The small Surrey town of Esher certainly has a huge reputation. Since the 18th century, this tiny rural enclave of only three and a half square kilometres has more history, beautiful scenery and interesting stories to tell than locations ten times its size.
The incredibly well-preserved 12th-century church of St George’s speaks of a fascinating past here that moves through to a boom of development following the invention of the Victorian commuter railway. Its proximity to London quickly made it attractive to the wealthy and the elite who made new homes and lives in the English countryside, only 15 miles southwest from the centre of the capital. An eye-catching collection of architecture is also stitched throughout Esher to chart this development, with fine Georgian and Victorian villas standing proudly next to mid 20th century properties and the ultra-exclusive gated developments of modernity.
If cultural cachet were needed, then Claremont Drive in Esher was once home to the magnificently talented George Harrison, who created his own private retreat here at the height of The Beatles' fame. The band’s era-defining White Album was written and demoed at his home, with Sir Paul McCartney often reflecting on this time as ‘the most natural and happy recordings we ever did’.
In 2025, the prestige of Esher continues to increase. A very impressive food and drink scene has grown here too, with the wonderful Starling restaurant recently achieving a Michelin star. However, there is a collection of the best restaurants in Esher that make it a serious foodie destination overall.
The Bear Inn
There are not many restaurants in the whole of the country that can claim to have a hospitality history of almost 600 years. The site of the Bear Inn can trace its own story back to 1640 as a public house that eventually became a coaching inn to serve the busy route from London to Portsmouth, and its architectural features chart that development in some style. A Grade-II listed status protects the wonderful early 18th-century façade and further clues are evident in the exposed brick and heavy timber flooring that run throughout the place to create a refined English pub feel.
The menu at the Bear Inn takes inspiration from this overall ambience with dishes that showcase seasonal British dishes and Gastro Pub favourites in a simple style, executed to high standards. Some standouts here are the chicken & nduja croquettes with harissa mayo or the pulled lamb shepherd’s pie with onions, peas and heritage carrots.
Everything at the Bear Inn is tailored towards the family lifestyle of long, lazy lunches on the weekends or celebratory evenings. This aligns perfectly with the village charm of Esher and its residents, where community is prioritised in a discreet yet warm and welcoming way.
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Giggling Squid
When husband and wife founders, Andy and Pranee Laurillard, created Giggling Squid in 2002, their mission was to bring informal and adventurous Thai eating experiences to the UK. Since then, the brand has been discerning in exactly where they open branches to ensure that this philosophy is always well-received and appreciated in the area. Since 2015, the Esher branch of Giggling Squid has established itself as a local gem with a bright and cheerful décor that invites the town in with the promise of a real feast.
This is authentic Thai done extremely well with a particular emphasis on celebrations and parties that are willing to share. The Street Food Sharer of hawker style pork skewers, squid, spring rolls and wings is a good introduction to what they can achieve here. Seasonal variations and limited menu options such as the Bonfire Curry often introduce a little heat and sweetness that act as a real incentive for Esher families to visit time and time again.
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Côte Brasserie
Côte Brasserie intends to bring a little of that inimitable Parisian charm to Esher with this polished but unpretentious place on High Street. Its brief has always been disarmingly simple with the aim to create modern French bistro dishes from carefully sourced ingredients and serve them in style, all day. Its design language of a warming cream pallet for the walls with dark wood, mirrored features and brass fittings does feel pleasingly at home in this part of the world too. The soft lighting and crisp linens are a timeless touch that brings a vision of the Seine into Surrey for the crowd of families and visitors that fill the tables here. Classic starters such as French onion soup topped with Comte cheese rarebit or the potted crab in lobster butter are followed by hearty mains like confit pork belly with Calvado jus and the pan-fired salmon with homemade bearnaise. As one might expect, wine pairings are suitably served throughout with a good choice of light French reds and Rosés to accompany the popular Prix Fixe offerings. A special mention should also go to the pastries and coffee available at Côte that are just the thing for those fleeting brunch catch ups.
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The Wheatsheaf
This heritage pub on Esher Green has been serving Surrey for around 200 years and in that time, every owner has learned the recipe of what works here. It remains community-focussed and family-friendly with a broad appeal that have everything one could wish for in a country pub and restaurant. Of course, the fantastic location and scenery does a fine job of setting the foundation for success and the terrace overlooking the Green is perhaps the best example of this in action. Inside, features such as open fires and the original oak flooring bring the autumn and winter season to life for The Wheatsheaf in a warm and engaging manner.
The kitchen creates classic British cuisine in alignment with this atmosphere alongside some welcome surprises such as the devilled kidneys on sourdough and the samphire and sea purslane pakora. Inevitably, The Wheatsheaf will always remain a venue where the ritual of the English Sunday roast is keenly observed. The roasted rump of beef served with dripping, roast potatoes, carrots, green veg, crushed celeriac, Yorkshire puddings and gravy could easily be the dictionary definition of having all the trimmings. For a late November Sunday afternoon there are not many places in Esher that most families would rather be than here.
The surrounding neighbourhoods, towns and Surrey areas do offer a great variety of restaurants to choose from for Esher residents. However, with such impressive options on their doorsteps there is definitely a reason to love the local lifestyle and make a much shorter journey for dinner.
