The UK’s best kept secrets: 6 underrated destinations to visit this summer
Visit somewhere new in the UK this summer with some of these underrated towns and counties filled with foodie hotspots, from Scotland to Wales
When planning a UK staycation, certain locations may immediately spring to mind: a seaside trip to Brighton, Edinburgh in August for the festival or Bath for a historic city break. Those destinations are rightly popular but at peak times in the year, you can expect big crowds and pricey accommodation. Thankfully, the UK has so much more to offer with plenty of lesser-visited and less well-known areas that have just as much to offer, especially for foodies. We’ve chosen a selection of locations across the country to suit every taste, including mini city break, rural escape, seaside stay, coastal tour or full-on gastronomic getaway. Aughton and Ormskirk, Lancashire For lovers of fine dining The rural village of Aughton, next to Ormskirk in West Lancashire, has just 8,000 residents but boasts five Michelin stars, making it the perfect destination for an indulgent foodie break in the countryside. Immerse yourself in nature with a walk around Gorse Hill Nature Reserve, where you might spot Sparrowhawks and Yellowhammers among the woodland, orchards and wildflower meadows. The local Ormskirk speciality of gingerbread is taken very seriously: there's even an annual festival in the town centre (taking place this year on 13 July). You can also sample the gingerbread at Ormskirk market every Thursday and Saturday, along with other Lancashire produce from the market’s 100 stalls. Aughton is home to the UK’s newest three-Michelin-starred restaurant Moor Hall. Chef Mark Birchall uses local produce, some grown in the restaurant’s beautifully maintained kitchen gardens, to create complex, beguiling tasting menus. For a more casual meal, head to Birchall’s one-Michelin-starred The Barn just across from the main building. Stay over in one of fourteen rooms including the recently opened luxurious garden rooms. In the village centre, chef Tim Allen runs the Michelin-starred sō-lō. The converted village pub has been elegantly fitted out and provides the perfect backdrop for Allen’s sophisticated combination of local produce, global influences and craft skills that result in dishes such as maple salt baked celeriac with malted cream and lacto truffle buttermilk. Bruton, Somerset For art lovers Nestled among the Somerset hills, the pretty rural market town of Bruton in Somerset has been called ‘the new Notting Hill’ due to the number of celebrities who have bought second homes there. It’s easy to see the attraction with its high street lined with boutique shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s also known as a cultural centre with a number of art galleries, the most prominent of which is Hauser & Wirth. Set just outside the town centre on a converted farmstead, the site is also home to Da Costa Italian Restaurant, Roth Bar and a farm shop. Bruton is as well served for fine food as it is for fine art. In the town centre you’ll find Briar, an intimate farm-to-table restaurant that’s part of Number One Bruton boutique hotel run by ex-River Cottage chef Sam Loma, and At The Chapel, a boutique hotel and restaurant set in a beautifully converted chapel serving a Med-inspired menu that might include spiced crab cannelloni with seafood bisque. A short taxi ride away, celebrated chef Merlin Lebron Johnson runs the Michelin-starred Osip restaurant with rooms in a converted country pub, where he serves a daily-changing tasting menu of hyper-local dishes such as white asparagus, lemon, scallop and hazelnuts. Just north of Bruton is Westcombe Dairy, where you can sample award-winning cheeses including Westcombe Cheddar and Somerset Ricotta at the dairy’s shop, as well as Woodshedding beers brewed on site and served in the beer hall. Vale of Glamorgan For a coastal break Just a short train ride from Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan in the south east of Wales is a beautiful coastal destination that provides the opportunity for both outdoor adventures and gastronomic experiences. Download the Wales Coast Path app to help you navigate the 50 miles of coastal walking paths where you can discover cliff views, ancient churches and nature reserves. Relax in Môr A Sawna, a wood-fired sauna that overlooks the stunning Jackson's Bay near Barry, or, if you’re feeling brave, meet the sunrise and join the Dawnstalkers Sea Swim Club by Penarth Pier for a bracing dip in the Bristol Channel. Head to Welsh-born chef Bryn Williams’ nearby Touring Club for a restorative breakfast of miso roasted mushrooms, tahini yoghurt and toasted sourdough. Open all day, the restaurant has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for dishes such as confit duck leg, lime glaze and pickled red cabbage. In Aberthin in the heart of the Vale, the Hare and Hounds gastropub has won rave reviews in the national press for its rustic St John-style nose-to-tail ethos, exemplified by lamb sweetbreads with lamb bacon and asparagus. Stay at Llanerch Vineyard near Pontyclun, the UK’s first vineyard hotel, where you can tour the vineyard, taste the wines and dine at Roots restaurant that overlooks the vines. At the nearby Grade I listed Hensol Castle Distillery you can craft your own Welsh gin in their 400-year-old distillery. Folkestone For a sophisticated seaside break Between them, neighbouring Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe provide everything you could want from a food and culture-focused seaside break. Highlights of Folkestone’s year-round roster of creative art events includes the Folkestone Triennial from July to October 2025 that will bring international fine art to the town, while the annual Folkestone Book Festival will be staged in November. Rent a luxurious seafront holiday beach house from Shoreline, then head to Folkestone’s Sunny Sands beach for some traditional family-friendly seaside. Further west along the coast near Hythe, discover the beautiful sand and shingle Dymchurch Beach which is popular with kite surfers and swimmers. Folkestone is famous for its seafood and there’s nowhere better to sample some than at the beachside Little Rock. Sit on the terrace and enjoy dressed Folkestone crab with brown crab ketchup. Stroll along the nearby Harbour Arm and explore the homeware, art and vintage clothes traders, then stop for a glass of fizz at the The Lighthouse Champagne Bar. In neighbouring Sandgate, wine shop and tasting room John Dory is a modern interpretation of a wine bar. Run by renowned wine expert Zerren Wilson, expect a list of modern and traditional bottles alongside a concise menu of globally inspired food. In Hythe, smart neighbourhood restaurant Hide and Fox has recently been awarded two Michelin stars for its five and eight-course tasting menus that celebrate seasonal produce in dishes such as East Kent lamb with lettuce, smoked anchovy, Parmesan and wild garlic. Fife For a food and drink tour Lying between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay, the region of Fife is dotted with rich farmland and fishing villages. With so much great produce on its doorstep, it makes the ideal destination for a food and drink tour. In recent years, Fife has revived its ancient tradition of whisky making. Enjoy a distillery tour and tasting at Lindores Abbey Distillery in Newburgh, where production restarted in 2017 after a break of over 500 years. Sample whiskies from Fife and across Scotland at The Ship Inn in Elie as you take in the beautiful views across the bay. St Andrews in east Fife is most famous as the spiritual home of golf, but it’s also a foodie hub. The Seafood Ristorante occupies a cantilevered steel and glass cube that offers dramatic sea shore views and serves daily delivered local seafood, including Anstruther lobster raviolo with spiced shellfish bisque. At Haar, a restaurant with rooms, chef Dean Banks serves a tasting menu of modern and precise dishes that highlight local seafood, such as trout pastrami served in a pastry cone with crème fraiche and dill. At the more casual Dune, Banks serves lobster crumpets and octopus hotdogs. But Fife is not just about seafood. At the nearby Bowhouse monthly weekend market, you’ll find everything from Scottish salami from East Coast Cured to Anster cheese from St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese. A few miles inland, there’s devilled duck offal flatbread & pickled chilli and braised balcaskie mutton on the menu of the renowned gastropub The Kinneuchar Inn. Norfolk Coast <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2025/05/GettyImages-1216148921-069cfd6.jpg" width="724" height="483" alt="Views of waterway surrounded by reeds, from Norfolk Coast path National Trail near Burnham Overy Staithe, East Anglia, England, UK." title="Views of waterway surrounded by reeds, from Norfolk Coast path National Trail near Burnham Overy Staithe, East Anglia, England, UK." /> For nature lovers Stretching from The Wash in the West, to Sea Palling in the East, the Norfolk Coast National Landscape encompasses nature reserves, conservation sites and stunning beaches. Take a sea safari from Hunstanton with Searles Sea Tours to get up close to one of the many seal colonies in The Wash. The open marshland and expansive beaches of Cley and Salthouse Marshes make it one of the county's most popular birdwatching sites, where you might spot anything from an avocet to a reed warbler. Head to the seaside town of Cromer for the must-try local speciality, Cromer crab. At celebrity chef Galton Blackiston’s No 1 Cromer you can feast on Cromer crab linguine with shellfish bisque or classic fish and chips while taking in panoramic views of the pier and esplanade. Blackiston also puts local seafood, along with foraged ingredients and those grown in his own kitchen garden, on his tasting menus at the Michelin-starred Morston Hall restaurant with rooms. Local produce is also on the tasting menu at Meadowsweet restaurant with rooms in Holt. Set in a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse, dishes draw on owners Greg Anderson and Rebecca Williams’ global travels and might include shrimp with pink grapefruit, pumpkin and xo sauce. Holt is also home to the monthly Holt Sunday Market where you can sample local food and drink, including Cobble Hill Wine made in Burham Market, chocolate from Cocoa Collective and street food from traders, including Amma’s Kitchen that serves Sri Lankan dishes such as chicken kotthu roti. Lewes For beer lovers Just a few miles east of busy Brighton, you’ll find the charming historic market town of Lewes. Famous as the setting for the anarchic Lewes Bonfire celebrations, the rest of the year it makes an idyllic setting for a cultured but beer-fuelled gastronomic break. The town has history in spades. Picnic in the gardens of the 950-year-old Lewes Castle and Museum, then enjoy panoramic views of the Sussex countryside from the keep. Visit the fascinating 15th-century Anne of Cleves House and the idyllic 16th-century Southover Grange Gardens. Lewes is also home to Harvey’s, the oldest independent brewery in Sussex, where you can take a tour and enjoy a tutored tasting of the cask beers. Fans of craft beer will love the quirky and atmospheric 200-year-old Snowdrop Inn with more than a dozen selections on tap. The recently refurbished 16th-century White Heart Inn is now one of the town’s most stylish places to drink and eat, while still retaining many of the inn’s original features. Stay over in one of the 23 comfortable and chic rooms. By contrast, Beak Brewery is the most recent beer-related addition to the town. Opened in 2020, you can visit the brewery’s popular al fresco tap room to sample their signature IPA. In recent years, Lewes’s restaurant has taken off. The Michelin guide recently awarded a Bib Gourmand to Dill where chef Dan Cropper serves a regularly changing electric menu of seasonal small plates such as glazed ox tongue crumpet. At Squisito, the homemade pasta dishes might include Crown Prince pumpkin and Aleppo chilli raviolo. For great sandwiches made with some of the best sourdough in the county, head to The Flint Owl Bakery. Enjoyed this? Check out more travel inspiration... Best UK city breaks for food lovers Winter sun destinations for food holidays 4 seaside city breaks for foodies European city breaks for food lovers Foodie spa breaks in Europe 7 best European city breaks by train Best foodie holidays in Italy A foodie guide to Florida Keys The best cruise holidays for families The best all-inclusive resorts with great food Best luxury family holiday destinations
The trendy seaside town of Brighton has no shortage of great places to eat and drink – try creative seafood, unique Sunday roasts or inventive Indian thalis
Brighton is often named one of the best places outside of London to eat in the UK for a very good reason. The seaside city boasts a plethora of independent restaurants that cover every taste and occasion. There are multi-course tasting menus for special celebrations and small and sharing plates for a casual get-together with friends. If you’re a serious steak lover or a committed vegetarian, Brighton has got you covered. If you like things spicy, there are excellent Thai, Indian and Southeast Asian options; the flavours of France, Spain and the Mediterranean are on your doorstep, too. Add in a great cafe and brunch culture, street food, great cocktails and wine lists that celebrate local Sussex vineyards and you’ve got an unbeatable culinary combination. Check out our travel hub for more guides with recommendations on the top restaurants in each city. We have guides for more southern cities, such as Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Cheltenham. 20 best places to eat and drink in Brighton Alberta’s at the Windmill For a Sunday roast They do Sunday lunch a bit differently at this atmospheric back street boozer, close to Brighton’s shopping quarter, with local craft ale on tap, tunes on vinyl and a sun-trap pavement-side terrace. Chef Ali Munro puts a southern American spin on a British classic by frying a whole local chicken and serving it with roast potatoes, greens, roast roots, Yorkshire puddings, pork sausage and unlimited gravy (available for pre-booking only, £24 per person). The weekday menu is just as tempting with a generously proportioned ‘chicken schnitt’ sando served in a homemade Japanese sub roll and the huge, hot and crispy buttermilk fried chicken wings. Mains from £10. thewindmillbrighton.com Dilsk For local foraged food Chef Tom Stephens (ex-Simon Rogan and Tom Kerridge) serves exquisite tasting menus based around seasonal East Sussex produce, including some foraged from the coastline. The elegant semi-basement space in the boutique Drakes Hotel on the seafront close to the Palace Pier is perfect for a celebration or romantic meal. The signature laminated brioche with yeasted mushroom butter is worth booking in for alone but beautifully presented dishes such as Orkney scallop, onion squash, pumpkin seed and smoked bacon don’t disappoint. The four-course £35 lunch and £40 dinner, available at certain times during the week, is a gastronomic bargain, although it’s well worth upgrading to add the selection of delicious, creative snacks for £10. Tasting menus from £35-£95. dilsk.co.uk The Flint House For small plates Part of Ben and Pam McKellar’s lauded Gingerman Restaurant Group, this purpose-built two-storey building in Brighton’s smart Hanningtons pedestrianised food and retail neighbourhood features a chic first-floor bar and ground-floor dining counter. Graze on the must-order sweetcorn fritters with chipotle aioli while you browse the regularly changing menu that covers all the bases from crispy pig cheek with burnt apple to roasted cauliflower, yeasted purée, pickled sultanas and dukkha (vegetable dishes are a strong suit here). In good weather ask for a table on the covered and heated roof terrace. If it’s your first visit, the five-course Chef’s Menu (£50pp to share) is a great introduction to the restaurant’s style of food. flinthousebrighton.com Burnt Orange For late-night drinking and dining Plan ahead to dine at this glamorous restaurant that’s set in a converted 16th-century coaching inn in Brighton’s famous Lanes – it’s been a hot ticket since it opened in 2021. Sit at the bar to watch the chefs in the open kitchen work the wood-fired oven, creating a regularly changing lineup of globally inspired small plates such as Buffalo-style harissa parsnips with chive and artichoke “aioli” and coal roast crayfish kofta with shellfish dressing. The skillet-baked potatoes have never left the menu for very good reason. Nighthawks will appreciate the drinks-only tables available from 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, when they can enjoy a charred marmalade margarita. A seat on the covered terrace is much coveted when the sun shines. Small plates from £8.50. burnt-orange.co.uk No No Please For cocktails and Southeast Asian small plates This stylish yet friendly lounge, bar and restaurant boasts a carefully curated mid-century interior, a menu of Southeast Asian small plates and some of the best cocktails in town. Must orders include ‘egg and soldier’ (superior prawn toast fingers with a cured yolk to dip them in) and the comforting beef cheek and coconut ‘No No Slow Curry’. Kick off with a refreshing 'Supagrass' made with tequila, vermouth, lemongrass and salted coconut, then ask co-owner Euan MacDonald about the daily specials (also listed on the restaurant’s Instagram account @no.no_please). Walk-ins only and dog-friendly. Snacks, small and sharing plates from £4.70. no-no-please.co.uk Amari For modern Spanish food A short walk from Brighton station, Amari brings a splash of Spanish sunlight to a side street close to the Open Market. Chef Ian Swainson’s background in fine dining shows through in refined dishes like fillet of torched