About Us

The Ferry Cafe has stood at the water's edge at Felixstowe Ferry since 1953, making it one of the longest-running seaside fish and chip cafes on the Suffolk coast. Perched at the mouth of the River Deben estuary, directly opposite the Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club and boat yard, it has fed generations of sailors, dog walkers, golfers, families and curious visitors arriving on the foot ferry from Bawdsey.

Walk through the door and you'll notice something different. The decor is a love letter to the 1950s, with vintage vinyl records covering the walls, theatrical posters lining the corridors, and the whole place humming with the kind of cheerful nostalgia that only a genuinely old establishment can carry off. It's part American diner, part Suffolk fishing shack, and entirely its own thing.

The food has always been the point. Fresh fish and chips: cod, haddock, plaice and scampi, hand-battered to order and served from midday with garden peas and homemade tartare sauce. Cooked breakfasts until midday, built on locally sourced Suffolk ingredients. Proper brunches and large artisan baker's rolls handcrafted by The Friendly Loaf Bakery. Portions are generous. The queue at lunch is usually worth it.

Outside, the terrace faces directly across the estuary. On a good day you'll watch yachts and dayboats tacking up the Deben against a backdrop of marshland and open Suffolk sky. On a grey day it's just as good: strong tea, something hot, and the sound of rigging in the wind.

We're dog friendly, family friendly, and open to everyone who finds their way to this quiet corner of the Suffolk coast. We're open Wednesday to Friday 11am to 3pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm, with the kitchen serving until 2pm. Come hungry.