Grecians · #ECFC

THE MATCHDAY GUIDE · Exeter

Food and restaurants near St James Park

Kin Khao Cafe — Fresh Thai street food and home-style dishes; recent local supporters particularly recommend the Panang.

Plan a stay at Exeter City ↗

Research checked 2026-10-14 · Match arrangements can change.

BEFORE YOU SET OFF

Put your trip together

01 · Arrive

Your route into St James Park

Follow the signs for the away turnstiles on St James Road, rather than the home entrance on Stadium Way. Standing supporters enter the St James Road terrace; visiting seats are in Blocks K and L of the Main Stand, so check which section is printed on your ticket. From St James Park station on Well Street, follow the pedestrian route to St James Road and the away gates. From Exeter Central, head east towards Sidwell Street and Old Tiverton Road, then follow the matchday signs instead of navigating to the stadium postcode alone. If you need an away ticket on the day and sales are permitted, the club places the booth next to the away turnstiles on St James Road. Arrive with time to find the correct gate, particularly when the road is closed to vehicles.

02 · Before the match

Kin Khao Cafe

4-minute walk to the ground. Fresh Thai street food and home-style dishes; recent local supporters particularly recommend the Panang. It can be hard to get a table and does not take reservations. Arrive early rather than trying it close to kick-off.

03 · Stay or head home?

Choose your base before your hotel

Hotel to compare: Leonardo Hotel Exeter · Western Way / Sidwell Street / eastern city centre

Compare the stay areas →

The established supporter food pick

Chicken curry pie — East Stand Bar, St James Park

Thai street food and home-style cooking

Kin Khao Cafe

4 min walk

Good for proper pre-match meal · independent food

The standout independent meal beside the ground. It is tiny and walk-in only, but current local opinion strongly backs the Thai cooking.

Expect independent · thai · near ground

Before you go It can be hard to get a table and does not take reservations. Arrive early rather than trying it close to kick-off.

Food & drink: Fresh Thai street food and home-style dishes; recent local supporters particularly recommend the Panang.
How it works: small walk-in cafe and takeaway

9 Well Street, Exeter, EX4 6QR

Find on map ↗

Korean fried chicken, bulgogi and rice/noodle dishes

Oh My Kimchi

7 min walk

Good for quick proper meal · mixed diets

A strong quick-food choice near the ground: self-service keeps the turnover moving, while the menu runs well beyond burgers and pies.

Expect independent · korean · fast casual

Before you go Groups are advised to book even though walk-ins are welcome. No football-specific colours policy was found.

Food & drink: Korean fried chicken, pork jeyuk, beef bulgogi, dak-galbi, japchae, bibimbap and vegan options.
How it works: fast-casual self-service restaurant

57-58 Blackboy Road, Exeter, EX4 6TB

Find on map ↗

local matchday hot food

St James Park Fan Zone Food Kiosk / Grecian Grill

0 min walk

Good for supporters staying at the ground · families

The practical ground-side food option before entry, with hot local produce and chips. The facility has been upgraded for 2026/27.

Expect fan zone food · local produce · quick service

Before you go The club guide still names Kenniford Farm, while the Trust now refers to the Grecian Grill. Treat the exact operator as unresolved.

Food & drink: The club guide describes hot local produce and chips; the Trust’s September 2026 update confirms investment in the Grecian Grill facility.
How it works: fan-zone kiosk

St James Park Fan Zone, Stadium Way, Exeter, EX4 6PX

Find on map ↗

pies, pasties, sausage rolls and hot dogs

St James Park Away-End Concourse

0 min walk

Good for late arrivals · pies and pasties

A reliable fallback once through the turnstiles, with pies, pasties and sausage rolls. The interesting choice is the local-style pastry rather than generic fast food.

Expect in ground · quick service · fallback

Before you go Alcohol is only sold in the away section when the visiting crowd is below 700; larger followings and derbies can lose it entirely.

Food & drink: Current club guidance promises pies, pasties and sausage rolls; April 2026 visiting guidance also listed hot dogs and several pie/pasty choices.
How it works: stadium concession kiosks

St James Road Terrace / Nevada Construction Main Stand, St James Park, Exeter, EX4 6PX

Find on map ↗

Turkish, Mediterranean and breakfast food

Dinosaur Cafe

Good for early arrivals · breakfast

A useful non-pub meal near Exeter Central: breakfast, mezze and Turkish dishes give early arrivals more choice before walking out to the ground.

