13 winter sun destinations for food lovers
Dream of warmer climates with our pick of the best places for food lovers to get a fix of winter sunshine, from sun-fuelled wellness retreats to outdoorsy city breaks and lush jungle escapes
Looking for the ultimate winter sun destinations for food lovers? Want to make the most of the sunshine on an alfresco city break? Check out our pick of places to go, including where to stay, which restaurants to visit and what dishes you should try. For something a little chillier, check out our picks of the best ski destinations in Europe for a snowy getaway. Winter sun destinations for food lovers Bali – for an eco-chic escape Bali isn't all about parties and gap year travellers. If you need some relaxation after December madness, head to Bali for a calm wellbeing break. Soak up the warmth by relaxing on the beaches, go for a swim in the Indian Ocean and immerse yourself in Indonesian culture exploring the bustling cities. The unbeatable sunsets will stay with you long after you go home. Base yourself in Seminyak – a blend of luxury that still feels laid-back, with buzzy beach clubs, wide beaches and endless beachside cafés to while away the days at. Where to stay: Stay at Potato Head, an eco-chic retreat on Seminyak’s beachfront. Sustainability is at the forefront of this brutalist structure: ceilings are made of recycled Sprite bottles, earthy tones warm up the expansive space and rattan furniture adds local character. Book the Oceanfront Studio to wake up to daylight pouring in and stunning sea views. To enjoy golden hour as the sun sets, a wood-panelled bath takes centre stage, which can be drawn with floating petals, and fresh dragon fruit and watermelon platters on the side. The room is complete with a custom-made maxi-bar, stocked with the likes of spiced rum and pink guava kombucha. On-site dining options have been curated to meet every need, with seasonal produce grown on the organic regenerative farm, Sweet Potato Project. Kaum serves authentic Indonesian dishes such as gado gado, a vegetable salad with peanut dressing, in a casual, plant-filled setting. At Ijen, seafood fresh from the boat is cooked on open fire – think grilled octopus, whole roasted barramundi and clams in seaweed butter. Contemporary plant-based versions of classics such as báhn mì, crispy oyster mushroom katsu and warming pandang curry are given the spotlight at Tanaman. The zero-waste cocktail lab designs options for each restaurant, salvaging surplus ingredients otherwise destined for the bin to turn into the likes of avocado stone syrup, showcased in cocktails such as the rum-based Barong Zombie. Doubles from £157, check rates and availability at booking.com Belize – for eco-friendly adventure Head to Belize for an adventure along with your sunshine – think kayaking down the Rio Grande River, hiking the national parks or scuba diving in the Belize barrier reef. Explore ancient Mayan ruins for a culture fix, or learn about local coffee or chocolate production with guided tours and tastings. There is something to do for everybody – perfect for those who can't sit still, or for a family trip with an experience for all ages. Where to stay: Copal Tree Lodge is a luxurious eco-resort set between the Rio Grande river and lush jungle. Four Signature Canopy Suites are accessed by a tiny tram that takes you to the top of the jungle canopy. Choose rooms 13 or 16 for sunrise views, and 14 or 15 to watch the sunset from your king-sized bed, veranda hammock or outdoor balcony bathtub. Whichever you go for, the views are out of this world. You also get shared use of the infinity pool and a private bar with bartender Ducky to shake up whatever you fancy. Most of the food you’ll eat at Copal Tree Lodge is grown on site. As well as growing and drying its own coffee and chocolate, the estate also makes its own rum, Copalli, from the sugar cane harvested in the surrounding fields. Try the organic cacao rum for its rich chocolate flavour and smooth finish. The Garden Table Restaurant serves dishes from the kitchen garden, cooked in traditional Belizean styles such as Creole, Latin and Garifuna. Lunches combine fresh produce in sandwiches, salads and tacos with spicy pico de gallo, handmade tortillas and homemade queso fresco. Belizean breakfasts are some of the best in the world, combining Central American favourites like huevos rancheros or burritos with a plethora of sweet, fresh tropical fruits and juices, and US-style breakfasts like pancake stacks (served with pineapple butter – a must-try) and thick coconut and cinnamon french toast. Fry jacks, puffed-up fried tortillas, are a speciality of the region. Copal Lodge’s version comes stuffed with farm-fresh scrambled eggs, refried beans and garden veggies. Suites from £450, check rates and availability at booking.com The Caribbean – for beachside seafood suppers The tropical climate of the Caribbean makes this cluster of islands with white sand beaches a go-to destination for winter sun. Friday night fish fries are where locals and tourists come together to drink rum, hang out, play dominos and eat fresh fish to a backdrop of live music in the open air. Fresh fish such as mahi-mahi, tuna and swordfish are cooked in front of you over flames. In the Bahamas, Nassau’s colourful Arawak Cay harbour hosts a fish fry every night. Taste unique dishes that vary between each of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, such as conch salads and fritters, guava duffs and ‘cracked’ battered fish washed down with sky juice or local beers. In Tobago, get your seafood fix from the Store Bay Ladies, who have been selling their homemade crab and dumplings at the idyllic turquoise bay of the same name for decades. Head to Miss Trim’s – set up by 86-year-old Miss Trim, who recently passed the business on to her eighth child, Meisha – to enjoy blue-black crab in a blend of coconut milk and spices. Other iconic spots for curried crab include Scarborough’s Blue Crab, run by charming 80-year-old Alison and her husband Kenneth. Further up the north coast lies Castara, a small Caribbean beach town with a laid-back local culture. Where to stay: On Tobago’s north coast lies Castara, a friendly beach village with a laid-back culture. Born-and-bred locals Derek (aka Porridge) and Jeanelle Lopez welcome guests to their small eco boutique, Castara Retreats. The collection of treehouse lodges nestled into lush hillside rainforest are designed to soak up breathtaking views of the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea. Sun spills through intricately carved window frames into minimally decorated cedarwood suites, brightened with colour pops from handwoven fabrics on four-poster beds, local contemporary art and the flutter of resident hummingbirds. At open-air multi-level restaurant Caribbean Kitchen, you can sip on passion fruit mojito sundowners before trying the island’s fresh ingredients in dishes such as grilled red snapper with homemade salsa, lamb curry with coconut greens, and black bean and plantain fritters. Guests are also encouraged to mooch down to the village and join the community in daily food rituals. Mornings at local meeting hub Cheno’s Coffee Shop start with breakfasts of coconut bake, salt fish and tropical star fruit salads. Marguarite’s, set back from the beach, serves its own take on curried crab and dumplings, and the handful of beach bars regularly host live steelpan, soca and calypso music for barefoot dancing on the shore in the moonlight. Join a sea-breeze-fuelled yoga class in the retreat’s open-sided studio, spend the day unwinding on secluded golden sand beaches and hike through rainforest paths to the oldest protected waterfall in the Western Hemisphere. Apartments from £141 per night, check availability at booking.com or castararetreats.com Sri Lanka – for a tropical, sun-fuelled reset Start the new year with a mood-boosting holiday to return nourished, rested and rejuvenated for the months ahead. Sri Lanka’s south coast boasts plenty of sunshine in the winter months, without much rain. Tropical fruits such as electrolyte-rich coconuts, pineapples and papaya are in abundance all year round, as are vibrant vegetarian curries that include plenty of turmeric and nourishing veg. Where to stay: One of Sri Lanka’s luxury stars, Malabar Hill is located on an old cinnamon plantation just outside Weligama on the south coast. From its hilltop perch, the palatial-like hotel has expansive views looking back towards the Indian Ocean and further out to lush green paddy fields. The secluded villas, nestled in the jungle, are designed to make the most of the scenery, each boasting floor-to-ceiling glass windows, terraces and salt-water infinity pools. Antique Rajasthani chests, mirrors and bedframes contrast contemporary brushed concrete walls to create luxurious cocoons for ultimate relaxation. Intricately carved arches give way to breathtaking viewpoints from open-air Hill House restaurant and bar in the ornate main building. A wide-ranging menu of excellent Sri Lankan, Indian and Southeast Asian dishes use the freshest ingredients from the market and surrounding waters. Options include sticky aubergine salad, crispy skin barramundi and prawn curry with kachumber salad, while the seafood platter of lobster, squid, prawns and fish is a real treat. Pre-order the traditional Sri Lankan lamprais – a selection of curries, fricadelle meatballs, ash plantain, shrimp paste, tangy aubergine moju, and rice wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf. The intricately prepared Sri Lankan breakfast begins with freshly cooked hoppers or coconut roti to pair with dhal curry and katta, seeni and coconut sambols, plus a choice of watermelon, papaya, pineapple or king coconut juices. Tailor-made excursions include water safaris, restaurant and café hopping in Galle Fort, and guided tours of the original cinnamon estate just across the valley. Villas from £386 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or malabarhillsrilanka.com Mendoza, Argentina – for vineyard experiences in the sunshine Mendoza valley, high up in the Andes, is Argentina's number one and biggest wine region. The vineyards in this area are known to be home to some of the highest altitude vines in the world, with Malbec being the most prevalent grape. During February and March's Fiesta de la Vendimia harvest festival, Mendoza city and its surrounding villages and vineyards come alive with colourful parades, food markets and open air concerts to celebrate the graft of workers in this stunning region of Argentina. Wineries open up for tours and tastings, there are unique pairing menus in restaurants, and tourists can join in grape picking and stomping in the vineyards. Where to stay: Set in the foothills of the Andes, this sustainable-forward, 320-hectare estate embraces the outdoors with its minimalist design, natural reserves and outdoor activities. The contemporary hotel building is designed to reflect the surrounding landscapes – floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive terraces in the upper-floor rooms, cubist stand-alone suite structures set around the Andean water-filled lagoon and outdoor pools for taking in the mountain air. Small touches of hospitality make Casa de Uco feel like home, from a glass of the estate’s wine and homemade alfajores to enjoy on arrival to bespoke cocktails tweaked to your tastes from the list curated by renowned Buenos Aires bartender Renato Giovannoni. An expansive organic kitchen garden provides bountiful produce for chefs to showcase the best of the Uco Valley and its terroir. Vibrant salads are a riot of textures – think pickled beets, pears, roquefort and fried walnuts. Argentinian beef classics are given contemporary flair – carpaccio in chermoula sauce, empanadas with chilli sauce and tomahawk steak with gratin onions. The Uco Valley is a key part of Mendoza’s wine region and experiences among the 70 hectares of vines range from interactive tours and tastings to immersive wine-making workshops. You can even join the harvest, partake in grape stomping and reward yourself with vinotherapy treatments in the sleek spa. The estate is a playground to soak up the winter sun – cycle or ride horseback through the vines to secluded fireside dinners, tuck into a lavish picnic on a ‘wild deck’ in the on-site natural reserve or join chefs as they pluck ingredients from the kitchen garden and teach you asado skills as the sky turns pink and orange behind the mountains. Doubles from £502 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or casadeuco.com Zambia and Zimbabwe – for a luxury safari If you've ever wanted to go on safari, now is the time. Thoughtful, responsible and deeply moving, the remote Wilderness reserves in Zambia and Zimbabwe offer a rare kind of travel, one that reconnects you with nature and reminds you how extraordinary the world can be. Set along riverbanks and deep within vast national parks, these camps offer a front-row seat to Africa’s raw, unfiltered beauty. Each is built sensitively around its environment to allow wildlife to roam freely and the landscape to remain untouched. The guiding here is world-class and truly tailored to each guest. The ability to read and interpret the bush transforms every sighting into a profoundly intimate experience, the kind that stays imprinted long after you return home – think watching a leopard slink silently through the shadows, stalking a porcupine. Days begin and end with river cruises or game drives timed for when the animals are at their most active and the sunsets impossibly vivid. In the golden calm of the afternoon the tempo slows – you can enjoy a dip in the pool, a massage at the spa, or a lingering lunch accompanied by the sound of cicadas and distant bird calls. Sustainability also runs through everything Wilderness does – solar-powered camps, eco-friendly toiletries and locally sourced ingredients all supporting conservation and nearby communities. Where to stay: As well as getting you up close and personal to the animals, the Wilderness reserves offer a touch of luxury throughout your stay. Wilderness Toka Leya’s open-sided river suites with swinging chairs and outdoor bathtubs allow you to soak up the hippos’ nightly chorus from the mighty Zambezi below. Wilderness Linkwasha’s pale woods and glass walls create a modern aesthetic overlooking the watering hole where giraffes stoop to drink as you sip your morning coffee. Wilderness Ruckomechi’s lantern-lit decks and elephants wandering through camp feel timelessly explorer-chic. Many suites also feature outdoor beds – perfectly safe yet open to the night sky – where you fall asleep beneath the Milky Way and wake to the sound of laughing hyenas greeting the dawn. Dining is integral to the experience and service is warm and intuitive, every detail considered. Meals celebrate the bold, earthy flavours of southern Africa – flame-grilled bream from the Zambezi, slow-cooked game stews, and vegetables grown in camp gardens. Mornings start with a light breakfast of fresh fruit, wood-fired breads and eggs cooked to order before your first adventure. Evenings are pure theatre – gin and tonics around the campfire as the sun sinks below the horizon, followed by candlelit dinners beneath a vast star-studded sky. Food and drink preferences are gathered before your trip, and guests are encouraged to treat each camp as a home from home, including mixing a drink from the bar at any time of day or night. Check out Wilderness Destinations for destinations, rates and availability. Florida – for rooftop sunbathing and al fresco dining Make the most of the Sunshine State's abundance of warm weather with alfresco eating and outdoorsy adventures. Choose an eclectic city break in Miami, that boasts everything from sandy beaches and swish cocktail bars to an artsy independent craft beer and restaurant scene amongst the colourful murals in Wynwood. Or stay in the heart of Little Havana to soak up the area's Cuban culture with morning cafecitos, El Sanguich's pork-stuffed toasted sandwiches and late-night cocktails at iconic bar Café La Trova. Down in the Florida Keys, take in ocean views and breathtaking sunsets over seafood suppers on the vast deck of Key West institution, Louie’s Backyard. The town's picture-perfect, porch-fronted clapboard houses host plenty of restaurants with dining decks; tuck into key lime pie and Caribbean dishes in Blue Heaven’s vibrant backyard complete with live music and chickens mooching around. Where to stay: If you're looking for a sunbathing bolthole in Miami, try Arlo Wynwood, complete with a mural-clad staircase leading to a funky tropical cocktail bar and terrace. The rooftop pool is the place to relax for classic Miami vibes; wiggle along to tunes on your sun lounger and sip refreshing mezcal cocktails or tuck into tuna poke bowls beneath candy-striped parasols. The ground floor restaurant is a collaboration with some of Miami’s best-known names, including chef Brad Kilgore and Broken Shaker’s Elad Zvi and Gabriel Orta. Doubles from £329, check availability at booking.com Jordan – for street food and desert feasts beneath the stars In the centre of the Levant, Jordan looks out across the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean and all of these influences can be seen in the country’s food. The way to a country’s heart is through its stomach. At least, that’s the conclusion drawn by solo-friendly tour operator Intrepid. On Intrepid's six-day Jordan Real Food Adventure a local guide invites a small group to experience the country's cuisine. Sit outside a local falafel restaurant and soak up the late night bustle of an Arabic city. Amman really comes alive after dark, when the heat has dissipated and people are free to do their shopping, catch up on local gossip or, among the younger generation, congregate with friends to drink mint tea and share a shisha. As dinners go, sharing slow-cooked goat with Bedouin tribesmen under a star-filled sky in the Wadi Rum desert is unmissable. Guide Mohammed and his brothers cook a traditional ‘zarb’, an ancient method of cooking where they bury meat, vegetables and rice in a pit in the ground, add lots of embers, wrap it in blankets and bury it in sand. Other experiences include drinking sheep’s milk with local shepherds, preparing lamb mansaf with a family at Petra (before visiting the site itself) and whipping up your own dinner at Amman’s most innovative cookery school. Where to stay: Intrepid's six-day Real Food Adventure includes accommodation in bedouin tents, boutique hotels and homestays. Check rates and availability at intrepidtravel.com Cape Town – for an al fresco city break UK winter is summer in South Africa, and that means platters of crayfish and local oysters, and glasses of local chenin blanc enjoyed by the water’s edge. At the V&A Waterfront, a shopping and dining complex, settle in for a magnificent view of the harbour and the mountain at waterside Harbour House and take your pick from a fine selection of seasonal seafood caught by the restaurant’s own trawler; in late December it’s all about crayfish. Fish and chips is a must in Cape Town. Take yours up a gear by ordering snoek, a large-boned member of the barracuda family. Eat it outdoors with the locals at no-fuss Fish on the Rocks in Hout Bay. Fish comes served with slap chips doused in vinegar and you’ll find the 25-minute drive from the city centre worth every bite. Book a historical walk in colourful Bo-kaap, an iconic area renowned for its commanding views over the city and its tight-knit, traditional Cape Malay community. The city’s numerous parks and Kirstenbosch National Botanical gardens are perfect for picnicking. For platters of the best Western Cape produce – think goat’s milk labneh, cumin-studded boerenkaas, chorizo, homemade pâtés, pickled South African peppadew peppers and spreads – head to Saucisse for supplies. The Saturday Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is a great place to pick up artisanal staples and vegetables if you’re self-catering (or food souvenir hunting). Many shoppers stay on for a street food brunch from one of its stalls, from steak sandwiches at Kitchen Cowboys to cultivated Saldanha Bay oysters from Mother Shuckers. Where to stay: Boutique b&b Welgelegen is in prime position to mooch along trendy Kloof Street, that's bursting with coffee shops, restaurants and bars including quirky Kloof Street House. For a striking luxurious option, The Silo offers showstopping views from it's lofty spot occupying six-floors above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, plus a rooftop terrace and pool. Doubles at The Silo from £848 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2024/01/GettyImages-1405859548-4dbe083.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Cape Town South Africa, Table Mountain and tourists eat and drink under umbrellas on the waterfront" title="Cape Town South Africa, Table Mountain and tourists eat and drink under umbrellas on the waterfront. Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images" /> Athens – for a sunny European city break During the winter months, Greece’s capital city offers plenty of blue sky days and mild temperatures. The lack of crowds means the Acropolis, and other ancient sites usually crammed with tourists, can be visited at a much more leisurely pace. Back down the hill in the city centre, walk through the cobbled streets with one of the many street food options – hearty gyros, crisp spanakopita and sweet, syrupy loukoumades. Grab a coffee to go from Samba Coffee Roasters and climb up Lycabettus Hill for magical orange-hued sunsets over the Acropolis, mountains and Aegean Sea. Duck into one of the city’s many tavernas (we loved no-menu cellar Diporto, deli-restaurant Karamanlidika and old-school fish spot Ouzeri Lesvos) for traditional Greek dishes such as homemade moussaka, fresh Greek salads and rice-stuffed vegetables, known as ‘gemista’. Where to stay: Book a stay at Monument, an elegantly restored neoclassical-style mansion in the heart of the vibrant Psyri neighbourhood near the Acropolis. Once you step foot into this compact boutique, the city buzz immediately subsides and guests are enveloped in quiet but warm hospitality. Each of the nine rooms and suites are unique, intertwining meticulously restored original features – intricate stucco ceilings, mottled limewashed walls, Persian carpets – with contemporary bronze accents. Epos boasts a private marble balcony overlooking an orange tree lined church yard and a view of the Acropolis in the distance, while Nidus has its own terrace complete with hot tub with dazzling views of the city’s iconic monuments. In the elegant reception room, the breakfast table groans with Greek cheese pastries, cured meats and dried figs along with dinky jars of local honey and homemade jams. Made-to-order dishes include Greek classics such as strapatsada scrambled eggs flecked with crumbly feta and tomatoes. Bookings include a daily hour of private relaxation in the serene, candlelit basement wellness area, where Greek sweets and a pot of green tea await to enjoy between rotations in the wood sauna, marble hammam and cold power showers. Suites from £227, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Mexico – for winter wellness Discover Mexico during the UK's winter months to make the most of sandy beaches, warm turquoise seas and vibrant cenotes. Graze a smorgasbord of street food in Mexico City; try chilli-chocolate mole poblano and pizza-like tlayudas in Oaxaca (Mexico’s culinary capital) and eat fresh-fish ceviche on the Yucatán. Carnival, Semana Santa and various feast days fall in UK winter season, so there are plenty of opportunities for food-fuelled festivities and social gatherings. Tacos are a way of life, and there’s nowhere this is more true than in Mexico City, where you can enjoy a variety for breakfast, lunch, dinner and at any time between. Where to stay: Boca de Agua is a luxury jungle retreat set back from the Yucatán Peninsula’s Lagoon of Seven Colours, close to Mexico’s Belize border. Twenty-two treehouse suites, each with private plunge pools and hammocks strung across shaded decks, are nestled within the forest of mango, banana and kapok trees (believed to be sacred in Mayan culture), from which toucans, woodpeckers and spider monkeys provide a tropical soundtrack. Five-star luxuries are catered to – natural Laguna Cyprien toiletries to use in turquoise tiled outdoor rain showers, king-size beds and dark tropical wood cabinets made from recycled materials. Chef Sergio cooks local specialities over fire in the open kitchen. Lunch options include flame-grilled steak tacos, plump prawn aguachile and black fish, mango and achiote ceviche – best paired with refreshing Mexican lagers, Cayaco, Victoria and Modelo. Come evening try charcoaled empanadas with chimichurri, a selection of steak cuts with tomato and fresh berry salad, and crisp seabass on a bed of sautéed Yucatan squash, garden herbs and red salsa. Mexican wines include floral orange from Valle de Parras, or drinks specialist Leandro can guide you through a mezcal tasting. The breakfast menu is split into Mexican and Yucatán specialities. In the latter, you can find huevos rancheros alongside cochinita pibil and lechón tacos, both made with smoky suckling pig cooked underground for 24 hours. Pad down the walkway through the mangroves to the uniquely turquoise waters of Bacalar Lagoon. Take a dip, hop on a kayak to spot the stromatolite fossils and relax on the deck with a mezcal margarita, guacamole and toasted tortilla chips. Suites from £281, check rates and availability at mrandmrssmith.com and booking.com Tasmania – for waterfront festivities The seasons are switched down under, so December and January celebrates Tasmania's “Taste of Summer” festival. It takes place on the waterfront in the dynamic capital of Hobart from 27 December to 6 January. Try the island’s abundance of oysters and celebrate the diverse cuisines available, from Vietnamese banh mi to Indonesian stuffed breads and Mexican street food. Tasmanian boutique vineyards will hold tastings alongside craft breweries, cider makers and whisky distilleries. While you’re in town, hop around Hobart’s wine bars to try glasses of locally-grown riesling, chardonnay and cool-climate pinot noir, accompanied by Tasmanian cheeses. Follow the River Derwent up to The Agrarian Kitchen for a seasonal lunch or to take part in a field-to-fork cookery class. If you're staying for longer, take yourself on a self-guided tour through northern Tasmania’s Tasting Trail, strung together with artisan producers. Pick your own berries at The Berry Patch, tuck into hot smoked salmon from 41 Degrees South’s inland salmon ponds and treasure black truffles grown in the volcanic soil. Where to stay: The glamorous design hotel MACq 01 on Hobart’s harbour has architectural pizzazz and an imaginative concept: each of the 114 rooms is named after an extraordinary character in Tasmania’s colourful history and guests can join complimentary door-to-door storytelling tours. Doubles from £152, check rates and availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Zanzibar – for ultimate relaxation Head to Zanibar for winter sun. Stone Town (the pretty old town area of the island’s capital, Zanzibar City) is worth exploring before you begin some holiday relaxation. Pop to Puzzle Coffee Shop for cold-brew coffees made with Tanzanian beans and Lukmaan restaurant for freshly grilled kingfish with a side of banana. 1001 Organic is a must-visit, a social enterprise working with 26 small-scale farmers in the forests of Pemba (the second largest island in the Zanzibar Archipelago) who then sell the spices in their small shop. Smell and taste before you buy, from sweet cinnamon, ginger-infused salt and floral black pepper. Where to stay: Swim laps of the infinity pool, sip ginger lassis on the private beach and soak up calm vibes in the spice garden at Zuri, a luxury Zanzibar resort two hours from the capital. Zuri is a tranquil 55-bedroom beachside resort with a sustainable ethos and stylish design. Guest rooms – suites, bungalows and villas – are scattered between cottages in a series of spice ‘villages’ dotted around the leafy 32-acre resort and connected by a network of pebbled paths. As you wind your way between cottage and beach you’ll find little alcoves to relax in, shaded by baobab trees and with just the swish of palm trees for company. A private sandy beach, strung with hammocks, is licked by the emerald waves of the Indian Ocean. Or, if you’d rather get active, do laps of the infinity pool, or push-ups at the outdoor jungle gym. Whether you’re in a bungalow, suite or villa you’re guaranteed luxury. An indoor-outdoor approach gives a real sense of outdoor living with private plant-shaded terraces and open-air showers. When it’s time to sleep, however, modern luxuries come into play. Not least the Evening Breeze system built into each bed, offering cold, cool and fresh temperatures that you can control with a remote. Choose from three restaurants dotted around the resort, from beach bar Bahari to the main restaurant Ubudo. At breakfast, help yourself to bowls brimming with fresh-from-the-tree mango and passion fruit, or the dozen or so homemade varieties, made with local fruits, on the jam station (try tangy pineapple on slices of Madeira cake or sweet, sticky date on squidgy banana bread). Bungalows from £760 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com More travel guides 10 unique walking holidays for foodies 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations Images: Getty, Bob Thomas/Popperfoto via Getty Images, Hiran Thabrew, Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Fitopardo via Getty Images, MACq 01 hotel, Kirillm via Getty Images, Atlantide Phototravel via Getty Images Words: Alex Crossley, Tracey Raye, Meliz Burg, Lucy Gillmore
Best restaurants in Tbilisi: where locals eat in the vibrant Georgian capital
Explore this energetic crossroads city via soup dumplings, supra-style sharing feasts and unique wines made using ancient techniques
Looking for restaurants in Tbilisi? Want to know where to eat and drink in the Georgian capital? Restaurateur Giorgi Mindiashvili showed me his favourite spots in his hometown, and shares a deep-dive into Georgian cuisine here. Where to eat and drink in Tbilisi, Georgia Shavi Lomi – for sharing-style suppers Named after Niko Pirosmani’s Black Lion painting, this stunning tree-lined courtyard and cosy converted house is popular with artsy locals. Centre stage is the gobi, a thali-style wooden sharing bowl filled with multicoloured pkhali dips, fresh cheeses and breads. Next comes the likes of stuffed lobiani, whole grilled aubergines doused in walnut and pomegranate sauce, Georgian lamb risotto and beef dolma with minted yogurt. Plus, layered honey cake for dessert. instagram.com/shavilomi_tbilisicuisine/ Craft – for cosy bistro feels A concept store turned bistro and wine bar with a warm, homely feel, showcasing ceramics from Georgian artisans on its blush pink walls. Alongside rotating wines from small-batch producers (Artana, Ethno, Kiketi Farm), authentic flavours and regional dishes are given a contemporary lift. Think pan-fried butter mushrooms in bazhe (spiced walnut sauce), fresh from the oven lavash flatbreads and marinated aubergine from the charcoal makali grill served with spiced green chilli ajika and red pepper pkhali. craftwinerestaurant.com Saperavi – for wine ice cream Look out for kiosks selling unique, purple-hued wine ice cream, including this pretty wooden domed kiosk perched above the river by the Second Bridge of Love. Order a cone piled high with wine soft serve and a glass of fresh pomegranate juice before heading to the atmospheric Orbeliani Baths for a rejuvenating sulfur soak and scrub. 8 Abano Turn Oro – for western Megrelian dishes Set in a former printing house with elegant interiors and a leafy courtyard, Oro is an ode to Georgia’s historic western Megrelian region, with a little spicier cuisine and unique preparation techniques – for example, its pizza-style khachapuri served with bubbling cheese on top. Try regional sharing feasts of elarji (pulled sulguni cheese melted into cornmeal ghomi), adjika-roasted corn on the cob, herb-flecked kharcho stew, roast shkmeruli chicken in a creamy garlic sauce and cottage cheese dumplings served with fig jam and soured cream. The wine list has a section dedicated to qvevri wines using ancient techniques from Tegani, Nareklishvili and Kviriashvili vineyards. orotbilisi.ge Caravanserai Bakery – for Georgian bakes Housed in a vaulted cellar hidden beneath Tbilisi's old town, this traditional Georgian bakery offers all kinds of baked goods, most notably khachapuri cheese breads. Female bakers in traditional aprons are on hand to guide tastings through the repertoire of curd cheese-filled imeruli, meat-filled kubdari and megruli with extra bubbling cheese on top. 13/40 Sioni St Kakhelebi – for farm-to-table Kakhetian cuisine On the outskirts of Tbilisi lies this popular roadside restaurant, where locals flock for long lunches. Most of the produce used in the sharing dishes is grown on the restaurant's own farm in the rich, fertile Kakheti region. Salads come jewelled with pomegranates and walnuts and platters of delicate khinkali were the freshest I tried in the city. Slow-cooked tomato and herb goat stew and juices from an assortment of shish-style mtsvadi skewers (goat, lamb, pork) can be mopped up with grilled flatbread pockets. The owners even make their own wine following the traditional qvevri method, while surplus grapes are used to make pelamushi pudding. instagram.com/kakhelebi/ Keto & Kote – for special occasions Offering sweeping views of the city from its expansive terrace, this beguiling 19th-century mansion is nestled into the trees in Tbilisi's Vera district. Inside, chandeliers, handwoven tapestries and murals add splashes of colour to the building's wooden floorboards, shutters and intricate cornicing. Contemporary takes on Georgian classics include red bean-filled lobiani, megrelian cheese pie, chikhirtma herby chicken broth and plenty of fresh zingy salads. A dessert table is laid with the likes of meringue pie, walnut honey cake and the signature cherry tart. instagram.com/ketoandkote/ Saamuri – for natural wine This natural wine bar and shop is a lesson in industrial chic, housed in a former sewing factory as part of urban space Fabrika. Its shiny walls are left bare save for contemporary wooden shelves from which a curation of natural Georgian wines shine. Sit at the tiled window counter to watch the world go by before hopping across the way to Popolo for thin-crust pizza if you've had too many dumplings. fabrikatbilisi.com Where to stay in Tbilisi – Stamba Stamba’s former life as a 1950s publishing house is embraced from the moment you enter – a functional printing press runs along the ceiling of the brutalist-style lobby, through which trees grow alongside concrete pillars. A mustard-hued wood oven for baking kachapuri takes centre stage in the main all-day Georgian European fusion brasserie, with the kitsch Pink Bar offshoot serving signature cocktails and a coffee and chocolate roastery for soothing treats. The building sprawls out in all directions, with original floor-to-ceiling windows opening into concrete jungle courtyards, co-working spaces and a dedicated wine bar and shop, Warehouse, where an ex-Noma sommelier guides guests through tastings from Georgia’s finest vineyards. Spacious rooms interweave industrial features with contemporary Georgian artwork, bold furnishings and mini libraries. Plush amenities include brass and copper bathtubs, state of the art coffee machines and regional spirits, and recipes to craft your own cocktails. stambahotel.com
Best new restaurants in London to visit in 2025
The best new restaurant openings in London, expertly reviewed by the olive team. Keep up to date with the hottest new openings and find out which are not to be missed, plus which dishes to order in each restaurant
Looking for new restaurants in London? We've visited the hot new openings in the capital to experience the restaurant for ourselves to bring you our regularly updated best London restaurants list. Read on for all the best new openings (including some from the end of last year) and we'll be continually adding new restaurant openings for 2025 as they launch, after we've expertly reviewed each one. For more restaurant guides check out our best restaurants in Soho, Covent Garden, Shoreditch and the best restaurants with rooms in the UK. If you want to pull out all the stops, find out the UK's best showstopping restaurants to impress or try the best chef's table experiences in the UK. Best new London restaurant openings 2025 Island, Kings Cross For elevated surf and turf Island takes the concept of surf and turf, and adds two cult chefs - Tom Brown (on surf) and Brad Carter (on turf) – to create a unique and playful menu. Although they aren’t cooking here day to day there’s some serious skill behind the open grill that lends a beautifully smoky edge to dishes. The dining room occupies the top floor of buzzy Mare St Market – it’s a big space but the cosy velvet-lined booths, banquette seating and chandelier-covered ceiling manage to make it warm and welcoming. We kicked off with a lamb and clam skewer – chunks of lamb belly, the fat rendered crispy and smoky, topped with tiny salty clams. Not listed on the menu but recommended by our server were seaweed flatbreads, puffed and golden with the edges almost like fried bread. We shared a whole grilled john dory which came doused in caper-spiked café de paris butter, the sweet flesh falling of the bone. An aged dairy ribeye was served with a deep umami version of peppercorn sauce and in place of chips little crunchy ‘turf’ roasties dusted with bone marrow powder (we also got the surf version dusted with mussel powder). A Bogtrotter-style layered chocolate cake to share finished us off – rich and dark with a shiny chocolate glaze, it was a perfect end to the meal. island-restaurants.com 74 Charlotte St by Ben Murphy, Fitzrovia For modern European 74 Charlotte Street by Ben Murphy sees the chef (who ran the kitchen at Launceston Place to great acclaim) in his first solo spot. The room is calm and elegant: coming in from a rainy winter evening the golden light and a warm atmosphere was immediately welcoming, as was the beautiful crescent-shaped cocktail bar where we kicked off with an icy, citrussy yuzu gimlet and a French 75. Such is the commitment to a perfect cocktail that my drink was decanted into a fresh frosty glass halfway through to keep it chilled. Don’t skip the bread – a pillowy loaf of tear-apart milk bread served with a cube of beurre noisette and a dish of hummus with vivid green pumpkin seed oil was just gorgeous. We loved the tender butter poached lobster tail with a tartlet topped with tiny discs of pumpkin to look like fish scales, and the iberica presa pork served perfectly pink with tiny grilled baby gem, carrot purée and a savoury jus – each dish looking like a little work of art. The wine list has some interesting by the glass options, with a Turkish sauvignon blanc being a particular surprise. Desserts are fun – there’s a retro mint green ice cream trolley with a seasonal flavour (mince pie on our visit) and a lovely chocolate tart, dense and rich with crisp chocolate pastry and hazelnut praline. 74charlottestreet.com 2210 by NattyCanCook, Herne Hill For reimagined Caribbean food As a Brixton resident I was extra excited about this opening. The Clink project at HMP Brixton inspired Nathaniel Mortley to turn his life around, launching a social media channel which led to residencies and now his permanent home in Herne Hill. Though born and raised in Peckham, Natty’s heritage is Bajan, Jamaican and Guyanese, thus he spotlights flavours and ingredients from the region in his elevated dishes. We kicked off by dunking grilled roti triangles into whipped scotch bonnet butter. Next came crispy spring rolls stuffed with ackee and saltfish, and pork belly with crackling trim, spiced jus and puddles of scotch bonnet mayo. I recommend sharing the hearty mains, all served with a choice of aromatic jollof rice or spiced rice and peas. There’s a sophisticated take on jerk chicken with mango and pineapple salsa, a much talked-about lamb rump with tamarind jus, and pan-seared spiced duck breast served with a show-stealing confit leg croquette. My highlight was whole brill lifted with a lightly spiced plantain velouté, pickled plantain cubes and vibrant coriander pesto. Don’t miss deep-fried apple crumble for dessert, presented in croquette form encasing spiced, pickled apple, with coffee chantilly cream and basil oil crème anglaise to lift. Cocktails pack a punch – signature rum punch is a popular choice, while margaritas are laced with scotch bonnet, and negronis infused with tangy sorrel. It’s a family affair – Natty's delightful godmother Cecilia was our server, his mum is his accountant and an old school friend helps out front of house. This, paired with the throwback soundtrack causing us to wiggle along in our plush grey chairs, ensures that good vibes prevail. I’m already planning a trip back for the Sunday roast, with the promise of scotch chimichurri roasties, followed by a brisk walk in neighbouring Brockwell Park. 2210bynattycancook.com Alex Crossley som saa, Shoreditch For Thai food After a fire devastated its kitchen early in 2025, som saa has reopened with its same regional Thai authenticity and buzzy vibes, but with a few new angles and a bit more bar-snack energy – recalibrations the team introduced after months to reflect and refresh. We started where the menu now gently nudges you to start: the nibbly bits. Tua phrik krob — deep-fried cashews with makrut lime leaf and dried chilli — are toasty, fragrant and entice you to keep reaching back into the bowl. Nang gai thort, crisp chicken skin with sriracha, makes you yearn to recreate it at home from the family roast. From there, the table builds itself. Gai yaang (BBQ chicken) comes off the grill juicy and lightly charred, with a tamarind jaew dip that keeps the sweet-sour heat tidy. Yum sanat, a warm northern salad of grilled pork, aubergine and herbs, has that lovely Thai balancing act: smoky meat, soft veg, bright herbs, a little roasted rice nuttiness. Dtom juet — clear soup of shiitake, samphire, kajon flowers and tofu skin — is the reset button in the middle of all that spice. Curries and braises keep the meal anchored. Mu parlow (five-spice soy-braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy-cured egg) is glossy, savoury comfort, while gaeng gari yort mapraow orn — tofu with heart of coconut palm — brings an aromatic, gently sweet warmth. A side of sticky rice feels less like an option and more like the point. Olive tip: Start with four or five small dishes, then add a curry and rice. If the daily som dtam is on, order it — it sharpens everything around it. somsaa.com Keith Kendrick Cô Thành, Covent Garden For Vietnamese noodles On visiting Ho Chi Minh in 2013, Hong Kong based Brian Woo was transfixed by local Nguyễn Thị Thanh's street stand, returning daily for her rotating noodle soups. He befriended the ‘Lunch Lady’, training with her for three years before opening a restaurant in her name in Hong Kong. Now Cô Thành comes to Covent Garden, taking the elegant former Frenchie site and adding a vibrant Vietnamese canteen sheen – mirrored tabletops, signage popping from exposed brick walls and colourful plastic stools outside. Sharing starters include minced beef wrapped in betel leaf, sausage skewers glistening in tamarind glaze and beer battered chicken wings with sweet, spicy fish sauce. Next comes an extensive list of noodle soups, my highlight being fragrant bún bò huế, the broth sweetened with pineapple that tenderises the rare beef and beef shank slices along with springy meatballs, fresh herbs and shredded morning glory. Seafood-packed bún Thái has a tom yum edge thanks to tamarind, galangal and ginger, while bún mám packs a fermented umami punch, and bún riêu’s crab base is ideal for thinner vermicelli noodles. We were recommended to drop a couple of unique yellow chillies into our broth, allow them to infuse their floral fragrant spicy kick and then remove. Dinky desserts punch above their weight, from kem chuối inspired coconut and banana ice cream lifted with lime zest, to tiramisu laced with rum and dark roast coffee that caramelises into the mascarpone. Dipping deep-fried sponge fritters into Vietnamese drip cà phê took me right back to Hanoi’s quirky coffee shops. Next time I’ll be trying the clarified bloody mary style cocktail, Vietnamese Maria, for a savoury pick-me-up. cothanhrestaurant.com/london Alex Crossley The Salusbury, Queens Park For modern European cooking in a neighbourhood restaurant setting Half pub, half dining room, The Salusbury brings a confident new energy to leafy north-west London. We visited on a busy Friday night, the bar buzzing with chatter and that end-of-week cheer. Step through to the dining room, though, and the volume drops – it feels like a little pocket of calm tucked just off the action. Modern European cooking leads the charge and the kitchen delivers. We kicked off with the du jour snack, parmesan churros, and these were easily the best version we’ve tried: crisp, savoury and impossible not to leave even a crumb behind. A silky Dorset crab linguine with a peppery cacio e pepe kick had us chasing every last strand, helped along by warm rosemary focaccia that’s clearly made with care. Generous portions continue into the mains. Roast cod came piled high with mussels and sweet leeks in a bowl-sipping cider broth, while Somerset chicken arrived succulent and bronzed with golden gnocchi, sweetcorn and girolles. Desserts hold their own too – the salted caramel tart has just the right wobble and a perfectly judged sweetness. A polished, promising new neighbourhood staple. thesalusbury.co.uk Barney Desmazery Khao-Sō-i, Soho For fiery Northern Thai cuisine London doesn’t lack for Thai restaurants but at Khao-Sō-i – named after the curry noodle dish of Chiang Mai – chef Win Srinavakool has created a menu shaped by the flavours of northern Thailand, with smoke from a wood-fired grill and bold (okay, hot) spice. We began with moo ping: wafer-thin Norfolk pork belly skewers grilled over wood with a sticky, caramelised edge and a deep, savoury warmth. Tum khanun – young jackfruit salad tossed with northern herbs – whacks your tastebuds with refreshing and tingling heat and zest. It’s a perfect spot for an after-work or after-shopping catch-up, buzzing with chatter, the throb of music and the theatre of the open grill. The main event is the namesake khao soi. We tried it two ways: gai (chicken) and bai pye (torched beef chuck eye). The pleasure is in shaping it. Each bowl arrives with coconut cream, chilli flakes, herbs and crisp noodles on the side, so you build your own version: richer, hotter, crunchier, or all of the above, before you pull the noodles from the creamy spiced broth and slurp like no one’s watching. There’s an extensive drinks list but ice-cold Neckstamper pale ale is the way to go to douse the fire and cleanse your palate before diving in to luxurious cha thai cheesecake or bai toey ice cream with cloud-like cubes of brioche. Olive tip: If you go as a two-some order separate dishes and share. You’ll want to experience as much of the menu as possible. khaosoilondon.com Keith Kendrick Il Bambini Club, Hoxton For Italian food in beautiful surroundings Walk into the main entrance of The Hoxton hotel and you are immediately swept into the chic world of Il Bambini Club. The room is warmly lit and beautifully furnished – think curved banquette seating, colourful stripes and florals, and giant fringed lampshades. A big open kitchen runs along one side, which adds to the appealing buzz. We tucked ourselves into one of the comfy booths and kicked things off with pair of cocktails – a rosso spritz with Martini Riserva, cherry and sparkling red, and a punchy vesper martini. The concise menu is trattoria-style. Antipasti of zingy yellowfin tuna tartare came heaped on a pile of crushed avocado, and a whole burrata was served with a juicy panzanella salad (for smaller appetites these would make a perfect lunch or light dinner). After consulting our waiter went for piatti (mains) of meatballs cloaked in a rich tomato sauce with dollops of whipped ricotta and a roasted sea bass – the sweet flesh cut with bitter escarole and capers. From a mostly Italian wine list the chilled Nero d’Avola is great value at £9 a glass – a lovely partner to the food or light enough to drink as an aperitivo. For dessert we shared the very generous tiramisu – creamy and light with a decent kick of espresso and booze. It gave us an excuse to linger, have one more drink and enjoy the cosy vibes of the beautiful room. bambini-restaurant.com Janine Ratcliffe The Elizabeth, Belgravia For cosy bistro vibes This exciting opening sees legendary chef Anthony Demetre, who pioneered modern British cooking at restaurants like Arbutus and Wild Honey, overseeing the new menu. Stepping into the intimate dining room, all leather banquettes and dark wood panelling, felt like entering a Parisian-style bistro. We loved the cosy feel, especially as we were able to get a sneak peek at our neighbour’s dishes to help ordering. The concise menu follows a three-course style which felt refreshing in this age of sharing plates. From starters we chose a Demetre classic, pâté en croûte. Layers of guinea fowl, pork and duck in a crisp pastry shell which came in a generous slab with a dollop of pickled walnut ketchup. After consulting our server we went for mains with an autumnal feel – a steamed Cornish sea bream with a piquant diced piperade and a rich bouillabaisse sauce poured tableside for drama, and a meltingly tender duck confit with comforting stew of chickpeas, spinach and oregano. There’s a pleasingly retro cocktail list – I tried the zingy Lemondrop and my non-drinking guest was given a Juke of Westminster – a non alcoholic wine shrub posing as a glass of red. There’s also a great selection of wines by the glass starting at £7.50. We did end up sharing a dessert of perfectly executed crème brûlée with a rich vanilla spiked custard and shatteringly crisp crust which was a lovely light way to end dinner. olive tip: There’s an amazing value set menu at lunch and early dinner (two courses for £25 or three for £29.50) – on our visit it included Cumbrian beef tartare with ’nduja mayo and beef dripping toast; chicken with pearl barley, morteau and duxelles; and a pear tart with clotted cream. theelizabethsw1.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Platapian, Soho Of the many surprising dishes at Platapian, the Soho Thai restaurant from the people behind Patara, one especially stood out: cabbage roasted until soft yet still with bite, the wedges dressed with fish sauce and whole chillies to deliver a sweet-salty heat that works beautifully with the vegetable’s faint sourness. But it’s by no means the only eyebrow-raiser in this stylish, sleek space on one of London’s busiest streets. We started with crispy chicken skin with a squeeze of lime – think gourmet pork scratchings. Stuffed snub nose chilli stuffed with minced chicken and prawn is big enough to share, plump and aromatic, and, despite its name, only mildly hot. Then a pandan-leaf wrapped parcel of miang kham scallop, beautifully silky and smoky. Mains kept the balance between comfort and freshness. Short rib beef in five-spice ‘paloh’ with grated salted egg yolk is the stand-out. Flake-apart meat in a rich gravy was positively swoon-worthy. While southern-style yellow curry with crab, mellow and light, saucy with coconut, was a hug in a bowl. Together they showed how Platapian’s menu celebrates the whole of Thai cuisine. From the drinks list, Tom Yum-tini and a whisky sour are smart, punchy and in simpatico with the elegance of the restaurant, while desserts use Thai ingredients to twist familiar Western dishes, such as a smooth pandan crème brûlée. olive tip: When we went on a Thursday night, Platapian was packed, buzzing and loud – so if you want to talk ask for a counter seat near the front. pataralondon.com Keith Kendrick Taco Bros, East Finchley For taco lovers who’ll cross town for them Taco Bros is the sort of neighbourhood place you wander into for something simple and good, then find yourself staying longer than planned, thinking, okay, we’ll order another round. Taco Bros grew from a taco truck and still carries that scrappy charm, though the new bricks and mortar space has its own warmth. Family photos, bright ceiling decorations and the hum of early evening give it the feel of a home kitchen that happens to pour margaritas. I started with the guacamole, which arrived with a heap of crisp tortilla chips and a bowl of green that kept a little of its rustic chunkiness, the sort that feels properly made by hand rather than fussed with. The fish tacos took me straight back to their market days: batter shatter-crisp, slaw bright, tortillas full of flavour. The lamb birria came with a jus that was rich and intensely fatty in the most comforting way, sharpened by white onion and lime. Even the chicken enchiladas felt like a quiet hug, all smoke and gentle heat. The margarita list is long and playful. I went for mango, sweet and sunny, though I found myself wishing it was a touch more sour. There’s a full spread of Mexican soft drink brand Jarritos too, including flavours I’d never seen before. I finished with churros, hot and crisp with enough dulce de leche to make me grateful for the walk home. tacobrosldn.co.uk Legado, Shoreditch For regional Spanish cuisine in a contemporary setting At Nieves Barragán Mohacho (chef-owner of Michelin-starred Sabor)’s regional Spanish restaurant, a bar complete with Estrella Galicia’s signature ceramic taps welcomes guests into the contemporary space. A wine rack spans almost an entire exposed brick wall and prime kitchen pass seats watch over chefs adding finishing touches to no fewer than nine menu sections. We were advised to order three to four dishes each, including two starters, a rice dish and a dessert to share. Things kicked off strong with pan tomate – the olive oil doused tomato toast elevated with dry-cured beef – and tempura-coated piquillo peppers filled with creamy goat’s cheese. Seafood highlights included glistening pan-fried squid stuffed with girolles set on a rich squid ink bisque and tiny fried camarones coated in glossy egg yolk. The ibérico lagarto pork atop rice cooked in earthy mushroom stock is a menu must-order, while sliced tomatoes topped with red mullet bottarga and shaved cured blue fin tuna heart were a surprise highlight. Dessert left us gleeful – saffron honey ice cream quenelle with white chocolate mousse and caramelised pistachios – and we’ll be back to try the Segovian sponge cake. Unique 3-sip amuse-bouche cocktails are served in quirky cups – Spanish bitter aperitif Bonanto is balanced with sharp, sweet rhubarb. To follow, there are multiple sangria options, plenty of Spanish-style gin tonics (re:strong!) and a regional wine and sherry list including my favourite albariño grape from Rías Baixas. olive tip: I would usually order suckling pig if on the menu, and the one at Sabor is epic, but we opted for the more manageable (for two) half pig’s head, deep-fried and sprinkled with jamón powder, which we pulled apart to find juicy treasures. legadorestaurants.com Alex Crossley Canal, Westbourne Park Tucked down a cobbled mews between Notting Hill and Maida Vale, and built into the new Mason & Fifth hotel-apartment complex, Canal is one of London’s most exciting recent openings. Its towpath perch on the Grand Union Canal sets a modern, urban stage for food that’s both precise and packed with flavour. Provenance is proudly front and centre – sourdough comes from Layla, while charcuterie like jamón and Mangalitza sausages arrive from Coombeshead Farm. The menu is cleverly pitched so there’s something for everyone. A fat diner-style cheeseburger bucks the smashburger trend and feels all the better for it, while scallops arrive plump and caramelised, served in their shells with ’nduja butter begging to be mopped up with that sourdough. Crab on toast is so fresh it tastes like it’s just left the boat, and chicken with sweetcorn and girolles might be the most impressive chicken breast you’ll eat this year. Desserts are just as memorable – a tiramisu that’s unapologetically boozy, and a brown butter almond cake with sour cherries that’s indulgent yet balanced. With seasoned owners and staff who know their craft, Canal feels confident from the start – we can’t wait to return. mason-fifth.com Barney Desmazery The Lavery For modern European cooking inside a Grade II-listed townhouse The Lavery is an elegant space in smart South Kensington, where you can expect chic yet understated Georgian interiors: high ceilings, wooden floors, beautiful fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu and service are as chic as the interiors – no surprise given that the kitchen is led by Yohei Furuhashi, former chef at River Café, Petersham Nurseries and Toklas. His menu showcases Mediterranean seasonality while incorporating ingredients from the British Isles. Starters strike a beautiful balance of fresh flavours, from grilled squid with fresh borlotti, rocket and chilli to Honeymoon melon with shaved courgette and almonds. Standout mains include Scottish sea trout baked in fig leaves and sea salt served with pea, fennel and basil aïoli, and linguine with lobster in tomato and vodka sauce. Desserts are worth lingering over, from a feather-light bean chocolate mousse to the perfect almond tart accompanied by strawberries and cream. You’ll be well looked after from the moment you arrive to the last lick of the dessert spoon. For excellent value, visit for the three-course set lunch menu for £38 per person. thelavery.co.uk Lily Barclay Noisy Oyster, Shoreditch For modern bistro dishes Noisy Oyster is a new opening from the team behind Soho’s Firebird – a sleek modern bistro with a focus on sustainable seafood and killer martinis. The room is an airy, industrial space with shiny, steel-topped tables and huge open windows leading onto a large buzzy terrace. Kick things off with one of the cult icy-cold mini martinis – the Oyster, made with Sapling gin, Otto’s vermouth and an oyster leaf garnish is great paired with a smoked tomato water and oyster dressed with crème fraîche. From the playful menu, small plate wins include a raw scallop crudo topped with zingy pickled raspberries and basil oil, and a dish of rich, creamy stracciatella topped with anchovies and almond pesto (don’t forget to order the light, puffy focaccia to spoon this onto). Guinness bread topped with a generous slick of whipped butter and piled with Yarra Valley red caviar is the obvious Instagrammable dish but still delicious. Standout larger plates include a crunchy breaded hake with a seasonal peach panzanella, and monkfish skewers with XO sauce, topped with a melting, paper-thin slice of lardo. We tried a twist on rum baba for dessert soaked in fig leaf bourbon and served with crème anglaise and strawberries but the soft-serve Jersey ice cream topped with caviar is intriguing enough for a repeat visit. noisyoysterlondon.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Lai Rai, Peckham For modern Vietnamese Meet friends for fuss-free snacks and cold beers at this dinky new-school Vietnamese. With the name Lai Rai meaning ‘little by little’, the space is a homage to Vietnamese canteens, with a buttery colour palette, neon lighting and slick red stools. By day it serves bánh mì and Vietnamese coffee, by evening the menu evolves into playful twists on familiar Vietnamese flavours – you won't find any bowls of pho here. Smaller plates include crunchy prawn lollies on sugarcane stalks and a light, multicoloured papaya jellyfish salad with lumps of pineapple, charred tomatoes, fresh Viet herbs and peanuts, mopped clean with charred bánh mì chunks. Larger dishes feature a twice-cooked chicken leg atop a herby dressing and grilled betel leaf beef, bathed in a smoky pool of house-made coffee barbecue jus. Vietnamese-inspired cocktails include the Xoài Kick, a bracing mix of tequila, mango, red chillies and fruit salt, and a Viet coffee-laced vodka martini. Finish with a scoop of freshly churned ice cream made by small south London manufacturer Clingy Wrap, with unique flavours such as fish sauce vanilla caramel and kumquat cucumber sorbet. If you're looking for something altogether unexpected, you’ll find it here. lairai.london Helen Salter SINO, Notting Hill For Ukrainian fine dining Sino means “hay” in Ukrainian, but the word goes much deeper to encapsulate the country’s agricultural roots. At their contemporary fine-dining restaurant on All Saints Road, Ukrainian duo Polina Sychova and Eugene Korolev weave this concept into everything they do, from the menu to striking ceiling installation and handcrafted crockery. Interiors are soft, natural and warm – brushed clay walls, beige banquettes and linen drapes dressing the windows. Chef Eugene combines his Michelin-starred experience and Ukrainian heritage to revamp traditional dishes – bitesize potato and sorrel waffles stacked with sorrel-flecked soured cream and smoked pike roe; chicken kyiv presented in a bonbon-style sphere bursting with wild garlic butter alongside bison grass mash; and beef cheek dumplings bathing in oxtail broth spiced with star anise, fragrant with lemon verbena and umami-rich thanks to smoked mushroom garum. Don’t miss tartare-style marinated aubergine served with Kyyrma smoked cheese flatbread and spiced adjika dip to start. Elevated desserts include a riff on honey cake; its layers of honey and buckwheat flour crowned with buckwheat chocolate in a moat of whipped walnut sauce. Eastern European wines hail from Kyiv, Georgia’s Kakheti region and the Black Sea, while Ana Reznik’s cocktails play on nostalgic flavours from a childhood in Ukraine. sinorestaurant.co.uk Alex Crossley Tatar Bunar, Shoreditch For Ukrainian cuisine Southern Ukrainian cuisine is in the spotlight at this likeable new restaurant from Ukrainian restaurateurs Alex Cooper and Anna Andriienko. Named after Alex’s hometown of Tatarbunary, the menu is inspired by old family traditions and his grandmother’s recipes, as well as the richness of Bessarabian produce. There’s also a wine list packed with Ukrainian producers. Interiors are a soothing lush blend of creamy neutrals and natural textures with materials sourced from Eastern Europe such as reclaimed Carpathian wood and Bessarabian stone, with ceramics from Kyiv artist Svetlana Sholomitska. We start with forshmak: chunky dollops of finely chopped herring pâté on onion bread, the oily richness balanced by a disc of pink pickled onion and smoked soured cream. Bryndza, a crumbly, tangy, feta-like sheep’s milk cheese is topped with luscious slices of sweet tomato and sprat fillets for a caprese-like dish with an Eastern Europe spin. On the heartier side, banush – cornmeal and cream porridge – is velvety, cheesy and comforting, topped with meaty wild mushrooms. Mains come from the grill: we tried charred, juicy lamb chop served with yogurt, flavoursome pickled tomatoes and a bright and spicy sauce made with red peppers, the latter of which also accompanies tender, delicate grilled rabbit. Desserts are robust and rib-sticking. Crème brûlée comes with a secret surprise inside – a sturdy steamed varenyk dumpling filled with soft cheese – while crêpes come with three individual fillings: poppy seed sauce, blackcurrant jam and cottage cheese, all swimming in creamy custard. Tatar Bunar is generous to a fault – portions are sizeable, the glasses of wine are large and the flavours are bold and unapologetic. A refreshing addition to London's restaurant scene. @tatarbunar.london Hannah Guinness Lupa, Highbury For a neighbourhood Italian This cute neighbourhood corner spot is inspired by the osterias of Rome – where co-owner Ed Templeton lived for a time – with their comforting, simple dishes and casual, friendly atmosphere. The bright, breezy room feels fresh but keeps lots of the original charm intact, including the beautiful, almost floor to ceiling original windows. Chef Naz Hassan's menu is concise and a table of four could happily order most of the menu. Kick off with a punchy martini, heady with Malfy gin and fig leaf liqueur, and a snack of courgette flower stuffed with burrata, deep-fried and served on an umami courgette purée boosted with dashi. There are some pasta greatest hits – try the cacio e pepe with handmade pici in a generous slick of peppery, cheesy sauce. Mains include a thick slice of porchetta stuffed with apricot, gorgeously burnished with deep, crunchy crackling – order the creamy green vignarola veg as a perfect accompaniment. There are only two puddings but the tiramisu delivers – feather light and creamy with a proper kick of booze. Punters may book hoping to see a glimpse of co-owner Theo James (of White Lotus fame) but they’ll come back for the spot-on cooking. lupa.restaurant Janine Ratcliffe Osteria Angelina, Shoreditch For Italian and Japanese fusion Angelina in Dalston offers a unique fusion of Italian and Japanese cooking. This new offshoot caters to a more casual set-up, with tasting menus swapped out for a pick-and-mix of Italian-Japanese dishes and an open kitchen and pasta studio to be viewed from marble-topped tables. Small plates are split into pane (hello nori-flecked focaccia), insalate including Usman's magic mirin and star anise tricolore tomato salad, crudos, such as tuna belly with citrussy ponzu and wasabi, and fritti featuring courgette flowers stuffed with creamy miso and caramelised onion ricotta, topped with hazelnut furikake for extra crunch. Pastas are a highlight – the menu advises to order a couple and we agree. Kombu and truffle laced tortellini contrasts slow-cooked duck ragu and crunchy lotus flower pieces on folds of fazzoletti. Larger grill dishes include umami-rich grilled chicken in taro sauce slathered in miso butter, best paired with okonomiyaki-style shoestring fries. Finish with bruléed black sesame cheesecake or cheese panna cotta topped with caviar for a savoury burst. Playful combinations continue on the drinks list – Riso and Rosmarino pairs cynar and rosemary with sake and cucumber, while smoked pineapple and Sicilian smoked cactus distillate create a zippy Shinjuku Albatross. Lesser spotlighted regional Italian wines sit alongside sakes and a selection of digestifs including grappas and Japanese whiskies. angelina.london/osteria Alex Crossley Town, Covent Garden Stevie Parle's latest swishy, provenance-focused restaurant Any restaurant menu that opens with an extensive snack selection is on the money for London 2025: fried sage leaves with heather honey and chilli are a cocktail’s perfect partner. At Town, the new venue from Stevie Parle and Jonathan Downey the vibe is very much a modern take on early James Bond cool and classy. There’s a standalone bar (cocktails by Kevin Armstrong of Satan’s Whiskers fame, 3 choices of martini natch) which draws the eye on one side, while the space age pass to the kitchen is ringed in glowing baize green and every bit of detail from the ceiling to the frosted glasses shouts ‘attention’. The provenance of produce is equally hot. Wildfarmed beef is raised for the restaurant and served wine-cured with crunchy candied walnuts and posh ‘cheese whizz’, as steaks or in fat form as the cooking medium for pink fir potatoes. There are Seasalter clams swimming in sherry or as a main, curried with cod; Isle of Mull scallops with smoked chilli butter and Kentish asparagus swathed in Mangalista lardo. Kasmiri saffron risotto is served with bone marrow to be scooped out and stirred through, mighty rich in flavour and a show-off on the plate. Buttermilk pudding with roasted nespole (loquats) or a scoop of Todoli lemon and Thai basil sorbet make a refreshing end. There is of course an excellent wine list. town.restaurant Lulu Grimes Kerfield Arms, Camberwell Popular NE London pub team heads south of the river The team behind Islington favourite The Baring has kept things stripped back and simple at their new south London pub. The Victorian-era building boasts plenty of space to play with – for now, a bar with independent brews on tap divides a casual area dedicated to drinkers and walk-ins and a dining room for the full shebang, with the promise of outdoor seating and a private dining room next to the first-floor kitchen to come. To kick things off, a silky house martini combines olive oil fat washed Sapling gin and fennel-infused vermouth, while cherry blossom liqueur and sparkling rosé add spring flourish to a French 75. Order a portion of fried pizza dough fingers to scoop up taramasalata while you peruse the menu of seasonal stars. In the inaugural shish kebab, melting squiggles of squid and lardo slivers are barbecued on a skewer and served in spiced pul biber butter along with shaved fennel and whispy monk’s beard. Half a beefy smoked Marmande tomato, topped with cubes of smoked ricotta and pangrattato crumb, is balanced in a moat of zippy tomato consommé. For mains, grilled monkfish comes with tiny waxy Jersey Royals and friarielli greens in a rich shrimp bisque, while four pink, succulent Yorkshire hogget chops are nestled into a plate of violet artichokes, plump broad beans, creamy bagna cauda and rich hogget reduction. The short but strong dessert menu includes strawberry and chamomile custard doughnuts and chocolate olive oil mousse with rustic brownie and crème fraîche. thekerfieldarms.co.uk Alex Crossley Pyro, London Bridge Greek restaurant where smoke and fire do the talking Just a few minutes from Borough Market is Pyro, a light-filled, open-kitchen spot where smoke and fire do the heavy lifting. Headed up by Yiannis Mexis, formerly of Hide, the Greek menu leans into open-flame cooking with balance and control. Potato pita is essential: pillowy, dotted with onion seeds and perfect for scooping up cooling tzatziki or smoky aubergine topped with walnuts and pomegranate. A pork pluma skewer is rich, roasted and herb-packed, expertly balanced with sour apple. Sea bream crudo, by contrast, is light and bright – green olive and caper leaf add savoury lift, while precisely diced chillies lend occasional, welcome heat. The octopus is soft and lightly charred, paired with a spiced red wine sauce and silky yellow split pea. Lamb, cooked over alder wood, is standout – tender, subtly sweet, served with lamb-fat flatbreads and an anchovy-spiked yogurt. Sides more than pull their weight: crisp layered potatoes with garlicky skordalia and a confidently simple lettuce salad. Portokalopita, soaked with citrus syrup and served with a perfumed citrus leaf ice cream, ends things on a bright note. Pyro is a restaurant that lets fire do the talking but knows when to let something stay cool, crisp or raw. It’s considered and deeply satisfying. pyrorestaurant.co.uk Lydia Anderson The Knave of Clubs, Shoreditch Lovingly restored pub with rotisserie kitchen The Knave of Clubs is back on the East End pub scene with a proper old-school flourish. Originally serving the bird market traders on Club Row in the 1880s, this local continued life as an East End boozer until the 1990s when it underwent a full transformation into French restaurant Les Trois Garçons for a decade or so. The pub has been lovingly restored on the ground floor, huge wall mirrors have been unearthed and polished, the bar revamped and a toastie, oyster, snack and rotisserie chicken menu installed. The driving force behind this redo are Benjy Leibowitz (ex NYC’s NoMad), James Dye (The Camberwell Arms) and Patrick Powell (ex Allegra) all of whom are committed to the local feel of the pub – it’s one big room with the rotisserie kitchen at the end open. You can book for lunch (advised, it’s popular) and evenings are walk-in, dogs are welcome and the vibe is buzzy. Try the prawn scotch eggs and venison sausage rolls to start. There's only one dessert, a very good chocolate mousse. theknaveofclubs.co.uk Lulu Grimes Bubala, King's Cross Popular Middle Eastern small plate restaurant opens its third site The third spot from Marc Summers (Berber & Q) boasts its very own wood-fired oven, as well as a bright, light-filled space and high ceilings – unlike its cosier counterparts in Soho and Shoreditch – and with shelves adorned with pickle jars and greenery. Trust that ‘Bubala Knows Best’ with the vegetarian or vegan set menus. Start with a pickle plate – three types all in different brines – closely followed by the superlative dips. The beyond silky baba ganoush comes with a well of curry leaf oil and toasted pine nuts, alongside a sleek fava bean dip with vadouvan. Smoky laffa bread is fresh off the grill and wonderfully charred. The oyster mushroom skewer with tamari and coriander seed is a stand-out dish with umami meatiness that will convince even the staunchest mushroom naysayers. Crisp falafel with a vibrant green centre is served with tangy mango pickle amba and sumac onions. Even something as simple as a side salad is injected with Bubala flair – oak and mustard leaves with onion, pomegranate molasses and mint is a refreshing complement to the deep-fried falafel, charred, smoky vegetables and creamy dips. Wash it all down with a spicy margarita rimmed with flecks of char from the grill. bubala.co.uk Emily Marten Dove, Notting Hill A Jackson Boxer revamp into a true neighbourhood gem Jackson Boxer's latest venture is a revamp on the same site as seafood restaurant Orasay – a place the chef wants to be familiar and accessible but still feel special and playful. This is evident in the menu, where comforting classics are peppered with pops of intrigue, such as octopus gildas to start alongside fino sherry and tonic. The springy, deep-fried potato pizzette comes laden with folds of mortadella and a huge burrata ball, while the yuzu-laced tuna tostada makes a lighter option. Next, four helmeted grilled Atlantic prawns in a zippy smoked garlic and black lime butter and Iberiko tomatoes drizzled in spicy chilli oil and soured cream. The must-order (if you can, only 10 are made for each service) is an umami-rich hunk of a burger formed from 50-day, dry-aged beef rib cap, brisket and chuck, flame-grilled with gorgonzola dolce and champagne-braised Lyonnaise onions so caramelised and melded together in a glazed potato roll… best accompanied with crunchy duck fat chips. Those too late are rewarded instead with steamed hake and Romana courgette in a rich champagne broth or sharing cuts such as wood-roast chicken in Café de Paris butter, 30-day Tamworth pork double loin chop and 50-day Highland beef sirloin chop. Finish with a retro-chic fior di latte soft serve doused in peppery olive oil with chewy oat cookies on the side. Paired with Orasay’s original interiors, elegant yet unfussy in style with earthy-hued linens and exposed brick walls, this next iteration takes Dove into true neighbourhood haunt territory. dove.london Alex Crossley Crunch, Soho Smash-hit sandwiches go upmarket in this slick new all-day Soho spot Landing on the buzzy corner of Dean Street and Old Compton Street, Crunch brings its cult-followed Spitalfields sandwiches to a permanent Soho address – and the result is part elevated sandwich shop, part stainless steel lined sandwich theatre. The vibe is sleek but casual, with polished metal counters, high stools and a front-row view of the sandwich station, where flat iron steaks hit the grill and brioche buns get that signature toast. The menu is concise but clever – the main event is the Soho-exclusive steak sandwich, a decadent, juicy, grass-fed beef patty in golden, crisp-edged brioche. Don’t skip sides: the thousand-layer crispy potatoes with bloody mary ketchup are addictive, and the lasagne bites are punchy, deep-fried delights. For something sweet, the deep-fried french toast made from brioche offcuts, custard-soaked and topped with apple, chocolate chunks and dulce de leche, is reason enough to linger. The service is fast and friendly, perfect for solo diners perched at the bar or a quick lunch with a friend. A breakfast menu is on the way, too – worth keeping an eye on for early morning indulgence. sandwichuprising.com Best new London restaurant openings in late 2024 Babbo, St John's Wood Smart yet relaxed Italian dining, serving updated trattoria classics with finesse Tucked away in St John’s Wood, Babbo brings a refined yet welcoming modern touch to classic Italian trattoria fare. The space is elegant yet relaxed, striking the right balance between sophistication and comfort. Service is warm and efficient, making it the kind of place for both special occasions and relaxed midweek dinners. The meal begins with a generous bread basket – five types, all fresh and warm from the oven. Starters include perfectly cooked zucchini fritti and a clever take on veal tonnato, studded with hazelnuts for added depth and texture. The lobster spaghetti is rich with a deeply flavoured bisque base and vibrant tomato notes, while the grilled lamb chops arrive perfectly pink and full of smoky char. On the side, potatoes al forno steal the show, extra crunchy and moreish. As well as a full menu Babbo also serves pizza which, although we didn’t try them on this visit, looked signature thin and crisp. From the desserts, tiramisu is the standout – light, creamy and classic. Pair it with a strong espresso or a glass of vin santo to finish. With a well-balanced menu of updated Italian classics, Babbo offers some of the best trattoria-style cooking in London – refined, comforting and worth returning for. babborestaurant.co.uk Barney Desmazery AngloThai, Marylebone Thai flavours with British ingredients AngloThai is the debut restaurant from husband and wife team John and Desiree Chantarasak, and marks the culmination of a nearly four-year site search after numerous highly successful pop-ups and residencies. Now the couple bring their unique vision for contemporary Thai-British cuisine to the historic Seymour Place in London’s vibrant Marylebone neighbourhood. À la carte by day and tasting menu by night, the menu is full of dishes that blend the bold flavours of Thailand with modern presentation and innovative techniques, while still respecting traditional cooking styles. It also adapts to the seasonal offerings of the British Isles, and is paired with a wine list that champions thoughtful producers and superior craftsmanship. This 44-cover restaurant was one of the hottest tables of 2024 and the momentum is carrying over to 2025, with AngloThai winning it's first Michelin star. anglothai.