Eagle

Was shown around Cambridge by a friend who said this is a must do pub with an interesting history from WWII. As one of Cambridge’s most famous pubs it is incredibly busy and a booking will likely be required. The food was incredible. Ordered a steak and ale pie and fish and chips to share with my friend. The chips were crispy (a very important quality to me 😆) and the pie flavour had a subtle ale taste with a good thickness for the pastry. The fish for the fish and chips tasted fresh with a very nice tartare sauce which had a bit of texture to it. It’s a great place for small groups to get together and have a meal and a fun chat.

Food here meant a beer and cider for us (didn't have the food) but people seemed to be enjoying it and it looked good. Great history with this bar and is worth the stop whether for a drink or to have some food at a bar where a lot of interesting history. Nice staff, would go back.

Famous pub and they tell you about it in multiple places. And they should, it’s historical! Coming to the pub itself, you find a table and then order at the bar. Late lunch, they were out of the special. Ordered steak and ale pie and a pint of house beer. Pie was ok. Mash was dry and the pint of beer was GBP7.50?? That felt a bit expensive. Total for two items was 23.75, not sure if there was any service charges included. But pint of beer felt way too steep! All in, good place to hop in just for a slice of history.

One of the most interesting and historic atmospheres of any pub. Absolutely worth a visit. Friendly staff and good amount of seating, very extensive bar menu

We stopped by for a beer during a recent visit to Cambridge. The pub itself and the inner courtyard are very neat and have tons of history! We didn’t try any food but things looked good.

I got to experience this restaurant while traveling on mili orders. I don't care what they say about England this food was soooooooo delicious!!!!! I wanna go back soooo wo bad. Something about their food and bread is so fresh compared to the US. Also they dont bring drinks to you. You have to get your drink at the bar.

Tried fish and chips for the first time at The Eagle, and it did not disappoint: crispy, flavorful, and perfectly done. The beer was great too. Plus, you’re eating in a pub where the discovery of DNA was announced; can’t beat good food with a side of history!

History meets beer and food!! great place :-) have a pint of the local beer. And enjoy the stories at the Raft Bar. You are given a little leaflet with events in History that were celebrated here! Such as when the double helix DNA was discovered. Or the end of WW II.

We have been twice. The service is friendly, the food is good & the environment is fun. The pie was delicious. The back room has fun WWII memorabilia theme.

This place is full of history and a great atmosphere. I have a severe nut and fish allergy and they were extremely cautious and made me feel very comfortable. Would come here again!

We went to the famous Eagle in Cambridge for a early dinner and our experience was mixed. They had my favorite English ale, Neck Oil which was a plus. The fish was lightly battered and crisp but the chips were a bit soggy. The duck hash was a disappointment as the potatoes were not crispy, as promised but a broken up baked potato. Mush peas were a bit undercooked.

Good food, great atmosphere, and you're literally eating in a museum! Seat yourself and order at the bar. The bartenders were friendly and helped suggest the duck hash, which was delicious. There is a vast drink selection and indoor or outdoor seating, including outdoor heaters in the cold. A must see while in Cambridge.

Pretty cool spot rich in history and where DNA was first discussed. Definitely worth a visit to say, "I've been there." Order at the bar and find a spot to sit, which can be difficult as this place always seems busy. There was inside and outside seating so that was a plus. Great spot to grab a drink!

Such a vibe. One of the oldest pubs in the world although obviously the history is debated. Also allegedly the place where DNA was discovered. Definitely a significant stop for RAF soldiers during World War II. Current days - a cosy pub with plenty of seating and a decent food menu. Friend had a steak and ale pie and she said it was good. I was content with water enjoying the crowd etc. You can order either via the app or at the bar with your table number. Toilets were limited and not the cleanest. Overall a must see while in Cambridge although I'm not sure the experience warrants a return visit.

Wonderful, must-see pub while in Cambridge. We came late at night for drinks. Waited around 10 minutes for a table, and sat in the outdoor area. Although very historical, this place gets POPPIN! Tons of young folx in this place, tons of students. Hard to believe they could concentrate to discover the structure of DNA in here lol.

Love the pub and the pump spigots, great atmosphere and the food was good for a pub. Would like to come back on a Sunday to see if the Sunday roast is good. Lots of little nooks for seating areas. Will definitely come back.

