Recommendations for restaurants / pubs in Norwich and nearby day trips?

[Lottapianos]

DP and I will be staying in Norwich for a few nights later in August. Any restaurant recommendations? Budget to mid price, no fine dining, not fussy about cuisine, just like good food! Ditto any nice real ale pubs that do good beer

We fancy doing a day trip or two while we're there. Dont mind town or coast. No car so will need to be no more than an hour or so by train from Norwich. No kids so adult activities only please! Thanks

Bump

It’s been a while since I was there but the Belgian Monk in the city is lovely and has a great menu of both food and beer. Cafe 33 was excellent for breakfast/brunch, Tipsy Vegan was great for all things plant based (Norwich has some of the best veggie/vegan food in the country) & local diner Zaks does great burgers! If you want to drive then some of the pubs on the Broads are excellent, we went to one called the Rushcutters which was lovely right on the river, or somewhere called the Black Horse. My colleagues and I go for work a fair bit, I’ll pick their brains if you need more suggestions and no one local pops on!

For real ale you want the Fat Cat on West End St - there's also the Fat Cat Brewery Tap if it's closer to you. Where will you be staying?

For something quirky to eat, try the Waffle House, I've been going there for 25 years and it's always been great. Shiki is a fantastic sushi restaurant if you like that.

It's not the best area for non-drivers but you can get a train to Cromer in an hour, beautiful beach, nice town - eat at the Rocket House cafe for crab sandwiches.

The Castle Museum is great if it's open but I know there's renovation work so it won't be at its best.

XO kitchen at The Artichoke is AMAZING. Korean fusion and the pub itself has a fab selection of beers. Book a table though because it’s so popular. The area it is in (NR3) has some of the best real ale pubs in the city within walking distance - The Stanley & the Fatcat Brewery Tap are excellent.

In the city itself there’s Brick Pizza which does amazing wood fired pizzas, Jive kitchen for authentic and addictive tacos and margaritas, Ber Street Kitchen does the best roasts of anywhere, and Olives cafe the best fry up. Shiki (if it’s open for eat in then) has incredible sushi. These are all indy, reasonable places that I’ve eaten at many times.

Things to do, definitely have a wander round the cathedral on Tombland (if open!) as it’s stunning inside. There’s also the dungeons at the Castle which is worth a look.

Outside of Norwich you can get the CostHopper bus which does all the lovely quaint North Norfolk seaside towns (check bus times though as you don’t want to get stuck!).
Train to Cambridge takes an hour and it’s a beautiful place to explore, with some lovely restaurants.

Lived in Norwich for a long time, so if you have any other questions let me know!

My suggestions were also going to be the Belgian monk abd the fat cat.

If you like burgers and Americana then I suggest Zaks too

No love for Capt America's then?

But I second the Waffle House.

Also for pubs the Golden Star and the Murderers, (sorry, can't remember it's real name).

@VeniVidiWeeWee

No love for Capt America's then?

But I second the Waffle House.

Also for pubs the Golden Star and the Murderers, (sorry, can't remember it's real name).

The Murderers is officially The Gardener's Arms.

Captain America is still there ! O.M.G

Thanks people, these are great suggestions!

I liked Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery (if it’s open). inside they’ve reconstructed wood floors and have museum displays of the history of the castle. When it fell into disrepair it was used as an open air prison for a century or two. The art gallery is lovely as well.
www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/norwich-castle

We visit Norwich frequently, our not to miss pub has to be the Fat Cat for real ales best pub ever! And after that - it has to be a pub crawl!
And for food Namaste India on Opie street is fantastic - try the chaat - you won't be disappointed and The Grosvenor Fish Bar for the best fish and chips ever - even if you are a bit meh about fish and chips - these guys will change your mind.

Think the Fat Cat isn't open but their sister pub The Shed should be open - they have a big beer garden.

The Bicycle Shop on St. Benedicts for a decent lunch.
Fat Cat and Waffle House are great.
Cathedral, Castle, a trip out to the Broads.
A wander round The Forum.
St. Andrews Hall.
Elm Street.

I like the market - have had some great filled steamed buns. Royal Arcade is pretty too but love the lanes. It's such an under-rated city!

For days out, "I know a cracking owl sanctuary". 🤣

Cambridge is close by train.

'For days out, "I know a cracking owl sanctuary".'

brilliant!

🤣 I'm kind of amazed it took so long. Mumsnet is slipping.

Genuine day trips though: definitely Cromer, lovely wee place, you can fish for crabs off the pier, nice church often with organ recitals in the summer (yes, it really is idyllic listening to that as the sun goes down over the sea); Sheringham and Wells next the sea, more sedate resorts, still very charming; Holt, lovely little market town, Georgian, very pretty, lovely country areas around for walking; Blakeney Point, bit far from Norwich, take you a couple of hours but has a real edge of the world feeling, boat trips out to see seals and wild birds which if you're lucky include things like egrets, you start off in little inlets on the mainland and go out to wild islands, completely different aspect to the generally cramped over populated UK.