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Silva, Mayfair For varied all-day dining Silva, the Latin word for forest, carries this theme in its interiors with woodland friezes and natural tones in the airy dining room and snug bar. A compact, seasonal menu takes inspiration from the Med and Japan with a raw section designed to wake up the palate – wild sea bass crudo, jalapeño, yuzu and ginger dressing has delicate tang. Classic steak tartare is made hearty by topping a chunky potato waffle and a signature dish of crispy egg with girolle and parmesan sauce is also a generous starter. Lighter mains like roasted cauliflower with butter beans and caponata or steamed halibut are balanced by the more robust Creedy Carver duck with coco beans and addictive rosemary and garlic roasties. Silva’s busy kitchen team, headed up by Slawomir Sawicki, can be seen through the street-facing windows below a pretty striped awning on the increasingly restaurant-focussed Bruton Place. Open all day from breakfast to dinner. silvarestaurant.co.uk Leydi, Holborn Viaduct Sharing plates from Istanbul Leydi sees the return of the talented Selin Kiazim (previously Oklava) to London and brings with it the spirit of Istanbul, serving an all-day menu oozing with Turkish favourites but with Selin’s unique modern twist. Launched opposite the Old Bailey in an area in Farringdon with an abundance of history, the restaurant pays tribute to the vibrancy of Istanbul’s eating culture, featuring generous, celebratory Turkish food meant to be shared and savoured. The drinks menu boasts bespoke creations from Kevin Patnode, two-time winner of the best bartender in Turkey, in addition to a transcontinental wine list with a distinctive Turkish influence. With décor featuring plush banquettes, warm lighting and understated references to Istanbul’s architecture and interiors that can only be described as elegant, this intimate 90-cover dining room sets its sights on charming the capital. leydilondon.com Janine Ratcliffe The Grill at The Hero, Maida Vale Sustainably sourced meat and fish cooked over open fire Find this beautiful dining room above one of west London’s busiest locals. While the pub serves great-value comfort food, like sausage and mash, and cheese and onion pie, The Grill’s focus is on sustainably sourced meat and fish cooked over open fire. Gutsy dishes like sweetbreads with lobster gravy make it a destination, alongside grilled monkfish tail, turbot, pork chop or ribeye with elevated sides of honeyed chicory, jerusalem artichokes and excellent chips. For the best experience, book a booth facing the open kitchen but, wherever you sit, the unique waiter station which stretches the entire length of the room, makes you feel part of the action. Wood panels and leather seating create a grown-up, calming atmosphere. theherow9.com/the-grill/ Christine Hayes Wildflowers, Belgravia Stylish restaurant and wine bar with a Med focus Partners Laura Hart, whose background is in interior and floral design, and chef Aaron Potter, have created a space that’s welcoming and stylish in equal measure. Med-inspired dishes are cooked over coal in an open kitchen, cocktails are imaginative twists on classics (try a melon negroni or almost-dirty martini) and its understated design encourages you to relax and linger over your food. The menu includes little intrigues like Romeo & Juliets (cheese and quince one-bites) and the best versions of trending dishes like sugar pit pork chop, Galician ex-dairy ribeye with smoked bone marrow rice and fior di latte gelato – a soft serve that’s reminiscent of Wimpy, in the best possible way. Upstairs the light-filled wine bar offers a decent selection by the glass and Italian-style snacks, making it an ideal place to swing by when shopping at nearby King’s Road or Pimlico Road’s upscale interior design quarter. wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk Christine Hayes Fonda, Heddon Street For regional Mexican dishes Santiago Lastra, chef-owner of Mexican fine dining restaurant Kol, brings a more informal option to Heddon Street. A fonda is a Mexican family-run inn, to which there are nods in the décor (earthy tones, handwoven fabrics and Mexican crafts), regional Mexican menu and homely touches, including a trio of salsas – smoky salsa macha, lively gooseberry salsa verde and fiery salsa roja – brought to the table for customers to apply to dishes as they wish. Kick off with Yucatan ground pumpkin seed speciality sikil pak topped with vibrant green pine oil and deep-fried totopos. Specials include tuna belly crudo in soy, sesame and fermented gooseberry dressing; and quesadillas stuffed with Oaxacan-style cheese from Canterbury. The traditional clay comal is the kitchen’s focal point and the dedicated comal list includes Marmite beer-battered baja fish dressed with chipotle mayo, Hispi cabbage and pistachio guacamole. Costra is an elevated tribute to CDMX post-clubbing snacks – 30-day aged rib-eye topped with grilled spenwood and manchego infused with macha sauce.Moving on to sharing mains – black sesame, short rib stock and chocolate paste take centre stage in the rich, 60-ingredient short rib mole. Charred adobo-laced monkfish comes on soft Ratte potatoes doused in Arbol chilli infused butter. For dessert, Santi's American cheesecake topped with blackcurrant compote is a popular choice; steamed corn tamales are doused in butterscotch cream and silky chocolate sorbet laced with Oaxacan oak-smoked pasilla chilli oil is a surprising highlight. Santiago’s commitment to sourcing British ingredients continues through to cocktails – think fresh gooseberry juice and rhubarb liqueur to add zing to margaritas; and rhubarb palomas rimmed with gooseberry salt. Honcho the sloth guides guests down to the basement dining room and agave bar for a mezcal night cap. fondalondon.com Alex Crossley Three Little Darlings, Chelsea 'English bistro' with an all-day menu Jason and Irha Atherton’s ‘English bistro’ is named for their three daughters. Its all-day menu appeals equally to families, to groups of friends and for date nights, with seasonal variations and sensible pricing to encourage regular visits. Choose your spot on the covered terrace off Pavilion Road or take a seat in front of the pass and watch the chefs cooking on the Josper grill. Sharing small plates include woodfired fermented Orkney scallop with fermented miso; char siu Shorthorn short ribs; octopus with butter bean aïoli and Yukon Gold cooked in the embers with Lincolnshire Poacher – a posh twist on a cheesy baked potato. The quality of ingredients elevates the experience and surprising twists are designed to delight: monkfish tail is served with a wedge of vibrant Baches citrus; and skate wing schnitzel with katsu sauce and lime. Desserts range from comforting to luxe – bun and butter pudding or soft serve topped with caviar. The wine-curious may be rewarded with a trip to the secret cellar. threedarlingslondon.com Christine Hayes Stay tuned for more reviews of new restaurants in London Reviews by Janine Ratcliffe, Christine Hayes, Lulu Grimes, Helen Salter, Hannah Guinness, Alex Crossley Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Check out our favourite places to eat in the capital's city hub. Try crisp piri-piri chicken, hispi cabbage with pork fat and an XO crumb, and some of the best pasta and cocktails in town
Looking for Shoreditch restaurants? Here are some of our favourite restaurants in east London's buzzing borough around Old Street and Shoreditch High Street stations. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in Shoreditch, from Brick Lane to Redchurch Street and beyond… For more London recommendations, check our guides to the best restaurants in Soho, best restaurants in London Bridge, best restaurants in Paddington and best restaurants in Camden. Best places to eat and drink in Shoreditch som saa, Commercial Street – for Thai food som saa has reopened with its same regional Thai authenticity and buzzy vibes but with a few new angles and a bit more bar-snack energy – recalibrations the team introduced after months to reflect and refresh. We began where the menu now gently prompts you to start: the nibbly bits. Tua phrik krob — deep-fried cashews with makrut lime leaf and dried chilli — are toasty, fragrant and entice you to keep reaching back into the bowl. Nang gai thort, crisp chicken skin with sriracha, makes you yearn to recreate it at home from the family roast. From there, the table builds itself. Gai yaang (BBQ chicken) comes off the grill juicy and lightly charred, with a tamarind jaew dip that keeps the sweet-sour heat tidy. Yum sanat, a warm northern salad of grilled pork, aubergine and herbs, has that lovely Thai balancing act: smoky meat, soft veg, bright herbs, a little roasted rice nuttiness. Dtom juet — clear soup of shiitake, samphire, kajon flowers and tofu skin — is the reset button in the middle of all that spice. Curries and braises keep the meal anchored. Mu parlow (five-spice soy-braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy-cured egg) is glossy, savoury comfort, while gaeng gari yort mapraow orn — tofu with heart of coconut palm — brings an aromatic, gently sweet warmth. A side of sticky rice feels less like an option and more like the point. Olive tip: Start with four or five small dishes, then add a curry and rice. If the daily som dtam is on, order it — it sharpens everything around it. somsaa.com Noisy Oyster, Nicholls Clarke Yard – for modern bistro dishes Noisy Oyster is a sleek modern bistro with a focus on sustainable seafood and killer martinis. The room is an airy, industrial space with shiny, steel-topped tables and huge open windows leading onto a large buzzy terrace. Kick things off with one of the cult icy-cold mini martinis – the Oyster, made with Sapling gin, Otto’s vermouth and an oyster leaf garnish is great paired with a smoked tomato water and oyster dressed with crème fraîche. Small plate wins include a raw scallop crudo topped with zingy pickled raspberries and basil oil, and a dish of rich, creamy stracciatella topped with anchovies and almond pesto (don’t forget to order the light, puffy focaccia to spoon this onto). Standout larger plates include a crunchy breaded hake with a seasonal peach panzanella, and monkfish skewers with XO sauce, topped with a melting, paper-thin slice of lardo. We tried a twist on rum baba for dessert soaked in fig leaf bourbon and served with crème anglaise and strawberries but the soft-serve Jersey ice cream topped with caviar is intriguing enough for a repeat visit. noisyoysterlondon.co.uk Tatar Bunar, Curtain Road – for Ukrainian cuisine Southern Ukrainian cuisine is in the spotlight at this likeable new restaurant from Ukrainian restaurateurs Alex Cooper and Anna Andriienko. Named after Alex’s hometown of Tatarbunary, the menu is inspired by old family traditions and his grandmother’s recipes, as well as the richness of Bessarabian produce. There’s also a wine list packed with Ukrainian producers. Interiors are a soothing lush blend of creamy neutrals and natural textures with materials sourced from Eastern Europe such as reclaimed Carpathian wood and Bessarabian stone, with ceramics from Kyiv artist Svetlana Sholomitska. We start with forshmak: chunky dollops of finely chopped herring pâté on onion bread, the oily richness balanced by a disc of pink pickled onion and smoked soured cream. Bryndza, a crumbly, tangy, feta-like sheep’s milk cheese is topped with luscious slices of sweet tomato and sprat fillets for a caprese-like dish with an Eastern Europe spin. On the heartier side, banush – cornmeal and cream porridge – is velvety, cheesy and comforting, topped with meaty wild mushrooms. Mains come from the grill: we tried charred, juicy lamb chop served with yogurt, flavoursome pickled tomatoes and a bright and spicy sauce made with red peppers, the latter of which also accompanies tender, delicate grilled rabbit. Desserts are robust and rib-sticking. Crème brûlée comes with a secret surprise inside – a sturdy steamed varenyk dumpling filled with soft cheese – while crêpes come with three individual fillings: poppy seed sauce, blackcurrant jam and cottage cheese, all swimming in creamy custard. Tatar Bunar is generous to a fault – portions are sizeable, the glasses of wine are large and the flavours are bold and unapologetic. A refreshing addition to London's restaurant scene. @tatarbunar.london Chiave, Redchurch Street – for bespoke cocktails Chiave, meaning ‘key’ in Italian, cuts a subtle exterior on Redchurch Street bar the large, polished brass-effect key on the door. At sundown, the bar to transform into a cosy drinking den with dark mahogany tables and palo santo incense swirling up towards the alluring red ceiling. Street Spirit (named after Radiohead’s 1995 track) is a vibrant twist on a Moscow mule with aniseed notes from raki – Turkey’s national spirit – effortlessly blended with a subtle salted caramel vodka. Margarita fans will not be disappointed with a Tommy margarita mixing equal quantities of Ojo de Dios mezcal and Don Julio tequila, with chilli liqueur and a spicy sumac rim. For crisp and aromatic herbal refreshment don’t miss Sunbeams with Tanqueray No Ten gin, chinotto nero and a blend of clarified sea buckthorn and basil. The team’s Turkish heritage is carried into the small but thoughtful snack selection. Nibble on dainty, rice-stuffed vine leaves with pomegranate molasses for dipping, or hummus-filled cucumber bites. If you want to carry on the night, pop downstairs to the small but compact dance floor with custom-made speakers and a stylish HiFi mixer. chiaveshoreditch.com Osteria Angelina, Nicholas Clarke Yard – for Italian-Japanese small plates Angelina in Dalston offers a unique fusion of Italian and Japanese cooking. This new offshoot caters to a more casual set-up, with tasting menus swapped out for a pick-and-mix of Italian-Japanese dishes and an open kitchen and pasta studio to be viewed from marble-topped tables. Small plates are split into pane (hello nori-flecked focaccia), insalate including Usman's magic mirin and star anise tricolore tomato salad, crudos, such as tuna belly with citrussy ponzu and wasabi, and fritti featuring courgette flowers stuffed with creamy miso and caramelised onion ricotta, topped with hazelnut furikake for extra crunch. Pastas are a highlight – the menu advises to order a couple and we agree. Kombu and truffle laced tortellini contrasts slow-cooked duck ragu and crunchy lotus flower pieces on folds of fazzoletti. Larger grill dishes include umami-rich grilled chicken in taro sauce slathered in miso butter, best paired with okonomiyaki-style shoestring fries. Finish with bruléed black sesame cheesecake or cheese panna cotta topped with caviar for a savoury burst. Playful combinations continue on the drinks list – Riso and Rosmarino pairs cynar and rosemary with sake and cucumber, while smoked pineapple and Sicilian smoked cactus distillate create a zippy Shinjuku Albatross. Lesser spotlighted regional Italian wines sit alongside sakes and a selection of digestifs including grappas and Japanese whiskies. angelina.london/osteria Kricket, Charlotte Road – for modern Indian cooking Housed in a former printing press, the fourth and largest Kricket is arguably its most ambitious. A natural evolution of the brand’s modern Indian ethos, the Shoreditch location is all brick, brass and soft pinks, inspired by Jaipur, delivering greatest hits alongside seasonal newcomers, all designed to share and all packing punch. From the starters, go for recheado butter prawns, meaty and plump, slathered in spiced Goan butter. Or the Keralan fried chicken, a dish so popular it’s become a Kricket signature, its craggy, spice-flecked crust giving way to juicy thigh meat, with a slick of curry leaf mayo and crisp mooli for contrast. Vegetables are treated with ingenuity. Grilled squash, dressed in makhani sauce with shards of paneer and puffed wild rice, is a creamy, crunchy triumph. And Tamil leek and potato hariyali – a vibrant green curry enriched with coconut – is a masterclass in coaxing richness and depth from humble ingredients. From the Grills & Curries section comes the Karnatakan pork neck, roasted with tamarind, dried chilli and ginger, while seafood fans should head straight for the claypot baked cod, nestling in a coconut cream sauce. This isn’t just a lunch or dinner spot, either. Brunch service includes masala fried eggs, smoked haddock kedgeree and a bacon naan. Pair it with a mango lassi or a spiced chai. kricket.co.uk Blacklock, Rivington Street – for great steaks While Blacklock’s famous ‘All In’ – a pile-up of seared pork, lamb and beef chops served atop charcoal-grilled flatbread – remains a carnivore’s rite of passage, another must-order is the magnificent beef prime rib chop (choose the size to suit you). Charred and glossy, blushing pink within, it’s a true showstopper, elevated to even greater heights of umami meatiness with house gravy. It’s a dish that feels perfectly in keeping with the dark wood and exposed brick of Blacklock’s Shoreditch branch, tucked inside a Victorian warehouse, buzzing with office workers. Start with bite-size canapés then choose succulent pig’s head on toast, lifted by sweet, pickled chilli slices. Sides compete for stardom: 10-hour ash-roasted sweet potato, smoky and creamy; sharp kale with parmesan; loudly crunchy beef dripping chips; and silky bone marrow. To finish, white chocolate cheesecake is like no other you’ve had before, served at your table in great scoops for everyone to grab a spoon and dive into. theblacklock.com Mad Cats, Redchurch Street – listening bar and cocktails Another listening bar has landed in Shoreditch – and this one is more than worth a visit. With a compact cocktail selection that chooses quality over quantity, Asian-inspired flavours sing with Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, junmai sake and lemongrass, while there’s a dash of Lebanese inspiration with the Zaza cocktail, a spin on a classic tequila martini with infused za’atar oil. Red, white, rosé, orange and sparkling wines are available from traditional and new world regions, as well as five varieties of sake. East Asian flavours are carried across to the menu. The yellowtail carpaccio with jalapeño sauce and ponzu dressing is beautifully presented and citrussy without being too sharp. Towering brioche toast with crab and gochujang aïoli was a highlight, although there truly were no misses: charred Hispi cabbage is accompanied by an umami-rich wafu sauce, and the miso hake with chilli oil and samphire is buttery and delicate. Attention to detail goes beyond the menu, with chopsticks resting on hand-painted model cats, DJs spinning vinyl only and an abundance of high-fidelity speakers to keep audiophiles content. Don’t miss a trip to the bathroom through the blue velvet curtain where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is played on a speaker directly in your cubicle. madcats.uk The Knave of Clubs, Bethnal Green Road – modern pub with rotisserie kitchen The Knave of Clubs is back on the East End pub scene with a proper old-school flourish. Originally serving the bird market traders on Club Row in the 1880s, this local continued life as an East End boozer until the 1990s when it underwent a full transformation into French restaurant Les Trois Garçons for a decade or so. The pub has been lovingly restored on the ground floor, huge wall mirrors have been unearthed and polished, the bar revamped and a toastie, oyster, snack and rotisserie chicken menu installed. The driving force behind this redo are Benjy Leibowitz (ex NYC’s NoMad), James Dye (The Camberwell Arms) and Patrick Powell (ex Allegra) all of whom are committed to the local feel of the pub – it’s one big room with the rotisserie kitchen at the end open. The upper floors will open from April with a clubby (members, not disco) NY dining feel and menu, keeping pub and restaurant vibes on different levels. You can book for lunch (advised, it’s popular) and evenings are walk-in, dogs are welcome and the vibe is buzzy. Try the prawn scotch eggs and venison sausage rolls to start. There's only one dessert, a very good chocolate mousse. theknaveofclubs.co.uk Kolamba East, Spitalfields – for modern Sri Lankan sharing dishes There is one dish on Kolamba East's menu that alone is worth a visit. Moor king prawn string hopper biryani is a version of the classic like no other: delicate threads of rice noodles cushioning plump prawns, over which you pour a fiery aromatic gravy. It’s made to share but you’ll be fighting over the last nugget. But it’s far from the only star. The menu is different to its Soho sister, showcasing a more refined, modern take on Sri Lankan cuisine, with an emphasis on small plates and sharing dishes. Set in a Grade II listed warehouse, the design is inspired by Colombo culture, integrating handmade dining chairs, lotus table lamps and prints of water buffalo on the exposed brick walls. Try a cocktail – the Pol Mezcalita is delicious coconut twist on the original – then start with black pork 'mas paan', a bun stuffed with slow-cooked black pork curry, served with pineapple chutney, and melt-in-the-mouth hot butter soft shell crab. From the mains, whole rib jaggery beef, sweet and spicy, flakes off the bone in juicy strands. And, as you’d expect, there is a variety of sides and sambols to accompany. Complete the feast with a Sri Lankan classic CBP – Colombo biscuit pudding. kolamba.co.uk/kolamba-east Shoreditch &Soul, Cheshire Street – for a social wellness space Hidden behind Brick Lane in a former Victorian textile warehouse, Shoreditch &Soul is a new third space and wellness hub for Londoners. Copper boiler canopies, handwoven wall art and a repurposed bowling alley flooring create a unique feel. During the day, the café is run by Palm Greens, serving hearty plant-based dishes including tostada bowls, savoury toast and changing specials such as spring broth with wild garlic plus smoothies and juices. Come evening, the venue hosts supper clubs and dinners with guest chefs and food artists. &Soul bar offers alcohol-free drinks by Karmaceuticals, designed by a medical herbalist to subtly boost mood and relaxation without the side effects alcohol brings. Stick around to enjoy the Sanctuary, a multi-sensory space complete with 40-person circular sauna (complete with sound system to host raves), cold plunge and a roster of yoga, breathwork and meditation workshops. andsoul.com Bistro Freddie, Luke Street – for a neighbourhood bistro feel Tucked in the quiet back streets between Shoreditch High Street and Old Street stations, almost another world from the hustle of east London that surrounds it, Bistro Freddie has a distinct classic neighbourhood bistro feel, offering generous, down-to-earth hospitality and a menu featuring the best produce of the British Isles. There’s an intimate 45-cover open-plan dining room and plenty of top-quality tipples focussing on small and predominantly independent producers and growers. Highlights of head chef Alexandre Laforce Reynolds' menu include caper-jewelled tartare with fried bread, shaved celeriac salad with pear, Roquefort and caramelised walnut salad and an epic pie, its golden shell cracked open to reveal a saucy steak, Guinness and roast shallot filling. Finish with caramelised sticky toffee pudding served with a generous gravy boat of cream. bistrofreddie.com Shoreditch&Soul – for holistic wellness Hidden behind Brick Lane in a former Victorian textile warehouse, Shoreditch &Soul is a new third space and wellness hub for Londoners. Copper boiler canopies, handwoven wall art and a repurposed bowling alley flooring create a unique feel. During the day, the café is run by Palm Greens, serving hearty plant-based dishes such as tostada bowls, savoury toast and changing specials such as their current spring broth with wild garlic plus smoothies and juices. Come evening, the venue hosts supper clubs and dinners with guest chefs and food artists. &Soul bar offers alcohol-free drinks by Karmaceuticals, designed by a medical herbalist to subtly boost mood and relaxation without the side effects alcohol brings. Stick around to enjoy the Sanctuary, a multi-sensory space complete with 40-person circular sauna (complete with sound system to host raves), cold plunge and a roster of yoga, breathwork and meditation workshops. andsoul.com Bar Valette – for buzzing neighbourhood vibes There’s a warm neighbourhood feel at this opening from The Clove Club team – mustard banquettes, white tablecloths, bright modernist art that pops against white brickwork and stools at the semi-open kitchen/bar. Kick off with a sherry-laced martini and a pick and mix of the “fried, salty, crunchy” snack section including deep-fried ravioli-like barbajuan parcels, Scottish-style clapshot croquettes and buttermilk-fried pine chicken. Fish mains are strong – aged cold smoked trout with crackling-style skin is served on seasonal citrus hollandaise. Cuts of the day’s catch (turbot, skate, flounder) are dressed with the likes of zippy wild garlic sauce vierge. Finish with chicory root crème brûlée, the roots adding an earthy caramel flavour to the silky cream, or 70% Peruvian chocolate vanilla cream mousse. There's also the option to visit for Pintxos hour (actually two hours, 5-7pm, Tuesday to Friday) for tasty snacky bites of all shapes and sizes. barvalette.com Fazenda – for limitless sharing steaks This might just be the ultimate sharing extravaganza for steak lovers. Fazenda’s Churrasco Experience brings the theatre of the traditional gaucho grill to your table, offering a limitless selection (you can eat as much as you like) of 15 grilled meats, carved from giant skewers by expert passadores. Highlights include picanha (beef rump), sirloin, ribeye, pork belly and fillet, all cooked to medium-rare perfection. This premium south Brazilian restaurant spans two floors in the sleek 100 Bishopsgate Tower and boasts three private dining rooms, an elegant mezzanine lounge and the standalone Fino bar. Start your experience with the Market Table’s fresh salads and sides or opt for Brazilian small plates, such as seafood moqueca (a tomato and coconut stew) or yellowfin tuna with beef cream emulsion. For something extra special, Fazenda’s ‘Share an indulgent cut’ menu features sharing dishes like roasted bone marrow with chimichurri, a one-kilo tomahawk steak dry-aged for 21 days, grilled giant king prawns and a 500g grade 9 wagyu sirloin. To drink, Fazenda specialises in Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean and Uruguayan wines, as well as innovative cocktails from South America. If you still have room, try dulce de leche filled churros or crème caramel layered with chantilly cream and madeira cake. fazenda.co.uk/location/bishopsgate Leydi, Holborn Viaduct – for Istanbul sharing plates Leydi sees the return of the talented Selin Kiazim (previously Oklava) to London and brings with it the spirit of Istanbul, serving an all-day menu oozing with Turkish favourites but with Selin’s unique modern twist. Launched opposite the Old Bailey in an area in Farringdon with an abundance of history, the restaurant pays tribute to the vibrancy of Istanbul’s eating culture, featuring generous, celebratory Turkish food meant to be shared and savoured. The drinks menu boasts bespoke creations from Kevin Patnode, two-time winner of the best bartender in Turkey, in addition to a transcontinental wine list with a distinctive Turkish influence. With décor featuring plush banquettes, warm lighting and understated references to Istanbul’s architecture and interiors that can only be described as elegant, this intimate 90-cover dining room sets its sights on charming the capital. leydilondon.com William IV, Old Street – for a cosy pub dining room This 200-year-old pub has recently had a makeover with the addition of a first-floor dining room but thankfully the ‘pubby’ elements (open fire, solid wooden tables and decent beer selection) have been left intact. Downstairs is buzzy (and packed) with a focus more on bar snacks but the cosy, candlelit dining room is where you want to be on a chilly winters evening. Start with the Guinness soda bread served with a dish of soft butter spiked with just the right amount of Marmite, or a dish of creamy burrata with sweet-sharp pickled figs and olive jam. Guinness appears again in a deep, umami glaze for a fall-apart beef rib, served with creamy mash and braised baby carrots. The cooking is assured and simple, letting ingredients like Scottish lemon sole with samphire, a buttery tarragon shallot sauce and new potatoes, shine. Puddings are generous and classic – the sticky toffee pudding is easily enough for two to share. For beer fans there’s plenty on draught from Verdant, Lost and Grounded, and Siren, or there’s a quirky cocktail list – try the 2:1 Coastal Martini with Boatyard gin and Vault Coastal vermouth. You can also order it as a mini shot accompanied by an oyster as a fun appetiser. william-iv.com Zapote, Leonard Street – for contemporary Mexican While you won’t find a burrito on the menu, you will find classic punchy Mexican flavours and plenty of spiked citrus, alongside handmade tortillas made from heritage corn. The house cocktail, Zapote 70, is a margarita twist combination of tequila, mescal and lemon juice. Choose from around 20 dishes, some serving one and others to share – a couple per person work well. Make sure someone orders the kaleidoscopic red prawn ceviche, pistachio, jícama and kumquat – a visually stunning plate. Servers will bring the dishes in the order that works best. For dessert, the raspberry doughnut is a lurid pink astonishment, an incredible amount of intense raspberry flavour and that signature zing packed into a beignet unlike any you’ve tried before. Imaginative use of ingredients, a focus on flavour and delicate presentation combine to create food that’s a cut above. zapote.co.uk Bar Lina, Shoreditch High Street – for hidden cocktails Bar Lina is the offshoot of Lina Stores, the Italian deli turned restaurant franchise that has been in Soho since 1944 and now has locations across the capital. Nestled beneath the branch of Lina Stores on Shoreditch High Street, Bar Lina offers a dark and cosy retreat to settle in for a cocktail or two. Everything from the ceilings to the sofas are colour drenched in burgundy, while single candles flickers on every table. Find a modern twist on the classics like the Pera, a combination of vodka, pear, extra dry vermouth and orange liqueur topped with prosecco. There’s also a range of negronis to choose from, including the classic Mamma Mia with gin, Campari and Antica Formula, and the unusual Bosco which features truffle vodka and porcini butter. Nibbles are Italian with green Cerignola olives on offer, or you can venture upstairs for a plate of handmade pasta. barlina.co.uk/shoreditch BAO City, Bloomberg Arcade – for bao buns in slick surroundings The newest offering from the BAO chain is a slick, smart affair. The interiors are sophisticated without being cold, matched with warm and friendly service from the staff. The classic hallmarks of BAO are there, with the Taiwanese fried chicken, dan dan noodles and crispy daikon bao buns all being as excellent as in its other locations. What switches this one up is the specials on the chalkboard, from grilled Taiwanese pork neck with pickled garlic and daikon, to whole grilled fish with yu-shiang sauce. The drinks menu is inventive and enticing – we loved the sweet potato sour. Save room for a sad face bao for dessert, it’ll have you feeling exactly the opposite by the end. baolondon.com/restaurant/bao-city/ The Brush Grand Café, Great Eastern Street – for all-day dining over European classics Hoxton’s new art’otel’s hub is this bright, airy restaurant, knocking out the kind of uncomplicated food we fancy eating everyday: salads nicoise and caesar; crisp flatbreads topped with ’nduja, basil and mozzarella; schnitzels made with veal or aubergine; decent burgers, meatballs and moules frites. Lots of skill in the pastry section, too: Basque cheesecake and a strawberry éclair show a lightness of touch. Cocktails include 50 Shades of Champagne with an intriguing champagne ‘air’ garnish (a delicate foam). Graffiti-style murals by British artist D*Face are another compelling reason to visit. thebrushhoxton.co.uk The Buxton, Brick Lane – for a slicked up boozer This is a former Brick Lane boozer turned polished pub-with-rooms, reimagined by the team behind Commercial Street’s The Culpeper. The heart of the action occurs in the slickly refurbished Victorian pub on the ground floor (there are bedrooms and a roof terrace above), which is now a reimagined bistro and wine bar. Tall, graceful arched windows introduce plenty of light, while a sweeping rosso levanto marble counter is a stylish focal point. Food has an emphasis on prime produce (including from The Culpeper Family Group’s own urban farm in Deptford) and seasonality, and will change weekly to use the best of what's available. Simple dishes combine British produce with French and Mediterranean influences, to build a carefully curated selection of small plates to share. Our spring visit included creamy shredded duck on toast, asparagus in a decadent brown butter sauce, and Denver steak with sticky, umami-rich glazed hen of the wood mushrooms. Don't miss the cheese croquettes to start: crisp on the inside and melting within. Finish with the generously sized chocolate bavarois. The all-natural wine list is joined by a short cocktail list with seasonal serves, currently including a delicate rhubarb sour for spring and seasonal bellini. thebuxton.co.uk With an impressively modest flat rate (including breakfast and a welcome drink) for every room, this a great option for solo travellers who have outgrown hostels, or those looking for a comfortable yet affordable base in this fashionable and often pricey part of London. Doubles from £135 – check availability at booking.com. Nest, Old Street – for great-value seasonal tasting menus The trio behind Hackney’s much-loved neighbourhood spot pulls off the same levels of intimacy in its larger Shoreditch restaurant, with various nooks carved out in the horseshoe layout. Pop into the cosy wine bar area before picking between gnarled wooden booths, a fireside table for six or a counter seat with a view of chefs adding their finishing touches. The eight-course seasonal tasting menu, presented in a tiny wax-sealed envelope, focuses on one hero ingredient at a time, allowing for superb sourcing – think Yorkshire’s Otterburn Mangalitza pork or Welsh Wagyu beef. Seafood season kicks off with a snack plate of tiny trout tarts, cod’s roe with seaweed tapioca crackers and oysters in pickled jalapeño foam, followed by treacly soda bread that hasn’t left the menu since it first featured. Other highlights include crab salad with sea buckthorn emulsion, silky squid noodles in a spicy, XO-laced broth and BBQ monkfish with roast carrot and ginger purée. Each menu is accompanied by an optional ‘one-region’ wine pairing; on our visit a showcase of the diversity of Loire wines, from sparkling pet-nat to a citrusy natural Pouilly Fumé and sweet chenin blanc to complement a delightfully surprising Jerusalem artichoke and chestnut dessert and made-to-order seaweed doughnuts to finish. nestfood.co.uk Sohaila, Shoreditch High Street – for Modern Middle Eastern cuisine Sohaila is a restaurant and natural wine bar created by social enterprise Fat Macy’s (which supports people in temporary accommodation via culinary training), serving modern Middle Eastern food. It’s named after founder Nathalie Moukarzel’s grandmother and a lot of the recipes are inspired by her. Dishes use local and sustainable ingredients, and the menu changes often to minimise food waste. Plates often include labneh and chilli butter, deep-fried mussels, and halloumi and figs. Cocktails use similar flavours, such as the martini overleaf. sohailarestaurant.com BAO Noodle shop, Redchurch Street — for Taiwanese noodle bowls The Taiwanese trio behind this mini pillowy bun empire have applied their signature style to this Shoreditch outpost — ruby red leather stools around blonde wood tables, soft globe wall lights and a white tiled bar, where staff in bespoke lab coats mix clever cocktails. An unusual sweet potato sour is creamy and silky with a sweet, earthy depth, and the old fashioned is given extra body from milk-washed whisky and Taiwanese tea. Small plates include crunchy Taiwanese fried chicken pieces, boiled cull yaw dumplings and crispy spring rolls filled with stretchy cheese and soy-cured jalapeños. Pillowy steamed buns are filled with the likes of prawn croquette with black garlic glaze and slow-cooked pork with a peanut crumb. Three noodle dishes join the regulars — the richer Taipei-style broth is topped with slow-cooked beef cheek and short rib, plus a dollop of spiced beef butter to melt through the silky homemade noodles. A lighter Tainan broth features rare sliced beef with melting edges of frilly fat, while sesame fried aubergine sits atop an umami-rich vegan kelp soup. Downstairs, there’s a karaoke den adorned with bespoke wallpaper for those who want to book for a bao-fuelled sing-along. baolondon.com Padella, Phipp Street – for homemade pasta From the brains behind Borough Market's buzzing, booking-free pasta spot comes Padella 2.0, an industrial-style space that makes up for its cool interiors with a showstopping selection of antipasti and, you guessed it, pasta. A spacious open kitchen accommodates bar stools, or there are red wooden tables further away from the action. Wherever you sit, the larger space feels like you can linger over your linguine for longer. Start with a bitter, dark-berry blackcurrant americano (Campari, Hereford blackcurrant liqueur, fig leaf and soda) or sip a punchy gorgonzola-stuffed olive martini. Every plate impresses, from sourdough with a crunch to the crust and satisfying chew to wobbly burrata in a pool of fruity Fiorano olive oil. You’d be missing a trick if you didn’t order at least half the pasta menu (there’s eight that change on the regular). Dexter beef shin ragu cooks for eight hours, clinging to the slippery sheets of pappardelle before being covered in frilly parmesan, while a Westcombe ricotta ravioli zings with lemon, sage and butter. Come for the pasta, stay for the puds. A sliver of seasonal tart (be it lemon, rhubarb and almond or salted caramel) will end things nicely – a buttery, short crust, light filling and dollop of cooling crème fraiche. padella.co Llama Inn, The Hoxton – for modern Peruvian cuisine Huge potted ficus plants and a retractable ceiling create an outdoors vibe to this style-conscious rooftop restaurant on the top floor on The Hoxton hotel. But despite its lofty location there is substance over style: the food is high-end, modern Peruvian, echoing the ethos at its NYC sister restaurant. Chef Marcin Maliczowski regularly updates the menu to ensure regulars find something exciting and new, and a helpful glossary on the back of the menu explains each ingredient. Ceviches include beetroot with pickled cucumber, dill and horseradish cream; and stone bass, lemongrass tiger's milk, coconut and huacatay (black mint). Smoked cauliflower, aji panca romesco and cauliflower vinaigrette works as a main or side, with a punchy sudado fish and seafood stew laced piled high with cod, cockles and prawns with sugar snap peas and rice. Mandarin, chicha morada (a mildly sweet drink made from purple corn) and verbena is a refreshing dessert. Classic and flavoured pisco sours are the perfect livener pre- or post-dinner. thehoxton.com/llama-inn-restaurant Daffodil Mulligan, Old Street – for Irish food Chef Richard Corrigan’s partnership with fellow Irishmen John Nugent and Tony Gibney is an unapologetic tribute to Irish craic. The industrial Shoreditch space is modestly decorated with moody portraits of Irish legends – Sinéad O’Connor guides you down the stairs to the basement drinking den; while upstairs is where you’ll find the main restaurant, open kitchen, complete with a wood oven and grill, and oyster bar. Let chef be your guide with six sharing courses and a Gibney’s stout, or work your way around the snacks, small plates, oysters and grill. Dishes include fiery beef tartare served in an oyster shell with oyster cream and vongole, chicken and tarragon best mopped up with homemade soda bread, and cured collar of bacon with creamy mash and fresh pickled shallot rings. Many ingredients are sourced from Richard’s own estate in Ireland, Virginia Park Lodge – including smoky, wood-roasted carrots that punch way above their weight. Biscuity champagne and a light, very gluggable muscadet are winners on the wine list – but drinks nerds should explore the cocktails with infused spirits, from jalapeño-infused tequila in a blood orange margarita to chilli Aperol with mezcal, chocolate and orange bitters. daffodilmulligan.com Manteca, Curtain Road – for nose-to-tail Italian cooking Chefs Chris Leach and David Carter opened Manteca’s first permanent home on Curtain Road, Shoreditch, in November 2021 to rave reviews. Inspired by Chris’s travels through Italy, the focus is on nose-to-tail Italian cooking, with hand-rolled pasta, house-made salami, seasonal vegetables and wood-fired breads at the forefront. Expect hearty, knockout dishes including puffy clam flatbreads, a rich pig skin ragu, and rigatoni with a silky kale sauce served in a light, airy setting. There’s a carefully honed wine menu with classic bottles and bolder ‘down the rabbit hole’ wines, and an amari-focussed cocktail list making the most of the Italian herbal liqueur, featuring not-to-be-missed house-made amaro. mantecarestaurant.co.uk Plates, Hoxton – for high-end vegan Siblings Kirk and Keeley Haworth have created a one of a kind menu and vibe at this entirely plant-based Hoxton restaurant. Each dish combines highly seasonal, sustainable, occasionally unfamiliar ingredients which makes a fun journey of discovery. A tasting menu kicks off with – depending on the season – hibiscus and white tea granita with a beetroot and buckwheat truffle, savoury but surprisingly the exact texture of a rich chocolate treat. Laminated sourdough has both crunch and flakiness, served with a vibrant spirulina butter. You might recognise ‘lasagne’ from Kirk’s win on Great British Menu – his deconstructed version combines an umami-packed ragu with a miso and chive sauce. There’s no refined sugar but plenty of flavour in cacao gateaux with sour cherry, coconut blossom ice cream and caramel sauce. Low-intervention wines and cocktails are equally inspiring. Book a seat at the counter for a ringside view. plates-london.com Gloria, Great Eastern Street – for a fun group dinner A Paris export bringing top-quality Italian food to the streets of east London in its own quirky, seriously OTT and raucous way. Gloria might call itself a “pure and traditional Italian trattoria” but this is signature Shoreditch (by way of Paris) – expect long queues, one-way-glass in the loos and overflowing plants, everywhere. In a nod to 50s Capri, the dining room mixes Carrara marble with colourful antique Italian ceramics, mirrored ceilings and velour banquettes. All produce is sourced from Italy and it shows. Order smoked stracciatella (if you can resist burrata from Puglia), accurately described on the playful menu as “bloody godsent”. If Instagrammable dishes are your bag then look no further than the La Gran Carbonara, for two to share, served in a giant wheel of pecorino, and the “incomparable” lemon pie with a promised 5.9-inch meringue layer. Neapolitan-style pizza is as it should be; big, blistered crust; a sloppy, well-seasoned San Marzano tomato sauce heart – and the spicy “Robert de Nitro” toppings of mozzarella, ricotta, candied onions and salame piccante. There are plenty of classic cocktails to choose from but Gloria’s trophy negroni is unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere in London, with unusual additions of porcini mushroom wine and a truffle foam. Wines are all Italian, naturally. bigmammagroup.com BRAT, Redchurch Street – for sharing plates Brat, slang for turbot – the much ordered and much Instagrammed star dish on the menu at this former Shoreditch strip bar – is grilled over an open wood fire grill to much dramatic effect, along with more prime ingredients.Order the Cornish moorland beef chop – slices of ruby red meat with a darkly charred bark, come lined up like dominos, their border of gamey yellow fat almost better than the meat itself. Italian tomatoes, on the side, are simply quartered, seasoned and drenched in an olive oil so peppery it catches in your throat. The rest of the menu follows the trend for sharing plates – small snacks up to giant platters. Chopped egg salad with bottarga, and bouncy, blistered, pillow-soft grilled flatbread, topped with curls of salty anchovy fillets. Sweet langoustines with earthy spikes of roasted rosemary are barely licked by the flames – still daringly see through. Spider crab, cabbage and fennel salad is refreshingly different – a careful dance between the sweet shellfish, brassica pepperiness and aniseed hit, lemon zest and chervil. For dessert try a Tomos Parry classic, brown bread ice cream marbled with marmalade. The wine list lives up to its promise, too – curated with the help of the cool gang at Noble Rot – there’s plenty for the chipper team to recommend, from supremely sippable sherries, to the grown-up Koehler-Ruprecht riesling trocken. bratrestaurant.com Seed Library, Shoreditch High Street – for sophisticated cocktails Ryan Chetiyawardana’s latest venture is a slinky drinking den in the basement of the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Whereas his flagship bar – Lyaness at Sea Containers in Southbank – showcases a high-concept approach to mixology, Seed Library is deliberately more casual and low key. Walk-ins are encouraged and the space, with its sultry lighting, wood-panelled walls, red velvet chairs and warm palette, feels retro and slightly louche, yet very welcoming. Expect elevated riffs on cocktail classics. Sansho Leaf Martini with Belvedere vodka, Cocchi dry vermouth and green sansho oil is clean and delicate, and subtly savoury. A Coriander Seed Gimlet is gorgeously executed, clean and citrussy with a backbone of gentle, warming spice. Galangal Pencillin swaps the traditional peated whisky for tequila and mezcal, and adds aromatic galangal for a vibrant, smoky cocktail. Bar snacks are winningly hearty, and moreish – expect the likes of deep-fried chicken hearts, beef short rib croquettes and potato smileys. seedlibraryshoreditch.com Voodoo Ray’s, Kingsland High Street – for pizza slices For some of the best slice of pizza in London, head to Voodoo Ray’s for a New York style slice. With four locations across London, this joint bakes 22-inch pizzas topped with everything from wild mushroom, squash and red onion; salt beef, sauerkraut and emmental and a vegan option, piled high with artichoke hearts and green olives. If you fancy a pizza pie for brunch, Voodoo Ray’s serve 10” pizzas on the weekend topped with classic eggs and bacon or a veggie spinach and ricotta version. With a selection of craft beers (think Beavertown, Red Hook and Kona) and frozen margaritas on offer, Voodoo Ray’s is the place to go for a late-night munch. voodoorays.com Crispin, Spitalfields – for brunch This all-day and night café can be found on a quiet corner just off Spitalfields and Liverpool Street Station. In a quirky, purpose-built zinc and glass pavilion, designed to look like an origami-folded bird, light pours into the back onto the cool polished concrete bars, and terrazzo-topped ash bar. There’s Assembly coffee from Brixton during the day, and at night Fernando Berry of Otros Vinos has helped curate a rotating wine list focussing on natural and low-intervention wines. Breakfast starts at 7.30am and covers the classics, alongside trendy new contenders. There’s an organic bacon sandwich with house ketchup; bright-yolked, boiled Burford Brown eggs with Dusty Knuckle Bakery soldiers; and Secret Smokehouse (made in London Fields) on sourdough (check out our guide to sourdough here) with soft cheese, lemon and dill. There’s avo on toast, too, plus scrambled eggs with chives and parmesan, and overnight oats with kefir, toasted seeds and compote. Order the super-crunchy, smoked ham toastie – oozing with melted cheddar, topped with a crispy fried egg and showered in finely grated, nutty Berkswell cheese. crispinlondon.com Click here to read about the best brunches in London Old Spitalfields Market, Spitalfields – for street food Spitalfields Market has a selection of street-food traders right at its heart. Choose from ultimate cheese toasties at Melt, hand-pulled noodles from the team behind Dumpling Shack at Fen Noodles, traditional wraps at Nilly's Turkish Kitchen and much more. oldspitalfieldsmarket.com Click here to read about the best street-food markets in London Smokestak, Sclater Street – for barbecue Founder David Carter launched his US-style smoked and barbecued meat stall onto the capital’s street food scene in 2013. Since then Bajan David has grown a reputation in London and beyond (praise the lord for the UK food festival circuit) for his USDA brisket, pork and beef ribs. Ribs – beef and pork – collapses from the bone with only the merest nudge. Pigtails, cut into bitesize chunks are fiddly with the bones still intact, but this isn’t a place for airs and graces, or cutlery. It’s a place to gnaw, and spit out bones. Pastrami with sour cabbage and pickles< is moreish – rudely blushing pink – amongst the dark, sticky plates that continue to stack up. smokestak.co.uk Dishoom, Boundary Street – for Bombay brasserie-style outings Inspired by the all-day Irani cafés that were an integral part of Bombay life, there are now five branches of Dishoom in London (and another in Edinburgh and Manchester), each serving Bombay breakfast, lunch, afternoon chai and dinner. Breakfasts at Dishoom have won a cult following. Not least for the bacon naan rolls – crisp bacon wrapped in tandoor-charred naan with a dollop of chilli tomato jam and cream cheese. Pair with a breakfast lassi or house chai. dishoom.com These are our favourite Indian restaurants in London Nightjar, City Road – for speakeasy vibes The busy City Road in Shoreditch seems an unlikely setting for a stylish, subterranean speakeasy bar but that’s exactly where you’ll find Nightjar. On the outside, a tall wooden door sandwiched between two cafés is the only evidence of its existence, but go inside and discover a plush space replete with candlelit tables, leather banquette seating and flatteringly dim lighting. The bar’s characteristically detailed drinks menu riffs on old cocktail recipes (ranging from the pre-prohibition to post-war periods) but adds its own twist. Try the Honeymoon – a short, fresh yet punchy blend of Glenfiddich 21-year-old whisky, Nightjar’s ‘forbidden fruit liqueur’ (a mix of citrussy pomelo, sherry and dry vermouth), Cynar, mead, lemon and geranium leaf. It's a complex drink, dry and delicately smoky, with subtle honey and aniseed notes. Drink nerds should investigate the bar’s vintage spirits menu, which is full of rare, aged spirits dating from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. barnightjar.com Boundary Hotel, Boundary Street – for rooftop vibes In fast-changing Shoreditch, Boundary is virtually prehistoric. Which is a compliment. Opened in 2009, the fact that this hotel – part of the Prescott & Conran empire – is still buzzing means it got its recipe for classy but unpretentious food, wine and bedrooms right from the off. In the basement is a small bar serving classic cocktails, and the main Boundary Restaurant, an elegant, boudoir-ish, space that wallows in the gloom, with theatrical lighting bouncing off red velvet chairs, the glass walls of its kitchen and polished cutlery. The menu here also has a strong French influence, with dishes such as roast and confit duck with a cherry sauce and salardaise potatoes and herb-crusted rack of lamb, and a good-value menu du jour (there’s also a wine club, for tastings and events, should the all-French wine list not sate your thirst). In summer the Boundary Rooftop is the ideal spot to rise above the streetside hustle and sip cocktails as the sun sets over a slightly hushed, 360-degree view of London. It’s by no means out of bounds in winter, though, with its heaters, blankets and covered pergola; shelter under a string of fairy lights with a seasonal cocktail and a sharing plate of octopus and chorizo skewers, or fish or meat dishes cooked on a Robata grill. Or just head up after dinner and sit by the outdoor fireplace nursing a digestive glass of vielle prune. boundary.london Click here to read our full review of Boundary hotel Passione Vino, Leonard Street – for wine Wine importers Luca Dusi and Federico Bruschetta have run this Shoreditch< shop since 2013, supplying Italian wines from 75 different producers to top restaurants including Hélène Darroze at The Connaught and The River Café. Behind the shop itself is a ‘secret bar’ which also spills downstairs to the basement with small tables which can be booked. There’s no wine list or menu as customers are encouraged to discuss their tastes so the team can recommend something just a little out of their comfort zone. passionevino.co.uk Click here for the best wine bars across the country Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Best restaurants in Hackney: where locals eat and drink
Check out our favourite restaurants, cafes, bars and foodie spots in Hackney. Try Sicilian red prawns, fragrant curries dipped into buttery homemade roti, and one of the best-value tasting menus in town
Looking for Hackney restaurants? Here are our favourite restaurants in London's North Eastern borough. The best foodie spots include tasting menu at Nest, unusual wines at Sager + Wilde and Cretan food at Morito. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in Hackney, from Hackney Road to Homerton and London Fields... Best places to eat and drink in Hackney Albers, Du Beauvoir – for small plate classics with a twist Albers is a small corner room in De Beauvoir, all big windows and candlelight, with bikes sliding past outside and a faint Edward Hopper Nighthawks feeling to the scene. Inside, white walls and warm wood keep things simple, the tables close, the mood sociable. It’s the sort of place that wants to be your local even if you’ve crossed town for it. The cooking sits in that appealing middle ground between pub comfort and bistro intent: classics remembered, then gently tilted. I drank a sage cordial with soda, sweet and syrupy in the best way, and lifted by a soft herbal edge. The sardine ragu croquette was the first real wink from the kitchen: crisp outside, creamy within, deep with sardine warmth and finished with a generous parmesan dusting. Grey mullet crudo with cranberry and citrus was all balance, sharpness layered on sharpness, the fish cool and slightly creamy, the fruit giving tart little bursts. Sausage with sauerkraut and quince came rich and peppery, handmade and satisfying, the kraut leaning sweet-sour, quince adding a gentle perfume. The smoked eel and bacon caesar salad was the dish I kept going back to: smoke from eel and bacon folding into the salty anchovy depth of the dressing, crisp leaves: a bold take on something you think you know. Celeriac with confit egg was decadent and nutty. Bluefin tuna with peppercorn sauce was pleasant enough, thick buttery slices and a clean sear, though the sauce felt a touch thin and the temperature slightly off. Dessert was a maple and hazelnut ice cream sandwich: the biscuit was a little firm but the maple ice cream was silky smooth and toasty. Service is friendly, still smoothing its edges, and there’s no coffee or hot drinks to stretch the evening. Still, Albers feels like a place settling into itself. albers.london Mambow, Clapton – for modern Malaysian dishes Abby Lee has become eponymous with Malaysian cuisine in London. After years of pop-ups and a street-food outpost in Peckham, the chef opened a bricks-and-mortar space in northeast London. It’s a casual spot complete with pretty, mismatched tiles, bench seating and a lively soundtrack. Half of the small space is dedicated to an open kitchen, where Abby and her team dart between simmering pots and sizzling pans to create fiery, fragrant modern Malaysian dishes. Highlights include the signature lor bak – five spice pork encased in crisp, frilly beancurd, deep-fried stone bass steak in a lively Nyonya-style tamarind curry sauce and sticky, double-roasted pork belly pieces coated in a silky kecap manis caramel glaze, served with blue rice (to match Abby’s fabulous hair colour). There’s only one dessert option, but it has plenty going for it – a bright green pandan pancake filled with brown sugar and desiccated coconut, served with coffee ice cream. There’s a succinct natural wine list as well as Malaysian twists on classic cocktails. The floral, thirst-quenching Juice Box softens the heat from the spicier dishes, while the 100+ Sour is a refreshing concoction of gin, coconut liquor, miso syrup and blackberry. mambow.co.uk A Bar With Shapes For A Name– for cocktails The name of Remy Savage and Paul Lougrat’s Bauhaus-inspired bar takes pictorial form – the signage on Dalston’s Kingsland Road featuring a yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. If that sounds a little complicated then rest assured once you step into the bar – colloquially referred to as Shapes – everything takes a decidedly more minimalist turn. Inside, bare bones interiors look more akin to a science classroom than anything else, with bartenders flitting around in brightly coloured jumpsuits. The drinks list at Shapes is pleasingly pithy – just seven house cocktails and six bottled cocktails. The martini-style Habanero is an ingenious affair, using a distillate made from yellow habanero peppers that delivers all the vegetal flavours of the pepper minus the heat – funky and savoury, with a zingy Campari jelly garnish. The xscold is a surprising twist on a marg – here, eucalyptus adds a menthol edge to the herbaceous flavours of Amarás espadin mezcal and Ocho 8 tequila for a refreshing agave treat. From the bottled cocktails, a manhattan uses Buffalo Trace bourbon fat washed in olive oil, and a turmeric distillate, for a boozy whisky cocktail with dried date notes and fruity, earthy richness. clubbauhaus.com Marquee Moon – for a vibrant restaurant-cum-cocktail bar If you’re seeking a vibrant venue in Dalston that perfectly marries exceptional cuisine with a lively atmosphere, look no further than The Marquee Moon, the latest venture from the creative minds behind The Cause and All My Friends. This trendy establishment boasts an eclectic sharing menu that puts a fresh twist on contemporary pub classics, all with a nod to East Asian flavours. The Marquee Moon is a feast for the senses. Begin your evening in the stylish downstairs area, where you can indulge in melt-in-the-mouth sambal short ribs and an impressive portion of dan dan noodles. As the night progresses the vibe shifts seamlessly into a dance party, complemented by the expertly crafted cocktails. Don’t miss the Hot Alfonso Marg, a true standout, made with reposado tequila vacuum-sealed with Alphonso mangoes and cooked sous vide to extract their rich flavour. It’s then expertly mixed with manzanilla, agave, lime and a sprinkle of Tajín for a cocktail that’s as balanced as it is delicious. Whether you’re dining or dancing, The Marquee Moon promises an unforgettable experience. themarqueemoon.uk Casa Fofó, Hackney Downs – for a great-value tasting menu An exceptional, yet accessible, haven for Hackney foodies where continental flavours collide without breaking the bank. Casa Fofó is the baby of Italian head chef Adolfo De Cecco, who’s best known for his time at Pidgin, and is joined by alumni from his time here – sous chef Sam Coleman and chef de partie Giuseppe Pepe. Eight courses are kicked off with a super-crisp potato cake finger with a spiced slice of pickled daikon and lardo, taken from a well-fed Middle White pig. The menu, which is tweaked daily, is Marie Kondo-esque minimal with only a few words to describe each finely tuned dish, making each arrival a pleasant surprise. casafofolondon.co.uk Angelina, Dalston – for Italian-Japanese fusion Sleek and buzzy. Angelina’s minimalist interiors include high ceilings, oversized pendant lamps, plenty of indoor greenery and wooden floors. Sit in dusky-toned chairs to eat, or perch at a counter surrounding the open kitchen and watch the chefs calmly at work. Simple yet refined Italian-Japanese cooking is the focus, and their dining concept is boldly simple: a 13-course sharing menu for £68. The menu starts with elegant fish and seafood crudités: Sicilian red prawns, dusted with roasted rice powder and drizzled with olive oil, has a lusciously soft, almost creamy texture, while rich tuna belly is pepped up by a zingy blood orange dressing. Sea bream with mirin is salty-fresh. angelina.london Pophams, London Fields – for pastries and pasta The team behind the popular East London bakery has smartly moved its pastry skills into pasta territory for evenings in the London Fields branch. Don’t fret, bakes are still very much present, with hunks of fresh-from-the-oven sourdough to start, homemade caraway-flecked crackers to scoop up smoked trout pâté and a perfectly formed croissant apple tart, filled with buttery sesame compote, intricate slices of apple and a moat of vanilla custard. These baked delights bookmark the evening’s main event: a short selection of fresh, homemade pasta shapes coated, filled and topped with seasonal sauces. Favourites on our visit were casoncelli parcels filled with a white veal mince bolognese, tossed in butter, guanciale pieces and parmesan. Orecchiette are made with toasted sourdough flour, coated in chicken butter sauce as a vehicle for dinky chicken meatballs. Order a side of pan-fried and roasted Romana courgette sticks with a light coating of fine sourdough and sun-dried tomato crumbs. pophamsbakery.com/pasta Equal Parts, Hackney Road – for Italian aperitivo Michael Sager has partnered with Matteo Vaccargiu to open an Italian aperitivo bar in a green tiled-fronted corner spot, a few doors down from the original Sager + Wilde wine bar. It’s an elegant yet unfussy space, with plenty of wood panelling, flickering candles and vinyl twirling on the decks. Perch at the window ledge to watch trendy passers-by or bag a spot at the bar to see the team shake and stir signature cocktails in front of an impressive line-up of amaros, aperitivo and bitters. The Flor cocktail combines fino sherry and olive oil vodka with Matteo’s elevated clarification of fresh tomato, basil, chilli and a tiny touch of garlic for a bright, fresh finish, alla liquid bruschetta to evoke the Sardinian coast. The Orange is a gluggable concoction of orange wine, Meletti amaro and pear and elderflower syrup, while the ACE makes a refreshing twist on the garibaldi combining carrot cordial, fresh orange juice, Campari and soda. A seasonal infusion makes its way into a trio of classics; on our visit a strawberry and fig leaf martini combo that brightened the negroni, sbagliato and americano. equalpartslondon.com Cinco, Dalston – for Mexican-inspired cocktails Hidden away underneath sister restaurant Corrochio’s, Cinco is a rustic, sultry basement den with flickering candles and bare concrete walls decorated with Mexican art. First and foremost a bar that specialises in agave and Mexican spirits, its collection – including rare bottlings – is curated by Corrochio founders Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie from their travels across Daniel’s native Mexico. The bar even has its own in-house mezcal available to try and buy. Cocktails are surprising and layered, showcasing the full breadth of what agave spirits have to offer. The Doña Mago uses raicilla (another agave spirit), tomato liqueur, plum sake, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and plum and tomato cordial for a fabulous margarita-esque drink with smoky, fruity, tangy charm. Another next-level take on a marg comes in the form of the El Chihuas, with sotol (another Mexican distillate, made from the desert spoon plant), fig, guanabana and yuzu liqueurs. The end result is a tropical, creamy drink with a delicate floral edge. The Mujer Moderna features butter-washed Abasolo whisky, Nixta corn liqueur, crème de cacao and chocolate bitters for an opulent, cocoa-tinged interpretation of an old fashioned. Cinco also has a nice little roster of no- and low-alcohol cocktails made using alcohol-free spirits and Mexican ingredients – the La Bikini