r/exeter Feb 07 '23

Food Best foods in Exeter! (In my humble opinion)

162 Upvotes

This is updated as regularly as my wallet allows

THAI: Kinkhao on Well St, best place there is. Incredibly authentic with weekly specials (check their Instagram). Vibe is very cute and cosy, the owner does art and ceramics which are also for sale in the restaurant (cash only for them, but they take card for food and stuff). Turn up earlier or you’ll have to wait.

THAI pt.2: iFood on Sidwell street has a chokehold on Exeter and it’s no surprise why. Great food, generous portion sizes, and fast service. Not the best place if you’re looking for atmosphere, but definitely one to visit.

FANCY/TASTING MENU: Stage on Magdalen Road. Featured in the Michelin Guide, written about by Jay Rayner in The Guardian. Beautiful seasonal tasting menus, immaculate service, able to cater for dietary requirements. If you drink they have a wine pairing which I’ve heard really good as well! Book ahead!

SPANISH: Calvo Loco Tapas Bar on Magdalen Road. A bit more on the expensive side, but a phenomenal selection of delicious tapas in a cosy setting. Perfect for a date night or special occasion.

PIZZA: Portal Pizza on Magdalen Road. They have amazing pizza and tiramisu, and I frequent their pizza van outside Topsham Brewery on the Quay. Just a banging pizza really. Both are usually busy, so get there early! They’ve also just opened a new location by Central Station (where Exploding Bakery used to be), I haven’t had a chance to visit yet, but I’m sure it’s just as good as the other two spots!

PIZZA pt.2: Old Firehouse - very cosy, only downside is that it tends to be full of students and thus very hard to get a table unless you go early.

PIZZA pt.3: The Flat on Fore Street. I can’t believe it took me a year to come here. It’s all vegan/veg, and honestly I was kinda ready to dislike it, but I was so pleasantly surprised. Pizza dough is perfect, the flavour pairings on the toppings are phenomenal, and the vibes as really lovely. Make sure to book in advance so as not to be disappointed!

JAPANESE: Goto Japanese on fore street (more on the spenny side). Their fish is fresh caught and locally sourced too.

JAPANESE pt.2: Shimizu Sushi on Well Street. I’ve never eaten in, but their food is really good, albeit a bit on the pricier side.

SEAFOOD: Rockfish for seafood (also more on the spenny side but not too bad), very cute and nice view of the Quay esp in the evening.

FAST FOOD: Slim Chickens, right next to Nandos. Get the fried onions and texas toast.

CHINESE: Cosy Corner, Sidwell Street. Good Hong Kong style food, big portions. Recommend the Yangzhou fried rice!

CHINESE pt.2: Red Panda on Gandy street. Delicious bao and salads, only open Tues-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm. No seating but there are standing tables outside. There is a main restaurant in Lyme Regis as well I think.

FILIPINO: Wings n Things at the Guildhall Outdoor Food Market, go on a weekend and get the special (pork humba is my fave)! The lumpia (spring rolls) is another favourite! Haven’t had any of the fried chicken yet, but looking forward to it. TAKEAWAY ONLY

TURKISH: Effes Grill (sidwell street). Also not very vibey, but huge portions (you could probably share one big plate amongst two or even three ppl).

MOROCCAN: Al Farid (by the cathedral - more on the spenny side). Even if you don’t go for food, drinks and shisha on their enclosed terrace is really nice and not expensive either.

KOREAN: Oh My Kimchi - Blackboy Road (near Henry’s). Absolutely delicious Korean food - japchae, Korean wings, bulgogi, jjigae. So so good. A bit more expensive but definitely worth it.

KOREAN pt.2: Real Korea on South Street. Really good authentic Korean food in the centre of town. Very similar offerings to Oh My Kimchi but equally good. The bibimbap is served in the authentic stone bowl and is absolutely delicious. Portions are generous too!

GASTROPUB: The Hourglass Inn. Great little pub with great beer selection and a phenomenal dining room. Food is a little bit on the more expensive side, but is 10000% worth it. Standout stars are the boquerones and a massive sharers steak pie with thick cut chips.

CAFES:

*The Common Beaver* Lovely independent cafe on Magdalen Road, homemade bagels and cakes, phenomenal coffee, great location.

The Ridge down by the Quay. Huge selection of yummy sandwiches and pastries.

Chandos in Princesshay. It’s paramount to get there before the lunch rush or there’ll be nothing left. A little spennier than your traditional cafe, but their sandwiches are to die for. Check their Instagram @chandosdeli.exeter for their specials too!

