Shortlisted: Eight Bradford Restaurants That Locals Love!

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Last updated on October 15, 2022 by Wandering our World

Not only is Bradford the birthplace of various pop icons, but it is renowned for its clash of historic and modern infrastructure that has created one incredibly unique community.

That has helped tourism in Bradford grow exponentially in recent years. And with that, a diverse mixture of outstanding restaurants in Bradford have popped up and become among the must-see sites of this thriving old industrial city.

As we know this city, to save you time we’ve compiled a list of some of the best restaurants in Bradford.

So whether you’re looking for somewhere quaint with wholesome home-cooking, or want an extravagant night out to impress your guests, there’s definitely somewhere in Bradford for you.

Let’s dig in!

Photo for illustrative purposes only: Unsplash+

The Eight Best Restaurants In Bradford: Food Worth Waiting For!

1. The Royal Low Moor

A chic, classic-styled gastropub, serving up British classics alongside globally influenced specials.

Some days, nothing hits the spot better than good, old-fashion pub grub; other days, you want something a bit more special. As a result, gastropubs are gaining popularity for their elevated take on the usual pub experience. We think the Royal Low Moor is the best Bradford offers in this service.

This standout spot is nestled into the stonework of suburban Bradford. It makes its presence well known with a sprawling outdoor dining area and unforgettable red storefront. The interior is more casual and refined, with softwood finishes bringing a sense of light and fun to the venue.

An experience at The Royal is best shared with friends. After all, we all know how great a celebratory occasion can be in our favourite local, and here is no different. The bar is fully equipped to satisfy the needs of even the most robust craft beer enthusiast, as it offers local and foreign imports on tap and by the bottle to pair with your meal.

Speaking of meals, you’re in for a treat! The kitchen takes a new stance on British classics, which are incredible in their own right.

The menu is diverse and features everything from a crispy Beer Battered Haddock to calzones fresh from the pizza oven. Of course, one of their most popular items (aside from the Sunday Roast) is their renowned Royal Pie, filled to the brim with a rich ale-gravy and succulent beef. But the options seem limitless, and there’s even more choices when considering their specials!

So if you’re looking for a vibrant, wholesome venue to celebrate life and enjoy great food and ambiance, head on down to The Royal Low Moor.

Opening Hours: 12 pm to 11 pm Daily

Location:  5 Wooller Rd, Low Moor, Bradford

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/CBCK-Christine

2. Classic Persian

An unassuming, hole-in-the-wall specializing in delectable Iranian cuisine.

Truth be told, adventure is about indulging the senses in new and exciting experiences. And you won’t have to go far if you’re in Bradford to do just that. Classic Persian Restaurant offers a menu of exotic treats and transports you to the colourful world of Iranian cuisine.

As the saying goes, the way to the heart is through the stomach. And in that aspect, this place have been romancing their way to the top. You don’t need frills and fine dining here to be impressed, and the casual atmosphere means there’s more time to focus on what matters. Fantastic, flavorful cooking!

Iranian cuisine uses colorful combinations of fruit, spices, and meats to create mouth-watering dishes. So get ready for a food experience when visiting. Their specialties lie in their Khoresht, a traditional stew that comes in fragrant variations.

You may be taken aback by the idea of the Pomegranate and Chicken Stew here, but food is often full of wonderful surprises, and this is not different.

The Kebabs are another fan-favourite, and feature everything from juicy cuts of lamb to slow-cooked, tender chicken. Persian spiced vegetables add a lovely break between bites. Classic Persian maintain sustainability and source fresh produce locally too, and this simply adds variety depending on the season.

They run on a BYOB concept and welcome diners to bring their own libations, but note that fizzy drinks and juices are served in-house. Classic Persian can get busy around dinner time, so we suggest booking a table to avoid disappointment.

This place is all about sharing a unique dining experience and for us, they’re definitely amongst the best restaurants in Bradford.

Opening Hours: Closed Mon; 4 pm to 10 pm Tues – Thurs; 4 pm to 11 pm Fri; 12 pm to 11 pm Sat; 12 pm to 10 pm Sun

Location: 368 Little Horton Ln, Bradford

Photo for illustrative purposes only: Unsplash+

3. Aleppo

A casual, homely restaurant specializing in divine Syrian cuisine.

Aleppo is an alluring ode to Syrian cuisine. While Middle-Eastern dining is not a new concept, it’s rare to come across an authentic Syrian restaurant. Especially one with as sterling a reputation as Aleppo.

For a small venue, they make a powerful first impression. It’s unassuming at a glance, but all the best-hidden gems are. The decor is understated, with whimsical feature lamps on every table. There are cosy nooks where uniquely patterned couches fill the space and hint to influence from Moroccan or Syrian hookah lounges.