mackerel with cod’s roe mousse and sorrel and gordal olive dressing. But at heart, Amari is a cosy neighbourhood restaurant with room for about 20 in the simply decorated dining room that’s run with warmth and efficiency by Justyna Maria Ciurus. Spanish classics like patatas bravas and pork croquetas are as enjoyable as the more creative offerings. The all-Spanish list of wines and sherries is well chosen and cocktails like jerez negroni with East India Solera, orujo blanco and Campari are well made and nicely presented. @amaribrighton Lost in the Lanes For brunch This contemporary, spacious and elegant cafe restaurant in the Lanes serves a concise seasonal menu highlighting local producers. The daily bottomless brunch (10am-3pm) includes unlimited mimosas, bellinis or sparkling wine and a wide range of dishes that might include French toast with white chocolate yogurt, blood orange and almond. Available from Thursday to Saturday, the sharing ‘Taster Menu’ (£35 per person) shows off recently appointed ex-Marco Pierre White chef Jes James culinary talent with dishes such as lamb lemonato with rosemary potatoes and greens. Large plates from £17. lostinthelanes.com Unbarred For craft beer and artisan pizza Drink among the tuns at this urban brewery taproom where they brew and serve over 30 different beers. Tucked away behind London Road a short walk from the city centre, Unbarred is a must-visit for lovers of wildly creative craft ales such as pineapple and pepper crumble and Seeing Red blood orange IPA. The large enclosed outdoor terrace is the ideal spot to enjoy authentic Neapolitan-style pizza and sides from the hugely popular Brighton-based Fatto a Mano restaurant group. Children welcome until 8pm and dog friendly. Pizzas from £11.50. unbarredbrewery.com Wild Flor For a romantic meal With its period wine posters and mirrors decorating exposed brick walls, bare wooden tables and banquette seating, Wild Flor is reminiscent of a Parisienne bistro. While you might well find bavette with Cafe de Paris butter on chef George Upshall’s weekly changing menus, his food goes far beyond the French classics. Expect highly seasonal dishes incorporating local ingredients such as an elegant composition of beetroot with ajo blanco, Nocellara olive, grape and Marcona almond. The well-drilled front of house team, led by owner James Thomson will guide you through one of the best wine lists in the city. Look out for the bargain seasonal set menu at £22 for two courses and £25 for three (check the website for availability). Mains from £19. wildflor.com Namo Eat For authentic Thai food Thai-born chef Bookie Mitchell serves up some of the most authentic Thai food in the city at her resident kitchens in two much-loved Brighton pubs. At The Eagle in the North Laine, take a seat in one of the comfortable booths at the back of the bar and choose from the long menu of small plates, salads, curries, stir fries and noodle dishes that includes an addictively delicious northern Thai-style kao soi chicken curry with crispy egg noodles, pickled cabbage and chilli oil. At Namo X at The Sidewinder in Kemptown, sit on the large covered deck to enjoy sharing dishes and big bowl food that includes spicy tom yum flavoured fries and Thai classics such as pad Thai and massaman curry. namoeat.co.uk Furna For a special occasion Book one of the comfortable upholstered stools at the counter that overlooks the hi-tech open kitchen to watch accomplished chef Dave Mothersill and his team in action. The food might be highly complex, but creative and seasonal dishes such as fallow deer with hazelnut, Yorkshire rhubarb, beetroot and bone marrow always put flavour above technique. The elegant, modern dining room with its mirrored walls, parquet flooring and designer chairs makes the ideal setting for a celebratory meal, but the relaxed vibe means you can pop in for the £35 set menu or £55 Sunday family style menu without having to dress up (the Parker House roll with cultured butter is a must-order add on). Take a seat on the terrace opposite the famous Pavilion Gardens for a date manhattan and snacks from the bar. Menus from £35-£95. furnarestaurant.co.uk Med For Mediterranean small plates No one does small plates quite like Med. This hip and vibrant restaurant with its blue/grey banquettes, dark wood tables and eye-catching botanical wall feature offers some of the most exciting yet affordable food in the city. Chef Will Dennard gleefully plunders the global kitchen for inspiration for his regularly changing sharing menu that kicks off with a selection of snacks such as buffalo artichoke and sweet potato and chipotle dip. Sharing dishes could include anything from taramasalata with a moules marinière croquette and caviar to beef carpaccio with smoked salsa macha and feta. They take drinks seriously, too, with a thoughtfully chosen wine list and punchy cocktails. Al fresco dining from May to August. Sharing menu £35 per person. medbrighton.co.uk Shelter Hall For lunch by the sea Set in a beautifully restored landmark Victorian building on the seafront, Shelter Hall is Brighton’s only food hall. It features a regularly changing line-up of seven different Sussex-based kitchens that currently includes Kolkati (Kolkata-style egg-fried paratha rolls), Stakehaus (steak and fries by chef Lily Smith), 3Bros Burgers (Sussex wagyu burgers) and Saltio (Mexican street food). The hugely popular walk-in only outdoor terrace is a great spot for some good value al fresco seaside dining but be prepared to wait or book a table on the mezzanine level for equally great sea views. Enjoy a pistachio caipirinha in the stylish Skylark cocktail bar (open Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm). Dog friendly (ground floor and terrace only), main dishes from £11. shelterhall.co.uk Palmito For eclectic and creative small plates Plan well ahead if you want a weekend dinner at this always in-demand charcoal grill-driven small plates restaurant that holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. There’s room for about 20 closely set diners in this former takeaway that’s been given a stylish makeover with exposed brickwork, decorative filament wall lamps, tiled floors and simple wooden furniture. Chef Diego Ricaurte hails from Ecuador, so expect South American influences in dishes such as an Andean-style pincho de matambre (skirt steak) with smoked potato and chimichurri. Don’t miss the excellent cocktails that might include a spiced clementine pisco sour. Small and sharing plates from £6. palmito.co.uk The Coal Shed For a sophisticated steak dinner This much-loved local institution moved from its backstreet location to much larger premises in a prime spot on North Street, close to the Pavilion, Royal Theatre and main shopping area. It now boasts one of the best bars in the city where you can enjoy a pre-dinner hibiscus mai tai before heading into the dining room that has the feel of a sleek and sultry modern Manhattan steak house with lots of dark wood, mirrors and parquet floors. The restaurant wears its meaty heart on its sleeve with an open kitchen where the chefs cook over open flame and a glass display Himalayan salt chamber full of rare and heritage breed beef. Although the charcoal grilled steaks are a highlight, seafood and vegetarian dishes such as butterflied sea bream pil pil with manila clams, and miso aubergine with crispy shallots are equally as good. Mains from £20. coalshed-restaurant.co.uk Fika For superior breakfast sandwiches and great coffee There are now three branches of this hugely popular cafe, including one at the new Sea Lanes development on the beach near to Brighton Marina. But you’ll need to visit the original site opposite Hove town hall to try the signature fried egg sandwiches. The Breakfast Bird with brioche, buttermilk fried chicken, fried egg, smoked cheese, bacon, maple mayo and Korean barbecue sauce makes for a wonderfully indulgent feast. Keep an eye on the cafe’s Instagram (@fikasussex) for regular specials. The excellent coffee comes from local independent roastery Back Yard, which nurtures relationships with coffee farmers around the world. Sandwiches from £5.50 fikasussex.co.uk Curio For wine, cheese and charcuterie This cosy, simply decorated cafe and bar brings some European sophistication to Brighton’s Round Hill neighbourhood. Set opposite the historic Duke of York’s cinema, it’s the perfect spot for some pre- or post-film grazing with a carefully curated list of organic and biodynamic wines and high-welfare charcuterie plates care of Hove-based Curing Rebels. The short list of small plates might include smoked cheddar croquettes with kale pesto or crispy fried artichoke with sunflower seed tahini. Open all day, pop in for a breakfast bacon and egg bun or a lunchtime salt beef and pickle sandwich after a stroll around the nearby Preston Park. curio.cafe Riddle and Finns For seafood For some of the best, simply prepared seafood in the city, head to one of the two branches of this long-established, casual yet stylish restaurant. At the original in the lanes you’ll find a cosy candlelit dining room with marble-topped tables, white tiled walls and crystal chandeliers. At the circular Rotunda restaurant, there’s wraparound sea views and a balcony overlooking the beach. The menu is the same at both branches and includes a selection of oysters, towers of fruits de mer, lobster thermidor and a hot seafood platter. Other internationally influenced dishes include moilee curry with roast cod and lentil samosa and chilli and ginger Singapore crab with vermicelli noodle salad. You can reserve a table at the beach, the Lanes is walk-ins for communal-style dining only. Mains from £18. riddleandfinns.co.uk Bonsai Plant Kitchen For creative vegetarian food Beginning as a takeaway-only lockdown project in 2021, chef Dominic Sherriff and the team behind this modern and funky plant-based South East Asian-inspired small plates restaurant have gained a loyal following since opening in 2022 as well as rave reviews in the national press. It’s worth the short walk from the city centre to this neighbourhood restaurant for punchy dishes such as crispy tofu with Thai yellow curry sauce and Filipino papaya pickle or miso, maple and wasabi-glazed aubergine. For a ready-made tour of the menu, order the chef’s tasting menu that includes snacks, small plates, grills, rice and dessert for £33 per person. bonsaiplantkitchen.co.uk The Chilli Pickle For authentic Indian food The Chilli Pickle’s recent move back to a colourful, intimate and buzzy new site in the Lanes where the authentic Indian restaurant first opened in 2008, has heralded the return of one of its best-loved dishes. Slow-braised Sussex beef oxtail madras is not for the faint-hearted, featuring three types of chilli and a roasted Tamil spice blend, but all that heat is leavened out by toasted coconut, tamarind, date molasses and coconut cream. It’s a must order, but if you prefer something milder, the textbook Old Delhi-style tandoori butter chicken is for you. There’s even some spice in the cocktails that include the chilli pickle martini made with curry leaf cardamom syrup and ancho reyes, a Mexican chilli liqueur. Go at lunchtime for the legendary Grand Thali feasts that include a curry and numerous side dishes for £22. thechillipickle.com For more like this, check out more restaurant recommendations Best afternoon teas in London Best themed afternoon teas in London Best afternoon tea for kids in London 10 best places in London to eat classic British dishes Best bakeries in London Best burgers in London Best pasta restaurants in London Best afternoon teas in the UK All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of the publish date and will be checked periodically. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide please e-mail us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Food writer Andy Lynes has picked the best country pubs across the UK, from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland, for the ultimate local lunch recommendations
These days, country pubs don’t just mean a cracking traditional Sunday lunch. You’re as likely to indulge in a multi-course tasting menu of the finest local and seasonal produce as you are a plate of roast beef. You might find yourself in a listed building with exposed beams and open fires, or encounter elegant contemporary interior design. But whatever the setting, you can be assured of eating and drinking (and sleeping, if the pub has rooms) extremely well. Best country pubs in the UK Brackenrigg Inn Penrith, Lake District The Brackenrigg Inn is situated just a stone’s throw away from lake Ullswater, the second largest lake in England, the pub offers cosy but luxurious rooms with exceptional views of the surrounding countryside and lake. The rooms feel traditional with local artwork and books and there are plenty of little luxuries too, including an abundance of plump pillows, extra blankets and complimentary drinks and treats. The bathrooms are smartly tiled with a walk-in-shower and heated towel rail. Guests staying at the pub can also use the facilities of nearby hotel Another Place, where there’s a spa and swimming pool with mountain views, three restaurants and a luxurious library with complimentary tea and coffee and a wealth of board games. The pub itself has a traditional menu which features a selection of locally sourced meats and cheeses, the homemade steak and ale pie and sticky toffee pudding are must-try dishes. In winter you’ll find open fires and board games to settle down with after a long lake-side walk. Find out more at Brackenrigg Inn. The Applecross Inn Applecross, Wester Ross, Scotland There are stunning views of the Skye mountains across the water from this family-run inn that’s located in a village on the remote and peaceful peninsula of Applecross. Take a seat in the cosy and inviting bar with its exposed stone walls and pine-clad ceiling for ales brewed in Applecross itself. On the menu, the finest local seafood including langoustines, scallops and crab from the west coast of Scotland are served simply with perhaps some hot garlic butter. Mains from £12. Double rooms from £180 per night bed and breakfast. Find out more at The Applecross Inn. Freemasons at Wiswell Wiswell, Clitheroe, Lancashire High-end gastronomy meets classic English rural pub at acclaimed chef Steven Smith’s upmarket inn set among the stunning scenery of the Ribble Valley. There are flagstone floors, antique rugs and furniture to accompany elegantly presented dishes such as roast rack, kofta and sweetbread of Herdwick lamb with miso aubergine. But this is still a local pub at heart, serving a proper Sunday lunch and cask ales at the bar. Serious foodies will want to book the ‘Mr Smith’s’ chef’s table for an up-close-and-personal view of the kitchen in action. Mains from £38. Double rooms from £240 including breakfast. Find out more at Freemasons at Wiswell. The Barrington Boar Barrington, Somerset This smart hamstone-built pub with rooms in a picturesque Somerset village is run by husband and wife team Alasdair Clifford and Victoria Collins, who have worked in top-rated London restaurants including Chez Bruce. Join the locals in the flagstone-floored bar for drinks mainly sourced from the South West before heading into the elegant and comfortable dining room. Be sure to bring a healthy appetite for substantial portions of modern gastropub food made with local ingredients (as well as fresh fish from Cornwall) that might include roasted Somerset duck with confit leg hash browns. Mains from £21. Double rooms from £140 per night with breakfast. Find out more at The Barrington Boar. The Mutton near Hartley Wintney, Hampshire This family-run pub, located in the idyllic Hampshire village is set in a lovingly and elegantly restored 19th century public house and former post office. Inside, there’s low ceilings, open fires, exposed brick and a menu celebrating local seasonal produce. Must-orders include the slow-cooked mutton served on a homemade crumpet with red cabbage, or the red lentil dhal with vadouvan-spiced paneer. Outside, there’s a garden terrace with a dark green timber bar, comfortable sofas and a wisteria-covered pergola dining area with views over the surrounding fields. Mains from £19. Find out more at The Mutton. Red Lion East Chisenbury Chefs and owners Guy and Brittany Manning spent years cooking in three Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe and America before taking a very different culinary path and opening this rural, thatched pub with rooms in 2008. Inside, there’s all the flagstone floors, wood burning stoves and mismatched furniture you could wish for, while outside there’s a beautiful, peaceful garden. There’s plenty of skill on show in dishes like the beautifully made crab tart (a signature and a must order if its on the menu) and the complex desserts such as white chocolate bavarois with raspberry-wasabi sorbet. Make sure to bring a healthy appetite for the generously portioned mains that might include herb-roast Wiltshire lamb rump with sauce niçoise. Stay in one of five luxurious contemporary rooms in the purpose-built riverside guest house a few steps away from the pub. Mains from £25. Double room from £215 including breakfast. Find out more at Red Lion. The Gunton Arms Norfolk This is no ordinary inn. Country pub meets country house-hotel in a 1,000-acre deer park in north Norfolk, with interiors by a top London restaurant designer, topped off with a selection of modern masterpieces by the likes of Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach. There’s even more of a sense of occasion with venison from the deer park and local beef cooked over a large open fire in the pub’s Elk Room. You’ll find locally landed mussels and Cromer crab on the menu, too. Complete your visit with an overnight stay in a room that was once frequented by 19th century socialite Lillie Langtry. Mains from £16. Rooms from £120 including