The student town is and one of the most famous towns in the English county of Surrey, Guildford, with cobbled streets, quaint town buildings and myriad shopping opportunities, has begun to create a reputation for itself as a hub of cuisine culture.
Located just south of London, Guildford is dotted with a plethora of yummy eateries, including wonderfully characterful restaurants. So there are always plenty of options. Whether you want to dress up and go out or stay in your PJs and order food from your private student accommodation in Guildford – you’re spoilt for choice.
According to Trip Advisor, Guildford has over 195 restaurants! The city has embraced global food significantly. The wide assortment of restaurants in Guildford will take you on a culinary journey worldwide, including cuisine from France, Italy, India, China, Thailand, Japan, The Caribbean, Mexico and of course, England and much more!
The numerous restaurants in Guildford suit any occasion and are perfect for students and any crowd. Plus, many restaurants and eateries offer great student discounts. So, you may want to carry your student ID with you.
If you are looking for a restaurant perfect for students, we’ve researched and gathered six places to eat in Guildford.
So, without much ado, let’s get started!
Olivo Ristorante Italiano
53 Quarry Street, Guildford GU1 3UA
Olivo is set in a late Elizabethan timber-framed building dating to the early 1660s with exposed beams dining rooms and stripped floors. Housed in a 17th-century, Olivo has been a landmark on the foodie student’s map of Guildford for many years that Offers traditional Italian cuisine in the heart of Guildford.
Olivo retains its charm and appeal because of its traditional décor, sunny outdoor terrace for the warmer months, welcoming staff, and fantastic food! This beautiful restaurant offers the best Italian food by Italian chefs.
You’ll find many classic Italian dishes on their menu, including pizzas, antipasti, pasta dishes and a few additional surprises. There is also a vast list of cocktails and carefully selected wines in the cellar to provide you with a wide range from all over Italy.
Olivo bases its cuisines on three basic principles of Italian style, a modern interpretation of the food and the use of fresh ingredients of the highest quality. This restaurant is ideal for students who want to enjoy tasty Italian treats al fresco at affordable prices.
Average Price: £30 – £49
Turtle Bay
Dolphin House, 1 North St, Guildford. GU1 4AA.
Turtle Bay is minutes from Guildford Castle and Guildford Station, Turtle Bay brings the lively and party atmosphere of the Caribbean to the high street in North Lane, Guildford, with its twinkling with fairy lights and buzzing with reggae music.
Drinks and food are at the heart and soul of Caribbean culture, and Turtle Bay embraces the feel-good vibe of the tropical islands.
The restaurant is well-known for its cocktails and Caribbean food. Turtle Bay Guildford is a popular restaurant among students for its filling and modest meals and so much to select from the menu.
It’s also reasonably priced and features two-for-one cocktails during happy hour, perfect for students.
Average Price: Under £30
La Casita
4-5 Chapel St, Guildford GU1 3UH
La Casita is another excellent venue for an exotic meal, a much-loved Spanish restaurant. In an authentic and homely setting, La Casita is one of the busiest restaurants in Guildford and for a good reason. It has brought the taste of the Mediterranean to the cobbled streets of the historic part of England in a relaxed, friendly environment.
La Casita is well-known for serving authentic Mediterranean dishes. Spain and Italy inspire the food and drinks available here; tapas, cocktails, Spanish and Italian beers and wine!
Famous for its extensive tapas menu, seafood paellas and Sangria, the only difficulty is choosing what to order.
The food is delectable and healthy. The restaurant is not just a treat for your appetite but also your eyes as it has been tastefully decorated with a feel of a Spanish Mountain taverna.
It’s the perfect treat to refuel after a tiring day exploring Guildford. Since the restaurant is busy, make sure to book your seat beforehand.
Average Price: £30 – £49
Thai Terrace
7th Floor Castle Car Park, Guildford GU1 3RW
Step into a chic Thai rooftop restaurant overlooking the best views of Guildford and the North Downs.
The Thai Terrace rooftop restaurant offers delicious contemporary Thai dining, enchanting service and breath-taking panoramic views across Guildford and the Surrey Downs.
The Thai Terrace is just a short walk from the high street and not far from the shopping centre.
With amazing panoramic views across Guildford, Thai Terrace is the perfect spot to sip a cocktail or enjoy your lunch while watching the sunset over Guildford castle.
The menu is enormous, but all the dishes are colourful and flavoursome. From noodle dishes and traditional rice to spicy meats and fishy mains, there’s plenty to sate the appetite of any Thai food lover.
Average Price: £30 – £49
Young’s Kitchen
Union House, University of Surrey, University Campus, Guildford GU2 7XH,
Youngs Kitchen is the only international restaurant on the University of Surrey Stag Hill campus. Young’s kitchen is a students’ Union operated restaurant that serves international dishes, from steaks to sushi boxes.
Young’s is the University’s Asian-influenced restaurant open from 7 am to 5 pm and serves some of the finest breakfasts, Chinese, Japanese and Korean dishes in Guildford.
Whether you’re looking for some delicious dumplings, sweet and sour chicken, pad thai, or a healthy breakfast, Young’s Kitchen is a great spot to find your Far-East favourites. It is very affordable with no compromise in taste and quality, hence a student-friendly restaurant.
Average Price: Under £30
The Lakeside Restaurant
Rik Medlik Building, University of Surrey campus, Guildford GU2 7XH
Placed on the ground floor in the Rik Medlik Building and operated within the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Lakeside Restaurant offers a relaxed ambience, making it ideal for students.
The restaurant offers a modern dining experience and is set within the stunning grounds of the University of Surrey, offering a spectacular panorama of the beautiful campus. This vibrant restaurant is run by students for students and provides an incredible and unique learning opportunity to our students. Equally, it is an essential amenity within the campus and the local community.
It is ideal for a weekday luncheon and is very reasonably priced. Whether it’s a leisurely meeting with friends, a quick bite to eat or to entertain, Lakeside makes the ideal location for lunch and to enjoy the beautiful vistas of the surrounding campus and lakes.
Average Price: Under £30
Conclusion
Guildford’s an excellent student town for many reasons: great for entertainment, shopping, and food. The town provides a hotspot of restaurants that offer a wide assortment of cuisine ranging from Indian to Italian, Japanese to gluten-free, not to mention some marvellous British classics. It’s the kind of city where global food is being embraced in a big way, so there are always plenty of options.
Is your stomach rumbling yet with this fantastic guide to delicious places to eat in Guildford?
Because ours is!
Guildford has some of the best restaurants to eat in Surrey. From The Turtle Bay, which has captured the Caribbean Island vibe, to Thai Terrace, with spectacular views of Guildford from the 7th floor.
The beautiful town of Guildford is sure a fabulous place to study with an excellent food scene. The city is dotted with an abundance of yummy eateries, which means you will never be short of choice. Most of these places offer home delivery and even takeaways.
If you are searching for the ideal student accommodation in the beautiful town of Guildford, begin your search with Meraki Student, which is unrivalled with its comprehensive student accommodation offering across the stunning and historic Guildford.
If you don’t fancy going out, sit back and order your favourite cuisine from the best student restaurants in Guildford from the comfort of Meraki’s private student accommodation!