We came for the food, but stayed for the amazing history! This pub was a favorite for troops stationed nearby during the Second World War to mark their insignias on the ceiling and was later where the discovery of the structure of DNA was announced! I ordered the chicken and bacon sandwich on ciabatta, which was pretty basic. Friends of mine ordered the Mac and cheese, the risotto, and the fish cakes. All in all, the food was basic, but the drinks were delicious, and the atmosphere was amazing.

Loveddd coming to this place after church whether it be for drinks, food, socializing, or all of the above! The fish & chips with smashed peas is amazing!!! Smashed Peas you may ask???! Well, the only options you have for peas are steamed or smashed, so I'll get em over with (smashed) loll This restaurant/pub is not only delicious, but also historic!! If you are a biochem major like my friend or anything of the sort, you might thrill at the idea that this was the exact place where Watson & Crick discovered the DNA and all that fun stuff :) which makes a great spot for touristy photos too (if ur into that)!

The food was great and ambiance historically cool. My IPA was on the flat side otherwise it's a 5 star for me.

As an international traveling food critic and unbeknownst to the staff, the following is what I experienced: + The Barmaid was very effective and efficient with impeccable situational awareness. + Extremely comfortable atmosphere. + Quality of the fish and chips was excellent. If you are in the area and don't take the time to dine here, you missed out on a superb experience.

The food is very average, we ordered the hot halloumi fries and they were excessively oily. Additionally, the batter on the halloumi was very thick and difficult to bite into. The sauce was not very well seasoned either. The vegan burger was alright, missed seasoning too. However, the beer collection is great and the 2 lagers I tried were yummy!! The place is worth visiting for its history. The double helix DNA was discovered over lunch here and the RAF bar from world war 2 air troop is very intriguing.

Decent food amazing history. Well worth the trip. Food is typical pub food but good enjoy the experience.

This place has so much history... memorabilia on the walls, famous patrons and located in a community of higher learning. Yet all I can take from this experience is... "I should have came here for the beers". To this day, I can name where I had the worst burger experience. What was I thinking? Was it real meat? The Mac and cheese was decent and a safe choice. I read in previous reviews about how good the fish and chip were. Maybe next time. The atmosphere was friendly and lively. Its basically a college bar with a lot of history. It's well worth the visit.

Iconic, come for the history and pints, leave happy. Special place for biologists. DNA!

Typical pub experience. The pub is in the old town and famous for its past famous customers who discount DNA. Food not memorable but the hot chocolate divine.

Steak pie was good enough to order two times. I tried the mash, but the chips are much better. Fun enough. Husband tried different things on the pie menu and had a satisfied expression. Service is OK, but not the best. Quite frankly, we had a coupon for 10% off which was given to us on a tour, and the only thing that prevents me from giving more stars is that we forgot to present the coupon when ordering and they did not do anything to help us out to make up for that. I mean, it's part of the reason why we decided to go back. 10% isn't really worth arguing for - even if I do have a talk-to-the-manager haircut at the present moment. We left it on the table so someone else can get the benefit since we won't be back in town anytime soon being from the USA and all. The deserts are divine. When there in a group we tried both the chocolate cake and the sticky toffee pudding with the clotted cream ice cream.

Cool pub with awesome history. Beers were cold and service was great. If you're touring Cambridge and want to have a brew with a little taste of some of the history with an aviation theme- hit up the Eagle!

Great historic pub. The steak and kidney pie was very good and the DNA bitters was outstanding. I go here every time I'm in town

Only fitting to visit a pub while in Cambridge! The Eagle was jam packed when we initially arrived (a good sign), but after about 15 min we were able to snag a table as another crowd left. The atmosphere is awesome, very lively! The history of the bar itself is also a great touch. The food was your typical bar food: not amazing but definitely hits the spot and leaves you stuffed. All our plates were clean by the end of the visit.

The Eagle is a famous pub in Cambridge, due to the fact that the discovery of the double helix (DNA) was announced by Drs Crick and Watson in the 50s. One can only image if this was their watering hole and they partook of the food here, what further discoveries and enlightenments they may have offered the world if they ate elsewhere. I've had two meals here, both of which I would rate as poor (why did I come back a second time?) First was the steak and ale pie, with mash and veggies. The pie was anaemic, with very little content. The pastry was good but thick. The meat (what there was) inside was average. The mash was rock-like and had been prepared a long time prior to service (the thick crust gave it away). The veggies, like any other place in the UK had been triple boiled, then microwaved to make sure they were done. God forbid that you have to use your teeth to start the digestion process. 1/5 is generous for this one. The second meal was the Eagle Burger. Burger itself was average, served tepid, but with flavour. The chips with the meal were pretty bad, heavily salted but fortunately since the salt crystals were so big it was easy to bat them off. 2/5. Seems that if you fake it by carrying the plates with a tea towel then it looks like the meal just came from the kitchen. My rating of 3/5 is simply due to the history of the place. The RAF bar in the back is wonderful. Real modern history there, and the writings on the wall make you stop and think about the poor buggers who spent their last night in that bar. Avoid if you don't like tourists, the place is full of them. Me included. Expensive beer, great staff.