breakfast. Find out more at The Gunton Arms. The Punch Bowl Crosthwaite, Lyth Valley, Cumbria There’s enchanting countryside views of the Lyth Valley from the gravelled terrace of this gastropub with rooms, set in a converted blacksmith’s shop in a quiet Cumbrian village. The simple and elegant interior ticks the rural pub boxes with exposed beams, wood-burning stove and cosy bar. In addition to pub classics like haddock and chips and sausage and mash, there’s a detectable French accent to the menu that incorporates some Lake District produce in dishes such as guinea fowl with pommes Anna potato, black garlic aioli and truffle sauce. Mains from £14.50. Rooms from £130 including breakfast and cream tea on arrival. Find out more at The Punchbowl. St Kew Inn St Kew, Bodmin, Cornwall This traditional 15th century village pub, set midway between Wadebridge and Port Issac on Cornwall’s north coast, boasts four cosy and inviting indoor dining areas and what must be the best beer garden in Cornwall. Secluded and shaded by trees, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy ales brewed nearby and food by chef Andrew Tuck, who you may recognise from the 2023 series of Great British Menu. Locally landed day-boat fish and high-quality meats are expertly cooked over a wood fire. Dishes might include charred hispi cabbage with curry sauce, almonds and wild herbs. Mains from £17. Find out more at St Kew Inn. The Three Horseshoes Batcombe, Somerset Surrounded by unspoiled Somerset countryside, The Three Horseshoes is a beautifully restored 17th century stone-built village pub and dining room with lodging recently opened by Margot Henderson of the much loved Rochelle Canteen in London. Built around local ingredients, the almost austere dishes – duck leg and carrots or brawn and pickles, for example – are reflected in the spare, elegant interior design that features whitewashed walls, a flagstone floor, inglenook fireplace and exposed beams. Outside, the garden couldn’t be more quintessentially English, with borders and beds planted with roses, geraniums, and kitchen herbs. Mains from £18. Rooms from £220 including breakfast. Find out more at The Three Horsehoes. The Crown Ampney Brook, Cirencester This stone-built, 16th century rural village inn is set in Cotswolds countryside close to Cirencester. The inviting interior features lots of natural materials with exposed stone walls, beams and floorboards giving the space a rustic yet refined feel. There’s a freewheeling approach to modern gastropub food on a menu that ranges from chicken and ham pie to bang bang cauliflower and hoisin-glazed duck and watermelon salad as well as burgers and steaks cooked on a robata grill in the open kitchen. In good weather, dine outdoors in an alfresco dome and stay overnight in the pub’s neighbouring Wild Thyme & Honey boutique hotel. Mains from £14.95. Rooms from £150 including breakfast. Find out more The Crown. The Unruly Pig Bromeswell, Suffolk Consistently voted among the best gastropubs in Britain, The Unruly Pig is a handsome red-brick rural inn set in Suffolk countryside. The stylishly quirky interior mixes and matches Persian rugs, exposed brick, dark grey wall panelling and caramel leather button-back banquettes. The ‘Britalian’ menu is another work of fusion with dishes such as local Orford lobster tail, claw and crab ravioli with carrot and avruga caviar. On a sunny day, ask for a seat in the large garden with its parasol-shaded, decked seating area. Mains from £19. Find out more at The Unruly Pig. The Star Inn at Harome North Yorkshire Reborn after a devastating fire in 2021, Michelin-starred chef Andrew Pern can now happily celebrate more than a quarter of a century at this converted 14th century thatcher’s inn. Located on the edge of the North Yorkshire moors, the iconic pub boasts a cosy bar with roaring fire, an elegant dining room and stunning gardens. The signature grilled black pudding with pan-fried foie gras and scrumpy reduction is still present and correct as part of the tasting menu and as a starter on the eclectic a la carte menu that might also include Skrei cod with Whitby crab and black truffle sauce. Stay overnight in Cross House Lodge directly opposite the pub. Mains from £30. Rooms from £170 including breakfast. Find out more at The Star Inn. The Duncombe Arms Derby You’ll find this Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning gastropub in the picturesque village of Ellastone on the Staffordshire and Derbyshire border, overlooking the surrounding fields. The expected exposed beams, stone floor and roaring fires are contrasted with an eclectic collection of furnishings and decorations to create a warm and inviting space. The seasonal mix of pub classics and creative dishes incorporates local produce and might include lamb from nearby Dunwood Farm with carrot fondant, sautéed sweetbreads and lamb sauce. Stay overnight in Walnut House, adjacent to the pub. Mains from £19. Rooms from £195 including breakfast. Find out more at The Duncombe Arms. The Fox Oddington, Moreton-in-Marsh This 19th century rural village inn has had a stunning makeover courtesy of owners the Bamford family who also own the nearby Daylesford estate and Daylesford Organic shop. The pub manages to be both traditional and modern at once with restored Cotswold stone walls, reclaimed timber and open fires contrasting with a contemporary central oak built bar. There’s plenty of farm produce on the menu as you’d expect, including a wedge salad made with Daylesford blue cheese, crispy bacon and pickled shallots. The large garden is the ideal spot to enjoy one of the range of gourmet pizzas such as ‘nduja, pepperoni, roasted peppers, fior di latte and rosemary honey. Mains from £14. Rooms from £225 including breakfast. Find out more The Fox. The Rat Inn Anick, Hexham, Northumberland This converted 18th century drovers inn, set on a village green a few miles from the market town of Hexham, has been run by partners Phil Mason and Karen Errington since 2007. Since then, the atmospheric pub with its low-beamed ceiling, cosy bar and open fire and has won numerous awards, especially for the food. The daily changing chalkboard menu based around what’s available might include mackerel with carrot and radish salad and XO dressing. In good weather, grab a seat in the gardens that offer spectacular countryside views. Find out more at The Rat Inn. The Felin Fach Griffin Felin Fach, Brecon This Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded rural village pub with eight rooms is part of brothers Charles and Edmund Inkin’s Eatdrinksleep group of inns, that also includes The Gurnard’s Head and The Old Coastguard, both in Cornwall. It occupies an enviable position in a Welsh valley between the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons with views of Hay Bluff beyond the lawns – where you can eat in good weather. Welsh-born chef Gwenann Davies has impeccable pub credentials, having previously worked for Tom Kerridge, and offers a menu of local produce, some from the pub’s kitchen garden, in dishes such as steamed venison pudding with braised red cabbage, roast parsnip and celeriac. The set dinner menu costs £37 for two courses. Rooms from £175 including breakfast. Find out more at The Felin Fach. The Bell Ticehurst, East Sussex The eccentric interior of this rural Sussex Tudor village inn features bowler hats as lampshades and displays of antique books piled high. But there’s also a roaring open fire, stone floor and mismatched wooden furniture to make you feel at home. In addition to the menu of pub classics, every Wednesday, head chef Mark Charker (formerly of Ockenden Manor) offers a five-course ‘The Stables’ tasting menu of Sussex produce that might include smoked prawn tartlet with sweetcorn fromage blanc, artichoke, yuzu and foraged herbs. Mains from £17.50. Rooms from £121.50 including breakfast. Find out more at The Bell. The Stagg Inn Titley, Herefordshire The Stagg is a traditional dining pub with rooms on the Herefordshire and Powys border; a handsome ivy-clad building set in a topiary garden and surrounded by fields and unspoiled countryside. The pub’s environmentally conscious approach means they keep their sourcing as local as possible and maintain their own growing garden. Dishes that reflect the ethos include 36-hour slow-cooked longhorn Herefordshire beef, served with beef and spring onion bubble and squeak, baby carrot and roasted cauliflower purée. Mains from £17. Rooms from £110 including breakfast. Find out more at The Stagg Inn. The Three Hills Bartlow, Cambridgeshire This 17th century grade II-listed, award-winning pub with rooms is set among verdant Cambridgeshire countryside in the heart of the tiny village of Bartlow. Restored in 2015, the pub now boasts an elegant interior as well as a patio and beautiful garden that looks out over the River Granta. Voted among the best gastropubs in the country, the menu features sophisticated dishes such as stone bass with clam cacio e pepe and confit fennel, as well as a homemade burger, and haddock and chips. Mains from £14.50. Rooms from £100, breakfast not included. Find out more at The Three Hills. Balloo House Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland This charming country pub and restaurant is set close to the Strangford Lough and has a history going back more than 400 years. Downstairs there’s a cosy bar with stone floor and open fire and a dining room where the menu might include local Mourne lamb rump with new season broccoli, black olive and hazelnuts, as well as daily changing specials created from seasonal produce and local seafood. Upstairs, luxurious grill restaurant Overwood features a tipi-covered cocktail terrace with fire pit and serves a menu that highlights Himalayan salt chamber-aged Irish beef. Mains from £20. Find out more at Balloo House. Also discover Best rooftop bars london
From charming seaside towns, to cute countryside villages and elegant historic cities, explore the best of the UK's destinations for a romantic and food-filled getaway, with restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes where you can dine on world class dishes, as well as brilliant hotels and B&Bs for every budget
1. St Ives, best for relaxing on the beach, art and seafood St Ives is one of Cornwall's most attractive seaside towns. It not only boasts four gorgeous sandy beaches and characterful cobbled streets lined with independent shops, but also two world class art galleries (Tate St Ives and The Barbara Hepworth Museum) and a long standing reputation for excellent restaurants, cafes and bars, many of them on the beach or with sea views. Where to eat in St Ives One Fish Street: An intimate and elegant restaurant and bar just off the harbour front where, from Tuesday to Thursday, they serve an eight-course tasting menu, then Friday to Monday it becomes a casual grill house. Source Kitchen: Simple yet smart dining room tucked away on St Ives’ famous cobbled Digey. A concise, daily changing menu of good value dishes celebrates the best Cornish produce. Ugly Butterfly: There’s incredible views over sandy Carbis Bay from this glamorous glass box of a fine dining restaurant from chef Adam Handling that’s focused on sustainability. Porthminster Cafe: This iconic beachside restaurant has been serving an eclectic Asian and Mediterranean inflected menu with some foraged ingredients for more than a quarter of a century. Porthminster Kitchen: A seat on the elevated terrace at this casual restaurant is the perfect spot to take in the harbour views and enjoy globally influenced dishes with top quality Cornish ingredients. Porthmoor Beach Cafe: Set just below the Tate St Ives gallery, there’s great beach views and a seafood-led menu that roams from Europe to North Africa and Asia at this casual but smart all-day diner. No 27 The Terrace: The dining room of this Georgian guesthouse in an elevated position about the town overlooks the bay and offers simply prepared bistro classics. St Eia: This stylish wine bar and shop is set just off the harbour and offers a short list of tapas-style dishes to accompany a serious and extensive list of modern wines. Where to stay in St Ives Carbis Bay: Famous as the location of the 2021 G7 summit. Luxurious rooms, suites and generously proportioned lodges overlooking a private, secluded sandy beach. £££ Harbour Hotel: A striking Victorian building with contemporary interiors overlooking the bay and a seafood-led restaurant. £ Lifeboat Inn: Affordable and comfortable accommodation in a harbourside pub close to the town centre. £ Trevose Harbour House: Stylish family run guesthouse with harbour views close to the town centre and beach. ££ Pedn Olva: Set on granite rocks 30 feet above the sea and close to Porthmeor Beach, this pub offers modern rooms with great views. £ Exclusive Expedia discount code Fancy saving money on your next food adventure? BBC Good Food is offering special discounts to our registered users and app subscribers booking their next holiday with travel website Expedia. Claim your exclusive BBC Good Food Expedia holiday discount Take advantage of these exclusive offers by simply clicking the link and using our special discount code at the checkout to enjoy up to 7% off your bookings. 2. Edinburgh, best for modern, globally-influenced dining You can go to Edinburgh for the incredible history or the thriving cultural scene (especially during the festival) but we’d recommend you go for the romantic dining opportunities. With great restaurants and bars in every part of the city, it’s a great way to explore, too, from the Old Town and New Town, to Leith and neighbourhoods like Stockbridge and Southside. Where to eat in Edinburgh The Witchery: Dine in 16th-century gothic splendour in this atmospheric candle-lit, dark wood-panelled restaurant with rooms that’s located close to Edinburgh Castle, which also serves a glamorous afternoon tea. The Kitchin: Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin’s fine dining food is a celebration of Scottish produce from the pig’s head and langoustine starter to the shellfish rockpool main. You can also try Kitchin’s food at the Scran and Scallie gastropub and the more casual Kora restaurant. Cafe St Honore: Beguilingly romantic French-bistro dining featuring the best Scottish ingredients and charming service. The set Cafe Classics menu is one of the city’s great bargains. Timberyard: Modern, cool yet unpretentious, family run Timberyard is set in a converted warehouse where there’s a menu of Scottish produce served with Scandinavian-inflected flair. The Palmerston: Set in a converted bank in Edinburgh’s Haymarket area, the daily changing menu of this smart but casual restaurant is on the best seasonal produce with dishes such as Borders venison and suet pie. Toast: They take their wine very seriously at this bright, stylish and relaxed café and bar overlooking Leith’s waterfront, with bottles from Slovenia, Croatia and Greece, among many other places. Soderberg: If you want to indulge in a spot of ‘fika’ (Swedish coffee and cake culture), head for this stylish glass box overlooking the city’s modernist Lister Square where the gorgeous kanelbulle (cinnamon buns) are made in the upstairs bakery. Where to stay in Edinburgh Gleaneagles Townhouse: The luxurious city-centre sister of the legendary Gleneagles Hotel in rural Perthshire is set in an elegant Georgian townhouse overlooking St Andrews Square. There’s sophisticated all-day dining in The Spence restaurant and rooftop drinking in the Lamplighters terrace bar. £££ 21212: There’s four spacious and beautifully decorated rooms in this converted townhouse in a grand Regency terrace, centrally located in the New Town. ££ Motel One: There’s modern chic urban style on a budget at these centrally located hotels, one each in the Old Town and New Town. £ Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian: This iconic hotel has been open for more than a century and combines modern luxury and Victorian style in a former rail station with views of Edinburgh Castle. Dining from top chefs Dean Banks at The Pompadour and Grazing by Mark Greenaway. ££ 3. Brighton, best for small plates dining For such a compact city, Brighton has a lot to offer: strolls on the seafront and along the world famous Palace Pier, shopping in the Lanes and North Laine and world-class cultural events at the newly restored Dome theatre complex. It’s also one of the most dynamic and exciting cities for dining outside of London. Casual small plates are the preferred style, but there are plenty of options for fine dining, too. Where to eat in Brighton The Set: Chef Dan Kenny’s wildly inventive and original tasting menu that might include scallop tikka masala is a real thrill ride of bold flavours in a boho-chic room with a fun soundtrack of punk, pop and hip hop. Furna: Book a counter seat overlooking the open kitchen to watch chef Dave Mothersill and team create a sophisticated and highly detailed tasting menu at one of the city’s most luxe fine dining restaurants. Dilsk: Local and seasonal tasting menus by Tom Kerridge-trained chef Tom Stephens, in an intimate and stylish semi-basement room in Drakes, a boutique hotel on Brighton’s seafront. Palmito: The exciting menu of small plates inspired by the culinary heritages of chefs and owners Kanthi Thamma and Diego Ricaurte at this intimate and casual restaurant that’s perfect for couples. Plateau: Natural wines, creative cocktails and delicious, inventive small plates are on the menu at this perennially popular and always buzzy Lanes wine bar and restaurant. Burnt Orange: Glamorous destination for late night cocktails and all-day dining on some of the best creative small plates in town. The skillet baked potatoes are worth the visit alone. Due South: Ask for a seat on the beachside terrace to enjoy acclaimed chef Daniel Mertl’s eclectic menu of wood-fired food that might include flamed monkfish with black lentil sauce. Where to