46 Best Restaurants in The West Country, England

One of England's foremost country-house hotels occupies an enclave of landscaped gardens and streams, reached via a lengthy, winding country lane and private drive at the edge of Dartmoor. Its pricey contemporary restaurant, directed by chef Chris Eden, has been showered with culinary awards, including a Michelin star, and you'll see why when you dig into the steamed turbot served with squash, caviar, and seaweed or the aged fillet of beef cooked over coals, with smoked bone marrow, garlic, and spinach—two of the choices you might find on the three-course prix-fixe dinner menu (£135). There's also a "lounge menu," served in the lounges or on the terrace, which includes such starters as cheese soufflé and smoked salmon, and beef sirloin and gnocchi as main courses. The wine list is formidable, and the locally pumped spring water is like no other. If you're not up to a full meal, wholesome sandwiches are offered all day. You can also order a luxury picnic hamper (£125 for two) containing an array of cold meats, cheeses, bread, salad, sweet treats, and wine, which can be enjoyed at any time and anywhere in the house, within the grounds of Gidleigh Park, or farther afield. Inside the long, half-timber building, built in 1928 in Tudor style, you'll find antiques in the public rooms and in the 24 luxurious guest rooms. Note, however, that the hotel and restaurant are closed on Sunday and Monday (except on bank holidays).

This dining-focused pub with bright, homey furnishings and a relaxed vibe looks past green fields to the ocean beyond. The frequently changing fixed-price menus (£40 or £48) feature fresh, inventively prepared meat and seafood dishes—look for hake with imam bayildi and garlic yogurt or lamb loin with potato and cheddar croquette and tender-stem broccoli. Leave room for some enticing desserts. Eight smallish rooms provide guest accommodations. The inn sits near the curvy coast road 6 miles west of St. Ives.

The restaurant within this Georgian house has magnificent views across the wooded, rhododendron-filled Tamar Valley and a sophisticated menu featuring traditional British cuisine with French elements. A typical starter and main course might be ginger-cured salmon with mango, wasabi, and dill, followed by Creedy Carver duck breast with textures of shallot and pommes duchesse, while desserts include pumpkin crème brûlée with blackberry sorbet and spiced orange and blackberry. Alongside the à la carte two- or three-course lunch menu (£32 or £39) and the three-course dinner menu (£69), there's a six-course tasting menu (£85). A converted coach house and the main house contain 16 sumptuously furnished guest rooms. It's 3 miles west of Tavistock.

Set in a sea-facing Georgian building on one of the West Country's most enchanting stretches of coast, this restaurant with rooms run by an Anglo-Italian husband-and-wife team offers modern reinventions of classic Italian dishes executed with consummate artistry and originality. The five-course set menu (£75, reservations essential) might include such antipasti as Tropean onion tatin or Forest Broth with Parmesan pudding, which you might follow with risotto ai funghi or tegliatelle alla Portofino, and such mains as dry-aged trout or guinea fowl with salt-baked beetroot. The desserts are equally enticing, such as strawberry and rhubarb and Exmoor Black Forest chocolate bomb. All dietary preferences are catered for, and there's a fine Italian wine list. The dining rooms are hung with flamboyant modern art, while upstairs, the four guest rooms display the same flair, combining a traditional style with modern design and restful hues.

Exeter-born master chef Michael Caines has breathed new life into this elegant Georgian mansion overlooking the Exe estuary 5 miles south of Exeter, where he has created a Michelin-starred showcase for his sophisticated and highly original recipes. The wow-factor starts the moment you arrive, with unforgettable estuary views—a fitting prelude to seasonal three- or four-course lunches (£85–£110), à la carte fixed-price dinners (£185), and multicourse tasting menus (£230 and £240) that might feature shellfish mousseline with langoustine bisque; steamed Cornish cod with Jerusalem artichoke and mussels; or chicken and smoked ham hock terrine with duck liver, pistachio, and truffle mayonnaise. The separate vegetarian and vegan menu has choices like roasted leek terrine with pickled mushrooms, hazelnut, and black garlic, while typical desserts include rhubarb soufflé with vanilla sorbet, and coffee parfait with candied almonds and white chocolate ice cream. For less formal dining and more modestly priced menus (£48 and £60), try the Pool House Restaurant and Bar, where tables overlook the outdoor pool. Luxurious accommodations are also available on site.

