The best restaurants in Cambridge, from affordable eats to spots for celebration

"There are few cities quite as charming as Cambridge, with its honey-hued colleges, ivy-draped courtyards, and punts drifting lazily down the River Cam. Beyond the academic pomp and postcard-perfect beauty lies a food scene that's quietly confident: a mix of modern brasseries, proud locally owned independents, and coffee shops worth seeking out, beyond the familiar fast-food chains that clutter the cobbled streets."

"After a stroll along The Backs, bag a table at buzzy Permit Room, a restaurant-come-bar from the same minds behind Dishoom. There's a relaxed, retro feel here, with diner-style booths to curl up in, funky artwork on the walls, and a bar that serves up Indian-spiced cocktails. Tear into cheesy garlic naans (perfect for dragging through tingly curries) and nibble on sharing plates that are best washed down with a pint or two."

Cambridge combines honey-hued colleges, ivy-draped courtyards and punts with a confident, varied food scene. The food scene mixes modern brasseries, proud locally owned independents, and coffee shops beyond familiar fast-food chains on cobbled streets. Permit Room, from the minds behind Dishoom, offers a relaxed retro feel with diner-style booths, funky artwork, Indian-spiced cocktails, cheesy garlic naans and sharing plates best washed down with pints while encouraging convivial rounds. Parker's Tavern in the University Arms presents collegiate charm with stained-glass windows, comforting classics such as beer-battered fish and chips, bubble and squeak, hearty pies, and an indulgent build-your-own sundae. Two Michelin-starred Midsummer House anchors fine-dining beside the river.

Read at CN Traveller