The top foodie neighbourhoods in 11 UK cities

Take a culinary tour of the UK's most unique neighbourhoods for food lovers, from the bohemian streets of Brighton’s Kemptown, to the creative buzz of Sharrow Vale in Sheffield.

Expect to find everything from bustling food halls and innovative fine dining, to specialist coffee shops, natural wine bars and local markets packed with artisanal produce. Whether you’re a long-time local or visiting for the weekend, these neighbourhood gems are essential stops for foodies looking to eat and drink well.

The foodiest neighbourhoods in UK cities

Sharrow Vale, Sheffield

On and around Sharrow Vale Road, this inner suburb offers a concentrated cluster of indie shopping, green space (Endcliffe Park) and great food, from hip bakery, café and grocer Tonco, to legendary chip shop Two Steps, which dates to the 19th century.

Foodies can fill their totes at Porter Brook Deli, discerning wine, spirit and beer store Starmore Boss, or coffee roaster and speciality tea retailer Pollards, on Ecclesall Road. Look out for Sharrow Vale Market too.

Refuel as you go with a flat white (Corner Store or Porter Coffee), exceptional doughnuts at bakery-café Eve Kitchen, a glass of wine at The Harritt or pints in the charming The Beer House or fellow micropub, Loxley Brewery’s No 3 Sharrow.

At fishmonger JH Mann you can buy fresh fish and eat lunch (Tue-Sat, 11am-3pm). Choose your seafood and have it cooked and served with sides of, for example, salt cod mash, lobster sauce, dhal or seasonal vegetables.

Looking for brunch? Local fave, Made by Jonty, has you covered. Later, head to Porter Pizza (for stellar Neapolitan-style pizza) or Six and a Half, a hot 2025 opening where live-fire cooking creates dishes such as harissa venison with mint yogurt and crispy spiced onions.

Bold Street and Ropewalks, Liverpool

When locals talk of Bold Street they mean not just that main drag but also the grid of streets (aka Ropewalks) it sandwiches with Duke Street. In the past decade, that compact area has proven a fertile ground for bars, restaurants and nightlife.

Where once Matta’s International Foods or treasured veggie-vegan veteran, The Egg Cafe, were foodie outliers, second gen pioneers such as boho café-bar Leaf, ace Levantine restaurant Maray, and Bold Street Coffee (do not miss its toasted brioche brekkie sandwiches) put Bold Street on the map and helped attract many flavour-forward indies to the area, from Liverpool and beyond.

Today, those originals share Bold Street with, for example, Middle Eastern and North African spot Bakchich, coffee/wine bar Ropes & Twines and hot imports from across the north, including Fat Hippo burgers, Leeds-based Gujarati snack geniuses Bundobust and doughnut kiosk Gooey.

The story is the same on the surrounding streets where local faves such as Hibiki Sushi & Ramen, cocktail bar Berry and Rye or Duke Street Market operate alongside growing northern brands such as Neapolitan-style pizza crew Rudy’s. Given its ultra-central location it is but a short hop from Bold Street to everything else, too. You could, for example, walk to specialist beer bar Dead Crafty, or Hope Street pub and dining room, The Dog & Collar, in 10 minutes. From Bold Street, Liverpool, if not the world, is your oyster.

Pontcanna and Canton, Cardiff

A short hop from Cardiff Central Station, handsome inner suburb, Pontcanna, is a distinctive enclave of Victorian villas and splendid parklands which, with neighbouring Canton, is home to an easily navigable cluster of indie boutiques, cultural hubs (most notably, Chapter Arts Centre) and on-point food venues.

In Gorse, Heaneys and Thomas, some of Cardiff’s best restaurants share adjacent Pontcanna streets. But options go deeper than fine dining. The excellent bakery-cafés, Ground and Scandi-owned Brød, for example, offer casual victuals in various forms. Café and bar, Milkwood, serves “the best brunch in Cardiff,” enthuses chef Leyli Homayoonfar, owner of the South Walian Mexican street food brand, Bab Haus.

Over at Kings Road Yard, you will find the Pipes brewery, The Wardrobe Coffee Shop, Tom’s wood-fired pizza and, among other events, a weekly Saturday produce market. Continue shopping at the discerning Al Ponte Deli or The Bottle Shop, before combining the retail therapy with drinks at Canton’s Corp Market (check wine shop Vin Van Cymru and Khione Sicilian deli) or Crafty Devil Brewing’s Cellar tap bar and shop. Hungry again? Head to Ffwrnes’s NY slice inspired spin-off, West Pizza.

West End, Glasgow

Glasgow's West End, a leafy, bohemian, student-y enclave, loosely sandwiched between Kelvingrove Park and Byres Road, remains a must-see, particularly for first-time visitors. From chilled riverside beers at Inn Deep to rolling street-food party, Dockyard Social, good burgers (Bread Meats Bread) or wood-fired pizza (Paesano), to the one-Michelin-starred Cail Bruich, all food life is here.

