The heart of Newcastle’s Chinatown, Stowell Street is known for its beautiful Chinese archway and is packed with delicious dining options as well as some great entertainment too. The area is steeped in history, and is a great place to discover the remains of the ancient city walls and find some peace and quiet in the Oriental Garden. Come with us as we explore one of the city's most interesting streets.
Location and Parking
First things first, let’s get you there! The archway end of Stowell Street is located opposite St James’ Park and just a few minutes’ walk from St James’, Haymarket and Monument Metro stations. If you’re driving, you’ll find Q-Park Stowell Street - a handy spot to park, with 266 spaces and pre-booking available too. Prices start at £1.50 between midnight and 7am, £2.60 per hour from 7am to 6pm and from 6pm it’s £1.60, or £20 all day, with promotional rates of £1 per hour on Sundays. The Gate’s 24 hour car park is just next door, and offers immediate access to The Gate complex as well as Stowell Street. Parking rates start at £2.50 for up to 2 hours.
Food
The area is perhaps best known for its profusion of amazing Chinese and East Asian restaurants, and Dojo is up there with the best. Specialising in Japanese cuisine including sashimi, sushi, tempura and other classic dishes, it’s renowned as a relaxed and authentic spot. King Neptune is the longest-running Chinese restaurant on Stowell Street, specialising in authentic regional dishes like Peking-style spare ribs and aromatic crispy duck, and as you might expect from their name the menu also has a focus on seafood. Landmark is a classy bar and restaurant that’s perfect for business meetings as well as dinner, offering a tempting a la carte and buffet menu.
Little Asia is the place to be for hot pots – a metal pot of stock is placed on the table and diners simmer a variety of ingredients, from thinly sliced meats to vegetables and seafood in a fragrant and tasty broth. Amaysia Restaurant, meanwhile, serves up delicious Asian-fusion dishes in a modern space complemented by a great lounge featuring pool tables and karaoke booths perfect for that post-dinner warble.
Drinks
As well as being one of the most historic bars in Newcastle, Rosie’s Bar has recently undergone a bit of a make-over, making the iconic pub even more inviting. There’s often regular live music and their great range of beers, wines and spirits make it a great pre- or post-dinner option. It’s a hopping spot on match day too! For a bit of a flutter with your drink, Freya’s Bar in Aspers Casino is a relaxed and refined space which offers an extensive drinks menu and big sport fixtures on the TVs.
Bubble tea has become big business and there are several quirky locations on Stowell Street to grab a fun drink or delicious dessert. Colourful Bubble Cha has a couple of sit-in booths from which to enjoy their freshly made bubble teas – choose from a vast array of pobble toppings (that’s popping bubbles!) from lemon to lychee, and jelly toppings including tapioca, aloe vera or matcha pudding. They serve plenty of other options including flavoured milk teas, fresh fruit slushes and much, much more. At Mua Cha you’ll find delicious items like tea slushes, matcha ice cream, crème brulee milk tea and temptingly cute cakes while Utepia Tea serve up distinctive traditional bubble teas with fresh fruit and delicious options including floating mousse tea, pineapple coolers and slushes.
Entertainment
Enjoy a game of pool or snooker at Spot White where you’ll find 12 American pool tables, three snooker tables, two table tennis (and beer pong!) tables amongst many other fun diversions including air hockey, 100” HD TVs showing all kinds of sport and a cracking bar with a wide range of shots, cocktails, beer and premium spirits.
One of the city’s hidden gems, Cosmic Ballroom is a hip and happening hangout for musos and dance heads, particularly those with a penchant for electronic sounds. Expect dance, house and underground sounds from an array of promoters and in-house DJs who really know their stuff. You can even hire out the space for your very own bash!
If you happen to be in the area around Chinese New Year (usually in late January), Stowell Street is the focal point for the city’s celebrations where you can marvel at traditional Lion and Dragon dances and enjoy a fantastically festive atmosphere!
Supermarket
Wing Hong Chinese Supermarket was the very first Chinese business to relocate to Stowell Street in 1978. The Chinese and Far Eastern food specialists stock a vast array of authentic foodie delights so you can attempt to create the delicious Chinese and Asian cuisine that Stowell Street is famous for at home!
There you have it - the lowdown on Stowell Street, the beating heart of Newcastle's Chinatown and a fantastic place to head whether you're looking for food, fun or a bit of both!
