7 Best Restaurants in Bath and the Cotswolds, England

An artisan kitchen and coffeehouse, the Find is one of the best places in Cheltenham for afternoon tea. The Regency drawing room is an elegant spot, and the tea menu perfectly balances savory and sweet treats, incorporating British favorites, such as sausage rolls and coronation chicken sandwiches, with a contemporary twist. The fruit scones are fluffy, and you can add a glass or two of Champagne for the ultimate indulgence. There's also a tasty breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu if you are peckish earlier in the day.

Lee Gallimore was head chef at some of the Cotswold's most prestigious restaurants before opening his own property in Cheltenham. Here, Lee specializes in seafood sourced directly from fishermen in Devon and South Wales, and the shellfish platter for two to share is a feast. On Sundays, there's a traditional roast lunch menu, with the topside of Hereford beef and the free-range pork loin always looking particularly mouthwatering.

The relatively short, perfectly balanced menu at Le Champignon Sauvage showcases the contemporary French cooking of David Everitt-Matthias, who has run the restaurant with his wife, Helen, since 1987. The food is a favorite of the United Kingdom's most famous restaurant critics and includes delights such as chalk stream trout with oyster emulsion and miso glazed monkfish with barley broth and cockles. Fixed-price menus at lunchtime (£35 for 2 courses) help keep the cost down.

Lured by the fresh ingredients and cool, unfussy surroundings, diners come here to enjoy the freshest of Cornish fish, Salcombe Bay crab, and Forest of Dean ham accompanied by unusual but delicious vegetables like borage, wild garlic, and sea cabbage. The accent is on fish, but you will also find hay-baked Cotswold lamb, vegetarian dishes, and plenty of local cheeses. The menu changes bi-monthly so it's always seasonal. and the set menu is £49 for 2 courses. The service is friendly and knowledgeable.

Located in a former pharmacy, the Coffee Dispensary is a small independent café that sources its beans from single estates, aiming to bring the best flavors to the people of Cheltenham. It also serves cakes and savory snacks. If you're not sure which coffee to purchase, the staff will "prescribe" something for you.

Set in an opulent Regency building with a statement bar, the Ivy Brasserie serves first-class food with British and European specialties. In its heyday, the Rotunda building was a bathing pool with spa water on tap, and its domed roof and seating area have been exquisitely restored to house the smart restaurant. Racehorse murals line the walls in a nod to Cheltenham's equestrian heritage. Choose from dishes such as apple and Stilton salad, aromatic duck curry, or crab linguine. The Ivy also serves a classic afternoon tea. Reservations are advised, especially when there are race meetings and festivals.

Housed in the former ballroom of Queen’s Hotel, Victoria’s brings a stylish twist to contemporary British cooking. The two-course lunch menu (£22) is particularly good value.