stay in Brighton My Hotel: Stay in style in idiosyncratically designed rooms in the heart of the North Laine. On-site dining includes modern Indian restaurant The Chilli Pickle. £ Drakes: There’s views of the Palace Pier from this contemporary seafront boutique hotel. Book in for a stunning tasting menu of local produce in the recently opened Dilsk restaurant. ££ The Ginger Pig: There are spacious contemporary rooms and three recently opened, luxurious mews houses at this gastropub, close to Hove’s seafront. ££ The Ceramic House: Affordable, one-of-a-kind boutique guest house and gallery space designed by architectural ceramicist Kay Alpin, located in Brighton’s peaceful Five Ways neighbourhood. £ 4. Bath: Best for afternoon tea With its perfectly preserved Georgian buildings, Bath is a World Heritage Site and unquestionably one of Britain’s most elegant and romantic cities. It’s the ideal setting in which to indulge in that most English of pastimes, afternoon tea (The Pumphouse is stunning), but a burgeoning dining scene means there’s everything from gastropubs to fine dining to enjoy too. Where to eat in Bath Montagu Mews at The Royal Crescent: Take afternoon tea in the beautiful private gardens of this landmark hotel in the middle of Bath’s famous Royal Crescent or dine in the glamorous new bar and dining room. The Beckford Canteen: This stylish sister restaurant to the nearby Beckford Bottle Shop focuses on seasonality and ingredients from local South West suppliers. Town + House: Tiny pub with contemporary interiors, good cocktails and a brilliant kimchi chicken burger. Live music on Sunday nights. Landrace: Intimate and stripped back first floor dining room serving local seasonal dishes with British and Italian influences. The ground floor bakery and cafe is one of the best in the city. The Elder: Hunting lodge meets old fashioned London gentleman’s club at this elegant hotel restaurant from wild food expert Mike Robinson. Venison from local estates is a must-order. The Dark Horse: Sip modern, inventive cocktails that incorporate locally sourced ingredients at this award-winning and atmospheric basement bar. Where to stay in Bath The Queensbury: Character-packed central hotel with excellent staff, high standards and Bath’s only Michelin star in its Olive Tree restaurant. ££ 15 by Guesthouse: Quirky, boutique hotel with small but perfectly-formed spa, cocktail bar and relaxed basement restaurant knocking out decent classics. ££ Z Hotel: Stay in comfort in the city centre without breaking the bank at this style-conscious budget hotel. The Bath Priory: This converted Ivy-clad Georgian sandstone 19th-century manor is nestled in the gardens of a former priory close to Royal Victoria Park. The Relais & Châteaux hotel makes for an idyllic and tranquil escape within walking distance of the city centre. ££ Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa: A Palladian mansion set at the end of a mile-long avenue of lime and beech trees, a short drive from Bath. The elegant Relais & Châteaux country house hotel is home to Michelin-starred restaurant, Restaurant Hywel Jones. £££ 5. Isle of Wight, best for touring around At just 23 miles by 13 miles, you could drive around the entire perimeter of the diamond shaped Isle of Wight in a morning. That makes it the ideal destination for a short touring break, with plenty of towns, villages and beaches dotted around to explore. It’s increasingly becoming a gourmet destination, too, with everything from casual beachside diners to gastronomic restaurants to enjoy. Where to eat on the Isle of Wight Smoking Lobster, Ventnor: There’s views of the bay from this casual stylish beachside restaurant that specialises in seafood with Asian influences. Don’t miss the signature seafood platter for two. There is a second branch in Cowes and the group also includes the excellent The Drunken Lobster izakaya-style bar in Ventnor’s town centre. Restaurant Matthew Tomkinson at The Hambrough, Ventnor: There’s fine dining with sea views at this smart boutique hotel overlooking the bay. Chef Matthew Tomkinson’s cooking is informed by classical French techniques and features local produce in big-flavoured and beautifully presented dishes. Thompson’s, Newport: Dine downstairs in this handsome, historic red brick town centre building to watch top chef Robert Thompson and his team at work in the open kitchen preparing local ingredients from the island. The Terrace, Yarmouth: There’s views over the harbour, the Solent and Yarmouth Castle from the umbrella-shaded terrace of this modern bar and restaurant that serves approachable food and great wines. The Hut: Stylish beach brasserie with rooftop bar overlooking the sands of Colwell Bay serving classic and modern seafood dishes. The Red Lion, Freshwater: Charming and atmospheric traditional country pub with gardens serving a modern gastropub menu alongside pub classics. Where to stay on the Isle of Wight The Royal, Ventnor: An elegant converted Georgian coaching inn with 51 rooms set in manicured gardens with outdoor pool. Fine dining is on offer at Se7en restaurant. ££ The George, Yarmouth: A converted 17th century townhouse set on the watershed edge in Yarmouth. Double Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi is consultant chef for the hotel’s The Conservatory restaurant. ££ The Terrace Rooms and Wine, Ventnor: This luxurious six-bedroom boutique guest house with high-end restaurant and retail wine shop is set in a converted 19th century villa overlooking Ventnor Bay. In the summer, there’s small plates in the terrace and in the off-season, a multi-course tasting menu with matched wines prepared by owner Tom Fahey. ££ Foresters Hall, Cowes: Stylish and contemporary boutique hotel in a Victorian townhouse with a mix of rooms and spacious garden suites. The Brasserie is run by the Smoking Lobster team. £££ 6. Lake District, best for countryside walks and fine dining Come to the Lake District for the awe inspiring natural landscapes, to hike its fells and mountains and to find inspiration from poets like Wordsworth who lived here. But you also come to the lakes for the astonishing number of high quality restaurants that dot the towns, villages and countryside. It is, after all, home to the only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the whole of the north (L’Enclume) and the most Michelin stars outside of London. Where to eat in the Lake District L’Enclume, Cartmel: Set in a converted blacksmiths in the charming village of Cartmel, Simon Rogan’s groundbreaking fine dining restaurant has won three Michelin stars for its tasting menu focused around ingredients foraged and grown on the restaurant’s own farm. Rogan also runs the more casual Rogan and Co, also in Cartmel, and Henrock at Linthwaite House. Old Stamp House, Ambleside: Michelin-starred multi-course fine dining focussed on Cumbrian produce in two intimate and atmospheric dining rooms. Brothers Ryan and Craig Blackburn also run the nearby and more casual Kysty. Lake Road Kitchen, Ambleside: Rigorously ingredient-led tasting menu served in a scandi-influenced dining room from chef James Cross who has trained in three Michelin-star restaurants around the world. Heft, High Newton: This stylishly renovated Michelin-starred 17th century inn offers sophisticated multi-course dining in an elegant dining room as well as traditional pub food in the cosy and buzzy bar area. The Punchbowl at Crosthwaite: There’s enchanting countryside views of the Lyth Valley from the gravelled terrace of this rural gastropub with rooms that’s set in a converted blacksmith's shop in a quiet Cumbrian village. The menu combines pub classics and French-accented dishes. Cottage in the Woods, Braithwaite, near Keswick: Set high above Keswick, there’s great lakeland views from this Scandi-influenced fine dining restaurant that features Cumbrian ingredients. Zeffirellis, Ambleside: A unique destination that contains a cinema, jazz club and a glamorous Italian restaurant serving vegetarian pizza and pasta dishes. Where to stay in the Lake District Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Windermere: This Relais & Châteaux property features two luxurious country houses on two separate estates with a total of 36 rooms with Lakeland views. The hotel’s three restaurants include the Michelin-starred SOURCE, as well as Gilpin Spice, and Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House. £££ The Samling, Windermere: A converted Georgian home set in stunning grounds with 12 spacious and luxurious rooms, suites and cottages. A modernist steel and glass extension houses the Michelin-starred restaurant that boasts wonderful views over Lake Windermere. £££ The Yan: Comfortable cosy and stylish rooms in a converted farmhouse set in breathtaking countryside with on-site bistro and terrace. Cottage accommodation and glamping also available. ££ 1863, Ullswater: Village centre restaurant serving local produce with seven beautifully decorated rooms set in a converted post office. £ Drunken Duck, Ambleside: Rural inn surrounded by Cumbrian countryside with elegant rooms and gastropub food. £££ 7. Cotswolds, best for village hopping With its picture-postcard honeystone villages and gently rolling countryside, the Cotswolds is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. The numerous country house hotel restaurants, gastropubs, farm shops and food markets means there’s plenty to keep ardent foodies busy. There’s always the 100 mile-long Cotswolds Way if you need to walk off one too many tasting menus. Where to eat in the Cotswolds The Wild Rabbit, Kinghan: Elegant country pub with rooms owned by the Bamford family of nearby Daylesford Organic, whose produce appears on the dining room’s menu of refined dishes. Wilder, Nailsworth, Stroud: An ever-changing, tasting menu of creative dishes inspired by local and foraged ingredients is on offer at this elegant and intimate town centre fine-dining restaurant. Double Red Duke, Bampton, Oxfordshire: The menu at this stylish and comfortable rural inn set in a converted 17th-century wool merchant’s house features comfort food cooked over open fire. The Sherborne Arms, Northleach: There’s nose-to-tail dining at this quintessential 18th-century Cotswolds market square pub with rooms in the pretty town of Northleach. Food comes from rising star chefs and publicans Tom Noest and Pete Creed who also run The Lamb Inn in Shipton-under-Wychwood. Bower House, Shipston on Stour: A characterful and stylish restaurant with rooms set on the high street of the charming village of Shipston-on-Stour, with a menu focused around the charcoal grill. Henne, Moreton-in-the-Marsh: Intimate neighbourhood restaurant set in a charming grade II-listed honeystone village centre building that offers a tasting menu of local and sustainable produce. Old Butchers, Stow on the Wold: This converted butcher’s shop has been a popular foodie destination for nearly 20 years, with a long menu that has something to please everyone. Where to stay in the Cotswolds Dormy House Hotel and Spa, Broadway: A luxurious 17th-century farmhouse hotel perched high above the picturesque village of Broadway, within the 500-acre Farncombe Estate which is also home to The Fish Hotel and Foxhill Manor. £££ The Fox, Lower Oddington: This luxurious 19th-century rural village inn has had a stunning makeover, mixing traditional and modern with the use of reclaimed material courtesy of owners the Bamford family. ££ The Lygon Arms, Broadway: This historic 17th century 86-room luxury hotel set on the high street of the village of Broadway boasts two restaurants overseen by TV chef James Martin. ££ The Slaughters Inn, Lower Slaughter: Family-friendly traditional village inn with superior accommodation and good food. ££ Meadowbank House, Ascott-under-Wychwood: Comfortable B&B set in a converted stables and barn. £ 8. Whitstable, best for oyster lovers They’ve been harvesting oysters in Whitstable in the north coast of Kent since Roman times, and it’s still one of the best places in the country to sample them. But there’s much more to the characterful town, with its picturesque harbour, weekend market, fisherman’s huts, pebble beach and waterfront eateries, not forgetting the high street studded with independent shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Where to eat in Whitstable The Royal Native Oyster Stores: There’s Whitstable oysters from their own beds at this charming beachside restaurant, as well as a wide selection of simply cooked fresh seafood. The Lobster Shack: There’s stunning estuary views from this walk-ins-only quayside restaurant, where there’s an array of hot and cold seafood dishes and selection of locally brewed beers. Samphire: This cosy high street bistro, perennially popular with both locals and visitors since opening in 2006 is a stone’s throw from Whitstable beach and is open all day from breakfast to dinner when the menu celebrates the best of local, seasonal produce. The Old Neptune: In the summer, enjoy a barbecue on the beach at this historic, timber-built pub by the sea, where you’ll also find pub classics like pie and mash and fish and chips. Pearson’s Arms: Choose between a refined seven-course tasting menu of Kentish produce or something more straightforward such as a steak or seafood platter at this cosy yet stylish seaside pub. Jo Jo’s: For more than two decades, this casual restaurant has been bringing some Mediterranean sunshine to Tankerton beach in the form of its menu of meze and tapas dishes, all made with ethically sourced produce. Wheelers Oyster Bar: The freshest seafood straight from the boat and vegetables and herbs from their own organic gardens make up the modern menu at this more than 150-year-old, characterful restaurant. Harbour Street Tapas: Jamon croquetas, tortillas and patatas bravas are all present and correct on the menu at this intimate and convivial town-centre tapas restaurant. The Sportsman, Seasalter: Two miles west of Whitstable on the coast you’ll find celebrated chef Stephen Harris’s Michelin-starred gastropub where the food is so local they make their own salt from the seawater. Where to stay in Whitstable Hotel Continental: Seafront Art Deco hotel with Thames Estuary views and bistro-style restaurant. Stay in one of the hotel’s 12 historic fisherman's huts. £ The Marine Hotel: Boutique beachfront hotel, pub and restaurant in a row of converted 19th-century terraced houses on the coast road, a 20-minute walk along the promenade from Whitstable. £ The Crescent Turner Hotel: Set in gardens high above Whitstable on Wraik Hill, there are stunning sea views from the spacious rooms at this stylish boutique hotel. £ 9. Ribble Valley, best for upmarket gastropub dining Lancashire’s Ribble Valley may not be quite as well known as its near neighbours, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, but it’s every bit as worthwhile visiting. It can lay claim to some of the most beautiful unspoiled countryside in the UK, a paradise for walkers and cyclists. It can also rightly claim to be one of the birthplaces of modern British gastronomy where the now common idea of chefs cooking with local and seasonal produce took shape in the 1980s. Since then, the dining opportunities have only got better, with a huge array of both progressive and more traditional restaurants now available to the hungry traveller. Where to eat in the Ribble Valley Northcote: This smart fine-dining restaurant, boutique hotel and cookery school has been a bastion of British cooking since the 1980s. Head chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen continues the tradition with refined modern dishes such as seabass with crispy scallop, confit potato and shellfish bisque. Three Fishes: Legendary Lancastrian chef Nigel Haworth has restored this sprawling country pub, which now boasts its own kitchen garden driving the restaurant's farm-to-fork ethos. There’s a weekly barbecue on the outdoor terrace that overlooks beautiful countryside. Parkers Arms: There’s a warm welcome and generous servings of refined gastropub food at this rural village pub, famous for chef Stosie Madi’s exceptional handmade pies. The countryside views from the spacious beer garden are unbeatable. Freemasons at Wiswell: High-end gastronomy meets classic English rural pub at acclaimed chef Steven Smith’s upmarket inn that’s set among the stunning scenery of the Ribble Valley. Inn at Whitewell: Overlooking the River Hodder, this cosy and inviting converted 16th-century coaching inn boasts one of the most stunning countryside locations in the county. The eclectic menu looks globally for inspiration but locally for ingredients. White Swan at Fence: There’s hand-pulled pints and Michelin-starred food at this convivial village pub where the daily written menu celebrates fresh local produce. The Bar and Grill at Holmes Mill, Clitheroe: Meat and fish from the charcoal grill are the main draw at this glamorous restaurant and bar, part of a foodie destination set in converted mill buildings that includes an excellent food hall, a beer hall and hotel. Where to stay in the Ribble Valley Mitton Hall, Mitton: A country house hotel in a converted 15th century manor house set in beautiful gardens and countryside. £ Spread Eagle, Sawley: A charming converted coaching inn with 11 bedrooms overlooking the river Robble in the Forest of Bowland. £ Stanley House Hotel and Spa, Mellor: Modern and glamorous boutique country house hotel in 54-acres of grounds with garden views from the brasserie. ££ Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland: Converted coaching inn on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, with seven comfortable and stylish rooms and modern gastropub dining. £ 10. Suffolk Coast and Heath, best for upmarket pub dining The Suffolk Coast and Heath is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; an unspoilt landscape encompassing estuaries, heaths, beaches and historic towns and villages.Perfect for sea