A must see in Cambridge. The eagle is divided into a few different areas including normal indoor seating, bar seating, an outdoor patio, and the RAF bar. The RAF bar is living history, kept alive by signatures and patches from WW2 to today. I had the fish and chips, and loved it. The beer selection was good, including a handful of local beers. There was also a good desert menu. I had the bread pudding and thought it was great.

Quintessential English pub dating back a few hundred years. Great service awesome ambiance solid food.

Amazing historical venue! The fish and chips are excellent and the peas fresh and delicious! Great beer! The pudding for desert was truly special!

Awful accommodation, found a cockroach in my room. Do NOT go to The Eagle, as it is an awful hotel and the staff were disrespectful. It's overpriced and I was yelled at for walking in without wiping my feet on the mat.

Very disappointing - looking forward to the traditional Sunday roast. We had an 8pm booking and already they had sold out all of their roasts. Plus the toilets were out of service. The food when it came was ok (although a mushroom pie had clearly been popped in the microwave but the middle of it was still cold) but overall a disappointing experience

This was a cool spot. Pretty chill atmosphere. We ducked in for a quick drink. A few folks had desert others just a beer or cider. If I had more time I would definitely go back.

Good basic food! Beer on tap! Friendly bartender and fast service. So much history was made here, that is is worth a stop just to absorb it all! Nice pub food selections and relaxing atmosphere

The Eagle is a very famous pub in Cam with a popular story of Cambridge researchers who discovered DNA while they were in the pub (correct me if I am wrong because I vaguely remember the story, haha). And thus, the pub often appears or is recommended as a tourist attraction. I've tried it once since it is famous. The space inside the pub is quite huge. The food was not that impressive but not bad as well. So I have mixed feeling (i.e., I would like to give 3.5 points, haha). If I recommend it to my friends, I would say, "try it if you are a tourist." FYI, the food I tried was a burger.

I've been to Eagle a couple of times now and I absolutely love it for it's history and also because it's a great spot to hang out! There's plenty of seating both inside and outside (for the warm days!). Each table has a set of menus and a table number attached to it. There's no waiters that take your order, but instead you pick what you want, order/pay at the bar, and then they bring the food to your table. In case you haven't frequented other pubs in the area, this is a pretty common theme in terms of service style. My most recent visit was during the day on a weekday. It wasn't packed like my previous weekend visit, but it definitely wasn't dead either! We ordered a chicken sandwich and the fried chicken bites to split between two people. Both dishes were really good, but the chicken bites were a favorite! The chicken itself was perfectly cooked and was tender/juicy. The breading was very well seasoned as well! Even if you aren't looking to have something to eat or drink, if you're in Cambridge, Eagle is a must visit spot for it's history alone!

If you enjoy a good pint and history.. this is the place for you. It has a wonderful Pub atmosphere and the lunch fare was great for a family of 5 and very reasonable... especially with the pints!! I am biased though... I came here decades ago as a pilot and I have fond memories of this place. There is so much RAF and US Air Force History it drips from the walls. Just take a look around.. when we walked in there was a promotion ceremony going on for a pilot from the local base... great to see the camaraderie and good times...the beer and the food... all made for a great new memory for me and my kids. Good times.

It wa OK. Fish and chips were good. Well, the fish was, the chips were from a package. The scampi was barely edible. But, that's what I get for eating right in the heart of the tourist area

Such a fun and bustling atmosphere where Watson and Crick supposedly discovered the structure of DNA. Came here on a Tuesday evening with a very large group and it was extremely busy! I ordered The Big Fish & Chips (Battered cod, devilled whitebait, crushed peas, pickled onion, tartare sauce, bread & butter, triple cooked chips; £14.25) and it took such a long time to arrive, but it was worth the wait! The portion size of The Big Fish & Chips is huge and could easily be shared between 2! It is absolutely delicious! The battered cod was perfectly golden, crisp, firm but flaky and succulent! Their chips were also cooked very nicely! I enjoyed their devilled whitebait, which I've never had before! A must visit if you are in Cambridge!

