Food & Drink in Exeter

When it comes to eateries, the choice in Exeter is extensive. Being a city, you’ll find a whole host of places to choose from offering every cuisine you can think of including restaurants dedicated to vegan, vegetarian and gluten free diets so everyone will find something to suit them.

Mix of chains and independents

Exeter has several award-winning restaurants that pride themselves on serving local food. Many of the restaurants and eateries in the city are located within the historical buildings that make this part of Devon so fascinating. The independent restaurants are dotted around the city and can be found in the high street, the quay and around the Princesshay shopping centre. If you’re in the mood for somewhere with a familiar menu, this is where you’ll also find more well-known eateries such as Turtle Bay, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Absurd Bird and Wagamama. As Exeter is a popular city for students, many of the high street chains will often have bargains and offers such as two for one on drinks and happy hour offers. Some of them will also operate a loyalty scheme in the form of apps and cards, so if you have a particular favourite, you can be sure of a good deal using loyalty points. If you don’t fancy going out, but still want a restaurant standard meal, many of the high street chains offer a delivery service, so you can enjoy your favourite meals wherever you are!

Exeter is also a hive of quirky independent eateries all with their own charm and specialities. These smaller, independent restaurants are often run by a friendly team of locals who will be more than happy to talk to you about the city and some of its hidden gems. The independent establishments generally create their menus using a range of locally sourced produce from across Devon, including their meat, fish and greens, so if you want to reduce your carbon footprint and sample some of the incredible local produce from the county, these restaurants are always a good shout.

If you’re travelling with children, you’ll find plenty of options for them too. Exeter is a great city for families, there are a wide range of attractions that are suitable for all ages and the many restaurants in the city have dedicated children’s menus making it easy to dine together.

Having two train stations and being linked to the mainline rail network means you don’t even need to be staying in Exeter to enjoy the city’s eateries, it is easy to just hop on a train, a bus or in the car and make your way over to the city centre for dinner.

Worldwide cuisine all in one place

The beauty of being in a city is that you will find cuisine from around the world right on your doorstep. Whether you want Indian, Chinese, Turkish, French, Italian or something else entirely, you’ll find it all right here. Exeter has a range of themed restaurants that are focused on one cuisine as well as restaurants that offer several different dishes on their menus, so even if you can’t agree on what you want, you can satisfy everyone.