strolls or even a spot of bird or wildlife watching. It’s also home to some of the best coastal and village pubs in the country. Where to eat on the Suffolk Coast and Heath The Unruly Pig: This handsome red-brick rural inn set in Suffolk countryside boasts a stylishly quirky interior and a ‘Britalian’ menu of fusion dishes such as local Orford lobster tail, claw and crab ravioli with carrot and avruga caviar. The Bell, Walberswick: A traditional 600-year-old village green pub with oak beams, open fireplace and views over the marshes to the dunes and harbour beyond from the spacious gardens. The Suffolk, Aldeburgh: There’s wonderful sea views from the rooftop terrace of this lovingly restored restaurant with rooms (under the same ownership as legendary Soho restaurant L’Escargot) that’s located in an elegant townhouse on the high street. The Anchor, Walberswick: Set in an acre of garden overlooking the dunes and beach huts, this arts and crafts pub and restaurant with rooms is the perfect spot to enjoy Suffolk seafood and other local produce. The Swan, Southwold: Chic boutique hotel restaurant and bar in an historic building on Southwold’s marketplace with an eclectic menu of modern brasserie food. The Crown, Woodbridge: A 16th-century coaching inn that’s been converted into a modern pub and restaurant with rooms, complete with a wooden skiff handing in the glass-roofed bar and creative menu on offer in the pared-back dining room. Seafood and Grill at the Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh: Smart seaside hotel restaurant with uninterrupted views of Aldeburgh beach from the alfresco space where you can enjoy the freshest local seafood. Where to stay on the Suffolk Coast and Heath Seckford Hall, Woodbridge: Ivy-clad Jacobean mansion surrounded by Suffolk countryside with grand wood-panelled interiors, four poster beds and an accolade-winning restaurant. £ Five Acre Barn, Aldeburgh: Smart B&B accommodation in an award winning modernised 19th century barn in five acres of gardens and woodland near to Aldeburgh. £ Sutherland House, Southwold: Stylish high street restaurant with rooms in a medieval building boutique hotel with a seafood-led modern British menu. ££ 11. Norfolk Coast, best for enjoying the seaside and countryside in one trip Norfolk’s 90 miles of coastline includes some of the country's most beautiful sandy beaches, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with stunning country walking routes, and any number of charming towns and villages. The variety of landscape is reflected in the variety of dining opportunities from seafood to countryside pubs and much more in between. Where to eat on the Norfolk Coast The Neptune, Hunstanton: Old Hunstanton beach is a 15-minute walk from this restaurant with rooms in a converted 18th-century coaching inn where Michelin-starred chef Kevin Mangeolles serves a menu centred around local produce. Gunton Arms, Norwich: Country pub meets country-house hotel in a 1,000-acre deer park in north Norfolk with interiors by a top London restaurant designer and venison from the deer park cooked over an open fire. Sands Restaurant, Wells-Next-The-Sea: This quayside restaurant with panoramic views over the harbour serves a bistro-style menu of local seafood. No 1 Cromer, Cromer: Set over two floors, this is Michelin-starred chef Galton Blackiston’s posh version of a seafront fish and chip shop. Head upstairs for the best views of Cromer beach and pier and an extended menu that includes the likes of king prawn Goan curry. Morston Hall: For nearly a quarter of a century, chef Galton Blackiston has retained a Michelin star at this smart country house hotel for his daily-changing tasting menu that celebrates Norfolk produce. Meadowsweet Holt: Dine on Michelin-starred food in the elegantly minimalist dining room of a converted grade II listed house in the pretty Georgian town of Holt where the menu might include local Cromer crab served with turnip and apple. Socius, Burnham Market: Tucked away off the main street is this bright, airy and modern open-plan restaurant and kitchen. Watch the brigade at work as you tuck into globetrotting dishes such as roasted carrots with gochujang, coriander and puffed rice. The Ingham Swan: Thatched rural village gastropub with rooms surrounded by fields that serves accolade-winning refined dishes that might include charred Norfolk asparagus tips with confit egg yolk, wild garlic and parmesan crumb. The Old Bank, Snettisham: Charming, family-run neighbourhood restaurant serving regularly changing tasting menus that include produce from their own allotment such as the aged Norfolk beef tartare with kohlrabi, shallot and mustard. Where to stay on the Norfolk Coast Titchwell Manor, Titchwell: Stylish boutique hotel in a converted Victorian farmhouse overlooking salt marshes in a peaceful location on the coastal road. There’s sea views from the casual The Terrace Bistro and garden views from the fine dining Conservatory restaurant. £ The White Horse Brancaster Staithe: Award-winning gastropub with outdoor terrace situated steps away from the Norfolk Coast Path. Many of the elegantly decorated rooms boast sea views. ££ The White House, Burnham Market: Contemporary upmarket B&B with an elegant restaurant in a renovated Georgian house in a secluded rural location, a short drive from the town of Burnham Market. ££ 12. Pembrokeshire, best for dining on local produce Pembrokeshire’s contrasting landscape of craggy hills, endless green fields and azure coastal waters not only make it a wonderfully romantic destination to visit, but also provide a natural larder for the area’s growing legion of creative chefs. Whether you dine in a gastropub, country house hotel or independent restaurant, chances are you will see the local environment reflected on your plate. Where to eat in Pembrokeshire Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire: Modernist, timber-clad building with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace offering scenic views of sandy Coppet Hall beach. Award-winning chef Fred Clapperton’s is based around locally sourced ingredients including blow-torched mackerel with Pembrokeshire early potatoes and potato skin broth. Stackpole Inn, Stackpole: Ivy-covered rural village inn with rooms and beer garden set on the National Trust-run Stackpole Estate. The menu highlights Pembrokeshire produce including locally reared beef. Paternoster Farm, Pembroke: Dine in true field-to-fork style in a converted milking parlour on a working farm deep in rural Pembrokeshire where the daily menu of sharing plates make use of the farm’s own produce. Annwn, Narberth: Rustic-chic restaurant in the historic market town of Narberth, where Raymond Blanc-trained chef Matt Powell prepares a 10-course menu of local, seasonal and foraged food in an open kitchen. The Ferney and Artisan Rooms at Grove, Narberth: There’s two dining options at this luxury country house hotel that’s set in beautiful gardens close to the coast and with views of the Preseli Hills; fine dining on a tasting menu that includes produce from the kitchen garden at The Ferney or casual dining at the Artisan Rooms. Blas, St Davids: Sleek upmarket hotel restaurant a short walk from the town centre with plenty of Welsh produce in the menu including Welsh lamb with barbecued courgette, aubergine and dill. Rhosyn, Penally, nr Tenby: Boutique hotel restaurant in a grand, high-ceilinged room of a gothic house with views over the gardens and the village of Penally below serving inventive dishes such as cauliflower rarebit with beer caramel. Where to stay in Pembrokeshire St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot: Contemporary cliff-top hotel with views over Carmarthen Bay with coastal themed rooms, some with sea views. ££ Slebech Park Estate, Haverfordwest: Country house hotel in an 18th century grade II-listed coach house in a 650-acre estate, a short drive from the coast. Expect traditional decor, exposed beams in the bedrooms and candlelight in the romantic restaurant. £ Roch Castle Hotel, Roch: Luxurious and secluded B&B in a renovated 12th-century castle with sleek, modern and comfortable rooms. ££ Hungry for more foodie travel content? Best luxury family holiday destinations The best all-inclusive resorts with great food The best UK gourmet glamping sites The best dog-friendly hotels in the UK BBC Good Food's travel hub Best rooftop bars london
There has never been a better time for food lovers to take a city break in the UK. Plan your trip around these food-focussed highlights from 12 of the UK cities most interesting food scenes
Recommendations compiled as of the publish date. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide please e-mail us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk From tasting menus, small plates and street food, to artisan bakeries, properly brewed beer and top-notch coffees – so many places across the country are getting everything right. Bath Best for afternoon tea With its perfectly preserved Georgian buildings, Bath is unquestionably one of Britain’s most elegant cities, and a World Heritage Site, too. It’s the ideal setting in which to indulge in that most English of pastimes, afternoon tea (The Pumphouse is stunning), but a burgeoning dining scene means there’s everything from gastropubs to fine dining to enjoy. Where to eat in Bath The Beckford Canteen: mid-range, no-nonsense dining room with focus on seasonality and some local South West suppliers. Town + House: tiny pub with contemporary interiors, good cocktails and a brilliant kimchi chicken burger. Live music on Sunday nights. Landrace: intimate and stripped back first-floor dining room serving local seasonal dishes with British and Italian influences. The ground-floor bakery and cafe is one of the best in the city. The Chequers: a new chef and menu has reinvigorated this popular and stylish gastropub on a backstreet close to the Royal Crescent and The Circus that now boasts a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Book ahead for the highly rated Sunday roast. The Elder: hunting lodge meets old fashioned London gentleman’s club at this elegant hotel restaurant from wild food expert Mike Robinson. Venison from local estates is a must order. The Scallop Shell: a smart fish and chip restaurant serving day-boat fish and hand-cut chips, beloved of Marco Pierre White. The Oyster Shell takeaway is also under the same ownership. The Dark Horse: sip modern inventive cocktails that incorporate locally sourced ingredients at this award winning and atmospheric basement bar. Where to stay in Bath The Queensbury: character-packed central hotel with excellent staff, high standards and Bath’s only Michelin star in its Olive Tree restaurant. No. 15 by Guesthouse: quirky boutique hotel with small but perfectly-formed spa, cocktail bar and relaxed basement restaurant knocking out decent classics. The Bird: a stylishly converted Victorian mansion a ten minute walk from the city centre with individually and boldly designed bedrooms. Enjoy modern comfort food in the Plates restaurant. The Royal Crescent: stay in style and luxury at this landmark hotel in the middle of Bath’s famous Royal Crescent. Take afternoon tea in the beautiful private gardens or dine in the glamorous new Montagu Mews bar and restaurant. Z Hotel: stay in comfort in the city centre without breaking the bank at this style-conscious budget hotel. Brighton Best for small plates dining Ten years ago, Brighton’s restaurant scene mainly catered to seaside daytrippers in search of a bargain lunch. While it still does that very well, it has now also evolved into one of the most dynamic and exciting cities for dining outside of London. Casual small plates are the preferred style, but there are plenty of options for fine dining, too. Where to eat in Brighton Palmito: the exciting menu of small plates is inspired by the culinary heritages of chefs and owners Kanthi Thamma and Diego Ricaurte at this intimate and casual restaurant. Plateau: natural wines, creative cocktails and delicious, inventive small plates are on the menu at this perennially popular and always buzzy Lanes wine bar and restaurant. Burnt Orange: glamorous destination for late-night cocktails and all-day dining on some of the best creative small plates in town. The skillet-baked potatoes are worth the visit alone. Due South: ask for a seat on the beachside terrace to enjoy acclaimed chef Daniel Mertyl’s eclectic menu of wood-fired food that might include flamed monkfish with black lentil sauce. Bincho Yakitori: you’ll need to book ahead for this hugely popular, authentic Japanese-style izakaya, although it’s worth checking online for same-day availability. Do not miss the meltingly tender pork belly. The Set: chef Dan Kenny’s wildly inventive and original tasting menu that might include scallop tikka masala is a real thrill ride of bold flavours in a boho-chic room with a fun soundtrack of punk, pop and hip hop. Furna: book a counter seat overlooking the open kitchen to watch chef Dave Mothersill and team create a sophisticated and highly detailed tasting menu at one of the city’s most luxe fine-dining restaurants. Namo Eat @ The Eagle: authentically fiery and great value Thai food in comfortable pub surroundings. Yum mamuang goong (spicy mango and prawn salad) is a must order. Burger Brothers: there’s usually a queue at this North Laine takeaway with counter seating for what many consider to be Brighton’s best burgers. Try the burger with goat's cheese, peppers and cajun sauce. The Brick: this might just be Brighton’s perfect pub with a carefully curated selection of beers from Germany, the Czech Republic and the UK, Sri Lankan food by The Lankan, a cool soundtrack and stylish surroundings. Flint Owl Bakery: this centrally located bakery and cafe bakes some of the best sourdough in the whole of Sussex, as well as delicious cakes, pasties and coffee. Where to stay in Brighton My Hotel: stay in style in idiosyncratically designed rooms in the heart of the North Laine. On-site dining includes modern Indian restaurant The Chilli Pickle. Drakes: there’s views of the Palace Pier from this contemporary seafront boutique hotel. Book in for a stunning tasting menu of local produce in the recently opened Dilsk restaurant. The Ginger Pig: there are spacious contemporary rooms and three recently opened, luxurious mews houses at this gastropub, close to Hove’s seafront. The Ceramic House: affordable, one-of-a-kind boutique guest house and gallery space designed by architectural ceramicist Kay Alpin, located in Brighton’s peaceful Fiveways neighbourhood. Sheffield Best for casual dining A friendly, culturally vibrant city neighbouring the Peak District, Sheffield offers a getaway where you can easily mix gigs and galleries with scenic walks in beautiful countryside. The opportunity to regularly refuel on great food includes everything from chilled brunch spots to award-winning cocktail bars, family-friendly food halls to gastronomically ambitious restaurants. Where to eat in Sheffield JÖRO: set in the Krynkl shipping container development, chef Luke French serves ultra-seasonal, globally influenced dishes to a soundtrack of hip-hop and house music. Tamper at Sellers Wheel: antipodean-style all-day brunches such as spicy mince on ciabatta with poached eggs and herb hollandaise, as well as very good coffee, served in a former silversmiths. Rutland Arms: quirky, boho city-centre craft beer pub with idiosyncratic menu with chip butties as well as smoked anchovies on toast. Head to the pub’s yard for alfresco drinking. Kommune: communal food hall in a Grade II listed building with street food traders including Fat Hippo burgers. Piña: warehouse taqueria in Kelham Island serving tacos and margaritas delivering authentic flavours. Hand-pressed corn tortillas are topped with slow-cooked meats and vibrant vegan combinations. V or V: much-praised progressive plant-based dining using seasonal, heritage ingredients, open-fire cookery and pickles and ferments. The Depot Bakery: warehouse bakery-café renowned for its bread, cakes, coffee and great brunch/lunch options including “smashed” sardines on sourdough with lime and smoked and pickled chillies. There's a second Depot café at Hillsborough Park. Bench: relaxed, modern neighbourhood hang-out for good drinks and elevated sharing plates. Clever, eclectic dishes might include beef fat potatoes with watercress and smoked cod’s roe. Where to stay in Sheffield House of JÖRO: a luxurious and affordable four-bedroom boutique hotel operated by Luke French and Stacey Sherwood-French of the nearby Jöro restaurant. Brocco on the Park: eight Scandi-style bedrooms in a converted Edwardian villa with casual Brocco Kitchen restaurant and bar. Leopold Hotel: centrally located four-star hotel on Leopold Square in a converted 19th century grammar school, close to city centre bars and restaurants. Bristol Best for classic European food Bristol's thriving food scene is full to bursting with restaurants, markets, breweries and bars, from the city centre to the harbourside. Whatever you are looking for, from classic French food to creative fine dining, traditional tapas to modern small plates, you will find a brilliant version of it in a city that really knows how to eat and drink in style. Where to eat in Bristol Wilson's: a gem in Bristol’s Redland neighbourhood is all you want from a local bistro. The deceptively simple food is based around ingredients the owners have grown, gathered or hunted themselves. Casa: Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias has re-imagined his flagship restaurant once more and now offers Italian sharing plates from a lively open kitchen served by youthful staff and to a great soundtrack. Next door, sister restaurant Paco Tapas offers top drawer classical Spanish tapas. In good weather, ask for a seat on the large, waterside terrace. Little French: tucked away from the city centre in residential Westbury