Dining Out

You may be holidaying in rural Norfolk, but we’re not backward for places to eat. Spoilt for choice with cafes in every little village, fish and chip shops frying our local fish, homely pubs with log fires and enough restaurants to try a different one every day of the year!

Bacton/Mundesley

Here’s the nearest to our Rainbows End Park properties that you may want to try, and all of them should not disappoint. Just remember that they may shut a little earlier than those you have at home and may well need booking ahead for peak times!

  • Poachers Pocket pub, Bacton – the upstairs dining area overlooks the sea with traditional pub fare on the menu.
  • Oriental Garden Chinese Restaurant, Bacton – eat in & takeaway. An extensive menu and very welcoming.
  • Bacton Fish Shop, Bacton – takeaway – always a favourite, the quickest way to eat at home after a day exploring or on the beach.
  • Watsons, Bacton. Nice cafe, with new owners; a good choice of breakfasts, lunches and more
  • Cafe Carmel – vegetarian food. A lovely owner, freshly made food at all times, well worth a visit even if you’re not vegetarian!
  • Kingfisher Cafe, Walcott – eat in, on the sea front or grab an ice cream! Fabulous all day breakfasts.
  • Kingfisher fish and chip shop, Walcott – eat in, on the sea front & takeaway
  • Lighthouse Inn, Walcott. Family friendly and an extensive menu.
  • The Ship Inn pub, Mundesley – pub garden overlooks the sea
  • The Corner House cafe, Mundesley

Mundesley also has The Royal Restaurant, a fish and chip shop and several more cafes.

These are all within walking distance or a 5/10 minute drive of Rainbows End Park. Nearby towns are North Walsham and Cromer for even more choice.

Happisburgh

  • The Hill House Inn – traditional, old fashioned pub, welcoming landlords, good food, great ales and cider.
  • The Halt Coffee Shop, on the same site as the pub
  • Smallsticks Cafe, Cart Gap

Cromer

Too many to mention but a few of our favourites are

  • Bolton’s Bistro in The Cliftonville, is known as the little gem of Cromer.
  • Galton Blackiston, Norfolks own celebrity chef owns No 1, a great fish and chip shop in Cromer. More seafood offerings available at Upstairs No 1 too. He also owns the Michelin starred Morston Hall which is pricey but worth it for a really special occasion.
  • The Grove, in Cromer has recently been awarded two AA rosettes and is gaining a great reputation beyond just the hotel guest diners. It now has Sundown in the garden for pizza and tapas. Well worth a visit.
  • The Old Rock Shop Bistro also opens in the evenings
  • Hatters Tea Shop – truly scrummy cakes and scones
  • Crabpot Cafe – fabulous all day breakfasts; lunches and home made cakes too.
  • Huckleberries cafe – sandwiches, cakes, homemade soup and more
  • Rocket House cafe – overlooking the beach
  • Jetty Cafe

Some others well worth a drive for the foodies amongst you and recommended by our guests over the years are:

  • Vernon Arms in Southrepps. A really friendly pub with a great log fire to snuggle up to if you get there in time. Great food and beer
  • Gunton Arms, a slightly eccentric pub in Thorpe Market, near Cromer. Owned by an Art dealer, it has some really “interesting” pieces of artwork around!
  • Horse & Groom at Tunstead
  • Nelson Head, Horsey
  • The Swan at Ingham
  • The Star at Lessingham
  • The Olive Tree at North Walsham
  • Banningham Crown at Banningham
  • Recruiting Sergeant at Horstead
  • Suffield Arms, also owned by the owner of Gunton Arms
  • Try two of Marco Pierre White’s pubs – The Wayford Bridge Inn in Stalham or The Bridge Inn at Acle, overlooking the broads

Seafood eateries

These are not all seafood specialists, but if it’s a gastro pub, then the seafood selection is well worth trying.

  • In Cromer try: Bolton’s Bistro and No 1
  • Rocky Bottoms in West Runton
  • Bure River Cottage in Horning
  • Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market
  • The White Horse, Overstrand
  • Cookies Crab shop, Salthouse (casual daytime eating)
  • In Wells-next-the-Sea try: Season, Wells Crab House or Sands
  • Anchor Inn, Morston
  • The Moorings, Blakeney
  • The Old Forge Seafood Restaurant, Thursford

Let’s also not forget there are some really good cafes too, for breakfast, lunches, afternoon tea and ice creams, whilst you’re out and about exploring.

  • Ice cream in Cromer – Cromer Ices, Windows, Ice Cromer, The Reef Stop
  • The Beach Cafe, Mundesley
  • Cafe Charlotte and Cherry Blossom Cafe, Stalham
  • Vera’s Coffee Shop, Wayford Nurseries, Stalham
  • Waxham Barn Cafe, Sea Palling
  • Poppylands 1940s Tearooms, Horsey
  • Merrivale Tea Rooms, Great Yarmouth

For a search by area, the EatOutNorfolk site gives more options. Please let us know of any wonderful eateries you find on your travels and we can add them. Just don’t blame us when you go home several pounds heavier!