(8 Bigg Market. Tel. 0191 260 2577) When the sun is out, you'll find the city's office workers donning shades and enjoying a coffee alfresco on the many tables outside this small café on the busy Bigg Market.

  (The Quayside. Tel. 0191 260 2291) Formerly the light and airy Est Est Est, the restaurant has received an up-market makeover and new name. Gusto lays on a good-quality Italian dining experience in impressive surroundings.

  (Forth Banks. Tel. 0191 261 9035) One of the city's longest-established curry restaurants, Sachins has built up an enviable reputation for good Indian cuisine. Attracting a knowledgeable and regular clientèle, this hidden gem is well worth uncovering.

  (54 Dean Street. Tel. 0191 261 8100) Give the chefs at this grand restaurant four days' notice and they'll cook shark steaks to order. Gershwins boasts an international menu—the fillet steak and sumo chips is substantial—and an impressive tented ceiling.

  (14 St Mary's Bridge. Tel. 0191 232 3893) On the doorstep of the city's two universities, it's no surprise to find this bar is popular with students. Enjoy a drink in the great beer garden.

  (1 The Side. Tel. 0191 260 5076) This oak-panelled pub is home to an eclectic mix of live music throughout the year. A good range of ales on tap and a varied crowd.

  (As You Like It, Archbold Terrace, Jesmond. Tel. 0191 281 2277) There aren't many pubs that offer a mix of burlesque, jazz and magic with a three-course supper thrown into the bargain, but Fridayis cabaret night at this popular venue in youthful Jesmond.

Looking for a signed Alan Shearer print or that rare photograph depicting a Newcastle United cup win? The Back Page specialises in sports books but has a massive range of sporting memorabilia, such as autographs, fanzines and football programmes (56 St Andrew's Street).

City museums and cultural venues are open after hours for The Late Shows on 17 May, offering free events, from live art to film screenings. At the Laing Art Gallery visitors can contribute to a new work by Yoko Ono.

Steep yourself in history with a short walk east of Central station, beside the High Level Bridge. This area takes in Black Gate, the medieval gatehouse to the Castle Keep and the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas.

The Evolution Festival will see music acts The Streets, Kate Nash, Reverend and The Makers and UK number one Duffy perform on the banks of the River Tyne. More than 60,000 people are expected to attend the event over the Bank Holiday weekend (23-26 May. www.evolutionfestival.co.uk).

 – Saturated with bars, clubs and restaurants, Whitley Bay is a vibrant coastal town that retains all the charms of a seaside resort. St Mary's Lighthouse, accessible only at low tide, has stood as a beacon on its own island for more than a century. Only 20 minutes from Newcastle.

Newcastle's Mosley Street was the first in Britain to be lit by electricity.