Alma off Fore Street. Previously known as Crankhouse coffee, they’re recently relaunched their cafe on Batholomew St West. The cafe itself is beautifully and thoughtfully designed, bright, airy, it’s simultaneously elegant and cosy. I’ve been buying Crankhouse coffee beans for years and they’re SO GOOD. Cakes are phenomenal, with a good selection for intolerances and stuff.

Lilac Bakery in St. Thomas. I have yet to go as it’s slightly difficult to get to if you don’t have access to a vehicle, but I’ve heard phenomenal stuff about their homemade pastries. Check out their instagram for more!

MISC (in no particular order):

  • The Big Kebabski food truck (Guildhall and other places). The do the most amazing multi award-winning vegan kebabs and other specials (special mention to their sexy spuds). As far as I know their only regular day in Exeter is Saturday, but keep an eye on their Instagram for appearances throughout Devon!
  • POP (Princesshay, near where Luciano’s was). Phenomenal toasties, ribs, wings, pizza, salads, the whole shebang. I ate so many lactase pills before I came here, and it was worth it. Check out their Instagram @webuildarestaurant for specials and events!! Highly highly recommend!!!

*Notable restaurants near Exeter but not in it*
- *The Galley* in Topsham is a phenomenal dining experience. Headed up by a Chinese chef, the ever changing menu is always slightly Asian inspired and based on fresh ingredients. Great pricing for fine dining.

- *Emilia* in Ashburton. Tiny little Michelin Bib Gourmand Italian restaurant set inside Ashburton’s old town bank. We had the big Italian Sunday lunch, which is at set four course menu at £42pp. The kitchen also open so you can watch whilst you’re enjoying your meal. 10/10 would recommend.

Source - am a massive foodie. I have recommendations for most of these places (especially the Asian ones being Asian myself) so feel free to shoot me a message!

Will keep updating this over time x

Last edited 1/6/26


r/exeter 22h ago

Local Information request A few questions about the stables that used to be off of exwick lane in the nineties?

4 Upvotes

To cut a long story short im basically trying to find out about the stables that used to be off exwick lane. A few questions.

  1. I heard people used to collect manure from the stables and i was wondering exactly where the manure was left? Like exactly at the top of the layby that led to the stables or further onto the land?

  2. To what degree did the owner of the stables allow people to walk in the land? Or was it fenced off and more private or open access?

  3. Also who owned the land?

This info all relates to the late nineties and ofc only if you know

I understand these are quite obscure questions but would genuinely be so interested to hear if anyone knew.


r/exeter 1d ago

Local News Bridge Road plans - the action I’m taking

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15 Upvotes

Hi all. I wanted to let this subreddit know that I'm encouraging Devon County Council to show more ambition for Exeter and not miss the opportunity that the Bridge Road bridge replacement project offers.

The replacement of the two bridges on Bridge Road with a higher draught is a once-in-a-generation chance to improve traffic flow, active travel, leisure routes and river freight - delivering benefits for Exeter for the next 60+ years.

If you agree, please do fill in the consultation! It closes on 27 July: https://www.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/consultations/a379-bridge-road-exeter-bridge-replacement-scheme/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS0jTtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETA5anNMbnhHVEhrN3VPMHBWc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHi1BQEm_I9Xu7L5IGtgtI1vS-Y2-fUd0zgKZjVDwPdyHA0Yn9TVOIr7PO_cL_aem_qdgkZQhbIHoBepuT19OO6A


r/exeter 15h ago

Miscellaneous Got some people intrigued…

0 Upvotes

Carried a Thunderpole T-X (cb handheld) around me yesterday in Exeter with family and apparently I’ve had everybody looking at me and then I’ve had a few interactions… one thought I was a staff member for JD Sports, one thought I was a staff member for CEX or some security, and apparently some security from Tesco tried talking to me but not loud enough.

How interesting 😂


r/exeter 1d ago

Miscellaneous Any CB radio activity?

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1 Upvotes

r/exeter 1d ago

Miscellaneous visiting Exeter for a week- any suggestions on what to cover?

8 Upvotes

Hello!! I am visiting Exeter for a week from Manchester and staying with a friend. Budget is a bit tight, but my friend moves away soon so I figured I should take up the offer cause when again would I visit that part of the country again? (I am an international student) Some things I had saved were Exmouth (for the Jurassic Coast), East Devon National Landscape, Canonteign Falls, Haytor Rocks, Dartmoor National Park, Totnes Castle, Lydford Gorge, Hartland Devon Heritage Coast and Exmoor National Park. Obviously I don't think I can cover everything in a week, especially budget-wise: so was wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I am not the most hiking-interested person, but Dartmoor seems to have beautiful architecture too. Not too sure about the other nature stuff, except the falls would be nice. Any suggestions are welcome, even day trips to small towns/cities etc. Thank you!!


r/exeter 2d ago

Local News Moto Exeter has opened 24 new 400kW chargers

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23 Upvotes

r/exeter 2d ago

Local Information request Exeter Meeting/Training Rooms

3 Upvotes

Can anyone recommend decent training rooms in Exeter or it's suburbs/outskirts?