Moreover, in the West End, such attractions are contained in an easily navigable pocket. You can go foodie shopping at cheesemonger I.J. Mellis, Lupe Pintos deli, the Grunting Growler beer shop and bar or Valhalla’s Goat for various “liquid treasures”; drink ace coffee (roasteries Black Pine or Papercup); visit great bakery-cafes (Cottonrake, SugarFall Patisserie, Tantrum Doughnuts); or local classics such as deli and restaurant, Eusebi, all within an area that is walkable, welcoming and as architecturally attractive as it is delicious.

Altrincham, Manchester

Though a strictly separate place, we've pinpointed Altrincham as great neighbourhood to visit while you're in Manchester.

Certain areas in central Manchester, notably Ancoats, are dense with bakeries, bars and restaurants. But in its suburbs and satellite towns, such as Rusholme, Sale, Stockport or Prestwich, (Greater) Manchester has a number of distinct food scenes worth exploring. Just 25 minutes from Manchester by tram, Altrincham is, arguably, the region’s top foodie destination.

The rebirth of Altrincham Market as a handsome indoor food hall and covered artisan market has created great energy, locally. In Neapolitan-style pizza perfectionist Honest Crust or Great North Pie Co, the food hall set a high bar, which has attracted quality neighbours to the area, such as pasta kitchen Rigatoni’s and tapas ace Porta.

Altrincham now has an abundance of superb pizza at Rudy’s, NY-inspired Nell’s and takeaway Pizza Anna. From one end of Altrincham (hip brunch spot, à bloc) to the other (Cheshire Cookery School), you will make exciting discoveries almost street by street. Be that in good coffee (Dose or Kickback), beer (Libero, Dunham Massey Brewing’s tap bar, Costello’s) or food at Italian Tre Ciccio, Lebanese and Syrian restaurant, Yara, Hong Kong food and beer bar Harcourt, or cute, compact Asuke Sushi. Arrive early at Alty Market, bag a sourdough loaf at award-winning bakery, Lovingly Artisan, and make a day of it.

Cliftonville, Margate

A short walk out of the town centre, this independent, artistic area is bookmarked by Margate’s landmark lido sign and striking Botany Bay, famous for its rock pools and chalk rock formations. Join creatives for brunch at Forts, known for its focaccia bacon sarnies, or go for a proper fry up at The Dalby Café, before browsing the bars, shops and galleries along Cliff Terrace, including stylish fragrance store, Haeckels (which also sells a delicious seaweed tea made from locally foraged seaweed and sold in gorgeous glass jars).

A few streets back from the seafront is Northdown Road, home to some of Margate’s friendliest independent food businesses. Mori Mori is a cosy spot for tucking into sushi boxes and ramen, The Grain Grocer has your organic groceries covered, and Oast bakes a fabulous rotation of sourdough and sweet buns.

Head back to the seafront to work up an appetite by strolling along the coastal path to Botany Bay or embracing the sea water with some lengths in Walpole Tidal Pool. Back inland from Walpole Bay, you can warm up with coffee and vinyl at Cliffs or make your way through Sète’s eclectic curation of wines and cheeseboards (they also throw a casual BBQ in the garden every Sunday in August).

Kemptown, Brighton

Brighton’s vibrant Kemptown neighbourhood runs east from the Palace Pier to the Marina. There you’ll find a potent mix of bohemia, sleaze and comfortable refinement, and some of the best food and drink in the city. A few steps from Old Steine Gardens, Redroaster/Lucky Khao serves excellent coffee from its own roastery by day and a menu of northern Thai small plates including pork larb to a banging soundtrack at night. A few minutes’ walk away, chef Tom Stephens (ex Simon Rogan and Tom Kerridge) serves exquisite hyper-local and seasonal tasting menus at Dilsk, an intimate and stylish dining room in Drakes Hotel. Beautifully presented dishes might include Orkney scallop with Cornish Mids potatoes and dilsk butter sauce. The set lunch and dinner menus offer exceptional value.

Head further into Kemptown, past characterful local boozers like the Hand in Hand and boutique shops including Butlers Wine Cellar for a glass of natural wine in the secluded garden of the smart Daddy Longlegs gastro pub. Inside there’s floral banquette seating, white painted wall panelling and an enticing menu of small plates such as tempura cauliflower with gochujang – the Sunday roasts are legendary. Finish your night back near to where you started at The Plotting Parlour cocktail bar with its baroque red velvet, candle-lit interior and copper-clad bar. The inventive cocktails include Tumi made with mezcal, pisco, orgeat and chocolate ganache.

