Taking your dog on holiday to Norfolk doesn’t mean you have to swerve the best places to eat out. Norfolk is the perfect place to take a break with your four-legged friends, and it’s not just many of its beaches and paw-some attractions that welcome dogs. In a county renowned for lip-smacking local fare plucked from land and sea, you can rest assured that plenty of cafés and restaurants have water bowls and dog treats at the ready. Here are some of our favourite dog-friendly places to eat in Norfolk.
1: The Doggie Diner, Cromer
Where better to start than at this quirky café in Cromer that has a separate menu dedicated to hounds? Afternoon pawsecco anyone? Or how about champaws? It’s not just a dog-friendly diner – humans are well fed too, with simple sandwiches, soups and traditional afternoon tea with scones on the menu.
2: The Dun Cow, Salthouse
Treat yourself to a platter of fresh local seafood at this atmospheric pub in Salthouse which overlooks the salt marshes. An impressive location is matched with an impressive menu showcasing local ingredients from crab and beef to Norfolk ice cream. Dogs are welcome in the large garden or by the log burner, and biscuits are dished out by the friendly staff.
3: The Terrace, Imperial Hotel, Great Yarmouth
Boasting stunning sea views, outdoor heating for cooler days and a retractable roof for sunny days, The Terrace in Great Yarmouth is a stylish venue to dine with your dog. Soak up the splendour of North Beach and Scroby Sands wind farm over breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea, from this stunning seafront restaurant where well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Stay close to Great Yarmouth’s seafront in an inviting bolthole sleeping 4 adults and a dog.
4: The Beach Café, Wells-Next-The-Sea
In this cafe in Wells-Next-The-Sea, You’ll find bedding, biscuits and doggie bowls at the ready so dogs can re-hydrate and relax after beach walks along the sweeping sands of Holkham Beach. Sit inside or bask outside on the sunny beachside terrace, and tuck into sandwiches, pastries and famous hot chocolates topped with lashings of cream and marshmallows.
Come off the beach and get cosy by the log burner in a stylish pad sleeping 2 adults and 2 dogs.
5: The Ferry Inn, Stokesby
Dogs will love flopping on the green or basking by the fireside, after walks to this traditional pub on the River Bure. Or, if you prefer you can arrive by boat (moorings on a first come first served basis), and disembark for Great British pub grub and local Adnam’s Real Ales on tap.
6: The Gunton Arms, Gunton
With one of Mark Hix’s protégés helming the kitchen of this country house hotel turned traditional pub, you can expect delectable, ingredient-led cuisine. The likes of venison from the estate, Cromer crab caught by local fishermen and beef from a local herd, are cooked over an open fire in the Elk dining room. Situated in Gunton’s 1,000-acre historic deer park, just 4 miles from the coast at Cromer, the venue is a corker for discerning diners and their well-behaved hounds.
Stay in a flint-fronted holiday cottage on the fringe of Cromer, where you can enjoy the sweeping beaches just 10 minutes from the historic estate. Sleeps 4 guests and 3 dogs.
7: Seaview Beach Café, West Runton
This traditional seaside café serves up good value beach grub alongside everything you need for a day at the seaside. Before you order your bacon sandwiches, Mr Whippy and fresh donuts dipped in cinnamon sugar, stop to checkout the fossil display with bones and teeth from a woolly mammoth.
8: The Jolly Sailors, Brancaster Staithe
Muddy paws, muddy boots and families are welcome in this traditional pub footsteps from Brancaster Staithe harbour and beach. From Pimms o’clock on the deckchairs to real ales from the local Brancaster Brewery, this award-winning 18th-century tavern is a great spot to eat, drink and be a Jolly Sailor on the North Norfolk coast.
Stay close to the beach in a delightful bungalow sleeping 4 adults and 4 dogs.
9: Clifftop Café, Overstrand, Cromer
Opt for a full English breakfast or a speciality seafood lunch at this dog-friendly café perched on the cliffs at Cromer. Organic dog treats are home-baked for hungry hounds, and you can hit the coast path to muster up an appetite or walk off your lunch in the blustery sea air.
10: The White Horse, Brancaster
Gorge on seafood landed by local fishermen, basking on the terrace overlooking the salt marshes and oyster beds. This dog-friendly inn with an award-winning restaurant boasts a sublime location that makes the perfect location to end a day of dog walking on Brancaster beach. Snuggle up with a blanket and watch the sunset with a G&T in hand, and sample the taste of Norfolk in the alfresco dining rooms or bar.
Stay in a traditional fisherman’s cottage by the coast at Brancaster, sleeping 4 guests and a dog.
11: The Rose and Crown, Snettisham
Staff spoil dogs rotten at this quintessentially English pub that’s earned a well-deserved place in the Good Beer Guide’s Top Ten Pubs in the UK for a few years running. A local gem with low beams, twisting passages and log fires, kick back and soak up the atmosphere of a traditional Norfolk Inn, while tasting a mix of classic and exotic dishes made with seasonal ingredients plucked from the surroundings.
12: The Lacon Arms, Hemsby, Great Yarmouth
Dogs and families will love the garden and family-friendly atmosphere of this lively beachside venue. Soak up the sea views, relax in the huge garden or make the most of the big screens and amusements inside, while filling up on classics such as fish and chips and sharing platters.
Stay nearby in an attractive beach cottage with an enclosed garden in Winterton-on-Sea, sleeping 4 guests and 2 dogs.
Take a Trip to Norfolk with Your Dog
As well as dining out, there are loads of great dog-friendly things to see and do in Norfolk. Read our guide to holidays in Norfolk, discover the county’s best beaches or learn about attractions you can visit with your hound. If you’re keen to visit this beautiful destination, select one of the properties linked above or begin a search for dog-friendly cottages in Norfolk.