Park, this family-run restaurant serves unpretentious flavour-packed food. Great for both casual and/or romantic dining. Marmo: set in a gorgeous building with high ceilings and large windows, Marmo serves a short, modestly priced and largely Italian-influenced menu and a seriously good list of wines. Bianchis: an elegant, romantic Italian restaurant located in the hip Montpelier area of Bristol serving pasta made on the premises and fantastic aperitif and antipasti. Root: inventive veg-centric small plates that might include grilled hispi cabbage with honey mustard dressing and crispy hen's egg served in a converted shipping container in the city’s waterside Wapping Wharf development. Lido: this casual restaurant boasts a stunning location overlooking a Victorian lido and a menu with hints of the Moorish and the Mediterranean. Breakfast here is a real treat. Flour & Ash: choose from about eight options of wood-fired pizza in this bare bones, small, intimate space for communal dining, complete with picnic benches running down the centre. HMSS: tucked away in an unlikely location beside Clifton Down shopping centre, this is one of Bristol’s coolest bars serving classic and inventive cocktails. Wiper and True: sit at trestle tables among the brewing tanks at this unique brewery tap room to enjoy freshly brewed pints and gyoza dumplings by Eatchu. Where to stay in Bristol Number 38: contemporary, characterful boutique accommodation in a refurbished Georgian merchant’s house overlooking Clifton Downs. Brooks Guesthouse: stay in a luxurious Airstream-style ‘Retro Rocket’ caravan on the roof of this modern city centre guesthouse. The Berkeley Square Hotel Bristol: stay in style in this ‘art hotel’ in a Grade II listed building set on an elegant Georgian square in Clifton. Bristol Harbour Hotel: glamorous boutique hotel in two converted banks in the city centre close to St Nicholas Market complete with underground spa in the old vaults and a great cocktail bar. Edinburgh Best for modern globally influenced dining You can go to Edinburgh for the incredible history or the thriving cultural scene (especially during the festival) but we’d recommend you go for the dining opportunities. With restaurants and bars in every part of the city, it’s a great way to explore, too, from the Old Town and New Town, to Leith and neighbourhoods like Stockbridge and Southside. Where to eat in Edinburgh The Kitchin: Michelin-starred celebrity chef Tom Kitchin’s fine dining food is a celebration of Scottish produce from the pig’s head and langoustine starter to the shellfish rockpool main. You can also try Tom Kitchin’s food at the Scran and Scallie gastropub and the more casual Kora restaurant. Saboteur: this modern Vietnamese restaurant is a sister of the hip Ting Thai Caravan and shares a stripped-back aesthetic. Try a bowl of addictively aromatic kuay tiaw tom yam soup noodles. Ka Pao: lively, industrial chic, Southeast Asian-inspired brasserie in Edinburgh’s new shopping and dining St James Quarter. The fried chicken with fish sauce caramel is unforgettably addictive. Cafe St Honore: beguilingly romantic French-bistro dining featuring the best Scottish ingredients and charming service. The set Cafe Classics menu is one of the city’s great bargains. Timberyard: modern, cool yet unpretentious, family run Timberyard is set in a converted warehouse where there’s a menu of Scottish produce served with Scandinavian-inflected flair. The Palmerston: in a converted bank in Edinburgh’s Haymarket area, the daily changing menu of this smart but casual restaurant uses the best seasonal produce with dishes such as Borders venison and suet pie. Origano: this bustling premises on Leith Walk may just be the best pizzeria in town, and is complete with a wood-burning oven. Sit in or take away. Salt Horse: tucked away on a side street off the Royal Mile, this casual bar is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of craft beer with an ever-changing line-up of keg beers and hundreds of cans and bottles from around the globe. Toast: they take their wine very seriously at this bright, stylish and relaxed café and bar overlooking Leith’s waterfront with bottles from Slovenia, Croatia and Greece among many other places. Söderberg: if you want to indulge in a spot of ‘fika’ (Swedish coffee and cake culture), head for this stylish glass box overlooking the city’s modernist Lister Square where the gorgeous kanelbulle (cinnamon buns) are made in the upstairs bakery. Where to stay in Edinburgh Gleaneagles Townhouse: the luxurious city-centre sister of the legendary Gleneagles Hotel in rural Perthshire is set in an elegant Georgian townhouse overlooking St Andrew Square. There’s sophisticated all-day dining in The Spence restaurant and rooftop drinking in the Lamplighters terrace bar. 21212: there’s four spacious and beautifully decorated rooms in this converted townhouse in a grand Regency terrace, centrally located in the New Town. Motel One: there’s modern chic urban style on a budget at these centrally located hotels, one each in the Old Town and New Town. Manchester Best for sophisticated contemporary dining As befits a modern, forward-looking city, Manchester’s food scene is at the leading edge of food trends. Places like Erst show how well contemporary small and sharing plates can be done, Bundobust is at the forefront of casual, communal street food-style dining, and Mana is the epitome of stylish British fine dining. Where to eat in Manchester Mana: Manchester’s only Michelin-starred restaurant occupies a starkly beautiful space in the fashionable Ancoats neighbourhood where you can indulge in 14 courses of chef Simon Martin’s ‘fermentation and fire’ food. The Refuge: globally influenced small plates in the stunning surroundings of the Grade II listed, Victorian era Refuge Assurance Building. A drink in the beautiful Winter Garden is a must. Erst: a mix of on-point sharing plates including the terrific flatbreads and well-selected natural wines has won this minimalist Ancoats restaurant national recognition. Adam Reid at The French: the elegant restaurant of the grande dame of Manchester hotels The Midland is home to acclaimed chef Adam Reid, whose 11-course tasting menu might include Scottish scallops with Cinderwood celtuce, celery and tarragon. Kala: chef and restaurateur Gary Usher’s smart city centre bistro is simply styled with green banquettes and darkly varnished parquet tables where enthusiastic young staff deliver enjoyable dishes including the signature braised featherblade with truffled parmesan chips. Bundobust: feast on boldly flavoured Gujarati dishes served street food-style in waxed-paper pots at communal tables at this big, popular basement restaurant. 10 Tib Lane: set over three floors of a Victorian townhouse near the town hall, this hip, casual restaurant and bar offers a modish mix of contemporary sharing small plates and natural wines. Pollen: at two city-centre venues, in New Islington Marina and Kampus, this bakery-cafe serves exceptional bread, coffee and pastries as well as great brunch-lunch dishes. Salut: popular wine shop, bar and, in summer, al fresco pavement drinking spot with a selection of over 400 bottles. Where to stay in Manchester The Lowry: contemporary five-star hotel overlooking the River Irwell in Salford, close to the bars and restaurants in Spinningfields. Named after the artist L.S. Lowry, the hotel is adorned with numerous works of art. Motel One: part of a chain of stylish and comfortable budget hotels with three central locations in the city. Stock Exchange: luxury hotel with sleek and elegant rooms in the converted Manchester Stock Exhange, a handsome Edwardian Baroque Grade II listed building that is also home to the Stock Market Grill restaurant. Newcastle Best for modern European food Newcastle is renowned for having buzzing nightlife, but it's also got some fantastic places to eat offering great examples of modern European dining. We've gathered the best restaurants in Newcastle, from hidden street food gems in the city centre to exciting fine-dining experiences. Where to eat in Newcastle Träkol: open-fire restaurant on the quayside set in a collection of double-height shipping containers beneath the Tyne Bridge. Expect sharing feasts of roasted pig’s head with pork chops and black pudding. House of Tides: peerless ingredients are transformed with exceptional skill at Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson’s Quayside gastrodome where the tasting menu might include cured, scorched and glazed sea trout with dill, radish and trout roe. Atkinson also runs the equally high-end Solstice, also Michelin-starred, a few minutes walk away. The Broad Chare: polished gastropub from chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne who also runs restaurant 21, Cafe 21, Saltwater Fish Company, St. Vincent and Porterhouse. Expect fantastic snacks (Lindisfarne oysters, crispy pigs' ears) and local ales in the bar, plus a gutsy dining menu including spicy black pudding and grilled liver and onions. The Patricia: you’ll find a dark, contemporary French bistro-style interior and an ingredients-led menu of rustic dishes with minimum components at this neighbourhood restaurant from chef-owner Nick Grieves, formerly of The River Café. Cook House: having relocated from its original shipping container home, chef Anna Hedworth’s renowned restaurant in trendy, creative Ouseburn now boasts two floors, a dining terrace, shop and garden. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, expect creative dishes such as roast hake with a hazelnut dukkah crust. Chilli Padi: friendly Malaysian café with an expansive menu full of big flavours including a salted vegetable and fried fish head soup and Szechuan beef. Fat Hippo Underground: under the vaulted ceilings of this subterranean lair, pig out on Newcastle’s best burgers while sipping craft beers from regional and UK brewing greats. Grainger Market: this grade I listed Regency period covered market in the city centre is home to more than 100 traders including over a dozen food stalls, such as Snackwallah serving vegan Indian street food. Where to stay in Newcastle INNSiDE Newcastle: smart quayside hotel with minimalist rooms and River Tyne views. The Vermont Hotel: landmark hotel in a grand 1930s building with opulent rooms. Grey Street Hotel: centrally located affordable boutique hotel with modern stylings. Staybridge Suites Newcastle: self-catering aparthotel with affordable and modern studios and suites. Birmingham Best for fine dining Everyone knows about Birmingham’s Indian food heritage and the ‘Balti Triangle’ that lies south of the city centre. But the city also has a parallel heritage of fine dining that can be traced back at least 30 years to the opening of Simpsons restaurant. Birmingham now boasts five Michelin-starred restaurants with many more waiting in the wings. Where to eat in Birmingham Harborne Kitchen: there’s creative small plates at the bar or a full on tasting menu at this handsomely designed but relaxed contemporary neighbourhood restaurant with open kitchen. Opheem: Michelin-starred TV chef Aktar Islam’s glamorous city centre restaurant offers a 10-course menu of creative, modern food inspired by regional cuisines from across India including ‘korma-Lucknow’ that incorporates chicken wing, pearl barley, shimeji mushrooms and black truffle. Adams: Adam Stokes brings huge flair and skill to modern dishes that look and taste spectacular at this Michelin-starred restaurant. The seven-course tasting menu is a blow-the-budget meal, with spot-on dishes such as wagyu brisket and sirloin. Simpsons: there’s an airy, contemporary Nordic look to this long-established Michelin-starred gem in Edgbaston where dishes like scallops with coriander, cauliflower and seaweed beurre blanc are on-trend. Purnell’s: Glynn Purnell might be cheeky enough to appoint himself ‘Prince of Birmingham’ but he’s serious when it comes to his food in a multi-course menu that draws on Birmingham’s varied cultural heritage. He has also recently opened Plates by Purnell, a modern tapas restaurant. Carters of Moseley: chef-owner Brad Carter has won a Michelin star for his technically accomplished, imaginative, modern seasonal tasting menus at this small, relaxed and welcoming place in the fashionable suburb of Moseley. The Indian Streatery: the centrepiece of this family-run restaurant is a mocked-up food cart where where staff serve eat-in/takeaway lunch curries and chaats. A full menu is served in the evening. Min Min Noodle Bar: a family-run cafe with funky decor and freshly prepared, great value food. Try the Vietnamese rolls stuffed with prawns, fish and seaweed or a fragrant bowl of noodles. Bonehead: dimly lit and loud, Bonehead is an unusually convincing homage to the kind of boozy, late-night dive-bars you might find in Amsterdam or Berlin. Don’t miss the fried chicken. Faculty: located in the Edwardian Piccadilly Arcade by New Street station, this hip brew bar not only dispenses supremely silky flat whites and perfect pour-over coffees, but also incredible baking. Where to stay in Birmingham The Grand Hotel: this landmark Victorian hotel has recently re-opened after 20 years, having undergone a £50 million restoration. Expect opulence and luxury at every turn. Staying Cool: contemporary aparthotel with serviced apartment accommodation housed in a stylish 1960s building. The High Field Town House: boutique hotel in a listed Victorian villa in Edgbaston with 12 individually styled rooms. Belfast Best for local produce-driven dining In addition to tourist attractions like the Titanic exhibition, Belfast can supply everything you’d want from a food-focussed city break. A top-notch market, great cafes, bars and pubs (of course) and lots of excellent and affordable dining opportunities are all accessible within a concentrated city centre area. Where to eat in Belfast Eipic: local legend chef Michael Deane's Belfast empire includes the smart but relaxed restaurants Meat Locker, Love Fish, Deanes at Queens and Deane and Decano, but Eipic is his fine-dining Michelin-starred flagship. Chef Alex Greene leads the creative, modern menu including the Incredible Edible Book dessert as cooked on Great British Menu. Ox: there’s Michelin-starred brilliance from chef Stephen Toman, aided by the warmth and hospitality of manager and partner Alain Kerloc'h at this smart restaurant overlooking the River Lagan. The highly seasonal tasting menu focuses on fresh vegetables, fish and the finer cuts of venison and beef. James St.: the best of Irish produce, including high quality steaks and stunningly fresh fish are on offer at his perennially popular, relaxed and clubby city centre restaurant. The Muddlers Club: hunt out this modern, industrial chic restaurant that’s hidden away on a back street in the Cathedral Quarter, for some of the most exciting, and Michelin-starred, food in the city from chef Gareth McCaughey. The produce driven tasting menu might include cod with chicken skin and beurre blanc. Noble: take a short taxi ride to Holywood to this charming, buzzy restaurant for the irresistible menu of local produce simply cooked. Dishes might include Portavogie prawns in garlic butter. Stock Kitchen: overlooking St George’s Market (which is well worth a visit from a foodie perspective) in a beautiful glass-roofed space is acclaimed chef Danny Millar’s restaurant, where he creates a seasonal menu of robust, classical dishes from the best local produce, some from the market below. Yardbird: set above the Dirty Onion, a former whiskey warehouse in the heart of the old city, Yardbird serves up juicy, dry-rubbed rotisserie chicken, but the highlight for those in the know is the avocado salad spiced with chilli vinaigrette. John Long’s Fish & Chips: going strong since 1914, John Long’s is a Belfast institution. Arrive before 12.30pm to bag one of the 1970s formica booths for some of the best traditional battered fish in the city. Established Coffee: this minimalist, stripped out Cathedral Quarter cafe serves some of the best coffee in Belfast, along with a wholesome and inexpensive menu of dishes, traybakes and health-conscious lunches. Where to stay in Belfast The Merchant Hotel: wildly opulent hotel with luxurious rooms and grand public spaces in the former Ulster Bank HQ. Don’t miss the breathtaking Grand Room restaurant or atmospheric cocktail bar. Europa Hotel: once famous as the most bombed hotel in Europe, the Europa is now simply one of the most famous hotels in Belfast with modern, stylish rooms. The Harrison Chambers of Distinction: characterful and chic boutique townhouse hotel in the leafy Malone Road near the city’s University Quarter. Bullitt Hotel: themed after the famous 1960s Steve McQueen film, Bullitt offers quirky but cool styling and plenty of comfort in the city’s Cathedral Quarter. Norwich Best for neighbourhood dining With its cobbled lanes and ancient Romanesque cathedral, Norwich is one of the most charming and characterful cities in the UK. It’s also home to some fabulous restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs, not to mention one of the best markets in the country. While it’s an eminently walkable city, it’s worth taking a short trip out to the surrounding neighbourhoods where you’ll find local gems like Woolf and Social hidden away. Where to eat in Norwich Benedicts: TV chef Richard Bainbridge combines comfort food and haute cuisine at his elegant neighbourhood restaurant that celebrates Norfolk produce in dishes like aged Norfolk lamb loin scrumpet, yogurt and black garlic. Farmyard: you can’t miss Farmyard’s neon-pink sign and striking blue-green frontage. The interior is just as arresting with a huge psychedelic mural and an open kitchen. The menu highlights local produce, skillfully prepared in dishes such as crab crumpet with spring cabbage, chimichurri bisque and coriander. Roger Hickman: this intimate and elegant fine-dining restaurant is the quintessential