Cero, with non-alcoholic agave spirit, chilli syrup, verdita water and pineapple has a pleasing spicy kick. corrochios.com WAVE – for leisurely plant-based brunches Tucked down a quiet backstreet off buzzy Hackney Central lies a plant-based oasis. WAVE (We Are Vegan Everything) does exactly what it says on the tin and more: a fully vegan menu of brunches, pastries, bakes and drinks, set among Bali beach-inspired interiors with a neutral colour palette, rattan furniture and hanging macramé plants. Deliciously cooked brunches are available until 4pm for laid-back weekends. The shakshuka with creamy butter beans comes topped with a convincing vegan egg made from whipped tahini yogurt and hollandaise. Eat the rainbow with the brekkie bowl of scrambled tofu, perfectly ripe avocado, roast tomatoes, hummus, sautéed kale and homemade barbecue beans. Açai bowls can be levelled up with Trip CBD, protein powder, maca powder and nut butters. Daily fresh treats from the counter include pasty perfection from up-and-coming plant-based bakery Okja in Spitalfields. Don’t sleep on these – the pistachio and lemon one is zesty and refreshing, while the chocolate hazelnut pastry hits the vegan Nutella spot. Standard coffee fare is available but it’s worth trying the salted coffee or peanut butter latte for a punchy caffeine hit, while the vibrant turmeric and beetroot lattes provide plant-powered goodness. Take it one step further with a medicinal lion’s mane latte or cordyceps chai – or make it a boozy brunch with a bloody mary. Walk-ins only. weareveganeverything.com Sune, Broadway Market – for eclectic small plates and natural wines Sommelier Honey Spencer and her partner Charlie Sims have curated hospitality experience from restaurants across the world to open their own place in Hackney. There’s a real neighbourhood-style buzz to the contemporary space, with a striking terracotta light installation casting a warm glow across the gnarled dark wood tables, prints of fresh produce and sweeping counter with floor-to-ceiling wine racks behind. Honey showcases natural wines, with plenty by the glass, from orange Czech pet nat to fresh Georgian Tsolikouri and South African Syrah. The menu is eclectic and bold, rotating dishes such as crisp potato cake topped with guindilla, anchovies and espelette pepper, sea bass crudo slivers in a vibrant borscht vinaigrette and the signature grilled pork chop bathing in a bisque-style prawn and lemongrass sauce, best paired with whipped brown butter emulsion spooned over pink fir potatoes. Head chef Michael Robins plays with his Canadian heritage in a homage to Montreal’s L’Express, where chefs meet after service for DIY beef tartare and croque Monsieur hybrids. At Sune, he tops a crisp, cheesy toastie with dairy beef tartare for a truly indulgent interlude between courses. sune.restaurant From The Ashes at Five Points Courtyard – for next-level BBQ BBQ legends Martin Anderson and Curtis Bell have a new home in Five Points Brewing Co’s expansive outdoor area beneath the railway arches. The succinct menu of smoker stars includes crisp beef brisket tacos, legendary ‘nduja doughnuts and brioche buns stuffed with smoked pork, garlic mayo and pickles. Meat-free options are equally excellent – floppy flatbreads doused in zaatar to scoop up sweet squash hummus and grilled hispi cabbage slathered in vegan ‘nduja and tahini yogurt. If you can't decide what to order, the chef's BBQ platter gives a taste of three meats and sides (loaded fries and bacon-adorned lettuce wedges) for £55. fromtheashesbbq.co.uk Bambi, Netil House Drama comes in many forms, not least a well-crafted DJ set. As well as whip-smart sharing plates from chef Henry Freestone (think cauliflower cheese arancini, marinated courgettes and whipped feta, roast chicken with focaccia and green sauce), this music-led bar and restaurant comes complete with a lush vintage sound system. On Friday and Saturday nights, guest DJs curated by scene legend Charlie Dark take diners on a deep-dive into their treasured collections. bambi-bar.com Koya Ko, Broadway Market – for Japanese udon noodles Tucked away off buzzing Broadway Market, Koya’s casual, friendly little sister follows suit from noodle bars found in Japan’s train stations, with a tachi-gui (standing-while-dining) element alongside seats for customers to slurp bowls of springy udon and tuck into donburi rice bowls. Pop in for the famous English/Japanese breakfast of hot udon topped with egg, bacon and butter soy mushrooms, or traditional neba-neba breakfast rice bowl with fermented soy beans, pickled seaweed and okra and onsen tamago egg. After midday, there’s crunchy chicken kara-age with spring onion sauce and steaming bowls of udon in dashi broth. Try new menu additions, such as slow-braised beef shin on hot noodles slathered in chilli oil, the KO salad of cold udon with pickled aubergine, and plenty of mini-don rice bowls to enjoy on the go. koya.co.uk Duke of Richmond, London Fields – for French gastro pub vibes A thoughtful restoration, including cool painted floorboards, calming accents of olive and cream on the walls, blue leather banquettes, and varnished wooden tables, make for a modern pub setting. Relaxed, a little bit rowdy (as all good pubs should be) and suitably stylish for its Hackney locals. The menu might be continental in its leaning but all of the dishes feel at home in their British pub setting – think seasonal giant vol au vents, rib cap burgers with confit shallots, roquefort, bearnaise sauce and fries, and tart au citron. Seafood shines – try super-light Cornish crab soufflé, sea trout with wild fennel and Cornish crab chip butties. thedukeofrichmond.com Little Duck The Picklery, Dalston – for casual small plates Dalston’s Little Duck The Picklery is no ordinary restaurant. Describing itself as a “fermenting kitchen, eatery and wine bar”, this third venue from the same team behind Soho’s Duck Soup and Hackney’s Raw Duck centres round one large, family-style kitchen table from which head chef and proprietor Tom Hill preps and cooks a carefully curated selection of seasonal small plates, guests only an arm’s length away. Drinks and dishes are scrawled on blackboards and change each week. For breakfast, expect the likes of beef and lamb sausages with garlic yogurt, flatbreads and pickled tomatoes, masala-spiced scrambled eggs, and shiitake mushroom oats. For lunch and dinner, the Mediterranean-skewed plates linger around the £8 to £11 mark and pack serious flavour. Start with a gut-friendly daily pickle or ferment (like a kimchi or kraut, for as little as £2.50) then move on to the plates proper. littleduckpicklery.com Click here to read our full review and try Little Duck The Picklery's recipes for yourself at home Morito, Hackney Road – for Cretan small plates With polished concrete floors, a striking, horseshoe, marble-topped bar, pops of colour and Instagrammable mirrored fish-scale tiles, Morito feels very much at home in Hackney. The open kitchen is headed by co-owner Samantha Clark and head chef Marianna Leivaditaki. Formerly at Moro, Marianna grew up in Crete and developed her feel for ingredients in her family’s fish restaurant. At Morito she makes exceptionally-sourced produce shine. Buffalo butter that smacks of the farm in Thessaloniki where it began life and the headiest za’atar from Istanbul make the breadbasket irresistible. The menu is similar to that of the first Morito with tapas, mezze and larger plates at lunch and dinner, but with new dishes, too – made-to-order Moroccan breads for breakfast, homemade halloumi with pickled za’atar, and kid mechoui with goat’s curd, preserved lemon and harissa. morito.co.uk Click here to try Morito's dinner party recipes yourself The Dusty Knuckle, Dalston – for cakes and bakes Looking for a bakery in Hackney? The Dusty Knuckle is a social enterprise café and bakery with a conscience, according to co-founder Max Tobias. “The idea was that we would start a bakery that could provide employment experiences to young people at the margins of society.” Max and chef Rebecca Oliver quit their jobs and launched The Dusty Knuckle from a shipping container in 2014. After three successful years it moved a few metres to a new permanent home opposite. It also runs regular bread-making classes and has ambitious plans to run a youth training academy in the future. thedustyknuckle.com/dalston Here are the best bakeries across the country… Sager + Wilde, Hackney Road – for unusual wines and date night At this casual but romantic neighbourhood wine bar, huddle up in around candlelit tables, or prop yourself up at the industrial iron grate bar and soak up knowledge from the chatty staff while getting a closer look at rare bottles displayed on the rack along the back wall. The small but thoughtful wine menu covers lesser-known regions and quirky categories such as crisp and refreshing whites from Austria and bold reds from Hungary, with a dedicated section to ‘skins’ wines (orange wines from Sicily, Alicante and beyond). Other than wine, they offer on-trend white port and tonic or punchy, refreshing bergamot negronis, as well as a selection of craft beers As well as continuing the unctuous cheese toasties (with Neil’s Yard Dairy cheese and Bread Station sourdough), a selection of seasonal small plates has been added to the menu. sagerandwilde.com Crate Brewery, Hackney Wick – for beer and pizza If you love beer and you love pizza, Crate Brewery in Hackney Wick is the best place to visit. The stone-baked pizzas are topped with unusual ingredients including a veggie Kashmiri dal and a middle eastern lamb. As you’d expect, beer is a real focus. Each week there’s a selection of guest bottles from a fruity brown ale to a dark Indian pale ale as well as regular casks and kegs of zingy lemon gose, velvety Crate stout and a crisp Crate cider. cratebrewery.com Click here for the best places to eat pizza in London Barge East, Hackney Wick – for a Sunday roast on the water Nestled among Hackney Wick's trendy warehouses and cocktail bars, Barge East is a floating kitchen and bar on the Regent’s Canal, housed in a 125-year-old Dutch barge. The restaurant, with its open kitchen, boasts seasonal menus crafted by chefs using top-notch produce, from fresh Cornish monkfish to homegrown ingredients like loquat for its Tidal Sour cocktail. F or a memorable Sunday roast, go for the three-course set menu (£39) featuring three meat options (Aberdeen Angus beef, Norfolk marshland lamb leg, Suffolk Red Bruntona pork belly) with an abundance of trimmings. Add on decadent sides like four-cheese truffle cauliflower and honey mustard glazed pigs in blankets to your order. Barge East's superb sustainable food is complemented by attentive staff, who are happy to recommend wine pairings. bargeeast.com Words by Laura Rowe, Mark Taylor, Ellie Edwards, Alex Crossley, Clare Maguire, Lydia Anderson Photography: James Moyle (Marquis Moon) Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Paddington
Best restaurants in Soho: where to eat and drink
Discover our favourite places to eat in and drink in the buzzy central London neighbourhood, from Taiwanese fine dining to pasta joints and intimate cocktail bars
Looking for the best Soho restaurants? Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in Soho from Brewer Street to St Anne's Court, from Old Compton Street to Chinatown (find the full list of the best restaurants in Chinatown here). For more London food recommendations, check out our reviews of the best restaurants in Covent Garden, best restaurants in Kings Cross, best restaurants in Mayfair, best restaurants in Marylebone and best restaurants in Paddington. Best places to eat and drink in Soho Mamapen, Great Pulteney Street – London’s only Cambodian pops up in Soho This lively pop-up is currently the only place to eat Cambodian in London. Chef Kaneda Pen’s classic and contemporary cooking is inspired by his mother, his love of BBQ and his Scottish partner. So sour pineapple curry with roasted sweet potato and pickled mango; and Khmer BBQ chicken with shaoxing teriyaki glaze with tuk trey koh kong dipping sauce, sit alongside braised beef tattie mince noodles with cucumber, spring onion and chilli. Lunchtime specials for takeout keep local workers happy. Find it until the end of the year in one of Soho’s busiest pubs. http://sunand13cantons.co.uk/cambodian-food-london <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2024/08/London-Food-and-Drink-Photography-Mamapen-at-Sun-and-13-Cantons-London-2024-Nic-Crilly-Hargrave-102-copy-fa88d56.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="London Food and Drink Photography - Mamapen at Sun and 13 Cantons London 2024 - Nic Crilly-Hargrave-102 copy" title="London Food and Drink Photography - Mamapen at Sun and 13 Cantons London 2024 - Nic Crilly-Hargrave-102 copy" /> The Palomar, Rupert Street — for vibrant sharing plates This small but mighty restaurant has carved its reputation as a Soho institution thanks to ten years of warm hospitality and top-notch cooking. Perch at the counter to get close to the lively action or take a seat at one of a handful of cosy tables in the back for a quieter evening. Head chef Dan Murray takes influence from Southern Spain, North Africa and the Levant to create a succinct menu of dishes packed with texture and flavour. Think silky lamb croquette cubes topped with pickled walnut HP sauce, smacked baby cucumbers with pickled slices, green tahini, candied almond clusters and crispy chilli oil, and charcoal chicken slathered in chilli butter with yogurt and charred onion. Bookend with saffron-infused negronis alongside swirly Yemeni kubaneh bread and mezcal old fashioneds paired with bitesize cubes of pistachio baklava ice cream sandwich. thepalomar.co.uk Marjorie's – for Parisian-style wine bar vibes Though slap bang in the middle of Soho, this Parisian-inspired wine bar is tucked away, its happy punters spilling out onto the pavement giving neighbourhood feels. Upstairs is dominated by a large counter table where you can perch beside owner Michael and team as they pour wines. A wooden dresser showcases the 100% French wine line-up, covering a diverse mixture of regions and styles. New bottles are opened each day to keep the ‘by the glass’ list interesting. There’s always a sparkling, three reds, three whites and two skin-contacts on rotation – that might be a pétillant, oak-aged chenin blanc from the Loire, a chilled beaujolais or a robust Crozes-Hermitage. Downstairs, in full view of group tables in whitewashed alcoves, is where the open kitchen action happens under the guidance of Giacomo Peretti. After the obligatory baguette with French butter, up your amuse-bouche game with a savoury twist on the Ferrero Rocher – a Morello cherry rolled in chicken liver parfait and hazelnuts. Soft lamb tartare follows, studded with a pretty riot of summer vegetables – sliced radishes, peas, broad beans and edible flowers. My highlight, spotted on a fellow foodie’s Instagram, was the ever so comforting poached chicken and nutty rice bathing in a rich, frothy brown butter emulsion. Order radicchio and leaves doused in floral orange blossom dressing to pair. For dessert, a towering slice of puff pastry mille-feuille comes layered with silky crème diplomat and strawberries, while cocoa nib and hazelnut-flecked warm chocolate mousse was greedily spooned up like custard. marjorieslondon.co.uk Khao-Sō-i, Market Place – for northern Thai cuisine London doesn’t lack for Thai restaurants but at Khao-Sō-i – named after the curry noodle dish of Chiang Mai – chef Win Srinavakool has created a menu shaped by the flavours of northern Thailand, with smoke from a wood-fired grill and bold (okay, hot) spice. We began with moo ping: wafer-thin Norfolk pork belly skewers grilled over wood with a sticky, caramelised edge and a deep, savoury warmth. Tum khanun – young jackfruit salad tossed with northern herbs – whacks your tastebuds with refreshing and tingling heat and zest. It’s a perfect spot for an after-work or after-shopping catch-up, buzzing with chatter, the throb of music and the theatre of the open grill. The main event is the namesake khao soi. We tried it two ways: gai (chicken) and bai pye (torched beef chuck eye). The pleasure is in shaping it. Each bowl arrives with coconut cream, chilli flakes, herbs and crisp noodles on the side, so you build your own version: richer, hotter, crunchier, or all of the above, before you pull the noodles from the creamy spiced broth and slurp like no one’s watching. There’s an extensive drinks list but ice-cold Neckstamper pale ale is the way to go to douse the fire and cleanse your palate before diving in to luxurious cha thai cheesecake or bai toey ice cream with cloud-like cubes of brioche. Olive tip: If you go as a two-some order separate dishes and share. You’ll want to experience as much of the menu as possible. khaosoilondon.com Fonda, Heddon Street – for contemporary Mexican Tucked just off Regent Street on Heddon Street, Fonda feels like a secret. Co-owned by Santiago Lastra of Kol, Fonda is a more relaxed cousin – casual yet quietly refined. Start with the frozen margarita or a salt-rimmed, non-alcoholic paloma – refreshing, sharp, all edge and sparkle. The ceviche leans into fresh and floral: soft tuna, basil and tomato meet fresh cherry in a combination that’s quietly brilliant. The Baja taco is everything a fish taco should be – lacy crisp batter, tender cod you can actually taste and a pistachio mole that brings it all together. Octopus tacos layered with Ratte potatoes and bruléed bone marrow are deeply rich (ask for the pickled vegetables to cut through). Finish with the mezcal rice pudding - silken, smoky and punctuated with cherries that burst and bloom. It’s a place to settle in, let the plates keep coming and forget the busy city just round the corner. fondalondon.com Ham Yard Hotel, Ham Yard – for a leisurely Sunday roast Ham Yard Hotel’s ethos matches its bold name: expect bags of character, typical of all Firmdale Hotels, from co-owner Kit Kemp’s bright and colourful interiors, with patterned textiles, unique finds such as reclaimed African prints and plenty of original artwork. The Long Lunch is Ham Yard’s take on a leisurely Sunday roast. Expect an elevated experience but in a relaxed and friendly setting – think musicians playing jazz and glasses of wine being poured from magnums. The sharing menu lets you choose your own roast (from lamb leg with braised shoulder to a smart monkfish wellington if you want to try something different) and then have endless sides for the table to share. Gooey Montgomery cheddar cauliflower cheese and impressively crisp roast potatoes were highlights that you’ll definitely be asking for more of. As the lunch service goes on, you’ll spy the extravagant dessert trolley being loaded up and wheeled around to be served tableside. Make sure you save room for your choice of profiteroles (with a range of sauces to add), tiramisu, baked cheesecake and more. firmdalehotels.com KILN, Brewer Street – for Thai food Ben Chapman’s latest outpost has all the ingredients for yet another frustratingly brilliant Soho restaurant – small, no-reservation policy, sterling reviews. But, it’s worth any queue. Grab a spot at the pass, where the flames of the charcoal fires will keep you as warm as the spices from the confidently succinct, regional Thai menu. As well as delivering on atmosphere, Kiln actually offers the lesser-known and ever rarer phenomenon of good value in London. Aged lamb skewers, delicately fragrant with cumin and Szechuan pepper and cranked-up in flavour with the lick of those flames, are £2.90 for two. A delicious main of clay-pot baked glass noodles with Tamworth pork belly and brown crabmeat, which comes with an intense, zingy herb dip on the side, is a highlight. We’re warned about the heat of the roasted long pepper and Tamworth pork shoulder curry but its tingle was just the right side of numbing, mellow and spicy sweet. Wild mushroom salad seasoned with soy and lime, inspired by the region of Isaan, in the northeast of Thailand, was precisely the sort of plate that the term umami was coined for. kilnsoho.com Platapian, Greek Street – for stylish Thai dining Find this sleek space from the people behind Patara on one of London’s busiest streets. We started with crispy chicken skin with a squeeze of lime – think gourmet pork scratchings. Stuffed snub nose chilli stuffed with minced chicken and prawn is big enough to share, plump and aromatic, and, despite its name, only mildly hot. Then a pandan-leaf wrapped parcel of miang kham scallop, beautifully silky and smoky. Of the many surprising dishes at Platapian, one especially stood out: cabbage roasted until soft yet still with bite, the wedges dressed with fish sauce and whole chillies to deliver a sweet-salty heat that works beautifully with the vegetable’s faint sourness. Mains kept the balance between comfort and freshness. Short rib beef in five-spice ‘paloh’ with grated salted egg yolk is the stand-out. Flake-apart meat in a rich gravy was positively swoon-worthy. While southern-style yellow curry with crab, mellow and light, saucy with coconut, was a hug in a bowl. Together they showed how Platapian’s menu celebrates the whole of Thai cuisine. From the drinks list, Tom Yum-tini and a whisky sour are smart, punchy and in simpatico with the elegance of the restaurant, while desserts use Thai ingredients to twist familiar Western dishes, such as a smooth pandan crème brûlée. olive tip: When we went on a Thursday night, Platapian was packed, buzzing and loud – so if you want to talk ask for a counter seat near the front. pataralondon.com Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Kingly Court — for Syrian sharing plates Imad Alarnab’s story is a remarkable one. After spending years as a successful restaurateur in Damascus, his businesses were destroyed by the war, and he was forced to flee the country for safety. Shortly after arriving in London in 2015, he began cooking Syrian food at supper clubs and pop-ups (at which he raised thousands of pounds for refugee charity, Choose Love), before crowdfunding for his own permanent restaurant. Located on the top floor of Soho’s Kingly Court, the restaurant has the feel of a family-run taverna, with white walls accented by bright blue windows and tiles, dotted with heart-warming photographs from Imad’s past. As for Imad’s food, its every bit as uplifting as his story. Every dish we tried from his sharing-style menu of Syrian dishes was a hit, from the super-crisp, perfectly seasoned falafel with lightly pickled, sumac-dusted red onions, to the pool of chickpea-topped hummus with hot, fluffy pittas for dunking. Other highlights include the fattet macdous – a dish of silky soft baby aubergines filled with cumin-spiced minced lamb, served with tahini, crispy pittas, pine nuts, herbs, and juicy pops of pomegranate – and the shish tawook, which combines beautifully tender, charred chicken with homemade paprika crisps, tomato mayo and pitta. imadssyriankitchen.co.uk Bubala, Poland Street – for Middle Eastern small plates The second spot from Marc Summers (Berber & Q) and Helen Graham (Palomar) is decked out in the same earthy-chic style as the original Spitalfields restaurant. Gather round the table at the back to get a slice of action from the open kitchen and peruse jars of ferments and infusions that make their way into dishes and cocktails. Peanut-infused bourbon is stirred with chocolate bitters for a warming old fashioned, blood orange syrup is shaken up with tequila in a rose petal and Persian salt-rimmed margarita, and citrus syrups are topped up with sparkling water and fresh herbs in the non-alcoholic gazoz options. To start, order fresh laffa flatbread to dip into silky baba ganoush, followed by charcoaled leek swirl skewers and corn ribs, slathered in a punchy chipotle, Aleppo chilli, black garlic and cumin sauce. Lip-smacking mains include buttery hispi cabbage coated in a dried orange, nori and sesame crumb, and deep-fried, brined cauliflower served with caramelised spiced spinach bkeila. Potato latkes are given a modern twist, pressed with garlic butter into stacks and fried to order, and fresh vesuvio tomatoes and mango are soaked in a sweet and tangy tamarind and date syrup dressing. Finish with coconut and tahini fudge, subtly laced with blood orange and coated in crackly sesame seeds. bubala.co.uk/soho Bao, Lexington Street – for Taiwanese buns Bao began life as a tiny bar in Hackney, selling pillowy soft ‘baos’ (steamed milk buns) stuffed with various fillings. Following its success, the team opened a restaurant in Soho. Husband and wife team, Shing Tat Chung and Erchen Chang, alongside Shing’s sister Wai Ting Chung are behind the venture, and it was the trio’s travels across Asia that inspired the menu.Their signature bao take centre stage – try classic braised pork and panko-crumbed daikon radish bao – but there’s also xiao chi (small eats) on offer. As for drinks, expect hot oolong and cold foam tea, plus cider, sake and whisky. It’s a cosy space with shelves lined with homemade pickles – including golden kimchi. baolondon.com Crunch, Dean Street – for smash-hit sandwiches Landing on the buzzy corner of Dean Street and Old Compton Street, Crunch brings its cult-followed Spitalfields sandwiches to a permanent Soho address – and the result is part elevated sandwich shop, part stainless steel lined sandwich theatre. The vibe is sleek but casual, with polished metal counters, high stools and a front-row view of the sandwich station, where flat iron steaks hit the grill and brioche buns get that signature toast. The menu is concise but clever – the main event is the Soho-exclusive steak sandwich, a decadent, juicy, grass-fed beef patty in golden, crisp-edged brioche. Don’t skip sides: the thousand-layer crispy potatoes with bloody mary ketchup are addictive, and the lasagne bites are punchy, deep-fried delights. For something sweet, the deep-fried french toast made from brioche offcuts, custard-soaked and topped with apple, chocolate chunks and dulce de leche, is reason enough to linger. The service is fast and friendly, perfect for solo diners perched at the bar or a quick lunch with a friend. A breakfast menu is on the way, too – worth keeping an eye on for early morning indulgence. sandwichuprising.com Gaucho, Swallow Street – for steak Step through the doors of Gaucho Piccadilly and you step into the original. The flagship that launched a now 20-strong group, this is where the magic started. Dark walls and flickering candlelight – the décor remains familiar just like the head chef Mario, who’s been grilling here for 25 years. That longevity brings serious consistency. Argentinian beef is sourced from farms committed to regenerative practices. The signature cut, churrasco, is a must: spiralled lomo (fillet), chorizo (sirloin), ancho (ribeye) or rump (cuadril), marinated in parsley, lemon, garlic and olive oil, and grilled to perfection. There are elegant starters – crispy prawn chicharrón with sweet-spicy aji amarillo and lime-bright crab tostada – but you’re here for steak and a serious glass of something red. Ask the sommelier for a pairing from the knockout New World wine list, and trust the superb waiting staff – they’re as much part of the institution as the steak. Once the haunt of power lunchers, today it’s shoppers and tourists looking for post West End indulgence. And they find it – topped off with a rich dulce de leche cheesecake crowned with chantilly, hazelnuts and cherries. gauchorestaurants.com 123V Bakery, Stephen Street — for vibrant vegan fare Chef Alexis Gauthier – vegan pioneer at his eponymous Soho restaurant – recently opened a nearby diffusion venue, housing a “fun, unbuttoned” restaurant, Studio Gauthier, and bakery-café 123V. The latter serves vibrant vegan sushi, brunch dishes and plant-based burgers. 123vegan.co.uk Sucre, Great Marlborough Street — for Argentinian fine dining Sucre has to be one of Soho’s most beautiful (and impressive) dining rooms, with sky-high ceilings (the room was formerly a concert hall for the London College of Music), huge chandeliers made from more than 1,000 glass decanters and a room-length open kitchen at one end where you can watch chefs cooking over charcoal. Executive chef Jack Godik has given the menu a recent refresh but it remains centred around South American fire cooking. Seasonal small plates of chargrilled Trombetta courgettes with ricotta and a seaweed and almond crumb, and red Alistado prawns with wafer-thin pickled pineapple sit alongside classics like the melt-in-the mouth cheese-stuffed empanadas. Monkfish tail cooked on charcoal and served with a punchy salsa macha, and tender iberico pork matambre are the main course highlights, along with baked shellfish rice with langoustine and mussel aïoli. For dessert, a beautiful creamy Basque cheesecake with a strawberry compote just screams summer, and there’s a really inventive cocktail list – try the spicy, sharp Peperita with green pepper infused tequila, agave and lime. There’s also a newly launched fire-fuelled tasting menu which offers a selection of menu greatest hits for £80pp. sucrerestaurant.com Bar Termini, Old Compton Street – for negronis and espresso Fifties-style Italian café-bar Bar Termini is known for its pre-bottled negronis, but pop in during the day to sip an espresso at the marble-topped counter or recline on a green-leather banquette with a bicerin espresso, stirred up with thick chocolate and foamed milk. bar-termini-soho.com Kati Roll Company, Poland Street – for Bengali kati rolls For many years, this unassuming eatery – located just off Oxford Street – was a secret spot for diasporic Indians in London who were in the know. It’s decked out in a fiesta of bright orange paint and faded Bollywood posters, with rustic wooden benches and a silver serving counter at the very end. They specialise in kati rolls – the iconic Bengali street food from Kolkata – which consists of vibrantly spiced fillings, wrapped up in your choice of either buttery fried paratha or iron-griddled roti. Their ‘Achaari Panner Roll’ marinated in spicy pickle is especially tasty. Order extra chutney on the side if you like it especially saucy. tkrc.co.uk Long Chim, Rupert Street – for casual Thai from renowned chef David Thompson’s bright pink book Thai Food is on every enthusiastic cook’s bookshelf. Now the Australian chef, with restaurants in Sydney and Bangkok, is back in London with a residency hosted in Rupert Street’s Hovarda, revamped with Thai murals and neon art. Order street food classics like skewers of spicy grilled squid, southern-style with pickled ginger; cockle salad with smoky chilli paste and thai basil; sweet crispy pork with five-spice; and curry of monkfish with cucumber relish. Watch a whole load of wok action in the open kitchen as you enjoy classic cocktails with a Thai twist, like coconut and lemongrass gimlet. The spontaneous will love its communal tables reserved for walk-ins. longchim.london Kapara – for fun Middle Eastern feasts Channelling Tel Aviv, this vivacious Soho complex mixes music, food and cocktails. Chef Eran Tibi’s creative food revels in theatrical presentation and playful dish names. Dessert ‘gramp’s cigar’ very much looks like it, while deep-fried paprika marinated chicken thighs, with orange harissa kimchi and wild garlic mayo, are subtitled ‘crispy crunchy bums’. kapara.co.uk Bocca di Lupo – for regional Italian dishes Bocca Di Lupo (along with its ice cream shop Gelupo that sits opposite) has been a Soho institution for regional Italian cooking and wine since its 2008 opening. Friendly and knowledgeable Italian staff will help you navigate the impressive seven sections (from fritti to grill) of the somehow still concise menu – a tour of Italian regions and specialities, the daily changing offering adapts with the seasons, too. Go sharing with six to seven plates between two, or go with a classic starter and main, with most dishes available in both small or larger sizes to suit your choice. Sit at the bar to watch the kitchen in action, or the smart dining room at the back. Puffy sage and anchovy fritti make the perfect snack to kick off your meal with drinks – cocktails are also divided by region, with plenty of wines by the glass. Sea bream carpaccio doused in rosemary salt and blood orange is a highlight, along with mini fried flatbreads stuffed with fennel-studded finocchiona and soft squacquerone cheese. The chefs make strong use of seasonal ingredients – tender rabbit orzo and trofie with wild garlic pesto on our spring visit elevated familiar dishes. If it's on the menu, don't miss the silky pappardelle ragu either. Gelupo is across the street so don’t miss the ice creams in house for dessert – the prettiest pale pink rhubarb sorbet is almost vegetal in its intense flavour and not too sweet, while blood orange granita is a refreshing end to a decadent tour of Italy. boccadilupo.com Japan Centre, Panton Street – for Japanese snacks The sushi fridges at Japan Centre – in a back street right behind Piccadilly – are a brilliantly overwhelming place to browse; complete with abundantly filled fridges of freshly prepared sushi rolls, sashimi and perfectly triangular onigiri. However, the hot deli counters are even more exciting – with things like karaage chicken, tonkatsu udon noodles, katsu curries and donburi rice bowls all available for very reasonable prices, to dine in on their communal benches or to takeaway. The okonomiyaki stick is a perfect bite – a pancake stick with octopus, tangy brown sauce, nori seaweed dust and umami rich bonito flakes sprinkled all over the top. Ask them to warm it up, it’s even tastier hot! japancentre.com Yasmin, Warwick Street – for rooftop dining with Middle Eastern flavour Come for the sunny terrace and jewel box interiors, stay for the sharing plates at chef Tom Cenci’s latest venture at Piccadilly Circus. Inspired by a stint in Istanbul, the menu majors on superior dips, flatbreads and zingy salads and grills. Sesame seed hummus gets a lift with raisins and peanut dressing; whipped sheep’s cheese features hot honey and isot biber (dried chilli pepper). The sumac smoked duck salad with grilled corn is a must order. Pair salmon and olive skewers with smashed cucumber and batata harra potatoes. Signature desserts are the pistachio ice cream sandwich and turkish delight cheesecake. Delicately spiced cocktails work throughout dinner – try Shapash, which blends tequila with chili, watermelon, strawberry and citrus. yasminsoho.com Singapulah, Shaftesbury Avenue – for Singaporean comfort food Londoners and tourists queue for up to 40 minutes at key times to bag a seat at restaurateur Ellen Chew’s celebration of Singaporean food, with beloved suppliers namechecked on the menu (such as fishball supremo DoDo, and Udders ice cream – its durian flavour has a Marmite response). Head here for comforting bowl of noodles, nasi goreng and beef rendang. Singapore laksa is served over mee tai bak – short noodles which make it easy to eat with a spoon (less of a slurpfest!). Snacks and small bites include fried chilli crab bao and kueh pie tee savoury pastries topped with prawns and peanuts, best shared with three or more. The utilitarian space is softened with a pastel colour scheme, colourful ads as artwork with shelves lined with ceramics and products. Signature cocktails and mocktails feature ingredients such as Yeo’s chrysanthemum tea. singapulah.co.uk Paradise – for Sri Lankan cuisine After a brief revamp, Dom Fernando has relaunched his critically acclaimed restaurant Paradise in London’s Soho with a new design and dining experience. There’s now a tasting menu in the evenings (with a choice of vegetarian or meat options) that continues to draw on Sri Lanka’s diverse and multicultural history, as well as Dom’s heritage. An à la carte option is available at lunch, closely aligning with the highlights from the tasting menu. Accompanying the menu is a comprehensive wine list of ever-evolving natural biodynamic wines that can be ordered by the bottle – or there’s the option of suggested wine pairings or Sri Lankan inspired cocktails that highlight ancient fermenting and clarification techniques. paradisesoho.com Chotto Matte, Frith Street– for Nikkei cuisine Blending Japanese and Peruvian cuisines, Nikkei combines ingredients from both, so along with gyoza, sashimi and nigiri there are ceviches, tostadas with chilli, corn, casava and coriander. Chotto Matte’s owner Kurt Zdesar and his team make regular trips to Peru to ensure the menu at this glamorous bar and restaurant is constantly evolving. Cocktails play a starring role, from the classic Peruvian pisco sour to twists like kumquat margarita. Raw starters include tuna sashimi with miso mustard and honey; and yellowtail with yuzu truffle soy and jalapeño. There’s drama, too, with some dishes flamed at the table, and luxurious touches in otoro (premium tuna) and wagyu, alongside more humble corn ribs, and lamb chops with coriander and chilli miso. Chilled tunes and vibrant art walls create a club-like vibe. chotto-matte.com Bébé Bob, Golden Square – for rotisserie chicken and champagne Bébé Bob is younger sibling to Bob Bob Ricard (of champagne button fame), so high glamour is the name of the game. Ultra-comfortable and gorgeous to look at, the venue is a clever backdrop to what is essentially a menu centred around roast chicken (Vendée or Landes). But, what roast chicken. Rotisseried and served with roast potatoes (chicken fat, of course) and/or chips, and a salad, if you like. Super-luxe starters include three types of caviar or VSOP prawn cocktail, and desserts offer an option of lemon-infused vodka served at -18C, or a perfectly formed paris-brest. Drink champagne, or choose a wine, of which there are a commendable amount served by the glass. The menu has recently expanded to include a chicken burger – a 12 hour brined chicken breast encased in a crunchy coating, spicy gochujang mayo, crisp pickled slaw, an incredibly umami cured egg yolk and, naturally, topped with Oscietra caviar. In keeping with Bébé Bob’s MO, it’s an elevated version of a classic fried chicken burger, and it’s a treat. bebebob.com Nessa, Brewer Street – for a modern, seasonal menu Nessa is a sophisticated restaurant situated right in the bustle of London’s Soho. Enter the striking horseshoe bar and you’ll see a range of UK producers on display, including no- or low-alcohol options – as well as the option to order snacks and small plates. The space has been fully renovated with the style of the neo-baroque building in mind – it’s stylish with lots of marble, oak and brass fixtures, and fittings on the art-lined walls. In the dining room, you’ll find booths and an open kitchen, where Executive Chef Tom Cenci (formerly of Loyal Tavern and Duck & Waffle) has devised a menu of British influences with global flavours, focusing on seasonality. Signature dishes include celeriac carbonara with pancetta and truffle, Sirloin grass-fed Irish beef and roast rump of West Country lamb, courgette cassoulet with white beans and lemon herb crumb, and poached Cornish cod with parsley root purée and hazelnut crumb. For sides, try the spice bag or charred broccoli with caesar dressing. Nessa offers a relaxed yet stylish dining experience, perfect for anything from a quick snack to a full meal, all served in a space that’s as inspiring as the food. nessasoho.com Kricket, Denman Street – for Indian small plates Contemporary and cool, Kricket specialises in Indian small plates using local vegetables along with fish and meat sourced within the British Isles. Expect to queue at these no-reservations restaurants but dishes like samphire pakoras and Keralan fried chicken are more than worth the wait. We have the recipe for Kricket's kichri. Kedgeree as we know it was an adaptation of the original recipe for kichri, which consists of rice and lentils. You can use poached eggs rather than raw egg yolks, if you like. kricket.co.uk NOPI – for Ottolenghi's vibrant small plates When Yotam Ottolenghi opened NOPI in 2011, it was quite a departure from the more casual cafés he was known for, and reviews commented as much on the glamorous mirrored loos, marble floors and burnished light fittings as the quality of its Med-meets-Middle-Eastern menu. Since 2024, NOPI’s newly appointed head chef Elaine Goad has embraced a fresh perspective on the restaurant’s iconic menu. The small plates tick all of the Ottolenghi boxes; fresh, vibrant, veg-rich dishes, including roasted aubergine with cashew tahini and tomato sambal, and crispy mushrooms with wild garlic aioli and Thai basil. Cod is elevated with a smoky miso glaze served on an artichoke purée and peas. Finish with the coffee financier, a delicate sponge with crunchy pecan running through it, served with a soft maple cream. There’s a more casual arrangement downstairs, where diners share a large farmhouse-style table that offers a front row seat to the open kitchen so you can watch the talented team at work. ottolenghi.co.uk Three Sheets – for sleek cocktails Max and Noel Venning need no introduction in the cocktail world. The original Three Sheets in Dalston is a bartenders’ institution, thanks to its stripped-back interiors, late-night vibes and innovative. The brothers were pre-batching cocktails before it became a trend, setting standards high with their floral sparkling French 75 served in a champagne bottle. This iconic cocktail is still on the menu at the new spot in the heart of Soho, joined by many new stand-out contenders. An elegant version of a dirty martini has a delicate floral finish thanks to Ethiopian Koseret tea-infused Belvedere and a silkiness courtesy of an olive oil fat wash. Mezcal Sunrise is a juicy, long drink with smoky depth and floral bergamot notes from earl grey-infused mezcal, bright and citrussy freshly squeezed mandarin juice and a touch of marigold powder for subtle earthiness. Sazzaquack makes a short, smooth whisky number with notes of black treacle and a subtle spice finish thanks to homemade five spice tincture. The vibe is a little sleeker than the original, with marble tables, teal blue booths and black and white photographs of Soho's characters reminding punters that they are in the hearty of London's drinking district. threesheets-bar.com Humble Chicken, Frith Street — for nose-to-tail yakitori and modern cocktails Humble Chicken’ name gets straight to the point. This intimate Soho restaurant from chef Angelo Sato is all about grilling every part of the bird (from gizzard to thighs) over binchotan charcoal (a high-quality charcoal used in Japanese cooking). Start with a selection of refined snacks, including a delicate, umami miso foie gras tart and creamy freshly made tofu with tangy kimchi, before diving into the yakitori menu with gusto. Skewers — smoky, juicy, delicious — arrive speedily from the open kitchen, with highlights including meatball with salty tare sauce and egg yolk for dipping, rib with spicy miso and chives, and (our favourite) absurdly tender chicken oysters with smoked garlic and ponzu. Larger plates include crispy chicken leg with rice, and save room for dainty desserts such as deconstructed strawberry cheesecake, and purin, a Japanese dessert akin to a creme caramel, and just as delicious. There’s Asahi on draft and a small selection of sakes, wines and Japanese whiskies, but it’s the cocktails that deserve most attention on the drinks list, including a tangily fruity lychee martini; a silky Nikka whisky, coconut milk and oolong highball, and a sultry miso and coffee old fashioned. humblechickenuk.com Dram – for whisky cocktails You’d be forgiven for walking past the low-key, unassuming Soho frontage with its sanded wooden shutters on Denmark Street, but step inside and this Grade II listed building starts to slowly unfold with surprises. There's a basement bar, an open garden terrace, an upstairs pool table room, a private events space and even a hidden drinks development ‘lab’. The more you explore, the more you begin to appreciate the creative vision behind the venue. Founders Chris Tanner, Martyn ‘Simo’ Simpson and Jack Wallis have masterfully reimagined what a bar can be. The concept shines particularly through the venue's duality of flavour, with a brilliant upstairs-downstairs twist. Upstairs, the menu offers light, highball-style cocktails from Dram's tapped cocktail bar, while the basement bar features complex, sophisticated concoctions. For instance, the Tomato & Peach lets its savoury elements shine in a bright tomato spritz upstairs, while the peach notes take centre stage in a more refined rum-based martini downstairs. drambar.co.uk Speedboat Bar, Chinatown – for fiery Thai cuisine Despite London having possibly the best nightlife in the UK, it feels rare to get a spot like Speedboat Bar. Open until late on the weekend (you can get your fill of fiery cuisine and party vibes until 1am), this Thai canteen in Chinatown, brought to you by Plaza Khao Gaeng’s Luke Farrell, has décor almost as bombastic as the flavours. Once you’re done looking at the framed pics of the Thai royal family or playing a game of pool, get your tongue tingling with a menu that would satisfy any chilli fanatic. And don’t forget to cool down after with a creamy cocktail or a tower of beer. speedboatbar.co.uk Maresco, Berwick Street – for fish-focussed, modern tapas Following successful openings in Crouch End and Stoke Newington, the team behind local favourites Bar Esteban and Escocesa has ventured into central London with this intimate 48-cover space in the heart of Soho. Billed as a modern tapas bar (with a more formal dining room on the basement floor), expect a seafood-focussed menu at Maresco, featuring top-quality Scottish produce served with Spanish flair and (a lot) of Spanish wine. maresco.co.uk The Listening Room – for Japanese-inspired cocktails and omakase small plates Soho’s Wardour Street contains a secret. Downstairs from Japanese-inspired grill and omakase restaurant MOI – and via an impressive retro-futuristic spiral staircase – resides The Listening Room, a spacious underground listening bar. Serious about audio, bespoke speakers are from London-based sound system maker Friendly Pressure, and the walls are covered in soundwave-like textured curves for great acoustics. The drinks menu is led by ex-Langham Dino Koletsas and infused with Asian flavours. The shiro negroni, a refreshing white spin on a negroni with yuzu sake, potato shochu and chrysanthemum bitters has a pleasantly floral nose. Them Apples cleverly recreates the flavour of fresh green apple without using the ingredient itself: instead sparkling green tea, whisky, tomato liqueur and marigold combine for an ultra-refreshing sip. The extensive sake and natural wine list is accessible to both the more experienced and more nascent sipper. Order sushi, small plates and skewers hot off the grill from the upstairs kitchen by executive chef Andy Cook who worked with Gordon Ramsay to open his outpost in Tokyo. The crisp, warm and slightly sweet steamed buns served with smoked cod’s roe was a strong start. Sushi is not one to miss either – we chose Icelandic sea urchin and chutoro tuna temaki delicately wrapped in nori, whose rich flavour was perfectly complemented by dots of wasabi and slices of pickled ginger. moirestaurant.com Manzi’s, Bateman's Buildings – for fish and seafood dishes Latest off the block from the Wolseley Hospitality Group, Manzi’s is as glamorous as nautical comes. Set over two floors and with bright, airy blue and white interiors, this is a place of comfort and attention to detail. Head chef Christian Turner’s menu encompasses a beautifully executed monkfish wellington and cioppino fish stew, as well as oysters and dressed crab, Galician-style octopus, fish finger sandwiches and lobster rolls. Non-fish dishes are also available, including leeks mimosa and devilled egg, and roast Landes chicken. manzis.co.uk Chung’dam, Greek Street – for modern Korean cooking Named after the bustling Cheongdam-dong district in Seoul, Chung’dam is a contemporary Korean restaurant combining modern Korean cooking with traditional cooking techniques, paired with the finest ingredients in a sleek and refined space that’s designed to facilitate an interactive dining experience taking you on a journey through all your senses. With an impressive cocktail list that features rice wine and soju alongside a global wine list, Chung’dam attempts to live up to the vibrant reputation of its namesake. chungdam.co.uk The Seafood Bar, Dean Street – for quality, sustainably sourced seafood Already a raging success in the Netherlands because of its commitment to serving quality, sustainably sourced seafood at a reasonable price, this is the first international branch to open in London on Dean Street, Soho. The restaurant occupies the ground floor of a Georgian townhouse and the grand dimensions, pale wood and white interior and high ceilings give the space a luxurious but airy feel. The menu is comprehensive with several different sections covering hot and cold starters, crustaceans, oysters, fruit de mer platters, mussels, mixed seafood grills, caviar and even fish and chips. We almost go for the full bells-and-whistles giant double-decker fruit de mer platter that every table seems to be ordering, but our waiter after a hunger check-in advises a smaller platter, plus a couple of hot starters, which are both winners; sweet, juicy clams in a delicate wine and garlic sauce, and plump creamy, gratinated scallops in the shell. Our fruit de mer platter is a shellfish-lover's dream with some more unusual offerings such as razor clams, periwinkles and whole brown shrimp alongside mussels, cockles, clams, prawns, crab, seaweed salad and oysters. Everything is served simply on ice with lemon and mayo allowing the freshness and quality of the seafood to shine through – a perfect pairing with a crisp glass of Grüner Veltliner. theseafoodbar.com Yeni, Beak Street — for wood-fired modern Turkish food With most dishes at Yeni given the funk of fermentation or seasoned with smoke, this is food that’s big on flavour but handled with enough respect to let the quality of the ingredients shine. The open fire kitchen is centre stage in the tall-ceilinged room, start with a G and house-made T (tonic meets kombucha) then it’s all about choosing sharing plates for the table or letting the chef choose for you with a daily changing tasting menu. About half the menu is creatively vegetarian – beetroot is almost sticky from being slow braised in olive oil then punctuated with sour cherries, salty galomizithra cheese and a crunch of hazelnuts. Choose a filling of either beef or dried aubergine for the Turkish manti dumplings which come in a broth made so complex and creamy from using double-fermented yogurt that you’ll be ordering more wood-fired puffy tava bread to mop the bowl clean with. yeni.london Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza, Wardour Street — for impeccable pizzas in laidback surroundings London is no stranger to a good pizza — from Yard Sale to Homeslice, Theo’s, Vicoli dio Napoli and Voodoo Ray’s (and many more), there’s stiff competition for who serves the best slice in town. Rudy’s outpost in Soho (they have pizzerias scattered across the north of England, including Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds) makes a worthy addition to the scene. Start with an aperitivo of Campari and soda, which arrives premixed in a dinky little bottle alongside a bowl of salted crisps for snacking, before moving onto generous sharing platters loaded with deli treats and house-baked bread. Pizza toppings are crowd-pleasing, from parmigiana with roasted aubergine to spicy calabrese with ‘nduja sausage and cinghiale with wild boar salami. Our lavishly topped capricciosa with creamy fior de latte, prosciutto, mushrooms, Kalamata olives and artichoke hearts ticked all the boxes, but it was the base that really impressed — well-flavoured and pillowy while still being satisfyingly chewy. All of Rudy’s pizzas — baked daily using 24-hour fermented dough — are made by trained and accredited pizzaiolos and it shows. rudyspizza.co.uk/soho/ Dishoom, Kingly Street – for Indian food Breakfasts at Dishoom, the small chain of Bombay-café-inspired restaurants, have won a cult following. Not least for the bacon naan rolls – crisp bacon wrapped in tandoor-charred naan with a dollop of chilli tomato jam and cream cheese. Pair with a breakfast lassi or house chai. See our full round up of the best Indian restaurants in London. Lina Stores deli, Brewer Street – for Italian produce Pretty Italian deli Lina Stores has been a destination for local foodies since 1944. The mint-tiled corner store is packed with anything from metre-long pasta frills to pretty bottles of passata – perfect for stocking fillers and souvenirs. There’s also a fresh pasta bar and a counter piled high with ’nduja, finocchiona and gorgonzola. linastores.co.uk Lina Stores restaurant, Greek Street – for pasta Head chef Masha Rener has kept the menu simple and seemingly authentic at the Italian deli's original restaurant opening, with every ingredient hailing directly from Italy – from bright and buttery Cerignola olives right down to the sugar used in exemplary Italian desserts and cakes. Fresh pasta, handmade an hour before service, is given pride of place, served as the main event rather than traditional pre-main primi. Bright yellow strands of pappardelle soak up light, gamey rabbit ragu, perfectly formed gnocchi is brightened up with popping peas, and a vibrant mint and courgette mixture is stuffed into little tortellini parcels. Pici alla norcina is the highlight, though – springy worms of pasta in a creamy, nutty sauce of porcini mushroom and Norcia sausage (often celebrated as the best in Italy). The antipasti menu includes silky aubergine fritters in a crunchy golden shell, crisp radicchio salad with anchovy dressing, and little bowls of almost-too-pretty-to-eat baby artichoke hearts. Creamy lemon sorbet refreshes after so many comforting carbs, the little half-lemon bowl a nostalgic nod to Italian holidays, and is served with a shot of limoncello to send you merrily on your way. linastores.co.uk Duck Soup, Dean Street – for date night For a post-shopping drink or two, head to wine bar and restaurant Duck Soup. It’s pared-back but cosy, and super friendly. Its range of natural and biodynamic wines, served by the glass, changes weekly, as does the short menu of European dishes chalked up on a board. You can even browse the in-house vinyl collection and choose your own soundtrack. ducksoupsoho.co.uk Blacklock, Great Windmill Street – for a chophouse Go for the ‘all in’ option at cool and casual restaurant Blacklock and you’ll be faced with pre-chop bites (duck rillettes, kimchi, pickle) followed by huge sharing platters of skinny chops (including short rib beef, lamb cutlets and pork loin) plus chargrilled flatbreads to soak up the juices. The £5 cocktails are fab, too. theblacklock.com Bar Swift, Old Compton Street – for cocktails From the team behind Nightjar and Oriole, Swift is a classy spot that covers all your cocktail needs. Stand at the slick upstairs bar for a pre-theatre aperitivo (we love the refreshing lemon sorbet, prosecco and Italicus sgroppino) or sink into a sofa in the basement for your whisky of choice from an extensive list. barswift.com Koya Soho, Frith Street – for noodles Duck through the curtains at Koya Bar and you’re transported straight to Tokyo. A wooden counter spans the narrow space: punters huddle over bowls of springy udon noodles on one side, while chefs add eggs to breakfast bowls, and slip noodles, prawn tempura, tofu and miso pork into hot broth on the other. koyabar.co.uk Daroco, Manette Street – for great Italian food in glitzy surroundings Pizza isn’t hard to come by in Soho, but truly great pizza is more elusive. Daroco’s menu of elevated Italian dishes features amped-up classics like tonnato, arancini and tiramisu, but it’s the pizza menu that really shines. The super-soft, charred crust (less ‘crust’, more a pillow) is a masterclass in dough work, while toppings are simple but just that little bit extra – we had the “mortadelight” with mortadella, Stracciatella and pistachio cream. Pasta dishes are luxurious and included paccheri with lobster bisque and pappardelle with venison Genovese. Our chocolate mousse pudding was rich and finished with sea salt and olive oil, while the cannoli was served deconstructed with serious flourish. Speaking of flourish, the Daroco aesthetic is fun and just a little ostentatious, with a buzzy open kitchen, plenty of mirrors and velvet – a hidden gem feel and a very memorable pizza oven covered in blue ceramic butterfly frieze. In short, it’s the place to go if you want to eat a really huge, delicious pizza but feel a bit extra while you’re doing it. daroco.com Robata, Old Compton Street – for Japanese robata grill cooking Located on Old Compton Street in the heart of Soho, Sonny Huang’s Robata restaurant specialises in robata grill cooking, a Japanese tradition that was first introduced by ancient fishermen who took boxes of hot coals with them on their boats to cook the food that they gathered from their day’s catch. The menu is broken down into five sections – small plates, raw and sushi, bao buns, robata skewers and robata large – and diners are encouraged to share dishes. Stand-out plates include miso aubergine topped with pickled shimiji mushroom and red chilli; sweet soy glaze and spring onion pork belly skewers; and Chilean wagyu smoked and cooked over burning hay. Robata also serves an extensive selection of sake and sake-based cocktails including the Umetini (Roku gin, umeshu plum sake and orange bitters). Head chef Charles Lee worked in a number of Michelin-starred restaurants during his career before arriving at Robata, and his menu shows the diversity of Japan’s food, highlighting traditional cooking techniques and contemporary flavours, along with using high-end British produce. robata.co.uk Berenjak, Romilly Street – for Iranian food This is a buzzy casual restaurant and tables are a tight squeeze. Out front, the open kitchen spills out its sights, sounds and smells onto the counter diners – there’s a flaming tandoor (oven), mangal barbecue, and vertical rotisserie. The menu at Berenjak is broken down into mazeh that are designed to be mopped up with house-made flatbreads – either taftoon, seeded sourdough, baked in the clay tandoor, or whole wheat sangak cooked on hot pebbles – kababs and khoresht (stews), and sides, including various pickles, rice and beans. It’s hard not to order everything but we’re reliably informed by our enthused German waitress that jigar (mangal-grilled calves liver) is a good place to start. She was right, as were all her recommendations. Served on soft and blistered lavash bread with mellow sliced red onion, a wedge of lemon to squeeze over, and shredded mint, the offal was burnished, buttery and blushing. berenjaklondon.com Hoppers, Frith Street – for Sri Lankan dishes Named after the lacy, bowl-shaped pancakes that are a staple of Sri Lanka, Hoppers has quickly established itself as one of London’s hippest hangouts. From the can-do-no-wrong team behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana, Hoppers references the food of southern India and Sri Lanka. There’s a succinct menu starring traditional hoppers: light fermented rice and lentil pancake bowls, with a softly steamed egg and a selection of confidently spiced karis.Load up on the ‘short eats’, though. Mutton rolls are like crunchy cigars – with a golden crumb, shredded gamey meat and lightly spiced tomato chutney. Bone marrow is so seductively sauced that you would be forgiven for refusing to share. The best, perhaps, are buttered devilled shrimps: juicy and fiery. There a fab and refreshing cocktails also. hopperslondon.com Try our egg hoppers recipe here… Temper, Broadwick Street – for BBQ Blink and you’ll miss Neil Rankin’s barbecue restaurant in London’s Soho. From ground level it looks like just another wine bar, but head underground and it’s a dark den of mezcal, smoke, meat and, er, Pickled Onion Monster Munch. Temper is cavernous, with booths and tables filling every corner, but if you want a piece of the real action, grab a counter seat around the open kitchen where tacos are hand-pressed, flatbreads are blistered, and whole animals are butchered and roasted over glowing coals. It’s not for the squeamish but this waste-little, love-food attitude did it for us. (As did the surprisingly ergonomic bar stools and Irn Bru spritzes and mezcal negronis). temperrestaurant.com Pastaio, Ganton Street – for pasta Chef Stevie Parle’s Pastaio brings handmade pasta and affordable wines to Soho. The agnoli was a triumph of pared-back cooking; perfectly cooked and crafted pasta, a generous game filling and a seriously moreish sage-butter sauce. pastaio.co.uk Korean Dinner Party, Kingly Court —for Korean flavours and sharing snacks Head to the top of Kingly Court in Soho to discover this this lively opening inspired by Korean flavours and LA’s Mexican food scene, with menus designed by prolific chef duo Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng of Tata Eatery, and craft sake from London’ only sake brewery, Peckham’s Kanpai. Inside, expect stripped-back interiors with concrete walls, neon lighting and Korean wall art. An eclectic menu covers everything from Korean corn dogs to tacos and kimchi pancakes. There are larger dishes on offer — go for the Korean tacos with 48-hour slow-cooked beef short rib, ssamjang, slae and homemade wrappers — but it’s the sharing snacks and cocktails that especially impress. Bacon mochi, fudgy chewy rice cakes wrapped in caramelised bacon with gochujang caramel are succulently umami, while ‘chikin’ turns out to be a mound of tender nuggets and rice sticks decadently blanketed in garlic cream and parmesan. The drinks list features fresh twists on classic drinks, such as a plum Americano made with Korean plum wine and Kanpai umeshu. We tried the pleasingly fiery Michelada Boilermaker — spiced Korean beer served with a shot of sake alongside — and the sultry and silky burnt rice old fashioned to finish. koreandinnerparty.com Bob Bob Ricard, Upper James Street – for an impressive dinner Bob Bob Ricard is a Russian-inspired restaurant in Soho that exudes luxury, with ornate interiors loosely based on the Orient Express (train-carriage style booths, brass rails and coat racks), slick service and iconic ‘press for Champagne’ buttons. It’s all about excess, with hearty portions, theatrical presentation and copious amounts of fizz. The menu focuses on English classics, with Russian influences highlighted in pink (think plenty of truffle, shots of -18 degree vodka and caviar). Highlights include traditional truffled potato dumplings served with crispy onions and shimeji mushrooms, puff-pastry-topped fish pie with chunky pieces of smoked haddock, sole and cod and the perfectly pink 28-day aged Scotch beef fillet wellington accompanied by silky truffled mash. Chocolate Glory’ is a showstopping dessert or keep things lighter with a zesty trio of lime, lemon and pink grapefruit sorbets served with Platinum vodka. bobbobricard.com L’escargot, Greek Street – for a Soho institution L’escargot was big news in the 80s and is somewhat of a Soho institution but it’s sparkle faded over the years. Now, after a refurb and now with a brunch menu, it’s worth putting on your radar once again. The 280-year-old town house is also a member’s club, and it shows in this room: dark wood and comfortable, red velvet-covered chairs, it hasn’t lost the French bistro charm. lescargot.co.uk Photography Credits: Leigh Griffiths (Long Chim) Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Best restaurants in Margate: where locals eat and drink in the Kentish seaside town
Explore this cool coastal Kent town via elegant fish suppers, plump Whitstable rock oysters and scoops of rhubarb and custard gelato
Looking for Margate restaurants? Want to know the locals' favourite fish and chips in this Kentish seaside town? Check out our favourite places to eat and drink in Margate below, then peruse more seaside holidays for food lovers including the best restaurants in Deal and where to eat in Brighton. The best places to eat and drink in Margate Angela’s – for elegant seafood Two small dining rooms separated by a central kitchen, Angela’s is as no-frills as the menu, which prides itself on simplicity and minimal waste (even the tabletops have been fashioned out of recycled plastic bags). Plump Whitstable rock oysters, mussels with cider and garlic, whole roasted plaice and thornback ray with brown butter are just some of the reasons why Angela’s is still in rude health after more than half a century. angelasofmargate.com Forts Café – for vibey brunch This popular spot is always bustling with local creatives catching up over some of the best brunch dishes in town. The focaccia sandwiches are legendary on the Margate food scene, with fillings such as braised brisket with pickled chilli and herby aioli, jerk jackfruit with pineapple and corn slaw, and the epic bacon sarnie. Baristas work wonders with speciality coffee beans roasted by a rotation of the country’s best, from Manchester’s Ancoats to Somerset-based Round Hill Roastery. @fortscoffee Pomus – for Sunday feasting Unassumingly located in Margate’s revamped shopping precinct, Ryan Jacovides’s bistro and wine bar has all the warm, friendly feels of a neighbourhood favourite. Prime spot is perched on a mustard-hued stool at the burnt orange counter, so you can peruse the bottles on the shelves behind and watch head chef Aaron Costen and his team look after the impressive cooking. Pop in for a herbaceous rosemary-infused negroni, house-infused vermouth spritz or glass of floral Kentish sparkling wine, or bed in for the Sunday sharing feast. Things kick off with a selection of snacks such as mackerel rillettes, soy and ginger popcorn chicken with zippy mango and habanero sauce, gobstopper olives and squidgy focaccia (that just so happens to be gluten free, as is the whole menu). Next comes a huge sharing cut (on our visit Tomahawk pork in a rich, buttery beef stock sauce) accompanied by a generous spread of sides – bubbling ramekins of cheesy dauphinoise potatoes, pancetta-flecked sprouts and chilli-laced mangetout. Elegant puddings might be blackberry-topped dark chocolate ganache or tarte tatin with miso ice cream. A third of the cocktails are creative non-alcoholic options such as a refreshing coastal spritz, and there’s also an extensive list of wines chalked up on the blackboard alongside frames of quirky art to liven things up. pomus.co.uk Sargasso – for harbourside lunches The owner of east London’s neighbourhood restaurant, Brawn, also takes pride in this seaside restaurant at Margate’s iconic pier destination, Harbour Arm. Enjoy lobster spaghetti and Catalan salt cod salad with a quintessential view back over the harbour to the Old Town. Ingredients are sourced locally, many grown on musician and restaurant partner Matthew Herbert’s farm 10 miles from the town, with wines from Europe’s boutique vineyards. sargasso.bar Mannings Seafood – for seaside picnics This seafood shack perched on the harbour is a Margate legend. Must-trys include the simple, fresh crab sandwich, and little pots of cockles, whelks and prawns. Let owners Trev and Val make up a platter for you or take a plate of oysters and a bottle of champagne to the beach for the ultimate seaside picnic. @manningsseafoodmargate Oast – for artisan bakes Be it stone-ground heritage wheat flours from Kent’s Nonington Farms or skills honed at Scotland’s Twelve Triangles, baker Will Moss and co-founder Charlotte Keeys have drawn on the best from near and far to create their hit bakery-café. Sourdough breads are forefront but Will’s baguettes, made using a starter and fresh yeast, are prized among Margate’s French community. “Sourdough provides flavour, fresh yeast a light soft crumb,” says Will. There is a distinct Swedish influence in Oast’s knotted buns and sandwiches. The buns are often flavoured with buttery cinnamon or cardamom, then glazed with syrup and pearl sugar. But flavours can broaden to include, for example, chocolate, orange and cardamom, or seasonal fruits and custard. oastmargate.co.uk Peter's Fish Factory – for fish and chips Ask locals where you can get the best fish and chips in Margate, and they’ll point you in the direction of Peter’s Fish Factory, overlooking the seafront. There will be queues, but the salty, crisp and golden chips, waft of malt vinegar and perfectly cooked cod is more than worth the wait. Everything is served in boxes – so you won’t have to negotiate soggy, scorching chip paper on your lap, and you’ll get change from a fiver. facebook.com/petersfishfactorymargate Sète – for French wine bar feels Natalia Ribbe of Ladies of Restaurant fame has curated a cosy wine bar that offers a rare blend of fun vibes and serious wines. The eclectic, revolving wine list puts the spotlight on female winemakers, Eastern European vineyards and Kentish growers. Taking inspiration from French neighbourhood tabacs, sharing snacks include pâté en croute with pickled gherkins, potted smoked prawns and French onion tart, plus superb Oast baguette and butter. In the dining room at the back larger sharing plates such as crispy lamb with grilled radicchio, taramasalata with crushed new potatoes and elegant dover sole meunière are served from a small open kitchen, giving feels of being at a friend's for dinner. There's also a surprisingly large, sun-soaked courtyard at the back where Natalia and team host wine tastings, events and of course lunch walk-ins too. setemargate.com Bottega Caruso – for Italian classics Harry Ryder and his Italian wife Simona met when they worked in London restaurants, but it wasn’t until Harry visited Simona’s family in Campania that he realised the Italian food he had tasted in the UK wasn’t anything like the real thing. “I tried her family’s tomato sauce, the pasta, the cheeses, wines and oil – I’d never tasted anything like it. I joked that we should start bringing it back to the UK, and that’s what we’ve done with Bottega Caruso.” This small Italian kitchen and shop started out as a pop-up stall at The Goods Shed in Canterbury, selling fresh pasta and Simona’s family sauces. Popular dishes on the menu include verdura e fagioli – a slow-cooked stew of greens, organic beans and smoked chilli – and handmade cavatelli pasta with a meaty Neapolitan ragu comprising slow-cooked beef shin, top rib, pork belly, pork rump, fennel sausages, meatballs and Simona’s family tomato sauce. bottegacaruso.com Little Swift – for wines and cocktails Bottle shop, deli and wine bar, this seafront hangout has an eclectic offering. Work your way through personally recommended wines by the glass and pair with a charcuterie board livened up with cucumber pickles from Kentish forager Karly’s Kitchen. When the weather’s playing nice, take a frozen margarita or piña colada to the beach or join local pals catching up on the terrace. @littleswiftct9 The Greedy Cow – for casual lunches For a seriously good sourdough toastie make a beeline to The Greedy Cow. Available from noon onwards (only breakfasts are served in the mornings), we like the chorizo version, laced with fresh orange. Or go for a Gents Burger, made with black pudding, sausage, bacon, cheddar, chutney and beetroot and served with fennel coleslaw. Eat in the upstairs café or ask for your order to go. thegreedycow.co.uk The Two Halves – for craft beer With its prime spot on the seafront this craft beer bar is often busy and might take some time to make your way to the bar here but it’s a great place to try locals brews from breweries such as Canterbury Ales, Gadds and Shepherd Neame. @TheTwoHalvesAle The Old Kent Market – for iconic food market vibes The Old Kent Market is a newly opened food emporium just across the road from the Turner Contemporary (you can’t miss it – it’s painted bright red). Inside you're greeted by a full-size red bus that’s home to a cafe but don't jump on the first foodie offering you see. Venture further inside and you’ll find stalls selling freshly made sushi, pulled pork and takeaway pies plus local breads baked daily on site and locally grown fruit and veg. theoldkentmarket.com Local neighbourhood spotlight: Cliftonville A short walk out of the town centre, this independent, artistic area is bookmarked by Margate’s landmark lido sign and striking Botany Bay, famous for its rock pools and chalk rock formations. Join creatives for brunch at Forts, known for its focaccia bacon sarnies, or go for a proper fry up at The Dalby Café, before browsing the bars, shops and galleries along Cliff Terrace, including stylish fragrance store, Haeckels (which also sells a delicious seaweed tea made from locally foraged seaweed and sold in gorgeous glass jars). A few streets back from the seafront is Northdown Road, home to some of Margate’s friendliest independent food businesses. Mori Mori is a cosy spot for tucking into sushi boxes and ramen, The Grain Grocer has your organic groceries covered, and Oast bakes a fabulous rotation of sourdough and sweet buns. Head back to the seafront to work up an appetite by strolling along the coastal path to Botany Bay or embracing the sea water with some lengths in Walpole Tidal Pool. Back inland from Walpole Bay, you can warm up with coffee and vinyl at Cliffs or make your way through Sète’s eclectic curation of wines and cheeseboards (they also throw a casual BBQ in the garden every Sunday in August). Where to stay in Margate No 42 Guesthouse Margate’s recent reinvention has seen it become a popular destination for food lovers, with the opening of several independent restaurants such as Angela’s, Sète and Sargasso. Now this seaside hotel, part of the small Guesthouse group, also in Bath, York and Brighton, provides another reason to visit the Kent coastal resort – its Pearly Cow restaurant and rooftop terrace providing magnificent views across the channel. Pearly Cow focusses on seafood platters, fish and grills. Whitstable oysters and salt cod tacos make a good sharing starter, salt-aged steaks are prepared in the open kitchen, with whipped bone marrow butter and beef fat chips – this is the kind of easy food, prepared simply, you want to enjoy on the coast. The reasonable wine list includes a decent house cava. Breakfast is similarly classic, with local Brogdale sausages in the full English, alongside a decent eggs royale and organic porridge with honey and pistachio. Make use of the communal pantry for early morning tea, coffee and pastries, or late-night snacks – huge jars of traditional sweet shop treats like lemon sherbets and chocolate bars. Bedrooms are light and sunny, with neutral colours and fabrics, made contemporary with touches such as a record player and choice of vinyl, modern prints and beach-hut-shaped tea and coffee station. Bramley toiletries and power showers are very welcome after a day on the beach. In the lounge bar, Dreamland’s ferris wheel is referenced in its wall decorations, with raffia lightshades and touches of aqua adding beach house vibes. B&B from £170 per night. Check availability on their website. Fort Road Hotel One of Margate’s iconic seafront buildings opposite Turner Contemporary gallery has been restored to its former life as a hotel. Design is at the forefront throughout, with pieces from artists with Kentish ties and vintage Scandinavian furniture (Danish teak mirrors, beech chairs, rosewood tables) giving each room its own unique character. Bold-hued tiles adorn neat bathrooms, kitted out with seaweed-infused products from local spa Haeckels. Local connections extend to the food and drink options, served in the smart, intimate ground-floor restaurant. Choose between Kentish wines from the likes of Simpsons vineyard or a local gin (Greensand Ridge is herbaceous while Dockyard has notes of citrus and spice). Dishes include trout lifted with Hinxden Farm Dairy crème fraîche and skate wing bathing in beurre noisette and brown shrimp. Breakfast is a real treat, with bacon sarnies offering a satisfying crunch courtesy of hot baguettes from Oast Bakery down the road. Small touches take the hospitality to the next level. A brown paper bag of homemade cookies awaits in the room, best enjoyed with a a glass of rosé or sherry-laced hot chocolate on the rooftop while watching the sunset over the rugged coastline. Doubles from £140, check availability at fortroadhotel.com or booking.com The Reading Rooms One of the first boutique-style b&bs to open on the North Kent Coast, and one which has made great use of the fine Georgian buildings that dominate this area. In Hawley Square, just back from the old town but within strolling distance of all the main attractions, its three bedrooms pair ‘rough luxe’ styling (think fabulous beds and designer bathroom fittings but artfully distressed walls) with gloriously high ceilings and beautiful wooden floors. Breakfasts are equally special, ranging from a full English to ciabatta and bacon sandwiches or slices of toast spread with cream cheese, honey and cinnamon. And don’t miss the gourmet hot chocolate. Doubles from £142, check availability at thereadingroomsmargate.co.uk More UK travel guides Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in Broadstairs Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge
