Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Durham/County Durham

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Durham/County Durham? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Wallis & Co

4.9

4.9 (360)

£25 and under

Modern European

Hartlepool

About the restaurant

Wallis & Co is a modern Bar & Kitchen nestled on the picturesque setting that is Hartlepool Marina. Our aim is to provide a warm and cosy atmosphere for our customers to enjoy, and with a huge focus on quality in every aspect, we're sure your visit to Wallis & Co will be a happy one.

We serve lunch from 12pm till 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and evening service from 5pm till 9pm. Our Sunday lunch is served from 12pm till 4pm and from 5pm on a Sunday evening we offer Sunday evening menu.

Disclaimer- We are no longer taking reservations for OUTDOOR tables, they are first come first serve.

If booking Bottomless brunch please specify in your booking notes (Service times Tuesday to Sunday between 12 and 4pm)
Any tables above 6ppl must be booked directly through the restaurant via telephone or FB messenger.

Top review

Alan

Dined on Apr 15, 2025

Went for lunch with our two grand children , the menu was good for everyone , front of house very knowledgeable and attentive and food and presentation excellent .

The Duke of Cleveland

4.9

4.9 (132)

£25 and under

British

Hartlepool

About the restaurant

The Duke of Cleveland is situated on the Headland in Hartlepool, just a short distance from the coast and next to St Hilda's Church. It is a listed building and the oldest one still in use in the town. Our establishment is a restaurant and pub with an excellent reputation for serving traditional homemade British dishes. We take pride in sourcing produce from local businesses as much as possible and use these ingredients to create the best dishes for our patrons. Our signature dishes include Haddock in our special beer batter with hand-cut chips and the local speciality, the chicken parmesan. We believe in keeping things simple and making them well. On Sundays, we offer a traditional roast dinner with a choice of Roast Rib of Beef, Loin of Pork, Breast of Chicken or Lamb Shank.

The Duke of Cleveland is the ideal venue for weddings and other special occasions or events. It has a choice of function rooms suited to your requirements. In the summer months, we open our cosy bear garden.

Top review

Karen

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food, great staff. Great service . Great band

Turkish Kitchen Durham

4.8

4.8 (763)

£25 and under

Turkish

Durham

About the restaurant

Welcome to Turkish Kitchen, you will enter the world of tastes and aromas of Turkish cuisine with a modern twist and focus on sensational seasonal ingredients from diverse Turkish regions.
We also have a good selection of vegetarian & vegan options along with a great list of wines and cocktails.

Top review

Mark

Dined 5 days ago

Our third visit. Can’t keep away, when we visit Durham.

The Warehouse Kitchen & Bar

4.6

4.6 (296)

£26 to £40

Barbecue

Stockton-on-Tees

About the restaurant

A unique venue serving exciting range of food and drinks in Stockton on Tees

Top review

Laura

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

This is a hidden gem! We discovered it when a friend of mine posted on instagram that they were at Hangar7. Being Star Wars fans we decided to visit. Whilst we mucked up and didn’t go on a day when Hangar7 was open we still really enjoyed the ambiance in Warehouse Bar and Kitchen and are so pleased we stayed. Food was superb, staff were super friendly and prices were very reasonable. Will double check Hangar7 opening dates for our next visit as it will be good to experience the Star Wars experience but can very much recommend visiting even when Hangar7 is closed.

Blue Bell, Kiphill

4.6

4.6 (37)

£26 to £40

Turkish

Stanley

About the restaurant

You’ve reached the home of deliciously authentic and fabulously fresh Turkish and British dining in Stanley, co. Durham.

The Blue Bell has been a hub in the community for many years.

The main restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and special occasions, serving speciality dishes from Turkey and some traditional British meals, including traditional Sunday lunch.

We offer an ice cream parlour featuring a variety of delectable flavours, creamy milkshakes, a vibrant play area and a relaxing beer garden.

We have a disabled entrance to the rear of the property with a ramp to the entrance straight from our large car park.

Top review

Tracey

Dined 5 days ago

Fabulous food and service. Never had a bad meal yet. There is a great choice of meals and food cooked fresh from order. Staff are welcoming and helpful.

The Rose & Crown at Romaldkirk

4.5

4.5 (295)

£25 and under

British

Barnard Castle

About the restaurant

Our kitchen team create great tasting food that utilises the best of local produce and ingredients with excellent provenance. It's about dishes that reflect our stunning rural location using both classical and contemporary cooking techniques with an eye for detail.

Top review

Ian

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

Top quality food. Restaurant was a little cool though

19TWENTY

4.5

4.5 (344)

£25 and under

Grill

Durham

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Durham city centre, we offer the finest steaks, best gourmet burgers and premium cocktails. While you’re here try our succulent and tender hanging kebabs. Come and experience fine dining at affordable prices, with incredible river views and immaculate service.

Top review

Carol

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

We were a table of five - four had burgers and one had a hanging kebab. All the food was great and decent value. The staff were great but service was a little slow to get going, although the food arrived quite quickly once we ordered. Will definitely go back.

Estabulo - Durham

4.5

4.5 (596)

£26 to £40

Brazilian Steakhouse

Durham

About the restaurant

Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill honour the Brazilian Gaúcho’s traditional method of cooking. This involves taking the most delicious and flavoursome cuts of meat, which are then skewered and cooked slowly on open flames. This method of cooking also means that all the meat served to you fresh at your table, straight from the grill. You can eat as much or as little as you like, and we have a large selection of meats on offer, so you can stick to what you know or try something a little bit different! We also have a selection of Vegetarian, Halal and Fish dishes on offer and the salad bar which is the perfect start to your meal, and accompanies our entire menu perfectly as little palate cleansers between each skewer that reaches your table.

Top review

Paul

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

Excellent service and top quality food. Good value as well.

The Raby Arms

4.3

4.3 (141)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Hartlepool

About the restaurant

Located in the small and charming Hart Village, just North of Hartlepool, The Raby Arms Pub & Kitchen is a traditional local landmark that has undertaken extensive refurbishment to create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. At heart, we’re a true ‘local’, and we’re all about proper pub dining, served with craft and international beers and ales, a diverse wine list, tempting cocktails and top-tier spirits.  Our food menu offers tasty pub favourites given a very special touch, perfectly executed by our chefs and kitchen team.  Join us for a drink, a meal, Sunday roast, or a snack, we’re open all day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dogs are welcomed into the sports bar only , on a first come first serve basis - not bookable. They must be kept on leads at all times.

Top review

Linda

Dined 5 days ago

Easy to book on OpenTable. Accommodated us with a pushchair last minute. Well made hot drinks and great breakfast all round. Got mouser the closer to the lunchtime rush, but was great for our friend’s catch-up.

Runa Farm

4.2

4.2 (438)

£26 to £40

English

Barnard Castle

About the restaurant

WELCOME TO RUNA FARM
Runa Farm, is an intensely rustic inspired hotel, country pub and wedding venue quite unlike any other, combining natural rural beauty with cool Balearic vibes to deliver something wholly unique, as its guests will discover…

In brief, it was our plan to create an individual and special destination for “boho, honest and earthy” experiences with the farm and its produce at the very heart.

The result is a loveable, laid-back and luxurious County Durham country retreat complete with standout spaces and suites, cool glamping and field-to-fork dining, inviting people to gather, feast, stay, and enjoy every element of its feelgood spirit and endless appeal.

Top review

Aimee

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Absolutely lovely food, the service was great but the drinks are a little overpriced. Overall enjoyable experience.

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