Tucked away on England’s east coast, Suffolk is quietly making a name for itself as a food destination
The county is home to an abundance of quality produce, from artisan cheeses (who doesn’t love a Baron Bigod?) and craft ciders to responsibly-farmed meats and day-boat fish straight from the North Sea. Scattered across the countryside are countless farm shops, brimming with seasonal fruit and vegetables, whilst on the coast you’ll find seafood shacks serving up freshly caught crabs, lobsters and smoked fish. Its lovely old pubs, many housed in centuries-old buildings, are showcasing the best of this incredible produce, while a new wave of chefs and food entrepreneurs is bringing fresh energy to the scene.
We spent a week exploring all Suffolk has to offer to bring you our guide to the best spots – and don’t forget to check out the walks at the end of this piece, you’ll need to get the steps in before or after tucking into this lot.
Pinch
The small café and bakery on Maple Farm is run by Suffolk-born chef Alice Norman, who honed her skills in some of London’s most exciting restaurants, including Kricket, Clipstone, Levan and Emilia, where she rose to Head Chef. The bakery serves the most incredible crullers we’ve ever eaten, alongside Roman-style pizza by the slice, sandwiches, other sweet treats, and local wines on tap. Most of the
ingredients are sourced directly from the farm or elsewhere in the county. The coffee is excellent, and you might even spot a celebrity or two while you’re there.
Pinney’s
Pinney’s is a third-generation, family-run business located in the pretty village of Orford. They have been growing oysters at Butley Creek since the 1950s and are renowned for their incredible smoked products. You’ll find their creations in many shops and restaurants but be sure to visit their shop to see the full range, from smoked cod’s roe to eel, mackerel pâté, bacon, chicken, and ham. Perfect for an epic picnic, their offerings showcase the very best of Suffolk’s coastal flavours.
Butley Orford Oysterage
If you’re after a sit-down experience, head to Butley Orford Oysterage, the restaurant from the Pinney’s team, where the same delicious products take centre stage – and then some. Don’t miss the oysters; it’s as close as you can get to tasting them straight from the sea. On the day we visited, a hearty fish pie was on special, along with some of their smoky prawns, and of course the eel on toast, all paired with a glass of crisp local Flint Bacchus wine.
Unruly Pig
The Unruly Pig in Bromeswell is a 16th-century inn that’s probably the most well-known gastropub in Suffolk. Under the guidance of chef patron Dave Wall, who trained under Gordon Ramsay and Matthew Harris, the pub has won a ton of awards – and rightly so. The menu takes local produce and transforms it into modern, elevated dishes, like oysters served four different ways (pickled with caviar and fried with nduja XO were standouts), cod’s roe tarts topped with caviar, brown crab arancini, whole stuffed seabream, and native lobster tail with warm tomato salad. It’s a banger of a menu. They also serve 95% of their wines by the glass. BRAVO.
Greyhound Inn, Pettistree
The Greyhound Inn in Pettistree is a 13th-century, Grade II-listed pub that has been thoughtfully restored by four London friends. Under the guidance of chef Adam Spicer, whose claim to fame is reaching the final 16 on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2019, the inn offers a seasonal menu with a good dose of offal (the “St John of Suffolk,” as someone described it to us!) inspired by the rural surroundings. We enjoyed a blackberry spritz made with fruits from the garden, cod’s roe gougères, lardo and anchovy buttery brioche soldiers, an excellent ox tongue tonnato, and Maple Farm tomatoes with burrata and peaches. Simple dishes, made with brilliant ingredients.
Alde Café
Alde Café in Aldeburgh is a modern take on the classic British caff. Their menu includes trad dishes such as bubble and squeak with sausage, bacon, eggs, and beans, as well as smoked haddock with scrambled egg, and ham and egg with potatoes. But our favourite? The loaded scallop and bacon bun with a pot of English breakfast tea. No idea why more places don’t serve this epic sandwich. Brilliant.
The Suffolk
The Suffolk is a restaurant with rooms in the delightfully laid-back seaside town of Aldeburgh, that has quickly established itself as the town’s – if not the entire county’s – standout dining option since opening in 2022. Given its location mere seconds from the sea, fish is of course the big focus here. Fresh fish comes in daily either directly from the fish shacks on the beach, or just down the road from places like Lowestoft or the legendary Pinney’s. Don’t miss the fresh oysters, served simply with red wine vinaigrette and lemon, and the ridiculously good langoustine bisque served with a little crab palmier biscuit on the side. Then there’s lobster drenched in garlic butter and served with excellent fries and the must-order whole brill topped with dill, parsley, chives and smoked sea salt, and served with homemade tartare sauce.
Ash Smoked Fishes
One of the handful of fish huts located right on the beach, Ash Smoked Fishes serves a selection of smoked fish, pates and seafood tarts – do not miss the noon pie, an Aldeburgh special filled with smoked haddock, cheese, cream and egg. Grab a bunch of goodies, settle on one of the benches on the beach, and BYO a nice bottle of wine or pints from the pub opposite – and just try to stop yourself from browsing houses on Rightmove.
Salter & King
This butcher sells only the very best quality slow-grown meat, working with farms he has handpicked across the local area to ensure top-notch quality. There’s everything from local venison and grass-fed rib of beef to burgers, steaks and sausages to take home and cook, as well as great frozen meals and epic sausage rolls.
Extra-Curricular
When you’ve done all that eating, you’re going to need to walk it off, and luckily there are plenty of walks both inland and along the coast. Our favourites were the walk around Orford Marshes, along the water and through the fields, and the Dunwich Beach and Heath walk (look out for the local samphire seller peddling sea plants from his car boot). If you’re looking for a UK break with great food, fresh air, countryside, and sea, Suffolk ticks all the boxes. For our suggestions on where to stay, check out our reviews of Blythe Rise Stays and The Suffolk.
