A Foodie's Break in Norwich

9 February 2026

A Foodie’s Break in Norwich 

by Katie Thompson

Here in Norwich, there’s no denying our love of food and drink. This is where cocktails are drunk to the sound of DJs in an Art Nouveau arcade, you can devour donburi bowls in a medieval market, and higgledy piggledy pubs are packed with the latest local craft brews.  

With our 1-night, 2-day itinerary, you can taste the best Norwich has to offer! There’s fresh local produce, worldwide flavours and tempting aromas around every corner. Indulge in alfresco eating as spring sun warms the air and parasols offer welcome shade.  

This food-filled weekend will let you savour every second in our fine city, including possibly the UK’s only dedicated sausage roll tour! Is your mouth watering yet?   

Keep reading for our foodie’s itinerary in Norwich!

Where to Eat in Norwich | Best Roasts | Best Afternoon Teas | Best Brunches | Fine Dining | Food & Drink Experiences | Best Cheap Eats | Best Vegan & Vegetarian Food

Itinerary Inspiration
For First-Timers: A Weekend Getaway | Take Your Time: A Slow City Break | Short but Sweet: Norwich: Old City, New Attitude

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Day One
The Waffle House/ Jarrolds/ Cheryl Cade Food Tour/ Yalm

//Brunch: The Waffle House, Monday – Sunday.
//Dinner: Yalm, Tuesday – Sunday.
//Visit: Jarrolds, Monday – Sunday; Beer Hatch, Tuesday – Sunday.
//Do: Cheryl Cade’s Beer Sausage Roll and Pastry Tour, £53pp, select dates.
//Stay: Maids Head Hotel, 2 adults from £130 per night (room only).

We always recommend arriving early to make the most of your visit here. This time, make sure to keep room for all the delicious dishes you’re going to tuck into too! 

Set yourself up for the day with brunch at The Waffle House on St Giles Street. This unique cafe-restaurant has been a mainstay in the Norwich Lanes for over 45 years and it’s not hard to see why! Specialising in- you guessed it- waffles, each one is prepared from scratch! 

We suggest bagging a table for two next to the window. It’s ideal for people watching and you can bask in the warmth of the first rays of spring sunshine. For brunch (served until 12pm), tuck into traditional flavours like The Big English- paired with a freshly squeezed orange juice and rich roasted coffee. Or there’s a halloumi and hash stack for veggies. Whilst the chocolate and honeycomb mousse is a VisitNorwich go-to no matter the time of day! 

Now you’re ready to embrace what Norwich has to offer, amble along St Giles Street and down Guildhall Hill towards Jarrolds. Our flagship independent department store is a must-visit when you’re in our fine city. Its attractive entrance gleams in the bright daylight, enticing you in. Enter through their London Street entrance and head downstairs with anticipation to Jarrolds’ fabulous food hall.  

Grab a basket as you peruse shelves stacked with everything from local wines, beers and spirits to preserves, condiments, chocolate and cheese. What unique flavours will you discover? How about fruity chuckleberry and gin jam, a bottle of pure Yare Valley rapeseed oil or Strangers’ undeniably popular coffee beans? And don’t forget to check out the deli! It’s a a mouthwatering selection of sweet treats, flaky pastries and savoury nibbles– you’ll want to taste everything there and then and then take some home for later. Local grocery shopping is the new souvenir shopping, after all.

For the main event, treat yourself to a Cheryl Cade food tour! Cheryl’s an award-winning tour guide, so it’s safe to say you’re in the right hands. We suggest her Beer, Sausage Roll & Pastry tour (selected dates, £53pp), a fusion of Cheryl’s most popular tours, including (probably) the only dedicated Sausage Roll tour in the UK! It’s four hours, five venues, five beers and five pastries (including at least three sausage rolls). Starting in Tombland, surrounded by grand Georgian buildings and budding trees, Cheryl will take you on a journey packed with tales of Norwich’s rich history, through our higgeldy piggedly Lanes and to our 900-year-old market. Take it from us, it’s a ‘banger’. 

