The Cotswolds is an enchanting world of its own, with its hills sprawling 800 miles across five counties in southwest England. Peppered with honey-coloured cottages, quaint chapels, and winding cobblestoned streets, the region is aglow in fairytale splendour.
Cotswolds’ unique bucolic allure continues to entice many wanderlusts, history buffs, and aspirational residents. So, needless to say, this gilded colony is brimming with exemplary culinary destinations. Read on to discover the best restaurants in the Cotswolds.
The Dining Room at Whatley Manor, Malmesbury
Tucked away in Whatley Manor, a charming early modern cottage, the Dining Room is a paragon of British culinary excellence. Peerless in cookery and atmosphere, the Dining Room has been bestowed with two Michelin stars, one for “high quality cooking” and a green star for sustainable practices.
Set on a 12-acre estate that’s manicured with lavish detail, the Whatley Manor dates back to 1802. The interiors are just as tastefully extravagant – intricate gold-patterned wallpaper, richly upholstered furniture, and slender crystal light pendants adorn the dining room. The rest of the building is decked out in wooden panels, mahogany cabinetry, and luxuriant tapestries. Scarlet-frilled windows overlook the meadow, dotted with lotus ponds and animal sculptures.
Short and crisp menus do little to prepare guests for the sumptuous meals that await. Lobster, girolle, and turbot are a few of the offerings on the dining menu. There are also vegan and vegetarian menus, featuring fresh produce such as aubergine, leeks, and mushrooms. Add a French martini or cosmopolitan to the mix, and you have an enviable spread.
Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham
Boasting an impressive 35-year legacy, Le Champignon Sauvage is a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Gloucestershire town of Cheltenham, celebrating French food and local produce.
The dining hall is sparsely styled, with striped carpeting, austere chairs, and white-clad tables. Yellow panels and bright paintings inject a pop of colour and playfulness into the otherwise dignified establishment.
Scores of accolades bedazzle the restaurant’s crown, from four AA Rosettes to two stars in Harden’s Guide, the “Decanter Restaurant of the Year” title, and a “Catey Chef of the Year” recognition. The pavé of pollock, Cotswold white chicken, and seabass fillet are some scrumptious bites from their latest menu. The wine collection is a class apart, featuring premium French champagnes and exclusive selections from New Zealand, Australia, and parts of Europe.
Prithvi, Cheltenham
Prithvi is a Michelin-recommended Indian-inspired restaurant set in the heart of Cheltenham, a spa town in Gloucestershire.
Prithvi’s aesthetic is the epitome of regal elegance. Rich, turquoise panels with gilded borders match the plush velvet furniture. Baroque mirror work, exquisite brown-gold drapes, colourful floral portraiture, and ritzy copper sconces ornament the walls. Crisp, white-clad tables are laid out with avant-garde crystal cutlery.
Translating to “mother earth,” Prithvi serves fashionably plated, wholesome Indian grub. At the time of writing, the tandoori quail, dal makhni with biryani rice, and Indian-spiced Cornish cod are some ravishing mains from the grand taster menu.
Old Butchers, Cheltenham
Reposed on a quiet street in Cheltenham is Old Butchers, an English restaurant noted for its iconic style.
Navy blue walls, exposed brick panels, and colourful mismatched banquettes set the tone of the restaurant with trendy vibrance and tasteful asymmetry. Quirky ornaments, such as lampshades fashioned with colanders and ice buckets, imbue the establishment with a childlike flamboyance, truly setting Old Butchers apart.
The Old Butcher’s exemplary culinary standards have earned it a place in the Michelin Guide. Wild sea bass cooked over charcoal, Cornish lobster mac and cheese, and T-bone steak are some delectables on the dinner menu that pair nicely with their premiere vintages and dessert wines.
Yoku, Cheltenham
Yoku is the ultimate destination for luxury Japanese gastronomy, where the food is “born of raw passion.”
Lustrous ebony panels and ornately carved golden ceilings envelope the dining establishment. A glimmering crystal chandelier takes centre stage, suspended over the yellow-gold velveteen banquettes, authentic Japanese vases, and traditional paintings. Opulent ornaments litter the restaurant, unabashedly embodying traditional maximalism.
