This 11th century castle serves as one of the most famous royal residences in all of England, serving as both a popular tourist attraction and the Queen’s weekend home. We’re sure you’ll get hungry on your visit, so check out this list below for the Best Restaurants near Windsor Castle.
A great place to start your day (and this article!), Cinnamon Café is a breezy, cozy spot that serves some of the best brunch and afternoon tea in the area. Located inside of the Windsor Royal Station, the original green-painted bricks and old oaken woodwork can make even the well-tread traveler feel transported back in time. Well not too far back, there is free Wi-Fi after all!
Those looking for a light breakfast before their trip to the castle should definitely sample the many scones, muffins and cakes that are on offer. We had a freshly baked raspberry tray bake and a cup of hot porridge and it definitely kept us charged for a long day of walking. If you have time, it’s definitely worth it to stop in for afternoon tea. You’ll be treated to some of the best scones and buttered biscuits on offer from any of the restaurants near Windsor Castle.
One of the most historical restaurants near Windsor Castle, this gastropub offers visitors a beautiful view of the River Thames. Their riverside terrace is a relaxing place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing. Or take a seat at one of the elegantly tableclothed dining tables beneath the warm glow of the incandescent lights inside.
An excellent place to start here is one of the two sharing plates on offer here. The Italian plate is what we had and included an exquisite election of Cured Meats, Cheeses, Sun Blushed Tomatoes and Olives. The Parma Ham wrapped Pork Fillet with Apple Mash Potato is one of the most tastefully British entrees on the menu, and would certainly be what we recommend. It combines the best in British meat with a strikingly sweet fruit flavor to a knockout finish. Make sure to grab a pint of one of whatever’s on tap! They’re always cycling in new beers from their in-house brewery.
Photo courtesy of The Brasserie at Sir Christopher Wren
€€€ | Fine Dining | Creative
There are few restaurants near Windsor Castle that display both the attention to detail and willingness to experiment shown at The Brasserie. Right in the heart of Windsor, The Brasserie’s wide open windows, naturally lit dining room and gorgeous views of the river are as close any of us will ever have to a royal experience. Yet the playful menu and casual ambience here are anything but stuffy.
You’re certainly in the right if you guessed that this place offers a great afternoon tea. However, we definitely recommend making reservations for dinner. The playful “Homemade curry of the moment” is an ever-changing dish where the chefs’ culinary abilities are constantly reaching new heights. The lightly cured salmon is excellent as well, combining a citrusy brine with a buttery finish that’s hard to forget.
A few steps into the moody, wallpaper-lined interior of this Datchet Road Indian-Thai restaurant and you are immediately transported to someplace far from Windsor, a place full of masala, turmeric, nutmeg and cardamom. Mango Lounge’s manages to keep up a relaxed feel to its service, while still providing the kind of high-end experience that we come to expect from restaurants near Windsor Castle.
Those looking for a dish that bites back should turn their attention to the Lal Maas curry, a fiery lamb curry rooted in the Western Indian culinary tradition. The Lamb Korma Nilgiri is one of the most popular dishes here, and it’s certainly not hard to see why. It includes cubes of lamb marinated in yogurt, mint and coriander and cooked in a light onion & coconut sauce along with chillies, black pepper, mustard seeds and curry leaves. It’s one of our favorite things in Windsor (and that includes the castle.)
Straddling the line between high class cuisine and comfort food, the menu at À la Russe takes notes from both French and Mediterranean roots. The result is an eclectic and superb dining experience, served elegantly over white tablecloths and candlelight.
The 3 course Table D’Hote meal is very affordable for the quality you’re getting, and we suggest it. You’ll be offered delicious starters like Baked Brie & Cranberry Tartlette, before moving on to the main course. This consists of your choice between Chicken Breast Stroganoff, Pan-Fried Pangaseus Fillet and a Russian style Meat Ravioli smothered with caramelized onions. By the time you’ve had your desert of pecan pie and crème brûlée, you’ll have had a dining experience that’s hard to beat.