I’m looking for somewhere suitable for a one-day classroom course

Main requirements:

  • Parking on site, or easy on-street parking nearby
  • Outside the main centre/commercial zones
  • Room for up to 10 people
  • Tables/chairs, screen/projector if possible
  • Tea/coffee/lunch options would be a bonus, like an onsite cafe - doesn't have to be a buffet

Hotels/conference centres don't usually work for us because they want minimum numbers for buffets/day delegate rate. Elsewhere we use sports clubs, golf clubs, business centres etc.

I’ve found a few options online, but local knowledge is usually much better than Google for this sort of thing.

Any recommendations appreciated.


r/exeter 3d ago

Uni ⚽ Anyone fancy regular 5-a-side football in Exeter? First game this Saturday! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’ve noticed there aren’t many casual football games running in Exeter at the moment, so I’ve decided to organise one through Footy Addicts.

Our first game is this Saturday at 11:00am on the University of Exeter astro pitch, and everyone is welcome regardless of ability. The aim is simply to have a good, friendly game with a relaxed atmosphere.

If there’s enough interest, I’d love to make this a regular thing and add more sessions throughout the week (evenings, weekends, lunchtime games etc.) so there are always games available for people who just want to turn up and play.

If you’ve been looking for casual football in Exeter, it’d be great to have you involved.
You can join here:

https://footyaddicts.com/g/429366

Feel free to comment with:

What days/times you’d be most likely to play.
Whether you’d prefer 5-a-side, 6-a-side or 7-a-side.

If you’d be interested in joining a WhatsApp group for future games.

Hopefully we can build a regular football community in Exeter! ⚽


r/exeter 5d ago

Music Anyone play guitar or drums near Exeter?

20 Upvotes

Me & my friend (both 18yo trans girls) are looking for a drummer and guitarist to join our band to make original songs.
We are wanting to create music that is mostly rock/ punk/ metal, but also quite experimental with openness to go into different genres.
We currently consist of me (bass) and my friend(singer/ songwriter)
If anyone is interested please message


r/exeter 4d ago

Local Information request What do people do for work around exeter?

0 Upvotes

Say if someone moved down there what would be some good options for work?


r/exeter 5d ago

Meetups DnD?

7 Upvotes

Hi, was wondering if there are any DnD groups in Exeter I could join? I'm a complete beginner so looking to learn


r/exeter 5d ago

Miscellaneous EVRi/ location

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know where the Evri depot is ?? It’s not longer in the sowton side near wickes


r/exeter 6d ago

Local Information request Seeking recommendations for a friendly, student-budget-friendly hair salon in Exeter

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a recommendation for a hair salon in Exeter that is professional, welcoming, and budget-friendly.

I’m an international student, so I’m looking for somewhere that offers a student discount. My priority is finding a stylist who really listens and can advise on a cut that suits my face shape. I’d love someone who is gentle and takes the time to consult with me. I recently had a poor experience at a salon where I paid £54, but unfortunately, the service was quite rough, and the stylist was unprofessional so I’m feeling a bit nervous about booking somewhere new.

If you know of a salon that is known for being kind, skilled, and has a student discount, please let me know! I’d really appreciate your suggestions.

Thank you so much!


r/exeter 6d ago

Local Information request I have a day off today and I am not from Exeter and I don't live here. What shall I do?

5 Upvotes

A couple of people suggested Exmouth to me.

What else can I do?


r/exeter 7d ago

Music alt rock gig next week!

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3 Upvotes

velora, foxhole & echo on playing at bomba next thursday!


r/exeter 7d ago

Local Information request Cycling commute from east of city to the Quay.

6 Upvotes

Can anyone advise on the best cycling route from either Honiton road P&R, Sowton P&R or the science park to Haven Banks?

I'm looking at starting a new job, but travel from south Somerset. I don't really want to be stuck in my car on the wrong side of the river when traffic inevitably gets bad.


r/exeter 8d ago

Miscellaneous Rivers a bit low, anyone got a top up?

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68 Upvotes

r/exeter 8d ago

Miscellaneous More Helicopters

5 Upvotes

Anyone know what was going on with the low flying helicopter last night (13/07)?