Yoku’s signature dishes include salmon sashimi, seared Wagyu beef, japche noodles, and miso aubergine. The lovely gin and juice menu, in addition to their exclusive sake collection, is guaranteed to enhance your dining experience.
The Olive Tree, Bath
The Olive Tree is a cut above the rest in Bath’s culinary landscape – after all, it is the city’s only Michelin-starred restaurant.
Sparkling white walls, grey wall panels, and threadbare cabinetry adorn the restaurant, exemplifying modern minimalist chic. At this elegant culinary abode, the impressively styled meals steal the spotlight.
The predominantly British menu is infused with Mediterranean essences, conjuring incredibly innovative flavours. Cornish lobster, Woolley Park farm duck, and chalk stream trout are a few mains from their seasonal “Taste of Summer” menu. Their extensive wine collection will leave oenophiles spoilt for choice, brimming with remarkable picks from all over the world – however, the 2007 Tokaji 6 Puttonyos from Hungary is particularly popular.
Bybrook Restaurant at The Manor House, Chippenham
Ensconced in a creeper-draped mediaeval mansion at Castle Combe, Michelin-starred Bybrook Restaurant is steeped in the historical affluence of English landed gentry.
The 14th-century structure is situated on a 365-acre parkland of boundless, immodest greens. Biscuit-hued brick walls and stained glass windows frame the majestic meadows, while florid drapes, emerald-coloured velvet furniture, gilded mirrors, and vaulted ceilings festoon the interiors. Lush plants and modern copper sconces brighten the atmosphere, gently breaking the grave stateliness of the mansion. There's also a prosperous kitchen garden by the restaurant.
Led by Chef Rob Potter, the menu evolves with the seasons. At the time of writing, British classics such as Cornish wild turbot, Wye Valley rhubarb, and Herdwick lamb grace the menu. Bybrook also has special vegan and vegetarian menus, featuring the likes of artichoke, cep risotto, and grilled potato.
Wild Rabbit, Chipping Norton
Set deep in the heart of the Cotswolds is Wild Rabbit, an authentic British inn proudly presenting the real British pubbing and dining experience with an elevated twist.
Exposed tan brick walls, timber panels, untreated wooden furniture, and a homely fireplace evoke a mediaeval bolthole charm. Plants, basket-shaped light fixtures, understated wooden cabinetry, and maroon drapes enhance the old-school ambience of Wild Rabbit.
Truly British through-and-through, Wild Rabbit is a vociferous champion of local produce and farmers. Vegetables are sourced from the local market, while native breeds of cattle are procured from the Wootton estate in Staffordshire.
As per the latest summer menu, pork fillet, wine-braised fish of the day, and rabbit legs are some toothsome bites guests are in for. Wines have been handpicked from select vineyards in the world’s leading wine capitals – the 2005 Château Pontesac Double Magnum, in particular, is undoubtedly exquisite.
The Royal Oak, Whatcote, Wiltshire
The Royal Oak is shrouded in historical lore, as it is one of England’s oldest pubs. Legend has it that Oliver Cromwell – a notable figure in British history, as a key architect of parliament supremacy after the Civil War – stayed at this hotel in 1642, on the eve of a significant battle.
Rustic simplicity is married to aristocratic sophistication at this restaurant. Timbre-panelled ceilings, a traditional stone fireplace, mediaeval windows, and vintage red leather sofas bedeck the establishment. The untreated wooden facades are contrasted with the posh white walls and bits of modern art, lending a vogueish flair to the restaurant.
Led by Richard and Solanche Craven, the Royal Oak has been crowned with one Michelin star. The restaurant's hallmark is “proper country food,” characterised by “wild meats and foraged ingredients.” Roe buck, preserved baby pine cone, Cornish pollock, and Wye Valley gooseberries feature on the menu. A carefully curated wine list inspired by the Cravens’ time in South Africa is also on offer.
Blooming with British classics, global haute cuisine, laidback bistros, and five-star trattorias, there is little left to be desired in Cotswolds’ culinary scene. Tradition and diversity pulsate through the veins of this region, creating a vibrant gastronomical milieu. Take off to England’s very own golden hills for an unforgettable culinary odyssey.
