What is open in Rochester right now

BeanTown

A roomy cafe further up Maidstone Road for breakfast, brunch and lunch, with American-style breakfasts, sandwiches, waffles and pastries, table service and an outdoor terrace.

126A Maidstone Road, ME1 3DT

18 min walk from the High Street

Daily 8:30am-4:30pm

Cafe Lounge

A brunch cafe on the corner of Crow Lane, in the former Fleur de Thé tearoom, opened in August 2025.

134 High Street, ME1 1JT

Daily 8am-5pm

Cafe Lumiere

A small cafe at the bridge end of the High Street with homemade bakes, filled baguettes and coffee.

14 High Street, ME1 1PT

Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Sat 9am-4pm · Sun 10am-3pm

The Cheese Room Deli and Cafe

The deli and cafe sister of The Cheese Room Botanicals, open seven days for coffee, cheese and lunch.

74 High Street, ME1 1JY

Daily 9am-4pm

Costa Coffee

The High Street branch of the chain, and the earliest coffee on the High Street, from 6:30am.

59-61 High Street, ME1 1LX

Mon-Sat 6:30am-7:30pm · Sun 7:30am-6pm

Crypt Cafe at Rochester Cathedral

A cafe in the cathedral crypt, which is as atmospheric as it sounds.

Rochester Cathedral, ME1 1SJ

Mon-Sat 10am-4pm · Sun closed

Deaf Cat Coffee

An independent coffee shop with a relaxed feel that suits a solo work session or a catch-up.

83 High Street, ME1 1LX

Mon-Sat 9am-4pm · Sun 10am-4pm

Jaggers

Breakfasts, crepes, waffles and cocktails, set back from the High Street by the cathedral gate.

3 College Yard, ME1 1LB

Mon-Wed closed · Thu 10am-4pm · Fri 10am-9pm · Sat 10am-10pm · Sun 10am-4pm

Jasper's Community Cafe

A not for profit community cafe run by volunteers, upstairs in the same building as the library at Eastgate, with lift access, affordable food and a kids' menu.

First floor, Medway Adult Education Centre, Eastgate, ME1 1EW

Mon-Fri 9am-3:30pm · Sat-Sun closed

Legends

A retro cafe just off the High Street, decorated with Hollywood stars, for fry-ups, mugs of tea and milkshakes, with vegetarian and vegan options.

14-16 Victoria Street, ME1 1XH

2 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Fri 7am-3pm · Sat-Sun 7am-3:30pm

Lenny's of Eastgate

Lenny's sister cafe in the gardens of Eastgate House, by Dickens' Swiss chalet.

Eastgate House Gardens, ME1 1EW

Mon 9:30am-4pm · Tue closed · Wed-Sat 9:30am-4pm · Sun closed

Lenny's of Rochester

A Rochester favourite for afternoon tea and an all-day cafe.

145 High Street, ME1 1EL

Daily 8am-5:15pm

Leonard's at Store 104

A calm coffee shop at the back of Store 104, a books, crafts and gifts shop.

104 High Street, ME1 1JT

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm · Sun 11am-4pm

The Moat House Coffee Shop

A coffee shop inside Rochester Baptist Church on Crow Lane, near the Blue Boar Lane car park, with hot and cold food, cakes including gluten-free, and Christian books and gifts.

Rochester Baptist Church, 8 Crow Lane, ME1 1RF

2 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Fri 9:30am-2:30pm · Sat-Sun closed

Morleys Bakers

A bakery on the High Street for food to take away, open from 7am on weekdays.

125 High Street, ME1 1ER

Mon-Fri 7am-2:30pm · Sat 8am-4pm · Sun 9am-2:30pm

Oli's Corner by Mrs Sourdough

The Rochester shop of Mrs Sourdough, the Chatham bakery, with its bread and pastries, sandwiches and coffee.

140 High Street, ME1 1EP

Mon-Fri 7am-5pm · Sat 8am-5pm · Sun 8am-4pm

Orisans Bakery

A small bakery at the Chatham end of the High Street.