This was over the west of the city and out down the Tedburn road then out towards Ide. It was ‘very’ low, quite rattled the chimney as it went over our house; seemed to be flying too fast to be chasing anyone.


r/exeter 9d ago

Local News EHRC Code of Practice - update from me

41 Upvotes

I wanted to provide this subreddit with an update on the EHRC draft Code of Practice, which has now been laid before Parliament, as many local people have been in touch with me to express their concerns.

I wholeheartedly believe that Trans people deserve the same opportunities, protections, and respect as anyone else in our society, and I have been clear that extremist and exclusionary language that tries to deny the existence of Trans people is just divorced from reality.

The draft Code was published recently, which was the first time that Parliamentarians could see the document. On the one hand the new draft Code, under the new leadership of the EHRC, is a big improvement on the initial draft. It clarifies that organisations can be trans-inclusive if they are clear on that; and it has removed some of the more controversial aspects about burden of proof. It also updates outdated areas on disability for example.

However, I was concerned that the draft Code did not effectively balance the rights of people with the protected characteristic of gender transition, alongside the protected characteristic of sex. The Code has to reflect the ruling by the Supreme Court that, for the purposes of the Equality Act, sex means biological sex. But the Supreme Court did not permit any erosion of trans rights. My goal, then, has been first and foremost to attempt to ensure the Code is the best it can be within this context, so that Trans people are able to live their lives freely and with dignity.

During a briefing which the EHRC held for parliamentarians after publication, they made clear that it is still possible to clarify and amend the Code during the 40 days it is laid before Parliament.

As a result of this, I worked with Stonewall and others to respond to the draft Code, setting out the areas that we viewed were either potentially discriminatory, confusing, or unworkable. This letter was co-signed by over 30 of my Labour colleagues, with more sending it in individually. You can see the letter, and the EHRC response, here: https://steverace.org.uk/correspondence-with-the-ehrc-on-the-code-of-practice/

However, having now seen the response to our letter, I am still not satisfied that the EHRC have got it right when it comes to the balance between protected characteristics, and I’m concerned that the impact assessments are clear that the impact on Trans people is negative. The EHRC also made clear that, contrary to their position in the meeting, they were not willing to amend or clarify anything more than drafting issues. Therefore, the only opportunity for parliamentarians to have any impact on the Code is via EDM 240. Early Day Motions do not usually have any official impact on parliamentary business; however in this case, the EDM could have an effect given the way that the draft Code has been laid. On this basis, and due to the response from the EHRC, I have now signed EDM 240.

I have also raised concerns about the basis on which someone might be “challenged” on their sex and how they are expected to “prove” it with the Equalities Minister in the Commons last month: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-06-01/debates/CE610C68-7093-454F-B897-AF008EE7E7A0/EqualityAct2010CodeOfPractice#contribution-678D14FB-1692-42B2-949F-083104622191. You can watch our exchange here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgZPw-YHHgQ.

When I was a parliamentary candidate, I attended the very first candidate hustings in Exeter with the Trans community at The Phoenix, because I wanted to make sure from day one that the Trans community in Exeter knows I have their back. In the wake of the Supreme Court judgment and a relentless campaign waged against Trans people in some quarters, with funding from outside this country flooding in to stoke division, it has never been more important for people like me, in positions like mine, to say: I see Trans people, and I recognise your contribution in all areas of our society. Trans people have always existed and will continue to exist, and I will do everything that I can to stand with you to ensure that you can live your lives as equal citizens in our country.


r/exeter 9d ago

Local News Another Exwick stabbing?

8 Upvotes

Had air ambulance + police heli over Exwick yesterday evening, police confirmed it was for guinness lane and I heard rumours of a stabbing, anyone know anything?


r/exeter 9d ago

Local Information request Podiatrist

0 Upvotes

Hi I am looking for a podiatrist within the Exeter area who doesn't charge an arm and leg!!!

My partner doesn't wish to have anyone come to the house. She is having issues cutting her toenails after having a hip replacement


r/exeter 9d ago

Local Information request World Cup final screenings

2 Upvotes

Anyone know of any outdoor screenings of the final matches of the world cup this coming weekend? Shame there isn't a big screen being put up in one of the parks like the outdoor cinema.


r/exeter 10d ago

Local Information request Bushcraft, outdoors, nature groups in Exeter

8 Upvotes

Just moved to Exeter, 25, feeling pretty lonely and would love to meet people/ joing groups that to whittling, bushcrafty things or if theres a community woodland to get involved with. Many thanks!


r/exeter 10d ago

Miscellaneous Anyone know this cat?

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24 Upvotes

Seen around Northernhay student accommodation. Seemed maybe lost or just very friendly and hungry.

Anyone looking for it?

No collar.