Best Italian hotels for food lovers to visit
From vineyard estates in Tuscany to converted palazzos in Puglia and boutiques in Milan's foodiest neighbourhood, here's our pick of Italian hotels that offer visitors a slice of la dolce vita
Looking for the best Italian hotel to visit? We've found the best Italian hotels for food lovers in Piedmont, Tuscany, Sicily, Puglia and everywhere in between. Whether you're on a budget or looking for luxury, need a city break or a sea views, check out our round-up of the best Italian hotels for something for everyone. For more hotel inspiration, check out our best European hidden gem hotels, or relax in one of the best hotel baths worth travelling for. Next, learn 10 things we love about Puglian cuisine and Tuscan food, plus discover the 8 lesser-known Italian islands worth visiting for a foodie trip. Best Italian hotels for foodies La Guardia, Tuscany Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Giglio, the second largest island in the Tuscan archipelago, is lush with clifftop vineyards, fig trees and pines. The serene and stylish seaside retreat, La Guardia, is perched atop a granite cave along from the pastel-hued harbour. Brushed concrete and original stone columns are softened with driftwood decorations and wispy wicker lanterns that gently flutter in the Mediterranean breeze. Chic neutral tones continue through to the rooms, all kitted out with luxury Sicilian Ortigia toiletries and many boasting balconies and sea views. Book the junior suite to embrace the elements with a bathroom built into the granite and a beachside terrace for watching the waves lap against the rocks. Mediterranean flavours and island cuisine are served in the on-site restaurant – sip on a Venetian Select spritz at aperitivo hour before a candlelit dinner of Sicilian anchovies, palamita fish with marinated courgettes, and tagliolini with lemon butter and bottarga. The 70-strong wine list showcases rare bottles from Italy’s islands – Giglio, Ischia, Salina and beyond. Breakfast includes the likes of prosciutto, omelettes with Tuscan cheese, homemade fig bread and freshly squeezed juices. There are sunset yoga sessions on the terrace, healing zen shiatsu and Ayurvedic treatments, and e-bikes to explore the island’s rugged trails, cliff-face vineyards and restaurants in medieval castles. Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Forestis, Plose Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com At 1,800m above sea level, surrounded by panoramic views of the Dolomites, this unique property embraces its original intention as a climate spa for Austrian monarchy. Split between the original 1912 larchwood building and three modern towers, everything is designed to bring the landscape in – floor-to-ceiling windows allow the sun to dance around pinewood suites, bathrooms are made from Dolomites stone and two-level penthouses sit at the tip of two of the towers. Wellbeing is at the hotel’s heart – there’s Plose spring water sweetened with pine syrup on arrival, plus the spa’s successive indoor-outdoor mineral pools and saunas, daily rituals and a wyda studio (a local Celtic version of yoga). Mountain activities include ski-in, ski-out facilities as well as forest bathing and foraging. In the main restaurant, individual booths are arranged in an amphitheatre-like structure, allowing for prime views while you enjoy Roland Lamprecht’s forest cuisine. This is also where breakfast is served – a buffet featuring pretzels, chocolate caprese, ricotta cake, pistachio cream, Eisack Valley honeycomb and wild berry jams. There’s also speck, mountain cheeses, foraged fruits, a salad bar and DIY juice room with bottled mountain apple juice ready to drink. An evening at new restaurant concept Yera is an experience like no other – follow a torch through the forest into an earthy mountain cave, hand in phones at the door and let Roland and his team guide you through an immersive spectacle of fire, ferments and ancient Celtic traditions. A nightcap at the bar might be a fresh fig old fashioned, apricot-enriched Plosestar martini or negronis infused with Plose cranberries for added fruitiness. forestis.it Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Masseria La Carrube, Puglia Doubles from £311, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Reached via a winding road through thousand-year-old olive trees, Masseria Le Carrube sits between the Adriatic and the hills above Ostuni – a low, whitewashed building surrounded by lemon trees, bougainvillea and acres of working land. This is Puglia at its most ingredients-led. The restaurant, set in the masseria's former olive mill, is entirely vegetarian and deeply rooted in the region. Chef Massimo Santoro builds his ever-changing menus around what the estate produces: almonds, figs, wild strawberries, wheat, vegetables, herbs and olives. Carrube (carob) grows in the courtyard and appears as flour in fresh pasta and dusted atop tiramisu. The approach is thoughtful, seasonal and proudly waste-free, with anything not used one day repurposed the next. Dishes are both traditional and surprising. A fennel flan arrives with a sharp cheese sauce, fried vegetables are crisp and balanced, a pasta cooked in red wine and finished with turnip top cream and a taralli crumb feels inventive but grounded. A bowl of breads – cazzatedde, focaccia and taralli – is as generous as the cooking itself. Guests can dive deeper with pasta-making classes led by Massimo, wine tastings with sommelier Mario exploring Puglia’s native grapes, and olive oil tastings at a neighbouring estate. These experiences round out Le Carrube’s philosophy: connection to the land and reverence for tradition. The rooms are simple, with vaulted ceilings and stone floors, a mixture of farmhouse antiques and clean lines. Some have sea views, others open onto lemon-filled courtyards. Two pools overlook the olive groves. In late summer, the estate’s white and black figs ripen, and you can be sure they’ll take centre stage when they do. Meals here feel like an honest celebration of Puglia’s landscape – generous, inventive and unmistakably local. Doubles from £311, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com L’Albereta Relais & Châteaux, Lombardy Nestled among the vineyards of Franciacorta, L’Albereta is a secluded escape near the town of Erbusco. Dating to the late 19th century, the villa was home to Giovanni Cavalleri and his wife Anna, a musician whose passion for the arts is reflected in the sculptures, whimsical art pieces and beautifully manicured grounds. Now owned by Vittorio Moretti, L’Albereta is on the same estate as Bellavista winery, which features on the extensive wine lists of its restaurants. The elegant Leonefelice Vista Lago, with a stunning view of Lake Iseo, serves elevated Italian dishes inspired by the area, such as Franciacorta beef with rocket and baked cherry tomatoes. Seasonal specials include fried duck egg with asparagus and caviar and cacio e pepe with Sicilian red prawns and lime. The desserts are equally elegant, such as kiwi sorbet with green apple, local wine and citrus fruit soup. Stanza 54, a cosy lounge, offers lunches and lighter fare, while La Filiale, the informal pizza restaurant from award-winning pizzaiolo Franco Pepe, serves handmade dough with innovative toppings. Rooms are individually decorated, large and bright, with warm tones, marble bathrooms and delicate furnishings. Expect luxe fabrics like damask and satin, artistic touches and, in some, deep hydro-massage tubs – choose a superior room for a balcony overlooking the gardens. A continental breakfast with local produce and breads is included. To make the most of your stay, book a tour of the on-site winery plus a tasting of its sparkling wines, or enjoy a treatment at the peaceful Chenot Espace wellness spa. Superior rooms from £348 per night, check availability at albereta.it or booking.com Villa La Massa, Tuscany Just 15 minutes from Florence's bustling centre, this riverside 16th-century estate welcomes guests with the heady scent of jasmine, lemon trees and roses. Despite its grandeur, Villa La Massa is laid back, calm and homely. The property has 54 unique rooms across six buildings, from the main Villa Nobile mansion to a riverside suite and a beautifully converted farmhouse. For ultimate seclusion, Casa Colonica stands out with authentic Tuscan elements – exposed beams, wooden floors and green marble bathrooms. There are artisan touches throughout, from hand-knotted rugs crafted by an 80-year-old local tapestry master to traditional key charms instead of modern keycards. The hotel’s restaurants celebrate Tuscan heritage and homegrown produce, with the estate's own olive oil accompanying every meal. Il Verrocchio restaurant offers traditional Tuscan dishes with a contemporary twist such as “Florentine” t-bone steak, duck ravioli, and tagliolini with roasted tomatoes, while L’Oliveto Bistrot focuses on more casual dining featuring the likes of fresh salads, carpaccio, and pizzas. Don't miss the rosemary-studded focaccia or the pici pasta, a hand-rolled specialty. Breakfast unfolds as a celebration of regional delicacies such as focaccia, coconut and cinnamon paradise cake, freshly squeezed orange juice and tables positioned to capture the morning sun dancing across the river's surface. Unwind in the spa with sauna, steam room and tailored massage treatments or participate in hands-on pizza-making classes and cocktail workshops. Villa La Massa invites you to fully lean into rural Tuscan life, while boasting easy access to Florence’s Renaissance treasures and thriving hospitality scene. Check availability at villalamassa.com or booking.com Hotel Su Gologone, Sardinia Doubles from £285, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Winding into the Barbagia mountains you'll find the Hotel Su Gologone. Just a two-hour drive from the Costa Smeralda this is more bandit than paparazzi territory – probably one of the reasons Madonna hid out here, although she could have been swayed by the hotel’s gob-smacking beauty, hippy-chic vibe and gourmet credentials. Food is at the heart of Su Gologone, which started life as a restaurant in the 1960s. Today, it might be a chic, art-themed hotel – a pretty huddle of whitewashed buildings laced with vivid purple bougainvillea and bedded into the mountainside – but it’s still famous for its food. Giovanna’s vibrant artworks pepper the bedrooms’ walls while the corridors are hung with traditional embroidered skirts and shawls. Secret alcoves are dotted around the gardens, there’s an open-air cinema and pool, a small spa, rooftop lounging areas for stargazing and a fabulous bar– whitewashed, open-air, scattered with white cushions and teetering above the valley. Sip a frothy bellini here, as the sun sinks, soaking up the Ibiza vibe and jaw-dropping views. Doubles from £285, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Fink, South Tyrol Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Nestled in the arcades of one of Brixen’s oldest monastery townhouses, this boutique hotel has been passed down through four generations. Husband-and-wife owners Petra and Florian Fink have a deep respect for the 1450s building, creating an intentionally minimalist feel to allow original features to shine in the nine suites – thick stone walls left bare, restored ceiling frescoes decorating cosy window seats and the terrazzo flooring flecked with South Tyrolean stone. A compact vaulted spa awaits behind an ancient wooden door, its central stone plunge pool ideal for cooling down after sessions in the sauna, steam room and Roman bath outhouse. Choose to dine in the chic vaulted restaurant or outside beneath the arcade’s graceful curves. Florian curates produce from 50 local farmers – most specialising in a single ingredient – for his fresh, simple, zero-waste monastery kitchen style. The main menu is vegetarian and includes clever alternatives, such as root veg tartare, tagliolini with red cabbage cream and black truffle, and organic grain ravioli filled with chanterelles and mountain cheese. Meat and fish options are succinct and include local game and freshwater fish, from lake trout fillet to venison stew with beetroot dumplings, and veal schnitzel with lingonberry sauce. Sweet plum dumplings come with black beer ice cream, while three South Tyrolean apple varieties are showcased in a tartlet with ricotta and caramel sauce. An elegant breakfast kicks off with a soothing herb broth followed by fresh juices and fruit salads, crudités to dunk into herb ricotta and compotes to spread over warm croissants and breads, plus made-to-order spelt pancakes and crisp buckwheat waffles. fink1896.it Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Il Borro Estate, Tuscany Doubles from £455, check availability at booking.com Il Borro is a true working 800-hectare estate, where guests visiting in autumn can take part in the wine harvest and feast alongside the workers and owners (the glamorous Ferragamo family). The hotel itself is set in the remains of a medieval village in the centre of the estate in Valdarno valley, a wilder, more rustic corner of Tuscany. The unique terroir of the estate, with its varying rocky, sandy and clay soils, makes perfect growing conditions for Syrah to make Pian di Nova, San Giovese to make Polissena and Merlot to make the Il Borro signature blend. This unique climate and soil isn’t solely reserved for wine - 700 olive trees provide oil, fields of buckwheat are a playground for honeybees, plus more fields of organic tomato vines, courgettes, pumpkins, green beans and melons provide the hotel’s three-floored Osteria and Tuscan bistro (and chef Andrea Campani) with the ultimate kitchen garden. The buffet breakfast is also exceptional – so abundant that sweet and savoury options are housed in separate rooms. Stay in one of the hotel double rooms or, for more of a countryside experience, the hotel has several ‘farmhouses’ available as guest suites – albeit farmhouses that come with infinity pools, vine-covered terraces and dining rooms where you can whip up your own meals. Don't miss out on a few laps in the infinity pool too. Doubles from £455, check availability at booking.com Nordelaia, Piedmont Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Nordelaia is all about equilibrium: between tradition and modernity; simplicity and indulgence; the boundlessness of nature and the cosy, uplifting comfort of home. It lies within a hilly swathe of rural Piedmont – a region which itself represents a kind of geographical middle ground, suspended between the mighty Alps and the coastal province of Liguria in north-west Italy. Occupying an 800-year-old converted farmhouse, the interiors of Nordelaia’s 12 rooms are at once contemporary and classic. Two attic suites – all warm wood beams and pleasing oblique angles – evoke a sense of treetop seclusion, while freestanding baths in the bedroom areas add a dose of opulence. On the first floor, the four rooms are themed around the striking seasonal colour palettes by which Nordelaia, from its woody hillside perch, is engulfed: greens in the spring, yellows for summer, fiery reds in the autumn, and pearly whites in the winter. Two outdoor pools – one heated, one not, but both with views for miles – entice in all seasons, while a visit to the spa, with its warm stone floors, barrel-vaulted brick ceiling and stone arches, is sure to restore a sense of internal equilibrium. Beyond the walls, Nordelaia is set within five hectares of arable land and boasts a working vineyard. Its offerings feature prominently on the wine list at the hotel’s destination restaurant, Lorto. Here chef Charles Pearce pays stunning homage both to the earthy, woodland character of Piedmont and to the maritime bounty of neighbouring Liguria. The two coalesce inventively in his take on perbureira – a thick, bean-based sauce traditionally served with pasta that Charles instead pairs with barbecue-kissed prawns and a coral emulsion. There’s a potato risotto with mussels that hits all the right notes, and a lip-smacking tangle of barbecued oyster mushrooms, served with a deeply savoury anchovy-based ferment called garum. A bistro menu that leans towards traditional flavours with modern touches offers guests a more relaxed but no less excellent dining experience. Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Palazzo Margherita, Basilicata Doubles from £856, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The ethos behind Palazzo Margherita is that it should be a home away from home (albeit a pretty palatial one, bearing in mind that this was originally home to a Hollywood film director), with friendly staff and an open attitude to eating: guests can eat anywhere, anytime, choosing a location within the property that suits their particular mood. Enjoy breakfast in the courtyard, coffees by the walled pool, pizza and pasta at communal tables at the eat-in kitchen and drinks in the cocktail bar. Should you venture away from the hotel, the tranquil local beach has a scattering of sunbeds and parasols reserved for Palazzo Margherita guests. Pick one and look out at the Ionian Sea while you feast on a picnic made up by the cooks at the hotel (they normally add in a delicious seafood spaghetti made with the catch of the day from a local fisherman). Doubles from £856, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Susafa, Sicily Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk It’s a family affair at Susafa, a sprawling estate that has been owned by members of the Saeli-Rizzuto family for five generations - brothers Manfredi and Tommaso are now at the helm. The fortified, 19th-century farmhouse at its heart sits at the foot the Madonie mountains, near Polizzi Generosa, and is the focal point for overnight guests. Around the farmhouse are 18 simple but chic guest rooms. Between terracotta floors and exposed beams are restful ricotta-coloured walls and the odd pop of olive green or tomato red from a headboard or throw. A restaurant is housed in the old granary and flavours here take their inspiration from the traditional Sicilian table. Vegetables, herbs, fruit and organic olive oil all come straight from the farm and the menu is elegantly rustic (think tomato salads, caponata and creamy risottos). Join a cookery lesson if you can drag yourself away from the pool. Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Castello di Casole, Tuscany Doubles from £667, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Roughly half way between Florence and Siena, and surrounded by 4,200 acres of quintessential rolling, forested hills and golden fields, Castello di Casole is a magnificent Italian country estate. At its centre is an imposing, ochre-coloured castle flanked by gardens of lavender, gravel-edged lawns, roses and olive trees. Castello di Casole is pitched at travellers in search of an unblemished version of la dolce vita, one with all the luxurious perks you could imagine. It has 41 rooms and suites within the castle and the hamlet that surrounds it, and another 28 villas and farmhouses (rentable by the week) scattered throughout the estate. Décor is tastefully restrained, with sage and burnt umber paintwork, beamed ceilings, antique furniture sourced from local markets, traditional cotto floors and Carrara marble bathrooms. As with any self-respecting Tuscan estate, this one comes with its own vineyard and olive groves but the real showstopper is the hotel’s infinity pool with its mesmerising views over the undulating landscape. As dusk falls, most guests gravitate to the terrace above the pool, aperitivo in hand, to watch the spectacular sight of the sun sinking behind the hills. As well as the Pazzia Restaurant, which serves traditional Italian dishes and homemade gelato as well as Alessandro’s expert pizzas, there is a more formal restaurant, Tosca, overseen by chef Daniele Sera. Despite the stiff linen and impeccable service here, it still feels relaxed. A standout of the four-course tasting menu was the delicate spinach and ricotta gnudi with tomato confit and light-as-air mozzarella foam. There are more gastronomic experiences available too – from truffle hunting and mushroom foraging to pasta making and wine or olive oil tasting. Doubles from £667, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Borgo Egnazia, Puglia Doubles from £469, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Borgo Egnazia, or ‘village Egnazia’, is quite literally that: an Apulian-inspired network of little streets and piazzas that lead to villas, restaurants, swimming pools, spas, gardens and golf courses. It’s a self-contained bubble of luxury, beautifully designed around the colours white and cream, that’s built entirely from tactile tuff stone. Despite its size, the entire complex exudes a zen-like atmosphere that we found very difficult to leave. You can choose from four types of hotel room, five apartments or six villas – all luxurious, and all within easy reach of a swimming pool. Food is a priority, with six restaurants on site that honour Puglian cuisine – timeless, simple, thrifty food. From grilled octopus at the sophisticated Due Camini, where vaulted white ceilings twinkle with illuminated glass bottles, to a relaxed buffet at La Fresca, rustic orecchiette or pizza at Mia Cucina and fresh seafood at beachside restaurant Pescheria da Vito, it’s easy to stay within the Borgo walls all week. Doubles from £469, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Il Borgo del Balsamico, Emilia Romagna Doubles from £148, check availability at booking.com Modena is synonymous with one of Italy’s most celebrated ingredients: intensely flavoured balsamic vinegar made from fermented grape must. The area around the city of Reggio Emilia is a hub for the vinegar’s production, and also happens to be where you will find Il Borgo del Balsamico. At this historic guest house, in Botteghe Albinea, sisters Cristina and Silvia Crotti produce DOP and IGP vinegars. It’s a lovely setting – an 18th century villa and farmhouse surrounded by wisteria-draped gardens, abundant with damask roses and fruit trees. You can visit the tasting rooms as a day tripper but we recommend booking to stay over in one of the property’s three, refined guestrooms (plus one apartment); think parquet floors, Venetian plasterwork and carefully chosen antiques. There’s a small pool in the gardens too. Doubles from £148, check availability at booking.com Locanda al Colle, Tuscany Doubles from £252, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Calling Locanda al Colle a bed and breakfast is a bit of an understatement. This 12-room guesthouse has many of the perks of a five-star hotel with its antiques and art, saltwater pool and immaculate gardens. Adding to the exclusive feel is its tranquil location, on a pine and olive tree-dotted hill outside Camaiore (also easily reached from seaside resorts like Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and the pretty town of Pietrasanta). The overall vibe is informal but impeccable, and the same could be said of the food, with everything freshly made each day, from the sourdough bread and granola at breakfast to the cakes for afternoon tea. Resident chef Gianluca also conducts cookery lessons in the kitchen and, twice a week (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) hosts sociable dinners serving homemade ravioli and more on the candlelit terrace (on Monday evenings simple suppers of Tuscan soup and bruschetta are also available). Doubles from £252, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Planeta Wine Estate, Sicily Doubles from £225, check availability at booking.com Unsurprisingly it’s all about wine at the Planeta Wine Estate, just outside Menfi in south-western Sicily. As one of Sicily’s most well established and highly regarded wine producers, Planeta has five different territories dotted around the island but Menfi is where it all began, back in the 16th century. At nearby La Forestiera (part of the estate) there are 14 guestrooms set amid regimented vines, plus a restaurant whose menu is informed by its surroundings - the herbs of the countryside and seafood from the nearby coast. Sip a glass of Nero d’Avola on the pool terrace or visit one of Planeta’s wineries for an in-depth tasting. As well as the pool, in the warmer months guests have access to the Lido Fiori on the beach at Porto Palo di Menfi, 10 minutes’ drive away. Planeta also has vast olive groves at Capparriva producing DOP Val di Mazzara oils; guests can sign up for a tasting and learn about harvesting and pressing. Doubles from £225, check availability at booking.com La Locanda Delle Donne Monache, Basilicata Doubles from £98, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Slightly less well-trammelled by British visitors than other corners of the country, Basilicata is sandwiched between Campania (to the north) and Calabria (to the south). Its rumpled Tyrrhenian Sea coastline is short but sweet at just 30km long, with mountains rising abruptly from the sea. Maratea, its principal town, is a charming cluster of buildings dotted with twisting alleyways and over 40 churches. Also in town, La Locanda delle Donne Monache is a former 18th-century convent, now a smart hotel, with a pool and views over the countryside to the sea. The hotel’s Il Sacella restaurant embraces the flavours of the province – chillies and pork are popular regional staples – and the menu features local sausages from Maratea, homemade pasta with mussels, shrimp and cuttlefish and baked sea bream washed down by Basilicata’s signature wine, the red Aglianco del Vulture. Doubles from £98, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Domu Antiga, Sardinia Doubles from £182, check availability at booking.com A 19th-century farmhouse in the rural heartland of Sardinia, Domu Antiga is in the village of Gergei, surrounded by empty plains and olive groves roamed by more sheep than people. The sensitively restored building is now home to four airy guestrooms whose owners are passionate about local traditions. Guests can jump on a cute Piaggio Ape van and tour the Unesco World Heritage-listed archaeological site of Su Nuraxi at Barumini. Alternatively, join chef Maria Grazia’s bread and cheese-making classes or try your hand at making local pasta shapes, like the island’s unique malloreddus gnocchi. Maria also oversees the guesthouse’s lavish breakfasts, and cooks dinner on request (expect grilled vegetables, local ravioli and Sardinian cheeses). There’s also a pizzeria and a winery close by. Doubles from £182, check availability at booking.com San Luis, Avelengo Check rates and availability at sanluis-hotel.com San Luis is where to go to get away from it all, breathe deeply and just immerse yourself in the tranquility, interrupted only by birdsong and cow bells chiming out through the surrounding valleys. Bedrooms are spread across a scattering of chalets and treehouses around a small, glacier mint-clear lake. Many of the rooms have their own hot tubs and saunas and all of them have small kitchens and dining areas. The showstopper is the double-height spa area in the main clubhouse with its blazing fires, black linen loungers to sink into, huge windows gazing out over the treetops and an inside/outside swimming pool – swim out, race down the pontoon and jump into the hot tub (or, in summer, plunge into the chilly waters of the lake). For foodies, the buzzy, ground floor dining room looks out over the lake and purrs with efficiency. The menu comes in two guises; a traditional one, which draws on the region’s Austro/Italian gastro-heritage, and a more modern, Mediterranean-inspired alternative dreamt up by executive chef, Arturo Spicocchi (five courses, but you can pick and choose how much you want to eat and half portions are available). Lunchtime means soup, salad and cheese, and teatime heralds cakes as well as home-made ice cream. Check rates and availability at sanluis-hotel.com Don Totu Dimora Storica, Puglia Doubles from £295, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com A stylish boutique hotel in the heart of rustic Puglia, Don Totu Dimora Storica is an 18th century palazzo boasting some of the most secluded grounds and best value rooms in the region. In the rural town of San Cassiano large wooden doors along an unassuming backstreet open into a mini palazzo, gracefully decorated in muted tones. Squishy armchairs and books and board games are on hand to keep visitors occupied. Or, help yourself to snacks from the kitchen (homemade biscuits, juices, cakes and nuts) and pad out through a higgledy-piggledy courtyard to find stone staircases leading to secluded terraces. Scented white rose petals drift down from a pergola that leads to a pool and gardens, jazz trickles from speakers and tiny lizards dart from one cacti-filled pot to another. The six bedrooms at Don Totu each have an individual feel. The owners make the most of the building’s quirks (vaulted stone ceilings, quiet alcoves, narrow staircases leading to terracotta terraces…) and have gathered a collection of furniture from across the region to add contemporary touches. There’s no restaurant at the hotel but order before 10.30 and you can enjoy lunchtime sandwiches and salads made with the region’s fantastic produce. The hotel’s small team of staff provides complimentary snacks to break up your day, anywhere in the grounds, from afternoon tea to aperitivo. Doubles from £295, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Palazzo Seneca, Norcia Doubles from £217, check availability at booking.com The foodie town of Norcia is set in the densely tree-covered Sibillini Mountains in Umbria. Enter through one of seven gates in the town’s heart-shaped, ancient walls and you soon discover a network of paved streets rich with foodie delights – café and restaurant tables spilling onto pavements and traditional food shops, Norcinerias, packed with prosciutto, cheeses, spelt and truffles. Relais & Chateaux's Palazzo Seneca is an elegantly restored sixteenth-century building hidden in one of Norcia’s narrow streets. Original stone flooring, open fires and squishy chairs await in the reception rooms, while delicate wrought iron frames, twisted wooden columns and wooden bedheads have been crafted so no two of the 24 rooms are the same. Pad down to the hotel's candlelit barrel-vaulted spa in the basement, complete with jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath. For breakfast, a serve-yourself spread is laid out on enormous wooden surfaces, with an entire table dedicated to charcuterie and local cheese. The hotel’s Michelin-starred Vespia restaurant is where the modern and innovative approach really comes into play, with little stacks of 24hr-cooked suckling pig and crisp buttery potatoes with splashes of colourful root veg purée, Norcia sausage ravioli and Breton chicken two ways. Doubles from £217, check availability at booking.com Find out more about our trip around Norcia here Langhe Country House, Piedmont Doubles from £209 per night, check availability at booking.com An imposing 18th-century farmstead near Alba, in Piedmont, Langhe Country House is surrounded by vineyards and hazelnut orchards, and has been beautifully renovated by owners Alessandro and Nadia (a Slow Food member and trained sommelier). The only meal served here is breakfast but it seriously impresses: hazelnut cakes and tarts, biscuits (baci, brutti ma buoni), croissants, jams, seasonal fruit, cheeses from Alta Langa, sliced hams – all homemade or local. Cooking classes for Piedmontese recipes can be arranged, and guests can help themselves to a glass of wine from the poolside wine fridge before going out for dinner in the local village. Doubles from £209 per night, check availability at booking.com Castello Banfi Il Borgo, Tuscany Doubles from £762, check availability at booking.com Set on Montalcino’s largest wine estate, by a medieval castle, Castello Banfi Il Borgo is a glamorous Italian hotel shaped from a hamlet of former estate workers’ houses. Romantic, traditionally styled suites - with terracotta floors, antique furnishings and linen-canopied beds – and classical Tuscan cooking (courses are also available) make it popular with honeymooners but it’s the estate’s Brunello that draws in visiting gourmands; in the on-site enoteca/ wine bar local sheep’s cheese and prosciutto can be paired to the estate’s wines. Doubles from £762, check availability at booking.com Hotel Schgaguler, Dolomites Doubles from £318, check availability at booking.com Pale wood and light hues dominate at Hotel Schgaguler, a central Castelrotto hotel surrounded by the Italian Dolomiti Superski region and all its endless ski runs. The food here is lighter than the hearty mountain fare of the surrounding mountains, with an Alpine-meets-Med twist. But the approach to ingredients remains as hyper-local as possible, making the most of what’s on the hotel’s doorstep. Eat light-as-a-feather gnocchi sprinkled with Alpine herbs, and drink milk supplied direct from local farms. The wine list is cherry-picked from Tyrolean producers further down the valley near Bolzano, and there’s a selection of grappa from neighbouring distilleries. Doubles from £318, check availability at booking.com The Marriott, Venice Doubles from £509, check availability at booking.com, marriott.com or expedia.co.uk Venice has long been known for its iconic Italian landmarks and traditionally rich culture. And cooking is an intrinsic part of that culture. At the Marriott, Federico Belluco, one of Italy’s youngest Michelin starred chefs, demonstrates why, making the most of the island’s kitchen garden of herbs, edible flowers and vegetables in dishes such as silky tortellini or comforting seafood stew, all drizzled in Isola delle Rose olive oil, the only olive oil produced within the city's boundaries. The resort's luxurious bedrooms and suites are modern and minimalist. Particularly impressive are the Residenza suites, which come with private pools with views of Venice. Doubles from £509, check availability at booking.com, marriott.com or expedia.co.uk La Favia, Milan Doubles from €125 including breakfast, check availability at lafavia4rooms.com< The four-bedroom La Favia guesthouse, an urban hideaway tucked inside a refurbished 19th-century building, takes its inspiration from owners Fabio and Marco’s travels: no two rooms are the same. On sunny mornings, start the day with breakfast in the rooftop garden – eggs cooked to order, pastries, cakes, bread, homemade jams, fruit and juice squeezed from oranges grown in the owners’ own citrus grove. Doubles from €125 including breakfast, check availability at lafavia4rooms.com Masseria Montenapoleone, Puglia Doubles from £212, check availability at booking.com In time-honoured Pugliese farming tradition, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, at Masseria Montenapoleone - a stylish farmhouse hotel - it is served in the atmospheric surroundings of the Old Stables. Freshly picked fruits from the farm, dried fig tarts straight from the oven, citrus carpaccio with cinnamon, local cheese and cured meats are just some of the treats on offer for the first meal of the day. The warm sandstone farmhouse, which dates from the 1600s, has 16 guestrooms and is surrounded by a plane of silvery olive and almond trees. Just outside Fasano, on the Salento coast, it is very much a working farm, dedicated to organic produce. Guests are encouraged to pick their own fruit and vegetables and to go behind the scenes to learn more about Puglian cuisine. Doubles from £212, check availability at booking.com Antica Fattoria La Parrina, Tuscany Doubles from £115, check availability at booking.com The Maremma is a corner of Tuscany where you can still find countryside roamed by traditional cowboys called “butteri” and Antica Fattoria La Parrina is the perfect stop for a window into rural life down on the Tuscan farm. As well as making well-regarded wines and grappa, the farm also produces cheese, honey, olive oil, fruit, vegetables, pasta, flour and meat – there’s an on-site shop that would put many a farmer’s market to shame. Overnight guests (it also doubles as an agriturismo) can also enjoy the farm’s bounty on the breakfast table, as well as at lunch and dinner; everything is made onsite. Guests can picnic in the grounds, enjoy wine tastings, join a Tuscan cookery lesson or even go boar hunting on the estate. The property’s 12 bedrooms, housed in the solid farmhouse at the centre of the estate, channel rustic charm rather than country chic and there’s a pool, gardens and the beach resorts of the Tyrrhenian Sea a short drive away. Doubles from £115, check availability at booking.com Hotel Emilia, Le Marche Doubles from £67, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk With rolling hills, ancient towns and beaches lapped by the limpid waters of the Adriatic, Le Marche’s under-the-radar charms are many. Hotel Emilia commands a haughty spot on the Cornero Riviera, a slice of dreamy coastline south of Ancona mostly given over to a national park. In addition to its 30 guests rooms, there’s a pool, an artsy vibe, a restaurant focusing on local dishes and fabulous sunsets. While you’re there, take the serpentine road down to Portonovo, however. At night the loungers are tidied away and tables are set up on the beach. Seafood is the order of the day, namely the acclaimed wild mussels found in the bay, some of the sweetest you’ll ever taste and harvested in the traditional way. Served in a number of guises; sautéed with lemon, served with spaghetti or with "paccheri" and fennel as is the case at Da Giachetti (ristorantedagiachetti.it). Il Laghetto (illaghetto.com) and Da Emilia (daemilia) are two more to try. Doubles from £67, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk More travel guides Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best hotels in Paris Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
We pick the best foodie places to stay in this south-western county, from a stylish farmhouse retreat with its own smokehouse to a jaunty harbourside b&b with outstanding breakfasts
Looking for the best places to stay in Cornwall? After a bed and breakfast on the Cornish coast? Want to find a romantic hotel in Cornwall? From St Ives to Penzance, we've rounded up the best foodie hotels in Cornwall, from seaside bed and breakfasts to Cornish farmhouse retreats, as well as restaurants with rooms to stay in Cornwall. See our guide to the best restaurants in Cornwall for all the best places to eat and drink during your stay. Now discover UK spa hotels for food lovers, the best hotel baths worth travelling for in the UK or our best European hidden gem hotels for more travel inspiration. Best Cornwall hotels for food lovers Pedn Olva, St Ives Doubles from £136, check availability at booking.com or pednolva.co.uk Perched on the granite rocks above the sands of Porthminster Beach, the Pedn Olva has recently undergone a transformation, creating a luxurious space to spend a long, lazy weekend. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer breathtaking views of every angle from the sweep of St Ives Bay out to the open sea and all along the beach. Grab a pint of Mena Dhu stout in the cosy Lookout nook for seal and dolphin spotting or head to one of the open terraces (including a huge roof terrace) for panoramic views. The décor is warm and inviting with loungy mid-century modern chairs, sheepskin throws and reclaimed wood tables. Walls showcase the work of local artists in a nod to St Ives’ colourful art history. Rooms have been given a plush makeover with rich upholstery in mustard and soft blues, and warm wood cladding. There are cloud-like Hypnos beds and Nespresso machines should you want to linger over morning coffee. Bathrooms are generous with rainfall showers and toiletries from Cornish company Land & Water. We stayed in a snug dog-friendly room which had the advantage of its own outside entrance with a route directly down steps to the beach – perfect for sunrise swims and late-night walks. The menus showcase local suppliers with spankingly fresh fish dishes such as grilled half-shell scallops with Café de Paris butter or steamed mussels in Cornish cider alongside pub classics and daily changing specials. Breakfast is a hearty affair with eggs benedict or smashed avo toast, or keep things simple with a full fry-up. Served up until 11am it makes for a leisurely start to the day. Doubles from £200, check availability at booking.com or pednolva.co.uk Havener's Bar & Grill, Fowey Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com Fowey is a pretty, buzzy harbour town in the south of Cornwall. Set in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, the town has a rich maritime history and, in season, the harbour is still filled with yachts (there’s also a Royal Regatta each summer). Narrow cobbled streets wind uphill from the quayside and there is a lively independent shopping, eating and drinking scene. Sitting in a prime position right on the quayside is Havener’s Bar and Grill, a restaurant with five stylish bedrooms and an apartment above it. The restaurant itself has a hearty menu with lots of pub classics, traditional desserts and extremely generous portions. There's a well-priced wine list and selection of Cornish beers. We stayed in the Havener’s self-contained, two-bedroom Waterside Apartment (also dog-friendly). It comes with a huge wrap-around balcony overlooking the river and estuary with plenty of room for a table, chairs and loungers. The spacious rooms are cozily furnished and there is the same river view from the large lounge and dining room windows so you can happily read, eat, drink and doze in or out of the sun. The kitchen is really well equipped, too, so impromptu meals are easy to put together. Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com Trevose Harbour House, St Ives Doubles from £165, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk The best bed and breakfast in St Ives... Breakfast is an art form at Trevose Harbour House, in the higgledy-piggledy artistic hub that is St Ives (home of the Tate Modern and the Barbara Hepworth Museum). A jaunty boutique B&B, with six nautical-themed rooms, a smattering of Ercol and harbour views, the focus is firmly on local and organic. Start with a smoothie 'shot of the day' then choose from their version of the continental or a hot dish. The continental is a smorgasbord of homemade bircher muesli, granola parfait, organic yoghurt, fresh fruit, seasonal fruit compote, homemade organic multigrain granola, freshly baked pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins and local organic bread smeared with homemade jams. Along with the full English, cooked options include a hot croissant filled with runny Cornish brie, ham and tomato. Doubles from £165, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Artist Residence, Penzance Doubles from £140, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk A coolly colourful 17-bedroom hotel in Penzance’s old quarter with a relaxed vibe (checked blankets, yellow Roberts radios, contemporary artworks) and a retro-chic restaurant and bar, The Cornish Barn. The menu in the restaurant includes meat and fish from its in-house smokehouse, or tuck into tapas-style dishes of deep-fried squid with chilli, lime and salt, and parsnip rösti with caramelised shallots and goat’s cheese. Dessert is rum-infused crème brûlée, hazelnut brittle and homemade banana ice cream. Doubles from £140, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk The Greenbank, Falmouth Doubles from £143, check availability at booking.com Perched on Falmouth’s waterside, with its own private pontoon, The Greenbank is a little piece of Cornish history in itself, originally serving as a lodging house for sea captains during the town’s maritime heyday before becoming a full-blown hotel (20th century guests included Florence Nightingale and Wind in the Willows author, Kenneth Grahame, whose most famous book is thought to have been based on letters he wrote while staying there). Super-comfy king size beds, crisp sheets, fluffy robes and a white-tiled bathroom complete with huge walk-in shower and White Company toiletries all added to the luxurious feel, as did the calm and muted colour palette, speckled with little flashes of sea-blue. Breakfast is as equally impressive as the view you get while eating it (the Water’s Edge restaurant runs the whole length of the front of the hotel). If you don’t fancy a Full Cornish you can tuck into smoked haddock and poached eggs, eggs Benedict or porridge with Rodda’s clotted cream. Doubles from £143, check availability at booking.com Coombeshead Farm, Launceston Doubles from £165, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or coombesheadfarm.co.uk There are 66 acres of meadow, copse and wooded riverbank to scour for the perfect picnic spot at Coombeshead Farm. Once the dairy farm for the Trelaske estate, this is the latest venture from British chefs Tom Adams (of London restaurant Pitt Cue) and April Bloomfield (who set up Michelin-starred gastropub The Spotted Pig in the States). A working farm, and guesthouse, it's a pulse-racing addition to Cornwall's culinary scene. There are nine bedrooms (and one adjoining bunk room) in the rambling 18th-century Georgian farmhouse, which squints over at Dartmoor on the horizon. Plus a dining room where Adams and Bloomfield dish up dinner at the 'feasting table' - expect produce from their smokehouse, curing and pickling rooms. For breakfast there's homemade yoghurt, bread, freshly milled oats and grains, preserves, butters, ham, bacon and cheeses to tuck into. Doubles from £165, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or coombesheadfarm.co.uk Kudhva, Tintagel Doubles from £143, check availability at booking.com or kudhva.com Drive down narrow lanes flanked by towering green hedges on Cornwall’s wild Atlantic coast to discover Kudhva, an off-grid glampsite near Trebarwith Strand. Set up by leatherworker Louise Middleton, this disused quarry has been transformed into a verdant enclave where visitors can stay in tree tents, rigged above ground, or in one of four kudhva – compact wood-and-metal cabins on stilts. In the midst of this bucolic setting is a self-catering glamping site. Expect flushing toilets, solar-powered showers, your own fire pit, a communal kitchen and even an outdoor hot tub, while the rustic surroundings are reflected in the décor – much of the furniture and structures are wooden and handmade, with jars of velvety fern fronds and wildflowers decorating most surfaces. Doubles from £143, check availability at booking.com or kudhva.com Havener’s Bar and Grill, Fowey Doubles from £145, check availability at booking.com Looking for hotels in South Cornwall? Fowey is a pretty, buzzy harbour town. Set in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, the town has a rich maritime history and, in season, the harbour is still filled with yachts (there’s also a Royal Regatta each summer). Narrow cobbled streets wind uphill from the quayside and there is a lively independent shopping, eating and drinking scene. Sitting in a prime position right on the quayside is Havener’s Bar and Grill, a restaurant with five stylish bedrooms and an apartment above it. The hearty food menu has plenty of pub classics such as fish and chips, steak and burgers but also offers some slightly more refined cooking with lots of local fish and seafood. Doubles from £145, check availability at booking.com The St Tudy Inn, St Tudy Doubles from £150, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Emily Scott's gastropub The St Tudy Inn in the little Cornish village of the same name is also home to simple, stylish bedrooms, too. Good news for fans of her rustic, seasonal menus, as you can stumble straight up to bed after dinner. Doubles from £150, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth Doubles from £275, check availability at scarlethotel.co.uk Looking for romantic hotels in Cornwall? The only routine at The Scarlet, a hotel perching on the edge of Mawgan Porth, is the regularity of the tide: the cool waters pulling back to reveal soft golden sand and thousands of lead-coloured mussels that cling to the rocks as stubbornly as guests lie on the loungers a few metres above. Rooms, which are spread over five levels, come with their own outdoor space and open-plan bathrooms to ensure the connection with the view is never broken. The goosebump-inducing outdoor pool is naturally filtered with reeds, while the indoor pool is heated by solar panels. Dinner is served in a dramatically quirky three-AA-rosette dining room that makes most sense when the curtains are pulled back to reveal the views. One day you might have Cornish hake with lobster ravioli, cured ham, lobster bisque and cucumber, the next a twice-baked Cornish Crackler cheese soufflé with candied walnut and Devon Cox’s apple salad. Like the hotel as a whole, it’s well considered but far from formal. Doubles from £275, check availability at scarlethotel.co.uk Trewornan Manor, Wadebridge Doubles from £180, check availability at booking.com Luxury B&B Trewornan Manor may date back to the 13th century but its attitude to food is firmly forward thinking. Close to the Camel Estuary, and surrounded by 25 acres of gardens and meadows, the four-bedroom property (Porthilly and Daymer feature freestanding tubs) is fast becoming a gourmet destination. Highlights include an honesty bar stocked with Sharp's Doom Bar, a beer brewed down the road in Rock, and Camel Valley sparkling wine; breakfasts that focus on the best Cornish produce (butcher Philip Warrens in nearby Launceston is one of the suppliers); and a location that’s just a napkin’s throw from Rick Stein's empire in Padstow. Doubles from £180, check availability at booking.com Chapel House, Penzance Doubles from £200, check availability at chapelhousepz.co.uk One of the best bed and breakfasts in Cornwall... Nobody has coined the right term yet for the ‘B&B plus’, according to Susan Stuart, owner of Chapel House in Penzance. Many luxury B&Bs now offer far more than a traditional guesthouse yet don't fall into the boutique hotel category. Chapel House, once the Penzance Arts Club, is certainly one of those. Relishing a new lease of life after an extensive renovation, the stately Georgian building is now light and bright, with six sleek bedrooms and walls hung with striking modern artworks. As well as slap-up communal breakfasts (sizzled cod roe, samphire, smoked bacon and poached egg is a Cornish speciality) Stuart hosts gourmet suppers, long Sunday brunches and lunches, foraging and feasting weekends, guest chef demos, Saturday morning children's cookery classes and has a home-from-home, right-to-roam attitude to the fridge. Doubles from £200, check availability at chapelhousepz.co.uk Haybarton, Tregony Doubles from £120, check availability at haybarton.com or airbnb.com (for The Potager self-catering let) Another fab B&B in Cornwall, the previous winner of Alistair Sawday's 'most praised breakfast award' Haybarton is a farmhouse B&B with just three pretty rooms and a self-catering let The Potager on Cornwall's picturesque Roseland Peninsula. After tumbling out of bed and gazing out over rolling farmland as you run a bath in the roll-top tub, you can wander downstairs to its flagstoned dining room to feast on scrambled eggs (from their own Maran hens), sausages and bacon from the local Kernow Sausage Company, homemade granola baked in the Aga and local artisan breads spread with homemade marmalade and locally produced honey. Doubles from £120, check availability at haybarton.com or airbnb.com (for The Potager self-catering let) More hotel guides Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best hotels in London Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels Best Scottish hotels
South Tyrol's cuisine: 10 things we love
Local chefs Roland Lamprecht and Florian Fink share what makes the cuisine of this Austro-Italian alpine region (also known as Alto Adige) unique
Learn all about what makes the cuisine of this northern region of Italy so special from local chefs Roland Lamprecht and Florian Fink. From festive traditions to local pasta dishes and excellent wines, there is plenty for foodies to enjoy. Plus, we share some of the top places to eat in the region and our picks of the best places to stay. Want to learn more about regional cuisine? Check out our guides to the cuisines of Trentino in Italy, the Algarve in Portugal, Cork in Ireland or Istria in Croatia. Jump to: Where to eat and drink in South Tyrol Where to stay in South Tyrol South Tyrol cuisine: 10 things we love Austro-Italian culture The region’s difficult recent history is now embraced in a fusion of Austrian and Italian cuisines and culture. Historically the South Tyrolean kitchen is German-Austrian, featuring the likes of dumplings, veal schnitzel and kaiserschmarrn, but the Italians have added elegance, plus fish, vegetables, olive oil and salt. The two cultures – along with the Mediterranean and mountain climates – are now very much intertwined, to the extent that all towns have both an Austrian and Italian name. Speck While many cured meats are popular in South Tyrol, speck is the most popular (previously smoked venison). This air-dried, cold-smoked ham is lightly spiced and encased in a juniper crust. PGI-protected farmhouse bauernspeck is made only with the highest-quality meat and has a higher ratio of nutty marbled fat that melts on the tongue. Its red and white colour reflects the Tyrolean flag, and it’s a signature ingredient in countless dishes. Törggelen Celebrated following the grape harvest in late September or early October, and running through the end of November, Törggelen, the region’s ‘fifth season’, is a culinary trademark. It’s a time when Alpine huts and farmhouses throw open their doors for tastings of freshly pressed wine (grape must), alongside roasted chestnuts, large feasts (featuring schlachtplatte meat plates), folk tales and merriment. Knödel dumplings There are more than 20 types of regional dough dumplings, from rustic buckwheat to those flecked with spinach and herbs, and even sweet varieties made with apricot or plum. It’s a versatile dish, served as a soup garnish, main or side, that reflects our rich agricultural traditions inherited from generations past. Venison We use a lot of game meat, particularly venison, as it is abundant in the forests and includes roe deer and chamois. There’s also hare and wildfowl. The meat is naturally lean and healthy, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways – braised, raw or roasted – always offering that distinct game flavour. Festive sweet treats Zelten is a traditional sweet bread flecked with dried fruit, nuts and spices. It’s a hybrid of Italy’s panettone and Austria’s stollen. We usually come together as a family to prepare it around 1 December then take it along to gatherings through the festive season. Other popular regional treats are krapfen (chewy doughnuts usually filled with apricot jam), apfelküchlein (apple fritters) and knieküchle (deep-fried dough with a thin middle and thicker edges). Christmas traditions South Tyrol is very religious, so Christmas is an important holiday. We mark Christmas Eve with soup and bread, and usually the 25th involves a centrepiece of braised venison or fillet of roast beef served with potatoes, red cabbage and herb dumplings to soak up the jus. Many traditional households celebrate with a bauernbratl (farmer’s roast) of pork belly or ribs in a caraway seed marinade. Pasta dishes The contemporary Italian influence is evident in the likes of ravioli filled with spinach and mountain cheese, tagliatelle with venison ragu and mountain herb pesto stirred through spaghetti. The most traditional regional speciality is schlutzkrapfen – ravioli-like pasta pockets, often filled with porcini mushrooms. Wine South Tyrolean wines have a great reputation, dating back hundreds of years thanks to wine-making traditions in the monasteries. The Eisack Valley makes the most of warm days and cold nights, which results in excellent fresh white and sparkling varieties. Merano and Bolzano, in the south of the region, benefit instead from warmer climates for elegant reds. Ladin culture A unique combination of German and Latin, this small Alpine community is one rooted in folklore and ancient traditions. The Ladin communities live in two valleys in the heart of the Dolomites: Val Gardena and Alta Badia. Signature dishes include ravioli-like cajinci, panicia barley soup and sweet grappa-infused furtaies (‘funnel cakes’), traditionally served to celebrate wedding engagements. Where to eat and drink in South Tyrol Finsterwirt and Vitis, Brixen Though housed in one of the oldest buildings in town, enveloped in wood panelling and stained glass, the tucked-away Finsterwirt restaurant serves creative contemporary plates, such as veal with salsa verde, Eisack Valley wine soup and duck leg with potato rösti and orange jus. Adjoining wine bar Vitis is home to 500 wines, many of which are local and best sipped by the stone fountain in the leafy courtyard. adlerbrixen.com Toma Spirit & Winebar, Bolzano Local duo Tobias and Marian’s compact but well-stocked wine bar is a great spot to soak up Bolzano’s bustling vibe while tasting some of the region’s finest wines by the glass, from Appiano’s sparkling elegant pinot bianco, to cabernet franc grown on the slopes above Lake Caldaro. instagram.com/toma.bozen Wirtshaus Vögele, Bolzano This traditional inn was an ancient meeting spot for poets, philosophers and intellectuals, and has wood-panelled walls that provide cosy surrounds for South Tyrolean classics such as spinach ravioli with bacon butter, wiener schnitzel, apple strudel and kaiserschmarrn. voegele.it Apollonia, Sirmiano Perched in the hills up a winding road above Bolzano, this Alpine guesthouse serves cuisine from Alto Adige and dramatic views of the Dolomites. Most ingredients are locally foraged or grown on site to create spicy beef goulash with speck dumplings, Passeier Valley char fillet with herby sweet potato cream and affogato doused in homemade nut liqueur. apollonia.it Decantei, Brixen Set in a cloistered courtyard, this is an atmospheric spot to try hearty South Tyrolean dishes – a colourful trio of knödel dumplings, pumpkin-topped ravioli and deep-fried puffed potato dough blattln with sauerkraut – alongside a wide selection of craft beers. decantei.it Where to stay in South Tyrol Forestis, Plose At 1,800m above sea level, surrounded by panoramic views of the Dolomites, this unique property embraces its original intention as a climate spa for Austrian monarchy. Split between the original 1912 larchwood building and three modern towers, everything is designed to bring the landscape in – floor-to-ceiling windows allow the sun to dance around pinewood suites, bathrooms are made from Dolomites stone and two-level penthouses sit at the tip of two of the towers. Wellbeing is at the hotel’s heart – there’s Plose spring water sweetened with pine syrup on arrival, plus the spa’s successive indoor-outdoor mineral pools and saunas, daily rituals and a wyda studio (a local Celtic version of yoga). Mountain activities include ski-in, ski-out facilities as well as forest bathing and foraging. In the main restaurant, individual booths are arranged in an amphitheatre-like structure, allowing for prime views while you enjoy Roland Lamprecht’s forest cuisine. This is also where breakfast is served – a buffet featuring pretzels, chocolate caprese, ricotta cake, pistachio cream, Eisack Valley honeycomb and wild berry jams. There’s also speck, mountain cheeses, foraged fruits, a salad bar and DIY juice room with bottled mountain apple juice ready to drink. An evening at new restaurant concept Yera is an experience like no other – follow a torch through the forest into an earthy mountain cave, hand in phones at the door and let Roland and his team guide you through an immersive spectacle of fire, ferments and ancient Celtic traditions. A nightcap at the bar might be a fresh fig old fashioned, apricot-enriched Plosestar martini or negronis infused with Plose cranberries for added fruitiness. forestis.it Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Fink, Brixen Nestled in the arcades of one of Brixen’s oldest monastery townhouses, this boutique hotel has been passed down through four generations. Husband-and-wife owners Petra and Florian Fink have a deep respect for the 1450s building, creating an intentionally minimalist feel to allow original features to shine in the nine suites – thick stone walls left bare, restored ceiling frescoes decorating cosy window seats and the terrazzo flooring flecked with South Tyrolean stone. A compact vaulted spa awaits behind an ancient wooden door, its central stone plunge pool ideal for cooling down after sessions in the sauna, steam room and Roman bath outhouse. Choose to dine in the chic vaulted restaurant or outside beneath the arcade’s graceful curves. Florian curates produce from 50 local farmers – most specialising in a single ingredient – for his fresh, simple, zero-waste monastery kitchen style. The main menu is vegetarian and includes clever alternatives, such as root veg tartare, tagliolini with red cabbage cream and black truffle, and organic grain ravioli filled with chanterelles and mountain cheese. Meat and fish options are succinct and include local game and freshwater fish, from lake trout fillet to venison stew with beetroot dumplings, and veal schnitzel with lingonberry sauce. Sweet plum dumplings come with black beer ice cream, while three South Tyrolean apple varieties are showcased in a tartlet with ricotta and caramel sauce. An elegant breakfast kicks off with a soothing herb broth followed by fresh juices and fruit salads, crudités to dunk into herb ricotta and compotes to spread over warm croissants and breads, plus made-to-order spelt pancakes and crisp buckwheat waffles. fink1896.it Check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com More cuisine guides Fez cuisine: 10 things we love Puglian cuisine: 10 things we love Andalusian cuisine: 10 things we love Jamaican cuisine: 10 things we love Georgian cuisine: 10 things we love Colombian cuisine: 10 things we love The Algarve's cuisine: 10 things we love Thai cuisine: 10 things we love South Korean cuisine: 10 things we love Nashville cuisine: 10 things we love Norwegian cuisine: 10 things we love Tuscan cuisine: 10 things we love Cork cuisine: 10 things we love Northern Ireland cuisine: 10 things we love Finland cuisine: 10 things we love
10 reasons to buy our stunning, new-look Christmas magazine
Discover the highlights from the Christmas issue of olive magazine, including entertaining recipes, Christmas desserts and gifting inspiration
olive is brought to you by the same team as Good Food, Britain’s leading food media brand. All our recipes are developed and thoroughly tested by experts, so you know they’ll work every time. Our writers are food experts, so when we make a restaurant recommendation or review a destination or product, you can trust our opinion. See hundreds of triple-tested festive recipes with our Christmas recipe collection. Order direct to your door, download the issue or subscribe for only £5. Out now in all supermarkets and newsagents. 10 reasons to buy our Christmas issue Everything for the Big Day From a sweet potato dauphinoise pithivier to a stuffed turkey crown and ham with PX sherry and almond crust, shake things up with our continental European-inspired Christmas mains. Showstopping desserts Take the pressure off Christmas Day desserts with our make-ahead Dubai chocolate trifle, 20-minute smashed honeycomb sundae and no-bake chocolate orange tart – all sure to impress. Christmas cocktails Get in the holiday spirit with easy ideas for an Aperol spritz punch, paloma champagne cocktail, a Christmassy twist on a piña colada and a creamy tiramisu martini to round off celebrations. Why we love South Tyrol Find out why this Italian province is so special, from the fusion of Austrian and Italian cuisine and culture to cured meats and a diversity of regional dumplings. Reset your energy levels at Christmas Feel sluggish during the holidays? If the Christmas indulgence is too much for your gut, find out how to stop the festive bloat in its tracks. Christmas city breaks Discover Britain’s most Christmassy cities for a wintertime break packed with foodie finds, superior shopping and magical markets. Dreaming of a white Christmas Star baker Edd Kimber shares an ultra-elegant spread of festive treats - from a mulled wine cherry pavlova cover recipe to buttermint madeleines and creamy eggnog cheesecake. Celebrate Scandi-style Make a Scandinavian-inspired spread this holiday season. Try warming, Christmassy-spiced Swedish meatballs, a roasted beet and apple salad, tempting potato and Stilton gratin and citrus-cured gravadlax. Christmas gift guide From foodie gifts and hampers to kitchen and homewares, we’ve picked the cream of the festive gifting crop. Party time Entertaining’s a breeze with our clever party food recipes with sneaky shortcuts and shop-bought saviours. Impress guests with a salmon bagel board, honeyed squash and feta filo cigars, pickled melon and prosciutto skewers and a radish butter terrine – all without the stress. Check out all our fabulous foodie Christmas magazines for more festive inspiration: Good Food Christmas magazine with BONUS free calendar Easy Cook Christmas magazine Vegetarian Christmas magazine Air Fryer Christmas magazine Subscribe to our magazine for only £9.99 Save money vs paying in the shops and subscribe to olive magazine today. You'll pay just £9.99 for your first 6 issues and get access to all of our best recipes delivered directly to your home every month. As one of our magazine subscribers, you'll also enjoy these great benefits: Free delivery direct to your door, so you never miss an issue Discounts on tickets to Good Food Shows Risk-free shopping: cancel your subscription at any time Order now *UK, Direct Debit offer only Order direct to your door, download the issue or subscribe. Out now in all supermarkets and newsagents.