Seafood fans can indulge their passion at this unpretentious, convivial spot, where a location near the harbor, as well as wooden floors, colorful wall tiles, and maritime knickknacks, all set the mood. Fresh, locally caught fish is brought to your table for inspection before being simply but imaginatively prepared. The extensive menu offers dishes ranging from humble—but abundant and beautifully cooked—fish-and-chips to lobster and crab grilled with garlic and brandy. There's a wine bar upstairs for a pre- or postprandial drink.

Paul Ainsworth has been expanding his culinary presence in Padstow to rival that of Rick Stein, and, for many foodies, Ainsworth offers the better experience at this intimate bistro—his original foothold in the town—where diners seated in a series of small, stylish rooms feast on ingeniously concocted dishes that make the most of local and seasonal produce. The four-course set-price menus (£160) for lunch and dinner might include smoked pike roe with pink grapefruit and Cornish jack crab to start, followed by pigeon with salted plum condiment and black cardamom or wild turbot with Iberian ham mousseline. Just be sure to leave room for dessert. The atmosphere is warm and lively, with swift, ultra-attentive staff.

Occupying a former police station, this modern, clean-lined restaurant affords serene views over the passing swans and boats. Upstairs, the more formal restaurant serves delicately cooked dishes like Brixham plaice with 'nduja butter, clams, and samphire, or local asparagus, pea, and fava risotto, while the lip-smacking desserts include passion fruit syllabub with marshmallow and macerated strawberries or ricotta mousse cheesecake with almonds. On the river level, the Pontoon Bar has a more rough-and-ready menu that includes mussels, pan-fried peppers, and burgers, and with its terrace seating, it also makes a great spot for a weekend brunch, afternoon coffee, or evening drinks.

Just steps from where boats unload their daily catches, Rick Stein's modern, airy flagship restaurant has built its reputation on the freshest fish and the highest culinary artistry in town, with everything from grilled Padstow lobster with herbs and stir-fried Singapore chili crab to meat and vegetarian dishes. Choose between sitting either formally at a table or on a stool at the Seafood Bar. In low season, you can order a three-course set-price lunch menu for £30. Guests at one of Stein's hotels can also book a table on the panoramic rooftop terrace—and a stay in one of the sunny, individually designed guest rooms overlooking the harbor is an enticing option if you don't feel like moving very far after your meal.

Within view of Mousehole's tiny harbor, you can dine on some of the area's freshest seafood in this popular bistro. The seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired menu takes in everything from crab soup with rouille (a sauce with breadcrumbs and garlic) and Parmesan toast to Thai monkfish curry with mussels. Meat eaters and vegetarians are both well catered to with dishes like venison ragu and a crispy aubergine burger with Monterey Jack and Korean barbecue sauce. The bright, white-walled dining room has a fresh, modern feel, and there are tables in the sheltered courtyard garden. The restaurant also offers delicious breakfasts and and operates a deli around the corner (No.1 Millpool Deli/Store) for takeout fresh picnic ingredients, pastries, and coffees. Self-catering accommodation is available, too.

One of Cornwall's most famous inns, the 17th-century Admiral Benbow was once an illegal smugglers' drinking den—look for the figure of a smuggler on the roof, and (if it's not too busy) ask to see the tunnel used for contraband. In the family-friendly dining room, crammed with seafaring memorabilia, you can enjoy pizzas, seafood, steaks, and vegetarian dishes, and the bar offers a good selection of West Country ales and, appropriately, rums from around the world. Figureheads, model ships, and even a brass cannon also fill the main bar and the Lady Hamilton lounge. 

Housed within the historic Plymouth Gin Distillery in the heart of the Barbican, this restaurant owned by a distinguished local culinary duo blends a leisurely, cheerful atmosphere with high-quality dishes that favor local produce. The menu might include monkfish with mussels and potato terrine; pea and lemon risotto with ricotta cheese; and steak from the charcoal grill. To finish, try one of the toothsome desserts, perhaps the lemon posset with strawberries or the white chocolate parfait. There are good set-price menus at lunchtime and early evening, and you can sample gin cocktails in the Refectory Cocktail Lounge on the same premises, made with the Plymouth Gin distilled on site.

This tiny backstreet joint with limited seating consistently draws enthusiastic crowds for its delicious burgers made of pure Cornish beef or vegan and vegetarian ingredients. The lightly toasted buns are baked with sesame seeds (there are gluten-free alternatives), toppings include field mushrooms and wilted spinach, and the skin-on fries are hand-cut. Wines, local beers and ciders, and soft drinks are also available, some of them organic. There's normally a line outside, and phoning or emailing ahead with your order is highly recommended, whether to eat in or carry out. One option is to enjoy takeout at nearby Porthminster Beach—watching out for the marauding gulls.

