Celebrating Coventry’s Independent Food and Drink Businesses

Coventry is home to a thriving food and drink scene that reflects its truly diverse culture, with the opportunity to try cuisine from across the world all in the heart of our historic city.

A jewel in the crown of Coventry’s wonderful world of food and drink is our independent offering. From restaurants and bars to pubs and cafes, street food traders, pop-up restaurants and great food and drink producers, our family of passionate businesses offer the very best of food and drink to suit every taste.

We have put together just a few of the best independent restaurants in Coventry, as well as some great Coventry independent cafes and bars, plus some pop-up restaurants and food experiences in Coventry. These are just some of the great food and drink options in Coventry that you can try – all adding to the long list of why a city is a great place both to live and to visit.

Independent Restaurants in Coventry

Coventry is host to a great range of independent restaurants serving up quality food in a variety of settings. The Green Dragon on Spon Street is a reincarnation of a pub that dates back to 1500 and serves up great food based on a passion for local produce and supporting independent suppliers. Its tasting menus get great reviews and they pride themselves on providing quality service. Another option is an independently-owned bar & bistro Playwrights, which sits in a listed building in the heart of Coventry’s Cathedral Quarters. Established in 2001, Playwrights prides itself on providing delicious food using local produce, as well as friendly service and a unique atmosphere.

If it’s a classic grill menu you’re after, try Fratelli Bar & Grill on Hertford Street which started its life as a coffee shop but now offers everything from steak to burgers, pizza, pasta and fish, as well as a dedicated gluten-free menu and some lovely-looking desserts. They also serve cocktails and you can still grab a coffee there. If you’re a steak fan another option is The Artisan where you can enjoy hand-cut steaks and other classic dishes in a Grade 2 listed building right on the doorstep of the Belgrade Plaza. For simple yet delicious food served up alongside great cocktails, head to Bayley Lane Kitchen opposite the ruins of Coventry Cathedral right in the heart of the city’s heritage quarter.

If you are looking for an intimate modern restaurant, then look no further. With only 30 covers and their open pass providing clear sight of the kitchen, The Loft offers you the rare opportunity to see our amazing chefs in action. The perfect location and setting for casual dining to formal events. The Loft menu showcases the very best, fresh and local produce with amazing flavours.

International cuisine in Coventry

Coventry is a hugely diverse city and its cuisine reflects that, with independent restaurants showcasing food from around the world. Try authentic Neapolitan pizza at Basement Browns, a popular choice with pizza-lovers across the city, or travel to Vietnam via historic Spon Street with a trip to Taste Vietnam. Here you can enjoy authentic Vietnamese food from banh mi – Vietnamese baguettes – to Pho and plenty of other dishes. Also on Spon Street is Selminas, serving up Mexican food in a tropical setting alongside great cocktails. Another option in this historic street is Turmeric Gold, which celebrates the Indian subcontinent through its award-winning food, including its own unique specialities.

If you’re looking for a Korean barbecue restaurant in Coventry, head to Jinseon Korean BBQ to try locally-sourced meat, seafood and vegetables cooked on a live charcoal fire on your own table, as well as staples like Korean fried chicken and rice and noodle dishes. For a trip to the Caribbean without leaving Coventry, head to FarGo Village and Leave it to Esmie, who brings the flavour of the Caribbean Islands to the heart of the city, including takeaway options as well as recipe boxes and sauces.

Another popular independent food choice in Coventry is Dumpling King, which started its life as a street food business serving up traditional Chinese dumplings, or Jiaozi, and dumplings, garnering recognition from the respected Great Taste Awards. The guys behind Dumpling King decided to make their home in Coventry adding another great independent food option to the city.

Another great Coventry street food option is Good Food Cartel in Earlsdon, which serves up handcrafted burgers, tacos and nachos at the Hearsall Inn after winning people’s hearts and taste buds with a range of authentic Mexican street food. And if you’ve travelled to the city by train, one independent restaurant and bar near Coventry train station is the Lazy Monkey Bar & Kitchen on Warwick Row, where you can enjoy Indian street food alongside cocktails or a range of other drinks.

Coventry cafes

Coffee culture is as important as in any other city and there’s a great selection of coffee shops in Coventry to get your caffeine fix.

Bean and Leaf is a family-run speciality coffee shop in the heart of the city, serving great coffee using independent and local businesses as much as possible. Cafe Morso, part of an independent company with five other venues across the Midlands, serves up coffees and teas during the day as well as breakfasts, cakes and lunches from its home on Corporation Street, and also offers beers and gins in the evening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Another all-day option is The Mulberry, where you can grab a coffee and something to eat in the day, but also enjoy drinks in the evening, whether it’s an after-work drink or a pre-theatre cocktail. In Earlsdon, Millsy’s Cafe Bar serves up breakfasts and lunches including a great street food menu, while Streats food and coffeehouse in Spon End is another popular choice for coffees, breakfasts and lunches.

Food experiences in Coventry

As well as a range of great restaurants and bars in Coventry, the city has some unique experiences for food and drink lovers. Gourmet Food Kitchen, set up by local chef Tony Davies, offers a chef’s table experience of fine dining food in a relaxed atmosphere at FarGo Village that is up there with the most popular places in the city. Another unique dining experience is

Earlsdon Supper Club, which focuses on organic produce and an Italian philosophy of only using the best fresh ingredients at its regular pop-up events. Another local chef is Sophie Hyam, who does everything from cookery lessons to bespoke catering as well as events, as well as pop-up events at local venues.

Rodizio Rico in Coventry offers a unique dining experience with its Brazilian-style barbecue known as “rodizio.” Guests can indulge in an all-you-can-eat feast of succulent meats, expertly carved at their table by skilled passadores.

Independent bars and pubs in Coventry

It’s not all about the food. There is a great selection of independent bars in Coventry as well as pubs. In the heart of the city, Castle Yard taproom offers a range of craft beers, ales and frozen cocktails against the backdrop of a beautiful courtyard, while FarGo Village’s Twisted Barrel Ale Brewery and Tap House is an artisan vegan brewery that makes handcrafted, flavourful beer in small batches. Head there to see the beer actually being brewed before you sup on a pint. If it’s a party atmosphere you’re after, head to tiki bar Samoan Joes for cocktails, music and bartenders performing some impressive flair moves.