Plan a relaxing holiday with these boltholes for food lovers, from a riverside retreat to a rural gin-themed getaway and a cosy stay in an idyllic shepherd's hut
Looking for boutique hotels to visit? Discover our boltholes for food lovers below, then check out our favourite UK city breaks, UK gastro pubs with rooms and the best restaurants with rooms in the UK. For further afield, check out our best European hidden gem hotels. If you're looking for a romantic getaway, discover the most romantic UK hotels, UK spa hotels for food lovers and the best hotel baths worth travelling for in the UK. Or, swap the hotels and discover the best unique UK holiday cottages for foodies. Best UK boutique hotels Middleton Lodge, North Yorkshire This Georgian estate tucked away in 200 acres of peaceful North Yorkshire countryside is a destination for serious food lovers and wellness seekers. The jewel in the crown of the estate is Forge, a restaurant that recently earned its first Michelin star, thanks to head chef Jake Jones’s nature-led, hyper-seasonal tasting menus. Dishes highlight foraged ingredients and estate-grown produce, with inventive flavour combinations – dry-aged Nidderdale hogget with summer’s last mint and north coast cod with York asparagus, preserved lemon and English sparkling wine. A standout cheese course of Cashel Blue with pickled walnut, medlar and birch syrup precedes intricate desserts like forced rhubarb tart with custard and toasted milk. Drinks are equally thoughtful, with pairings ranging from a lemon thyme saison by Salt Brewery to a bright ortega from Kent and a rich reserva tinto from Alentejo, Portugal. Coach House offers a more relaxed approach for breakfast, all-day dining and cocktails inside and on the covered terrace, while Forest Spa, next to Forge, has its own light and nourishing spa menu, ideal for pre or post-treatment grazing. Rooms are spread across the estate – from the charming Tack Room with woodburning stove, huge freestanding bath and beamed ceilings, to contemporary suites with outdoor copper tubs and views of wildflower meadows. Interiors mix natural textures with understated luxury: Burlington showers, stone walls, linen drapes, oak floors and velvet armchairs. Outside, the Tom Stuart-Smith designed walled garden is both colourful and serene, adjacent to the working kitchen garden. Rooms from £235 per night, check availability at middletonlodge.co.uk The Beacon, Tunbridge Wells Just an hour from London and 10 minutes outside Tunbridge Wells, The Beacon is a secluded bolthole, offering a pretty wedding venue alongside its restaurant with rooms. There are six elegant rooms to choose from in the main house of the hotel (choose Yarrow for a round copper bathtub in a turret with views of the countryside). Our top pick is the seventh room that nestles below the main house, the Summer House, pictured below. A long, covered balcony offers 180-degree views of the countryside, with a two-way outdoor fireplace and large outdoor bathtub to enjoy. The thoughtful room design includes a king-sized bed, kitchenette, waterfall shower, Noble Isle toiletries and bifold doors to let the outside in and maximise those valley views. The radio, set to Classic FM as you walk in, sets the calming vibe. It's a secluded spot that would be idyllic all year round, offering a cosy hideaway in winter or peaceful sun trap in summer. Warm muffins and homemade cordial greet you on arrival, or head up to the Garden Bar for cocktails with a view. The Beacon Restaurant serves locally sourced, seasonal dishes in the heart of the main country house. There are special cocktails and a generous wine list featuring plenty of English options, such as Rathfinny sparkling wine. The amuse-bouche are particularly memorable, taking a nod from the restaurant's Tea Garden Lane address with savoury twists on classic afternoon tea dishes. Choose two or three courses, or go for the 'Feed Me' tasting menu to try a little bit of everything. In the morning, enjoy breakfast al fresco on the terrace – opt for a full English or a bacon and egg bap. Footpaths at the top of the driveway offer walks through the forest, or all the way to the Pantiles and Tunbridge Wells. Rooms start at £123 per night; check availability at thebeacon.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com Fowlescombe Farm, Devon Tucked in the foothills of Dartmoor, Fowlescombe Farm is a quietly luxurious rural retreat where regenerative organic farming and contemporary comfort meet with a fork-to-table food ethos. Dating back to 1537, the estate’s original Victorian farmhouse and timeworn stone barns have been thoughtfully restored by director Caitlin Owens and her team. The result is an intimate and relaxed atmosphere, with just 10 suites spread across four distinct buildings. Service is familial – expect to be welcomed as a friend, perhaps even by Basil, the head gardener’s gentle labrador. Daily menus are shaped by the land and seasons. The Refectory’s kitchen table seats 10 with a view of the chef at work. Expect dishes such as silky courgette and apple velouté, sirloin of shorthorn beef with tomato confit and a flavour-packed strawberry parfait with elderflower. Garden-to-glass gin and cocktail pairings add to the sense of place here. A weekly calendar of activities can be dipped into, with bespoke experiences on request. Guided yoga in the garden and sea swimming with a post-dip croissant and flask of tea left us grounded. Cookery courses, guided farm tours and animal feeding deepen the connection to land and food. You’ll want for nothing while at the farm but, if you’re out and about, don’t miss a pint of prawns at The Winking Prawn in Salcombe’s North Sands or a boat to The Millbrook Inn, reached by tidal causeway. The Meadow Suite is a standout room, offering uninterrupted views over wildflower fields and woodland from its private living room and vast bathroom. Graze on the elegant buffet of granola parfaits, pastries, smoked salmon and charcuterie before ordering a Full Fowlescombe: hash browns, sausages, black pudding, homemade smoky beans and eggs to your liking, alongside green juice of the day and excellent coffee. Rooms from £375 per night, check availability at fowlescombe.com or mrandmrsssmith.com The Maltings, Weybourne, North Norfolk The focal point of this recently renovated hotel is The Grain Store, an impressive two- storey structure with lively open kitchen where chefs work their magic with local produce. Norfolk platters, for two or more to share, celebrate both the nearby coast and land, with trend-aware touches like saffron cockles and coal-roasted flatbread; rib of 50-day salt chamber aged beef; and rack of slow-roasted pork with harissa roasted carrots. Breakfast is equally loyal to the region, proudly offering kippers smoked at Cley; Brancaster Staithe smoked salmon eggs royale; cheese and Norfolk charcuterie, and the option to carve your own ham. Design moves between classic in the bar with its studded leather chairs and wall sconce lighting to cosy in the games room with leaping deer Knight’s Tale wallpaper, to The Grain Store’s pared back bare walls with exposed beams, wildflower table arrangements and modern art. Bedrooms, in the main house and stable blocks, are simply decorated with botanic prints, vintage books and textured headboards adding interest. The on-site Bottle Shop is a welcome touch, offering a good selection of wine to enjoy in your room, over dinner for a small corkage or to take home. Doubles from £200, check availability at booking.com or themaltingsweybourne.com/ No 42 Guesthouse, Margate Margate’s recent reinvention has seen it become a popular destination for food lovers, with the opening of several independent restaurants such as Angela’s, Sète and Sargasso. Now this seaside hotel, part of the small Guesthouse group, also in Bath, York and Brighton, provides another reason to visit the Kent coastal resort – its Pearly Cow restaurant and rooftop terrace providing magnificent views across the channel. Pearly Cow focusses on seafood platters, fish and grills. Whitstable oysters and salt cod tacos make a good sharing starter, salt-aged steaks are prepared in the open kitchen, with whipped bone marrow butter and beef fat chips – this is the kind of easy food, prepared simply, you want to enjoy on the coast. The reasonable wine list includes a decent house cava. Breakfast is similarly classic, with local Brogdale sausages in the full English, alongside a decent eggs royale and organic porridge with honey and pistachio. Make use of the communal pantry for early morning tea, coffee and pastries, or late-night snacks – huge jars of traditional sweet shop treats like lemon sherbets and chocolate bars. Bedrooms are light and sunny, with neutral colours and fabrics, made contemporary with touches such as a record player and choice of vinyl, modern prints and beach-hut-shaped tea and coffee station. Bramley toiletries and power showers are very welcome after a day on the beach. In the lounge bar, Dreamland’s ferris wheel is referenced in its wall decorations, with raffia lightshades and touches of aqua adding beach house vibes. B&B from £170 per night. Check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Rectory, Cotswolds This honey-stone Georgian property sits on the border of the Cotswolds and makes the perfect spot for a weekend break. With 18 bedrooms, the rectory is small and perfectly appointed, with striking contemporary interiors touches that elevate the building’s original features and give a cool edge to its Cotswold charm. The outdoor pool is just a short walk across the beautifully kept garden, where guests can enjoy the extensive cocktail menu, and the sister pub is just a short walk over the green. The menu is filled with seasonal and local ingredients, with plenty of choice for those not eating meat. Hero ingredients are handled delicately to deliver elegant plates with real flair. We visited in early summer and enjoyed turbot terrine with tarragon mayonnaise and a lobster and scallop raviolo to start. Mains of nettle cappellacci with walnut sauce and Tamworth pork loin with bagna cauda were beautifully executed but almost eclipsed by an incredibly moreish side of courgettes with olives and marjoram. Breakfast is a generous affair, served in the orangery where a large table is laden with everything you’d expect from pastries to poached fruit. A menu of cooked plates includes favourites like the classic breakfast and Omelette Arnold Bennett as well as house specials like buttermilk waffles with whipped mascarpone and berries. Again, plenty of options for those not eating meat and all delivered with a relaxed but attentive service. Bed and breakfast from £170. Check availability on The Rectory website. The Victoria, Holkham Estate, Norfolk Countryside meets coast at The Vic. Perched on the edge of the grand Holkham Estate and a short stroll from the vast beauty of Holkham beach, you can explore the grounds on bike or foot, meet the resident deer, row a boat on the lake and take a guided tour of the hall. The Holkham Stories experience explains the estate’s history, current sustainable practices and its plans to be carbon neutral. The magnificent walled garden grows everything from grapes – which go to make wine at Burn Valley Vineyard – to herbs, fruit and veg which make their way into dishes at the hotel. Here the menu references its support for suppliers throughout the region, from hyper-local Arthur Howell butchers, Billy Ward’s lobster and Malt Coast Brewery in Wells-next-the-Sea to Fakenham’s Krusty Loaf bakery and Brancaster Bay shellfish. The dining room, with its forest-themed wallpaper, is a fitting setting for hearty dishes like Holkham venison curry and roasted pigeon with parmentier potatoes. The current family in residence’s healthy influence is seen in Lady Leicester’s superfood salad and healthy start breakfast, too. Rooms are reassuringly traditional, with classic striped fabrics, wooden dressing tables and chest of drawers, and Norfolk Natural Living toiletries. Doubles from £200. Check availability at booking.com or holkham.co.uk The Bell at Charlbury, Daylesford The newest of its stable of pubs with rooms, The Bell has all the hallmarks of a Daylesford bolthole: a commitment to local suppliers, largely British menu and cute motif (see the bell on plates, menus and staff T-shirts). The 17th-century building is home to a dozen cosy bedrooms, with a contemporary barn at the rear. There’s more to the pub than a smart market town boozer. Discreetly positioned behind the main building, The Barn serves weekend wood-fired feasting menus – rotisserie chicken, roasts, whole lobster. In summer there’s an additional dining space in The Bell’s acre of apple orchard. The pub’s small, welcoming dining room serves classics like a half pint of prawns, soups, salads, cheeseburger, fish pie, sticky toffee pudding and crumbles, with locally farmed ingredients. Daily specials range from the luxurious, including a chateaubriand for two or whole roasted brill, to a simple porchetta and apple sauce bap. Beers on tap are from family-owned Hook Norton and Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone, Daylesford’s own cider, gins and English sparkling wine. Exposed brick, embroidered bedspreads and reclaimed wooden furniture create a homely, rustic atmosphere. And four posters, red stripes, and crisp blue and white checks feel very British. Rooms start at £194 per night, based on two adults sharing. Check availability on its website. The Bath Priory, Bath In a leafy part of Bath sits this impressive Georgian house, whose old-fashioned hospitality appeals to all generations. Behind the ivy-clad building is a vast, not-so-secret garden, featuring a spectacular cedar of Lebanon tree, croquet lawn, sunken pool and kitchen garden growing herbs, edible flowers, fruit and veg destined for the dining room. Reassuringly classic, bedrooms are designed for comfort and relaxation, with period furniture and florals and tartan adding warmth to neutral décor. Chef Jauca Catalin’s imaginative menu celebrates seasonal, local produce with some surprising Asian touches: a crab starter is teamed with lime confit, mooli and chilli peanut caramel; wild turbot is a complex dish of scallop mousse, caviar and miso and kombu tea. Three courses at dinner can be matched with wines from Burgundy and California, and an exciting Château de L’Ou L’Ove Blanc from Roussillon. At breakfast there is a traditional approach with eggs royal, benedict and florentine, alongside the full English and a fluffy omelette Arnold Bennett. Take a martini in front of the fire in the drawing room in colder months, or afternoon tea on the wisteria-covered terrace in spring for a quintessentially British experience in every season. You can also order a picnic hamper to enjoy in the gardens, with a bottle of English sparkling wine. Rooms start at £275 per night including breakfast, based on two sharing. Check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Coworth Park, Berkshire Contemporary meets classic in a charming mash-up of design that references the rural location. A four poster is fashioned to look like a tree, halls feature dressers filled with plant pots, and huge floral displays and indoor plants abound. Showers are powerful, and some suites feature free-standing copper baths. Fun horsey references – including two dramatic portraits that dominate the bar – are a firm nod to the hotel’s equestrian links. The renowned Guards Polo Club is here (guests can book lessons in advance) and horse riding is offered. Rooms are in the Stables or Mansion House, so there’s a real sense of being in the Berkshire countryside, even while less than an hour from London. Explore the grounds, where there are hidden lily ponds, fountains and sculptures, as well as champagne pods in the warmer months. Woven by Adam Smith is all that’s good about modern, high-end British cooking – fiercely seasonal, celebrating homegrown ingredients, imaginative combinations, clever plating and a passionate, young team from Britain and beyond. Chefs, including Adam, are highly visible, prepping canapés in the restaurant’s anteroom – which doubles as cellar – and explaining each course at the table. Isle of Wight tomatoes, Devon eel and Cornish turbot speak to Adam’s careful sourcing, while A5 wagyu, oscietra, lobster and truffle add a luxurious touch. There’s also a strong focus on English wine. Rooms start at £605 for bed and breakfast, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath Few visitors to Bath see beyond the façade of the magnificent Royal Crescent, the city’s most impressive landmark. Fewer guess that No 16 extends into beautiful hotel gardens with lavender path, a haven for birds and butterflies where afternoon tea, cocktails and light lunches are taken. Chef Martin Blake balances simplicity with on-trend touches. Montagu’s Mews’ evening tasting menu starts with tiny canapés of Bath Blue cheese and avocado mousse with cucumber and borage. Then shokupan, a soft Japanese-style milk bread with Somerset’s Ivy Farm butter and smoked roe studded with salmon ikura. Hollandaise for beef tartare is spiked with Bath Ale and IP8 (beer) vinegar. A forced rhubarb dessert is softened with olive oil and vanilla. The comprehensive wine list includes confident choices such as a barrel-aged assyrtiko. The hotel’s five-star spa includes a heated pool with sauna and steam, tranquil treatment rooms and a small garden where you can relax after a swim, still in your robe if you like. Rooms are built for comfort and luxury, some with terraces and views on to the gardens or over the sweeping lawns of the Crescent. Fireplaces in bedrooms may be filled with decorative pinecones, modern art sits alongside vintage portraits and busts, and everywhere the outside is brought in with plants and floral displays. Rooms from £300 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Cowley Manor, Cotswolds Experimental Group, the team behind some of the greatest bars, restaurants and hotels across the world, has teamed up with chef Jackson Boxer in this contemporary country hotel. Jackson can take an unfussy British cut like a Tamworth pork chop and elevate it with a French sauce charcutière (onions, wine, cornichons, mustard); pasta sounds simple but tastes superb (tagliolini with smoked butter and black pepper); and a tarte flambée on the lunch menu sees spelt flatbread topped with Rollright cheese and truffle. The cocktail bar has a clubby feel, in which Experimental’s finest create the classics and their own concoctions, from gin and elderflower-based Saint Germain de Prés, a nod to the group’s French roots, to Horlicks Milk Punch which references a former owner of the manor’s malted drink business. Bar snacks include Old Spot croquettes and cheesy puffs made with local single gloucester, good with a glass of English sparkling, and caviar and crisps is a must order in these decadent surroundings. It’s a curious and comfortable mix of 70s-style glamour, traditional wood panelling and striking bright lacquered furniture in a 17th-century manor, with a laid-back front of house team determined to make your stay cocktail-fuelled and cosy. Rooms start at £329 per night for bed and breakfast, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Glenmorangie House, Scotland Boldly beautiful, this 17th century house looking out over the stunning Moray Firth has been given a maximalist makeover, with a creative Highlands menu to match. With only six bedrooms and three cottages, and warmly attentive staff who’ll soon know how you take your tea, the stay here is designed to feel more house party than hotel. The dining room has one large table, cocktails are taken together before eating, and evening entertainment in the form of music, mixology or stargazing is arranged to make the most of the company. The interiors, by designer Russell Sage, tell the story of Glenmorangie whisky with maximalist styling, sensory interpretation and more than the occasional surprise. Head chef John Wilson creates Glenmorangie food pairings, dishes that are enhanced by, and in turn enhance the flavours of, each whisky. There are all the Scottish treats you’d hope for, with rich haggis en croûte in a velvety whisky sauce. Surrounded by pristine Scottish waters you can expect fresh langoustine, lobsters and scallops, too. Your bacon, sausages and black pudding for breakfast travel just three miles from a local artisan, and some of the fruit, vegetables and herbs are picked outside the dining room window in the handsome walled garden. Thanks to the carefully planned design and the eclectic collection of local arts and crafts, there are new details to discover wherever you turn. Seating in the snug mixes traditional tartan upholstery with bright plain seat pads, antique bud vases are displayed with different seed heads and lichen like prized blooms. For more Scotland inspiration, check out our full guide to the best Scottish hotels. Rooms from £1,347 for three nights, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The Gallivant, Camber Sands Tucked away just behind the dunes of Camber Sands near Rye, The Gallivant is a cosy bolthole that offers a grown-up seaside break (the hotel is over-16s only) with a relaxed Hamptons beach-house vibe. The Luxury Garden rooms are airy and peaceful with muted beachy painted wood décor, soft throws and well-stocked bookshelves. Doors open onto a coastal garden where you can enjoy coffee in the morning. Sign up for the Complete Gallivant and everything is taken care of, from all-day elevenses in the luxurious snug area to a pre-dinner flask of freshly shaken cocktails to drink in the dunes (or the bath if the weather is bad), a three-course dinner, sleepy tea delivery at bedtime, a morning yoga class and a generous breakfast spread to wake up to. The Gallivant is now also home to Harry’s, a restaurant which continues the hotel’s chic coastal theme and adds precise, pared-back French cookery from ex-Bibendum head chef Matthew Harris. The menu spotlights seasonal produce in classic dishes such as crisp spring vegetable salad with creamy goat’s curd, and delicate smoked eel with oozy soft-boiled egg, rye bread and peppy celeriac remoulade. Mains continue the theme of refined simplicity: sturdy, juicy Romney Marsh Barnsley chop is winningly matched with earthy mushroom duxelle, asparagus, crisp pomme frites and a creamy sauce paloise – a variation of béarnaise flavoured with mint rather than tarragon, and a bull’s-eye match with lamb. The Gallivant sits in the heart of wine country – a location that informs much of the hotel’s offering, from English wine served every day at 5pm in the bar to a lengthy list of homegrown bottles (we sip a chilled Albourne skin contact white for an aperitif with stunning beach views, and enjoy a juicy, crunchy Artelium pinot noir from the South Downs at dinner) and exclusive wine experiences in partnership with the nearby Gusbourne Estate. Of these the most impressive is the Ultimate English Wine Experience, which includes transport, a private tour of the vineyards, tank and barrel samplings, and tutored tastings of rare library and limited-edition wines. The Complete Gallivant (for 2) from £375 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Rose, Deal The Rose, an eight-bedroom hotel, is all that’s good about seaside weekends. It sits three minutes from a beautiful beach, and bang in the centre of a town that’s known for its cute vintage shops and, increasingly, decent food scene. Guests and locals come for well-made cocktails (tip: try Tommy’s smoky mezcal margarita), imaginative wines and local beers, served in a sheltered garden when the weather is good. A small menu of classics such as mac ’n’ cheese and schnitzel is offered alongside dishes that speak to the kitchen’s skill and knowledge. Try sourdough with churned yeast butter; smoked beef tartare with tarragon emulsion; roast saddle of hoggett with ancient grains; and Nuno’s olive oil cake, named after some-time collaborator, Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes. There’s a vintage vibe throughout the place. Expect mismatched floral plates that remind you of your stylish granny, board games in the bar, pops of neon in the courtyard chairs and fabrics, and local art. Rooms are cosy and colourful, and stocked with books. Some also feature record players, antique sinks and roll-top baths. There’s help-yourself tea, coffee and whisky on the landing, too. Complimentary tea and cake for guests in the afternoon is a friendly touch, as is name-checking local suppliers such as Black Pig sausages on the breakfast menu. From £167 for bed and breakfast, check availability at booking.com South Lodge, Horsham This Sussex countryside hotel with three restaurants is making its intention to attract food lovers clear, from the classic three courses at Camellia to the ambitious tasting menu at The Pass and relaxed vibes at Botanica. The latter, with huge, sunny deck overlooking a natural swimming pond, is housed in the modern spa with a plant-focussed menu, and is a window into the hotel’s commitment to sustainability. Brunch is a highlight and goes well beyond pancakes and prosecco. Try poached eggs with spiced green harissa; spanakopita parcels with mojo sauce and yogurt; and rhubarb bircher muesli with crisp ginger rice and stem ginger. Juices are blended in-house and include active botanical tinctures exclusive to the hotel for an extra energy boost. Natural interiors of rattan, wood and stoneware add to the soothing atmosphere. South Lodge also has wine credentials – its south-facing chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier vineyards, planted in collaboration with Ridgeview, will produce high-quality English sparkling wines. From £465 for bed, breakfast and spa access, check availability at booking.com or spabreaks.com Boys Hall, Ashford Only an hour's train ride from London, this revived Grade II listed Jacobean manor is home to a soaring oak-beamed restaurant and nine rooms kitted with antique finds. We stayed in Romney, one of the super-suites located in the eaves of the house and reachable via its own miniature staircase. The lofty space is enriched with dark sage walls, burnt orange cushions and bamboo furniture. The focal point – a freestanding roll-top bath – sits in front of the original stone mullion window and overlooks the front lawn. Rooms also feature super king beds, Dualit coffee pod machine and enviable toiletries from Pelegrims, made with grape extracts from nearby Westwell vineyard. TVs are swapped for Roberts radios; for entertainment, pick up a board game, weekend paper or magazine from the panelled lower sitting room. If you’re feeling peckish, the honesty bar is stocked with treats such as Tunnock’s Caramels. For extra pampering, pre-book a massage in the comfort of your own bedroom on a pop-up massage bed – Swedish, sports or deep tissue massage, plus various facials, are all available. The dining room – crafted from reclaimed local green oak and stone – puts Kentish produce at the forefront. Expect a menu of luxury comfort food: smoked Ashmore and speck croquettes with saffron mayo; 30-day dry-aged rib eye steak; cookie dough with salted caramel ice cream. There is also homemade cakes, served with locally sourced teas and coffee, available in the cosy lounges, or retire to the wood-panelled pub serving Kentish ales and bar snacks. From £190, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or boys-hall.com Fort Road Hotel, Margate One of Margate’s iconic seafront buildings opposite Turner Contemporary gallery has been restored to its former life as a hotel. In a nod to its history, sepia photographs and postcards of the seaside town in its bathing holiday heyday line the burnt orange walls. Design is at the forefront throughout, with pieces from artists with Kentish ties and vintage Scandinavian furniture (Danish teak mirrors, beech chairs, rosewood tables) giving each room its own unique character. Bold-hued tiles adorn neat bathrooms, kitted out with seaweed-infused products from local spa Haeckels. Local connections extend to the food and drink options, served in the smart, intimate ground-floor restaurant complete with flickering fire to warm up the colder months. Choose between a Kentish wine from the likes of Simpsons vineyard or a local gin (Greensand Ridge is herbaceous while Dockyard has notes of citrus and spice). Silky, thick-cut trout is lifted with Hinxden Farm Dairy crème fraîche. Crostini are topped with salty smoked anchovy slivers and tapenade or creamy garlic cannellini beans. A huge pork chop is sautéed in parsley mustard sauce, while skate wing comes bathed in beurre noisette and brown shrimp. Breakfast is a real treat, with bacon sarnies offering a satisfying crunch courtesy of hot baguettes from Oast Bakery down the road (that also bakes divine cinnamon buns). Small touches take the hospitality to the next level. A brown paper bag of homemade cookies awaits in the room, best enjoyed with a sherry-laced hot chocolate on the rooftop while watching the sunset over the rugged coastline. Doubles from £140, check availability at fortroadhotel.com or booking.com Grace and Savour, Birmingham A restaurant with rooms within the grounds of contemporary hotel Hampton Manor, Grace & Savour is a sustainability-first operation run by chef David and front-of-house Anette Taylor. It has its own kitchen garden, a tour of which is offered on arrival. A handful of rooms within the walled garden have a pared-back Scandi sensibility and enticing views of chefs prepping dinner in the restaurant’s open kitchen. Fifteen well-balanced courses reflect David’s commitment to seasonality, regenerative farming and animal welfare, all as beautiful as they are delicious. But spartan it is not. Jerusalem artichoke comes in its deep-fried skin, and tastes buttery – like the best baked potato you ever had – topped with small artichoke discs with pickled bay leaf gel adding extra interest. A one-bite venison tartare is served on the cutest, crisp base. Burnt leeks in a rich emulsion are given extra welly with beef garum. Caviar is in evidence. Chatting with the chefs from your counter seat or when they deliver dishes to the table is part of the fun, as is the wine pairing which focusses on lesser-known wines, many of which are made in small batches. Breakfast overlooking the garden is three relaxed courses with juices and coffee: charcuterie, cheese and apples; yogurt and honey; sausage, spinach cooked in chicken fat and mustard, and a wonderful cinnamon bun. The industrial-style steel-framed panelled windows and corrugated tables and headboards are softened by muted tones of clay and earth to give each bedroom a soothing feel. A huge bathtub and a generous bowl of bath salts demands to be used. Walk-in showers feature Birmingham-based Harvest Skincare. In the restaurant, tableware by a local ceramicist is made from clay sourced from the estate. From £350 for dinner, bed and breakfast; hamptonmanor.com/grace-savour The Fox at Oddington Daylesford's pared-back aesthetic is tempered here with a light-hearted foxy theme on everything from topiary to tableware. Its airy bar and Saddle Room is built around a lively open kitchen where chefs knock out the kind of relaxed, seasonal food we could eat every day. Sustainability is built into all Daylesford does, most visibly in the pub’s living roof, planted with wildflowers and herbs, and acting as a nectar source for bees. Chef Alan Gleeson’s menu of modern classics encourages sharing, from a half-pint of prawns and some Daylesford cheese to the full three courses. Small plates including tuna tartare with soy and ginger, and heritage tomatoes teamed with feta and mint are a promising start. A decent, tender pork chop comes with greens and apple; a simple plaice with seaweed butter and Ratte potatoes. Flatbread with lardo, anchovy and salsa verde is a must-try, as is Korean fried chicken. There’s usually a fruit tart and a dark chocolate mousse with pistachio biscotti. At breakfast, The Fox is flooded with light. Oversized plants and artfully placed saddles all echo the Gloucestershire location. Omelette Arnold Bennett, a rich haddock and cheese concoction, is served with hollandaise in a mini skillet; french toast with poached apricots is equally luxurious, as are breakfast brioche rolls. Wood-beamed rooms are decorated with hunting scenes and local wildlife from local artists. Sheepskins, woollen rugs and quilted blankets add a cosy touch to crisp white bedding. Some rooms include a free-standing bath, showers are powerful and fragrant with sage and geranium Bamford botanical products. B&B from £225 per night. thefoxatoddington.com Leonardslee, West Sussex Where else can you take a walk though woodlands, join feeding time for baby wallabies, enjoy a vineyard picnic, follow a sculpture trail and then settle in for an evening of imaginative food and wine pairings? At Leonardslee House, part of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens on which the UK’s first pinotage vineyard is planted, you can be as active or as laid back as you like. Inspired by the South African owner’s appreciation of Cape Winelands experiences, it’s a grown-up playground centred around the very best food and wine. Restaurant Interlude offers a tasting menu featuring ingredients from the estate. Each dish is presented with a card showing a map of where it was grown, foraged or raised. Chef Jean Delport’s technical skill makes for a unique experience with playfully named dishes such as “rabbit eats carrot” and the visually arresting “chef’s pasture raised egg with crispy (chicken) foot”. There are 18 well-paced courses, a clever balance of South African-inspired dishes and the more local, including honey from Leonardslee’s beehives with salted caramel. Dishes can be paired with wines, notably those from the owner’s estate near Cape Town. Book in advance for a wine tasting to try wines from family-run Benguela Cove Lagoon in Hermanus. You can also take a tour of the pinotage vineyards, which will produce their first wine next year. With input from interior designers including Nina Campbell and Sanderson, bedrooms have muted, tranquil tones with feature wallpapers and textiles, giving a contemporary feel to a classic English country house. Rooms from £444, check availability at booking.com The Double Red Duke, Cotswolds This restaurant with rooms in the Cotswolds village of Clanfield is committed to cocktails, conviviality and the restoration of calm. From the jolly, red-striped canopies on its terrace to the promise of gin recovery kits in its 19 bedrooms, The Double Red Duke exudes a delightful sense of playfulness. Start with a Barbecue Pineapple cocktail in the bar: a zesty blend of mezcal, pineapple and lime. In the airy Garden Room share starters of apple-glazed bacon ribs with fennel slaw; charred squid; and smoky flatbreads. Larger plates include piri-piri chicken, with nostalgic desserts of sticky toffee and treacle tart to finish. Book at the chef’s counter for ringside seats as your seafood or steaks are prepared over coals, on the spit or in the clay-fired oven. In the morning, this becomes a breakfast buffet with cinnamon buns and pastries from local bakery Blake’s, along with sourdough, marmalade, honey, cheese and cold meats. The chefs will also prepare overnight oats and a much-Instagramed breakfast muffin with Ogleshield cheese, egg, bacon and sausage. Co-owner Georgie Pearlman has put her heart and soul into creating an atmosphere that’s soothing and inspiring. There are modern takes on traditional bathroom floor tiles, oversized patterns on textured wallpapers and simple floral displays. Ask the Duke’s team about local walks – wellies provided. Visit the converted shepherd’s hut to enjoy a beauty treatment or massage, and if you loved the Marmite and cheese breakfast rolls, take a three-minute stroll over to Blake’s to buy some to take home. Rooms from £230 per night; check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Artist Residence, Bristol The unstoppable Artist Residence team has restored a Georgian townhouse, previously an old boot factory and organised squat, right by Bristol’s eclectic city centre. Plenty of the building’s original features remain intact, including wooden beams, pretty cornicing and a dramatic skylight. As with the group's existing properties, the hotel puts the spotlight on local artists, with pieces in all colours, shapes and sizes turning the dilapidated walls into contemporary galleries. Rooms range from compact but charming, thanks to original arch windows and ensuite bathrooms with Bramley products and rainfall showers, to larger feature rooms. In The Lookout, a spiral staircase connects the bedroom to a cosy sitting area and large wrap around balcony with views of colourful terraced houses in Montpelier and beyond. When the star-studded guest list comes to visit, they tend to stay in the two suites, both boasting quirky seating areas, spacious bathrooms with rolltop baths and five large sash windows that look out onto leafy Portland Square. The Boot Factory is open all day, every day, with plenty of cosy corners, a brick-wall backed bar and a small terrace strung with light bulbs. For breakfast, order colour-themed smoothies alongside sweetcorn fritters, Turkish eggs or indulgent banana bread French toast. Later in the day, pick from the pizza menu or a selection of tapas-style dishes such as chargrilled watermelon and feta, salt and pepper squid with saffron aïoli and roast carrots with carrot purée and hazelnuts. Treat yourself to a pastry or two from Farro, a popular bakery round the corner. Silky, bourbon-laced Colombian panela tart, raisin-studded babka swirls and famous soft serve topped with crunchy croissant honey crisps. Mooch up to colourful Picton Street, stopping on the way to spot Banksy's murals, for Italian ingredient treasure trove C&T Licata & Son, local coffee hang out The Bristolian and neighbourhood trattoria Bianchis. Discover more Bristol food and drinks picks here. Doubles from £140, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Eastbury, Sherbourne Slow down, de-stress and be cosseted at this character-packed hotel in the Dorset market town. Guests can stay in the main Georgian townhouse, Potting Shed rooms in the walled garden or in Eastbury Cottage, with each accommodation offering laid-back vibes and a homely atmosphere. The hotel’s small but deluxe garden spa comes with hot tubs and a steam room for fully-fledged relaxing, or guests can venture outside the grounds to explore the town’s food and craft markets and Sherborne Castle (and sample The Castle’s wines in the Eastbury’s bar for good measure). On the menu, Chef Matthew Street works with local suppliers and some further afield to ensure his menus offer the best ingredients: Devon crab from Paignton is served with a chilled cucumber and wasabi soup for starters, followed by indulgent and satisfying mains including Japanese braised pork belly with miso broth and burrata and ricotto agnolotti with parmesan crisp. Alternatively, for a more intimate evening there’s the option to book the garden pod, a unique glass snug looking out across the lawn, furnished with plump cushions, soft blankets and ambient lighting. Interior designer Kathleen Fraser balances muted tones of pale blue and green with colourful prints and interesting textures. The new Eastbury Cottage adjacent to the hotel boasts three delightfully cosy bedrooms, one with a free-standing bath as well as a separate modern shower room. Standout features include the inglenook fireplace, low beams, a very well-equipped kitchen, and sunny private garden with hot tub and dining area. Doubles from £195, check availability at booking.com Heckfield Place, Heckfield The lines between inside and out are beautifully blurred at this Hampshire estate, where guests can bask in the natural surroundings and enjoy food from the hotel’s biodynamic, organic farm and orchards. Saddleback pigs and chickens lead a happy life here, and a micro-dairy provides the house with milk, cream, yogurt and butter from Guernsey cows. The menu is overseen by culinary director Skye Gyngell (chef-patron at Spring at Somerset House) with two restaurants serving what’s good to eat right now from what’s grown on the estate and Fern Varrow, a biodynamic farm. At Marle you’ll find simple, seasonal dishes such as lamb shoulder with anchovy, and stuffed farm courgettes. During summer, meals are served on the Italian terrace overlooking the gardens and woodlands, with fire pits and sheepskins to keep you cosy on chillier nights. Imaginative breakfasts include bircher muesli and roasted rhubarb, bubble and squeak with fried eggs, and buckwheat crêpes with honey butter. Hearth, open for dinner and lunch on Saturday, focusses on fire cooking with lobster, sirloin or grilled farm veg. In line with Heckfield’s biodynamic ethos, cocktails in the Moon Bar are influenced by the lunar phases and made with unique tinctures and bitters. Try turmeric jingle (chamomile gin, millet, lemon and cardoon liquor, turmeric bitters) or cherry moon (sour cherry spirit, lapsang souchong bitters, egg, lemon and lime). Rooms are both luxurious and plastic-free, with headboards made by local craftspeople. Interiors focus on muted shades and natural materials such as rush matting, while dried flowers and plants bring the outdoors in. Doubles from £650, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com Beaverbrook, Surrey A curiously brilliant mix of traditional British and modern Japanese makes this character-packed Surrey hotel a playground for food lovers. Once the home of Winston Churchill’s Minister of Aircraft Production, newspaper magnate Lord Beaverbrook, the hotel’s aviation theme is evident, from the Spitfire at the entrance, to vintage photos and artworks throughout the house. Japanese Grill serves exquisite sushi, sashimi and Josper-grilled specialities, including charcoaled wagyu. The eight-course tasting menu includes popcorn shrimp with ponzu mayo, scallop ceviche, nigiri topped with Kentish ants (which add a wonderful citrussy kick), black cod and beef tenderloin, and a chocolate flowerpot with nasturtium – a nod to Beaverbrook’s commitment to growing its own. The estate’s relaxed The Garden House restaurant is a short stroll from the main house, reached via the kitchen garden, where chefs harvest leaves, veg and herbs. The menu here is British with Italian influences, such as pici with Cornish crab and crispy polenta squid. Nearby Albury Vineyard produces the house English sparkling wine, which is best enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the gardens and Surrey Hills countryside. Each of the luxurious bedrooms in the main house are named for Beaverbrook’s illustrious guests – Churchill, the Kennedys and Liz Taylor, to name a few – and decorated in an appropriate style, from muted masculine tones and bold stripes and graphic tiling, to delicate floral fabrics. In The Garden House, wicker and wood provide a neutral backdrop for bright glasses and cruet sets, and the botanical prints and patterned plates that line the walls. Doubles from £545, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or beaverbrook.co.uk Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond Escape the city at this riverside bolthole, converted from two Georgian townhouses with a literary history. Though compact, the hotel has plenty of nooks to enjoy a peaceful moment. French windows open onto a pretty terrace for afternoon tea, and the country-style drawing room is a beautiful spot to sip a mezcal jalapeño negroni. Breakfast is taken in the library, where squishy teal blue banquettes sweep beneath shelves lines with hundreds of Penguin paperbacks. The 15 rooms, each named after a Michael Field’s poem (the pseudonym for the literary couple who previously lived in the building), are decorated in luxurious mid-century style, with touches including Hebridean wool throws, stacks of vintage books tied up with string, sensual LA-EVA toiletries in the marble bathrooms, and artisan crystals for well-being. Book a river room for views of the Thames, eye-catching Catchpole & Rye copper bath tubs and to avoid traffic noise from the roadside options. Doubles from £194, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com House of Joro, Sheffield At this boutique Nordic-inspired nook, with just four luxurious rooms, enjoy expertly curated tasting plates with access to a communal kitchen space and lounge where you can fix a pre-dinner drink at the ‘honesty bar’. We recommend a seasonal G&T featuring Joro’s own Natural Gin made with foraged botanicals. Later, relax into a plush king-sized bed or slide into a bubble bath in your freestanding tub. Joro’s restaurant is a 5-minute walk away in Kelham Island, once the heart Sheffield’s steel industry, now a buzzing food and drink hub inside a series of upcycled shipping containers. Trendy dark walls and low lighting create a relaxed atmosphere where you can experience mouth-watering bites like a Montgomery cheddar & onion croustade, moving onto a beautifully umami mushroom porridge, then a whipped white chocolate and blackberry dessert. For more flavour exploration, try the paired drinks menu, featuring exciting wines from across the globe and a mixture of ciders, spirits and beers. The next morning, your three-tiered trolley breakfast will be delivered to your room, so save some room for fresh croissants, smoked salmon on sourdough and muesli with fresh berries. If you need a dose of caffeine, brew a cafetière of the complimentary Forge Coffee, roasted in Sheffield. Book an eight-course dinner bed & breakfast stay, Wednesday-Saturday, from £225 for two people for a double room. This includes a half-bottle of Nyetimber sparkling wine to toast your arrival. Doubles from £225, check availability at jororestaurant.co.uk For more local recommendations, read our guide to the best restaurants in Sheffield. The Mitre Hampton Court, Surrey Located directly opposite Hampton Court itself, The Mitre Hotel couldn’t be better placed for a historical weekend away. The hotel’s main restaurant is 1665, a cleverly designed moody brasserie where every table offers river views. The menu features generous portions of British and Italian classics, including burrata and chicken Milanese, plus surprisingly standout crispy cauliflower popcorn for a starting snack. Cocktails are top-notch: try the G&T with unique Big Smoke Rhubarb & Pink Lemonade gin. Alongside 1665, the hotel’s Coppernose is a buzzy bar for evening cocktails and breakfast the next day. The short breakfast menu covers all bases, from a tropical smoothie bowl and sweetcorn fritters to a full English complete with wild boar sausages. For more interesting foodie experiences, try afternoon tea served in the airy Orangery or spend a sunny evening on the waterfront terrace, with the Whispering Angel bar to keep you topped up with bubbly as you watch the sunset over Hampton Court Bridge. Each of the 36 stylish rooms are individually and colourfully designed (don’t miss the cosy library complete with a jukebox). For a true treat, the luxurious Catherine Parr suite has a four-poster bed and freestanding roll-top copper bath in the bedroom (although it does face the road). Extra touches like complimentary wine and freshly baked shortbread hanging on your door add to the luxurious hideaway feel. Rooms start from £200, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The Pig at Bridge Place, Kent Just three miles from Canterbury sits this carefully converted Jacobean mansion. Style-wise, it ticks every Pig box: a focus on the kitchen garden, a relaxed restaurant and homely but luxurious bedrooms. The Grade II-listed building at the hotel’s heart, once bright pink in places (it was a popular nightclub in its heyday, hosting the likes of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd), was expertly restored during a £5.5million makeover. An imposing elm staircase takes centre-stage, while cosy snugs are great places to sit and ponder, with huge open fireplaces, gnarled wooden panelling and Persian rugs. The bar, refreshingly bedecked with female portraits, is all mahogany and maroon and, as with all Pig bars, is generously stocked with multi-coloured cocktail glasses that shimmer on window shelves. Some bedrooms benefit from original doors, four poster beds and freestanding baths, though all have mini bars stuffed with Kentish treats (grab a bag of crisps, made with Canterbury’s very own Ashmore farmhouse cheese). You can also stay in a hop pickers’ hut – a romantic log cabin for two, set on stilts in the water meadows near the kitchen garden – or a family-friendly two-bedroom lodge, complete with kitchen. Pigs don’t stand on ceremony – there are no white tablecloths or leather-bound menus here. Instead, expect cheery waiting staff and a dining room that wouldn’t look out of place at a posh garden centre. The restaurant’s biggest commitment is to locality: what can’t be grown in the kitchen garden, which you can see from your table, is mainly sourced from within a 25-mile radius, including Kentish Pip apples and wild meat from Mallards Farm. Breakfast is a feast: try dairy-free banana bread, stewed home-grown rhubarb, and nut-free muesli with coconut yogurt. Or, indulge in The Full Pig-Out, made special by the addition of zero-mile mushrooms and poached eggs from the hotel’s hens (they keep quails, too). Doubles from £210. Check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or thepighotel.com Babington House, Somerset The original cool country house hotel, Babington, was one of the very first Soho House Group properties to open. Tucked away down an avenue of trees outside Frome (check out our foodie guide to the best places to eat and drink in Frome here), in the Somerset countryside, the honey-stone 18th century manor house is part members’ club, part hotel (it’s open to all but there are reduced rates for members). All of the hotel’s 33 rooms are atmospheric and beautifully, if femininely, styled. For groups of friends, the old gatekeeper’s lodge, at the end of the main drive, is a self-contained, three-bedroom cottage. In all the rooms, the detail is the impressive thing: full-length mirrors come as standard,, chargers are provided for laptops and phones, hot water bottles are supplied for chillier nights, full-size Cowshed toiletries in the bathrooms and homemade chocolate chip cookies in the minibar. Entertainment is in plentiful supply. Within the extensive grounds, you’ll find a gym, two swimming pools (one indoors, under a beautiful timber-trussed ceiling, the other a sleek outdoor number fringed by a giant L-shaped green-and-white striped lounger), tennis courts, a football pitch, croquet lawn, cricket pitch, beautiful sage-green, leather-seated bikes to borrow, a cinema and a sauna, hammam and steam rooms. Overlooking the extensive kitchen garden there’s also a full-service Cowshed spa (book a marhalika massage, an intense but deeply relaxing and unusual treatment that blends Swedish and Thai methods – think sports massage mixed with acupressure). For dinner, book a window table in the main restaurant, the Orangery, and enjoy sweeping views of the lawn and the lake through towering Georgian windows while you eat. If you want a more casual supper, head to the bar to snack on spiced cauliflower fritters and Scotch eggs or sit down to imaginative salads (Castlemead chicken with spiced chickpeas and harissa yoghurt), wood-fired pizzas and pub favourites. The sprawling breakfast buffet is not to be missed, and nor is the complimentary afternoon tea spread out in the deli each afternoon – impossible to resist. Check rates and availability at mrandmrssmith.com More hotel guides Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best hotels in London Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels Black Friday hotel deals
European hidden gems: must-visit hotels off the beaten track
From a vineyard to undiscovered beaches in Portugal and waterside Scandinavian boltholes, these are the best hidden gem hotels in Europe
Looking for a gourmet getaway that is off the beaten track? We're sharing some of our favourite hotels and havens in places you might not have visited yet across Europe. Head to the wildlife-rich wetlands outside Amsterdam to stay at a 17th-century inn, discover a tiny Tuscan island, stay at a luxurious Sicilian farmhouse or experience French countryside chic in a hidden cabin. Read on to discover all our best European hidden gems. For more travel inspiration, check out our picks of the best Italian hotels, best Spanish hotels and the best European city breaks for foodies. For UK travel inspiration, check out our picks of the best country house hotels in the UK and the best hotel baths worth travelling for. De Durgerdam, Netherlands Doubles from £312, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com A 15-minute drive or boat ride from Amsterdam city centre, De Durgerdam is a collection of colourful clapboard houses strung along a dike in the rural wildlife-rich wetlands. At its centre a 17th-century inn has been meticulously restored into a stylish restaurant with rooms. Perch on a parasol-shaded bench out front for coffee and madeleines, while folk cycle past on a country escape, before sauntering down the jetty to swim off the pontoon. The destination restaurant, De Mark, is a collaboration between some of Amsterdam’s most applauded chefs. Dine waterside among the reeds or head inside for cosy, candlelit dinners with nods to the sea at every turn. The cocktail list twists classics with the likes of spiced honey sours while the nautical take on a caesar salad tosses North Sea crab with sea herbs and shavings of Dutch parmesan. A hot skillet of grilled tarragonbrined chicken is best paired with skin-on crispy chips to mop up the salted lemon jus, before a coupe of strawberries macerated in Dutch herbal liquor. Post-meal, retire to the reading room – a terracotta cocoon complete with antique honesty bar, alluring window seat and wood stove to keep things cosy in the colder months. The 14 rooms are sumptuously decorated in warm, earthy tones with velvet throws, frilly wall lamps and armchairs. There’s a commitment to sourcing everything from the Netherlands, from Zenology products to use in the walk-in showers to Dutch herbal teas, stroopwafels and fisherman’s jenever for sipping in the garden while watching the sun set over the wetlands. The three suites, built into the main building’s characterful eaves, even come with blue Kassl raincoats for walks to the neighbouring farm’s milk tap. Doubles from £312, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Le Barn, Bonnelles, France Doubles from £200 per night, check availability at lebarnhotel.com or booking.com If you’re looking for a taste of serenity without the burden of long travel, Le Barn, set in France’s Bonnelles countryside, should be high on your wishlist. Just 40 minutes from Paris Orly airport, the 500-acre estate offers an outdoors experience with comfort and luxury. The grounds are shared with Haras de la Cense, a prestigious horse riding training centre, and there are horses dotted around the vast space, as well as the option to go riding or try the Whisperer’s Experience. Guests are shown the basics of horse training and invited to try what they’ve learned with one of the many animals on site. This hotel is all about switching off and enjoying nature. Digital detoxing is easy when there are warm Nordic baths, a steam room, sauna, electric bikes, forest walks and weekly activities all included in the price. Wind down for the evening with a drink by the fire in the colder months, or under a canopy of wisteria in the garden in summer. Food is seasonally led, using as much as possible from the kitchen garden and locally sourced produce. The menu changes daily, according to what’s available, but dishes can include stuffed rotisserie chicken or roasted leg of lamb, with sides of roasted carrots, leeks and potatoes. Desserts are a treat not to be missed, including the likes of tarte aux figues and iles flottantes. Breakfast is a satisfyingly French affair: crusty bread, salty butter and homemade jams alongside eggs, bacon and pancakes. Fruit from the grounds is piled high in bowls, including huge grapes and Mirabelle plums. The 73 rooms are separate from the main farmhouse building, mostly spread across two converted barns, and provide a cosy home for your stay, with balconies that look over the horses grazing in the fields or the lake (which you can swim in). There is a big emphasis on freedom at Le Barn, meaning guests can choose how to tailor their stay and, with most activities included in the room price, it works out very reasonably. Doubles from £200 per night, check availability at lebarnhotel.com or booking.com La Guardia, Tuscany Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Giglio, the second largest island in the Tuscan archipelago, is lush with clifftop vineyards, fig trees and pines. The serene and stylish seaside retreat, La Guardia, is perched atop a granite cave along from the pastel-hued harbour. Brushed concrete and original stone columns are softened with driftwood decorations and wispy wicker lanterns that gently flutter in the Mediterranean breeze. Chic neutral tones continue through to the rooms, all kitted out with luxury Sicilian Ortigia toiletries and many boasting balconies and sea views. Book the junior suite to embrace the elements with a bathroom built into the granite and a beachside terrace for watching the waves lap against the rocks. Mediterranean flavours and island cuisine are served in the on-site restaurant – sip on a Venetian Select spritz at aperitivo hour before a candlelit dinner of Sicilian anchovies, palamita fish with marinated courgettes, and tagliolini with lemon butter and bottarga. The 70-strong wine list showcases rare bottles from Italy’s islands – Giglio, Ischia, Salina and beyond. Breakfast includes the likes of prosciutto, omelettes with Tuscan cheese, homemade fig bread and freshly squeezed juices. There are sunset yoga sessions on the terrace, healing zen shiatsu and Ayurvedic treatments, and e-bikes to explore the island’s rugged trails, cliff-face vineyards and restaurants in medieval castles. Doubles from £241, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Casa Modesta, Portugal Doubles from €220 per night, check availability at booking.com or welcomebeyond.com In the heart of a residential hamlet on the border of the Algarve’s Ria Formosa lagoon, Carlos Fernandes has lovingly converted his grandparents’ house into a striking example of cubist architecture, now home to a nine-room boutique hotel. Many original features remain – Santa Catarina flooring, curved brick ceilings and stone fireplaces – interspersed with tasteful Algarvian knick-knacks for pops of colour. Four rooms are housed in the striking whitewashed extension, complete with terraces that offer swoony sunsets over the wetlands. Blankets and bespoke toiletries are curated from local artisans, while shower tiles are from nearby town Olhão (worth a visit for the impressive fish market). Continental breakfast is served home-style, laid on lace tablecloths in the kitchen. Make your selection from the likes of carrot and saffron bundt cake, fruits hand-plucked from the property, and Portuguese cold cuts – order your preference of eggs and take to the poolside terrace to enjoy beneath the dappled shade of the trees. Come evening, chef Alexandre works with local producers to put on intimate dinners using ingredients picked from the on-site pomegranate trees, fruit orchard and vegetable patch. There’s even a dedicated tea section in the herb garden – lemongrass, lemon verbena and chocolate mint. For those who prefer something stronger, an honesty bar is stocked with Algarvian wines and Portuguese spirits. Enjoy beside the original 1964 oven, still used during winter to cook chorizo bread. Sunbathe among the garden’s cork furniture, read in the shade of the replica regional fisherman’s hut, or cycle along the Fuseta eco trail in the neighbouring wetlands, home to oyster farms, eclectic birds and two families of flamingos. casamodesta.pt Doubles from €220 per night, check availability at booking.com or welcomebeyond.com Le Doyenne, Île-de-France, France Doubles from €265 per night, check availability at ledoyennerestaurant.com The allure of Le Doyenné is its remoteness. A small working farm and restaurant with a handful of charming bedrooms just 40 minutes south of Paris, this magical countryside escape is best enjoyed as a bolt-on to a Parisian weekend away. The expansive dining room is very much at the heart of the estate, surrounded by gardens which supply the kitchen. The 11 bedrooms are a considered mixture of traditional French farmhouse details (think terracotta tiles and antique furniture) and modern luxury finishes (plush beds and roll-top baths). Room 108 is the biggest – with two floors it easily sleeps a family of four. High ceilings and huge windows create an elegant penthouse feel with verdant green views. It’s the perfect place to sit for an evening aperitif. Despite the prestige of the restaurant, the atmosphere is incredibly laid back. A daily set menu showcases the best local produce, and dishes are refined but not fussy – emphasis is put on flavour. The crudités du jardin is a highlight, each raw vegetable or flower accented with a clever sauce or seasoning. The rotating main course may be local duck cooked over coal or chicken with new-season asparagus and girolles. Breakfast is a tempting array of viennoiserie, yogurt, granola and cold meats. The hot menu might feature Turkish eggs or anchovy tartines with salad. Anything else? Peek in the Le Doyenné shop, filled with homemade breads, books and pottery. Doubles from €265 per night, check availability at ledoyennerestaurant.com San Canzian, Croatia Doubles from £303, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com Tucked away in northern Istria’s foliage-rich hills is this medieval hamlet turned intimate boutique hotel, San Canzian. The 28 rooms are decorated in soft, muted tones pepped up with 15th-century vintage furniture and vibrant beeswax canvases. Elegant on-site restaurant Luciano is strategically placed so guests can enjoy an aperitif from the 600-strong wine cellar as the sky turns pink over the olive trees, Adriatic Sea and Dolomites in the distance. Executive chef Pavo Klaric works homegrown and local ingredients into contemporary spins on traditional Istrian dishes – polenta-crusted cod on pine nut cream, rabbit slow cooked in red wine, and agnolotti pasta filled with young Istrian curd. After a breakfast of cured ham, crumbly cheese and fruits plucked from the abundant estate, take laps of the pool or pad down to the serene spa complete with Finnish sauna and candlelit hot tub. Doubles from £303, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com Nordelaia, Piedmont Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Nordelaia is all about equilibrium: between tradition and modernity; simplicity and indulgence; the boundlessness of nature and the cosy, uplifting comfort of home. It lies within a hilly swathe of rural Piedmont – a region which itself represents a kind of geographical middle ground, suspended between the mighty Alps and the coastal province of Liguria in north-west Italy. Occupying an 800-year-old converted farmhouse, the interiors of Nordelaia’s 12 rooms are at once contemporary and classic. Two attic suites – all warm wood beams and pleasing oblique angles – evoke a sense of treetop seclusion, while freestanding baths in the bedroom areas add a dose of opulence. On the first floor, the four rooms are themed around the striking seasonal colour palettes by which Nordelaia, from its woody hillside perch, is engulfed: greens in the spring, yellows for summer, fiery reds in the autumn, and pearly whites in the winter. Two outdoor pools – one heated, one not, but both with views for miles – entice in all seasons, while a visit to the spa, with its warm stone floors, barrel-vaulted brick ceiling and stone arches, is sure to restore a sense of internal equilibrium. Beyond the walls, Nordelaia is set within five hectares of arable land and boasts a working vineyard. Its offerings feature prominently on the wine list at the hotel’s destination restaurant, Lorto. Here chef Charles Pearce pays stunning homage both to the earthy, woodland character of Piedmont and to the maritime bounty of neighbouring Liguria. The two coalesce inventively in his take on perbureira – a thick, bean-based sauce traditionally served with pasta that Charles instead pairs with barbecue-kissed prawns and a coral emulsion. There’s a potato risotto with mussels that hits all the right notes, and a lip-smacking tangle of barbecued oyster mushrooms, served with a deeply savoury anchovy-based ferment called garum. A bistro menu that leans towards traditional flavours with modern touches offers guests a more relaxed but no less excellent dining experience. Rooms from £261 per night including breakfast. Check availability at booking.nordelaia.com, booking.com or mrandmrsssmith.com Brosundet, Ålesund, Norway Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The motto for this waterside boutique hotel is “curated luxury, the Norwegian way”. Set amid Norway’s striking fjords, Brosundet is housed in a set of converted warehouses perched on a cobblestone walkway beside Ålesund’s main waterway. Design geeks will love the unique features and original round windows of the loft suites as well as the one-room suite in the working lighthouse and the dramatic lobby fireplace that spans four floors. Each of the 131 rooms is unique but all are simply styled in soft, muted tones with contemporary bathrooms kitted out with Norwegian argan oil skincare brand Sprekenhus. Ground-floor brasserie Apotekergata No 5 focusses on flavours from the Sunnmøre region and spills out onto a renovated barge outside for alfresco dining on the water as sailboats slide past. Arkivet Bar gets its name from a local fish oil business and these days serves old-school classic cocktails with contemporary Nordic twists. Start the day with a curated breakfast buffet of Norwegian cheese, smoked fish, homemade pastries and Jacu coffee roasted in the same town. Pick up fresh sandwiches and cardamom knots from the on-site corner shop, and head out on an adventure into the fjords for kayaking, fishing and sea wildlife safaris. Reward your activities with a reservation at the hotel’s sophisticated bistro Sjøbua round the corner. Try local delicacies such as lobster bisque, grilled Sterling halibut with Norwegian cabbage and Røros sirloin aged at the bottom of the sea for 21 days. On Saturdays there are Norwegian tea dances accompanied by live piano. Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno, Catalonia, Spain Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at masdenbruno.com, mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com In the vine-laced hills of Catalonia’s Priorat region, Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno is a bold reimagining of the traditional Spanish manor house. Once a 12th-century estate, this Relais & Châteaux property now houses 24 suites that strike a harmonious balance between monastic calm and contemporary elegance. Think arched stone walls, custom-made furniture, cool marble interiors, local ceramics and an infinity pool in the silhouette of a wine bottle. It’s rural Catalonia recast through a minimalist, high-design lens, with deliberate softness. At Vinum, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant in the main building, chef Josep Queralt elevates local ingredients with quiet precision. The Sent Soví tasting menu is inspired by a medieval recipe book from 1324 and one of the earliest records of Catalan gastronomy. Standout dishes include candied leeks with Bellmunt del Priorat cottage cheese and confit egg yolk, and poultry broth enriched with roasted Reus hazelnuts. Poolside Tarraco is a more relaxed space serving the likes of watermelon and tomato gazpacho, citrus-cured sea bass ceviche and creamy rice layered with ibérico pork loin and Piquillo peppers. At Bruno’s Bar bespoke cocktails and robust Priorat reds are served beside sculptural fireplaces and a terrace that spills into the landscape. Book Bruno’s Suite for its vaulted ceilings, panoramic vineyard views, freestanding bath and olive oil based local amenities. The in-room bar (yes, a full bar, no mini here) is stocked with bold regional wines and snacks sourced from nearby artisans. Breakfast is a lavish yet unfussy affair: cooked-to-order eggs, flaky ensaïmadas, cheeses from Montsant farms and house-made compotes. The cellar-level spa is an atmospheric sanctuary offering grape seed treatments, while cycling enthusiasts can borrow the hotel’s electric bikes, making Priorat’s undulating hills a little more forgiving. Visit nearby Clos Figueras for organic wines and lunch in its garden restaurant, and browse Agrobotiga Falset for local oils and vermouth. Rooms from €350 per night, check availability at masdenbruno.com, mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Susafa, Sicily Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk It’s a family affair at Susafa, a sprawling estate that has been owned by members of the Saeli-Rizzuto family for five generations - brothers Manfredi and Tommaso are now at the helm. The fortified, 19th-century farmhouse at its heart sits at the foot the Madonie mountains, near Polizzi Generosa, and is the focal point for overnight guests. Around the farmhouse are 18 simple but chic guest rooms. Between terracotta floors and exposed beams are restful ricotta-coloured walls and the odd pop of olive green or tomato red from a headboard or throw. A restaurant is housed in the old granary and flavours here take their inspiration from the traditional Sicilian table. Vegetables, herbs, fruit and organic olive oil all come straight from the farm and the menu is elegantly rustic (think tomato salads, caponata and creamy risottos). Join a cookery lesson if you can drag yourself away from the pool. Doubles from £273, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Lådfabriken b&b, Orust, Sweden Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk An hour north from Gothenburg lies West Sweden’s Bohuslän coast, a series of islands and peninsulas home to fishing villages strung between rugged rocks. On the very western peninsula of Orust island sunshine bounces around quirky, colourful fish crate factory turned b&b, Lådfabriken. New for summer 2024 is the EKO Tiny House nestled in the cherry, almond and walnut trees of the waterside garden. Split over two levels, it’s a serene, secluded spot to gaze across the Skagerrak Sea at sunset. Owners Johan and Marcel serve family-style dinners such as cod fillets in buttery leek sauce and ‘East meets West’ coconut and lemongrass fish soup using catch of the day via Larsson’s fish shop in nearby Mollösund. When in season there is lobster soup on the menu and evenings dedicated to oyster shucking. Breakfast is a similarly homely affair, seeing the table laden with priest cheese, Swedish emmental, Leksands crackers and an array of homemade preserves – rosehip marmalade, cowberry, lingonberry and more. During the day, take a kayak out on the crystal-clear water, go wild swimming in the archipelago, kick back with a book on a deck chair in the rocky garden, or clamber over rocks following blue dots to the picture postcard Swedish hamlet of Edshultshall. Here, among red and white clapboard houses, families gather around barbecues on little jetties outside their boathouses. Guests all receive a pick-up stick on check in and are encouraged to join the owners in their #5minutesbeachcleanup initiative to sustain local ecosystems. Doubles from £133, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Les Sources de Caudalie, France Doubles from £272, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Twenty minutes’ drive from Bordeaux, Les Sources de Caudalie is the epitome of French country chic. There’s a stone manor house at its heart, a small lake, and a hard-working kitchen garden, plus a hamlet-like extension of suites. Great food and wine are the focus at this gastronomic getaway, but even the finest dining (the hotel’s main restaurant, La Grand’Vigne, holds two Michelin stars) is done without fuss. The newer, cabin-like suites (designed to reflect the oyster fishermen’s huts of Cap Ferret, in the nearby Arcachon Basin), with their whitewashed timber walls, retro-influenced furniture and spa-like bathrooms, are the ones to splash out on; in the evenings you’ll be serenaded by frogs as you return to your room along flower- and water-lined pathways. In the mornings, step onto your private terrace and watch carthorses ploughing the vines just outside. The three restaurants at Les Sources have most tastes covered. Celebrate a special occasion with dinner in La Grand’Vigne and enjoy a meal where even the table salts stick in the memory (one of ours, blended with Bordeaux pimento, was the colour of roast peppers). The cheeseboard comes with fresh cottage cheese, from a local dairy, served with a dot of cherry jam. Doubles from £272, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or expedia.co.uk Castilla Termal Brihuega, Spain From £226 per room, check availability at booking.com Surrounded by lavender fields, this little town in the region of La Alcarria is home to a new boutique hotel in a restored cloth factory. Perfect for food lovers seeking to make new discoveries, it showcases regional specialities, while its thermal waters provide an opportunity to fully relax and rejuvenate. Breakfast is a delight: all the Spanish goodies like jamón ibérico, pan con tomate and tortilla, plus local ingredients like manchego, honeycomb and tarta de uvas – a grape sponge cake which teams well with the more contemporary touch in the cold drip coffee offered. At dinner, rustic plates like kid goat and the region’s famous rum baba style cake are served in the large glass-domed restaurant. Nearby food experiences include truffle hunting at family-owned TrufaZero, which supplies many restaurants in the region. Guests can dig for the black gold sniffed out by their dog, Nino. Brihuega’s thermal spa promotes a sense of wellness and relaxation with an outdoor pool, massage jets and a bespoke lavender treatment – a two-hour ritual which includes a lavender scrub, wrap and massage. Exposed brick, wooden beams and floors, a neutral colour palette and dried floral displays add to the calming effect. castillatermal.com From £226 per room, check availability at booking.com Sublime Comporta, Portugal Doubles from £561, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com For a weekend of local wines, fresh seafood and earthy rice dishes head an hour south of Lisbon to the wild sand-fringed coastline, pine forests and stylish beach retreats of Comporta. The area has long been protected by its status as a nature reserve (at its northern end is the Sado estuary, home to bottlenose dolphins, flamingos and storks). The 17-acre estate of Sublime Comporta, its rooms, suites and cabana villas peppered among umbrella pines, cork trees, frangipane flowers and olives, is a blueprint for low-impact hotel design – stylish and subtle rather than dominating the surrounding landscape. Inside all is minimal and white, with the odd pop of polished concrete or warm wood. Though not directly on the beach (the closest is a five-minute drive away), the vibe is that of a grown-up, romantic beach retreat. There’s also a dedicated spa, using organic Amala products for its range of soothing treatments, and a yoga pavilion. Doubles from £561, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Tilia Estate, Slovenia Huts from £184, check availability at booking.com Slovenia is a compact, under-the-radar destination whose diversity of landscapes has stacks to offer visitors who love the outdoor life. Tilia Estate runs a range of cellar tours and tastings of its wonderful wines, some conducted in English – contact them for details. The nearby Theodosius Forest Village – with its seven luxurious wood cabins, some with hot tubs or saunas, set in idyllic woodlands next to its own vineyards – makes a perfect base to explore this beautiful region, where options include hiking, cycling, kayaking, climbing and paragliding. Huts from £184, check availability at booking.com Levendis Estate, Ithaca Check rates and availability at levendisestate.com Aussie-Greek couple Marilyn and Spero Raftopulos – plus their (grown-up) children, Kate and Niko – run this collection of four cottages plus swimming pool on Spero’s family homestead. It overlooks a bay in the north of the island and has been going for more than 30 years. Bathrooms come generously stocked with Levendis’ own natural skincare products, while cottage kitchens are pre-stocked with delicious Greek wine, olives and pistachios for that first holiday sundowner. Plus peach juice, bread, homemade jams, local thyme honey, freshly laid eggs and own-recipe muesli for the first morning’s breakfast. Click here for more places to eat and drink in Ithaca. Check rates and availability at levendisestate.com Harö Natur, Sweden Check rates and availability at 59north18east.com Take the ferry from Stokcholm to this restaurant and hotel, where your bed for the night is a unique choice between a floating greenhouse, boujie boathouse or glass-fronted treehouse. In the summer months, two Italians take residence on the pizza ovens, or opt for the tasting menu sitting; a succession of contemporary Swedish dishes that might include roe with dill oil and horseradish cream, smoked char with celeriac and cucumber celery jus and woodfire oven lobster with jalapaño cream. Take a dip in the clear waters and warm up in the hot tub and dinky sauna, perched on its own pier, while sunset casts a pink and orange glow over the archipelago. Check rates and availability at 59north18east.com Andrássy Rezidencia Wine & Spa, Tarcal Doubles from £155, check availability at booking.com In Hungary’s historic Tokaj-Hegyalja wine growing region (tours of local vineyards can be arranged), this five-star hotel and spa (treatments are tailored around vinotherapy) has won a following among modern-day wine buffs looking for less mainstream tastings. While its restaurant offers modern interpretations of Hungarian classics, it’s the accompanying wine pairing choices that most guests are more concerned about – the list runs to 80 different Tokaj wines from 25 different growers. More travel guides 8 lesser-known Italian islands worth visiting Best Morocco food trips Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best hotels in Paris Best Italian hotels Best Scottish hotels Black Friday hotel deals
From country estates with hydro pools to an elegant sanctuary in the capital, here's our round-up of the UK's best spa hotels, all with excellent on-site restaurants
Looking to treat yourself to a spa break? Want to find the best spa hotels with restaurants? Take a look at our pick of spa breaks for food lovers, with picks from hunting lodges in Hampshire to five-star mansions with high-tech wellness in Wiltshire. For more travel inspiration, check out our curation of the best romantic hotels, seaside staycations, boutique hotels in the UK or best European hidden gem hotels for something further afield. Looking for something more out of the ordinary? Find out the best unique UK holiday cottages for foodies, the best hotel baths worth travelling for in the UK or see our extra special best honeymoons for foodies around the world. Best UK spa hotels for food lovers The Retreat at Elcot Park, Berkshire The Retreat at Elcot Park perfectly balances quirky British charm with easy-going luxury. It’s a place where old meets new, refined meets relaxed, and the familiar feels freshly imagined. Just under an hour from London by train, it’s an ideal countryside escape for city dwellers in need of a reset. Food is at the heart of The Retreat’s appeal, with two standout restaurants on site. 1772 Brasserie champions seasonal British cooking, reinventing comforting classics with flair. The Fowey mussels with crusty bread are a must-order; the Somersby cider sauce is so good you’ll want to mop up every drop. For something with a livelier, more social feel, Yü brings a pan-Asian twist to the Berkshire countryside. Think sharing plates of silky black miso cod, spiced aubergine and jewel-like nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls that are as beautiful as they are delicious. The hotel’s interiors are a joyful mixture of country manor elegance and playful, home-from-home comfort. Expect bold prints, statement art and plenty of cosy corners to sink into. Thoughtful touches run throughout, from the help-yourself pantry, stocked with nostalgic boiled sweets and chilled soft drinks, to the charming Signet Moments that punctuate each stay. There’s The Signet Biscuit Tin, The 4 pm Pour and Nightcap & Natter – three small rituals designed to make guests feel part of something special. The spa experience The spa offers facilities including Himalayan salt, sauna, hydrotherapy pool, aroma steam room, Matrix gym, salt floatation tank, outdoor infinity pool, tennis court, wood fire hot tubs and cold plunge tubs as well as outdoor yoga studio. Treat yourself to a spa day from as little as £40, including breakfast for up to £20 at the brasserie. Rooms from £225, check availability at retreatelcotpark.com or <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100565798-11795693?sid=olivemagazine-226923&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Faid%3D311076%26label%3Dhotel-122197-gb-pi0o4kjac3XKlhEr326aAgS630456372136%253Apl%253Ata%253Ap1%253Ap2%253Aac%253Aap%253Aneg%253Afi%253Atikwd-2405229069580%253Alp9045946%253Ali%253Adec%253Adm%253Appccp%253DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YVujEjbMrKBVEQO8hCDrg-c%26gclid%3DCjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g416FREtEJuR05mr9_ZBCSo3XLs5TPow1AGuHIgMiSIZnJFL4L1E7RoC2d8QAvD_BwE%26highlighted_hotels%3D122197%26redirected%3D1%26city%3D-2603950%26hlrd%3Dno_dates%26source%3Dhotel%26expand_sb%3D1%26keep_landing%3D1%26sid%3D44cb1e6fe3102547f20b823525af4b9c" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">booking.com Saltmoore, Whitby, North Yorkshire Saltmoore is an Insta-ready wellness retreat with strong food credentials on the characterful North Yorkshire coast. This sprawling coastal chic hotel is owned by Love Island alumnus Montana Brown, with food overseen by local chef Tommy Banks of the Michelin-starred The Black Swan at Oldstead. The décor is true to the surrounding landscape – airy, seabreezy spaces and coastal blues, plus botanical notes and earthy, floral colours in ode to the nearby North York Moors, all served up with subtle flamboyance. Rooms are decadently furnished – in The Beach House suites include a rolltop bath in the main room, waterfall shower and opulent king-size bed. In the larger rooms there’s space for additional beds to accommodate families, and pets are welcome in lots of the spaces. Breakfast is a combination of help yourself patisserie, smoothies, cereal and toast, with an additional hot menu from the kitchen featuring pancakes, chorizo shakshuka, eggs served many ways and a full English. For dinner, the smart Brasserie has a Banks-approved selection of modern European bistro dishes and plenty of local fish. In the more casual, family-friendly Beach House the pizzeria has a solid, minimalist menu with Yorkshire charcuterie toppings and signature Saltmoore tiramisu for after. The spa’s Wellness Café serves nourishing salads and colourful smoothies. The spa experience The serene spa has a pool, cryochamber and Himalayan salt thermal room, with Wildsmith holistic treatments on offer. Rooms from £300 at Saltmoore House and £200 at The Beach House, check availability at saltmoore.co.uk, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Scarlet, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall Nestled in the cliffs above Mawgan Porth bay, this boutique, adults-only eco hotel feels like a remote beach hideaway but is just a 10-minute drive from Newquay Airport or 30 mins from Bodmin station. The vibe is relaxed coastal chic with lots of little rooms and nooks to cosy up with a book, play games, get creative with the art supplies or relax with a drink – local art is dotted everywhere. All of the rooms have seaview balconies or terraces so wherever you are you can fall asleep to the sound of waves. The décor is calming, pale wood and pops of colour, deep luxurious baths and powerful waterfall showers with toiletries are from Cornish eco brand Oula. Dogs are very welcome and get their own bed, bowls and treats. Complimentary loose-leaf tea, coffee and water is delivered to rooms day and night on request. The Scarlet restaurant has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Atlantic and a terrace for sunnier days. The menu offers precise, inventive cooking and an emphasis on seafood. On our visit cured local mackerel and monkfish tail with butter masala sauce were particular highlights. There’s also a well priced wine list with some great Cornish bottles from nearby Trevibban Mill and Polgoon. The upstairs bar has snacks and lighter options such as crab linguine as well as some expertly crafted cocktails. Breakfast is a leisurely affair, served until 11am with no need to book. After a selection of caramelised grapefruit, daily cleansing juices, pastries and granola the hot dishes include full Cornish breakfasts, scrambled eggs with cured trout, pancake stacks and smashed avocado sourdough toast. The spa experience The spa area encompasses a sea-facing pool and steam room, outdoor reed-filtered pool, hot tubs and a wooden sauna hut. There’s also a relaxation space and a path down to the beach for swims or sunset walks, plus complimentary yoga, tai chi and mindfulness sessions. Inspired by Ayurvedic principles, the tented, low-lit treatment rooms give a cocoon-like atmosphere for the likes of the PadaMukha massage, a combined face and foot massage using Ayurvedic oils to restore and reenergise. The Scarlet Reset Break offers a bespoke 1-2-1 fitness and lifestyle consultation followed by personalised sessions and post-stay mentoring to stay on track. Also included is a spa treatment and all breakfasts and evening meals. Rooms from £235 per night on a B&B basis, Scarlet Reset Break from £970 based on two sharing a Just Right room, check availability at booking.com or scarlethotel.co.uk Middleton Lodge, North Yorkshire This Georgian estate tucked away in 200 acres of peaceful North Yorkshire countryside is a destination for serious food lovers and wellness seekers. The jewel in the crown of the estate is Forge, a restaurant that recently earned its first Michelin star, thanks to head chef Jake Jones’s nature-led, hyper-seasonal tasting menus. Dishes highlight foraged ingredients and estate-grown produce, with inventive flavour combinations – dry-aged Nidderdale hogget with summer’s last mint and north coast cod with York asparagus, preserved lemon and English sparkling wine. A standout cheese course of Cashel Blue with pickled walnut, medlar and birch syrup precedes intricate desserts like forced rhubarb tart with custard and toasted milk. Drinks are equally thoughtful, with pairings ranging from a lemon thyme saison by Salt Brewery to a bright ortega from Kent and a rich reserva tinto from Alentejo, Portugal. Coach House offers a more relaxed approach for breakfast, all-day dining and cocktails inside and on the covered terrace, while Forest Spa, next to Forge, has its own light and nourishing spa menu, ideal for pre or post-treatment grazing. Rooms are spread across the estate – from the charming Tack Room with woodburning stove, huge freestanding bath and beamed ceilings, to contemporary suites with outdoor copper tubs and views of wildflower meadows. Interiors mix natural textures with understated luxury: Burlington showers, stone walls, linen drapes, oak floors and velvet armchairs. Outside, the Tom Stuart-Smith designed walled garden is both colourful and serene, adjacent to the working kitchen garden. The spa experience Forest Spa is a soothing, sensory escape. Guest numbers are cleverly limited so it can feel like you have it almost to yourself as you claim your chic green and white striped towel-draped lounger around the stunning 15-metre outdoor pool with views over the countryside. There’s an outdoor hot tub, thermal cabins and a steam room. Cute treatment huts named for herbs growing nearby offer a range of nature-inspired treatments such as massages and Voya seaweed wraps – the signature In Bloom massage is a favourite, blending deep relaxation techniques with aromatic oils to reflect the estate’s gardens through the seasons. Rooms from £235 per night, check availability at middletonlodge.co.uk The Spa at Manor House, Alsager, Cheshire Nestled in the heart of Cheshire’s tranquil countryside, Manor House in Alsager is a hidden gem. Overnight guests will find the hotel rooms comfortable, with all the essentials for a pleasant stay. While they may not match the spa’s lavish opulence, they provide a restful base for an unforgettable spa-centric getaway. The restaurant rounds off the day beautifully – the AA Rosette awarded Stables serves quality seasonal British fare with attentive service that feels both relaxed and refined. Highlights were the spring vegetable pappardelle and the sardines beautifully served on a bed of perfectly ripe tomatoes. The spa experience The spa at Manor House offers an indulgence that feels tailor-made for both special occasions and spontaneous escapes. From the moment you step into its contemporary sanctuary complete with a signature swim-up bar, suspended daybeds and lush spa garden you will feel enveloped in luxury. The facilities are impressively up to date, featuring indoor hydrotherapy pools, aromatic saunas, soothing steam rooms and a sensory herb garden. Every detail suggests thoughtful design, making each corner of the spa feel like a private retreat. The variety of experiences ensures there’s always a new indulgence to discover and the overall atmosphere leaves you feeling truly cherished. Rooms from £255, check availability at booking.com or manorhousealsager.com The Gilpin, Windermere, Lake District The Lakes has an incredible food and hospitality scene, and The Gilpin is up there with the best the area has to offer. The Relais & Châteaux bolthole is set across the two sites – the main Gilpin hotel and the Lake House, which are both a short distance from Lake Windermere – every consideration has been made to ensure your stay is a memorable and ultra-cosy retreat. The 30-room main hotel is plush and characterful but it’s the spa lodges and suites that really take the comfort up a notch. The spa suites are top tier – these open-plan wood and glass lodges are epic in size and luxury, flooded with natural light and decorated with botanical touches to bring the outdoors indoors. The bowl bath and rainforest showers feel extra decadent, as does the private deck overlooking your own pond. As the lodges are located on the elevated, rugged landscape of the Lakes, they offer both magnificent views and privacy. The main Gilpin hotel has two restaurant options – SOURCE and Spice. The Michelin-starred SOURCE is headed by The Fat Duck alumnus Ollie Bridgwater and offers a six or 10-course tasting menu with wine pairings that changes daily. Our menu included refined dishes like scallop, celeriac, truffle & white kelp, Sladesdown duck, beetroot, endive, kampot pepper & parfait, and white chocolate, caviar & hojicha. The more informal option is Gilpin Spice, a buzzy fusion restaurant with an open-plan kitchen. Here, menu highlights include Asian fried chicken, ox cheek rendang, Herdwick lamb rump boti, and sticky Jamaican sponge pudding with a coconut sorbet. Breakfast is served in the main hotel – we recommend the bright and bucolic conservatory. The menu consists of classic dishes like a full English and eggs benedict, alongside buck rarebit with poached eggs. Guests not wanting to leave their cocoon-like rooms can order breakfast and Spice dishes to their room. Afternoon tea is served at the secluded Lake House. Traditional with a gentle twist, we liked the thoughtful savoury options, including a shot of tomato soup and coronation chicken served in pani puri: a nod to a signature dish at Spice. If you're making a weekend of your stay, check out our picks of the best restaurants in the Lake District for more inspiration. The spa experience For the ultimate spa experience, book into a spa suite, where you’ll get your own personal sauna, steam room, massage chair, thermal hot tub and infra-red bed. In-room treatments are available using products from ESPA or local producer The Lakes, and include full-body or localised massages. Spa lodges also have their own facilities, and for those staying in the main hotel, there’s central spa for treatments. Rooms from £305 per night, inclusive of full English breakfast. Check availability at thegilpin.co.uk or booking.com. Lime Wood, Hampshire Secluded in its own estate in the heart of the New Forest, Lime Wood is a luxuriously renovated 13th century hunting lodge. The owner’s outstanding art collection adds a contemporary feel to reception rooms, made cosy with squishy armchairs, crackling fires and heaving bookshelves, set around a chic central atrium with retractable roof. Aperitifs at the bar include a trio of arancini paired with refreshing Americano cocktails and a six-strong espresso martini list. The restaurant, Hartnett Holder & Co, has a hushed, elegant ambience, serving Italian dishes such as house-cured Loch Duart salmon with pickled rhubarb, frilly mafalde pasta with slow-cooked ragu, and monkfish in a spiced shellfish and fennel broth. Finish with a dozen delicate madeleines served hot from the oven in their scalloped tray. A breakfast grazing table awaits in The Scullery come morning, laden with homemade pastries, house-smoked salmon, DIY granola bowls and more, while you decide between cooked-to-order plates such as caramelised pear buckwheat pancakes. The main house features stone fireplaces, Italian marble bathrooms and large sash windows with magical forest views. Other rooms around the estate include Pavilion rooms with forest-fringing patios and rustic-chic forest and lake cabins, the latter perched on the water with a terrace tub and log burner. All are enveloped in country elegance, with upholstered bedheads, Bamford toiletries and mini bars kitted out with New Forest shortbread, Flack Manor Brewery beer and Hambledon sparkling wine. The spa experience A night at Lime Wood includes full use of the Herb House Spa, a serene complex nestled on the forest edge. The sauna and hydro pool have windows to soak up the forest zen before a nature-inspired Ground massage ritual. Take a pilates class, work out in the gym or do laps in the indoor pool and cool off on a lounger amongst the aromatics of the rooftop herb garden. Sip cold press detox juices and CBD drinks while picking from nourishing plates at the adjacent Raw & Cured café, including the likes of British-grown quinoa with harissa roasted cauliflower and house-cured sea bass ceviche in a zingy rhubarb dressing. Rooms from £495 per night including spa access. Check availability at limewoodhotel.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath Few visitors to Bath see beyond the façade of the magnificent Royal Crescent, the city’s most impressive landmark. And even fewer guess that No 16 extends into beautiful hotel gardens with a lavender path – a haven for birds and butterflies – where you can have afternoon tea, cocktails and light lunches. Chef Martin Blake balances simplicity with on-trend touches. Montagu’s Mews’ evening tasting menu starts with tiny canapés of Bath Blue cheese and avocado mousse with cucumber and borage, then shokupan is served; a soft Japanese-style milk bread with Somerset’s Ivy Farm butter and smoked roe studded with salmon ikura. Hollandaise for beef tartare is spiked with Bath Ale and IP8 (beer) vinegar. A forced rhubarb dessert is softened with olive oil and vanilla. The comprehensive wine list includes confident choices such as a barrel-aged assyrtiko. Rooms are built for comfort and luxury, some with terraces and views on to the gardens or over the sweeping lawns of the Crescent. Fireplaces in bedrooms may be filled with decorative pinecones, modern art sits alongside vintage portraits and busts, and the outside is brought in with plants and floral displays. The spa experience The hotel’s five-star spa includes a heated pool with sauna and steam rooms, tranquil treatment rooms, and a small garden where you can relax after a swim, still in your robe. Rooms from £300 per night including spa access. Check availability at royalscresent.co.uk or booking.com The Store, Oxford In Oxford’s newest boutique hotel there are references to its previous incarnation as a department store in playful illustrations dotted throughout communal spaces along within black and white photography of the historic city. Restaurant Treadwell has a comforting menu of ale-battered fish and chips, chicken pie and elevated pastas like pappardelle with red mullet, Pernod and fennel. For breakfast, creative touches like a torched chashu pork benedict complement more traditional choices. Innovative cocktails crafted from regional ingredients are best enjoyed on the roof terrace. The Store's bedrooms and suites feature cosy bedding and soft, calming tones. Many rooms offer stunning views of Oxford’s architecture. Communal areas offer plenty of space to unwind or socialise, and during the week a visible laptop or two suggest it’s a good meeting or coworking place. The spa experience The spa’s super power is its modest size: just three treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna and quiet relaxation space – therapists will schedule your time to ensure you feel the space is all yours. Yoga and PT sessions are also available. Oskia, a brand that uses over 50 nutrients in its formulations, offers reviving facials, massages and body treatments, after which you’ll be offered a choice of calming teas. Doubles from £227. Check availability at booking.com or thestoreoxford.com Four Seasons, Hampshire Set within a restored Georgian manor and surrounded by 500 acres of picturesque countryside, Four Seasons Hampshire offers a refined yet relaxed country retreat. Interiors blend traditional English charm with understated luxury — think grand fireplaces, plush armchairs and elegant nods to the estate’s rich heritage. Wild Carrot, the hotel’s main restaurant, serves up modern British dishes that showcase local produce, from tender Hampshire lamb to perfectly seared sea bass. Breakfasts are equally impressive, with everything from classic full English platters to delicate smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and champagne Bellini's on weekends. For drinks, the cocktail bar’s inventive creations — many inspired by garden herbs and hedgerow fruits — can be enjoyed fireside or on the terrace overlooking rolling meadows. Rooms and suites are generously proportioned, with deep soaking tubs, crisp linens and soft, neutral palettes that echo the natural surroundings. Many offer sweeping views of the grounds or walled gardens, and communal spaces invite you to linger with a book or glass of wine. The spa experience The spa at Four Seasons Hampshire is a sanctuary of calm, housed in a converted 18th-century stable block. Its highlight is the glass-walled indoor pool, which opens onto a vitality pool and sun terrace. Treatments feature acclaimed brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm, 111SKIN and Ila, and they offer everything from tension-releasing massages to skin-brightening facials. There’s also a sauna, steam room and aromatic relaxation lounge to complete the experience. The changing rooms are as luxurious as the spa, with underfloor heating, luxury products and private lockers with dressing gowns, slippers and plush towels. Doubles from £520. Check availability at the Four Seasons Rudding Park, North Yorkshire This 2,000-acre Georgian country estate just outside Harrogate is a lesson in country luxury with a contemporary edge. Stone fireplaces and staircases contrast with pops of colour including pink chandeliers, mustard window seats, striking sculptures and modern art. This playful design extends through to the 89 rooms, split between the original Ribston wing (eight rooms of which have terraces that back onto rhododendrons) and the newer Follifoot wing, its larger rooms boasting standalone baths in copper-tiled bathrooms. All are kitted out with luxuries including tea and coffee from local favourite Taylor’s of Harrogate. Breakfast is taken in all-day restaurant Clocktower, with dishes such as harissa mushrooms on toast and the Full Yorkshire, as well as a modest cold buffet. We recommend finding a spot on the south-facing terrace or beside the 400-year-old olive tree in the conservatory. The hotel’s kitchen garden-led restaurant, Horto, is housed in the swish spa, so expect a relaxed approach, with guests padding through in robes and slippers. Neon canvases, mustard chairs and teal velvet booths beckon punters from the bar, and flashes of florals creep in to complement the garden view. Sharing plates include crisp tempura broccoli, honey roast fig and walnut flatbreads, toasted focaccia club sandwiches and tandoori monkfish kebabs. Hazelnut and chocolate choux are filled with hazelnut praline for a decadent finish. 300 acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands make relaxing walking routes, with views over the golf course all the way to the Kilburn White Horse in the North Yorkshire Moors. The spa experience The impressive spa was the first rooftop spa to open in the UK. Take a leisurely circuit, alternating between hot and cold experiences such as an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms and panoramic woodland saunas as well as sunlight therapy rooms, oxygen pods and a dedicated foot spa. Book a 50-minute bespoke treatment (try the invigorating body polish, which includes a heavenly head, neck and shoulder massage) to unlock access to the Escape Zone, a space to sip on herbal teas while wandering between rooms that offer relaxing visual and audio experiences. Rooms from £249 per night. Check availability at ruddingpark.co.uk or booking.com Lucknam Park, Wiltshire This five-star Palladian mansion blends old-school opulence with high-tech wellness, secluded within its own 500-acre estate. A short drive from Bath, Lucknam offers a country retreat as well as a trip back in time, restoring many of its 18th-century features to impeccable condition. Roam around the hotel and you’ll be transported to its aristocratic past, with high-ceilinged rooms furnished with chandeliers and antique furniture. Each of the 42 individually styled rooms evoke Georgian grandeur, with 13 suites offering views stretching out over the manicured lawns. There are also seven chic country cottages within the estate. We stayed in Juliet, a plush suite with first-class attention to detail: fresh fruit, juicy dates, shortbread and champagne all awaited in the lounge, with a Nespresso pod coffee machine, dinky milk bottles and a fridge stocked with soft drinks at our disposal. In the bedroom, a luxurious four-poster bed promised the most luxurious sleep. The bathroom was finished in smooth marble, with underfloor heating and Lucknam branded fig & vanilla toiletries. Head to the most majestic of all the rooms, The Drawing Room, for preprandial cocktails showcasing the premium whiskies lining the bar cart. Make a beeline for the Cotswold Old Fashioned, combining Cotswold Single Malt, vanilla bitters, orange bitters and maple syrup. Lucknam has two restaurant options – Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones and The Walled Garden Restaurant, the latter being one of the facilities to recently undergo a refurb. It’s a stylish all-day brasserie flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows to invite the outdoors in. Menu highlights include lemon sole with seafood linguine, chicken schnitzel with green beans and caper and lemon butter, and strawberry and pistachio knickerbocker glory. Breakfast is also served here, showcasing West Country produce including sausages from Huntsham Farm, bread from Hall Quality Bakers and strawberries from Cheddar Valley. The spa experience Lucknam’s award-winning spa within the walled gardens brings guests back into the 21st century, with a contemporary complex drenched in light from the towering window walls. Available to use for all guests, the spa includes eight state-of-the-art treatment rooms and four thermal cabins, as well as a programme of wellness classes, including pilates and yoga. You can also book a high-luxury treatment (try the 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond, a non-surgical lift facial involving 10 steps to lift, contour and boost the skin). Rooms from £472 per night, including spa access and breakfast. Check availability at lucknampark.co.uk, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Gainsborough, Bath This grand neoclassical retreat in the heart of Bath is the only hotel in the UK with direct access to the city’s natural thermal waters. Housed in a 19th-century building originally constructed as a hospital, The Gainsborough Bath Spa now attracts wellness seekers and design lovers alike with its elegant interiors, curated spa rituals and Asian-influenced dining. The Brasserie, led by a team drawing inspiration from the hotel group’s Malaysian heritage, serves dishes include tender charred beef short rib with sesame glaze, the signature Dancing Prawns tossed in a spicy-sweet sambal, and a comforting bowl of laksa spiced coconut soup with noodles, tofu and coriander. A classic afternoon tea is served in the adjacent Canvas Room. Rooms are understated luxe, with high ceilings, velvet armchairs and elegant panelled walls in calming neutrals. Marble tiling, deep tubs and Elemis products make each bathroom special. Some rooms offer in-bathroom access to the healing thermal waters, too. Across the hotel, sustainable practices are quietly integrated: single-use plastics have been eliminated and energy is locally sourced where possible. The spa experience The Spa Village Bath is set beneath a dramatic glass atrium, the thermal bathing circuit guides you through a series of warm and cool pools filled with the city’s mineral-rich waters, alongside saunas, a eucalyptus steam room, an ice alcove and sensory showers. Before and after treatments guests are offered chilled herbal-infused teas, specially blended for their grounding and hydrating properties. Treatment rooms offer deep tissue and aromatherapy massages, facials and full-body rituals. The signature Golden Body Treatment – using Omorovicza’s gold-infused oil and sugar scrub has anti-inflammatory and skin-revitalising effects. Post-treatment, the relaxation room is dimly lit and hushed, with reclining beds and headphones. Even at peak times this spa has a serene, restorative atmosphere. Rooms from £280 per night check availability at thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk or booking.com Carey's Manor and SenSpa, New Forest This ostensibly small New Forest manor house disguises labyrinthine corridors of 77 rooms and 22,000ft of spa facilities – yet it somehow maintains the vibe of an old-fashioned country pile. The entrance lobby is a case in point, where you can cosy up in front of the log fire or stroll into the bar where the panelling and sofas keep up the period styling. But take a different exit and you’ll find yourself in a mirrored yoga studio or a very modern ice room. There are three restaurants to choose from: French, Thai and the main dining room, which serves intricate British-inspired dishes. Breakfast is not to be missed, thanks to some of the strongest turmeric and ginger shots we’ve ever tasted, delicious spiced poached prunes and pastries, English breakfast classics and smoothies. Walk it all off in the beautiful New Forest countryside, or try an exercise class or visit to the spa if the weather isn’t up to it. The spa experience Guests can use the main pool and there is also a poolside sauna, steam room and hot tub available if you’re staying at the hotel. However, it’s well worth paying £39 for access to the rest of the SenSpa, where it’s easy to while away an hour or two moving between the massage jets in the hydrotherapy suite, the different thermal spa rooms (including a crystal steam room and laconicum) or the experience showers, which replicate an invigorating sea storm or a tropical rainforest downpour, depending on how much of a shock to the system you need. Treatments are gently themed around traditional Thai massage, using the hotel’s own SenSpa products or Espa treatments, and cover the gamut from ayurvedic head massage to a Thai herbal poultice full body massage. Check rates and availability at careysmanor.com, booking.com or spabreaks.com Package: The New Forest Dining Break starts from £259 per room, inclusive of continental breakfast, use of health club facilities (swimming pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub and gym) and dinner at one of three on-site restaurants (£35pp dinner allowance). Please note prices are subject to change. Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite, Lake District On edge of the unspoiled Bassenthwaite Lake you’ll find Armathwaite Hall, an imposing period building with grand lounge rooms, modern suites and a resident cat called Saffy. Warm service awaits in the warren-like hotel, which has two restaurants plus a well-furnished spa. For dinner, the more casual option is The Grill, a classic steakhouse with inventive starters, plenty of main course options and friendly, personable service. Steaks are served with beef dripping chips, grilled veg or salad, and traditional sauces like béarnaise and peppercorn, washed down with fruity red wine. Lake View Restaurant has an elegant, more cheffy menu with favourites like chicken kyiv and crème brûlée, served with a local or seasonal twist – we liked that the brûlée was offset with blood orange sorbet. The breakfast is served in the (hopefully sunny) conservatory and has a self-service continental menu plus a list of classic hot options including a full Cumbrian breakfast, Isle of Man kippers and smoked haddock with hollandaise and eggs. Guests can then head out on one of the many local walks to soak up the epic Lake District landscape, head next door to the Lake District Wildlife Park or just take a stroll down to the edge of Bassenthwaite for a moment of peace. The spa experience The smart spa has an exhaustive treatment list, including walker’s recovery massages for hikers, as well as a range of spa day options like sunset and sunrise sessions. We had a 55-minute full-body massage with a meticulous technician using Templespa products – after we relaxed in the hush room with fruit salad and cucumber water. The facilities are extensive and include an indoor pool, outdoor infinity pool and a strong range of thermal options including sauna and salt aroma room, with invigorating, circulation-firing ice scrub for after. Doubles from £295, check rates and availability at armathwaite-hall.com or booking.com Grantley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire Grantley Hall is a masterpiece of refined elegance and understated opulence. As you approach the grand entrance, a smartly dressed staff member greets you with warmth, setting the tone for your visit. The drive through the picturesque estate, with its beautifully manicured gardens and rolling Yorkshire countryside, is breathtaking. The historic house, thoughtfully extended over centuries, cleverly blends heritage with modern sophistication. The suites are luxurious, with exceptional attention to detail. Plush furnishings, exquisite design and state-of-the-art amenities create a sense of comfort and indulgence. Unlike some luxury establishments where grandeur can feel unapproachable, the charm of Yorkshire hospitality ensures guests feels special and right at home. Dining at Grantley Hall is like a journey in itself. With a selection of world-class restaurants, including Shaun Rankin’s Michelin-starred fine-dining experience, the culinary offerings are exceptional. Your evening begins in an elegant lounge, where staff eloquently introduce the menu and guide you through a curated selection of drinks. In the restaurant the experience unfolds with precision and artistry, featuring Shaun’s signature creations, such as his reimagined childhood favourite, bread and butter, a tasteful nod to traditional bread and dripping. From the impeccable service to the breathtaking setting and world-class cuisine, Grantley Hall is an experience where history, luxury and warm Yorkshire hospitality come together perfectly. The spa experience Grantley Hall’s spa and wellness facilities offer a serene retreat boasting indoor and outdoor pools, a cutting-edge hydrotherapy suite and a state-of-the-art gym. The unique snow room offers an invigorating experience, leaving guests feeling refreshed, revitalised and perfectly chilled. The expertly curated treatments, delivered in sumptuously designed treatment rooms, provide a haven of relaxation and restoration. Whether savouring an afternoon tea, unwinding with a crafted cocktail in the bar or basking in the estate’s tranquil beauty, Grantley Hall is a true sanctuary. Ideal for a romantic escape or an indulgent retreat, it is a destination that surpasses expectations. Doubles from £575, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com or booking.com Rockliffe Hall, Darlington Self-taught chef James Close spends any spare time he has travelling the world for food inspiration. Looking for a new challenge he joined Rockliffe Hall as culinary director and opened dinner-only TERRA in the space used as the spa’s café during the day, while the hotel builds a completely new restaurant space opening in 2025. Although billed as a modern bistro, the level of skill and detail in dishes such as prawn and crab toast; burnt lime hamachi ceviche; wagyu tournedos rossini speak to his Michelin star background (two stars at his previous home, The Raby Hunt), while gratinated gnocchi and tropical baked alaska hit the comfort food bullseye. During the day, the space is called Nu Sana and offers buddha bowls, burgers and brunches with plenty of vegan options. The spa experience The award-winning Spa at Rockliffe Hall spans 50,000 square feet, including a 20m indoor pool, hydro pool, monsoon showers, thermal suite and outdoor hot tub, plus a dedicated wellness restaurant, Nu Sana, with in-robe dining welcome daily. The spa treatment menu combines holistic spa rituals with results-driven treatments. Most recently, the hotel partnered with Proverb – the sustainable beauty and bodycare company – to offer guests a 'skin fitness' journey with a new stretch and align massage treatment. The sumptuous Spa Garden includes a sauna, private infinity pool with sweeping views of the grounds and beyond, plus tepidarium beds. Guests can enjoy the private space while sipping on Piaff champagne. Access to the spa is included for guests of the hotel throughout their stay, though not including treatments. The Spa Garden is £25 per person for guests staying at the hotel, while day and evening packages are also available to non-guests. Rooms from £390 per night. Check availability at booking.com or rockliffehall.com Four Seasons Park Lane, London Four Seasons Park Lane is a short walk from Hyde Park, the theatre district and a wealth of London attractions, but is situated on a serene street away from the hustle of the city. The hotel feels luxurious from the moment you’re ushered into the dramatic lobby, but the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. You’ll find sleek rooms with plush beds, decadent marbled bathrooms and plenty of added little luxuries from room sprays to a pillow menu, they take sleep very seriously here. Dining at the hotel’s Pavylon restaurant is an all-round immersive experience, request a counter seat and the theatre you’ll spectate will rival any of the West End shows. Headed up by multi Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, it took him less than a year to win a star for Pavyllon. Them menu focuses on French classics using the finest British ingredients, each dish is presented like a work of art but the balance of flavours is where the real power in his dishes is held. You can expect plates like monkfish tail seared with black pepper oil, succulent Lake District lamb cutlets and flambéed cherries with almond ice cream. Breakfast is served a la carte and includes British and French classics, the Parisian omelette with ham, Comté cheese sauce and parsley is perfection, you’ll find plenty of freshly squeezed juices, pastries and exceptionally good coffee on the menu too. The spa experience Situated at the very top of the hotel you’ll find dramatic city views from the changing rooms and gym, the sleek spa is home to a salt-wall sauna, eucalyptus steam room and huge vitality pool which is difficult to tear yourself away from. The treatment menu offers everything from personalised facials to immersive sound bath healing. The Gastronomic Getaway starts from £214 per person, including an overnight stay with full use of the spa, a signature cocktail at Bar Antoine, six course tasting menu at Pavylon and a Four Seasons breakfast the next morning. Check availability at Four Seasons Park Lane. Cliveden House, Berkshire Sink into grandeur at this mansion retreat where a clocktower distracts from the time with its gilding. Inside, mahogany panelling is studded with oil paintings of former residents, including Frederick, Prince of Wales (mid-1700s) and socialite Nancy Astor (circa 1908) gazing demurely over a bared shoulder by the yawning fireplace. Cliveden also hosted the Profumo scandal, recapped by our concierge as we pass the outdoor pool where, in 1961, Christine Keeler frolicked with the Secretary of State. We’re shown to the Prince of Wales suite, boasting three fireplaces and sweeping views of formal gardens and the Thames cleaving through forested hills. It comes with access to the Butler’s Pantry for complimentary drinks and snacks. Cocktails in the library nod to the past. The Profumo is richly fruity (lychee and strawberry liqueurs topped with champagne) but we opted for the Prince of Wales, a toned down version with maraschino and bitters. Dinner echoes Cliveden’s initial use as a hunting lodge, with a silky venison tartare among the raw starters, then a surprisingly dainty slow-cooked guinea fowl. Desserts are generally rich with cream, but the lime macaron with lemon sorbet delivers a clean finish. Cooked breakfast is served in the same formal dining room but do venture next door where the continental is beautifully presented in baroque surroundings. The spa experience The ‘Profumo pool’ and hot tubs are cloistered by the old stables, which now house the indoor facilities (pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room) in neoclassical style, complete with wafting voile curtains. Massage treatments are administered with lotions specially formulated for Cliveden by Oskia – the Nancy, floral with berries and wild mint, or the spicier Anna Maria with black rose, named after the mistress to the second Duke of Buckingham. Opt for a facial and you’ll be treated to a comforting candle-wax massage between rounds with the Theragun, delivering gentle vibrations and a brightening wash of LED light. Rooms from £445 per night including spa access. Check availability at clivedenhouse.co.uk or booking.com The Bath Arms, Wiltshire Established in 1736 and bordering the Longleat Safari Estate (just 35-minutes outside Bath), the dog-friendly Bath Arms instantly envelopes you in its quiet rural setting. Its Elizabethan architecture, open fires and rustic comforts are mixed with an unpretentious chicness; you’re as perfectly placed sipping an RBO gin fizz with Tack Room rhubarb & blood orange as a Beckford Craft Lager in its deep leather armchairs. Five of the house’s 17 country rooms are in the converted stable block, set around a quiet courtyard next to the main house. Siberian goose down duvets, Mozzo cafetière coffee, Prince & Sons tea, and bathrooms stocked with Bramley Bath products create an indulgent haven for retiring. Guest-dining is an elegant but comfortably unfussy affair, with a seasonally curated menu of estate and locally sourced produce. Heralding from Dartmoor’s hills, venison strip loin is a must-try, served sliced on finely shredded sauerkraut with smoked pancetta, celeriac, confit kohlrabi and finished with poached blackberries. It’s a triumph, cooked with the same care that pairs tender pan-fried pigeon breast with Jerusalem artichoke, hazelnut dressing and a split 8-year-old cabernet vinegar. Armagnac prunes bring an adult, jammy richness to the duck egg custard tart with apple purée and a scoop of salted caramel ice cream for pudding. A playful addition to the breakfast menu is eggy bread with maple syrup and bacon. Look out for the DIY Bloody Mary cocktail station, too. The spa experience Overlooking The Bath Arms’ beehives and the Somerset countryside beyond, you'll find the Bramley Treatment Cabin – a new mini spa by the Beckford Group. Its personalised face and body treatments use the locally made Bramley Skin range, founded in 2009 with sustainably sourced and cruelty-free ingredients. Massages are priced from £50 up to £85 for a full body 90-minute therapy. The Apple Peel AHA Facial (45 min, £50) is among four on offer, using glycolic, lactic, and malic acids for rejuvenating skin. There’s even a head-to-toe nurturing treatment for mothers-to-be, to help ease tiredness and reduce stress on joints. Rooms from £140 per night. Check availability at batharmsinn.com or mrandmrssmith.com Dormy House Hotel, Cotswolds Despite the grandeur, this 17th-century Cotswolds farmhouse-turned-spa-hotel is as welcoming as it is luxurious. There are 38 bedrooms spread across the main house and farmhouse outbuildings, including two Hot Tub Suites in individual cottages with their own private patios. The Shed serves hearty pub-style food (think spiced cauliflower pie and double-patty burgers) in a low-key setting, while The Back Garden celebrates homegrown produce with simple, seasonal dishes. This is also where the lavish breakfast buffet is served, that includes a DIY bloody Mary bar as well as homemade yoghurts, honeycomb, fruit and an ample a la carte menu. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, book a fun and intimate chef's table experience MO for an eight-course tasting menu including the likes of smoky barbecue monkfish, white asparagus with seaweed, fennel and lime and heritage beef fillet with pickled turnips, watercress and wild garlic. The spa experience The recently updated spa offers guests an indoor/outdoor blend of therapies, there’s a serene indoor pool, terrace hot tub with outdoor fire and a scandi-style thermal suite including an indoor shower with choice of forest mist, tropical rain or arctic blast for the brave. Treatments take place in plush, candle-lit rooms and options include a rejuvenating stretch and align massage which is perfect for those who’ve spent too long over a laptop. There’s a floatation tank and wave touch massage on offer for those who’d prefer a private treatment without a therapist. The greenhouse offers freshly blended smoothies, ginger shots, CBD drinks and nutritious snacks and light lunches, as well as its very own sun terrace so you can soak up some Cotswold rays. Rooms from £309 per night, check availability at dormyhouse.co.uk or booking.com Coworth Park, Berkshire An idyllic countryside escape set in 240 acres of parkland with five-star service, a blissful spa and Michelin-starred food. A modern country house hotel, Coworth Park is light and airy in shades of cream and gold with fun horse motifs throughout, reflecting its equestrian heritage – it’s home to Guards Polo Academy and hosts tournaments throughout the season. Luxurious rooms – spread out between the main house, converted stables and private cottages – feature four poster beds and copper roll-top baths. There are three restaurants, the Spatisserie (see below), the Barn serving smart takes on British classics, and the jewel in the crown, Michelin-starred Woven by Adam Smith. At Woven, the menu is a celebration of homegrown produce, from Cornish crab to Devon chicken, with a strong focus on English wine. Dinner is a five-course affair, dishes are fun and innovative, and there’s incredible attention to detail. Highlights include coronation chicken skewers; a bread basket with an outrageously cheesy croissant; and a bite-sized potato truffle tart with light-as-air pastry. Breakfast (not included in the room rate) is served at Woven, and you might need a swim first to work up an appetite – there’s a continental buffet loaded with homemade muesli, seasonal fruit and pastries, followed by eggs and avocado or, if you’re really hungry, toasted crumpet with Tunworth, sticky short rib, mushrooms and a fried egg. The spa experience The spa has a pool with underwater music, a steam room, experience shower, gym, treatment rooms and a Spatisserie offering healthy platters. Treatments take place on warm beds and are so incredibly relaxing, falling asleep is inevitable. Options include massages, facials and reflexology, and showcase Ishga products, a Scottish organic seaweed skincare range. Superior stable room from £545 per night, includes use of the spa facilities, check availability at dorchestercollection.com/ascot/coworth-park or mrandmrssmith.com Beaverbrook Hotel & Spa, Surrey Set in the golf courses of the Surrey commuter belt, Beaverbrook is an oasis of luxury where you'll dine and be pampered to the highest of standards. As the former home of Lord Beaverbrook, minister for War Production during WWII (he saw the potential of the Spitfire aircraft, now a symbol of British victory) and owner of the Express newspapers, there are nods to his famous connections and achievements throughout. Tiny Spitfires adorn the porters’ lapels and cocktail napkins, with the distinctive shape is even used for a bunker on the resort’s golf course. The Elizabeth Taylor Suite once housed the star, while there are photos of Beaverbrook’s friends, Winston Churchill and Alfred Hitchcock, in the library and cinema room. Rooms in the main house are quite special, and all the facilities are close at hand. Guests in the Village (which was opened in December 2023 and feels more family-orientated) have their own golf buggy to drive around. The four restaurants cover all tastes. Top billing is justifiably given to the gourmet Japanese Dining Room, but even the more kid-friendly fare in newly-opened Mrs Beeton’s is superior – with the dressed crab a highlight and the crunchy triple-cooked chips some of the best we’ve tried. For a real treat, head to breakfast in the Dining Room, where fresh cold-pressed juices, homemade compotes and truffled eggs – complete with chunky silver tableware – are the epitome of indulgence. The spa experience Two pools (indoor and outdoor), a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna are available to guests for some relaxation. The outdoor pool is heated to 29C – a toasty temperature for a winter swim. Between the massages, facials and personal training, yoga or pilates sessions – plus the relaxation room with its glass log burner and the spa café with wood-fired pizza oven – it’s easy to spend the best part of the day here. But, if you need a change of scenery, you can walk straight from the grounds out into the surrounding Surrey hills. Rooms from £553 per night including spa access. Check availability at beaverbrook.