Zen
Long-running Thai and pan-Asian restaurant on Court Lane in the city centre, known for its striking interior and regularly changing cocktail list.
About Zen
Zen is an established Thai and pan-Asian restaurant tucked on Court Lane in the centre of Durham, close to the bus station and an easy walk from the Market Place. It has a distinctive, much-photographed interior and a menu that ranges across Thai staples and wider Asian dishes, backed by a cocktail list that changes fairly often.
The restaurant holds a top food hygiene rating and remains a popular fixture for both lunch and evening dining. Bookings can be made by phone.
Featured in These Guides
Blog posts and guides that feature Zen.
More Food & Drink in Durham
Coarse
Independent Durham restaurant serving a six-course tasting menu of modern British small plates using local, seasonal produce, changing every few weeks.
Faru
Fine-dining restaurant near the cathedral quarter offering five- and ten-course tasting menus of local and British produce from an open kitchen.
The Cellar Door
Modern European restaurant on Saddler Street with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the River Wear and a rear garden used to grow some produce.
Never miss what’s on
Join the weekly Durhamcity.live digest — the best events, news and local tips, straight to your inbox. Free, one email a week.
What's On
Durham City Walking History Tour
10:30 AM · Meets Market Hall entrance, Market Place, Durham, DH1 3NJ
The Music of Luther Vandross: A Candlelight Concert
Evening (see booking) · Durham Cathedral, The College, Durham, DH1 3EH
Crank It Up! 2026, Beamish Museum
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Beamish Museum, County Durham