special occasion destination. Ask for a table on the ground floor of the split-level dining room for a culinary tour de force that might include cauliflower panna cotta with spiced cauliflower, shallot purée and roast hazelnut. Woolf and Social: there’s seasonal small plates to share and a great wine list at this convivial and comfortable neighbourhood restaurant, a short walk from the city centre. The Assembly House: take afternoon tea in a stunning Grade I listed Georgian building that’s overseen by local celebrity chef Richard Hughes. The themed teas change throughout the year and might include sweet shop or Alice in Wonderland. Hawthorn: in the know drinkers head upstairs from the Makers House tapas bar to this stylish yet cosy first-floor bar for the list of original, complex (and strong) creations such as Hamilton’s Gimlet made with pisco, manzanilla, apple aperitif and Braeburn syrup. Open Friday and Saturday nights only. Shiki: for some of the best Japanese food in the country, head to this contemporary izakaya-style restaurant opposite the cathedral where you can watch the chefs preparing sushi and sashimi. Wild Thyme: this vegan and vegetarian café in the city centre is rustic yet refined, with lots of bare brick, artfully distressed period furniture and a row of arched leaded windows. The evening à la carte draws on global influences for dishes such as Moroccan-spiced pulled jackfruit with hummus. Kofra: this group of three hip coffee shops is serious about caffeine, serving single-origin brews with expertise and care. They also stock natural wines and deli items. Jarrold: browse the aisles of the food hall in Norwich’s iconic department store then eat and drink at one of the store’s six restaurants and bars. Norwich Market: Norwich’s 900-year-old city centre market is the city’s go-to place for street food; try Cocina Mia’s Chilean empanadas filled with chicken, chorizo and sweet peppers. Where to stay in Norwich 3 Princes: elegant B&B accommodation in a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in a quiet but central location. The Assembly House: stay in spacious and comfortable rooms in an elegant and historic, Grade I listed mansion in the heart of the city. The Maids Head Hotel: claimed to be the oldest hotel in the country, The Maids Head offers traditional and affordable rooms in a great city centre location. The award winning WinePress restaurant has bags of character. Cardiff Best for tasting menus With Cardiff Arms Park, the Principality Stadium, Cardiff International Arena and the Millenium Centre, you’d be forgiven for associating Cardiff with sport and cultural events. But then you’d be overlooking the city’s fast-evolving food scene. There’s a plethora of tasting menu restaurants from high-profile chefs, but also plenty of depth and variety to explore with things like great Indian and vegan options, too. What to eat in Cardiff Heaneys: head to Heaneys in Pontcanna for a casual yet refined dining experience in a contemporary urban space from Great British Menu finalist Tommy Heaney. The daily-rotating menu features a selection of sharing plates using innovative, expertly combined ingredients. Home by James Sommerin: this fine-dining restaurant in Penarth, just outside Cardiff, is truly a family affair with elegant and inventive Michelin-starred tasting menus from father-and-daughter team James and Georgia Sommerin, and other Sommerin family members running the restaurant. Cora: chef Lee Skeet worked in some of the best restaurants in Europe including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay before opening this intimate 10-seater dining room with open kitchen where he serves a seafood-led tasting menu that also includes meat and game. Thomas by Tom Simmons: acclaimed chef Tom Simmons creates French-inspired dishes out of the finest Welsh produce such as Pembrokeshire lamb loin with confit breast, courgette and basil at this smart, fine-dining restaurant and bar. Anna Loka: this 100 per cent vegan restaurant was crowdfunded by former Hare Krishna monk Adam El Tagoury. Try the specialty burgers made from seitan (wheat gluten) – it's vegan comfort food. Chai St: Indian street food, small plates and curries from the owners of the highly rated Mint and Mustard in Penarth and Chai Social just outside the city centre. Purple Poppadom: when it comes to Indian food, the name Anand George is whispered with sacred reverence in Cardiff. The clean, bright, modern presentation – the room as well as the plate – allows many varied flavours to breathe and bedazzle. Lab 22: they take their cocktails seriously at this smart city centre bar on the pedestrianised Caroline Street. The seasonally changing line of creative drinks might include 'Wildflower Sour' made with vodka infused with foraged wildflowers and mixed with apple eau de vie and Welsh vermouth. Cardiff Market: you can buy nuts and bolts or have your fortune told at this impressive, sprawling Victorian market, but it’s also home to lots of great street food including Tukka Tuk's Kerala-fried chicken with Bombay fries. Where to stay in Cardiff Parador 44: Spanish-inspired city centre boutique hotel with rooftop terrace that’s also home to the acclaimed Asador 44 restaurant. Voco St Davids: luxury hotel housed in an iconic modernist building overlooking Cardiff Bay. The Parkgate Hotel: chic luxury hotel housed in two elegant Victorian-era civic buildings in the city centre. Sleeperz: clean and comfortable budget hotel in a convenient location close to the station and the city centre. Bermondsey, London Best for eclectic dining Bermondsey is a microcosm of London all wrapped up in an easily navigable neighbourhood that’s perfect for a city break. There’s world-class art and theatre on your hotel’s doorstep, as well as some of the best food markets in the city and so many fantastic restaurants that you’d could stay a week and only scratch the surface of what’s on offer. Where to eat in Bermondsey Trivet: chef Jonny Lake and sommelier Isa Bal (both formerly of The Fat Duck) offer a true gastronomic experience in refined surroundings. Don’t miss the baked potato mille-feuille dessert with saké and white chocolate mousse. Sollip: a refined tasting menu that fuses European and Korean influences in a beautiful minimalist dining room. Chefs and owners Bomee Ki and Woongchul Park have won a Michelin star for original and elegant dishes such as daikon tarte tatin with toasted barley, roasted potato and burnt hay. Casse Croute: charming French bistro that will transport you to the streets of Paris with classic dishes such as feuilleté d'escargots l'aneth (snails in puff pastry with dill). Santo Remedio: there’s authentic regional Mexican cuisine on offer at this vibrant, friendly restaurant. The menu of tacos, tostados and regional dishes includes guacamole with grasshoppers. José Tapas Bar and Pizarro: there are two options in Bermondsey if you want to try Spanish chef José Pizarro’s food. José Tapas Bar is tiny, walk-in only and always crowded with people ordering from the daily blackboard menu. Pizarro is more roomy and comfortable and features a full à la carte menu. Cafe Murano: the Bermondsey outpost of Michelin starred TV chef Angela Hartnett’s approachable and affordable group of Italian restaurants is buzzy and smart. The pasta dishes are a particular highlight. Borough Market: London’s most famous market is not only home to some excellent produce stalls, but has numerous dining options, too, including pasta at Padella, Spanish food at Tapas Brindisa, Mexican cuisine at El Pastor and modern fine dining and small plates menus at Turnips. Spa Terminus: formed from a section of railway arches, Spa Terminus is home to a wide range of food and drink producers including Monmouth Coffee Company, Neal’s Yard Dairy and The Kernel Brewery and Taproom. St John Bakery: it’s no exaggeration to say that the doughnuts made at the bakery of the famous St John restaurant group, set within a railway arch, are worth a trip to Bermondsey all by themselves. The sourdough is also excellent. Where to stay in Bermondsey Shangri-La at The Shard: there’s luxurious rooms and spectacular city views from this five-star hotel that occupies 18 floors of The Shard. The Lalit: elegant boutique hotel housed in a stunning Grade II listed brick building close to Tower Bridge. Locke Living: stylish and comfortable self-catering aparthotel rooms and suites close to London Bridge with chef Robin Gill’s Bermondsey Larder restaurant on site. The Bermondsey Square Hotel: stylish and contemporary boutique hotel rooms that won’t bust the budget in the heart of Bermondsey. You might also be interested in: The best UK gourmet glamping sites The best dog-friendly hotels in the UK Best brunch in London Top city breaks for food in Europe
Bag yourself the best fish and chips near you this summer. Our guide brings you the best chippies to visit across the UK.
Recommendations compiled as of the publish date. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide, please email us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. It's an iconic British dish that tastes even better by the sea in summer. With our handy guide to the best chippie hotspots on the map, you will be guaranteed the proper experience. We love nothing better than crisp batter, soft flakes of fresh fish and moreish chips. If you share our passion, read on. Colmans Fish & Chips South Shields This legendary South Shields chip shop and café has been in the same family since 1926. Its original coal-fired fryers are long gone, usurped by high-spec, ultra-modern Kiremko ranges that produce dishes such as real scampi (made using Whitby Bay langoustine tails) or Thai-style prawn fishcakes. Colmans uses day-boat fish for its seasonal specials such as line-caught North Atlantic haddock and cod approved by the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council). Both are cooked in a top-secret batter. £. The Bay Stonehaven A pioneer in seafood sustainability (and a long-term MSC affiliate), this seafront takeaway in Stonehaven near Aberdeen is equally focused on finessing the quality of its fish and chips. Owner Calum Richardson is so well respected that swanky Edinburgh seafood restaurant, Ondine, uses his batter recipe. Served with richly savoury chips cooked in beef dripping, The Bay’s haddock supper is knockout. Do not miss the smoked haddock fishcakes. £ Burton Road Chippy Lincoln Proper homemade mushy peas (a silken joy!), rigorous frying to order and its renowned fat, crisp and fluffy chips – made from carefully stored and prepared, locally grown Maris Pipers – are just some of the reasons that have made this Lincoln takeaway café an award winner. In many ways, Burton Road is the perfect blend of old and new. All its cod and haddock is MSC-compliant, while its menu runs from pickled eggs to hand-cut, panko-coated squid. £ Cod’s Scallops Nottingham Combining fishmongers, takeaways and cafés, these two smartly seaside-themed branches of Cod’s Scallops offer a modish fish and chip experience that will wow fastidious foodies (note: local Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains is a fan). Pick your fillets from a wet fish counter – where choices include MSC cod and haddock, and day-boat landed seafood – before having it fried to order in beef dripping, or baked with garlic and lemon. Seasonal specials range from grilled sardines and Colchester Native oysters to marinières-style wild sea mussels and, in winter, a serious fish soup that starts with a base of soy sauce and roasted fish bones. £ Hodgson’s Lancaster Hodgson's has won numerous awards since opening in 1998 so it’s no surprise that, at peak times, this MSC-accredited Lancaster takeaway has a queue of eager locals at the counter. Expect greaseless fish with an almost tempura-light batter and rustling, buttery chips, as well as delicious, homemade Yorkshire-style fish cakes, a kind of fish-filled, fried potato sandwich. £ The Fish Shed Exeter Part of the vast Darts Farm food hall in Topsham near Exeter, the Fish Shed is a site of pilgrimage for chip shop connoisseurs. Supplied by a network of Lyme Bay day boats, the the fish here will usually have been landed within the past 12 hours. Snazzy dishes such as lobster, scallops with bacon or salsa verde and well-honed standards including beer-battered haddock with beef-dripping-cooked chips combine to make this one of the UK’s very best chip shops. It will also grill your fish or swap those chips for a leafy green salad. £. Number One Cromer Set over two floors, Michelin-starred chef Galton Blackiston’s posh version of a seafront fish and chip shop offers great views of Cromer beach and pier. Downstairs, there’s classics such as MSC-certified cod and chips as well as more adventurous options including lager, soy and ginger-marinated whitebait with aioli dip. Upstairs, an extended menu also includes the likes of king prawn Goan curry with cumin roti and caramelised lime and coconut rice. £ Palm Court Brighton This spacious restaurant on Brighton’s historic Palace Pier has been given a complete overhaul in recent years. The elegant, pared back design features a central bar, copper pendant lighting, mosaic floor tiles and comfortable banquette seating. Add in unrivalled sea views and you’ve got a pretty special place in which to enjoy hand-cut fillets of cod or haddock with freshly cut chips with a glass of champagne or a cocktail. £ Fraser’s Penzance This perennially popular, traditional chippy overlooks Penzance’s famous Promenade, with a second branch in nearby Helston as well as sister restaurant Harbour Lights in Falmouth. There’s Cornish day boat fish, including hake landed less than a mile away at Newlyn, alongside MSC-certified Arctic cod and haddock. Vegetarian options include mushy pea fritters, every true fish and chip connoisseur’s choice. £ Whiteheads Hornsea, near Hull This family run neighbourhood chippy that’s located close to the beach in the Yorkshire seaside resort of Hornsea won the title of Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year in the National Fish and Chip Awards 2023. But you can eat the MSC-certified battered haddock or Atlantic cod in the comfortable restaurant, too. Plaice, ray, halibut and lemon sole, all battered, are also available for those who want something slightly different. Gluten-free options are cooked separately from the main menu. £ Aldeburgh Fish and Chip Shop/The Golden Galleon Aldeburgh The Cooney family have been frying fish and chips in the charming Suffolk seaside town of Aldeburgh since 1967. Peter, the son of the original owners, is still going strong after half a century. You’ll find both the original Aldeburgh Fish and Chip Shop and The Golden Galleon in the high street, less than 200 yards apart and both a stone’s throw from the beach where they fry haddock, cod, plaice, rock eel and chips in beef dripping as they’ve done since the day it opened. To eat in, head to the Upper Deck restaurant above the Golden Galleon. £ Ossies Fish and Chips Whitstable You’ll find this popular restaurant and takeaway a short walk from Tankerton Beach in the picturesque seaside town of Whitstable. Run by brother and sister team Ozan and Elvan Bodur, originally from Istanbul and a family of fishermen, the menu includes traditional cod and chips are well as specialities such as grilled sea bass from Ramsgate Harbour and pan-fried local skate with coriander. In good weather, grab a seat in the patio garden or pavement side terrace. £ The Fish Works Largs This multi award-winning, family-run restaurant and takeaway with outdoor terrace is set right on the prom at Largs and boasts stunning views over the Firth of Clyde to the west coast of Scotland. But it’s not just about the setting. As well as battered cod or haddock and chips, you’ll also find battered langoustines and day-boat-caught fish from Peterhead on the menu. As this is Scotland, you won’t want to miss the haggis fritters. £ The Magpie Cafe Whitby The Magpie Cafe could claim to be the most famous fish and chip restaurant and takeaway in the country, not least because the late, great critic AA Gill named it the best in Britain no less than twice in his Times restaurant review column. Run by three generations of the McKenzie Slater family since 1954, the 18th-century, black and white, double bow front building is instantly recognisable in its location overlooking Whitby harbour. The extensive menu of seafood delights features responsibly caught haddock and cod fried in beef dripping, as well lesser known varieties such as woof and local Whitby crab. £ Ainsworth's Fish and Chips Caernarfon This multi award-winning family-run takeaway with counter dining was named one of the 50 best fish and chip takeaways in the UK in 2023. Family run since 1995 and set close to the historic waterfront Caernarfon Castle, the concise, no-nonsense menu includes responsibly and sustainably sourced cod, haddock and scampi served with chips made with British potatoes. £ The Friary Carrickfergus Named as fish and chip shop of the year and listed among the 60 best in the country, this smart and modern takeaway with stool seating is hidden away at the back of a service station a few miles from Carrickfergus Castle and marina. The menu of MSC-certified seafood includes cod, haddock and scampi served with twice-cooked chips and homemade mushy peas. £ If you want to try your hand at making your own homemade fish and chips, check out our guide on how to deep-fry safely and our ultimate fish and chips recipe collection. Like this guide to the best eats in the UK? Check out our other handy travel guides... Six foodie breaks on a budget Six family trips: gourmet glamping Six city breaks for foodies Best rooftop bars London Have we missed anywhere? Let us know in the comments below...
In East Anglia’s medieval city you’ll find daringly modern food, from insect-garnished salads to haute cuisine barbecue crisps and mammoth breakfast toasties!
