Award-winning, iconic, and a must-do experience – that’s the perfect way to describe our very own Norwich Market. It’s the largest permanent covered market in all of Europe, which means its hard to miss sight of when you’re visiting the City of Stories! With a central location and 900 years of history, there’s something for everyone to love.
With so many colourful stalls and incredible smells, we’ve no doubt your eyes and taste buds will be tantalised by it all. And we won’t blame you if you have no clue where to start exploring! But don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a guide to all the market has to offer, so you can enjoy one of Norwich’s iconic spots like a pro.
Love to get out and about in the early hours? Maybe you have a busy day of exploring planned and you’re ready and raring to go? Whatever the reason – if you’re looking for breakfast with a twist and plenty of places to choose from, Norwich Market is the place to be.
Reggie’s is home to the ‘belly buster’ breakfast, where you can buy any combination of breakfast items to enjoy in a roll, bap or sandwich. Is there a better way to start off the day than with sausage, bacon, and egg all in one delicious meal? Once you’ve got your food, settle down on a bench with a view and watch the city slowly wake up and come to life in front of your eyes.
Eat your breakfast whilst sat on the benches at Market Place for a wonderful view.
If you like something a little lighter to start your day, order a traditional Turkish breakfast pastry from Delight. It’s perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee as you explore the rest of the stalls. And for a fantastic coffee, head a few stalls down to The Little Red Roaster for a choice of globally-sourced takeaway and bags of coffee beans! If you’re stuck, the pair behind it all, Darren and Alex, are more than happy to help you choose what’s right for you.
And if you get to the Market really early, you can head to Deb’s Tea Stall when it opens at 7am, just in time to grab a warming drink and tasty food. Find a nice spot to sit, and watch the sunrise for the perfect way to start the day. Or you can walk a couple minutes up the road to St Peter Mancroft, take in Norwich’s largest medieval parish church as you enjoy your food and drink.
Norwich market is the perfect place to head to if you’re after affordable and unique fashion. And if you’re an eco-conscious shopper, there’s plenty of sustainable fashion stalls to check out. Lovering & Co boasts a hand-picked selection of vintage and retro clothing and accessories. With stock including a large offering of Levis, Harris Tweed, Kimono’s and cycling jerseys, you can grab a bargain and get a lasting memento of your visit.
A top pick from us has to be Taxi Vintage Clothing. With clothes dating from the 1940’s to the early 1990’s, there’s a fantastic array of American and European retro styles. Pick up a new pair of dungarees or an authentic denim jacket and enjoy the thrill of finding that unique piece that completes your wardrobe perfectly.
Looking to treat your partner? Or want to surprise them with a tear-jerking declaration of love? Well, everything you need to make that moment extra special can be found at the market.
Start off by making your way to Pond’s or Cary’s Flowers and pick out a fresh bouquet of colourful and sweet-smelling flowers that are sure to impress. Then, if you’re looking to make it extra sweet, pop by And Eat It for indulgent cakes, bakes, and their popular range of brookies (which is a brownie and a cookie in one, it’s as good as it sounds). Or stop by Bread Source for a taste of pastry heaven, both sweet and savoury. And if you really want to make a splash, make a last stop at Olivia’s or Norwich Goldsmith’s for a new piece of jewellery. You could even get something engraved with a loving message.
Bread Source have a huge range of sweet and savoury treats!
With such a variety of food on offer at Norwich Market, you could practically eat your way around the world! Everything here is incredibly tasty, so we’re sure you’ll find a new favourite to enjoy. Visit Bun Box for Japanese inspired street-food, Cocina Mia for authentic Chilean, Falafel & Friends for some vegan and veggie options, Big Deal’s Bodega for a New York inspired and monstrously sized sandwich, Indian Feast for a choice of tasty vegetarian curries, Taste of Shanghai and China Wok for more international choices, or Lucy’s Fish and Chips and Henry’s Hog Roast for traditional English suppers. Whichever flavours float your boat, take your lunch with you as explore the city or stop and have a picnic in the sunshine.
The choices of food at Norwich Market are sure to blow your tastebuds away!
Trying something new in the kitchen? The market is also home to some of the best places to get local ingredients for cooking! Whip up a restaurant worthy meal at home to experience something new and get your taste buds singing!
For some famous Cromer crab and other locally sourced seafood delicacies, City Fish is the place to go. Look out for special catch-of-the-day offers on this friendly stall. Want to try something a bit different? Paul’s Family Butchers has a large array of meats available (including the classic favourites) and are a game specialist. Pick up pheasant, poussin, and guinea fowl to impress your friends when it’s your turn to host the dinner party. And don’t forget to ask for suggestions on how to cook their produce – they’re happy to help with that too!
For the essentials, turn to CJ’s Fruit and Veg and Herbs and Spices to find the perfect ingredient to give that little kick to your food. Or head to The Orient Express for a massive selection of Asian foods and spices. We’re not joking – they have over 1500 stock items!
There’s no better place to pick out fresh fruit and vegetables than Norwich Market!
We all love an evening with friends. What’s better than a night full of laughter, catching up, and reminiscing? To make one of those night’s even more memorable, it’s as simple as grabbing the right drinks and snacks to enjoy.
For some great drinks, speak to brother team Ben and Tom at Substrata Wines. As wine specialists who only stock wine they have tasted and loved, a recommendation from them is guaranteed to be good – and the perfect addition to the evening!
Find a new favourite wine with the help of Substrata on Norwich Market
To complement your wine choice, head to The Cheeseman, who offers a fabulous and large selection of cheeses. Up to and beyond 140 varieties in fact! Ranging from international cheeses, to locally sourced options, all are top quality. While you’re there, pick up some biscuits, local chutneys, and pickles to create the perfect grazing board.
If a few good beers is more your speed, you’ll want to head to Sir Toby’s Beers – it’s a shop and a bar (in fact Norwich’s smallest bar, and a real favourite with the locals), and an absolute haven for every kind of beer . They have the best selection of local, national, and international beers, including Norfolk real ales, authentic Bavarian lager, and craft stouts, pale ales, sours, and much more. During the winter months, they also do serve glühwein, which is a kind of German mulled wine, and one of the best you’ll find. Purchase a gift pack to take away, or sit back at their licensed bar – it’s the perfect place to people watch!
From lagers to stouts, sours to pale ales, Sir Toby’s Beers truly has something for every beer drinker!
Want to discover more fabulous food and drink in Norwich? Check out our Eat & Drink page, or our Restaurants in Norwich listings to get some inspiration.
