Best Places to Eat in Nottingham for Students

One of the best things about moving cities for university is trying out new places to eat, but working out where to start can take a little trial and error. 

Of course, your student budget matters, too. While it’s nice for a treat once in a while, eating out regularly can quickly add up, so knowing where to find cheap eats in Nottingham can make a huge difference. Using student discounts, restaurant deals in Nottingham, and places to eat with generous portions are all ways to help you enjoy eating out while keeping an eye on your spending. 

Whether you’re a local or arriving in the city for the first time, this guide covers some of the best places to eat in Nottingham for students.

The Best Cheap Eats in Nottingham

Being a student doesn’t mean you have to rotate between beans on toast, instant noodles, and pasta dishes every night. Nottingham has a surprisingly varied food scene, with plenty of places to try new cuisine without completely blowing your budget. 

The best cheap places to eat in Nottingham aren’t necessarily the restaurants with the lowest prices, either. Look out for student discounts, lunch deals, sharing menus, and generous portions; these can offer much better value than simply choosing the cheapest item on a menu. So, let’s dig in!

Penny Lane

Penny Lane Nottingham is a popular choice when you want your meal to be part of the evening rather than simply something to eat. Located in the Lace Market, it combines a restaurant, bar, and arcade, giving you plenty to do after finishing your food.

The menu focuses on crowd-pleasing comfort food, including burgers, hot dogs, loaded fries, and desserts. With arcade games available, it’s particularly well-suited for a birthday celebration or an evening when you want to do something different.

Tamatanga

If your idea of a good student meal involves plenty of flavour, Tamatanga Nottingham is worth adding to your list. Specialising in Indian-inspired food, with curries, biryanis, and more, this is one of those cheap restaurants in Nottingham that work well for both quick meals and catching up with friends.

Its city-centre location makes it convenient when you’re already out shopping, studying, or meeting friends. Keep an eye out for current student and lunchtime promotions, as these can make eating out considerably more affordable.

Bunk

If you’re after cheap food in Nottingham, Bunk is a go-to option for students who love comfort food and a lively atmosphere. The menu centres around wings, burgers, loaded fries, and other indulgent dishes, making it particularly popular for group meals.

It’s somewhere you can head with your flatmates when you want a casual dinner without the formality of a traditional restaurant. The sharing-friendly menu also means you can order a selection of dishes for the table.

Dino

Sometimes the best restaurants in Nottingham are the ones that fill you up, are easy-going, and don’t require much planning. Dino offers pizza, burgers, kebabs, and other takeaway-style favourites.

Splitting a few meals between flatmates may give you more food for your money than everyone ordering separately when your eyes are bigger than your bellies! 

Kushi Ya

If you want to try something a little different, Kushi-Ya Nottingham is one of the good restaurants in Nottingham to know about. Located on Low Pavement, this Japanese restaurant specialises in charcoal-grilled skewers and small plates. The small-plate format works well if you’re eating with friends and want to try several different dishes.

The Bagel Project

For a student lunch that’s quick, filling, and easy to eat between lectures, The Bagel Project Nottingham is a strong option. Based on Carlton Street, this independent spot specialises in freshly baked bagels with a range of savoury and breakfast-style fillings.

You’ll find options including Reubens, smoked salmon, chicken BLTs, and breakfast bagels, giving you plenty of choice when you want something more substantial than a standard meal deal.

Taquero

Tacos, salsa, and a student-friendly deal make Taquero Nottingham a useful addition to your list of places to eat in Nottingham. Situated in Hockley, it serves Mexican-inspired food in a colourful and relaxed setting.

The restaurant is particularly well suited to a meal with friends, so consider heading here when you want to make an evening of eating out.

Students can take advantage of a Comida offer, which includes totopos and salsa alongside two tacos or small plates for £18 with valid photo ID. The offer is available Tuesday to Friday, although deals and terms can change.

Sushimania

Fancy sushi but worried that ordering lots of individual dishes will push up the price? Sushimania Nottingham is worth considering.

The restaurant offers an extensive sushi menu alongside dishes such as noodles, katsu, and skewers. Its all-you-can-eat format can be particularly appealing for students with a big appetite or groups who want to try lots of different dishes.

Bendigo Lounge

If you’re wondering where to eat in Nottingham, Bendigo Lounge is a relaxed option for students who can never quite agree on what they want to eat. Its broad menu covers breakfast, brunch, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and other familiar faves.

The casual atmosphere makes it a great place for meeting friends without needing to dress up or book a formal dinner. It can also work well for a weekend brunch after a late night. If you’re looking for somewhere you can sit and chat rather than rushing through a meal, Bendigo Lounge is worth the visit.

Huddl

Huddl Nottingham is designed with socialising in mind, making it a natural choice for uni goers. The menu features burgers, wings, loaded fries, and other comfort-food faves, while the venue itself has a lively atmosphere.

It’s a good option for a group of friends, particularly if you’re looking for somewhere to eat before continuing your night in Nottingham.

Pizza Pilgrims Nottingham

Pizza is practically a student staple, and if you want a cheap lunch in Nottingham, Pizza Pilgrims is the place to be.

The restaurant serves Neapolitan-style pizzas, with classic options alongside more unusual combinations. It’s a good choice for a meal with friends, particularly because pizza is easy to share and you don’t need to spend ages deciding what to order.

Bar Iberico

Tapas can be a smart choice when you’re eating with a group because everyone can order a few dishes and share, making it one of the more affordable restaurants in Nottingham. Bar Iberico serves Spanish-inspired small plates in a lively setting, making it particularly suited to a meal with friends.