But the best is yet to come as heavenly scents waft from a busy kitchen. You’ll fall in love with the aromatic spices that adorn every dish. Several traditional Syrian meals are perfect for vegetarians too, as several of their options are made using vegetables and lentils alone.

A popular choice on their menu, hands down, are the platters. They’re perfect for sharing (although we can bet you won’t want to share yours) and change in variation, so be sure to speak to your servers for the options available when you visit. We also have a love for delicious, tender shwarmas – and they do superb ones here. You can choose between a vegetarian option, with puffy falafels and oodles of homemade sauce, or melt-from-the-bone chicken or lamb.

Starters consist of a bevy of crisp pastries that embody savoury flavours. And tucked throughout those options is our ultimate favourite comfort food. Flatbreads, stuffed with a filling of your choice.

Overall, for a sublime and different foodie experience, Aleppo is one of the best exotic restaurants in Bradford. You won’t be disappointed with all their deep, rich flavours and simplistic, romantic charm.

Opening Hours: 12:30 pm to 9 pm Mon – Fri; 3 pm to 9 pm Sat; Closed Sun

Location: 34 Great Horton Rd, Bradford

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Yulia Gusterina

4. Christophe’s Coffee House

An eclectic dive into wholesome bistro foods with a hint of French inspiration.

Tucked away down suburban streets, Christophe’s Coffee House is a genuine diamond in the rough. It’s one of those venues that you happen upon by chance, but once you’ve had a taste, you’re absolutely hooked.

You’ll be sorely disappointed if you come here expecting run-of-the-mill cafe food.

While the Full English breakfast is delicious, it also happens to be as British as this menu gets. Global influence takes the reins here with some absolutely divine dishes.

Home-cooking has really taken a turn for the deliciously outrageous, and boy are we thriving on that vibe. One favourite inventive take would be the Lamb and Mint burger, loaded with Moroccan spice and topped with melting halloumi to satisfy those cheese cravings. And locals swear by Christophe’s Brie and Bacon breakfast.

What’s more is the delectable selection of freshly baked treats here, with word on the street that the sticky toffee pudding is the only dessert you’ll ever need.

If coffee is the only reason you get up in the morning, Christophe’s serves up a delightful variety of foreign grinds. Of course, nothing hits a sweet spot more than a steaming cappuccino made from Italy’s finest beans. But why not try a robust Ethiopian blend?

This cafe is simplistic and offers cozy indoor dining under twinkling fairy lights. The only downside is the minimal seating. Their only dinner slot on Friday nights often sees the place filled to the brim with eager patrons, so a reservation seems like a good idea then.

For a quaint and quirky cafe, Christophe’s is well deserving of a spot on our list of Bradford’s best restaurants!

Opening Hours: 9 am to 4 pm (Daily); 5:30 pm to 8 pm (Friday only)

Location: 381 Thornton Rd, Thornton, Bradford

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Taninwat Pichitnapakul

5. Waterside Bistro

A canal-side hideaway, where refined, locally-sourced British cuisine is the deal of the day.

Michelin-star quality is hard to come by these days, but the young Waterside Bistro offers just that.

This restaurant is nestled canal-side in a decades-old warehouse a little outside of Bradford, but it’s well worth the short drive.

Waterside boasts an air of fine dining. Not that we mind, though – we would willingly plaster ourselves in suit-and-tie attire to ensure we mingle with the ambiance here.

Simply put, everything about this place exudes confidence. Their trendy, industrial-style interior is complimented by a stellar outdoor area that teeters on the edge of a flowing canal. Of course, nothing less can be expected, considering their head chef has spent years working in Michelin star restaurants across Europe.

The menu sticks to serving what they know best, refined British cuisine. But their use of seasonal produce means the menu takes a new turn along with the weather – so you can expect different options depending on when you visit.

It’s difficult to pick a favorite; succulent lamb, tender pork, and scrumptious seafood are available all year round, with inventive vegetarian options too. Specials are not unusual to find either, and can be discovered through a quick scan of their social media before your visit.

You know what else can be found on their social media? Event updates. Special dinner nights are sometimes organised by the Waterside Bistro, where you can order a set course meal and let the pleasant servers take care of your evening.

On top of that, their bar is stocked with carefully chosen pairings for each seasonal menu and also serves up some of the local crafts.

Personally, we feel like this is one of the best restaurants in Bradford and the surrounding area for intimate gatherings. It’s sophistication without being overbearing.

Opening Hours: Closed Sun & Mon, 12 pm to 2 pm Tues- Sun (Lunch); 5pm to 9 pm Tues-Sun (Dinner)

Location: 7 Wharf St, Shipley, Bradford

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Kuzmin

6. Bab Tooma

A colorful venue specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine.

Bab Tooma, in the historical sense, is a unity of people from all walks of life. This restaurant is a living embodiment of this message. It aims to bring guests together over excellent food and create a new love for different cultures.