367 High Street, ME1 1DA

Mon closed · Tue-Fri 9am-4pm · Sat 10am-4pm · Sun closed

The Pink House

Everything really is pink, down to some of the food and drink.

39 High Street, ME1 1LN

Mon-Wed 8am-6pm · Thu-Sat 8am-8pm · Sun 8am-6pm

Puccino's at Rochester station

The coffee kiosk next to the ticket office, open from 5am on weekdays for the first trains.

Rochester station, Corporation Street, ME1 1NH

Mon-Fri 5am-7pm · Sat 6am-7pm · Sun 8am-4pm

The Rochester Coffee Co

A favourite for coffee and croissants, and the latte art gets mentioned in a lot of reviews.

89 High Street, ME1 1LX

Mon-Sat 8:30am-5pm · Sun 9am-4pm

Tiny Tim's of Rochester

A tea room and bistro just off the High Street for breakfasts and afternoon tea.

5 Northgate, ME1 1LS

Daily 9am-4pm

TRiBE Rochester

All-day brunch, coffee and cocktails in the former Francis Iles gallery building.

103 High Street, ME1 1JY

Mon-Thu 9am-5pm · Fri-Sun 9am-6pm

Amore

A popular Italian with a covered outside area, fresh pasta and pizzas.

98 High Street, ME1 1JT

Mon-Thu noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm · Fri noon-3pm and 5:30pm-10pm · Sat noon-4pm and 5:30pm-10pm · Sun noon-8pm

Bare Bones Chicken Wings

Wings in a long list of sauces, loaded fries and milkshakes in a small, lively room.

137 High Street, ME1 1EW

Mon-Thu noon-9pm · Fri-Sat noon-10pm · Sun noon-9pm

Boeuf

A small steak frites restaurant that does one thing very well, in the former Flippin' Frog.

318 High Street, ME1 1BT

Mon-Wed closed · Thu-Fri 5pm-10pm · Sat noon-3pm and 5pm-10pm · Sun noon-8pm

Brettington's Steak and Lobster

A steak and lobster house on the High Street, and the chateaubriand is the dish people come back for.

79 High Street, ME1 1LX

Mon-Sat noon-9pm · Sun noon-8pm

Cathedral Pie House

Traditional pie, mash and liquor, with eels for those who want them.

146 High Street, ME1 1ER

Mon closed · Tue-Sat 11am-5pm · Sun closed

The Cheese Room Botanicals

A cheese-led menu with a thoughtful kitchen, good wine and a warm room that suits a slow lunch or an early dinner.

60 High Street, ME1 1JY

Mon closed · Tue 11:30am-4pm · Wed-Thu 11:30am-10pm · Fri 11:30am-11pm · Sat 9am-11pm · Sun 9am-5pm

Don Vincenzo

A family-run Italian and one of the busiest restaurants in Rochester, with tables outside in good weather.

108-112 High Street, ME1 1JT

Mon noon-3pm and 6pm-9pm · Tue-Fri noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm · Sat noon-4pm and 6pm-10pm · Sun noon-8pm

Doon Delight

A family-run Indian restaurant just along the High Street into Chatham, with a dining room as well as collection and delivery.

56 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS

4 min walk from the High Street

Mon 2pm-10pm · Tue closed · Wed-Sat 2pm-10pm · Sun noon-9pm

Fish at 55

A seafood restaurant that also does breakfast (until 11am at weekends), and the Arnold Bennett omelette has a following.

55 High Street, ME1 1LN

Mon-Sat 9am-9pm · Sun 9am-7pm

Ganh Viet

Gánh Việt, a small Vietnamese home kitchen on Union Street cooking food inspired by the street stalls of central Hanoi, for collection: pho, vermicelli bowls such as lemongrass chicken and grilled pork, Hoi An chicken rice, summer and spring rolls, and a vegan pho, with mains from £11.20.

33 Union Street, ME1 1XZ

5 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Wed closed · Thu-Sat 5pm-9:30pm · Sun closed

Gurkha Fire

A Nepalese restaurant in a converted fire station under the bridge on New Cut, with a bar and cocktails.

