If you're on a road trip heading along the A14 through Suffolk sometimes you might want to stop for something more than a petrol station sandwich or fast food. 

Here are seven of the best places to eat along the A14 from Felixstowe to Newmarket.

1. The Mariners Freehouse

Stowmarket Mercury: The Megafeast platter is served on Saturdays and ideal for sharingThe Megafeast platter is served on Saturdays and ideal for sharing (Image: Mariners Freehouse)

 

Where: 193 High Road, Trimley St Mary, IP11 0TN

Open hours: 12pm until 11pm (10pm on Sunday)

The Mariners Freehouse offers a classic pub menu with a modern twist using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. 

The pub is also known for an array of good drinks and was one of the 13 Suffolk pubs added to CAMRA's Good Beer Guide last year.

2. Milk Shed Café

Stowmarket Mercury: The cafe serves a range of breakfast and brunch dishesThe cafe serves a range of breakfast and brunch dishes (Image: Milk Shed Café)

Where: Hadleigh Road, Sproughton, IP8 3AS

Open hours: 9am until 3pm (2.30pm on Sunday)

The independent cafe and coffee shop is inspired by Scandinavia serving hearty cafe food such as homemade soups and cheese toasties. 

At the start of the year, the cafe extended its hours to be open on Mondays. 

3. Chequers Indian Lounge

Stowmarket Mercury: The restaurant serves a range of Indian dishesThe restaurant serves a range of Indian dishes (Image: Chequers Indian Lounge)

Where: 19 Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham, IP6 0LP

When: 12pm until 3pm for lunch and 5pm until 11pm for dinner (12pm until 11pm on weekends)

The restaurant offers a glimpse into Indian culinary heritage using fresh ingredients to great a taste of India. 

Chequers Indian Lounge has been nationally acclaimed after recently winning at the Nation's Curry Awards.

READ MORE: Pub starts serving dinners for dogs out of leftover Sunday roasts

4. The Bull Inn

Stowmarket Mercury: The Bull Inn also serves Sunday lunchesThe Bull Inn also serves Sunday lunches (Image: Newsquest)

Where: The Street, Woolpit, IP230 9SA

Open hours: 12pm until 3pm for lunch and 6pm until 9.30pm for dinner (11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday)

The Bull Inn's menu is full of new takes on pub classics including burgers and fish and chips. 

There are also rooms available to stay in overnight to break up the road trip.

5. Roots Café

Stowmarket Mercury: Roots Café is on Rougham EstateRoots Café is on Rougham Estate (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Where: Blackthorpe, Bury St Edmunds, IP30 9J9

Open hours: 9.30am until 4pm

The newest cafe on the list, Roots Cafe opened at Blackthorpe Barns in October last year.

It serves breakfast and lunch as well as a variety of cakes and hot drinks available to take away and enjoy on the journey along the A14.

6. Folk

Stowmarket Mercury: The brunch spot is near Bury St EdmundsThe brunch spot is near Bury St Edmunds (Image: Folk Café)

Where: Fornham Business Court, The Drift, Fornham St Martin, IP31 1SL

Open hours: 8.30pm until 4pm (closed on Sunday)

Slightly off the A14, Folk cafe was named as one of the best brunch spots by local chef James Carn in The Times. 

Last summer the cafe underwent a big expansion with a shop and deli also opening in November. 

READ MORE: Village pub shares full reopening date after huge refurb

7. The Kentford

Stowmarket Mercury: The Kentford serves Greene King beersThe Kentford serves Greene King beers (Image: Google)

Where: Bury Road, Kentford, CB8 7PR

Open hours: food served from 6pm until 8pm Thursday to Saturday (12pm until 2pm on Sunday)

The family run pub serves up freshly prepared food in the picturesque village of Kentford, near Newmarket.

It has special food nights with steak Thursdays and two for one fish and chips on a Friday night.