16 Best Restaurants in Bath and the Cotswolds, England

A 10-minute drive from Stow-on-the-Wold in Nether Westcote, this popular gastropub is as cozy and comforting as the name would suggest. The sophisticated food here is exceptional, the products are so local that the staff can usually point to the farm from where the meat was sourced, and the beer and wine list is impressive. If you want to try as much as possible, opt for the six-course tasting menu. There is a vegan menu, too. Within the restaurant, a large bay window and terrace offer up views of the valley below, and attention to detail gives the pub some humorous touches such as the saddle-seated stools. If you decide that you are just too comfortable to move, there are four rooms to extend your stay in.

Sit in this casual, bustling café, part of a chain, and watch the comings and goings of the Bath square outside as you choose from the all-day menu. Impressive choices include everything from a full English breakfast to toasted sandwiches, and there's a wide range of teas, coffees, and smoothies. Another café is on Alfred Street. 

Close to St. James' Church, this traditional tavern known for its food has low beams, a flagstone floor, and a small courtyard. The long menu includes daily specials, local ales, and dishes like steak-and-ale pie and deep-fried fish-and-chips. Freshly baked ciabatta sandwiches served at lunchtime are easy on the wallet. The service is swift and ideal for those in a rush. There are also six rooms where you can stay.

With views of St. Mary's Church, this historic pub dating from 1554 offers a reassuringly traditional and charming milieu for food and refreshment. Light meals are available at lunchtime, teas in the afternoon, and for the evening meal you can choose from the seasonal menu and start with a mushroom and spinach tart, then try the Gloucestershire pork chop with fondant potato for your main course. The inn's grounds hold what is claimed to be the world's oldest bowling green. There are 11 well-furnished bedrooms upstairs.

Fabulous modern food, real ales on tap, and gin cocktails are offered at this 17th-century inn, which retains its historic past but has plenty of modern style. Choose from a wide range of dishes including venison, steak, and seafood specialties, or try the selections on the daily specials board. Upstairs there are 28 rooms, including one where Charles II and Lady Fisher hid from Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War.

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

Set in an opulent Regency building with a statement bar, the Ivy 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.

Set in the airy Pavilion at Siddington Park and with a glorious south-facing terrace overlooking the gardens, The Orangery is a fine 2024 addition to Cirencester's dining scene. The chefs' focus is on fresh, seasonal flavors, with an all-day menu of light and more substantial options featuring many ingredients grown in the restaurant's own kitchen garden. The afternoon tea menu is especially popular and includes a tea selection from Born Wild as well as delicious finger sandwiches, scones, and homemade cakes.

A few minutes' drive from Bourton in the quiet hamlet of Cold Aston, the Plough occupies an old, restored 17th-century inn. Flagstones, original beams, a fireplace, a quiet bar area, and simple, classic pub fare done well make this an ideal retreat from the Bourton crowds in high season. Enjoy your pint in the sunshine, admiring the centuries-old tree opposite the pub. There are three quiet rooms for those wishing to prolong their stay.

The 18th-century Pump Room, with views over the Roman baths, serves morning pastries and brunch, as well as afternoon tea (from noon until late afternoon), to music by a pianist or string trio who play every day. The stately setting is the selling point rather than the food, but do sample the the house-made cakes and pastries, including scrumptious scones.

Plain wooden tables and understated decor are the backdrop for the wholesome British dishes served in this traditional restaurant beautifully sited on the banks of the River Windrush. There's a large outdoor area for alfresco dining. Sip a cocktail on the riverside terrace while you wait for your order. Desserts include vanilla panna cotta and sticky toffee pudding.

Small and slightly twee, this longtime tourist magnet near Bath Abbey occupies the oldest house in Bath, dating from 1482. It's famous for the Sally Lunn bunn, a semisweet bread served here since 1680. You can choose from more than 30 sweet and savory toppings to accompany your bunn, or turn it into a meal with salmon or a steak. There are also economical lunch and early-evening menus. Daytime diners can view the small kitchen museum and shop in the cellar (30p for non-dining visitors).

A 15th-century inn just five minutes from Lacock Abbey, Sign of the Angel serves traditional food in a cozy and intimate setting. Some dishes, such as the roast loin of beef with Yorkshire pudding or the seasonal savory pie of the day, are as traditional as the decor, but modern touches—orange butter sauce, for instance—add an extra dimension. Enjoy the dish of the day for lunch or relax in the garden with a cream tea. When you creak open the heavy door and are greeted by the hearty fire in the huge chimney, you could be forgiven for thinking that you stepped back a few centuries. Upstairs are five beautifully rustic rooms in which to stay.

Just steps from Market House, the Snooty Fox is a bustling inn and restaurant that makes the most of quality ingredients from local Cotswolds producers. Real ales and local ciders are served at the bar, and teas, coffees, and hot and cold meals are available all day. During winter, the roaring fire adds to the ambience, and there's a patio to use in summer. Twelve traditionally styled rooms are also available on-site.

Since 1838, local dignitaries and visiting celebrities have come for leisurely lunches, afternoon tea, and delicious dinners at Victoria’s at The Queens Hotel. The menus showcase local produce and contemporary British cooking with a stylist twist, and the two-course lunch menu is particularly good value. Burgundy walls, padded chairs, and tall windows enhance the space.  

Just steps from Market House and at the heart of village life, the Snooty Fox is a bustling inn and restaurant that makes the most of quality ingredients from local producers in the Cotswolds. Real ales and local ciders are served at the bar, and teas, coffees, and hot and cold meals are available all day. During winter the roaring fire adds to the ambience in the restaurant, and there's a patio to use in summer.