New Cut, Chatham ME4 6AD

7 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm · Fri-Sat noon-10:30pm · Sun noon-9pm

Jade Garden

A long-standing Chinese restaurant with table service.

43 High Street, Chatham ME4 4EN

4 min walk from the High Street

Mon 5pm-10:30pm · Tue closed · Wed-Sun 5pm-10:30pm

Kaya Meze Bar

Turkish cooking with generous portions and attentive service.

106 High Street, ME1 1JT

Mon-Thu noon-10pm · Fri-Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-10pm

Limehouse Thai

A casual Thai restaurant at the Chatham end of the High Street, open for lunch and dinner, with takeaway too.

327 High Street, ME1 1DA

Mon noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm · Tue closed · Wed-Thu noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm · Fri-Sat noon-3pm and 6pm-10:30pm · Sun noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm

Mamma Mia

An Italian at the bridge end of the High Street with a big menu and generous portions.

4 High Street, ME1 1PT

Mon-Fri noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm · Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-10pm

Mumma Soraya's

A street soul food truck, now at Warren Wood Social Club after moving from The George in September 2026, cooking jerk chicken, jerk pork, brown stew chicken, patties and callaloo fritters, with curry mutton every Friday.

Warren Wood Social Club, 99B Warren Wood Road, ME1 2XA

42 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Thu closed · Fri-Sat 1:30pm-8pm · Sun closed

Olé (Bravo47)

A family-run Spanish restaurant under a vaulted ceiling, known for paella, croquettes and sangria.

47-49 High Street, ME1 1LP

Mon-Tue closed · Wed-Thu noon-9:30pm · Fri-Sat noon-10pm · Sun noon-9pm

Padrino

Neapolitan-style pizza, pasta and cocktails, now in the Royal Victoria and Bull building at the bridge end of the High Street.

16-18 High Street, ME1 1PX

Mon-Wed closed · Thu 4pm-10pm · Fri 4pm-11pm · Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-8pm

Papa's Fish and Chips

A traditional fish and chip shop on Beatty Road frying cod, haddock, plaice, rock and skate, with scampi, pies, burgers, a kids' menu and vegetarian choices such as halloumi and a veggie burger.

1 Beatty Road, ME1 2TG

35 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm and 4:30pm-10:30pm · Fri-Sat 11:30am-10:30pm · Sun closed

Pizza Express

Reliable pizza and a good children's menu near the castle end of the High Street, and easy to book.

21-23 High Street, ME1 1LN

Mon-Wed 11:30am-9pm · Thu 11:30am-9:30pm · Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm · Sun 11:30am-9:30pm

The Quills

One of the busiest restaurants on the High Street, open seven days from 9am.

30-32 High Street, ME1 1LD

Mon-Thu 9am-9:30pm · Fri-Sat 9am-11pm · Sun 9am-8:30pm

Selale Turkish Kitchen

A family-run Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant with meze, charcoal grills, seafood and vegan dishes.

78 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS

4 min walk from the High Street

Mon closed · Tue-Sun noon-10pm

Shozna

An Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant on Maidstone Road in the former Kings Arms pub, with a full bar and table service, a separate dining room for private parties of up to 60, and takeaway.

153 Maidstone Road, ME1 1RR

8 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Thu 5pm-11pm · Fri-Sat 5pm-midnight · Sun 5pm-11pm

Smoqe

Burgers and fried chicken on the High Street.

172 High Street, ME1 1EX

Mon-Tue closed · Wed-Fri 6pm-9pm · Sat 12:30pm-10pm · Sun 12:30pm-5:30pm

Sol y Sombra

A second tapas restaurant on the High Street, with a lunch deal on small plates.

86 High Street, ME1 1JY

Mon closed · Tue-Thu noon-10pm · Fri-Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-8pm

The Sultan

An Indian restaurant in a listed building on New Road, with lounge areas for a drink before dinner.

17 New Road, Chatham ME4 4QJ

10 min walk from the High Street

Daily 5pm-11pm

Tang's

A Chinese restaurant serving Cantonese and Szechuan dishes, with table service, an all-you-can-eat option and takeaway.

