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Best Restaurants & Places to Eat in Leicester 2025

December 6, 2024 •

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Leicester, the birthplace of Modern Standard English is popular worldwide for several reasons but the dining options and the restaurants in Leicester are incomparable. All tastes and budgets are well catered for in the city, and if you’re spending time here, it’s not difficult to find delicious Indian, Italian, Korean and French food, but here we’ve made it easier for you to hop at the best restaurants in Leicester.

Here are our top picks for the best restaurants in Leicester that won’t disappoint you:

Lighthouse

Lighthouse is a famous seafood restaurant first and foremost, with a continuously changing special of the day menu featuring the catch of the day and the best of seasonal sustainable options from around the British Isles. More than just simply offering fish, however, Lighthouse also serves a small but appetizing selection of meat dishes incorporating wonderful fillet steak.

The Joiners

Found in the outskirts of Leicester in the village of Bruntingthorpe, The Joiners can be called a modern rural gastropub and one of the best restaurants in Leicester. It is formed by the team behind another local favourite, The Boot Room. Their selected but impeccably crafted menu and wine selection, however, are well worth the voyage out of the city. Not just this, but the restaurant also holds a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand rating, an accolade awarded to good food at fair prices that only two restaurants in Leicestershire hold.

OGGI Simply Italian

Calling itself ‘the home of Italian cuisine in Leicester’, OGGI Simply Italian is an incredible establishment with a menu that clearly reflects its head chefs near quarter-century of experience and research into the food of Italy. Full of fondness and dedication, the Italian food offered is a million miles above the usual pizza and pasta served by so many mediocre restaurants. You’ll visit here once and won’t fail to visit again and again.

Kayal

Kayal is an Indian restaurant based in Leicester that is more of a culinary ethos and is one of the most amazing restaurants in Leicester according to the people. A large group of Leicester locals with family ties came together to form a small group of restaurants dedicated to authentic versions of the seafood recipes of Kerala, and have been very successful in the endeavour, thanks to their devotion and great recipes. The customer service of Kayal is also notable, the motto behind the whole venture being ‘The Guest is God’.

The Windmill Inn

The team at the Windmill Inn has devised a great restaurant for the city, completely revamping the place abroad and giving it its exclusive spin. Alongside the modern fine dining menu, is a ‘Windmill Classics’ menu celebrating Great British heritage and classic pub dishes that the customers absolutely love. Offering a range of mouth-watering dishes makes the place a delectable Sunday lunch destination.

Shivalli

A real treat for the growing number of gourmet-conscious vegetarians, Shivalli is named after a village in India where vegetarian food is just perfect and is traditionally served on plantain leaves. Although the latter is not maintained across all of their meals, the veggie food is definitely something outstanding.

Saray Mangal

Named after a fertile and historic area of the Asian side of Turkey now called Anatolia, Saray Mangal serves high-quality Turkish food of the region. With a focused menu and the exceptional smells of roasting meats filling the restaurant, it is almost impractical not to feel instantly hungry as soon as you step into this space. Within the restaurant, Leicester’s Turkish population mingles with its students and urbanites, making Saray Mangal the embodiment of a modern Leicester dining experience.

The Reservoir Inn

The Reservoir Inn is The Windmill Inn’s sister restaurant, placed by a reservoir on the edge of the New Forest on the outskirts of Leicester. Offering an amazing pub-style place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, it caters to wanderers and walkers around the reservoirs with their hearty appetites and discerning palates. Either sit at the bar for finger foods and a cold beer or dine at the slightly more formal restaurant area, offering British twists on world flavours using the best of local produce.

Grounded Kitchen

This Leicester eatery may be a little small, but it has a big following of locals, all enthusiastic to embrace the ideology of living a happy, healthy, and grounded life. Three simple little words – love, life, eat – ground all the dishes on the Korean-inspired menu, with broths and nutrient-rich nourish bowls served by them, alongside wellness teas and superfood lattes. Another branch of the same eatery can be found on King Street.

The White Peacock

Located in a charming building in the heart of Leicester, the White Peacock is a fine-dining restaurant serving British and international cuisine, the best place for a formal yet relaxing lunch or dinner. Using ingredients that are locally sourced, the seasonal à la carte menu may feature braised lamb shoulder or marinated Kabocha squash with quinoa. Their ultimate English afternoon tea is also an enjoyable treat for the customers.

FAQs

Q1. What kind of food do restaurants in Leicester serve?

Ans: Leicester restaurants provide a wide range of cuisines, including British, Mediterranean, and international dishes. They provide a variety of classic and contemporary meals, as well as vegetarian and vegan choices.

Q2. Are there any affordable restaurants in Leicester for students?

Ans: Yes, there are numerous affordable eateries in Leicester specifically geared towards students’ interests, including The Orange Tree, The Cosy Club, and The Chutney Ivy.

Q3. Are there any restaurants in Leicester that offer student discounts?

Ans: Many restaurants in Leicester offer student discounts, so it’s worth asking when you go. Students like The Cosy Club, The Orange Tree, and The Chutney Ivy.