Our Top Picks for Eating and Drinking in Newcastle
Monday 20th December, 2021 by hs-admin
Newcastle is known for its nightlife, so if you’re looking for holiday cottages in the North East, be sure to have this party city on your list.
While the infamous Tuxedo Princess – the boat-based nightclub with a revolving dancefloor – is long gone, there are still plenty of enticing venues in which to grab a drink.
From hip and trendy bars to cosy pubs and micro-breweries, there’s something for everyone in Newcastle. It’s not all booze-fuelled either, with a variety of quirky cafes giving you a chance to take a break from sight-seeing.
So, where’s best for a beverage in Newcastle and the surrounding areas?
As well as being known for nightlife, Newcastle is also known for its bridges – and from this rooftop bar, you can see them all.
The Vermont Hotel is a stunning 1930s building in the heart of Newcastle, with seven bars and restaurants, including Above, its rooftop terrace.
With 360 views across the city, you can enjoy some of Newcastle’s old and new icons, including the Tyne and Millennium bridges, the Sage Gateshead music centre and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
- Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1RQ
By The River Brew Co
Technically, this bar is in Gateshead, but we’re adding it to the list anyway.
Nestled beneath the iconic Tyne Bridge, By The River features a microbrewery and tap room, restaurant and bike shop, along with an outdoor street food market in the Summer months.
The buildings are all made up of shipping containers, in a nod to the city’s shipbuilding heritage, and are the perfect place to watch the world go by from the banks of the Tyne.
And if you can’t get enough of their homebrew, their beer is also available to buy online.
- Hillgate Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2FD
Stack
Another container village, this one in the very heart of Newcastle’s shopping district, Northumberland Street meets Pilgrim Street, Stack has something for everyone.
During the day, it’s a great place to take the kids, as the wide range of street food emporiums means there should be something for even the fussiest of eaters.
At night, the venue is transformed with twinkling lights to become a drinking setting, with regular live music on the central stage.
- Pilgrim St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6QG
Blakes
This cosy, comfy café, on the road down to the Quayside, is another Newcastle institution, having been serving coffee, cake and sandwiches for many years.
Attracting a wide variety of customers, from students to office workers and even the occasional celebrity, Blakes is warm, relaxed and welcoming.
Much of the food is homemade, with breakfast being a particular speciality, and with its prime spot on Grey Street, it’s the perfect place for people-watching.
- 53 Grey St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6EE
Looking for a café with added animal attractions? The fabulously-named Mog On The Tyne (in the equally delightful Pudding Chare) features, you guessed it, a cluster of resident cats, along with more standard café fare.
Stroking cats has been proven to lower stress, but, in the middle of a city, many people don’t have room for a pet – which is where the idea for a cat café came from.
Mog On The Tyne’s feline residents are all rescue cats from home or abroad, and the café offers them plenty of places to play and exercise – as well as hide away when all the human attention gets too much.
- 24 Pudding Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1UE
Whether it’s a sophisticated night out, an afternoon by the river or a chance to relax, there’s a venue for everyone in Newcastle.
However, at the time of writing, there were mumblings of further restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus, so please, always check with the venue before heading out.
If you’re looking to get a taste of the city’s café culture and nightlife, have a look at some of our North East holiday cottages.