26 High Street, Chatham ME4 4EP

2 min walk from the High Street

Mon 5pm-10pm · Tue closed · Wed-Sun 5pm-10pm

Thai Four Two

One of the most consistently well-reviewed restaurants in Rochester, unassuming from the outside.

164 High Street, ME1 1EX

Mon closed · Tue-Thu noon-2pm and 6pm-9:30pm · Fri-Sat noon-2pm and 6pm-10pm · Sun noon-2pm and 6pm-9pm

Three Crutches

A pub and restaurant on Old Watling Street, a short drive from the centre, with a seasonal menu and space for parties and functions.

Old Watling Street, ME2 3UG (10 min drive)

Mon-Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-10pm

12 Degrees

A micropub in a former shop at the Chatham end of the High Street, with six changing Kent cask ales and real cider straight from the cask.

352 High Street, ME1 1DJ

Mon-Thu 6pm-10pm · Fri 6pm-11pm · Sat 2pm-11pm · Sun 2pm-8pm

The Alexandra

A late Victorian pub opposite Chatham station, with period features, a rear courtyard and one cask ale.

43 Railway Street, Chatham ME4 4RJ

8 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Thu noon-11pm · Fri-Sat noon-midnight · Sun noon-10:30pm

Bodega 51

Coffee and cake by day, cocktails, DJs and a garden bar at the weekend, with an unusual range of canned beers.

51 High Street, ME1 1LN

Mon-Wed closed · Thu 5pm-10pm · Fri-Sat noon-midnight · Sun noon-6pm

City Wall Wine Bar

A big, busy bar with live bands, quiz nights, karaoke and DJs, and one of the later licences on the High Street, to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

120-122 High Street, ME1 1JT

Mon-Wed noon-11pm · Thu noon-1am · Fri-Sat noon-2am · Sun noon-11pm

The Coopers Arms

A traditional pub tucked behind the cathedral, with low beams, a beer garden at the back and around seven cask ales on.

10 St Margaret's St, ME1 1TL

Mon-Thu noon-11pm · Fri-Sat noon-midnight · Sun noon-11pm

The Dead Pigeon

Craft beer and burgers with a strong local reputation, sport on the screens and a monthly sharing platter.

378 High Street, ME1 1DJ

Mon-Thu noon-10:30pm · Fri-Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-9pm

The Eagle Tavern

A proper pub with big plates of food, a well-reviewed Sunday roast, board games and a garden.

124 High Street, ME1 1JT

Mon-Thu noon-10pm · Fri-Sat noon-midnight · Sun noon-10pm

The George

An independent pub on City Way, at the corner of St William's Way, with one large bar, TV and pool, live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, two regular cask ales and two changing ones, a garden and free parking.

344 City Way, ME1 2BH

28 min walk from the High Street

Mon 2pm-8pm · Tue-Thu noon-11pm · Fri noon-midnight · Sat noon-11:30pm · Sun noon-10:30pm

The George Vaults

Named after the George Inn and the 14th-century vaulted crypt beneath the building.

35 High Street, ME1 1LN

Mon-Thu 11am-10pm · Fri 11am-1am · Sat 11am-2am · Sun 11am-10pm

The Golden Lion

The Wetherspoon, with rooms upstairs, food from 8am and one of the few places open late on a Monday.

147-151 High Street, ME1 1EL

Mon-Thu 8am-midnight · Fri-Sat 8am-1am · Sun 8am-midnight

The Granville

A friendly local on Maidstone Road with a garden and an upstairs function room for private hire.

83 Maidstone Road, ME1 1RL

Mon-Thu 4pm-11pm · Fri 4pm-midnight · Sat noon-midnight · Sun noon-11pm

The Jolly Knight

The High Street front bar of the same building as Ye Arrow, with pub food and a second room looking towards the castle.

56 High Street, ME1 1LD

Mon-Thu 11am-11pm · Fri-Sat 11am-1am · Sun 11am-11pm

Kings Arms, Upnor

A village pub in Upper Upnor, across the Medway from the Historic Dockyard, with a big garden and home-cooked food.