Students can currently find a Menu Rapido offer for £18, including one dish from the ‘To Pick At’ selection and two tapas dishes, with a valid student ID required.

The Pudding Pantry

If brunch is your favourite meal of the day, The Pudding Pantry Nottingham should be on your radar. The menu includes pancakes, French toast, cooked breakfasts and other brunch favourites.

It’s more of a treat than a daily student lunch, but that’s part of the appeal. Save it for a weekend when you’ve got time to meet your friends, catch up after a busy week, or celebrate finishing a big uni deadline.

Mayfair

Mayfair is another option for students after a relaxed and affordable meal. Its menu includes a selection of familiar dishes, making it a useful choice when you’re eating with friends who all want something different.

Before visiting, check for any current meal deals or promotions. Planning your meal around an offer can help you keep the cost down, particularly if you’re eating out regularly.

Hungry Pumpkin

Hungry Pumpkin is worth knowing about when you want something casual and filling without turning dinner into a major occasion.

For students, its appeal is convenience. It’s the sort of place you can add to your list for those evenings when you’re bored of cooking but don’t want to spend heavily on a restaurant meal.

Café Roya

Students based in Beeston have plenty of food options outside the city centre, and Café Roya is one worth trying. The restaurant focuses on vegetarian and vegan food, making it perfect for students looking for plant-based options. The relaxed setting makes it better suited to a sit-down meal than a quick bite between lectures.

Bombay Delicatessen

Bombay Delicatessen is a good option when you want something quick, casual, and full of flavour. Its Indian-inspired menu provides an alternative to the usual burger, pizza, and sandwich choices.

For students, delis can be particularly useful for lunch because you can grab something filling without committing to a lengthy restaurant meal.

Ugly Bread Bakery

Ugly Bread Bakery is an independent bakery in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter, making it a handy place to know when you’re scrambling for a quick breakfast, lunch, or snack. 

Freshly baked bread and pastries make it an incredible alternative to the standard supermarket meal deal, particularly when you want something to take away. Building up a list of fave cafés and food spots like this can quickly make a new city feel like home. 

Warsaw Diner

A top choice for students wanting to explore the international food scene, Warsaw Diner is a spot that serves up Polish-inspired dishes, offering something a little different from the standard restaurant menu. 

As one of the best Nottingham restaurants, it can be particularly appealing if you’re an international student looking for familiar Polish flavours, or if you simply want to introduce your flatmates to something new!

Korea House

Korea House in Beeston is another option for students keen to explore international cuisine. The restaurant serves Korean dishes and is particularly convenient if you live, study, or spend time in the Beeston area. 

Rather than travelling into the city centre every time you want to eat out, exploring the nearby restaurants can help you discover some of the best places to eat in Nottingham right on your doorstep!

Kayal Restaurant Nottingham 

Offering dishes inspired by a combination of Kerala and South India, Kayal serves everything from curries and dosa to seafood and veggie options.

Located on Broad Street, its versatility makes it a great option when you want to celebrate, host, or simply try a new cuisine; there truly is something for everyone to enjoy. 

It may be more of a treat than a regular student meal, but having a few restaurants like Kayla saved up your sleeve for a special occasion can make your experience of eating out in Nottingham that little bit better.

The Three Crowns

A traditional pub close to Hockley, The Three Crowns offers classic pub foods, burgers, and small plates. 

For students, pubs are that perfect middle ground. The relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to meet friends, while the lunch deals in Nottingham can help keep the cost manageable. And who knows, a meal at the pub might just turn into one of the best nights out in Nottingham you’ve ever experienced. 

HIPO Coffee

HIPO Coffee is worth adding to your list if you enjoy independent cafés. If you’re working on your budgeting for students, consider making café trips an occasional treat rather than a daily habit.

FAQs for the Best Restaurants in Nottingham City Centre 

Still hungry for more answers about where to eat in Nottingham city centre? Here are the most frequent questions students ask about where to grab a bite to eat.

What are the Best Cheap Places to Eat in Nottingham City Centre?

There are plenty of cheap places to eat in Nottingham city centre, particularly if you know where to look for student discounts. The Bagel Project is a good choice for a quick lunch, while Pizza Pilgrims, Taquero, and Bar Iberico all have offers that can make eating out more affordable. 

How Can I Find Food Deals in Nottingham?

One of the easiest ways to find food deals in Nottingham is to check restaurant websites and social media before you visit. Many restaurants run student promotions, lunchtime menus, and weekday deals that change throughout the year. It’s also worth checking student discount platforms and using your student ID when eating out. 

How Can I Save Money on Eating Out in Nottingham?

The easiest way to save money is to make eating out an occasional part of your uni experience. With bills, food shopping, transport, and other costs to consider, small expenses quickly add up.

Set yourself a weekly or monthly amount for eating out and stick to it. If you know you’re going for dinner with friends on Saturday, you could cook at home for the rest of the weekend.

Sharing food is another way to keep costs down. Tapas and pizza can often be split between several people, while some restaurants offer sharing deals. 

You don’t need to avoid eating out altogether; student life is about more than studying!

Making Nottingham Your Home Away 

Knowing where to eat in Nottingham city centre is just one part of settling into student life. When you’re moving to Nottingham for university, having a comfortable place to come back to after a busy day can make the city feel much more like home.

From discovering your favourite cheap lunch spot to finding a regular coffee shop, your accommodation can become the starting point for exploring the best places to eat in Nottingham.

Now Student Living offers student accommodation in the city designed around the needs of modern students, giving you a comfortable base while you study, socialise, and explore. Ready to find your new home? Explore Now Student Living in Nottingham today and find uni accommodation that puts you close to everything you need for student life.