Eat and drink

Ziggy's is a treat for anyone who takes their coffee seriously. Its medium Shamba blend is beautifully smooth, while the fruit and herbal teas offer plenty for non-coffee drinkers. The pastry selection makes mornings especially tempting, with croissants, cinnamon whirls and pains au chocolat fresh from the oven. At lunchtime, choose from filled sourdough baguettes, salad pots, hot savoury pastries or a comforting jacket potato topped with cheddar, tuna or beans.Choose a made-to-order smoothie or indulgent blended milkshake. It is an easy, welcoming choice from the first coffee of the morning to lunch on the go.

Zest is the place to visit when only a proper, hearty breakfast will do. Later in the day, the space transforms into a lively street-food destination, with up to three counters offering flavours from around the world and plenty of vegan choices. Appreciate the variety: it feels as though there is always something new to discover, even if you visit regularly. During term time, Zest also serves an affordable early dinner—an excellent option when cooking feels like one task too many. From a comforting fry-up to vibrant lunches and budget-friendly evening meals, Zest delivers generous, satisfying food throughout the day.

Unio at The Hive is a cheerful campus hideaway with an especially tempting drinks and pastry menu. Begin with a barista-made cappuccino and face the difficult choice between plain, pistachio, Biscoff, almond or vegan raspberry croissants. From lunchtime, warm filled flatbreads provide something more substantial. For a treat, try a bubble tea or design your own hot chocolate with flavoured syrup, marshmallows and whipped cream. The still and sparkling flavoured sodas are a refreshing alternative, while the patisserie and homemade bakes deserve serious attention. Best of all, everything is served with genuine warmth by Unio’s famously friendly team.

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BOX is where campus pizza cravings are taken seriously. Every pizza is hand-stretched and cooked to order, with favourites ranging from classic margherita to meat feast and the irresistible hot-honey ’nduja. The sides are equally tempting, including garlic bread, loaded nachos, chicken wings and vegan or chicken nuggets. BOX serves from midday at lunchtime and reopens in BarSU from 4pm, making it a great option for an evening on campus. Fresh, fun and satisfyingly informal.

Taste Pan Asian brings bold, vibrant flavours to campus in a format designed for busy student life. Start with rice or noodles, then build your meal from a changing selection of mains, vegetables and sides. Enjoy the freedom to finish the dish with condiments chosen to suit your own taste—mild and fresh or with a serious hit of heat. There is also a DIY noodle station, alongside matcha, chilled Asian drinks and an enticing range of authentic sweet and savoury snacks. Fast, affordable and easy to personalise, Taste feels both culturally familiar and completely contemporary—and exactly the kind of place that encourages repeat visits.

Atrium Café is ideal when you need something delicious between lectures but have very little time to spare. Grab a handcrafted coffee and a homemade flapjack, although the fresh sandwiches, salad pots and warm savoury pastries made lunch equally tempting. The made-to-order milkshakes and fruit or vegetable smoothies are especially refreshing and provide a welcome alternative to another cup of coffee. Service is quick, the selection is varied and everything is geared towards keeping busy campus days moving. Whether you want a speedy snack or a more substantial lunch, Atrium Café is a dependable little stop for refuelling without losing valuable time.

Set inside the Sainsbury Centre’s striking glass-fronted gallery, Modern Life Café feels like a destination in its own right. Discover a tempting menu of toasted ciabattas, colourful salad bowls and hearty hot lunches. The homemade cakes and scones are difficult to resist, while picnic boxes and pizza twists keep younger visitors happy. Coffee lovers should try the rich Espresso No. 1 blend, although the luxury hot chocolates and loose-leaf teas are equally inviting. Visit on Sunday for the traditional roast, accompanied—if you fancy—by an English wine, beer or cider.

Café 57 is all about having lunch exactly the way you want it. Choose from freshly prepared subs, fresh salads or comforting baked potatoes, with gluten-free options also available. If none of the combinations quite hits the spot, simply create your own by selecting your favourite fillings and toppings. Everything is assembled to order, giving even a quick campus lunch a satisfyingly personal touch. A self-service fizzy drink makes an easy accompaniment, although we strongly recommend saving room for one of the homemade traybakes. Fresh, flexible and full of choice, this is a particularly useful stop when everyone in your group wants something different.

Grain is a lovely change of pace: a dedicated vegan and vegetarian café with a relaxed atmosphere that works equally well for a quick break or a long catch-up with friends. The rich Espresso No. 1 coffee is beautifully full-bodied, while the flavoured teas offer something a little lighter. Pair with one of the homemade traybakes not to be disappointed. The café feels welcoming and unhurried, making it an easy place to escape the bustle of campus for a while. Whether you are vegetarian or simply fancy a good coffee and something sweet, Grain is well worth adding to your campus café list.

Sportscafé is the ultimate pre- or post-workout pit stop, although you certainly do not need to be exercising to enjoy it. Hot and cold food is served throughout the day, with plenty of high-protein choices and everything available to take away. Start with the substantial Sportspark Breakfast or keep things lighter with fruit, yoghurt and granola. Lunch options include flatbreads, pasta, jacket potatoes, burgers, salads and a comforting vegan katsu curry. There is also an impressive selection of snacks, confectionery and homemade treats. Convenient, generous and genuinely varied, it is perfectly equipped to refuel hungry visitors—whatever their sporting ambitions might be.

Vista is a polished yet wonderfully relaxed spot for coffee, lunch or an informal meeting. Stop by for a beautifully made barista coffee and quickly understand why the rich chocolate brownie has such a following. For something lighter, try the daily vegan soup with a generously filled ciabatta. The patisserie counter is another highlight, especially knowing that everything is carefully produced on campus by UEA’s own pastry chefs. Vista can also be reserved for private dining, meetings, retirement celebrations, recruitment events and award ceremonies. With its calm atmosphere and excellent baking, it makes even an ordinary coffee break feel like a small occasion.

Tucked inside the impressive BCRE atrium, this café is a particularly welcome find for UEA and NHS staff. A hot bacon roll and medium-roast Arabica coffee make an excellent start to the day, while lunchtime brings an appealing choice of panini, sandwiches, wraps, jacket potatoes and gluten-free salads. The freshly blended milkshakes, smoothies and iced coffees are ideal when you want something cooler. Your biggest challenge will be choosing between the homemade traybakes, muffins, scones and cookies. It is bright, convenient and full of satisfying options for keeping you going through a busy working day..