Best Restaurants in Jesmond
From award-winning British to pan-Asian small plates — our pick of the best restaurants in Jesmond, covering Osborne Road and beyond.
Jesmond punches well above its weight when it comes to eating out. Osborne Road is the main strip — a 10-minute walk of restaurants, bars, and cafes running through the heart of the neighbourhood — but some of the best spots are tucked away on Brentwood Avenue, Clayton Road, and the quieter streets off the beaten track.
Here's our pick of the restaurants worth knowing about.
Branches
Branches has been a fixture at 9 Osborne Road for years and is consistently rated among Newcastle's best restaurants. The cooking is contemporary British — seasonal menus built around locally sourced produce, with dishes that feel refined without being fussy. Think roast chicken with proper trimmings, goat's cheese salads, and a sticky toffee pudding that's earned its own reputation.
A Good Food Award Blue Ribbon winner for 2025/26 and a repeat TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner, Branches manages the rare trick of being classy without being pretentious. The front-of-house team, led by Cevat since 2016, is a big part of why people keep coming back. Book ahead for weekends.
Best for: The safe bet for a special occasion. Consistently excellent without ever showing off.
Sohe
Sohe brings pan-Asian cooking to Osborne Road, led by award-winning chef Parichat Somsri-Kirby. The menu draws on Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, and Chinese influences — delicate dim sum, bold curries, king prawn pad thai, and crispy chilli squid alongside a strong cocktail list.
The small plates format (any 3 for £20) makes it easy to graze, and the restaurant itself is stylish without being overdone. Rated 4.8 stars by over 1,100 OpenTable diners. The patio terrace is popular in summer. Open for lunch and dinner.
Best for: Asian fusion done properly. Great for sharing plates with friends or a cocktail-led evening.
Florence
Florence sits on Osborne Road adjacent to the Osborne Hotel and delivers a genuine Italian dining experience — not an approximation. The kitchen focuses on traditional dishes alongside its own creations, with handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a menu that takes its sourcing seriously.
The setting is warm and unfussy, and the prices are reasonable for the quality. Good for a midweek dinner or a relaxed Saturday evening with friends.
Best for: Proper Italian on Osborne Road. Handmade pasta, fair prices, no pretence.
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse at 61 Osborne Road offers authentic rodizio dining — an all-you-can-eat rotation of fire-roasted meats carved at your table, alongside a generous salad bar. It's a format that rewards appetite and a sense of occasion.
Consistently rated among Newcastle's top restaurants on TripAdvisor, Rio suits celebrations, group bookings, and anyone who takes their steak seriously. Not the cheapest meal on Osborne Road, but the value is in the volume and quality of meat.
Best for: A carnivore's event. Book for birthdays, celebrations, or when you're properly hungry.
Arlo
Slightly off the main drag on Brentwood Avenue, Arlo has been a West Jesmond favourite for over 14 years. Part bistro, part bakery, part all-day cafe — the menu changes with the seasons, and the kitchen works with locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
Breakfast (smoked salmon crumpets, house granola) and lunch (the Otis burger, seasonal salads) are the strong suits. Thursday to Saturday evenings, Arlo shifts into small-plates mode — red lentil dhal, seasonal vegetables, sharing boards. The in-house bakery turns out excellent cakes, scones, and quiches. Open Sunday to Wednesday 9am–5pm; Thursday to Saturday 9am–late.
Best for: A neighbourhood bistro that does everything well — breakfast, lunch, evening small plates, and some of the best baking in Jesmond.
Dabbawal
Dabbawal on Brentwood Mews brought Indian street food to Jesmond before it was trendy. The menu is punchy and flavour-forward — street-style chaat, tandoori grills, thalis, and generous sharing platters — served in a relaxed, colourful setting that feels more Mumbai than NE2.
The Jesmond branch was the original (a second opened in the city centre) and is still the one locals prefer. Good vegetarian and vegan options. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday — it gets busy for good reason.
Best for: Bold, flavourful Indian street food in a setting that matches the energy. The original and still the best.
Fat Hippo
Fat Hippo at 35a St George's Terrace is where Newcastle's most-loved burger chain started. Award-winning burgers — thick patties, loaded toppings, proper buns — alongside loaded fries and craft beer. The menu isn't trying to be anything other than what it is: really good burgers.
Family-friendly, buzzy, and always busy. The original Jesmond site is smaller than the newer branches but has the most atmosphere. Walk-ins are fine on quieter days; book for weekends.
Best for: The original Fat Hippo. No-frills, genuinely excellent burgers in a buzzy setting.
Jesmond Dene House
Jesmond Dene House is Jesmond's fine-dining destination — a boutique hotel and restaurant set in a Grade II listed Arts and Crafts mansion at the entrance to Jesmond Dene. The cooking is modern British, ingredient-led, and consistently accomplished. The setting — high ceilings, garden views, immaculate service — makes it the obvious choice for a special occasion.
Afternoon tea here is also highly regarded. Prices reflect the quality and setting. Worth the investment for an anniversary, birthday, or when you want to eat somewhere genuinely memorable.
Best for: Jesmond's fine-dining anchor. The setting alone is worth the price; the cooking more than matches it.
Honourable mentions
- Zapatista — Newcastle's first burrito house, on Osborne Road. Generous portions, good value, student-friendly.
- Billabong — bar and bistro in the Caledonian Hotel on Osborne Road. Open daily 10am–10pm.
- Mandalay — Asian restaurant on Holly Avenue, just off Osborne Road. Quietly excellent.
- PizzaExpress — the chain has an Osborne Road branch. Reliable if unexciting.
Jesmond's restaurant scene changes regularly — new openings and closures are part of the rhythm. If we've missed your favourite or a new place has opened since this was written, let us know.
All information verified via venue websites, OpenTable, and TripAdvisor as of May 2026. Check with venues directly for current menus and hours.