Take note: Tombland is home to the Maids Head Hotel. As the oldest place of hospitality in the country, it would be rude not stay here, right? Especially when you can sample some of Norfolk’s best ales before heading up to your very own four-poster bed and wake with views of Norwich Cathedral’s spire piercing cloudless cornflower skies.

And while you’re here, nearby Beer Hatch (a 2-minute walk along Wensum Street) is a hub for East Anglia’s best craft beers. This small but mighty shop is lined with rows of fun and eye-catching local brews, real ales and ciders, as well as a selection of ever-changing draught beers to sip on as the world passes by. (Or take away in one of their growlers.) You might even experience local tap takeovers, exclusive collaborations and live music!

Evening

End your day on a high at Yalm. Housed in our beautiful Art Nouveau Royal Arcade, this buzzing food hall is perfect for any palette thanks to its selection of global kitchens. Think freshly made pasta, steaming bowls of ramen, juicy grilled meats and zingy fish tacos. For a more relaxed evening, opt for a cosy booth downstairs with views onto the Royal Arcade’s beautiful tiles splashed in golden light as the sun sets. Or head upstairs to be in the heart of it all- if you time it right, there might be a DJ to dance the night away!

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Day Two
The Assembly House/ Norwich Market/ Sir Toby’s Beers

//Breakfast: The Assembly House, Monday – Sunday.
//Late Lunch: Norwich Market, days and times vary for individual stalls, Monday – Sunday.
//Afternoon Refreshment: Sir Toby’s Beers, Monday – Sunday.

After an indulgent night’s sleep, you’ll wake feeling re-energised ready for another day full of tasty promise!

Step out into the soft morning light and embrace the calm hum of the city going about its day to day. Breathe in. Listen as the warm breeze rustles the trees and sweet birdsong announces a new day.

For the most important meal of the day, head to The Assembly House for breakfast. This Georgian gem is known for its incredible themed teas, so this is the perfect opportunity to try something new– we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

Enter Beforenoon Tea (served daily, 9am – 11.30am, £27.95pp)– a breakfast to be reckoned with. Maximise the best of the weather with a seat alfresco on The Assembly House’s quintessentially English green lawn. Start with a small fry-up, eggs benedict or smoked haddock souffle, before three tiers of breakfast-themed treats. Make your way from the bottom up, from the all-important cheese scone to a cornflake jam tart. Yum! And if you can’t quite fit it all in, there are boxes to take any cakes home for later! 

From here,  take your time exploring our fine city’s storied streets a little bit more. Head towards Norwich Castle (which reopened in summer 2025 following a £27.5 million renovation)- can you spot the visitors looking down from the battlements above, their silhouettes outlined against the blue beyond?   

Then use Norwich Cathedral’s towering spire as your guide to our characterful Cathedral Quarter. Head through quaint Cathedral Close, its storybook cottages dappled in the shade of stunning magnolia trees, towards the River Wensum for a peaceful walk beneath weeping willows. Or explore the Harry Potter-esque monastic cloisters of our Romanesque cathedral and hear your footsteps echoing across the centuries-old, vaulted walkways. If you’re tempted by a tasty pitstop, above, the Refectory Cafe, awash with sunshine, promises smooth electric-roasted coffees and indulgent sweet treats. Under its warm wooden ceiling, absorb the history of the walls that surround you.

Follow your nose back to the aromas of Norwich Market for a late lunch. With many a stall sizzling with enticing dishes like curries, chillies, New York-style sandwiches, albondigas and more, one of the best ways to experience the market is by trying a bit of everything (which opens up even more options when you can share)! You won’t regret it- we promise! 

And if you’re heading home by train (or perhaps you’re in the passenger seat), stay on the market to soak in Norwich’s afternoon buzz at Sir Toby’s Beers. Experience the latest craft beers from across the world and local real ales from East Anglia at this continental beer bar and bottle shop. It’s also the perfect people watching spot– sunglasses at the ready. Perch at the bar, crisp pint in hand, condensation speckling the glass. We suggest trying their famous cherry beer- it packs a fruity punch!