The Top Ten Restaurants in Nottingham for Students 

While you’re studying in Nottingham there will undoubtedly be days when you just don’t feel like cooking, or you want to get out and about and try new things with your mates.

Nottingham is a place full of kooky energy and lots of eclectic things to do and places to visit. It also enjoys a diverse food scene, with many independent restaurants using locally sourced ingredients. 

Many of these restaurants are reasonably priced too, so you won’t have to do a Robin Hood to be able to afford a nice meal out either!

Here’s our pick of the top ten restaurants in Nottingham for students…

Jam Cafe

This is the sort of place that has something for everyone. If you find it hard to please all of your friends at the same time, then this may just be the solution.

During the day it’s a European-style cafe-bar, and when night falls it converts into a live venue for bands, DJs, poets and comedians.

In the cafe itself you can choose from delicious brunches with a Bloody Mary, scrumptious vegan dishes, or just a simple craft beer.

Junkyard

Junkyard makes it into our top ten restaurants in Nottingham thanks to its gorgeous American diner dirty food and craft bottle shop vibes.

The mac-and-cheese balls are to die for, and don’t forget to try out the fish burger, made with pan-fried fish, with caper and parsley mayo slipped inside a toasted milk roll. 

Alchemilla

This is one of the more upmarket locations on our list of the top ten restaurants in Nottingham, and it’s well worth splashing out on.

As you arrive you’ll be entranced by the lovely, vine-covered door that takes you below street level to the restaurant itself, set in a bright room beneath exposed brick arches with ceiling windows.

The food is fancy too, but well worth every penny. The ideal place to take a special date or celebrate a special occasion.

The Pudding Pantry

If you’ve got a sweet tooth then look no further.

The Pudding Pantry is nirvana for those who love things that are naughty but nice.

Starting with the fluffy pancake stacks and moving onto sweet sharing boards, Mississippi mud pie and s'mores milkshakes, you get a real flavour of American naughty treats.

And if you fancy something a bit stronger, they also do boozy shakes and pudding and wine pairings. Go on - you know you deserve it after all that coursework.

MemSaab

Set in the city centre, MemSaab makes it into our top ten restaurants in Nottingham thanks to its amazing curries.

Undoubtedly up there with the best Indian restaurants in the UK, it should be on every Nottingham student’s bucket list to visit it at least once.

Here you can tuck into all the usual classics in a beautifully decorated setting, with ornate pillars and vibrant colours.

We recommend the superb Tandoori chicken and the barbecued meats.

Sexy Mama Loves Spaghetti

First of all, why wouldn’t you want to visit a place with such a fabulous name?

As it suggests, the speciality of this place is spaghetti - obviously!

But it’s not any old boring spaghetti dish.

If you visit this rustic, blue-fronted spot, you’re in for some luscious dishes such as anchovy and tomato spaghetti, roast aubergine with fresh ricotta and pear and honey truffle oil, and a gorgeous tiramisu. 

Can you see why it made it into our top ten restaurants in Nottingham?

Fat Hippo

‘Good Food. Messy Fingers. Dirty Burgers’ is the motto of Fat Hippo, and that basically sums it up!

Fat Hippo will hit the spot if you’re hungry and looking for something to heal you from a crazy night out, or to keep you going in the middle of a busy revision period.

Maybe not a great one for a date though, as you’ll probably end up with burger sauce all over your face, they are soooo juicy!

Check out the spicy chicken thighs and fries too, they’re to die for.

Vegan options are available too.

All the burgers are all double stacked, so leave your diet at the door!

The Maharaja’s Retreat

This is another one for the curry lovers amongst you.

Think high-end Indian cuisine, smack bang in the centre of Nottingham city centre.

Not only that, here they cater to all dietary needs! 

This family owned restaurant takes its inspiration from the opulence of the historical Maharaja’s own diet - which basically means that if you dine here, you’re eating like royalty!

Check out their chilli garlic chicken, or their turmeric simmered lamb nihari. A great place to take any friends or family members who come to visit you in the uni holidays.

Annie’s Burger Shack

Yep - more burgers, we just can’t get enough!

At Annie’s you can expect big juicy patties in mouthwatering sauced buns, wrapped in paper and served on a tray, all-American style.

They also have some interestingly image-conjuring names such as The Deathray and The Johnny Vegas and what’s more, they are all available in vegetarian or vegan versions.

Oh, and don’t forget to head downstairs to the tavern if you fancy a drink after eating.

No12 Houndsgate

Last but not least, this cosy little vegetarian and vegan cafés should not be underestimated, as it’s definitely worth its place on our list of the top ten restaurants in Nottingham.

 It has a clean and rustic presentation with quaint wooden furniture and white and duck-egg blue walls. 

The decor reflects its approach to the food, which is simple, and full of fresh ingredients.

You must try their speciality - Danish open sandwiches. The ‘slow and low tomatoes’ sandwich on multi-seed bread with cream cheese and salsa verde will have you coming back for more.

There you have it- our top ten restaurants in Nottingham. So remember that whenever you need a study break, you have all this wonderful choice right on the doorstep of your Yugo student accommodation in Nottingham!