cafes for a spot of afternoon tea with your friends?
Bedfordshire is also famous for one delicacy in particular, the Bedfordshire Clanger.
If you’ve never had a Bedfordshire Clanger before, then you have to try one before heading home from your trip. These pasty-like snacks are sausage roll like in appearance but made out of suet rather than pastry, one half is savoury and the other sweet. Historically the clanger was made for men to take to work with them when they were out in the fields, and they still work well as a midday meal, being both a dinner and a desert in one.

Try a tipple… Or two

It’s all very well having incredible menus, but you need something to wash it down and Bedfordshire has you covered. Be sure to check out the local ales, wines, gins and ciders that are crafted in the regions. Click here to find out more about the breweries and vineyards that you can visit during your stay. If you fancy something non-alcoholic, you’re catered for too, head to the markets and food festivals to sample locally made juices and smoothies.

There is really no shortage of great places to eat and drink in Bedfordshire, spanning all styles and cuisines, keep an eye on our what’s on pages to make sure you don’t miss out on food festivals and farmers’ markets that are coming to the area.