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com Pan Pacific London, London Pan Pacific might be moments away from the bustling streets of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, but inside it’s an oasis of calm. The hotel’s ethos is to bring a slice of the Singapore experience to London, and you’ll find that influence in everything from the Kopi Tiam afternoon tea to the vibrant hotel bar Ginger Lily, where the attentive staff will mix you up a signature Singaporean classic or a contemporary creation, depending on your own unique tastes. Breakfast is served in Straits Kitchen and you'll find an opulent buffet with a choice of Asian and English classics, from freshly made omelette to beautifully fragrant Won Ton noodle soups. All rooms feature king size beds, expansive marble bathrooms and luxury bathroom products, but the views across the city are what make this hotel standout, you can admire the glittering lights and striking contrast of old and new architecture from the comfort of your very own bed, it might be hard to leave. The spa experience A night at Pan Pacific includes full use of the wellbeing floor, start your morning with a luxurious swim in the balmy and impressively large infinity pool, floor to ceiling windows offer you far-reaching views over Bishopsgate Plaza as you practice your front crawl. There are plenty of sun loungers to recline on in the light-flooded relaxation area and a mindfulness studio where you’ll find yoga classes, meditation, pilates and gong therapy. The bougie experience continues in the changing rooms with Diptyque products and a smart sauna and steam room for the ultimate heat experience. There are a range of treatments on offer from a rhythmical bamboo massage to a lymphatic drainage massage. Rooms from £395 per night including spa access. Check availability at panpacificlondon.com Sopwell House, St Albans Tucked away down a country lane in the historic Roman city of St Albans lies Sopwell House, a modernised Georgian property with a newly refurbished spa, plush bedrooms, and fine dining at its award-winning Omboo restaurant. Omboo offers a sharing menu inspired by the spice routes of Asia and the far east. Highlights include pulled duck, cashew and orange salad, and melt in the mouth miso-glazed black cod. Afternoon tea features tiered stands of delicate cakes (don’t miss the matcha cherry mousse), traditional finger sandwiches and warm scones. Swing by the Octagon bar to discover a little of Sopwell’s history through its carefully curated menu; The Battenberg Wine cocktail is a tribute to Lord Mountbatten, who was a former owner of the estate. The hotel has 128 guest rooms, 16 of which make up the exclusive Mews courtyard – the place to stay if you’re looking for luxury. Rooms are elegant and cosy with duck-feather duvets and super king-sized beds. The spa experience A trip to Sopwell wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the world-class Cottonmill spa. A spa day includes use of the indoor pool, vitality pools, gym, sauna, steam room and poolside terrace. Upgrade to a Club package for use of the state-of-the-art relaxation rooms, a heated indoor and outdoor infinity pool and spa gardens. Don’t miss the botanical steam room and sensory deprivation pods for the perfect way to unwind. Rooms from £239 per night including spa access. Check availability at sopwellhouse.co.uk or booking.com South Lodge, Sussex Located in the verdant Sussex countryside is South Lodge, with its dark wood interiors and plush carpets, and the air of a grand private home. The staff here are friendly and attentive, in a way you rarely see in hotels today. There are 88 rooms ranging from smart standards to luxurious suites and cottages. Our room had views over the gardens with a luxuriously large bed, soft pillows, a coffee machine and sizeable bathroom with a bath and Molton Brown toiletries. There was a handy tablet for ordering room service, snacks, fresh milk or late-night desserts. Not to mention a pillow menu, ensuring you get the best night’s sleep. There are multiple restaurants and bars, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink. Try Camellia, the elegant spot which currently has MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 winner Tom Hamblet in residence until the end of April with Josh Mann then returning to the helm. Or, book at The Pass for intimate Michelin-star dining. Head Chef Ben Wilkinson changes the menu with the seasons – during our stay we enjoyed scallop on a bed of sweet roasted squash with rich almond foam and salty coppa ham, succulent roast venison with liver dumpling, toasted hazelnuts and bitter leaves, and a wonderfully sweet-sour dessert of blackberry, yogurt and lemon thyme. With interesting wine pairings, like crisp Slovenian Pinot Gris, and a course of fantastic local cheeses, this is the kind of meal you won't forget. The spa experience Sweat it out in the sauna, swim lengths in the infinity pool, take a dip in the outdoor pool or watch the sunset from the bubbling jacuzzi. For an extra treat, indulge in a massage, facial or nail treatment. Included in your booking is breakfast in Camellia or brunch in the dairy-free Botanica restaurant located in the spa. Rooms from £415 per night including spa access. Check availability at exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge or booking.com The Beaumont Hotel, London Old school opulence and faultless hospitality are the name of the game at The Beaumont. The polished walnut panelling, shiny marble floors and gilded edges set the scene as you walk into the Art Deco-style lobby. Suites are just as plush, with luxurious touches and 5-star attention to detail: Beaumont-stamped chocolate, sweets and snack jars all waited in our room, while sustainable toiletries were by heritage London perfumer D.R Harris. Rooms and suites are stylish, ultra-comfy and peaceful, cocooned from the busy Central London streets below. There’s even a room designed by artist Antony Gormley. The hotel’s Colony Grill is an elevated take on an NYC steakhouse, serving classics done with serious panache. It’s dimly-lit, intimate and elegant, with colourful wall paintings and retro booth seating. Everything on the menu is that little bit extra: the tame-sounding shrimp cocktail arrives as grand whole prawns fanning from a stemmed bowl; the steak is salt-aged in-house and served with whipped bearnaise; you can build-your-own sundae using a fun tick sheet (we added a chestnut and rosemary ice cream to ours). Breakfast is served in The Colony Grill and is just as chic as dinner. We ate smoked salmon, scrambled egg and brioche with house-pressed pomegranate juice, but the made-to-order menu is huge and includes signature hashes, cold breakfasts, pancakes, French toast and eggs served every which way you can imagine. The Viennoiserie table included almond croissant, cinnamon rolls and pain au chocolat, all made in the Beaumont bakery. Service is impeccable. The spa experience The peaceful basement spa at the Beaumont has a really fun USP – its range of hammam treatments. We experienced the Signature Hammam which involved an invigorating exfoliation using black olive savon noir scrub and an enriching rose & geranium clay. You can follow up with a massage treatment, or enjoy the facilities which include two steam rooms and one of London’s only cold water plunge pools. Rooms from £648 per night. Check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com The Tawny Hotel, Staffordshire The Tawny Hotel guarantees a truly restful experience away from the stresses of modern life. Set on a staggering 70 acres, there’s plenty to explore – stroll around the lake, heave a game of life-sized chess on the hill, or walk deeper into the woods. Welcoming staff are on-hand for a buggy around the grounds. The Shepherd's Huts with log burners are a cosy option, or fully immerse yourself in nature in one of the Hillside Treehouses or Retreats. Botanical embroidered blackout curtains ensure a restful night’s sleep. Land & Water shower and body products feel luxurious on the skin and provide refreshing fragrances of grapefruit, orange and samphire extract. The fluffy white towels and bathrobes are perfect for wrapping up in after a dip. Floor to ceiling windows make the stunning views the central focus of the room, and although there is a TV, guests are encouraged to leaf through books on forest bathing and poetry. The complimentary mini bar is well-stocked with local beers from Lymestone brewery, carbon neutral soft drinks and celebratory bubbles, as well as an array of ethical organic coffee pods from Cru Kafe (with your own coffee machine) and breakfast and herbal teas. Breakfast and dinner are served at the stylish modern Plumicorn restaurant; if you’re early enough for breakfast, you can watch the sun rise from the double height 180-degree windows. Choose a freshly cooked dish from the menu – including traditional Staffordshire oat cakes – and serve yourself a selection of fresh fruit, yogurt, charcuterie, pastries and fresh juices. At dinner, you'll find an extensive wine list with traditional and new world wines, local ingredients and options for a variety of dietary requirements. Room service is available if you’d rather not venture out of your calming oasis. The spa experience Choose from a variety of personalised spa experiences at the Thatched Cottage, the on-site treatment room. The wellness therapists are trained in the GAIA method, natural skincare products handmade in Britain. Bespoke massages start with a relaxing foot soak and scrub while you pick your massage oil aroma of choice. Calming music, along with the sound of birdsong from outside, create a truly blissful experience. Afterwards, enjoy a dip in the nearby outdoor pool. Sitting below the Plumicorn, it has the same exceptional views of the lush grounds. Order a poolside drink or simply lap up the incredibly fresh air as you relax in the year-round heated water, set to a warm 31C. Or, relax in the privacy of your own freshwater hot tub on your decking while taking in the magnificent views. Rooms from £250 per night. Check availability at thetawny.co.uk The Eastbury, Dorset Slow down, de-stress and be cosseted at this character-packed hotel in the Dorset market town. Guests can stay in the main Georgian townhouse, Potting Shed rooms in the walled garden or in Eastbury Cottage, with each accommodation offering laid-back vibes and a homely atmosphere. Guests can venture outside the grounds to explore the town’s food and craft markets, as well as Sherborne Castle (and sample The Castle’s wines in the Eastbury’s bar for good measure). On the menu, Chef Matthew Street works with local suppliers and some further afield to ensure his menus offer the best ingredients: Devon crab from Paignton is served with a chilled cucumber and wasabi soup for starters, followed by satisfying mains such as Japanese braised pork belly with miso broth, and burrata and ricotta agnolotti with parmesan crisp. Alternatively, for a more intimate evening, there’s the option to book the garden pod; a unique glass snug looking out across the lawn, furnished with plump cushions, soft blankets and ambient lighting. Interior designer Kathleen Fraser balances muted tones of pale blue and green with colourful prints and interesting textures throughout. The new Eastbury Cottage adjacent to the hotel has three delightfully cosy bedrooms, one with a free-standing bath as well as a separate modern shower room. Standout features include the inglenook fireplace, low beams, a well-equipped kitchen, and sunny private garden with hot tub and dining area. The spa experience The hotel’s small but deluxe garden spa comes with hot tubs and a steam room for fully fledged relaxation. Rooms from £250 per night including spa access. Check availability at theeastburyhotel.co.uk or booking.com Merchant's Manor, Falmouth Merchant's Manor is an Edwardian manor house turned boutique hotel in a foodie corner of Cornwall, with 39 rooms, two luxurious self-catering apartments and a polished restaurant celebrating the area’s culinary riches. Despite the hotel’s century-old beating heart, the decor feels box-fresh – calm, muted tones, parquet flooring, wood panelling, ornate coving and snuggle-into arm chairs. If you’re craving space, or arrive as a gaggle of guests, go for one of the stand-alone residencies. Ask for the Lookout for the best sea views once the Cornish mizzle clears. Clad with reclaimed timber and home to two double bedrooms and two Pinterest-perfect bathrooms, it also stretches to a kitchen, lounge and dining area, plus a private hot tub. Arrive early so you can make the most of the welcome hamper, bulging with homemade scones, jars of clotted cream and jam, freshly baked bread, fudgy brownies, Cornish Furniss ginger biscuits and chilled fizz from Padstow vineyard Trevibban Mill. Even the tea (Tregothnan) is locally grown. Breakfast is an impressive spread with as much attention to detail as lunch and dinner. With toast there’s local honey, Cornish jams and freshly ground nut butter. Overnight oats and homemade granola are offered with freshly stewed rhubarb and Trewithan Dairy yogurt, nuts and seeds while orange juice is swapped for Polgoon Cornish apple juice and a DIY bloody mary station. There are warm croissants, cheese and hams, plus a selection of hot breakfasts, including the classics and vegan options. The must-order, though, is buttery hot-smoked mackerel with chive butter, grilled tomato and poached eggs. The spa experience The Linen Rooms spa offers a selection of massage treatments from hot stone massages to the 'work it out' massage and pamper packages. Blow off steam in the indoor pool, then enjoy afternoon tea or snack on small plates. Day passes to the spa are available. Doubles from £141. Check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Seaham Hall, County Durham A short amble away from the rugged Durham Heritage Coast lies Seaham Hall Hotel, a beautiful hotel and spa just outside the village of Seaham, around 30 minutes’ drive east of Durham. The imposing Georgian country house is home to 21 huge suites as well as a luxurious Asian-themed spa. We stayed in an executive suite, which ticked all the five-star hotel boxes: a huge king-size bed with a ‘pillow menu’, a beautiful white-tiled bathroom with walk in shower, freestanding bath and fancy Elemis toiletries, and the fluffiest robes and slippers. In the separate lounge area, squishy sofas, a Nespresso machine, a fridge with free soft drinks and huge windows out onto the garden meant we had everything we needed for a good few hours’ lounging. For dinner we visited Byron’s Restaurant. This is Seaham Hall’s fine dining offering and the vibe is one of opulent indulgence (Lord Byron has history here – he married the daughter of a past owner). A pewter-topped oak bar sweeps along one side of the grand high-ceilinged room. Prized tables are the velvet-lined curved booths in the corners of the room and the rest is made up of intimate small tables. Afternoon tea is also a highlight at the hotel. Served in the lounge at the back of the hotel, overlooking immaculately tended gardens, it’s not to be missed. The spa experience After a brisk walk along the coast (a path at the back of the hotel leads you directly down to the sea) we attempted to burn off some more calories before dinner with a trip to the Serenity Spa. Even if you are not booked in for a treatment the spa facilities are great. As well as a huge pool surrounded by loungers there is a separate hydrotherapy pool, plunge pools, salt sauna, Indian steam room, jacuzzi and outdoor hot tub. You can even pop into the next-door Ozone restaurant in your robe for a coffee or a glass of fizz. Check rates and availability at seaham-hall.co.uk Sofitel St James, London Looking for a day spa option? Boasting a 60-minute massage, three-course meal by a Michelin-starred chef and spritz cocktail, all for just £130, there’s no need to feel guilty about pampering yourself with the Spa and Spritz for One at Sofitel London St James by Pall Mall. As well as being fantastic value for money, the seasonal spa menu by Anthony Demetre at Wild Honey is light and elegant without feeling puritanical. A crisp and yielding pig’s head terrine is among the starters, and mains might include tender rabbit in a gloriously sticky jus, or miso-glazed Cornish skate with a refined take on cheesy peas. Ask about the tart of the day and snap up the gypsy tart if it’s on offer – lusciously dark with caramelised muscovado sugar, yet not too sweet. All this comes after the massage and before the spritz. In summer, watch the world go by on a Parisian-style terrace with one of six cocktails, including an understated pear and ginger, signature blends with rose or grapefruit, or the classic Aperol. In chillier weather, huddle up with a drink in the cosy art deco bar. The spa experience From the top of your head to the tips of your toes, no aching muscle will be left untended in the thorough, full-body massage that comes with this package. Sip a herbal tea (served with buttery shortbread) while you wait and choose your oils – among them, Sothys’ zesty orange blossom and cedarwood, or festive cinnamon and ginger – then settle in for an hour of warm, enveloping luxury. Given you’re just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus, the spa area is a quiet haven, but the relaxation room is small, so be mindful that you may be relegated to the armchair rather than one of three luxe recliners. In all, though, for the money being asked, this is five-star treatment at a steal. Spa & Spritz for One package, £130, at sofitellondonstjames.com More hotel guides Best hotels in Wales Best health and wellness retreats Best Scottish hotels Best hotels in London Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels Best foodie day trips from London by train
Check out our guide to the best places to eat and drink in and around Marylebone, including restaurants, bars and cafés
Looking for Marylebone restaurants? Here's our foodie guide to places to eat and the best restaurants in Marylebone, including Marylebone High Street, Seymour Place and Blandford Street, from Bond Street to Marylebone station and in between... Read our guide to the best restaurants in Marylebone, then discover the best chef's table experiences in the UK. Now find out the best female-owned restaurants in the U.K. For more London food guides, see our review of the best restaurants in Soho, best restaurants in Islington and best restaurants in Mayfair. Best places to eat and drink in Marylebone Kol, Seymour Street Santiago Lastra’s refined Mexican restaurant took London’s Mexican restaurant scene to a new, fine-dining level. The vibe is anything from stuffy, with clay pots displayed against mottled red-orange walls and Santiago and his mustard t-shirt-clad team calmly tending to multiple pans in the open kitchen. Order a spicy mezcal margarita to start, perfectly balanced and sippable, with a cute Kol-branded ice cube. Kol serves Mexican flavours made with the finest seasonal English ingredients (save corn, chillies and chocolate from Mexico) to create six or nine courses of Mexican dishes. Think juicy, herbaceous strawberry stuffed with sea arrowgrass and pumpkin seed sikil pak, standout scallop paired with Trombone courgette and pil-pil, the scallop perfectly cooked and sweet against the salty sauce and sea buckthorn juice squeezed from a langoustine head over a sourdough taco stuffed with the crustacean’s meaty flesh and a smoky chipotle mayo. For the main event, fill handmade corn tortillas with fall-apart 18-hour cooked short rib smothered in rich pasilla chilli mole. A new offering from Kol is the dessert and drinks pairing downstairs. The smaller dessert tasting menu is bold and exciting: the Paleta lolly, with its striking Neapolitan design, is made from jalapeño, strawberry, yogurt and topped with wood ants. The Tamal, made with birch, koji, apple and buttermilk was refreshing with a fantastic blend of textures. Make sure you ask for a glass of the Szolo dessert wine, made in the style of Hungarian tokaji, which uses noble rot to intensify the dried fruit flavours. Kol is a fine dining restaurant with a price tag to match but now offers a five-course lunch menu at £95 for guests to experience a condensed version of the Kol experience. Perfect for a special occasion. kolrestaurant.com Trishna, Blandford Street The secret’s been out for a while that eating early is how to bag the best tables and enjoy the greatest food at prices that won’t make your jaw hit the floor. And that is certainly the case at this Marylebone stalwart. Slip in for an early lunch or dinner and you’ll be rewarded with the Taste of Trishna menu: a stellar-value four-course showcase of South Indian coastal flavours for £55. Open since 2008, Trishna helped put regional Indian cooking on the map in London. It has unveiled a refreshed look with soft light blues, warm walnut tones and handcrafted rattan accents, inspired by India’s southern coastal towns. After thrilling your taste buds with a crisp trio of papads and tangy chutneys, choose from a range of perfectly portioned and beautifully presented plates of expertly spiced specialties. Soft shell crab masala with a quenelle of delicate white meat is divine. Duck chutney seekh is smoky, spicy and perfectly charred, cut through with pineapple chutney. Mains come with a thali-style spread of rice, breads, dhal and a sensational chettinad potato roast, with options such as wild mushroom biryani (elevated by truffle and pink peppercorn raita), deeply savoury gongura lamb with a sour, pickled edge, or baby aubergine vathagal, its creamy texture complemented by crunchy peanuts. Desserts nod to tradition with flair: a mango malai, layered with lassi cream and makrut lime jujubes, is both delicate and decadent. trishnalondon.com Santo Remedio, Thayer Street Santo Remedio’s newest site in Marylebone feels fresh, lively and full of warmth. Despite being part of a small chain, it has the energy of a new launch, with polished service and a menu that beautifully balances spice, citrus and texture. The dining areas are stylish but unfussy, the kind of place that works as well for a pre-theatre dinner as it does for a long chatty meal with friends. The £40 dinner menu is excellent value, offering a broad sweep of the kitchen’s strengths, though we went à la carte. Start with the guacamole, of course, and follow with the tuna tostadas: sashimi-grade yellowfin, sesame, jalapeño and chipotle mayo piled high on a crisp base – fresh and cooling, if a little heavy on the mayo. Baja-style fish tacos arrive, generously filled with crisp, tequila-battered coley and limey slaw. Duck carnitas are soft, rich and built for sharing, like a Mexican riff on a duck pancake. And don’t miss the elote, its pecorino and chipotle mayo lifting sweet, slightly charred corn. Cocktails are a highlight – the coconut margarita is creamy and tropical, the sangria bright and citrussy. Service is warm, attentive and refreshingly personal, making Santo Remedio an easy choice for a flavour-packed, fun evening. santoremedio.co.uk AngloThai, Seymour Place AngloThai is the debut restaurant from husband and wife team John and Desiree Chantarasak, and marks the culmination of a nearly four-year site search after numerous highly successful pop-ups and residencies. Now the couple bring their unique vision for contemporary Thai-British cuisine to the historic Seymour Place in London’s vibrant Marylebone neighbourhood. À la carte by day and tasting menu by night, the menu is full of dishes that blend the bold flavours of Thailand with modern presentation and innovative techniques, while still respecting traditional cooking styles. It also adapts to the seasonal offerings of the British Isles, and is paired with a wine list that champions thoughtful producers and superior craftsmanship. This 44-cover restaurant was one of the hottest tables of 2024 and the momentum is carrying over to 2025, with AngloThai winning it's first Michelin star. anglothai.co.uk Abuelo, Cavendish Place Architect-owned Abuelo café unites its owners’ heritage with an Australian and South American menu of brunch, coffee, baked treats and now natural wines. The Marylebone outpost feels as though you’re kicking back at your friend’s house, that is, if that friend has impeccable taste in interior design. Sit up at the patchwork marble and reclaimed stone bar or on one of the large sharing tables for a sociable feel. Dark brown wood, hanging rice paper lanterns and vintage Bruno Rey chairs create a stylish 70s aesthetic, alongside an on-trend selection of lifestyle magazines from the likes of Dazed. Specialty Coffee Association accredited Latin American arabica beans are available in a diversity of serves, from the classics including V60 filter as well as cold brew specials such as dulce de leche iced coffee. If coffee isn’t your thing, matcha, chai and teas are on offer, too. Brunch dishes include a vibrant purple roasted heritage carrot sandwich with tangy carrot pickle, hummus and fresh green herbs. Elevated versions of classic bakes include carrot cake with statuesque mascarpone icing, slabs of banana bread, tahini cookies and sticky cinnamon buns. Saturday evenings feature natural wines, small plates and DJs. abuelocafe.co.uk Lita, Paddington Street Chef Luke Hearne heads up the kitchen of this elegant Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Marylebone. Earthy-hued interiors – parquet stone floors, brushed concrete walls and Italian red marble counter tops – are given a homely edge with kitsch knick-knacks, frilly lampshades, wooden dressers, hand-stitched vegetable napkins and jars of ferments. Eclectic seating areas create variety in the large space – from burnt orange velvet banquettes and mid-century tables to brass-edged booths and stools to perch at the bar and open-kitchen counter. There’s a succinct list of sophisticated cocktails – strong, sour currant and plum gimlet; fragrant, tequila-based Vetiver Margo; and delicate jasmine highball topped with Aperol caviar. The menu is split into four sections and dishes are designed to share. Starters include Hereford beef tartare with shoestring fries; crunchy Kentish radishes with smoked cod’s roe and onion ash; and thinly sliced tuna with chopped peppers, coriander and capers. Highlights from the primi-style section are veal sweetbreads in a gently spiced lobster bisque; Aylesbury duck ragu that clings to strozzapreti pasta twists and seasonal squash with creamy ricotta and caramelised hazelnuts. Monkfish – grilled then finished in the brick oven that takes centre stage in the open kitchen – rests on pumpkin purée with umami-rich chicken butter sauce and trompettes to garnish. For dessert, a contemporary slice of Sicilian pistachio and olive oil cake comes dressed with jammy figs, fresh blackberries, crème fraîche and pistachios. Prices are high but the excellent cooking and stunning setting provide ample justification for a special occasion. litamarylebone.com Zoilo, Duke Street This intimate bistro has been serving regional Argentinian classics for over a decade. The upstairs dining room is a cocoon of elegance – exposed brick and wood panelled walls strung with black and white photographs of life in Buenos Aires, flickering tea lights on white tablecloths, deep red leather banquettes and chequered flooring, with a heavy velvet curtain wrapped around the door to keep out the cold. A wooden bar is generously stocked with aperitifs and spirits to make cocktails while impressive vintages line shelves behind. Chef Patron Diego Jacquet returns to Argentina two to three times a year to source the 250-strong list of wines including Mendoza's prestigious Malbec regions UCO Valley and Vista Flores. Kick things off with house-cured salami, flaky, beef-filled empanadas, provoleta (a semi-hard cheese similar to Italian provolone) melted and topped with almonds and honey, and sea bream ceviche doused in green oil, chia seeds and pickled kohlrabi. Grass-fed, pampas-reared Argentinian steak is the main event, from juicy ‘bife ancho’ rib-eye served with lively tomato and parsley salsa criolla to perfectly pink ‘asado’ flank and Brazilian style picanha cooked sous vide. Order extra-crunchy hand cut Provençal chips and seasonal sides that might include opulent cauliflower cheese layered with peanut butter. To finish, silky smooth crème brûlée is topped with dulce de leche swirled banana ice cream and petits fours include squares of dulce de leche fudge. zoilo.co.uk Click here for Zoilo's alfajores recipe... Kima, Paddington Street It’s all about the small details at this minimalist dining room in Marylebone; wave-inspired crockery is handmade in a studio in Corfu and the restaurant’s name, which means “wave” in Greek, is elegantly displayed on one wall. Whole fish glisten on ice at the front, while a selection of cuts for the gill-to-fin menu age in glass-fronted fridges. An example of this zero-waste dining style is sea bream crudo lifted by thyme and lemon zest followed by the ‘shank’ of the same fish served with bacon-studded cabbage fricassee. An elegant take on a Greek salad accompanies, with aged feta crowning a bowl of chopped tomatoes and cucumber, doused in Greek olive oil poured from a carafe to meld with the juices, in which diners are encouraged to dip homemade sourdough. The “wave” theme extends to dessert, where caramelised seaweed plays a glorious role in a crisp millefeuille-tiramisu hybrid layered with coffee cream and caramelised nuts. Cocktails are infused with Greek ingredients – mastic Votanikon gin adds herbaceous notes to a basil cocktail, while clarified feta is used to create a unique twist on a sour. The selection of Greek wines includes a minerally white from Santorini, thoughtfully recommended by one of the very helpful, friendly Greek servers. kimarestaurant.com The Cavendish, New Cavendish Street Tucked away on a semi-residential street in Marylebone, the Cavendish is a little oasis of calm just a few blocks back from the buzz of Oxford Street. Downstairs, there’s an airy, high-ceilinged pub with outside pavement seating for sunnier days, and upstairs is a more grown-up dining space with smart blue-velvet banquettes, wood panelling and brass fittings. This is not your standard pub grub: the menu from ex-Oyster Shed chef Laura de Fillipis is full of surprising and inventive small plates, like delicate crunchy pan puri filled with smoked mackerel and mussels, or a starter of jellied beetroot cannelloni stuffed with goat’s cheese and served with a walnut gremolata. Larger dishes, like king prawn tortellini served in a tomato prawn bisque with nori crisps, show there is a real love of fish cookery here. Service is warm, friendly and chatty, and the dog-friendly vibe extends to a canine dining menu, so your furry pal can enjoy a meal, too. Order an ice-cold pint of crisp Cornish Harbour IPA served in a frosted glass, or choose a summery watermelon and aloe vera spritz from the quirky cocktail menu. 35newcavendish.co.uk Carlotta, Marylebone High Street The fifth restaurant in Big Mamma Group’s glamorous collection is possibly its most lavish yet. Enter from Marylebone High Street into a jewelled abundance of glassware and aperitif bottles and continue through into the glitz of an old-school Italian American film set. Silky folds of material line the walls along with black and white photographs and framed memorabilia on the ground floor, while downstairs is a spacy concoction of red and blue velvet reflected in mirror-lined curved walls. Food is equally lavish and fun, with starters such as tempura prawn cocktail and meaty ossobuco croquettes. The rich, bisque-style sauce in the Sicilian red prawn spaghetti is our highlight of the primi menu, while truffle butter fettuccini for two is the most Instagrammable, theatrically prepared at the table in true Big Mamma style. Opt for panko-crusted Milanese lamb cutlets for main if you like the sound of cheesy, meaty lollipops. Save room for pud – Carlotta’s wedding cake is a riot of meringue, delicate almond sponge and zesty coulis, while pistachio gelato is a texture sensation topped with pistachio cream and caramelised pistachio crumb. bigmammagroup.com Bao Marylebone, James Street BAO Marylebone is the fifth iteration of the much- loved cult Taiwanese steamed buns and xiao chi small plates concept which has been delighting Londoners since 2013 when friends Shing Tat Chung, Erchen Chang and Wai Ting Chung served their first gua bao on the streets of the city. Small in footprint but big on flavours, it’s a welcome addition to an area in Marylebone that’s otherwise lacking a taste of Southeast Asia. They’ve made themselves right at home with modern, sleek interiors – a far cry from their humble beginnings. baolondon.com Cavita, Wigmore Street Cavita, Adriana Cavita’s debut after a stint at powerhouses including Spain’s El Bulli and a successful pop-up at The Dorchester, is London’s newest, most vibrant Mexican offering. The gorgeous space on Wigmore Street is warm and inviting, with food that fills the belly as well as the soul – think pig’s head tamal wrapped in charred collard greens; mole verde with wood-grilled, herb-fed chicken; and pan de elote with cajita, a sweet cornbread topped with a goat’s milk caramel. Cocktails are inventive, with a secret bar below offering small-batch artisanal mezcal, tequila and the opportunity to learn more about Mexican culture. cavitarestaurant.com Mayha This Japanese omakase features just 11 covers – guests sit around a curved wood and stone bar, behind which chef Jurek Wasio sends out plate after meticulously crafted plate in a daily-changing tasting menu. As a guest, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the ensuing feast. Start with a sparkling sake and a round of raw dishes – blue fin tuna belly tartare on sourdough topped with a briny mound of Polish caviar is a particular highlight. Meat dishes include wagyu tenderloin dusted in shaved summer truffle, as luscious and deeply umami as you might expect. The sushi sequence of the meal is the highlight – a stream of plump nigiri that showcase the impeccable quality of the produce used at Mayha: creamy scallop; lightly seared, butter-soft salmon belly; delicately sweet langoustine; dry-aged blue fin tenderloin; the list goes on. Fragrant cups of bamboo dashi and lobster miso, and a palate-cleansing rhubarb sorbet punctuate the meal. It all ends simply, but effectively, with a scoop of chocolate ice cream in a grassy pool of Sicilian olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Head downstairs before or after dinner to Mayha’s intimate six-seater bar, which offers its own five-course omakase meal paired with cocktails. mayhalondon.com Roketsu, New Quebec Street Daisuke Hayashi, trained at Yoshihiro Murata’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant Kikunoi, learned the principles of kaiseki from one of its masters and has been delighting Londoners looking for an authentic taste of Japanese fine dining since opening Roketsu in 2021. With a more relaxed à la carte experience in mind, Daisuke opened the Bo-Sen wine and dining room downstairs in 2023. With just eight covers, the experience is intimate, the wooden panelling and low mid-century furniture creating an atmosphere that’s just as refined as the minimalist counter-dining space on the ground floor. Daisuke’s handling of seasonal produce remains respectful, balancing flavours and ingredients precisely. Light dishes crafted to be enjoyed alongside extensive wine and sake lists include vegetable takiawase of simmered vegetables with dashi jelly, tsukuri of the day comprising four kinds of beautifully cut sashimi and flavour-packed homemade curry. Plating is artful and every detail of the Bo-Sen space has been considered, from the elegant furnishings in rich colours to the bespoke Kyoto crockery. roketsu.co.uk The Italian Greyhound, Seymour Street Sipping a sgroppino with passion fruit sorbet (flavours change daily) in the sunshine-flooded room of the Italian Greyhound, it’s hard to believe you’re a stone’s throw from the traffic-heavy Edgware Road. The ambience is calming: light wood, long walk-in bar, plants and patio windows that open onto the villagey vibe of Seymour Place. Sit by the open windows and soak up the breeze on a summer's day. The menu uses British produce, simply executed, divided into five sections: small plates, all day pizzette (light and thin with toppings ranging from courgette to mortadella and pistachio pesto), pasta, larger plates (think aubergine parmigiana, chicken Milanese and sea bream) and dolci. From the small plates, crispy tiny pea arancini are a highlight – a clever combination of traditional British flavours into an Italian classic. Pasta prices are on the higher end of the scale (but understandable given the location) and portions are generous. Spaghetti is silky, coated with shreds of Cornish crab, fennel seeds, chilli and lemon. Orecchiette with lamb bolognese is deeply comforting and loaded with Parmesan cheese. If you have room left, ensure you try the pillowy custard bombolini with dark chocolate sauce, perfect for sharing. theitaliangreyhound.co.uk Lina Stores, Marylebone Lane Head chef Masha Rener’s antipasti, perfect pastas and sharing dishes are as top-notch as ever in the Italian deli brand's fourth pasta-focused restaurant. The iconic white and mint awning ensures the newest outpost is unmissable to fans, while signature aesthetics continue inside. Soft globe lighting casts a golden glow over the contemporary Italian canteen and marble counter, mirrors line the wooden cabinet above the bar to shine the spotlight on rows of Italian aperitif bottles, and shelves groan with bespoke artisan deli products. Kick off with refreshing cocktails including wild oregano infused limoncello spritz, a delicate pomelo and basil martini, or the silky nogroni. Antipasti classics include a panzanella of rainbow-hued heritage tomatoes, golden cubes of sourdough, tropea onions and toasted buckwheat; alongside crisp pillows of focaccia slathered in creamy cultured butter and topped with salty anchovies. For the pasta course, choose between the likes of gomiti tubes glistening with umami-rich, knobbly pieces of guanciale, fresh peas and caramelised onions, and al dente casarecce coated in a tomato sauce with a slight chilli kick and plenty of plump prawns. Though pasta is the restaurant’s hero, we highly recommend treating yourself to the veal milanese for two, coated in a light, golden crumb and generously blanketed in Parmigiano Reggiano. Finish with a scoop of homemade gelato, decadent chocolate mousse or crunchy Sicilian pistachio cannoli piped with fluffy ricotta. linastores.co.uk Taka Marylebone, Marylebone High Street Take fills a much-needed gap between London’s high-end Japanese restaurants and casual ramen joints. Contemporary interiors include a wall installation of parasols that double up as lampshades to cast a warm glow across oak tables and a sleek, sake-bottle-lined bar downstairs, or you can head upstairs to the large dining room with a view over Marylebone High Street. Japanese-inspired cocktails feature the likes of the Old Oak Fashioned: a bottled concoction of Nikka whisky from the barrel, vanilla coffee syrup and chocolate bitters, infused with cherry wood smoke that billows out as you pop the cork and pour into the glass. Choose a selection of about six small plates between two, including popcorn shrimp with spicy mayo, super-soft aubergine in an umami plantain miso sauce, crunchy tuna avocado rolls and chicken yakitori grilled over hot coals. Don’t miss the homemade mochi breads to scoop up silky chicken liver pâté topped with crispy chicken skin. The showstopper, with a price to match, is the wagyu sando. Savour four flavour-packed rectangles of fat-rippled wagyu beef and miso spread between perfectly cut fried milk bread. takalondon.com Lurra, Seymour Place Tucked away on Marylebone’s pretty (and seriously foodie) Seymour Place, Lurra is a contemporary, sophisticated Basque-inspired restaurant. It’s sister to Donostia, just across the road, and the building has a shiny new extension. There’s more to this trendy joint than its good looks though: ingredients are key. With a meat import business (think 14-year-old Galician Blond, 67-day hung beef) supplying the likes of Kitty Fisher’s and Chiltern Firehouse, and a cellar downstairs housing top Spanish wines (including an incredible Louro from Valdeorras), owners Nemanja and Melody know their stuff. Florencio, Seymour Place Chef Diego Jacquet has opened a pizzeria near his contemporary Argentinian grill, Zoilo. Pizzas are made from a 48-hour fermented dough and finished with toppings including Buenos Aires’ popular three-cheese muzza style. Options include El Cuartito topped with chorizo, grilled peppers and jalapeños, and Martita laden with gorgonzola béchamel, courgettes and walnuts. florenciopizza.com Hoppers, Wigmore Street Named after the lacy, bowl-shaped pancakes that are a staple of Sri Lanka, Hoppers has quickly established itself as one of London’s hippest hangouts. From the can-do-no-wrong team behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana, Hoppers references the food of southern India and Sri Lanka. There’s a succinct menu starring traditional hoppers: light fermented rice and lentil pancake bowls, with a softly steamed egg and a selection of confidently spiced karis. Load up on the ‘short eats’, though. Mutton rolls are like crunchy cigars – with a golden crumb, shredded gamey meat and lightly spiced tomato chutney. Bone marrow is so seductively sauced that you would be forgiven for refusing to share. The best, perhaps, are buttered devilled shrimps: juicy and fiery. There a fab and refreshing cocktails also. hopperslondon.com The Parlour at Zetter Townhouse, Seymour Street Leave busy Oxford Street behind and pay Uncle Seymour a visit for a wintery cocktail. Inside this Georgian townhouse lies a secret drinking den that exuberates the eccentric charm of the Zetter Townhouse’s ficticous owner, wicked Uncle Seymour. Seymour’s Parlour is more front room of curiosities than hotel bar: trinkets clutter a cabinet that spans one side of the room, portraits adorn the wine-red walls and crystal decanters filled with bright orange liquid dress up antique wooden tables. The room has a hushed atmosphere with intimate lighting that creates secluded corners to settle in to. Dapper Italian waiters take your order, and shake at a little bar tucked into one corner. The seasonal cocktail list changes regularly, so the winter menu is made up of little coupettes full of punchy, warming mixes and remedies from the cold. Try the healing Scarlet’s Antidote, made with earthy homemade beetroot cordial, smooth Ocho tequila and the subtle spice of caraway from Kümmel liqueur. Dainty gimlet-like cocktail, The Rake, takes inspiration from ladies of the night in the series of paintings ‘A Rake’s Progress’, with fragrant orris (iris flower root) ‘powdered notes’ and a little drop of juniper oil that forms a delicate black beauty spot on the surface of the clear cocktail. Find out more about Seymour's Parlour Marylebone here. Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Check out our favourite restaurants, cafés and foodie spots in West London’s leafy neighbourhood boasting spiced beef cheek, collapsing chocolate cake, and Danish rye bread topped with boozy Akvavit-cured salmon
Looking for Notting Hill restaurants? Check out our ideas for eating and drinking locations in Notting Hill, from Portobello Road to Westbourne Grove and Golborne Road... For more like this, check out our picks of the best restaurants in Chelsea, best restaurants in Mayfair or the best restaurants near Oxford Street. Best places to eat and drink in Notting Hill SINO, All Saints Road – for contemporary Ukrainian fine-dining At their chic fine-dining restaurant on All Saints Road, Ukrainian partners Polina Sychova and Eugene Korolev pay homage to their homeland. Minimal, contemporary interiors include a striking piece made from hay (translating to ‘sino’ in Ukrainian), brushed clay walls and sweeping banquettes. Chef Eugene gives traditional Ukrainian dishes a contemporary stamp, kicking off with the likes of bitesize sorrel potato waffles topped with soured cream and smoked pike roe, and marinated aubergine alongside Kyyrma smoked cheese flatbread and spiced adjika dip. Mains include glazed chicken and beef cheek dumplings in a spiced, fragrant oxtail and lemon verbena broth, while pickled beetroot ribbons with sliced plums doused in walnut oil makes a vibrant side. For dessert, the elevated honey cake layers are crowned with buckwheat chocolate in a moat of whipped walnut sauce. Eastern European wines hail from Kyiv, Georgia’s Kakheti region and the Black Sea, and Ana Reznik plays with nostalgic flavours in clever cocktails. sinorestaurant.co.uk Canal, Westbourne Park – for modern European on the water's edge Find this canal-side spot tucked down a cobbled mews between Notting Hill and Maida Vale and built into the new Mason & Fifth hotel-apartment complex. Its towpath perch on the Grand Union Canal sets a modern, urban stage for food that’s both precise and packed with flavour. Provenance is proudly front and centre – sourdough comes from Layla, while charcuterie like jamón and Mangalitza sausages arrive from Coombeshead Farm. The menu is cleverly pitched so there’s something for everyone. A fat diner-style cheeseburger bucks the smashburger trend and feels all the better for it, while scallops arrive plump and caramelised, served in their shells with ’nduja butter begging to be mopped up with that sourdough. Crab on toast is so fresh it tastes like it’s just left the boat, and chicken with sweetcorn and girolles might be the most impressive chicken breast you’ll eat this year. Desserts are just as memorable – a tiramisu that’s unapologetically boozy, and a brown butter almond cake with sour cherries that’s indulgent yet balanced. mason-fifth.com Ria's, All Saints Road – for deep-dish Detroit pizza Ria’s is a cosy neighbourhood spot selling fantastic deep-dish Detroit-style pizza and natural wines. It is a spot for all occasions, full of charm and character, with a light and bright upstairs for lunches with your friends, and a cosy, warm downstairs, perfect for a date. Ria’s ferments its dough for up to 72 hours, which gives it a deeper flavour and a deliciously chewy crust. Deep-dish pizza is filling but the pies at Ria’s never feel too much. It offers a range of whole pies and slices to suit your appetite. Our favourite flavours were the Dave’s Hot Pep and the garlic wild mushroom. The first has a red sauce base, laden with pepperoni, soppressata, chillies, stracciatella and hot honey. The latter has a white sauce base with wild mushrooms and a burnt onion jam – perfectly cheesy and tangy. There is a great range of wine to sip alongside your slice at Ria’s, as well as on-tap cocktails from Black Lines and a good range of soft drinks: we enjoyed the ginger Rapscallion Soda for its spicy kick. If you’ve got room for dessert, treat yourself to a deep-fried Mars bar with soft serve vanilla ice cream. Sprinkled with a little bit of sea salt, it really is the ultimate treat. rias.world The Pelican, All Saints Road – for gastro pub classics done properly The Pelican brings old-school British pub dining into modern focus, with confident cooking and a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability. It works with regenerative farms and sources vegetables from its own market garden at Bruern Farms. Menus shift with the seasons but dishes stay generous and gutsy. Snow crab on toast is brightly bound with a lemony mayonnaise, while welsh rarebit arrives thick and bubbling over sourdough. We try two mains: a pan-fried seabass fillet with a sharp salsa verde and sauce vierge, and crisp-edged lamb sweetbreads with braised lettuce and peas – all spot on, and the golden chicken pie to share looks like one to return for. A dark, deeply treacly sticky toffee pudding rounds things off. The Pelican doesn’t overdo it – good produce, cooked with care and a nod to gastro pub classics done properly, something so many other pubs just can’t seem get right. thepelicanw11.com Dishoom Permit Room, Portobello Road – for casual Indian-inspired dishes Dishoom’s latest all-day pub-café brings the vibes of Mumbai to Notting Hill. Set on a bustling corner of Portobello Road, the space is bright, art-filled and fizzing with energy. By day, it teems with families, tourists and local workers; by night, a vintage jukebox hums in the background; and at weekends DJs spin vinyl. The menu is a playful mash-up of Dishoom classics and new bar-friendly bites. Crispy spinach chaat arrives as a tower of crunch, spice and tang. Chicken Pick-Me-Ups –drumsticks with Indo-Chinese seasoning – are sticky, fiery and impossible to eat quietly. Chakli, the coiled, spiced snack, is crisp and moreish. Prawn moilee is delicately sweet, lifted by turmeric and curry leaf, while the legendary house black daal remains the warm hug you hope it will be. Mattar paneer delivers soft cubes of cheese and bright green peas in a richly spiced tomato gravy. Drinks are as key to the experience as the food (this is a pub, after all). The old fashioned is coconut-washed and smooth as silk, while the Sober Summer negroni is bright and herbal. Dishoom IPA makes a bold, hoppy companion to the food, along with local beers and thoughtful soft drinks. permitroom.co.uk akub – for Palestinian cooking Tucked away in a quiet street behind Notting Hill Gate, Akub is Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan's first UK restaurant (after Fawda in Bethlehem). The contemporary space is split over three levels including an inner courtyard with retractable roof, adorned with olive trees in large pots, floral wall hangings and chic lamps. Palestinian ingredients are peppered through the cocktail list, from a red shatta-infused tequila margarita to za'atar-laced martinis. Wines are sourced from Palestine, Galilee Highlands, Lebanon and beyond. Kick off with a variety of breads to dip into handmade ramekins of shatta (made from the likes of fermented jalapeño and coriander) and moutabal (tahini-based, red lentil-style hummus), plus a trio of labneh balls rolled in spices such as za’atar and turmeric. Small plates include arak-cured seabass and roast aubergine laden with pine nuts, tahini, herbs and pomegranate seeds. A highlight from the larger sharing plates is lamb shank, its juices melting into an aromatic mahlab and mastika sauce, best accompanied with mint and pine nut flecked courgettes on garlic yogurt. To finish, try the likes of fenugreek and cardamom baba or Dead Sea chocolate cake with tahini ice cream, paired with a very special arak aged in black oak that you can only get here due to Fadi’s intimate connections in Palestine. akub-restaurant.com Dove – for chic neighbourhood comforts Jackson Boxer's latest venture is a revamp on the same site as seafood restaurant Orasay – a place the chef wants to be familiar and accessible but still feel special and playful. This is evident in the menu, where comforting classics are peppered with pops of intrigue, such as octopus gildas to start alongside fino sherry and tonic. The springy, deep-fried potato pizzette comes laden with folds of mortadella and a huge burrata ball, while the yuzu-laced tuna tostada makes a lighter option. Next, four helmeted grilled Atlantic prawns in a zippy smoked garlic and black lime butter and Iberiko tomatoes drizzled in spicy chilli oil and soured cream. The must-order (if you can, only 10 are made for each service) is an umami-rich hunk of a burger formed from 50-day, dry-aged beef rib cap, brisket and chuck, flame-grilled with gorgonzola dolce and champagne-braised Lyonnaise onions so caramelised and melded together in a glazed potato roll… best accompanied with crunchy duck fat chips. Those too late are rewarded instead with steamed hake and Romana courgette in a rich champagne broth or sharing cuts such as wood-roast chicken in Café de Paris butter, 30-day Tamworth pork double loin chop and 50-day Highland beef sirloin chop. Finish with a retro-chic fior di latte soft serve doused in peppery olive oil with chewy oat cookies on the side. Paired with Orasay’s original interiors, elegant yet unfussy in style with earthy-hued linens and exposed brick walls, this next iteration takes Dove into true neighbourhood haunt territory. dove.london Zephyr, Portobello Road – for Greek-fusion Simple ingredients are lifted with a breath of smoke and herbs at Zēphyr, a cool and clamorous Greek-fusion restaurant by Portobello Market in Notting Hill. The tone is set from the bread basket featuring charred sourdough with oregano, as well pittas for scooping up silky, saline taramasalata, tzatziki or smoky aubergine dip. Opt for the meat-based tasting menu and you’ll still be treated to melt-in-mouth tuna ceviche (dressed with olive oil and yuzu), then prawns grilled with a splash of ouzo. But the star of the show remains the lamb cutlets; lightly spiced then crusted by the barbecue, and blushingly pink in the middle – eat with your hands for an even more satisfying experience. A side of crispy potato terrine topped with a metsovone (smoked cheese) custard adds an air of sophistication but there are no formalities here. To finish, the ‘burned’ olive oil cheesecake hits Olympian peaks of decadence. zephyr.london The Blue Stoops, Kensington Church Street – for a lively gourmet pub Allsopp’s has opened a lively pub near Notting Hill Gate, named for its original site in Burton on Trent. Overseeing the food is Lorcan Spiteri, whose menu is hale and hearty – chicken, leek and mushroom pie; Old Spot pork chop; chips and mash – punctuated with more trend-aware choices like anchovy toast, pressed potatoes with mussel velouté and pistachio tart. Along with cask ales, a short aperitif list includes artisan British drinks like Artemis red vermouth, Smith Hayne cider and Hepple gin. Décor is classic pub, which vintage beer signs and a blackboard of daily specials. thebluestoops.com Belvedere, Holland Park – for smart Italian Belvedere, a west London institution with its picture-perfect home in leafy Holland Park has had a glow-up thanks to new chef Lello Favuzzi. Now the menu matches the majestic surroundings with turbot, langoustine and caviar all making a play for your attention. Taking influences from his Italian roots and using carefully sourced ingredients from Italy and the UK, this is food to be savoured slowly, either on the terrace overlooking the park or inside the grand dining room. But stuffy it isn’t – go for pappardelle or a pizza, too, albeit topped with truffle. Highlights are Welsh lamb, lobster linguine for two and Lello’s tiramasu. Wines offered by the glass and carafe encourage experimentation, with English and orange wines joining Italian and French classics. belvedererestaurant.co.uk The Barbary, Westbourne Grove – for counter-dining with a Southern Europe and North African flavour At night this welcoming corner site on Westbourne Grove literally glows, as much due to its warm colour scheme and clever lighting as its lively open kitchen where chefs cook over fire. Grab a counter seat to watch heat-packed dishes prepared: Kapia pepper and feta brulée; house-made merguez; whole chilli cauliflower. More Southern Europe to North Africa (Barbary Coast) influences are seen in scallop aquachile; coffee-rub chicken; pata negra pork chop and crispy saffron rice. Cocktails – smoked pineapple paloma; saffron negroni – show imagination and match up to the menu’s punchy flavours. thebarbary.co.uk/notting-hill Julie's, Portland Road – for brasserie classics Iconic is a word often used to describe this west London institution, with its history of celebrity visitors and intrigue. Now chef patron Owen Kenworthy is at the helm, its well-executed brasserie classics has earned it a reputation for its menu, too. Highlights include clever snacks such as spider crab toast; tuna tartare served with house-made crisps from the raw bar; grills and salads including a luxurious lobster caesar. While the menu has a French flavour, ingredients sourced closer to home from suppliers, such as Shropshire’s Linley Farm, underline the kitchen’s commitment to regenerative agriculture. A martini trolley and potent cocktails ensure the balance between virtuous and decadent. juliesrestaurant.com Viajante 87, Notting Hill Gate – for cocktails An ambitious, continent-spanning menu, moody lighting and a chilled-out yet buzzy feel set the tone for this plush, Latin American inspired basement bar in Notting Hill. Viajante means traveller in Spanish and the team’s globe-trotting approach to flavours and drinks is reflected in a lively menu that takes you from familiar classics (palomas, pisco sours, spicy margaritas) to drinks made with unexpected and lesser-known ingredients you may not have come across before. Groups can also order carafes of agave spirits or caipirinhas, and you can even work with the bar to create your own custom cocktail. Viajante87 excels in offering polished and innovative agave riffs on classic drinks. The Mole Manhattan is a tribute to Mexico’s national food, mole, using fig leaves and Criollo de Oaxaca mezcal infused with cacao and sesame along with vegetal Cynar for an evocatively earthy, smoky and nutty cocktail – it’s a must order. The Charanda Old Fashioned is another star, made with Mexican Uruapan rum, Patrón reposado and amburana seed, the latter of which adds rich vanilla and toffee notes for a sumptuous and silky drink. Elsewhere, martini fans should delve into the Martini Malcriado (savoury and herbaceous from brown butter sage mezcal) and the bracingly icy Glacier Martini. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try the Leche de Bichos made with floral raicilla spirit, anise hyssop and jocoque, a Mexican fermented yogurt. Tangy and creamy with gentle anise notes, it’s an intriguing note to round off a visit to this west London gem. viajantebar.com Walmer Castle, Ledbury Road — for British-inspired pub dining Notting Hill’s Walmer Castle pub has had an excellent do-over by publican Jack Greenall (also of The Surprise in Chelsea). References to the area, pre-loved furniture and locally made fittings makes for the ideal décor for an area that includes Portobello Road. The ground floor is a proper pubby bar with a fire in the grate, art worth a closer look on the walls and a welcoming vibe. The menu gives you what you want from a modern pub including pork and fennel sausage rolls, braised ox cheek, halibut with smoked tomato and corn risotto, and a dry-aged beef burger. Vegetarian dishes such as celeriac schnitzel and gnocchi with hazelnut pesto are a cut above, and puddings include the crumble, and, of course, sticky toffee pudding. walmercastle-nottinghill.co.uk Empire Empire, All Saints Road — for contemporary Indian The Indian disco era of the 1970s inspired this opening from Harneet Baweja (Gunpowder). Eat traditional dishes such as bihari boti kebab, tandoori broccoli and chicken malai tikka from the open grill serenaded by 70s Bollywood bangers from the bespoke jukebox. For the ultimate in luxe dining order the showstopping lobster dum biryani to share, £42 – complete with the crustacean’s head emerging from the pastry lid. empire-empire.restaurant Los Mochis, Farmer Street — for Baja-Nihon cuisine Pioneering Baja-Nihon cuisine (a blend of Mexican and Japanese) expect a mix of ceviche, sashimi and tiraditos on offer. The taco menu is a great place to experiment, with 18 variations including the signature miso cod, and pato carnitas with teriyaki duck. Add a tequila or mezcal flight from the huge selection. losmochis.co.uk Dorian, Talbot Road — for British bistro cuisine Headed up by a team with personal ties to the Notting Hill area in which it resides – all of whom are plucked from institutions including the two- Michelin-starred Kitchen Table and Ikoyi, and three-Michelin-starred Core – Dorian’s ever- changing menu is a celebration of seasonal British produce, prepared with playful techniques that are sure to surprise and charm. Coupled with a cocktail menu created with foraged ingredients in mind, plus an extensive curated wine list that’s predominantly from France and Italy, and elegant décor, Dorian has all the makings of a mainstay in the London hospitality scene. dorianrestaurant.com SUMI, Westbourne Grove — for top-quality sushi The bright and airy space, with pale wood panelling, large windows and outdoor decking, perfectly suits the calm practice of SUMI’s sushi chefs. Watch them prepare stunning courses of fresh nigiri on bouncy and neat rice mounds, and wrap wafer-thin sheets of nori seaweed round the likes of minced red tuna and fermented mooli, or diced scallop with delicate purple hanahojiso flowers to make signature temaki rolls. Menu highlights are the seaweed salad coated in a creamy tahini dressing with toasted almonds, and a ceviche showcasing seasonal sustainable fish among a picture-perfect plate of peppers, corianders, marigold and a zingy yuzu dressing. Superb seared Japanese A4 wagyu is served with charred puntarelle and a jug of yuzu onion sauce. Finish by gliding a bespoke wooden spoon through the matcha mille cake’s thin layers of vibrant green, matcha-infused double cream and ultra-fine crepes. Don’t skip cocktails — the popular kawaii ne is a delicate mix of sake, local Portobello gin, lychee and yuzu, while the smoky boulevardier offers a much punchier blend of peaty whisky, umeshu plum sake, Antica Formula and Campari. sushisumi.com Gold, Portobello Road – for neighbourhood vibes Gold is a buzzing restaurant and late-night bar on London’s Portobello Road which puts cooking over coals at its heart. Split into raw, charcuterie and cheese, salads, vegetables and plates, all the dishes are designed to share. Portions are hearty though, so start off steady and see how things go. Charred pears with burrata welcome the salty tang of Tuscan ham, while a bouncy farro salad with sweet peas, broad beans and Berkswell cheese steals the show with its fresh flavours. The dessert menu is worth bringing a crowd for so you can unashamedly order them all. Honey rum babas arrive as boozy as they should be, with plenty of lemon verbena cream, while buttery sable biscuits layered with raspberry and mascarpone are lifted further with the crunch of praline. goldnottinghill.com Caractère, Westbourne Park Road – for date night The debut modern French/Italian restaurant from married culinary couple Emily Roux and Diego Ferrari, in the heart of London’s fine-dining territory. There are influences from both their ’hoods, namely France and Italy, and an unconventional approach to menu writing, grouping sections as character traits, ‘curious’, ‘subtle’, ‘delicate’, ‘robust’, ‘strong’ and ‘greedy’. It’s some of the more veg-centric dishes that wow the most. Celeriac cacio e pepe with aged (25 years, no less) balsamic vinegar steals the night early on. Ticking multiple trend boxes without being gimmicky – the al dente root added an earthiness we didn’t know such a classic needed. caractererestaurant.com Click here to read our full review of Caractère Core by Clare Smyth, Kensington Park Road – for fine-dining The tablecloths might be missing at Clare Smyth’s debut but the tone is undeniably formal. Don’t let that be confused with stuffy, though – Britain’s most lauded female chef has made her first solo mark thoroughly modern. Décor is stripped back and contemporary – via a small bar (where you can eat, too), you’re led to a dramatic chef’s table in front of the glass-fronted kitchen, and through to the bright dining room. Colchester crab royale to start comes in three parts – a bowl of sweet white meat surrounded by a moat of brown meat, a crab doughnut and a flute of shellfish broth. A single Isle of Mull scallop is cooked over wood fire and delivered under a cloche of smoke. A brackish, buttery sauce is lifted by herbs and chopped coral pearls of roe. corebyclaresmyth.com Click here to read our full review of Core by Clare Smyth Trailer Happiness – for cocktails and dancing Descend from busy Portobello Road into this lively basement tiki bar for an evening of rum-fuelled fun. Bartenders in tropical shirts set cocktails on fire, laid-back locals drape over low-slung chairs and a DJ spins Northern soul and disco tunes from a wooden booth in the corner. The bar décor is enthusiastically kitsch – think geometric carpets, yellow fish stencilled onto glass doors, and tropical wallpaper. Tiki-style vessels in various shapes and sizes hold punchy rum cocktails. Try the Cotton Mouth Killer, a fiesty combination of Don Q and Wray & Nephew rum with apricot brandy, blue curaçao and guava. There are also playful rum twists on classics – Bacardi Carta Blanca is stirred with watermelon shrub, St Germain and tonic water in the Supersonic Tiki Tonic; and spiced rum is shaken with Tia Maria and Trailer Happiness homebrew coffee to create the Espresso Martiki. trailerh.com Farina, Notting Hill High Street – for pizza Nestled on Notting Hill High Street, Farina pizzeria focuses on traditional Neapolitan pizzas, with no pineapple or pepperoni in sight. In the summer, grab a table by the floor-to-ceiling folding glass doors and wait for the smoky scent to waft over, or hunker down next to the small open kitchen. The 48-hour fermented dough is light, with a pillowy, charred crust – tear some off to save for mopping up the leftover tomato juices at the end. Order the Farina, topped with ‘nduja, salami and provola if you like something spicy, or the Burratina topped with courgette and burrata for a fresh, creamy topping. farinapizza.co.uk Click here to read about all our favourite pizza places in London EggBreak, Uxbridge Street – for brunch The people behind Soho House and The Hoxton Hotel Group together opened an egg-based café on a residential street in Notting Hill. Split into basics (eggs on toast, egg benedict etc), buns, plates, salads and sides, the most dishes at this daytime café come with an egg of some sort, be it poached, fried or – surely the most fashionable egg of the moment – 63 degrees: cooked slowly in a waterbath at, you guessed it 63 degrees. eggbreak.com Click here to read our full review of Egg Break here Words by Alex Crossley, Keith Kendrick, Charlotte Morgan, Ellie Edwards, Hannah Guinness, Laura Rowe Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Discover our favourite places to eat and drink in this south London areas, from cult pasta joints to Portuguese small plates and intimate wine bars