Walcot, Bath

Residents of buzzy and bohemian Walcot are spoiled for choice when it comes to food. You can get freshly made New York-style bagels at Taylor's Bagels, which has become so popular that it’s popped up in three locations in Bath so far. Highlights include the New Yorker (pastrami, sauerkraut, pickles and cheddar) and Bath bagel (beef brisket, pickles, cheddar and mustard mayo). A few doors up, Hudson Steakhouse covers all things meaty, but also offers plenty of cocktails. Or, sample recipes made with English ingredients and French techniques at all-day restaurant and café-bar Walcot House, set over two floors in an old bakery.

On every visit to the unassuming corner of Walcot Street, Landrace bakery is doing something new and brilliant, most recently expanding into a fully fledged café with ample seating and a lovely, bright space to linger. Expect cinnamon and cardamom buns galore alongside its iconic breads. Nearby, you'll also find Didi Cakes – pick up something from its vast range of cupcakes (peanut butter, black forest and passionfruit cheesecake flavours among them), a slice of vegan banana bread or pear and almond tart, and eat in nearby Hedgemead Park. If you’re self-catering in Bath, make a beeline for some of its best independent food and drink stores, like The Fine Cheese Co. for cheeseboards and Wolf Wine for booze.

Bishopthorpe Road, York

Many visitors to York never stray beyond its ancient city walls. That is a mistake – turn right past Clifford’s Tower, for example, and you will soon find yourself on Bishopthorpe Road (Bishy Road, to locals). This cute enclave of small indie businesses and pavement cafés is abundant with good food at next-level bakery Flori, brunch-lunch faves Robinsons Café and Pig & Pastry, Trinacria’s gelateria, coffee and cake stop Stanley & Ramona, or the Good Food Shop deli, whose lush salads and sandwiches are useful if picnicking in nearby Rowntree Park.

Later, check out bar, Angel on the Green, home to RAD’s pizza and hip supper clubs; chill in charming wine shop slash bar, 2 Many Wines; or visit legendary fine dining restaurant, Melton’s, now in its fourth decade and enjoying a second creative life under head chef, Calvin Miller. The traditional Bishy strip is growing, too. Last summer, Dark Horse, already purveyors of excellent coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches at Shambles Market, opened a café a short walk beyond the Bishy’s Scarcroft Road junction. Want to get a true taste of York? Bishy Road is the place to start.

Wapping Wharf, Bristol

Situated on Bristol's historic floating harbour, Wapping Wharf is one of the city's coolest and best loved neighbourhoods. And for good reason. It boasts a collection of shipping containers, homing some of the best independent restaurants, bakeries and bars in Bristol. Here you’ll find more casual dining, lunches to grab after a visit to Bristol's famous M Shed museum as well as harbourside evening dining. There’s well-known Bristol institution Root for vegetable, seasonal-led eating and Gambas for the most delicious and authentic waterside tapas (not to be missed, its famous pil pil prawns). For a quick bite grab a New York style bagel from Bagelrybox, served from an old horse box – this small menu doesn't skimp on quality with freshly baked, hand-rolled bagels filled with 10-hour smoked pastrami and all the trimmings. An ideal lunch alongside a coffee from Mokoko sat by the water.

For finer dining head to Lapin, a small French eatery with modern twists. Try golden, comte gougeres, Brixham scallops with garlic butter and roast aubergine ratatouille with pistou. The perfect way to satisfy your after-dinner sweet tooth might require a trip to Swoon Gelato for its rich, creamy Italian artisan gelato – its pistachio and Bacio (hazelnut and chocolate) being nothing short of perfect. If you fancy grabbing anything for the road, independent supermarket Better Food stocks an array of great local Somerset produce, from cheeses to seasonal organic veg, delicious breads and local chocolate.

Stockbridge, Edinburgh

Perched on the Water of Leith river and blessed with eye-catching architecture, this hip, upmarket inner suburb is a very pleasant 25-minute walk from central Edinburgh. Beyond its period charms (check cobbled Insta fave, Circus Lane), it is also a tasty place to eat. Acclaimed fine-dining restaurants eòrna and Avery, the latter having previously operated in San Francisco, rub shoulders with ambitious gastropub the Scran & Scallie, basement small-plates joint Skua, and the Last Word Saloon, sister bar to legendary cocktail spot Bramble.

Wine geeks will love pacesetting wine bar Smith & Gertrude (do not miss its grilled Montgomery cheddar sandwich) and the shopping opportunities at treasure troves Raeburn Fine Wines, Vino and newcomer Communiqué Wines. To accompany those wines, shop for food at Stockbridge Market (Sundays) or cheesemongers IJ Mellis or George Mewes. Before the steep climb back into Edinburgh, refuel on next-level croissants at revered bakery Lannan, or take a moment in craft beer haven Stockbridge Tap, or Edinburgh Cider Co’s The Cider House.