Restaurants & Pub Eating in and around Lavenham, Suffolk
If you are “foodies” then Lavenham is a good place to visit. The village and surrounding area are unusually well provided with good restaurants and eating places
Lavenham (all of these are within a 5 minute walk of Blaize Cottages: no driving needed!)
The Great House. A high quality French restaurant and frequent winner of many national awards. The owners and virtually all staff are French. It is also reasonably priced. It is very popular and early booking is recommended. This is one not to be missed, though it generally closes for part of January and for a couple of weeks in the summer. www.greathouse.co.uk
The Swan Hotel. This is a 4 star hotel in the heart of the village and it includes a bar meal option as well as a very good restaurant set in a beautifully restored timber framed dining room. This is worth visiting for the setting alone. You should also visit the bar to see the WW2 memorabilia. www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk
The Angel Hotel. In spring 2011, this hotel was taken over by Marco Pierre White. It is early days but first impressions are that all aspects have improved significantly and refurbishment is planned. It serves on a Monday evening, which is unusual. www.maypolehotels.com/angelhotel
Memsaab. This is an Indian restaurant and Lavenham’s only ethnic restaurant. This has been an excellent addition to eating options in the village and our guests have commented on its high quality and value for money. www.memsaaboflavenham.co.uk
The Greyhound. One of the two pubs in the village. It gets good reports for good pub grub. It also has a bike hire service. Tel 01787 247475
The Cock. This is the other pub and again it gets good reports for its food and is judged to give good value for money. www.thecockatlavenham.co.uk
Munnings Tea Rooms. There are several places to have afternoon tea in the village but this is the best. The scones and homemade cakes are exceptional. www.munningstearoom.co.uk
Outside Lavenham
The Swan, Monks Eleigh (5 miles) If we have to leave the village then this is our favourite restaurant. Excellent quality food presented in a simple style. There is often a good selection of fish. It is sufficient to say that Delia Smith is a regular! You need to book at the weekends. For the more energetic, it is possible to walk there and back and the walk is very attractive. We can provide details. www.monkseleigh.com
Scutchers, Long Melford (7 miles) This is a good contemporary style restaurant; well worth the drive. www.scutchers.com
The Crown, Bildeston. (8 miles) Another award winning restaurant. www.thebildestoncrown.com
Milsoms, Dedham. (16 miles) This is a successful contemporary restaurant that is included because it is a good place for lunch or an early evening drink when visiting the attractive village of Dedham or the National Trust at Flatford Mill, East Bergholt (the home of John Constable) www.milsomhotels.com
The Crown, Stoke by Nayland. (11 miles) Extensively reworked hotel and restaurant. Very lively and very popular. The fish and chips are excellent. www.crowninn.net
Lindsey Rose, Lindsey Tye. (7 miles; on the road to Hadleigh and signed to the right after Monks Eleigh) This has the same owners as the nearby Crown in Bildeston. Good atmosphere and good pub food. www.redroseinn.co.uk
Maison Bleu, Bury St Edmunds. (11 miles)This has the same owners as The Great House in Lavenham. It is also French, specialises in fish and is an award winning restaurant in its own right. www.maisonbleue.co.uk
Other restaurants in Bury St Edmunds. Many of the more popular chains are represented in Bury and our preferred options are Cafe Rouge, Pizza Express and Chez Gerard which are all in Abbeygate St in the centre of the town
The Leaping Hare, Wyken Vineyards, Stanton (8 miles north of Bury). A decent restaurant but included as a lunch or afternoon tea suggestion because it links to a walk in their gardens and vineyards and a visit to their shop. They also have a farmers market each Saturday morning. www.wykenvineyards.co.uk