2 High Street, Upper Upnor, ME2 4XG

Mon-Thu noon-11pm · Fri-Sat noon-midnight · Sun noon-10pm

Man of Kent

A traditional ale house a few minutes off the High Street, with well-kept local ales alongside German lagers and Belgian beers.

6-8 John Street, ME1 1YN

Mon 6pm-10pm · Tue closed · Wed-Thu 6pm-11pm · Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm · Sun 6pm-11pm

Maverick Ladies Lounge

A cocktail bar in the Royal Victoria and Bull building, open on Friday evenings and Saturdays.

16 High Street, ME1 1PX

Mon-Thu closed · Fri 4pm-11pm · Sat noon-11pm · Sun closed

The Nags Head

A slightly hidden local with a pool table, jukebox, local ales and a resident pub dog.

High Street, ME1 1HS

Mon-Thu 11am-11pm · Fri-Sat 11am-midnight · Sun noon-10:30pm

Oliver's Bar and Kitchen

Dinner, cocktails and a garden, with DJs and a late licence until 2:30am on Fridays and Saturdays, and a Sunday roast.

186 High Street, ME1 1EY

Mon closed · Tue-Thu 5pm-9pm · Fri-Sat noon-2:30am · Sun noon-6pm

The Queen Charlotte

A lively sports pub with plenty of screens, a small garden and some of the keener lager prices on the street.

159 High Street, ME1 1EH

Mon-Thu 11am-11pm · Fri-Sat 11am-1am · Sun 11am-11pm

Royal Crown

A Shepherd Neame pub in a Grade II listed building at the bridge end of the High Street, reopened under this name in November 2023 after a refit.

2 High Street, ME1 1PT

Mon-Thu 11am-11pm · Fri-Sat 11am-1am · Sun 11am-10:30pm

The Ship Inn

Medway's oldest gay pub, and in its own words one of Kent's premier gay venues, at the Chatham end of the High Street: three bars, DJs, karaoke and themed nights, open until 2am from Thursday to Saturday.

347 High Street, ME1 1DA

Mon-Tue 4pm-10pm · Wed closed · Thu-Fri 4pm-2am · Sat noon-2am · Sun 2pm-10pm

The Thomas Waghorn

The Wetherspoon in Chatham's former post office, with a large bar over several levels, an open kitchen, 12 handpumps including local ales, and a courtyard garden with a roof terrace.

14 Railway Street, Chatham ME4 4JL

8 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Thu 8am-midnight · Fri-Sat 8am-1am · Sun 8am-midnight

Three Sheets to the Wind

Bigger than it looks from the street, with a room downstairs and a large garden at the back.

173 High Street, ME1 1EH

Mon closed · Tue 6pm-11pm · Wed-Thu 4pm-11pm · Fri-Sat 1pm-11pm · Sun 1pm-10pm

Two Brewers

A small pub dating back to 1683, pouring Shepherd Neame beers, with live music on Sunday afternoons.

113 High Street, ME1 1JS

Mon closed · Tue 4pm-11pm · Wed-Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-6pm

Who'd Ha' Thought It

Medway CAMRA's Pub of the Year for 2026: a back street free house just off Maidstone Road, with a wood-panelled bar, a log fire, a snug and three changing cask ales, Kent breweries to the fore.

9 Baker Street, ME1 3DN

16 min walk from the High Street

Mon-Thu 3pm-10pm · Fri-Sat noon-11pm · Sun noon-9pm

Wolfe and Castle

A small craft beer bar in a wonderfully wonky old building, with a changing range on tap, two-thirds measures and cans to take away.

44 High Street, ME1 1LD

Mon closed · Tue-Thu 11am-9pm · Fri-Sat 11am-11pm · Sun 11am-5pm

Ye Arrow

The castle and cathedral are in view from the garden.

Boley Hill, ME1 1TE

Mon-Thu 11am-11pm · Fri-Sat 11am-1am · Sun 11am-11pm