My 5 Top Tips for Newcastle Restaurant Week 2026 | A Local's Guide

Newcastle Restaurant Week is next week, 12th-18th of January. And you may have missed out, but if you are lucky enough to get a table booked, you are in for a treat. Please don't worry, though, as there is one more restaurant week this year coming up in August. Although I do hope my top tips will help you, no matter when you visit the city and experience it's culinary delights and explore what makes Newcastle a gift to food lovers. So read this blog now and save it for future reference too.

I took this picture on a grgeous sunny day in Newcastle. Grey Street and Grey's Monument are in the heart of the city with lots of foodie delights surrounding it.

But first, why does Newcastle Restaurant Week exist? Well, if you are someone who likes to eat out, you will know that many hospitality businesses have had to survive against the odds. And perhaps some of your favourite places have closed. Newcastle Restaurant Week was designed to help restaurants attract new customers and help them during quieter times of the year in January & August. It was set up by NE1 in 2011, so 2026 will mark the 15th year of this brilliant initiative. 

My daughter has worked in hospitality since she was sixteen, and any parent who has a child who has worked in hospitality will know that the staff and teams that run hospitality businesses are the hardest-working people you will meet. So whenever I eat out, I have a deep-rooted appreciation for the people who serve me and run these establishments. Even more so if the business is a local independent business, as a small business owner myself, I am sure you can imagine why they have a very special place in my heart.

So here is Top Tip number 1 - Bring the vibes

When booking your table, be patient and flexible. This is an extremely busy week for the businesses that are taking part; there are over 100 restaurants to choose from. You can find them here. From your first contact with the restaurant, make sure that they know you will be a customer they can't wait to serve. That first impression means everything. Newcastle and the North East of England have a reputation for a friendly and approachable culture. And you will get the most out of the city if you bring the positive, friendly vibes you want to receive. I, for one, can't wait to meet the staff at Infusion Newcastle. Having looked at their reviews, their customer service sounds wonderful.

Top Tip 2 - Getting into the city

Ditch the car. It's likely to be busy in the city during restaurant week, so ditch the car and take public transport or book a taxi to get into the city. This way, you won't be struggling to get parked, and you will be able to arrive on time with no stress or worries. Tuesday the 13th is a home game at St James' Park, so you will need to give yourself extra time (see what I did there) to get into the city. Getting into Newcastle from Gateshead, where I live, on a match day can be tricky, so we have to give ourselves enough time. Check the time of the match, this one starts at 8.00 pm so the two hours before and the hour after the match can be busy. 

Top Tip 3 - Deals, planning & vouchers

Take a look at all of the deals and the menus beforehand. The deals range from £15, £20 or £25 per person and are unique to each restaurant taking part. Take a look at the set menus for restaurant week; they should be on the restaurant's website. I wanted to take a look to see what we could order and if they had some gluten-free options, which they do. There are also vouchers for the offers that you can download to your phone. But when you book with the restaurant, mention that you are coming for the Restaurant Week offer. 

Top Tip 4 - Sharing is caring

If you had a great time, make sure you take some pictures or video and share your experience with your friends and family. Tag NE1 and the restaurant in your posts on your favourite platform. Also, don't forget to give the restaurant a review as well; this will really help them more than you know. 

Top Tip 5 - Enjoy the adventure

Life is all about collecting beautiful and joyful experiences with the people in your life who mean the most. If you are visiting your foodie favourite to try something new, or going somewhere you haven't been before that you have wanted to try, give yourself the time and space to enjoy it. My final piece of advice is to take a moment out of your busy life to create beautiful memories. And if you're looking for a Newcastle memento to remember your visit, you know where to find me on the Quayside!

Missed out? Don't worry

If you've missed out on Newcastle Restaurant Week in January, don't worry - pop a reminder in your diary for August 2026. And while you wait, explore more of what makes Newcastle special through our Newcastle-inspired collections.

One of my favourite views of the River Tyne, especially when the water is like glass. I used to be part of a rowing club many years ago, and this was the