Despite the name, this laid-back and vaguely eccentric restaurant is quintessentially English and is ideal for a relaxed lunch away from the nearby rigors of the Park Street shopping scene. Generous salads, soups, and burgers are available, as are all-day breakfasts and brunches. Find your table first, then either make your order via the QR code or note the table number and order at the bar—you can sit in one of the airy rooms upstairs or in the terraced backyard—a secluded spot for a cup of tea with lemon drizzle cake. The restaurant opens at 8 am and closes at 5 pm (4 pm on Sunday).

The finest of a slew of restaurants and cafés in Bristol's trendy, newly developed Wapping Wharf harborside district, this compact venue might be squeezed into a pair of shipping containers, but punches way above what its diminutive dimensions might suggest. The seasonally changing menu is also on the small side, and most dishes are tapas-size, but every one is startlingly original, and each is a winner. Smoked trout with golden beetroot, buttermilk, and horseradish, for example, is an excellent start to such mains as rump of lamb, cannellini beans, and rainbow chard. Desserts are also fabulous, and you can watch it all taking shape in the open kitchen. Dishes on the seven-course tasting menu (£55; request when booking) are unspecified—it may surprise but will not disappoint. The restaurant is steps away from the Floating Harbour and M Shed, and there are tables outside on the deck for warm days.

As the name implies, this casual eatery in the heart of Clifton village specializes in pork products, with special attention given to the humble British "banger." Sausages range from the traditional Gloucester Old Spot to Cotswold lamb, mint, and apricot; pork, leek, and stilton; and beef and ale, and all come with plain mashed potato or "champ" (mashed potato with spring onions). The menu also includes a tender slow-roast pork belly with plenty of crackling; wild mushroom and tarragon risotto; and a fish special featuring whatever seafood has been brought in from Cornish ports. The bright, modern restaurant is furnished with solid wooden benches and tables and has outdoor seating, too. Local beers are served, and you can get dishes to go.

Locals and visitors alike make a beeline for this gastropub in a 16th-century building with a number of small dining spaces done in spare, contemporary-country style. Elegantly presented dishes might include dry-aged moorland sirloin in a peppercorn sauce, beer-battered haddock, or butternut squash with cauliflower tempura and curry broth. Set-price menus are sometimes available, and there are gluten-free options and a separate vegan menu. If you don't want to go the whole hog at lunchtime, wholesome sandwiches are also served (every day but Sunday). Three spacious guest rooms make it possible to linger.

Opposite the cathedral, this child-friendly tearoom and restaurant spread over two floors is ideal for lunch, coffee, or snacks. You can also sample one of Devon's famous cream teas, served with jam, scones, and clotted cream, or show up earlier for eggs Benedict or a cooked English breakfast. For lunch, try the Mediterranean-style couscous salad (with spring onions, tomato, red peppers, and focaccia), a "Devon fire burger," or just a sandwich. There's a good range of vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, plus West Country beers and ciders. Tables are available outside in Cathedral Close in fine weather.

Set back from the harbor, this elegant, Michelin-starred eatery offers sophisticated but relaxed dining, with views over Torbay from its Georgian windows. To start, you might have the option to try barbecue lobster with lobster custard, apple, and sorrel or cured Brixham mackerel with fennel yogurt and cucumber, followed by such main dishes as roasted rump of lamb or line-caught bass with shiitake and Thai green sauce. The highly skilled kitchen team is matched by the pleasant and attentive wait staff. At lunch, you can choose between the set menu (£32.50–£38.50), a multicourse tasting menu (£58), or a set-price à la carte menu (£57.50 or £75), which is also available in the evening alongside the evening tasting menu (£98.50).

Slightly off the tourist track but only a few minutes from the cathedral, this classic gastropub offers a winning combination of traditional decor lightened with tasteful modern touches and great, locally sourced food. The eclectic menu includes such standout dishes as Madras chicken and butternut curry, Halloumi burger, and beer-battered haddock. It may appear small at first sight, but there's a second dining area with a similarly cozy feel upstairs. Good local ales are served at the bar.

Tucked away at the bottom of Topsham's winding main street and near the placid River Exe, this seafood bistro attracts enthusiastic plaudits for its succulent culinary creations, its friendly service, and its cozy atmosphere. You might find deviled mackerel, Brixham crab, and scallops on the fixed-price menu (£33 and £39), though you might also be tempted to sample pan-roasted lamb rump or asparagus tart, as well as such impressive desserts as elderflower cheesecake. The brick walls of the main dining area are hung with local art, and there are tables upstairs, too.

