A -Z of places to eat and drink in Worcester

Discover Worcester’s coolest and quirkiest places to eat, drink and be seen.

A – Adventurous

Bring out your adventurous side this summer with a spot of camping under the stars. Warehouse, Blacks, Knowles Travelgoods and Knowles Sports have everything you need to equip you for your next trip to the great outdoors.

B – Brunch

Get your all-day brunch fix at Waylands Yard with everyone’s favourite “The Avo Smash”. Or, if you’re looking for something sweet, try Bill’s pancakes stacked with bacon, fruit and syrup. Why not kick start your morning with the famous “Sunshine Bloody Mary” at Globe Bistro or join All Bar One’s bottomless brunch club – perfect for a lazy Sunday.

C – Craft Beer

Drop by a local brewery tap room. If you like speciality beers, be it India Pale Ales, Wheat Beers, Saisons or Lambic Beers, try Hoplords Taproom and Bottle Shop, then head to The Oil Basin or The Paul Pry for a range of beers from all over the world. When visiting The Oil Basin, why not grab a pizza from Chad’s Smashery to enjoy with your drink.

D – Desserts / Date night

Indulge in the City’s popular dessert evening with a host of delectable handmade sweets at Nest. Fancy an afternoon treat? Pop into Creams for the ultimate waffles or Delightful Desserts for gelato! The perfect way to cool off this summer.

E – Environmental

Committed to sustainability? Boston Tea Party were the first café to stop the single use of cups, encouraging customers to bring in their own cup or to take part in their loan a cup scheme. The Hive also gives you double stamps on your loyalty card for remembering your travel mug. Be the Change offers treats for those who take their own containers for a takeaway lunch, and if you’re sick of plastic-wrapped broccoli in your supermarkets, head to Housewives Choice for fresh, naked fruit and veg.

F – Fine dining

Worcester boasts a fabulous collection of fine dining eateries, including the new Centenary Lounge which serves delicious dishes and creative cocktails. You can enjoy Italian home-cooking at Benedictos, Sugo or Valentinos, or get date night tapas at The Olive Branch. For a special occasion, why not have an indulgent dinner at the Michelin rated Old Rectifying House.

G – Gin making

Blend your own botanical masterpiece with Pistons Gin, Worcester’s top gin-making experience. Alternatively, why not visit Tonic Gin Bar to experience their impressive gin bar that offers more than 100 varieties.

H – History / Heritage

Spend a morning at The Commandery, where you can experience the past brought to life in a beautiful building with an 800-year history.

I – Instagram-worthy / Independents

For the best Instagram-worthy plates the city can provide, why not visit the legendary Hanbao. The burgers are out of this world. Try their ‘Daddy Yankee’; two double aged patties and lucky charms, topped off with a pop tart. The independent Friar Street Kitchen is the destination if you want locally sourced food – we recommend the skillet steak.

J – Juice

Get your five-a-day with a juice hit. Bills sells nutritious smoothies, or get a fresh orange in Coffee #1. Pret A Manger and Marks and Spencer sell fresh juices ready to take away, and Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Be The Change and Caffe Nero all have a huge range of summer coolers.

K – Kids

If you’re out with the kids in tow, there are lots of family-friendly restaurants in the city. Q Panda has an oriental buffet with plates available for tiny tums too. Auntie Em’s Tearoom has a brilliant play area for your little ones to use while the grown-ups indulge in afternoon tea or a coffee and a sandwich.

L – Live music

Many of Worcester’s most-popular bars host live music and entertainment. Top music hot spots include Paradiddles, Drummonds, Bottles, and The Brick Room.

M – Mexican

Chesters Bar and Restaurant is a favourite Worcester spot for Mexican food. Their traditional and contemporary inspired menus are extensive, and they offer a delicious range of tequilas. Bodega is a contemporary cantina, bringing you the best of South American food and drinks. For Mexican food in a hurry, head to El Mexicana for your takeaway fix.

N – Nutritious

Worcester has many great health food shops to help you get back on track. Revital sells health supplements and vitamins, while The Grape Tree sells a wide range of natural whole foods and superfoods, including its own 100% Organic range. Holland and Barrett sells top quality health foods, including Manuka honey.

O – Open mic

Get yourself to The Imperial Tavern on Wednesday nights to take part in their Open Mic night and enjoy a pint or get to The Old Pheasant on the second Thursday every month.

P – Pub gardens

Soak up the sun with a drink in hand at Diglis House Hotel on the riverside and enjoy the same views that famous landscape artist Turner once painted. The Old Rectifying House has a beautiful and secluded garden, and sometimes you’ll even find a pop-up cocktail bar outside!

Q – Quirky

Dive into Worcester’s quirky bars: Keystones Cocktail Club offers an extensive range of unique cocktails that are a must to try, especially when they’re served out of a mini bathtub or a skull! For the wine aficionados, the tasting machine at Bottle Wine Bar is a perfect night out.

R – Riverside

Browns At The Quay is the perfect place to eat, meet, drink and socialise. The King’s Head also has Canalside views that’ll perfectly compliment your pint.

S – Street food

Foodies will be treated at the After Worc Feast St with food favourites Patty Freaks, Fat Snags and Urban Cheesecake, as well as local favourites G&Tea, Chesters and Tonic Bar.

T – Tea for Two

Treat yourself to afternoon tea at Centenary Lounge.  Chocholics should head to the Chocolate Deli for their cocoa fix, or for a romantic lunch picnic-style, stroll down to Friar Street Kitchen.

U – Underground bars

For an atmospheric night underground, visit Monroe’s Cellar Bar for late night drinks. For an evening of delectable Mediterranean food and wine, visit The Olive Branch.

V – Vegan

Be The Change has an extensive, incredible, 100% vegan menu with favourites including all-day breakfasts, bagels, burgers, cakes and ever-changing specials. And if you’re looking for a mixed menu, The OId Rectifying House’s Michelin-rated menu has some great options, as does Cosy Club, Ask, Zizzi, and Pizza Express.

W – Women

Boasting both famous horseracing and cricket grounds, Worcester offers women the perfect opportunity to get dressed up. Don a beautiful hat or fascinator and enjoy a glass of champagne for Ladies Day at Pitchcroft, or wear your best summer dresses for a day at New Road.

X – X-citing

Get down to Hanbao Volume 2 to enjoy their brand new rooftop terrace. The best burger bar in town just got even better!

Y – Yoga

It’s never too late to finally start that New Year’s resolution! We’re all guilty of committing to “by the end of 2019 I will be able land a quadruple backflip” or “yoga, twice a week, every week!”. Once you have entered the Zen Shed, your resolution will become a reality. Wayland’s Yard is also the perfect destination for a yoga class with friends, followed by a delicious brunch.

Z – Zero-waste

Pack It In is Worcester’s first zero-waste shop. Take your containers, fill them with anything - from rice and couscous, to herbs and spices – and then take to the till and pay for what it weighs. If you’re looking to find out more about how you can reduce your waste at home, head to Waterstones and find a handy how-to such as My Zero-Waste Kitchen by Kate Turner.