Expect city centre · breakfast · turkish

Before you go The published menu is current-facing but was last updated in 2025. Check prices before relying on them.

Food & drink: Turkish breakfast, kofte, moussaka, mezze, falafel and simple breakfast/lunch dishes.
How it works: cafe / casual restaurant

5 New North Road, Exeter, EX4 4HH

Find on map ↗

WHERE TO STAY

Where should you stay?

Choose a base for the football and the rest of your visit.

Where to stay

Stay in central Exeter if you want the easiest all-round football trip. Sidwell Street, Western Way and the Princesshay side of the centre keep you within walking distance of St James Park and give you food and pubs before or after the match. For a fuller evening, look nearer the High Street, Cathedral Yard or Gandy Street. You will have more choice for a meal or drink, while the ground is still accessible on foot or by a short local train connection from Exeter Central. A hotel by Exeter St Davids suits long-distance rail travellers but is farther from the turnstiles. There is little need to choose a motorway hotel solely for football, unless your priority is parking or breaking a long road journey.

Away Fans’ Guide ↗

For the cleanest football-trip compromise, base yourself on the eastern side of the city centre around Western Way, Sidwell Street or Princesshay: the ground is walkable and the High Street/Cathedral quarter is still close enough for food and drinks. Move deeper towards Cathedral Yard/Gandy Street if the evening after the match matters more than shaving a few minutes off the stadium walk.

For the evening

Gandy Street/Castle Quarter and the Cathedral/High Street core are the strongest compact evening areas for bars, cocktails and restaurants. The Quayside adds waterside pubs but is further from the ground.

For the train

St James Park station is right by the stadium. Exeter Central is the handiest main city-centre station for the Cathedral/Gandy Street hotel cluster, while Exeter St Davids is further west and less convenient for a walk-to-the-ground hotel base.

Hotels to compare

Leonardo Hotel ExeterWestern Way / Sidwell Street / eastern city centreAll-round choice · For the shortest ground journey
Tripadvisor's proximity search lists it around 0.3 miles from Exeter City Football Club.
Bear in mind: The hotel is functional and modern rather than distinctive or boutique.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-29
More about this choice
Western Way puts it between the ground and the main city-centre food/drink area rather than forcing a choice between the two.
Booking.com live searches repeatedly returned availability and a verified guest score around 8.4/10 from more than 6,000 reviews.
Recent Tripadvisor reviews repeatedly praise room cleanliness, comfortable beds, location and helpful staff.
Air conditioning is useful because recent reviewers note that road noise is more noticeable with windows open.
Recent reviews are not uniformly strong: some mention inconsistent front-desk/service experiences and variable breakfast execution.
A late-2025 review described damp/water ingress in one room; it is not enough evidence to generalise across the hotel, but it is worth retaining as a maintenance caution.
Parking is nearby rather than hotel-owned/on-site in the traditional sense.
Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.
Hotel Indigo Exeter by IHGCathedral / High Street / city-centre nightlife coreFor the evening
Directly in the Cathedral/High Street core, with Gandy Street's bars and restaurants nearby.
Bear in mind: Recent Tripadvisor evidence is mixed enough that this should not be presented as a no-caveat premium recommendation.
Hotel details checked 2026-09-29
More about this choice
Its own Becketts rooftop bar gives supporters an immediate post-match drink option without leaving the property.
Booking.com live searches repeatedly returned availability and a verified guest score around 8.5/10 from 2,700+ reviews.
Rooms and design receive repeated praise in recent reviews.
The stadium is still walkable at roughly 0.6 miles straight-line / around 12-18 minutes depending on route and entrance.
Noise has been reported from internal doors and some external city-centre activity.
Several 2026 reviews mention inconsistent service, breakfast delays or air-conditioning problems.
No on-site parking; central pedestrianised access can also make direct vehicle drop-off less convenient.
Usually more expensive than Leonardo in the sampled weekend market.
Check availability ↗Booking.com · Choose your dates and check the final price.

Check current rates and availability for your dates.

Match at St James Park

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Sources, limitations and matchday changes

Reviewed transport publication. This permanent guide uses the existing approved research; admission, opening hours, services and parking controls may change for each match.

Station mappings identify arrival options. They do not guarantee a walking route, step-free access or a train timetable. Confirm current club guidance and your actual service.

Official club guidance ↗

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Keep planning your visit

Exeter City Club Hub St James Park ground and fixtures Exeter destination guide Pubs near St James Park Getting to St James Park Matchday parking at St James Park