This place has excellent fish and chips. I've missed fish and chips very much from the time I studied abroad in the UK, and was looking forward to checking it out. In this restaurant, the fish is smaller than what you get in other pubs, but very succulent and tasty. Many locals go here even though it's a tourist spot as well. Would highly recommend.

A historic must-see if you're a nerd like me (: This is where Watson & Crick announced the discovery of DNA! The burger and fish& chips were very good. There was plenty of seating inside the pub, with some tables outside too. Tip: place your order at the bar with your table number.

A really neat bar in Cambridge with a lot of history! There are a few different neat rooms - one has lots of aviation / WWII / Royal Air Force history with carvings on the ceilings from WWII and stickers / signatures from more current units. Another one has scientific history - it's where the discovery of DNA was first presented. There's a neat plaque at the table. The rest of the rooms have a very British ambience, although no specific history. There are fireplaces and low ceilings, old tables and chairs - you can feel all the history surrounding you as you have a drink! I didn't eat here, so I can't comment on the food, but they have a good selection of beers. Everything from Guinness to IPAs are on tap, although they don't take orders from or deliver beers to most of the tables - just go order at the bar and carry it back. It's definitely a go-to place for the university students, so every time I've been, it's been quite packed. We had to wait a bit for a place to sit, so expect that.

Conveniently located right across the street from King's College, this was my go-to spot after a long day of classes. Actually, that's a lie.. this is my go-to spot in between classes too! I love how the British have such a rich drinking culture. Even my professors would have their Office Hours here!! Do you ever see that here in the U.S.??? This place holds so many fond memories of my study abroad experience. I had my first pint of Old Speckled Hen here.. it's probably the most disgusting ale I've ever tried.. but it still has a special place in my heart. Old Speckled Hen side story: A bunch of my friends decided to come to The Eagle after a class. It had been a long day, and we were looking to relieve some stress. After several rounds of beer, one of my girl friends yelled as loud as she could (yes, she was drunk).. "Who wants another Old Speckled MAN?!" That was seriously the funniest thing ever because the entire pub just stared at us and a couple of the elderly men sitting at the bar said.. "We're old speckled men!!!!" Oh man.. what a great time.... With all silliness aside, the staff members here are really friendly. I'm sure they get a lot of drunk college students all the time, but they are still always cheery and helpful. It also gets pretty crowded in the evenings and on the weekends... Oh, and Watson & Crick discovered DNA here.. just saying.. it's no biggie.. :)

The bar really is the best of both worlds. 1. You got a sense of RAF and Watson and Crick history. 2. You get genuine British food that is cooked well in the traditional British manner. Some knocks on this place has simply because people don't like the style of the more traditional British food. BUT... for those who can appreciate the difference between good British food and bad British food... this is on more of the good hearty type. I got the traditional fish and chips and my friend got a shank of lamb. YES... my fish and chips and mashed peas in it of itself was rather bland... BUT I could definitely tell they used a whole... relatively fresh fish and relatively fresh cut potatoes. I had to put the ketchup, salt, and vinegar to give it flavor (the British way). My friend's lamb shank (I had a sample) was very well made and did indeed need some shakes of seasoning, so you had to damp it in the broth that it came with. Do it the British way and you'll enjoy it!

Didnt really order the DNA beer.But, Chips are awesome! A must try out there!Its definitely a place of history, with stories.Located in the center of Cambridge, really close to Kings College. Nice pub!

At the outset, let me be clear that the star is for the atmosphere, not the food! The pub is quite atmospheric with actual candles and friendly service and is a great place to grab a drink They tout their homemade food a lot, but it was a complete disappointment. The potted ham hock was just salty with no flavour and very dry for potted meat. The red onion chutney along with it was the only thing that made it slightly palatable. The side of Rosemary Roasted Butternut Wedges with sour cream was completely tasteless except for an extremely mild hint of rosemary. I used the ham from the potted ham hock to get some salt into the dish (People who know me, know that I am someone who NEVER adds salt to my food) The barmen recommended the Slow Cooked Pork Belly which was very soft and coming apart at the gentlest touch, but again there was no seasoning or flavour, either in the pork or the accompanying vegetables. The only thing palatable in this dish was the creamy mashed potatoes on the side. We had, had a really long and tiring day, otherwise we don't normally order everything in one go. And we really regretted it, especially given all the other options around.