As the name suggests, this River Street establishment plays close to its roots. Serving authentic Greek dishes in a stunning 2-level restaurant that is naturally lit and decorated almost entirely with dark woods, it’s a favorite of ours. So step inside the brightly painted blue and white entranceway and enjoy!
Splitting two or three of the meze appetizers is very advisable, and we recommend the Chickpea Filo Triangles, as well as classics like the Falafel and Moussaka. These are great entrance points to the quality and authenticity on offer here. The Lamb Meatballs, Grilled Aubergine with Garlic Tomato Sauce and Chicken Skewers are all great picks for your main meal. Try the £20 Athenian Meze Menu, which includes several courses of Greek delicacies passed down for generations.
This is our favorite spot in Windsor to enjoy a casual drink with friends and make plans about how you’ll spend your evening. Offering great views of the Thames and Windsor Castle, the open-air terrace is a breezy spot that’s just wonderful after a hot day. Indoor seating here is fantastic as well, including a wonderfully muraled dining room that is both sophisticated and relaxed.
The same can be said of the dining experience offered here. It’s an excellent place for brunch (which is bottomless) as well as dinner. The King Prawn & Devon Crab Linguine is spiced with lime, chili & coriander pesto, and was one of the best dishes we had on our trip. We also recommend the simple but flavorful Browns Club Sandwich. This includes chargrilled chicken, smoked bacon, beef tomato, and heritage hen egg mayo. It really raises the classic grilled chicken sandwich to new heights.
Sometimes restaurants near Windsor Castle can come off as a bit uptight, but never fear because barbeque is here. Nestled beneath a chocolate brown wooden façade on the corner of Castle Hill and Market Street, it’s a little slice of the American South in the heart of England. The interior is all intimate booths and window-side seating. It’s a welcoming, no-frills dining experience that’s hard to forget.
Though there are quite a few fantastic sandwiches here (the Smokin’ Chipotle Burger, for instance) we recommend ordering from “The Smoker” part of the menu. These include a variety of locally sourced meats, slow-cooked over hickory in Bluegrass BBQ’s iron smokers sourced straight from Oklahoma. We got the combo of brisket and pork belly, and were (in every sense except physically) in heaven. You’re your favorites and you won’t be disappointed. And with their wide variety of BBQ sauce ranging from “Smokin’ Cherry” to “Tangy Mustard”, every bite is a totally new experience.
Pro Tip: If you come here on a Monday, you can get a perfectly seared flat-iron steak with homemade steak fries for only £10!
The exposed brick, aged wooden seating and vintage posters might seem straight out of Brooklyn, but The Duchess manages to keep the feeling of an old-time pub, despite the modern décor. Open late and serving from an all day menu, it’s a veritable oasis of deep-fried food and free-flowing taps.
Looking for that traditional English pub experience? Order the Steak & McMullen’s Ale pie, which consists of diced British beef braised with onions, as well as a rich beef gravy. All of that stuffed inside of a flaky, golden-brown pie crust, it hits a spot that few dishes can. Vegetarians should try the Superfood Buddha Bowl, jampacked with broccoli, kale, roasted roots, gem lettuce, baby spinach, red and white quinoa and pomegranate seeds. It’s a light dish that still manages to fill you up.
A list of best restaurants near Windsor Castle would really be missing something if it didn’t include a great place for a slice of pizza. Serving up slices inside its brick-lined bistro, where diners chow down beneath a stunning hand-drawn mural, the ambience here is on point. It’s perfectly suited for both a fast lunch and a romantic Italian dinner.
For starters, the garlic bread with bleu cheese is a guilty pleasure we didn’t know we had. It’s baked to a golden brown perfection and oozing with sharp bleu cheese. We loved it. The calamari is also fantastic and avoids the too-often gamey texture for a tender, melt-in-your-mouth execution. In terms of pizza, the Rustica Primavera is an excellent choice. Goat’s cheese, artichokes, spinach, fire-roasted peppers, olives and mozzarella over tomato sauce, the dish is packed with the freshest ingredients available. If you’re looking for something a bit more serious than pizza, try the excellent Chicken Thigh Calabrese!
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