Places to visit on a foodie break in Newcastle

Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting small portions. We’re just recommending this popular café as your starting point. Never tried a stottie? Order this local bread with streaky bacon and eggs, or sausages and mustard onions. More exotic options include Mexican ranchero beans or dal with onion flatbread. Tiny Tiny is bigger than its name suggests; relax with a house-roasted coffee.

Grainger Market has been rewarding taste buds since 1835. Explore its Grade I-listed building with Triple A Food Tours, meeting your guide and group at Grey’s Monument at 11am. Sample food and drink from across the globe (we loved the freshly-made dumplings and bao!), chat to vendors and discover a smorgasbord of seasonal produce during one of Newcastle’s best food tours. The tour will take you beyond the market, with additional highlights including ice-cream at I Scream for Pizza and local craft beer at Brinkburn St Brewery.

Home to Georgian architecture, lively entertainment and stellar dining options, this historic quarter is a must-visit. It’s also a top shopping spot: take your pick from designer boutiques, high-street favourites and independent retailers. Fenwick, the city’s flagship department store, is a treasure-trove of luxury goods, with an impressive Food Hall to boot.

Dine in a truly #blessed setting at Blackfriars Restaurant, housed within a 13th-century former Dominican friary. Established in 1239, the Priory even doubled up as King Henry III’s ‘hostel’ for a while. Hearty but elegant dishes include venison haunch with mini venison pie, fried quails’ egg and girolles. Henry would approve.

After a flavour-packed day, reset at The Vermont Hotel, which combines 1930s glamour with all the mod-cons. This landmark hotel has a prime location on arterial Castle Garth, overlooking the River Tyne. Before bedtime, see Newcastle’s skyline sparkle by night at ABOVE. This dazzling rooftop bar has 360-degree panoramas and makes Instagram-worthy cocktails.

Tucked away beneath the Tyne Bridge, this independent café does a fine line in morning feasts. Fans love Quay Ingredient's creative spins on eggs Benedict, which have included eggs Hebridean with black pudding, or duck egg, Toulouse sausages and plum Hollandaise. The French toast and generously packed sarnies are equally delicious. It’s snug, cosy and on the small side, so be sure to come early.

Explore canny Newcastle by bike with Newcastle Cycle Tours, enjoying expert insights from a friendly guide. During this two-hour mobile adventure, you’ll learn about the city’s seven bridges, Europe’s largest timber structure, the castle and the old town wall, and Newcastle’s famous characters, including the Earl Grey. By the end, you’ll feel like an adopted Georgie.

Stay in the Quayside area for SIX Rooftop, housed in the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art: a handsome converted mill. It’s hard to decide what’s more impressive: SIX’s city panoramas or masterful modern British cuisine. Expect edible wizardry from the Tasting Menu, whose sections encompass Plant, Land & Sea. After lunch, head back downstairs and browse Baltic’s inspiring art collections. The gallery’s shop is great too.

Walk beneath Hadrian’s Wall during this fascinating tunnel tour, revealing the subterranean wagonway that runs below the city. Experience what life was like in a Victorian wagonway and listen out for wagons full of coal heading for the Tyne. Learn about the hardships of World War II and hear ominous sounds, including the air-raid warning and planes dropping their bombs.

Expect a starry night – and we’re not talking about astronomy. Indulge in a fine-dining feast at one of Newcastle’s best restaurants, which received its first Michelin star just eight months after opening. Solstice’s menu takes its cues from the British seasons, showcasing the best regional produce. Come hungry: the Dinner Experience encompasses an impressive 15 to 18 servings.