DNA helix was figured out here they say. RAF pilots from WWII left their messages on roof. Warm. Lovely. Packed. Heart of old Cambridge. The food that chilly night took very long as the place was jammed. But so what. They warned us. We sat snug with pint after pint. But they bloody ran out of draught Cider!

A large, rambling multi-roomed and historic pub, which was opened as the 'Eagle & Child' in 1667, and was a Coaching Inn. The site is still owned by Corpus Christi college, but now managed by Greene King. The rooms ramble around to the 'RAF Bar' at the rear, which almost seems like a separate pub. Its ceiling is decorated with the details (names and squadrons) of RAF and US airmen from World War II. The rooms are all different in style and character, some with 1950's style wooden panelling, others with more traditional low-ceilings. There is a beer garden sandwiched between the front and back. They serve a range of real ales, include Greene King IPA, Theakston's Old Peculier, Old Speckled Hen and Brains' Reverend James. They also serve an extensive range of food - but I've not eaten here. A plaque outside records that Crick & Watson, discoverers of DNA, used to drink here, and it was here that they announced their discovery on 28th February 1953. The one downside is that it is packed with tourists as well as students, so finding a seat can be hard, despite its size. The tables could also have done with a clean, so perhaps it is a victim of its own success?

What I liked: Great history in the bar area, good location if you're only in Cambridge to visit and nice food selection. Ordered the lamb with a side of fries. Got the lamb served on top of fries instead of their potatoes which seemed odd and not what I wanted but could be chalked up to miscommunication. I enjoyed the lamb dish a lot. My brother enjoyed the seafood pie, but it comes with eggs so it's good to know that before ordering because it's unexpected. Overall everything was pretty enjoyable, but we ended up waiting nearly 30 minutes after our meal was finished to receive our sticky toffee pudding (which is delicious and is a MUST if you swing by). The wait was definitely excessive, but we enjoyed the dessert.

I knew nothing of the history of this pub, just that it was a pub that I passed on the walk towards King's Parade from the shopping centre car park. Attractive atmosphere, and the food was OK, adequate but nothing great.

The reason I like to travel so much is that sometimes you get to walk in the footsteps of greatness. The Eagle, which opened in 1667, is one of those places. Such great history here! 3 quick stories. In world war II, this pub was a popular hangout for the Royal Air Force men that flew in the airfields close by. In 1945, pilots from all over the world who returned from the War signed their names on the ceiling and walls using only cigarette lighters, candle smoke and lip stick. Francis Crick and James Watson, along with generations of other students used to come here and drink while developing their brilliant ideas. At lunchtime on February 1953, Crick interrupted startled patrons eating lunch to announce that he had discovered the secret of life: The double helix. There is a plaque that commemorates the event outside. And inside, in the bar where it happened are pictures of the event and of course, the double helix. Last, there is a room upstairs in where you will see a window that is always open. Apparently there was a bad fire once, and a boy was killed because he wasn't able to open the window. So now his ghost makes sure that this window is never shut. Creepy! Opposite the Eagle is St. Benet's Church, the oldest structure in Cambridge dating back to 1033. After taking in all of this history (and hearing of the legend of the ghost) we took a seat in the outdoor patio out back, where we perused the menu of traditional British fare. My wife and I both ordered the fish and chips, of course. The service was great, but it wasn't too busy at lunch time in August. The fish was flaky and the batter was light, and golden brown. The chips were cooked perfectly (not too greasy). The meal also came with mushy peas, which is peas that have been blanched, and run through a food processor with a little cream, salt and pepper. Love it! This place also has a variety of local craft beers on tap. There is even a beer called "Eagle's DNA". Amazing place. Go for the history and then stay and enjoy a Craft beer and some traditional British Fare.

Average in terms of pub food. I got the fish and chips, which came with peas and a slice of untoasted white bread with a pat of butter. Maybe I'm biased by my London fish and chips experience, but it wasn't mind blowing. There was only one vegetarian option, and they seemed to have run out of certain dishes that evening as well. (The pub is where Watson and Crick announced "their" discovery of the structure of DNA.)

Nice traditional pub. RAF bar is an amazing piece of history. Plus, if you are male you can make use of the urinals used by Watson and Crick. Actually you could if you're female too, although it might be wetter and less ergonomic. Really, though, a small price to pay to experience history.

It's a cool English pub vibe and you can have a beer where Crick and Watson (and Franklin!) hung out while discovering the Foundations of DNA and also where World War II flyers hung out as well. Food was pretty average even by English pub standards. You can order and pay for food and drinks at the bar which makes check in/check out fairly quickly.