The restaurant is draped, head to toe, in patterns and colours. If we weren’t the wiser, we’d be checking to see if we’d stepped through a portal into the Middle East. The decor alone builds its own atmosphere. Plants drape from the ceiling, rich reds, and vibrant oranges create an exciting mood, and their outdoor dining is just lovely.

If the style and ambiance made an excellent first impression, just wait until you get your hands on their food. They serve traditional dishes from across the Middle East but are particularly passionate about authentic Syrian cuisine. Items from the grill are top-rated, ranging from Kebabs to Lamb Shanks raptured with aromatic spices and generally served best with rice.

But in the spirit of things, we recommend starting with mezze for the table. Pick and choose the delicacies you want to try the most! Depending on your selection, they’re served hot or cold and can include anything from delicious Falafels to Mutabbal. For an easier pick, they also serve sharing platters where the chefs prepare some of their top-rated delicacies for everyone to try.

End the night with a flaky sweet Baklava and soak up the ambiance of this incredible Bradford restaurant well into the evening.

Location: 1312 Leeds Rd, Bradford BD3 8LF

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/los_angela

7. La Caverna Pizzeria

A family-owned pizzeria where traditional, family-recipes create some delicious cheesy comfort food.

For a taste of everyone’s favourite comfort food, La Caverna Pizzeria has your back. So keep an open mind, and forget that triple cheese hunger-buster from Dominos. Rather head here, as La Caverna specializes in traditional Modenese pizzas overflowing with incredible toppings.

La Caverna’s menu is clean-cut and focuses solely on tasty, traditional pizzas. The dough is made from an age-old recipe and produces a satisfying crunch when pulled out of their stone oven, just like Mamma used to make it.

The range of pizza toppings often features little in Western cuisine, so you’ll be surprised to find some strange and inventive combinations here. Strange isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. As someone once said, “Let’s put pineapple on pizza,” and from it came something eternal! (Yes we love pineapple on a pizza, and we don’t agree with anyone who says it’s wrong!)

But no, this doesn’t mean you’ll find odd fruits tucked into your mozzarella here, instead there’s ingredients we don’t typically see. But each is matched perfectly to create a divine collaboration of flavor, like the Mata pizza, where blue cheese and egg are added amongst the roughage of spinach.

As any Italian knows, food brings people together, and that’s precisely what you can expect here. Once you enter the venue, you’re treated like family. You can’t help but enjoy yourself with conversations flowing and the gentle acoustic lull of music playing overhead.

With an atmosphere this welcoming and comfort food flowing freely throughout the night, La Caverna is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Bradford.

Opening Hours: Closed Mon; 4 pm to 10 pm Tues – Thurs; 4 pm to 11 pm Fri; 12 pm to 11 pm Sat; 12 pm to 9 pm Sun

Location: Millergate, Unit 1/2 Sunbridgewells, Bradford

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Foxys_Forest_Manufacture

8. Rooftop Cafe

A rooftop terrace turned cafe, serving delicious American food and cafe bites with a great view.

The Rooftop Cafe is a superb addition to a historic building that overlooks the streets below. The setting allows diners to soak up the sun in summer while feeling on top of the world! Stepping onto this modern balcony, with stunning views of old stone buildings and sun-soaked rooftops, it’s easy to forget your work worries.

This place is definitely out of the ordinary and a unique feature of the Bradford restaurant scene. It’s a stunning venue for summer celebrations, but you can still enjoy the view behind floor-to-ceiling windows indoors when the colder weather sets in. They let the skyline speak for itself here, and feature a rustic interior with just a few pops of colour so the main focus remains those views.

They’re open all day, serving a mixture of classic British and American Bistro-style cuisine. This is topped up with a fully inclusive bar selling all our favourite libations (dawn to dusk).

Food wise, we recommend diving into a plump stack of American Pancakes for breakfast, where the optional toppings allow diners to decide on sweet or savoury. We highly recommend trying their American Pancakes With Forest Fruits. Lunchtime sees some of our favourite American comfort foods enter the scene, from loaded bagels to homemade nachos with all the spice.

We certainly understand the appeal of this place, and that’s why this little cafe is one of the must-visit restaurants in Bradford.

Opening Hours: 9 am to 4 pm Mon-Fri; 10 am to 3 pm Sat; Closed Sun

Location: Kala Sangam, 1 Forster Ct, Bradford

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Mehriban Aliyeva

The Best Restaurants In Bradford: Our Final Thoughts

Bradford is an exciting town to visit and offers far more than many think. It’s a cultural hub, and as any good traveler knows, with culture often comes great food!

It’s just as well we’ve created this list to include a place for all occasions! So whether you’re just passing through, or planning on staying for the long haul, we can guarantee you’ll find a local eatery to love in Bradford.

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  • Wandering our World

    Hi and welcome to Wandering our World! This article was written by one of the Wandering our World team - a team of travel enthusiasts who live around the globe.