This vegetarian café and restaurant is perfect for breakfast, coffee, or a light lunch. Order at the counter and find a space in one of the three rooms—all simply furnished with rustic-style benches and tables and local art on the pastel-colored walls—or in the walled garden. Apart from pizzas, quiches, jacket potatoes, and house-baked rolls and cakes, the chalkboard might include such dishes as butternut squash lasagne or vegetable Thai red curry. The whole food shop out back offers a range of picnic ingredients, too.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge at this restaurant, where meat and seafood dishes are cooked over an Argentinian asado, or firepit. Look for onglet, aged rump, fillet steak, sea bass, and monkfish tail, as well as such vegetarian options as roasted cauliflower steak and spicy charred carrots. Fixed-price early evening menus are also available. Sited inside the Avon Gorge Hotel and part of the Hotel du Vin group, the restaurant is named after the two legendary giants whose competition for the hand of the beautiful Avona led to the carving of the gorge. Enjoy pre- or post-prandial drinks on the broad outdoor terrace of the adjacent White Lion bar.

For views and location, this breezy beachside eatery with a crisp, modern interior and deck seating can't be beat. On the menu you'll find hearty breakfasts and a judicious balance of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes for lunch and dinner, from salads, sandwiches, and burgers to fish risotto and sweet potato and chickpea red Thai curry. There's also a beach bar for drinks, ice creams, and other snacks, barbecues at weekends in summer (roughly Easter–Oct.), and live music on Sunday evenings.

Seafood is the main event in the two small, pink-toned rooms of this restaurant off Market Jew Street. The menu showcases whatever the boats bring, though crab Florentine, grilled on a bed of spinach and topped with Parmesan, and whole Dover Sole with chive butter are usually available. Meat dishes might include guinea fowl with a mushroom and apple stuffing and wrapped in filo pastry. The restaurant is small—just six tables—and the semiformal style is intimate, elegant, and traditional.

This friendly bistro with wooden floors and simple tables has been at the heart of Exeter's vegetarian and vegan scene for more than 30 years. It's an ideal spot for unwinding over leisurely conversation and enjoying such dishes as roasted pepper and red lentil lasagna; a jackfruit, beet, and bean burger; kari sayur (a Malaysian-style curry with split peas, butternut squash, peppers, and sugar snaps); or carrot and cashew nutloaf with a wild mushroom sauce. Leave room for such scrumptious desserts as "Heaven in Devon" (fudge ice cream with a chocolate brownie and a vanilla sauce). All the wines are organic or "natural" (unadulterated), too.

Overlooking Swanpool Beach a mile south of Falmouth, this popular eatery has a lively buzz and a menu that showcases the best seafood to be found in Cornish waters. Plump and juicy scallops from Falmouth Bay, mussels served with baked focaccia, wild prawns in 'nduja sauce, lobster with garlic and herb butter, crab and lobster risotto, and plain old fish-and-chips are among the favorite items on the family-friendly menu, while cocktails and mocktails can be ordered at the table or in the adjoining alfresco bar. Staff are young and enthusiastic, and the ambience is relaxed. Book a table on the outdoor terrace for the best experience—Pendennis Castle is visible just across the bay. Swanpool Beach is a stop on the Falmouth Coaster bus route.

The best of the numerous natural-food cafés on Glastonbury's High Street offers a fresh and friendly setting in which to enjoy the organic, locally sourced dishes. The menu includes filled jacket potatoes; sourdough sandwiches and toasties; vegetable quiche; Stilton and walnut salad; and a garden platter that consists of flatbread, dips, marinated olives, and salad (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, of course). A congenial, wooden-floored space with local art on the walls, the café is best known for its breakfasts, snack lunches, coffees, and teas, but it's also occasionally open for dinner. There's a small garden out back, too.

Come here to stock up on delicious carry-out items for a picnic on nearby Clifton Down. There is some seating at the back, but most customers order a deli box (£9–£10), with selections ranging from meat or vegan sausage rolls to falafels, samosas, tortillas, and pasties. There are also soups, Scotch eggs, toasties, pies, and generous salads to choose from, not to mention cakes and pastries for dessert. You'll find it in the center of Clifton Village.

This welcoming tearoom and restaurant offers homemade scones and cakes as well as authentic Devon cream teas served with clotted cream and jam. The menu also lists a range of breakfast dishes, light lunches, and snacks to keep you going, including salads, sandwiches, and Welsh Rarebit, and the daily specials board is also worth consulting. Gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian diets are catered for. It's popular, so call ahead to be sure of a table.