All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of the publish date and will be checked periodically. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide please e-mail us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk Peek into the heritage, half-timbered buildings of Norwich and you may be surprised to discover cutting edge culinary delights. We've compiled a list of the top restaurants, bars and cafés where you can sample the best of local cuisine, from traditional pub fair and casual afternoon teas to fine dining with innovative flavour combinations, creative cocktails and dazzling desserts. Taking a trip South? Read our other city guides – we have expert recommendations for the best restaurants to eat in Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Cambridge. Best restaurants in Norwich at a glance Benedicts - Special occasion Farmyard - Casual dining, special occasion Roger Hickman - Special occasion Hawthorn - Casual dining Woolf & Social - Casual dining, cheap eat The Assembly House - Casual dining, special occasion, kid friendly Shiki - Casual dining, cheap eat The Wine Press - Casual dining, special occasion J.C Pinto - Casual dining The Fig Bar - Casual dining Ten Bells - Casual dining Rooftop Terrace - Casual dining The Vine - Casual dining Grosvenor Fish Bar - Casual dining, cheap eat, kid friendly Wild Thyme - Casual dining Benedicts Special occasion Former Morston Hall head chef Richard Bainbridge combines comfort food and haute cuisine at his simple yet smart neighbourhood bistro that celebrates Norfolk produce. There’s a healthy dose of nostalgia about dishes like ‘Nanny bush's seasonal trifle’ – (a winning dish on BBC 2's Great British Menu, 2015), a milk jam with puff pastry, thyme and bay leaf ice cream. The wine pairing with the six- or eight-course tasting menu is imaginative and may include an alpine cheese soup with garden herb tortellini. Their sample set lunch menu is £28. Farmyard Casual dining, special occasion Farmyard’s neon-pink sign and striking blue-green frontage stand out on St Benedict’s Street, Norwich’s restaurant row. The interior of this bistro is just as arresting with a huge psychedelic mural and an open kitchen framed by a wall of enamelled white tiles. The menu highlights local produce, skillfully prepared in simple, seasonal dishes like foie gras and chicken and leek terrine. Mains starting from £18, two courses for £23 and three courses for £29. Roger Hickman Special occasion Roger Hickman’s Restaurant is where Norwich comes to celebrate. Ask for a table on the spacious ground floor of the split-level dining room for a culinary tour de force that might include loin and confit leg of rabbit with Iberico ham, pea purée and potato, and that’s just for starters. A great value lunch menu means you don’t have to save this for a special occasion. Two courses, £55 and three courses, £65. Hawthorn Casual dining Working your way through barman Richard O’Brien’s list of original, complex (and strong) creations such as The Wolfpack made with tequila, kummel (caraway liqueur), grapefruit and orange sherbets, lime and smoked salt is like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. You don’t know how it’s going to end, but you know you’re going to have a lot of fun along the way. Cocktails £8. Woolf & Social Casual dining, cheap eat Don’t panic. What appears to be a line of ants crawling across a bowl of poached pear and goat’s cheese is, in fact... ants. Deep-fried until crunchy, earthy and zesty, try them with a pokey sloe gin and burnt orange negroni. If insects (including flying termites in season) aren’t your bag, go for the signature fried chicken with sriracha mayo. Small plates such as Muntjac loin with rocket and orange from £7 The Assembly House Casual dining, special occasion, kid friendly The Assembly House is a gorgeous Grade-I listed Georgian building overseen by local celebrity chef Richard Hughes. Just along from M&S in Norwich’s city centre, it serves a splendid afternoon tea. It was in fact a finalist for 'best afternoon tea' in the Norfolk food and drink awards 2017. Highlights include cheese, mustard and chive scones, Norfolk ham finger sandwiches and some stunning cakes and pastries. Afternoon tea £27.95 for one. Shiki Casual dining, cheap eat For some of the best Japanese food in the country, head to this contemporary Izayaka-style restaurant opposite the Cathedral. Here, you can watch the chefs preparing an array of sushi and sashimi, including cucumber and sesame temaki hand rolls and octopus nigiri. The ‘otsumami’ or sharing dishes include vegetarian options such as yasai age gyoza (deep-fried vegetable dumplings). Small plates from £5.50. The Wine Press Casual dining, special occasion With its dark wood panelling and open fire, the private ‘snug’ at this 12th-century hotel located next to Norwich Cathedral is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner in historic surroundings. But there’s nothing antiquated about Gordon Ramsay-trained chef Marcin Pomierny’s food; scallops are paired with pig cheek, fennel salad, cauliflower and apple, and maple-braised brisket comes with hazelnuts and chickweed. Two courses are £40 and three courses are £50. J.C Pinto Casual dining Ask for a seat in the characterful double-height bar of this relaxed all-day restaurant with its exposed brick and beams and huge skylight, where you can look out on Norwich's cobbled lanes and sip a glass of wine. This is also favoured spot for breakfast; try the Colombian eggs with avocado and tomato salsa. Mains from £6.75 The Fig Bar Casual dining One of just a handful of dessert-only restaurants in the country, Fig Bar is the creation of Marcus Wareing-trained pastry chef Jamie Garbutt whose dazzlingly original, flavour-juggling creations include the 'Ambrosia' that combines blood orange poached rhubarb, lemon & camomile mousseline, coconut yogurt sorbet and tarragon merinuge. Desserts from £6. Ten Bells Casual dining Gin lovers should head to this smartly modernised 18th-century pub that has its own working distillery, visible from the bar. Their own Bullards gin, made with spicy, fruity tonka beans, is served alongside more that 50 other brands as well as more than 100 whiskys. Book early for the pub's hugely popular distillery tours and tastings. Burgers from £9.50. Rooftop Terrace Casual dining Request a seat on the heated terrace at Norwich's only rooftop restaurant for the best views of the city and cathedral, accompanied by a glass or two of fizz. Head inside to the blingy dining room for the all-embracing menu that includes plates like sticky ginger and chilli tofu kebabs served with Asian noodles. Mains from £14.95. The Vine Casual dining The smallest pub in Norwich, rated by the Good Beer Guide for its selection of hand-pumped real ales, also serves some of the best Thai food in the city. Run by Thai-born landlady Aey Allen, the menu features authentic dishes such as larb – that's a salad made with minced pork, chilli, toasted ground rice, lime and coriander. Mains from £14.95. Grosvenor Fish Bar Casual dining, cheap eat, kid friendly They've been serving classic fish and chips here for nearly a century. Five years ago they decided to reinvent the traditional fish bar as a 'grotto' complete with Airstream caravan and a revitalised menu that includes spicy cod and salsa, Wako Tacos and a Loony Toony battered tuna steak roll with wasabi mayo. Large haddock or cod £9.50. Wild Thyme Casual dining This vegan and vegetarian café in the city centre is rustic yet refined with lots of bare brick, artfully distressed period furniture and a row of arched leaded windows. Open all day, the evening à la carte draws on global influences for dishes such as Moroccan-spiced pulled jackfruit with hummus, pesto-baked chickpeas, pickled carrot salad, chermoula and toasted wholemeal pitta. Mains from £9.25. Bishop's Special occasion It doesn't get much more romantic than this 'informal' fine dining restaurant with its elegant white and grey colour scheme and glass chandeliers, hidden away on a cobbled side street in the city centre. Local produce features in dishes such as poached monk fish with tomato and capers and trout with aubergine and miso compote. (£36 for a two-course meal.) 4 foodies places to try Jarrold The deli in the gleaming new food hall at Norwich’s iconic department store has just been doubled in size and now includes a wine and tapas bar where you can sample the extensive range of East Anglian produce before you buy. Norwich Market Norwich’s 900-year-old city centre market is the city’s go-to place for street food; try Cocina Mia’s Chilean empanadas filled with chicken, chorizo and sweet peppers. Kofra This hip coffee shop and wine bar is serious about caffeine, serving single-origin brews with expertise and care. They also host regular wine tasting events. Enjoyed this? Read more foodie city guides Best places to eat in Exeter Best places to eat in Cambridge Best places to eat in York Best places to eat in Bath Best places to eat in Chester Is there anywhere we've missed? Leave a comment below... Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to.
Discover a trendy tapas spot, a range of cool cafés, fine dining restaurants and a host of traditional pubs serving up modern bites in beautiful Oxford.
All recommendations have been reviewed and approved as of the publish date and will be checked periodically. If you think there is any incorrect or out of date information in this guide please e-mail us at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk Planning a relaxing getaway to the beautiful city of Oxford? What better way is there to explore than through your stomach? We have gathered the best places to eat in Oxford to make finding delicious food simple and easy. If you enjoy this guide, check out our other helpful city guides - we have expert recommendations for the best restaurants to eat in Liverpool, Manchester, York and Newcastle. Best restaurants in Oxford at a glance The Magdalen Arms - Casual dining Arbequina - Casual dining, cheap eats The Mason Arms - Casual dining, special occasion Old Parsonage Hotel - Casual dining, kid-friendly Gee's - Casual dining, kid-friendly Brew - Cheap eats 2 North Parade - Casual dining Branca - Casual dining, kid-friendly Cherwell Boathouse - Special occasion The Feathers - Casual dining, special occasion, kid-friendly Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons - Special occasion Rooftop Restaurant at Ashmolean - Casual dining The Rusty Bicycle - Casual dining, cheap eats Quod - Casual dining, special occasions The Magdalen Arms Casual dining On a Saturday night, it feels like all of Oxford has made a beeline for this rustic yet chic gastropub to feast on generous platters of whole shoulder of lamb. Sister pub to The Anchor & Hope in London, The Magdalen Arms takes a gutsy approach to modern cooking; expect starters such as Cornish mussels marinière, and mains such as Hereford steak and ale suet crust pie and buttered greens for two. The wine list offers plenty of choices around the £30 mark, and the bar staff make a mean mojito. If it's sunny, ask for a table on the terrace. Mains from £13. Arbequina Casual dining, cheap eats This converted chemist’s shop on Oxford’s Cowley Road is where you'll find some of the best tapas in the country. Request a seat at the long, steel-topped counter to watch robustly flavoured plates like sea bass with fennel salad and piquillo peppers come off the plancha. Must-try dishes include crunchy salt cod croquetas with aioli, and slow-roasted pork belly with mojo verde. The first-floor dining room is perfect for larger groups. Tapas from £4.50. The Mason Arms Casual dining, special occasion For a taste of the Oxfordshire countryside, head to this rural thatched pub, where the food is so local and seasonal that you can order roast rump of lamb raised in the adjoining field, served alongside spiced bhajis made with courgettes from the pub’s vegetable garden. Part of the Artist Residence group of boutique hotels, the decor fuses English pub stylings with modern elements, including neon sculptures by artist Andy Doig. Mains from £15. Old Parsonage Hotel Casual dining, kid-friendly The secluded walled courtyard of this ivy-covered 17th-century parsonage is the perfect, tranquil spot for afternoon tea. The restaurant, featuring charcoal walls hung with numerous artworks and a gentleman’s club feel, is equally popular with diners. The ‘very high tea’ option includes fresh finger sandwiches, featherlight scones with exceptionally good jam and a delightfully squidgy brownie, served with loose leaf tea from a silver pot. Afternoon tea from £33. Gee's Casual dining, kid-friendly After a Saturday night on the town, a quiet brunch among the greenery of this recently-refurbished Victorian conservatory is a soothing experience. Scrambled eggs get a Mediterranean twist, with morcilla (blood sausage) and Pugliese toast, and the generous serving of avocado with smoked salmon, poached egg and toasted sourdough is always a tempting option. The all-day menu includes the likes of linguine with crab and brown shrimp, and wood-fired guinea fowl. Mains from £19.50. Brew Cheap eats With its gleaming copper and bronze Elektra espresso machine, retro ’60s-style orange portable record player and collection of dog-eared vintage vinyl, this bijou coffee shop wouldn’t look out of place in hipster Brooklyn. Specialist coffees are freshly ground and expertly prepared, and the range of snacks includes an interesting spinach cake. 2 North Parade Casual dining If you’re looking for local, organic produce, head to this modern, stylish grocers. You'll find everything from organic yogurt and cream from North Aston Dairy to wines from Brightwell Vineyards, as well as locally farmed organic fruit and veg. Branca Casual dining, kid-friendly This popular contemporary brasserie with an annex deli has been drawing the crowds to Oxford’s fashionable Jericho suburb for the past 22 years with its accessible all-day menu of pizza, pasta, steaks and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, such as chargrilled sea bream with creamed spinach and new potatoes. With a menu for under-12s and a leafy garden terrace, Branca is ideal for family dining. Mains from £14. Cherwell Boathouse Special occasion There isn’t a more romantic or tranquil setting in the city. Dine al fresco on the banks of the River Cherwell, enjoying crowd-pleasing dishes like rump of lamb and smoked haddock tagliatelle, and watch the punts drift by from this converted Victorian boathouse. The award-winning wine list offers plenty of opportunity to splash out for a special occasion. Mains from £20.25. The Feathers Casual dining, special occasion, kid-friendly Situated close to Blenheim Palace, The Feathers is a 17th-century townhouse hotel with a charming wood-panelled dining room. Sophisticated, modern European dishes might include roast whole plaice, with brown shrimps, cucumber, pea shoots and dill new potatoes or wild mushroom and spinach pie with creamed leeks. A special menu for children under 12 includes spaghetti Bolognese and sticky toffee pudding. Mains from £11. Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Special occasion Raymond Blanc’s beautifully maintained 15th-century Oxfordshire manor house in the village of Great Milton is a paean to perfectionism. From the manicured lawn where you sip pre-dinner champagne and nibble on delicate canapés to the immaculately turned out waiters who patrol the airy conservatory dining room, everything is in its rightful place. Blanc’s modern haute cuisine draws on Asian influences in dishes like Cornish crab, kaffir lime, coconut and passion fruit. Six-course lunch menu £205 per person. Rooftop Restaurant at Ashmolean Casual dining Get up close and personal with the city’s dreaming spires from the terrace of this landmark museum’s rooftop restaurant. Designed by acclaimed architect Rick Mather, the modern glass-fronted dining room is flooded with light during the day and is a stunning location for any form of refreshment, from a glass of wine to afternoon tea or a three-course meal (which may include such delights as pork belly with porcini mushrooms, smoked pancetta and puy lentils). Mains from £12.50. The Rusty Bicycle Casual dining, cheap eats You’ll be welcomed like a local at this friendly neighbourhood back-street pub and beer garden in east Oxford. The easy-going menu features burgers made with dry-aged prime cuts, wood-fired pizzas and healthier options such as bowls of kale Caesar salad. Craft beers include the pub’s own small-batch-brewed Dodo lager. Mains from £8.50. Quod Casual dining, special occasions This contemporary hotel brasserie in the city centre is the perfect pitstop for a light lunch after a morning's sightseeing. The handsome interior, with its exposed brick, flagstone floors, marble-topped bar and large arch windows is flooded with light. Mediterranean-style dishes may include spinach and ricotta ravioli with pine nuts and basil or a spicy Italian sausage and red pepper pizza. On a sunny day, ask for a table on the secluded terrace. Mains from £15.95. Five foodie places to try The Covered Market Open daily, this 18th-century market is the place to come for everything from fresh meat and fish to Korean food. Don’t miss the Oxford Cheese Company's jaw-dropping display. Bitten Street Monthly street food events in Oxford Castle Quarter play host to local traders such as The Souvlaki Brothers and Goujon Monkey (that's fish and chips served from a vintage Citroën van). Jericho Cheese Company The aesthetics may be cool, but the welcome is warm at this specialist in British and Irish cheeses. Look out for local Rollright, a soft cow’s milk cheese. North Parade Market Two Saturdays a month, North Parade Avenue transforms into an artisan and organic market, with fresh produce and street food from local traders. Gatineau This patisserie is run by Hervé Gatineau, former head of pastry at Maison Blanc. Try the oversized brioche au sucre. Read our other city guides... Best places in Aberdeen Best places to eat in Bristol Best places to eat in Belfast Have we missed a great place to eat? Let us know in the comments below... Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to.