- Play Hard
- 19th Jun 2026
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One of our favourite Durham restaurants to book this summer – riverside terrace, afternoon tea and fine dining
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There’s something about Durham in the sunshine. Durham Cathedral, glowing golden above the treeline, the River Wear shimmering below. Right at the heart of it all, Radisson Blu Durham is serving some of the best summer dining offerings.
We bring you Józef’s Restaurant & Bar Durham, the hotel’s riverside restaurant and bar. Whether it’s a long, lazy afternoon tea on the terrace, a date night that calls for pan-fried scallops and a perfectly cooked steak, or a milestone celebration with everyone you love in one room, this is the city centre spot we’ll be returning to all summer long.
Here’s why it deserves a place at the top of your list, too.
AFTERNOON TEA IN DURHAM WITH A SIDE OF RIVER VIEWS
Let’s start with the one we know you’ll be screenshotting. Afternoon tea at Józef’s is everything the occasion should be. Expect dainty finger sandwiches (honey roast ham with Durham mustard is a nod to home we love), warm fruit scones piled with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and plenty of sweet treats. Think tiramisu, fruit tarts, Victoria sponge and a double chocolate brownie.
It’s served in Józef’s stylish riverside setting, and when the sun’s shining, the peaceful outdoor terrace is the place to be. Picture it: teacup in one hand, catching up with your nearest and dearest with a stunning sunny river-and-greenery backdrop – a summer’s perfect afternoon.
Unlimited tea and coffee come as standard, and it’s £21.95 per person, or upgrade to afternoon tea with fizz for £25.95 and add a chilled glass of Prosecco to proceedings (it’s summer, after all). Better still, both include four hours of complimentary parking, so you can linger over that last scone without watching the clock.
FINE DINING IN DURHAM: WHAT’S ON THE MENU AT JÓZEF’S
Come evening, Józef’s shifts gear into a beautiful fine dining experience, all sophistication, seasonal ingredients and good service, with Durham Cathedral views thrown in for free.
The menu is a love letter to dishes done properly. Start with pan-fried scallops with pea purée and crispy pancetta, smoked salmon and crevette with lemon crème fraîche, or a black pudding and crispy belly pork number that’s pure Northern comfort.
For mains, the slow-braised feather blade of beef with red wine jus is melt-in-the-middle magic, the duo of pork comes with a roast apple and cider jus we’d happily order by the jug, and the pan-fried sea bass with dill cream sauce tastes like summer on a plate.
From the grill, it’s date-night territory: an 8oz sirloin with triple-cooked chips and all the trimmings, or medallions of beef fillet with dauphinoise potato, peppercorn sauce and a Stilton crumb. Veggies and vegans, you’re not forgotten about, either. The sweet potato and pea risotto with crispy kale and basil oil and the penne arrabbiata with shiitake mushroom ‘meatballs’ hold their own against anything on the menu.
And whatever you do, leave room for dessert. The chocolate bomb, filled with vanilla ice cream, brownie pieces and Oreo crumbs, then doused at the table with hot salted caramel sauce, our mouths are watering just at the thought.
DATE NIGHTS DONE RIGHT (WITH THE BEST VIEW IN THE CITY)
If you’re after a romantic dinner in Durham this summer, this is it. There’s a reason riverside tables get snapped up first, there are few better backdrops for a date night than the Wear drifting past as the evening light softens and the cathedral keeps watch above. Start with cocktails in the bar, settle in for a leisurely three courses, and take the long way back along the riverbank afterwards.
PRIVATE DINING AND UNFORGETTABLE OCCASIONS AT RADISSON BLU DURHAM
Here’s where Radisson Blu Durham really comes into its own. Some occasions only happen once, a milestone birthday, a retirement after a lifetime of hard graft, an anniversary, a prom, a gala dinner, and the hotel’s newly refurbished event spaces are built to give them the setting they deserve.
With 11 flexible spaces catering for everything from four to 220 guests, there’s a room to suit whatever you’re planning, from intimate private dining in Jozef’s stylish dining room to grand celebrations in the larger event suites. The private bar area can even be hired for drinks receptions or live music before guests move through to the main event.
The food more than rises to the occasion, too. The culinary team will craft a menu around you. Whether you’re after elegant canapé receptions, sharing plates, three-course dinners or celebration cakes. Plus, dietary requirements, themed menus and bespoke cocktails are all happily catered for.
Every booking also comes with a dedicated events coordinator who handles the lot, from room layouts and lighting to timings and supplier liaison. You focus on the people; they’ll take care of everything else.
One lovely extra worth knowing: host a banqueting fundraiser at Radisson Blu Durham and 5% of the bar spend on the night goes straight to your chosen charity.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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