Here are our favourite London Bridge restaurants. The best foodie spots include shopping at Borough Market, homemade pasta at Padella and French bistro Casse Croute. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in London Bridge, from Borough Market to Bermondsey Street... For more Borough Market recommendations see our full guide to the best restaurants in Borough Market. Next check out our pick of the best restaurants in Brixton, best restaurants in Shoreditch, best restaurants in Paddington and best restaurants in Battersea. Looking for something special? Discover the best London restaurants with a view, best dining experiences in London and best new restaurant openings in London. Best places to eat and drink in London Bridge Oma, Borough Market – for Greek small plates With an impressive portfolio that already includes acclaimed restaurants Smokestak and Manteca, David Carter has furthered his London restaurant empire and opened the doors to Oma and its more casual sibling Agora in London’s Borough Market. Split across two floors (Oma upstairs and Agora downstairs), the restaurants draw inspiration from the lively street markets and restaurants of Athens and the wider Mediterranean, with décor and food and beverage offerings that channel its relaxed yet refined energy. We sent our pro reviewer KS Tong to try it out, here are his thoughts: "The menu at Oma begins with a sneaky hero in the form of the wood-fired laffa flatbreads and açma verde (akin to a bagel twisted with wild garlic). These are made on-site in the basement bakery with wild-farmed British grains under the direction of Eyal Schwartz (the former head baker at cult favourite bakery E5 Bakehouse) to go with a selection of house spreads, including a salt cod XO labneh that was pure heaven. I could’ve easily just stopped here, via a few samples from the 23-page-strong wine list featuring 450-plus predominantly Greek producers, and left content. But to miss the crudo menu would be criminal (the name Oma draws from the Greek word for ‘raw’ after all) – and yellowfin tuna with zesty clementine ponzu and crispy garlic certainly delivered. Small plates of lobster bisque börek and spanakopita gratin, and skewers of dry-aged Cornish lamb chop (from renowned high-quality, high-welfare supplier The Cornwall Project) were a sensory slam dunk, each thoughtfully curated and purposefully executed. But the real centrepieces are the bigger clay pots, and the oxtail giouvetsi served with bone marrow and beef fat pangrattato was a worthy dish – rich, heavy and a striking contrast to the rest of the menu, which is much fresher and lighter. It’s the perfect dish to set you up for dessert, where the sticky date pudding is not to be missed and pairs nicely with an Oma negroni." oma.london Sollip – for Korean fine dining Sollip means ‘pine needle’ in Korean, reflecting the Michelin-starred restaurant’s precision and attention to detail in hospitality, ingredients and cooking. A serene, warm ambience and muted tones (floor-to-ceiling curtains, sweeping banquettes and a handful of pale wood tables) allow the food to shine. Korean components are weaved through the seven-course evening tasting menu (four at lunch) with nods to tradition but presented in a unique and contemporary style. On the menu since launch, the aged gochujang beef tartare buckwheat tartlet is topped with a thin layer of truffle cream, while the signature dish is a collab between husband-and-wife owners – Woongchul Park's savoury edge applied to Bomee Ki’s patisserie skills in a delicate daikon tarte tatin. Extra touches to elevate the experience include the presentation of a ""magic box"", opening to reveal a variety of perilla seeds, to encourage diners to taste the ingredient in its true form before enjoying the chestnut noodles with cold pressed perilla seed oil in a nurungji broth. Other highlights include chargrilled monkfish in onion glaze and passion fruit velouté. After dessert (that might be coconut sorbet with green mandarin meringue and spruce crisps), there's a tea menu to pair with pea and basil madeleines. Cocktails are created with care – think soju and makgeolli fermented rice wine muddled with the likes of juniper, mint and orange shrub. The wine pairing includes one or two Korean options – that might be rice, wheat and pine liquor soju varieties served in intricate glasses. sollip.co.uk Lupins, Union Street – for small plates with big flavours Tucked away just a few minutes from Borough Market and The Shard is Lupins, a quaint, cosy restaurant serving small plates with big (and we mean big) flavours. With a menu that changes every few weeks to use what's in season, punters are always in for a new surprise. On our visit in the summer, we enjoyed crostini with bean purée and zingy anchovy salsa, mozzarella topped with silky courgettes, olives and drowning in peppery olive oil, and a deeply meaty orzo dish with pancetta, chilli and crispy pig skin. The highlight was a monkfish cataplana with clams, fennel and new potatoes – the moment this hit the table, we ordered bread for soaking up every last bit. Special mention goes to the cheddar fritters. While these doughnuts covered with a blanket of cheese looked rich, they were in fact light, crisp and crunchy with soufflé-like texture. If you're looking for somewhere to share a meal with friends, or a romantic London date spot, give Lupins a go – you will likely leave happy and satisfied. lupinslondon.com Hacha, Tower Bridge Road – for cocktails Inside the Bermonds Locke Hotel in London Bridge, Hacha’s newest spot offers a laid-back escape with a fusion of Southern Californian cool and modern Mexican flair. Co-founded by the renowned Deano Moncrieffe, an expert in agave spirits, the bar presents a stellar cocktail list, including the award-winning Mirror Margarita, named the 7th best cocktail in the world and a six-time gold medal winner. For something a little different, try the Hibiscus Bramble, a mixture of Ocho blanco tequila, blackberry, red wine, hibiscus, honey and peach bitters. This sweet and bitter masterpiece doesn't get overshadowed by the strong flavoured sharing options. Don’t miss the quesadillas, where you can pick your favourite filling – birria, pastor, tinga or calabacitas – or indulge in the slow-cooked birria de res tacos. Tender, smoky beef in a rich chilli broth, paired with consommé, promises a flavour-packed bite you won’t forget. hachabar.com Applebee's, Borough Market – for seafood Applebee’s, a family-run Borough Market institution for 25 years, has recently relaunched with a new design and menu showcasing seasonal, sustainable British seafood. In summer, bag a table in the outside area at the front for watching the bustle of the market go by, while, inside, the open kitchen and bar all down one side of the winding room add to the buzzy atmosphere. Take a look at the fridge holding that day’s catch and watch chefs cooking over the tall barbecue grills. Kick off with cocktails – a delicate rhubarb sour had an almost creamy texture. The drinks list includes a good range of wines by the glass, including interesting English bottles. If you can resist the opening snacks (crab croquettes, oysters, taramasalata), head straight to starters. Scallops are served in the shells with three different butters to tour through – lemony garlic, spicy sobrassada and salmon roe. A wedge of brown crab rarebit is cheesy and filling, topped with samphire and shrimp. The mains showcase classic fish cookery paired with a range of culinary influences – grilled monkfish tail with chorizo jam, hake with beurre blanc, whole stuffed sea bream with spiced potatoes and curry sauce. A skillet of fish pie is soft and comforting. While Applebee’s may be predominantly all about the fish, make sure you save room for dessert – the sticky toffee pavlova with warm toffee sauce served tableside is not to be missed. applebeesfish.com Pyro, Southwark Street – for open-flame Greek cuisine Pyro is a light-filled, open-kitchen spot where smoke and fire do the heavy lifting. Headed up by Yiannis Mexis, formerly of Hide, the Greek menu leans into open-flame cooking with balance and control. Potato pita is essential: pillowy, dotted with onion seeds and perfect for scooping up cooling tzatziki or smoky aubergine topped with walnuts and pomegranate. A pork pluma skewer is rich, roasted and herb-packed, expertly balanced with sour apple. Sea bream crudo, by contrast, is light and bright – green olive and caper leaf add savoury lift, while precisely diced chillies lend occasional, welcome heat. The octopus is soft and lightly charred, paired with a spiced red wine sauce and silky yellow split pea. Lamb, cooked over alder wood, is standout – tender, subtly sweet, served with lamb-fat flatbreads and an anchovy-spiked yogurt. Sides more than pull their weight: crisp layered potatoes with garlicky skordalia and a confidently simple lettuce salad. Portokalopita, soaked with citrus syrup and served with a perfumed citrus leaf ice cream, ends things on a bright note. pyrorestaurant.co.uk Lolo, Bermondsey – for all-day European olive favourite José Pizarro has opened an all-dayer next to his tiny tapas bar José on Bermondsey Street, adding a few British and French elements to the menu. Breakfast on baked eggs with chorizo, croissants or kouign-amann. Snack on devilled eggs with anchovy, ham and cheese bikinis (bite-size sandwiches) with a cava, albariño or sherry, or try more substantial British cheeseboard or pork stew with mash. The room is warm and welcoming in pink tones, and with a stunning British art including pieces by Tracey Emin and Norman Ackroyd. josepizarro.com AGORA, Bedale Street – for a taste of a Greek taverna Agora means 'market' in Greek, which reflects the casual, buzzy style of David Carter's ground-floor restaurant below his hot opening OMA. Punters can soak up Borough Market’s buzz at window perches or sit inside the contemporary space that offers a layer of Greek taverna warmth thanks to the handmade rotisserie’s open flames. Order a frozen margarita or paloma pepped up with lemongrass syrup while perusing the Mediterranean food menu. Flame-grilled bread, brushed with garlic butter, is perfect dipping material for fermented chilli erzu-topped tahini and silky hummus laden with hot crisp shards. The flatbread twist on a spanakopita is a must-order, it's graviera cheese layered with buttery, dill-flecked spinach and finished with grated parmesan and paprika crisps. Sardines are served simply with za'atar and a squeeze of lemon, while mushrooms skewers are given umami treatment with spring onion, soy and mirin. Turkish chilli and crispy capers add texture to braised fava beans and a crunchy cucumber and radish salad is brightened with sumac and lemon vinaigrette. Rotisserie stars include chicharron-style pork belly served with vibrant green herb, cornichon and pickled chilli sauce. There's only one dessert – a tiramisu that holds its own paired with a plum and mezcal margarita. agora.london Nine Lives, Holyrood Street – for cocktails This vibrant subterranean bar brings plenty of tiki-inspired fun and on-point cocktails to London Bridge, just minutes from the station. Hip interiors of rattan lampshades, lush hanging plants and upcycled bamboo furniture, are paired with pulsing beats and feel-good vibes. The cocktail menu from award-winning bartender William Campbell-Rowntree (ex-Artesian Guards bar) stays true to Nine Lives’ Tropicalifornication roots with Don Julio Blanco tequila, Grey Goose vodka and fino sherry, mixed with an array of sunshine flavours including watermelon, hibiscus and kiwi. To help pique your interest and inform your decision, each cocktail is expounded with three key tasting notes. The Inner City 75 – a twist on the classic French 75 and topped up with crémant – is "velvet, floral and elegant", while sipping on their Plum 'n' Bass, you can expect to enjoy a "round, ripe and fiery" cocktail made with Martell VS cognac, plum, lemon and ginger beer. No- and low-alcohol options are available, as well as taco and bar food pairings for some of the serves. If you get hungry, impeccably made guacamole and flavoured-packed seasonal seafood tacos – including a vegan no-fish Baja – are available to order from Tigre Tacos' now permanent kitchen. ninelivesbar.com Akara, London Bridge – for West African fine-dining Akoko’s more casual off-shoot lies in Borough Yards’s refurbed railway arches. Light pours into the contemporary space, where vibrant artwork is framed by whitewashed enclaves set into brick walls. Owner Aji Akokomi puts the spotlight on the namesake akara dish. This crisp, fluffy black-eyed bean fritter is stuffed with barbecue celeriac or prawns, served elegantly on a stone cube. Snacks include fried chicken nuggets with sosu kaani sauce and springy rice pancakes, with a hibiscus-flecked black-eyed bean hummus. Spiced coconut rice, a dish originating in southern Nigeria’s Efik communities, is served in a pot with a wooden spoon to scoop onto the side of mains. Slices of 24-hour slow-cooked short rib are topped with a Nigerian peanut-based sauce, and cabbage is cooked over charcoal until meltingly soft, then served with a vibrant Ghanaian abunu abunu (green green) sauce. Desserts hold their own – coconut and lime sorbet is creamy and zingy, while chocolate mousse is elevated with banana caramel and feuilleutine wafer crackers. A Ghanaian pineapple and passion fruit spirit is combined with rum, hibiscus and citrus for a tropical rum punch, while cacao-infused Campari and date vermouth lend richness to the negroni. akaralondon.co.uk Elliot’s, Borough Market – for bistro vibes Since opening in 2011 in the buzzing surroundings of Borough Market, Elliot’s has focussed on working with small-scale producers for both its drinks and produce, much of it sourced from the market itself. The bar adopted an all-natural or low-intervention wine list early on and has worked with Master of Wine Isabelle Legeron on its wine list. All the wine producers share the same mindful approach to wine-making as chef-owner Brett Redman does to cooking simple dishes such as grilled sweet and sour squash with chicory and Tunworth cheese, or cauliflower caponata and flaked almonds. Elliot’s also makes its own soft drinks and seasonal infused spirits. elliots.london/borough-market Click here for the best wine bars across the country Trivet, Bermondsey – for high quality dishes and wine in an informal setting Chef Jonny Lake, sommelier Isa Bal and team currently hold two Michelin-stars for Trivet. It’s the combination of creative, superbly cooked dishes and unstuffy ambience that makes this neighbourhood restaurant such a success. The likes of langoustine pici pasta, grilled sweetbread with smoked Maitake mushrooms and braised and roasted celeriac precede seasonally rotating desserts. A 450-plus wine list orders countries based on when they started making wine. trivetrestaurant.co.uk Santo Remedio, Tooley Street – for vibrant Mexican cooking This lively Mexican restaurant bursts with colour and fun vibes, from the uplifting Latin beats bouncing off walls papered with tropical patterns to the multicoloured broken tiles creating a focal point in the mezcal and tequila bottle-lined bar. Go classic and order a zippy margarita, or be adventurous and try the delicate hibiscus or smozy mezcal varieties, the latter complete with zingy chilli salt round the rim. Start with guacamole topped with fried krickets (think crispy onions more than critters!) and a citrusy tuna tartare on crunchy tostadas, finished with creamy chipotle mayo. Next, order a one of the slow-cooked, bone-in sharing dishes for the table (fall-apart lamb barbacoa, short ribs slathered in an intense mole negro sauce, or whole grilled mackerel with pineapple) to shovel into soft, handmade corn tortillas along with refried black beans, crunchy slaw and jalapeño potato salad. santoremedio.co.uk Padella, Borough Market – for pasta Padella’s short menu features eight handmade, fresh pasta dishes, inspired by the greatest hits that have made Padella’s sister restaurant Trullo in Highbury one of the most accomplished and respected neighbourhood restaurants in London. With a laidback atmosphere and reasonable prices, Padella is the perfect place to escape the tourists at Borough Market (although word has got out about the excellent pasta here, so expect to queue). Showcasing classic Italian techniques, the simple menu is built around slow-cooked sauces and ragus from the owners’ travels around Italy. Traditional pici cacio e pepe, a simple, yet brilliantly executed dish of parmesan, lemon and black pepper is an example of how confident the team are in their products. Made without egg, for a slightly doughier texture, the pasta acts as a magnet to the sauce. We loved it so much we asked them for the recipe, try it here. Padella’s signature dish though, is pappardelle with eight-hour Dexter shin beef ragu, and it’s easy to see why. The rich and succulent flavour of the slow cooked, fall-apart beef combined with the juicy fresh tomatoes and just the right amount of garlic makes the sauce the real hero here. With traditional Italian flavours at the heart of the menu, from Dexter beef carpaccio to bruschetta with baked borlotti beans, there’s plenty to please. Burrata fans won’t be disappointed – the Italian classic is sourced by artisan supplier L’Emporio fine foods and simply drizzled with Tuscan Chiarentana estate olive oil. Finish off with an espresso, the only coffee Padella serve, or add a shot of grappa or sambuca for a caffe corretto, in true Italian style. padella.co/ Mallow – for elevated plant-based dining From the team behind Mildreds comes another fully vegan restaurant in London Bridge. Seasonal and sustainable ingredients are the threads that brings the menu together, which draws from a diversity of influences across the globe. The Taste of Mallow tasting menu is front-loaded with small plates which shine brightest, starting with a flatbread with tempered curry leaf oil to dunk into a smoky sweet potato pepper mojo and creamy white bean and confit garlic hummus. Aromatic pickled seasonal vegetables and a charred fennel and citrus salad add welcome balance and crunch. These are followed by innovative root chop croquettes and a charcoal brioche, while the main to share is a creamy tomato and potato masala with a crisp pakora, dhal tarka and fluffy pea-studded pilau rice. The chocolate cherry truffles complete the meal when all you can manage is one last bite. Take a break between courses to enjoy the warm low lighting and cosy velvet cushioned chairs. The extensive drinks menu includes cocktails made with Mallow’s own gin, such as the dry vermouth and chilli martini, as well as beers made in collaboration with UnBarred Brewery and Harbour Brewing Co. You won’t miss the booze with a non-alcoholic and utterly delightful citrussy and red chilli-spiced pineapple martini. mallowlondon.com Sollip, Melior Street – for Korean-inspired, modern European dishes Chef-owners, Woongchul Park and Bomee Ki, create exquisite, Michelin-starred dishes of broadly French-European origin but incorporating the Korean ingredients they grew up with. Expect lamb with a haggis and doenjang sauce (fermented soybean paste) or courgette flower, dubu (tofu), sesame and pine nut. sollip.co.uk Bar Douro, Flat Iron Square – for Portuguese small plates This wine bar/restaurant fuses traditional Portuguese cervejaria interiors with original industrial features from the London Bridge railway arches – pretty blue and white tiles line the marble-topped bar that provides the only barrier between diners and the small open kitchen, while exposed aluminium piping in the curved railway arch roof becomes part of the decoration. A mezzanine level cleverly utilizes the space at the top of the arch’s curve to showcases the owner Max’s impressive Portuguese wine collection. Max speaks with great knowledge and enthusiasm about wines from Alentejo, Lisbon and The Douro Valley, along with lesser-known Portuguese winemaking regions that he aims to put on the map. Small plates at Bar Douro are true to Portuguese traditions, with a few of chef Tiago’s modern twists – tender grilled octopus tentacle was served with sweet potato as it is in tabernas across Tavira in the Algarve (try our Portuguese fish stew for a taste of this kind of cooking), bitter grelos (turnip tops) were sautéed with wafer-thin slices of fried garlic, and suckling acorn-fed Bisaro pig was cooked sous-vide then pressed and served, true to tradition, with homemade crisps. Another standout dish was a delicate mix of wild mushrooms (king oyster, Portobello, shiitake) served with roast chestnuts on a silky chestnut purée and topped with a delicate tempura spinach leaf. Save room for pudding. We had a preview of a super light olive oil cake, beautifully presented with jewel-like pieces of quince and swirls of whipped requesón (a Portuguese ricotta-like cheese). But, go all out with baba de camelo, a bowl of thick, creamy dulce de leche mousse decorated with wafer thin pieces of dark chocolate, or keep it traditional with gooey warm pastel de nata and lightly spiced cinnamon ice cream. bardouro.co.uk Bancone, Borough Yards – for elegant pasta Popular pasta joint Bancone opened its third restaurant in buzzy Borough Yards. It's a buzzy, lively restaurant with a small but well executed menu and a great selection of drinks. The renovated railway arch allows lots of light to shine through onto diners, while the open kitchen and bar add a familiar but unobtrusive clatter of pasta tossing and cocktail shaking to the buzz. Kick off with a negroni – classic, white or floral orange blossom. There is something for everyone – good range of antipasti to start, the creamy burrata and confit tomatoes are rich and sumptuous. The crispy fried oysters are excellent but a small portion for £16. The silk handkerchief pasta is the most celebrated dish here and for a good reason. Salty, umami, perfectly al dente pasta with the crunch of walnuts is a definite winner. The mafalde with 'nduja was well seasoned and a generous portion, but the pasta was perhaps a touch undercooked. New on the menu is the borlotti bean ravioli with chicken butter – it is beautiful to look at and is a tasty plate of pasta. Come to Bancone for a reliable and speedy meal with efficient and polite service – get a seat by the kitchen if you enjoy watching the kitchen at work. bancone.co.uk Casse Croûte, Bermondsey Street – for French bistro vibes You'll be lucky to bag a table at this tiny French bistro on foodie Bermondsey Street. From the moment of calling up to book, you're greeted with French charm and a friendly "Bonsoir". Bookings are scribbled across white paper covers to save the gingham table cloths beneath from crumbs and butter. Which the chefs at Casse Croûte don't hold back on. A whole sole comes drizzled in the stuff, lamb shoulder with slow-cooked ratatouille has a generous helping, and the mash is whipped up with more butter than potato, just how we like it. In true neighbourhood bistro style, a short menu of French classics is chalked up on the black board. The selection of three starters may feature refreshing salades nicoise, chunky game terrines and silky salmon rillettes. Mains are simple yet well executed, focusing on the classics – bavette with creamy gratin dauphinois potatoes, hake on a bed of fennel, roast chicken with crunchy green beans – while the indulgent, cream-heavy desserts are worth leaving room for. Try mille feuille, crêpes suzette, apple tart, and luxurious chocolate fondant. Nestle in to a red leather banquette, sink a carafe of French wine, and give an in-the-know nod of appreciation to your neighbour (you may be touching shoulders, after all). cassecroute.co.uk José Tapas Bar, Bermondsey Street – for tapas A sublime, if tiny, tapas bar where compulsive ham croquetas are creamy and full of jamón, this was the first of chef José Pizarro’s growing stable of Spanish restaurants. Find a corner to burrow in and enjoy a glass of sherry and a game of padron pepper roulette (who will find a spicy one?), along with some patatas bravas and tortilla for good measure. The blackboard menu’s daily selection might include rich, boozy chorizo al vino, crisp baby chicken and potatoes with punchy Romesco sauce, and fresh pisto with delicate duck egg. Puddings are excellent – try the creamy rice pudding or the rich, velvety chocolate pot that’s given a savoury finish with olive oil and sea salt. josepizarro.com Where The Pancakes Are, Flat Iron Square – for brunch This is a pancake house with serious style. A custom-built oak bar and kitchen area along with wooden tables and seats based on retro Dutch school chairs give the space a calming Scandi feel. The railway arch is warmed up with a whole wall of white felt cut outs and ceiling planters that brim with greenery to intermingle with modern light installations. As it says on the tin, this clean and bright spot specialises in stacks of buttermilk pancakes. Where The Pancakes Are takes pride in its sourcing of ingredients, with high welfare eggs from Kent, organic flour and 100% pure maple syrup, hand-tapped in Quebec, Canada (plus, it’s packed with minerals and antioxidants). Try the popular savoury dish found within the section titled 'Dutch babies' – an American interpretation of a 17th century German oven-baked pancake recipe, it's a Yorkshire pudding-esque pancake layered with asparagus, goat's and cheddar cheese, decorated with roast thyme and rosemary sprigs with a side salad of fennel, rocket and kale. wherethepancakesare.com Vinegar Yard, London Bridge – for al fresco drinking and street food This amalgamation of drinking terraces, bars and street-food trucks is a great al fresco hangout and handily located right next to London Bridge station. There's a large inside area in winter (plus covered canopies and heaters outdoors), and in summer the large buzzy terrace is a suntrap for groups of friends and after-work hangouts. Take your pick from multiple bars and several different street food stalls – whether you fancy a fully stacked burger, slice of pizza or Indian or Asian-inspired snacks. vinegaryard.london Bala Baya, The Old Union Yard Arches – for Middle Eastern food Tucked down The Old Union Yard Arches, in a brick-exposed railway arch, Bala Baya is a Tel Aviv-inspired restaurant in Southwark. It’s the first solo venture from Eran Tibi, who cut his teeth at Ottolenghi. Like Eran, who had us ‘sampling’ bitter orange vodka shots on a school night, it’s lively and energetic. balabaya.co.uk Shangri-La at The Shard – for a special occasion with city views If The Shard had toes, they would tickle Borough Market, from where the splendidly high-rise hotel sources much of its produce. Initial impressions of main restaurant, TING (on level 35), are magnificent: the lift doors open onto a spectacular and uninterrupted panorama of London, dominated at first by St Paul’s Cathedral. Low tables and armchairs are sensibly arranged to soak up as much of the view as possible. The food lives up to the view: Dorset crab, cucumber, mango, passion fruit and tomato to start; organic lamb loin with sake, soy, Erengi mushroom, apple and shiso to follow. Sommelier Anne Lomas is unstuffy and approachable despite the glam surroundings. The ground floor’s Lang sells yuzu cheesecake to eat in or take away. Don’t leave without visiting Gong, the highest bar in London; and with a pool, too. Try The Big Smoke, a gin, sherry and vermouth cocktail served in a dramatic, smoked-at-table martini glass. TING at Shangri-La also does a fabulously exotic twist on afternoon tea. If you enjoy Asian food, and would prefer to gaze across a sparkling city rather than a Victorian dining room, then you can’t get much better.Diners have the choice of a traditional afternoon tea or an ‘Asian-inspired’ afternoon tea… the latter reigns supreme, with fat, moreish steamed prawn dumplings and delicate crab soft rolls in place of finger sandwiches. Service is spot on – after loudly complimenting our dumplings, we were quickly presented with another piping hot batch to enjoy. shangri-la.com/london/shangrila/ Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in Kings Cross Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Austria’s capital caters to both traditionalists and modernists with bistros, wine bars, cafés and schnitzel restaurants
Looking for where to eat in Vienna? We share insider tips for the best restaurants in the Austrian capital, along with where to find old-world cafés, hot dogs and secret bars in the cobbled backstreets and grand avenues. Best places to eat and drink in Vienna Café Ährlich – for farm to table brunch Café Ährlich is the ultimate farm to table brunch spot. Interiors feel Scandi in design but warm in mood with friendly staff, plus the scent of freshly baked bread in the air. Dishes are made with produce that is grown on the restaurant's farm in Innviertel, a region in Northwestern Austria. The flavours are clean and simple, allowing the freshness of the produce to shine. Try the Innviertel breakfast, a breakfast plate with house-made rolls, a soft-boiled egg, salami from their pigs and home-made blackcurrant jam. Plus, there are fantastic sourdough and pastries too. aehrlich.at Café Vollpension – for heartwarming, home-made food Vollpension is a spot to warm your heart and your belly. It describes itself as ‘Granny’s public living room’ and that is exactly how it feels. The café is run not only to provide delicious meals, but to promote connection between the generations, help end old-age poverty and reduce loneliness. The café is staffed by the young and old, with the older staff all working after their retirement age. They also cook their own recipes for all the delicious treats on the counter, which you can watch as you order. Take your token to the cake counter and exchange it for a slice of sachertorte, strudel or apple tiramisu, to name a few, all served with a generous dollop of whipped cream. We loved the buchteln, a fluffy yeasted roll stuffed with plum jam, sat in a bowl of warm crème anglaise. Kitschy interiors with lots of cute frames of furry friends make the cosy vibe even nicer. vollpension.wien Wiener Würstelstand – for the best street food Sausages are a big deal in Vienna, so much so that sausage stands in Vienna have UNESCO cultural heritage status. There are many independent sausage stands across the city, but our favourite was at Wiener Würstelstand. You can spot the bright orange font on stands across the city. A must order is a Käserkreiner, a lightly smoked sausage with chunks of cheese inside. Make sure you know your answer to the question ‘sweet or spicy?’ as they’re referring to the mustard you want with your dog. We think the answer is both! wien.info Café Sperl – for coffee in historic surroundings This spot is a Viennese institution, open since 1880, so is soaked in history. Waiters bustle about in traditional black and white uniform, serving classics such as Einspänner, a strong espresso topped with whipped cream, and fiaker, a strong coffee spiked with rum. Have a slice of cake with your coffee from the cake trolley, with all the Viennese offerings, such as strudel, sachertorte or marillenfleck (apricot cake). There's a strong savoury menu too, including rindsuppe mit frittaten, a style of beef soup with thinly sliced pancakes. There is a huge billiards table and live piano on Sundays from 3.30pm. You’ll come away feeling like you’ve sipped coffee in a historical landmark! cafesperl.at/en &Flora – for veggie-forward cooking &Flora offers veggie-forward plates in relaxing interiors. Located in the very chic Hotel Gilbert, the staff are attentive and friendly, making you feel like a guest even if you’re just stopping by. Start with the house-made focaccia and a pickle plate. Soft, salty and dripping with good-quality olive oil, this is the perfect start to the meal. The pickles are crunchy and fresh, the perfect acidic bite to get your mouth watering. The plates lean mainly veggie, with a few meatier options scattered throughout. Standouts include charred pointed cabbage with tahini and chilli crunch, XO beef tartare with furikake and pickled cabbage and trout crudo with snow peas and pickled elderflower. undflora.at Hans & Fritz – for picturesque Austrian vineyards A short 30-minute car ride from central Vienna takes you to some of the most picturesque vineyards you could possibly see. With stunning views over Vienna, Hans & Fritz offers Austrian wine and seasonal plates with atmosphere to match. Sit in the vineyards overlooking the grapes growing while sampling the finished product. There's a whole host of wines to choose from, both by the bottle and the glass. Pair with great breads, charcuterie, pâté and cheeses to nibble alongside. This is the perfect spot to take a date, though do be warned – the hill to get there is very steep! hansundfritz.at Mochi – for Austro-Japanese fusion Start your meal at this Austro-Japanese izakaya, with a refreshing spritz (yuzu sake, frizzante and mint) or a hot sake. Then, perch at the wooden bar to watch bandana-clad chefs preparing sushi and small plates – “special rolls” include My Best Friend, a parcel of tempura leek, salmon sashimi and miso teriyaki sauce. Skewers from the grill include pork belly and chicken skin while Mochi’s small plates line-up features crispy karaage chicken and minced pork tan tan salad in chilli teriyaki. And don’t miss the tempura prawns on crunchy lettuce with chilli mayo and yuzu truffle dressing. mochi.at Café Ansari – for Georgian cuisine A duck egg-blue counter, jade green walls and lace lampshades create a warm and welcoming vibe at Café Ansari. The owners’ Georgian/Lebanese heritage is reflected in brunch options such as khachapuri bread oozing with cheese and platters of hummus, labneh, cheese and sumac-sprinkled cherry tomatoes. Traditionalists are catered for, too, with homemade apricot jam to spread over fresh rolls and croissants. To go with your choice, order homemade lemon balm and lavender lemonade (served in vintage carafes) or pick from the café’s list of unusual Georgian wines. cafeansari.at Kleines Café – for traditional Viennese vibes Leave your smartphone at the pale green door here and chat with the artsy regulars inside. Living up to its name this tiny mirror-lined space, with its worn leather banquettes and wooden chairs, has long been a bohemian haunt. A charming waiter weaves his way around, taking orders for traditional Viennese coffees (try an Einspänner – espresso with cream top, a mélange – espresso with hot water and frothy milk, or a Kleiner Brauner – espresso with milk on the side) and Austrian house wine. Franziskanerplatz 3 Karmelitermarkt – for farmers market shopping Seek out up-and-coming Karmelitermarkt, where Monday through Saturday, the cobbled square transforms into a farmer’s market and colourful kiosks contrast with the ancient buildings that surround them. Grab breakfast at one of the neighbouring cafés then shop for flowers, organic veg and Burgenland honey. Leopoldgasse Felzl – for Austrian bakes Whether you’re after a rustic loaf, a sandwich or a pastry, Felzl puts an Austrian stamp on its menu of Mediterranean bakes – crustily precise French baguettes, apple tarts made with North Austrian apples, and richly chocolated bundt cakes. There are even two bread-vending machines so, if you get a carb craving late at night, you can pick up a loaf after-hours. felzl.at Bitzinger – for hot dogs The city’s Bitzinger sausage stand is equally popular among selfie-snapping tourists and tux-clad opera-goers. It’s a slick but friendly operation. Order snacks such as käsekreiner (sliced cheese-studded sausage) and you’ll be served speedily, and with a smile. bitzinger-wien.at Krypt – for cocktails In-the-know locals cram into this subterranean speakeasy for killer cocktails. Prop up the walnut-topped, black marble bar and choose between a Mexican Massage (with plenty of tequila, lime and jalapeño) or rum-based Pineapple Express. Then, take your drink into a brick-lined alcove and challenge your companion to a game of shuffleboard, or peruse the surrounding art Krypt also sells itself as Vienna’s smallest gallery. krypt.bar Weinschenke – for burgers This burger joint has several locations across the city. Once you’ve finished shopping at the farmer’s market (see above) head to the Karmelitermarkt outpost and sip a glass of Austrian wine or a citrussy Austrian Amber Ale while you plough through a Wild Guy (beef patty, cheddar, bacon, egg, japapenos, red onions and smoky BBQ sauce) or a Vito (wild boar burger with sherry pepper sauce, herbs and red cabbage). The beef comes from a local butcher while the wild boar is hunted from the Waldviertel woods in northern Austria. weinschenke-wien.com Phil – for lazy afternoons This cool and quirky cafe, with its funky retro furniture, is the place to head to if you want to combine coffee culture and book culture. There’s no time pressure at this café-cum-bookstore, so order a mélange (espresso, hot water, frothy milk) and a slice of vegan carrot cake and take your time browsing the well-stocked bookshelves. phil.info Jonas Reindl – for a hip coffee hangout This speciality brewspot is one of the city’s most popular third-wave coffee shops. Coffee aficionados come to the pared-back space to gather over flat whites and cortados; the drinks are made using espresso from Barn in Berlin and a chocolate-y Nicaraguan house blend with nougat and almond notes. Apple cake, streusel and decadent chocolate cake sit temptingly under glass domes for those who fancy a sweet treat to accompany their coffee. jonasreindl.at Naschmarkt Doing a brisk trade in fruit and veg since 1793, the Naschmarkt’s stalls brim with everything from glossy olives and Asian spices to Alpine cheeses and Austrian wines. Go for a morning stroll before a bumper breakfast of omelette-topped bagels and fresh-pressed juice at Naschmarkt Deli. Pick up a bag of freshly roasted Alt Wiener Gold coffee, at Alt Wien. An unassuming-looking coffee shop nearbt, it does an expert line in fair-trade and organic blends. altwien.at Henzls Ernte Stop by Henzls Ernte for deli goods made with fruit, herbs and spices grown or foraged by the owners. Their pepped-up sugars and salts and nettle and wild garlic pesto are especially worth seeking out. henzls.at Café Central Freud and Trotsky famously enjoyed the marble splendour of Café Central. Black-vested waiters have been serving a slice of old-world Viennese decadence to visitors in this palatial coffee house since 1876. Try the linger over apple strudel, which flakes just so, and speciality coffees such as Maria Theresia, an orange liqueur-laced double espresso topped with whipped cream. Trzesniewski This small chain has the open sandwich down to a fine art. Try toppings such as crab and egg, pickled herring and onions and wild paprika. A couple of bites and they're gone, so order a few. trzesniewski.at Best hotels for foodies in Vienna Hotel Gilbert A stone’s throw from the trendy MuseumsQuartier, Hotel Gilbert is a fantastic base for a city break. The hotel is chicly decorated with comfortable rooms and cosy beds. There is sustainability at the forefront of thinking, with refillable toiletry bottles in the rooms and air-con that only runs from 27c. If you’re a food lover, this is the hotel for you. &Flora is the restaurant within the hotel, offering veggie-centric small plates with middle Eastern influences. The breakfast buffet is a huge spread of pickles, hot items, cereals, breads, dips, fruits and vegetables. There's a gym and sauna plus bike rentals for exploring the city. And when you’re done, you can head to the bar for ‘wine time’ with a complimentary glass of wine each evening. Rooms start at £126 a night, check availability at hotel-gilbert.at/en or booking.com Grand Ferdinand Hotel Enter this plush hotel via its statement lobby (go easy past the life-size horse statue) and check into one of its moodily minimal bedrooms. Then, follow your stomach and either swing up to the Grand Etage restaurant, with its panoramic views over the city, or swerve into the hotel’s dedicated schnitzel joint, Meissl & Schadn. The top-floor Grand Etage sits beside a large terrace and lap pool but we recommend heading up at breakfast and loading your plate with Austrian sausages, pickled fish and typical bakes and eating them from the comfort of a floral-patterned armchair looking out across gilded rooftops, intricate domes and palaces. At Meissl & Schadn, on the other hand, peer past the ‘Schnitzel Love’ sign in the window and watch, mesmerized, white apron-clad chefs prepare traditional Viennese schnitzel beneath an extravagant chandelier. Veal is bashed, dipped in breadcrumbs and fried in your choice of lard, pork dripping or vegetable oil to create a frilly, golden crumb. For the full experience, book-end your main course with a shrimp cocktail to start and an apple strudel to finish. Check availability at grandferdinand.com or booking.com The Guesthouse With the help of Terence Conran this former youth hostel, on the same square as the Vienna Opera House, is now a sleek, design hotel. One of its best features is an award-winning wood-stove bakery so expect the very best Viennese pastries for breakfast. Glittering palaces, classical music and exceptional art make Vienna ideal for a grown-up weekend away. Foodies can sign up to a cooking class with Bianca, a locally-run workshop that takes you straight into the world of Austrian cuisine; shop at the market before returning to the kitchen to learn how to prepare paprika chicken stew, spaetzli (dumplings) with salad and proper apple strudel before sitting down to enjoy the feast. Check availability at theguesthouse.at or booking.com First written by Kerry Christiani in 2013, updated by Alex Crossley in 2019 and by Helena Busiakiewicz in 2025 Photographs: Meierei, Sandra Raccanello /SIME/4Corners, Reinhard Schmid/4Corners, Helen Cathcart/Lonely Planet Traveller Magazine
Keep up to date with the hottest new openings across the country, expertly reviewed by the olive team, from Edinburgh to Bristol and Brighton
Looking for exciting new restaurants to visit? We’ve sent our experts across the UK to find the best new places to eat. Read our reviews below, and then have a sneak peak further down for hot-off-the-press news of upcoming restaurant openings to put in your diary. Want to know about the hottest new spots in the capital? Read our guide to the best London restaurant openings, or listen to the olive podcast where a restaurant critic shares 10 things you need to know about being a food influencer. Now discover the best private dining rooms in the UK, the best restaurants with rooms in the UK and if you want to pull out all the stops, find out the UK's best showstopping restaurants to impress and the best chef's table experiences in the UK. For a rejuvenating overnight stay, discover the best UK spa hotels for food lovers, then find out the best female-owned restaurants in the U.K. For a more casual affair, find out our favourite informal dining spots. New UK restaurants in 2025 The General Tarleton, North Yorkshire Dating back to 1762, this former coaching in has all the components of a classic country pub – carpets lining stone flag flooring, horseshoes nailed into the thick stone walls and roaring fires warming up cosy nooks. This isn’t a regular inn, it’s the first in a new hospitality venture from Tommy Banks, Matthew Lockwood and Neil Armstrong, breathing new life into closed venues. There’s an elegant glaze over the top – yes, there are casks and kegs of Timothy Taylors and Turning Point ales served in the lively bar area, but also cocktails such as Ferrensby spritz featuring homegrown rhubarb and marigold aperitif. Likewise on the food menu, pub classics sit alongside elevated plates. Kick off with runny yolk scotch egg with homemade brown sauce or the graceful roast beetroot terrine, reminiscent of The Black Swan’s unctuous crapaudine dish. The pie is a highlight – a rich filling of steak laced with Black Sheep ale in a crisp pastry case (yes, the whole way round, as it should be), plus chips seasoned with garden herbs and malt vinegar. Whole BBQ monkfish tail slides off the bone into an aromatic curry, a grilled flatbread pocket on the side to mop up, while lamb shoulder sits atop creamy Yorkshire pecorino polenta. For dessert, try rich chocolate, miso and sour cherry pots conjured up by Tommy in The Black Swan kitchen pre-Michelin fame. Our surprise highlight was the apple crumble soufflé served with homemade custard ice cream, recommended by our friendly, informed waiter Sam. olive tip: There’s a set menu (£26 two-courses, £30 for three) Monday to Thursday evenings and Thursday and Friday lunchtimes. Think buttermilk chicken with hot honey and kimchi, Cumberland sausage and mash with mustard and onion gravy and lemon verbena rice pudding, poached pear and puffed wild rice. generaltarletonferrensby.co.uk BAYTE, East Sussex Housed in an ex-showroom on the charming King’s Road in St Leonards-on-Sea, BAYTE welcomes you with a view of its open kitchen, showcasing a green bar that stretches the length of the restaurant and lime-washed walls. The décor screams "cool", but there’s still a warmth that invites you in. While this is undoubtedly the perfect setting for a special-occasion meal, it's ideal for groups of friends catching up over shared plates, and locals popping in for dessert and a cocktail. The accomplished menu is highly seasonal thanks to the locally sourced produce from along the coast in Lewes, and free-range, organic meat from Haye Farm in Devon. Expect Italian references like hand-rolled pastas, which include pesto alla trapanese with the first tomatoes of the summer. The kitchen team’s skills are evident in the balance and details of the dishes, from the chrysanthemum leaves adding a herbaceous note to wild bass, to the rich and decedent browned butter hollandaise served alongside a perfectly rare sirloin. bayte.co.uk The Great Bustard, Wiltshire Game features prominently at this freshly renovated pub and restaurant with rooms on the edge of the Durnford Estate, as chef Jordan Taylor liaises daily with the estate team. Both the cosy bar and brighter, wood-beamed restaurant serve elevated comfort food: partridge goujons, game terrine and venison, while vegetarians are equally well catered for in hyper-seasonal, estate-grown dishes like glazed beetroot, ancient grain risotto and smoked ewe’s curd. The kitchen’s skills are most evident in puddings such as mont blanc with condensed milk ice cream, and clementine parfait and cognac sorbet. Take a souvenir home from the on-site farm shop, which offers homemade dill pickled cucumbers, piccalilli, fig and date chutney and strawberry jam. thegreatbustard.uk Harry's, East Sussex Stylish seaside boutique hotel The Gallivant in Camber Sands is the setting for Harry’s, where the vibe is very much upmarket beach house, soft sage and natural tones, leafy greenery and framed retro beachwear on the walls. Kick off with a glass of English fizz before perusing a menu that spotlights local seasonal produce and classic French cookery by ex-Bibendum head chef Matthew Harris, from terrine de campagne and braised rabbit in riesling to sharing dishes like côte de boeuf in green peppercorn sauce Starters of crisp spring vegetable salad with creamy goat’s curd, and delicate smoked eel with an oozy soft-boiled egg, rye bread and a peppy celeriac remoulade set a tone of refined simplicity that continues into mains – star billing of which goes to a sturdy, juicy Romney Marsh Barnsley chop winningly matched with earthy mushroom duxelles, asparagus, crisp pomme frites and a creamy sauce paloise: a variation of béarnaise flavoured with mint rather than tarragon, it’s a bull’s-eye match with the lamb. Desserts are pared back. A petit pot au chocolat has grown-up cocoa bitterness, while a vanilla panna cotta with grappa and strawberries matches sweetness with a welcoming boozy kick. You can also order a tarte fine pommes flambée, brought to the table and set alight. Don’t miss out on a dram from the digestif table topped with beautiful bottles of amber spirits, from cognac to calvados. The wine list has a plentiful European selection but also a strong focus on English bottles, only fitting given Harry’s sits in the heart of wine country. We drink a juicy, crunchy Artelium pinot noir from the South Downs. thegallivant.co.uk Winsome, Manchester Chef Shaun Moffat, after winning acclaim at Manchester’s The Edinburgh Castle gastropub, has moved across town to open Winsome, a restaurant and adjoining bar at Whitworth Locke, a hip aparthotel on the edge of Manchester's Gay Village. “Thoughtful British cooking” is the tagline, with Shaun using prime seasonal produce, from Yorkshire rhubarb to Brixham crab, in multi-size sharing dishes of, for example, confit mussels and trotter on toast, pork chop with a sorrel, mustard and trout roe sauce, or whole brill with parsley liquor. Dishes are served with European wines and, from the Winsome bar, well-executed classic and original cocktails. winsomemcr.co.uk New UK restaurant openings in 2024 Pomus, Margate Unassumingly located in Margate’s revamped shopping precinct, Ryan Jacovides’s bistro and wine bar has all the warm, friendly feels of a neighbourhood favourite. Prime spot is perched on a mustard-hued stool at the burnt orange counter, so you can peruse the bottles on the shelves behind and watch head chef Aaron Costen and his team look after the impressive cooking. Kick off with a herbaceous rosemary-infused negroni, house-infused vermouth spritz or glass of floral Kentish sparkling wine. Pair with the likes of mackerel rillettes, charred flatbread with tzatziki and baked oysters in lemon and mustard butter. Everything is gluten-free here, from the squidgy homemade gluten-free focaccia to the must-order soy and ginger popcorn chicken with zippy mango and habanero sauce. The Sunday sharing feast includes a selection of snacks, gobstopper olives and focaccia followed by a huge sharing cut (for example Tomahawk pork in a rich, buttery beef stock sauce) accompanied by a generous spread of sides – bubbling ramekins of cheesy dauphinoise potatoes, pancetta-flecked sprouts and chilli-laced mangetout. Elegant puddings might be blackberry-topped dark chocolate ganache or tarte tatin with miso ice cream. A third of the cocktails are creative non-alcoholic options such as a refreshing coastal spritz, and there’s also an extensive list of wines chalked up on the blackboard alongside frames of quirky art to liven things up. pomus.co.uk Starling, Esher, Surrey If you follow Tom Kerridge on TV, podcasts and Instagram you’ll be familiar with Nick Beardshaw who worked alongside him for years. Now @beardymanchef has gone it alone in this new neighbourhood bistro where elevated comfort food favourites include truffle cheese crumpets; honey-glazed chicken nugget with house hot sauce; pork loin with gherkin gravy; along with his winning, Banksy-inspired Balloon Girl dessert. A concise wine list, half of which is available by the glass, includes a Sussex sparkler. Bag one of four seats at the counter to chat with chefs as they cook for you. starlingbistro.co.uk Mýse, Hovingham, North Yorkshire Pronounced ‘meeze’ and named after the Anglo-Saxon word for ‘eating at the table’, this Michelin-starred, rural gem is a harmonious blend of heritage and modern. Chef Josh Overington claims to make “elevated granny food” which, frankly, does a disservice to his intelligent, technique-heavy approach. The tasting menu is served dinner party style in a bright, minimalist dining room with botanical finishes. There are 16 covers and dishes are brought to tables in unison by the calm, methodical kitchen team. There’s an emphasis on pickles, preserves and ferments, as well as traditional methods and a razor-sharp focus on provenance. There are memorable, talking-point dishes at every turn, including scallop in sea urchin butter and colostrum curd tart. This is cerebral, exacting, original cooking, demonstrating such ingenuity as jerusalem artichoke ice cream with crispy skins and birch syrup tapped from local trees – presented in a birchwood bowl hand-carved by the chef. The attention to detail is mirrored in the wine pairings, curated by sommelier Victoria Overington in collaboration with Noble Rot. One of the pairings is a cider pressed nearby into only 48 bottles. The team are warm, knowledgeable and personable, without being overly formal. After enjoying 15 remarkable dishes, guests can drift a short distance to rooms above the restaurant, or through the village to the newly refurbished Mýse cottage. The accommodation is airy but cosy and full of natural materials – sensitively modernised old Yorkshire. The breakfast is a masterstroke. It’s presented elegantly on the table in delicate elements – pâté and potted fish, home-cured charcuterie, barley porridge and a Burford Brown boiled to serve. There’s a touch of magic about Mýse and, true to Josh’s mission, this is food you won’t find anywhere else. restaurantmyse.co.uk Hansom, Bedale, North Yorkshire Talented young chef and Great British Chefs alumnus Ruth Hansom worked her way up through some of London’s top kitchens, including a five-year stint at The Ritz. She’s now relocated to her native north-east and opened her eponymous debut restaurant in the North Yorkshire village of Bedale. The focus is small plates, Sunday lunch and tasting menus, all made using hyper-seasonal ingredients and a produce-led approach. Local suppliers like Spilmans and Longley Farm are namechecked on menus, while ingredients are sourced from across Yorkshire – the October seasonal tasting menu featured Whitby crab and Swaledale mallard. The simply named dishes on the tasting menu play down the complex cookery. There are touches of flamboyance, like ravioli served in a huge crab shell, and dishes like savoury mushroom custard have a slight eccentricity. Savoury bread and butter pudding, cut through with sour wensleydale and sharp apple, is a playful opening dish. There are inventive pairings, surprising servings and unusual ingredients like woodruff, a plant that has cinnamon and vanilla notes, but the common theme is letting the ingredients do the talking. It’s an intelligent and precocious first solo venture worth making the journey for. hansomrestaurant.co.uk TERRA at Rockliffe Hall, Darlington Self-taught chef James Close spends any spare time he has travelling the world for food inspiration. Looking for a new challenge he joined Rockliffe Hall as culinary director and opened pop-up Terra, while the hotel builds a new restaurant space. Although billed as a modern bistro, the level of skill and detail in dishes such as prawn and crab toast; burnt lime hamachi ceviche; wagyu tournedos rossini speak to his Michelin star background (two stars at his previous home The Raby Hunt) while gratinated gnocchi and tropical baked alaska hit the comfort food bullseye. The pop-up runs until the end of the year with the new space opening in 2025. rockliffehall.com Horrell & Horrell, Somerset olive favourite Horrell & Horrell throws Thursday, Friday and Saturday dinners for up to 40 guests at its Sparkford smallholding. Now guests are invited for Sunday lunch, served in a converted barn on one long communal table, beautifully adorned with cosy blankets, sheepskins and candles. Lunch kicks off with a bloody mary piled with homegrown veg. Meat, including rump of beef cooked in the brick oven, cheese and dairy are from H&H’s network of local, sustainability conscious suppliers. horrellandhorrell.co.uk Dongnae, Bristol Meaning ‘neighbourhood’ in Korean, Kyu Jeong Jeon and Duncan Robertson’s new venture offers elevated Korean cooking in a variety of menus. The £24 set lunch includes rice, soup, sides and kimchi and at the other end of the scale, Hanjungshik (£65) features chef-selected dishes such as beef tartare, wild mushroom dolsotbap, whelk and perilla muchim, or grilled pork jowl with house-made condiments like fresh wasabi, and fermented clam. Korean fermentation and BBQ techniques underpin all menus. As with sister restaurant Bokman, the drinks list majors on low-intervention wines. Sit at the counter overlooking the kitchen or at the large bay windows, which flood the restaurant with light. dongnae.co.uk Medlock Canteen, Manchester Described as a democratic, all-day cross between an American diner and a Parisian bistro, Medlock Canteen is the latest North-west venue from chef Sam Grainger and his fellow co-owners of Liverpool’s Belzan and Mexican restaurant Madre, the latter a collaboration with the founders of Breddos Tacos. Located on Deansgate Square, to the south of Manchester city centre, Medlock Canteen opens at 9am, serving eggs royale or confit duck hash. Evening starters include Alpine cheddar and black truffle croquettes or a roast chicken caesar salad. Mains range from rotisserie lamb to cod with smoked oysters and ajo blanco. medlockcanteen.com OSIP, Bruton In a new location, this tiny farm-to-table restaurant showcasing hyper-local producers is a community affair. Two nearby farms and an orchard grow the majority of Osip’s ingredients, others provide surplus fruit and foraged ingredients. There is no formal menu – what’s served depends on what’s available and good each day, starting with snacks and raw or preserved vegetables, breads and broth, then series of larger plates – examples might be scallop with roe satay sauce and thai basil; and spider crab with courgette, gooseberry and meadowsweet – and desserts. osiprestaurant.com Elements, Bearsden Scottish ingredients, some foraged from Loch Lomond, feature in chef Gary Townsend’s new Glasgow venture, along with more global influences. Its dark wood and navy décor creates a warm vibe, a welcoming backdrop to dishes like North Sea cod loin poached in butter and served with cockles, cod dumpling buttermilk and miso; Scottish lamb saddle featuring shoulder, sweetbread, BBQ Gem lettuce, smoked aubergine and chimichurri; and Amalfi lemon and yuzu with Perthshire strawberries, preserved elderflower and basil. elementsgla.com The Counter, Tunbridge Wells The Counter is the debut restaurant of chef Robin Read, who's previously worked with the Roux brothers and at the Firmdale Hotels group. Choose from a five-, eight- or 10-course tasting menu (starting at a reasonable £60 for the five-course option). The 10-course menu is served exclusively at the counter itself, overlooking the kitchen, so you can watch Robin and his small team of chefs at work. Go for the three or five wine pairing option to try well-chosen glasses alongside the meal. The menus change each month, championing local and seasonal produce and supporting independent producers. Sustainability is front of mind, and every part of an ingredient is used. This is demonstrated by the malt sourdough, served with 'waste' vegetable broth – a deeply flavoured broth made using the trimmings from other courses. The focus is on classic cookery, shining a spotlight on British ingredients with elegant techniques. Other highlights on our midsummer visit included delicate wild line-caught seabass with a courgette purée, and a 'strawberries and cream' dessert with compressed strawberries, sorbet, frangipane and crème diplomat. Save room for the fun 'Sweet Treat Tower' of chocolates and pâte de fruit to finish the meal. Service is impeccably knowledgeable and friendly throughout, and the small, welcoming dining room is sure to become a new neighbourhood gem. thecountertw.com Cardinal, Edinburgh Chef Tomás Gormley has accumulated experience at some of the Scottish capital’s finest restaurants (Michelin- starred Heron and Skua) to launch his first solo venture. The 13-course tasting menu showcases Scottish produce, focusing on fermentation (think ibérico pork cheek with fermented girolles and hen-of- the-woods) and cooking on the wood-fired BBQ (such as smoked Belhaven lobster with pink fir potatoes and chives). cardinal.scot The Blue Pelican, Deal The team behind boutique hotel and restaurant The Rose has converted a townhouse into a Japanese-inspired restaurant and natural wine bar. Chef Luke Green met his wife, Miaki, in Tokyo, and the couple have been living in Deal since 2019. The sea provides fish for dishes such as dry-aged sea bass, line-caught mackerel sushi and grilled john dory with leeks and white miso. thebluepelican.co.uk Rind, North Yorkshire London’s The Cheese Bar swaps the big city for the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales. Primely positioned with a view of Ingleborough mountain and next to one of the best cheese shops in the country, The Courtyard Dairy, the restaurant integrates the finest artisan cheeses into its menu of wood-fired pizzas, British cheeseboards and matching wines. thecheesebar.com/rind
Check out our pick of the Danish capital's affordable eats, from stylish bistros to veggie tasting menus and atmospheric wine bars, plus a great-value restaurant-hopping tour
Looking for affordable restaurants in Copenhagen? A weekend foodie break in the Danish capital can be affordable. Copenhagen is renowned for its Michelin-starred restaurants and clever Nordic cuisine, but we have wandered the city's neighbourhoods including Vesterbro and Nørrebro to create our guide to the best value foodie spots. Find out where locals eat and drink in Copenhagen – where they grab coffee on their morning commute, the affordable street food stalls from which they get their lunchtime fix, where they enjoy a leisurely brunch at the weekends, and their favourite secret drinking dens. Copenhagen's best affordable places to eat and drink Atelier September – for bistro lunch This pretty café and gallery is hygge at its best – Danish crockery in neutral tones sits snuggly in chic dressers, bottles of wine are elegantly aligned on white shelves, and stylish locals slouch around the large communal table at the café’s heart cupping polkadot mugs of Swedish Koppi coffee. Order warm, cinnamon-infused apple juice and a traditional poppy seed-covered Te Birkes pastry. For lunch, harissa is stirred through a pumpkin purée sprinkled with crunchy toasted buckwheat and fresh coriander, while lemon oil, zest and fresh tomatoes add a citrusy kick to creamy straciatella. cafeatelierseptember.com Den Vandrette – for natural wine You’ll find this cosy, candlelit wine bar, sunk down from the pavement, just around the corner from the colourful buildings of Nyhaven. Dried flowers hang from arched ceilings, fur throws are draped across wooden benches and vintage rugs add warmth to concrete floors. Sune Rosforth, Copenhagen’s pioneering natural wine importer, has selected an imaginative list of natural wines to choose from. Try elegant Nas del Gegant rosé, La Sorga’s sparkling Belzebrut, or orange wines from Georgia. Nordic small plates include smoked celeriac with oyster leaf and crisp black chickpeas, Norwegian scallops with sea buckthorn and habanero, and Christiansø herring with brown butter and crème fraîche. denvandrette.dk Lille Bakery – for local bakes Cycle across the river, past Noma’s greenhouses, to vibrant Refshaleøen where you’ll find this warehouse turned bakery. The airy building has had a lick of white paint, but its earthy interiors remain intact, putting the open bakery and prep area (where colourful salads are chopped on the counter and daily bakes sit on cooling racks) in the spotlight. It’s difficult to choose between umami-rich Danish pork sausage rolls with apple and fennel seeds, cod with lentils, leeks and cavolo nero, and carrot, pumpkin and ricotta tart. All dishes come with homemade bread, and drinks – think hibiscus iced tea or iced coffee – are homemade. lillebakery.com Høst – for great-value set menus There’s an indoor-outdoor feel at this contemporary Nordic neighbourhood bistro in Nørrebro, while potted trees, hanging plants, reclaimed wood and French windows create cosy nooks. The playful three-or-five-course set menus are peppered with foraged Danish ingredients and come with plenty of extras in between – warm bread with wheatgrass butter, seaweed and dill waffle topped with Danish crayfish, rhubarb doughnuts – making them brilliant value. Dishes might include smoked scallops with horseradish cream, white currants and dill oil followed by a choice between dried ramson-flecked chicken schnitzel in creamy garlic sauce or grilled beef tenderloin with fermented black garlic purée and Madagascan pepper and morels sauce. Finish with the likes of rhubarb and cardamom parfait, vanilla tuilles and warm caramel. The matching wine pairing is generously poured and for an extra 100 krona you can bookend your meal with a glass of crémant and coffee and petits fours to finish. cofoco.dk Moveat – for affordable restaurant hopping Connect several eclectic stops in a great-value, self-guided restaurant hopping tour. Pick the neighbourhood, buy your ticket on the app (approx. £50) and choose your pace to hop between open sandwiches at quintessential delis, bitesize seafood dishes at new Nordic restaurants and slices at trendy pizza joints. The routes might take you along the city’s rectangular lakes, through Assistens Cemetery (where Hans Christian Andersen is buried) and down residential cobbled streets, making it a fresh way to explore the city’s eclectic neighbourhoods. moveat.co Lidkoeb – for cocktails Cool ‘cocktail house’ Lidkoeb is set back from busy Vesterbrogade (factor in time to find it!). Work your way up this three-storey building (previously a pharmacy) to the whisky den beneath the exposed beams of the attic, or stick to the lounge downstairs to watch mixologists create cocktails at a bar that spans the whole of one wall. Sink into a low, stylish chair by the fire to watch Nordic ingredients and local spirits being shaken into superb cocktails. To create Rimfrost, the braces-clad barman infuses Bulliet Rye whiskey with fresh dill and combines it with St. Germain elderflower liqueur and bitters then tops with Champagne. lidkoeb.dk Reffen – for street food Refshaleøen island is home to Copenhagen’s most vibrant street food market, a flock of sea containers strung together by colourful lights and Nordic flags. Reduce and reuse is the mantra here, so food businesses serve organic, local ingredients where possible to create globally inspired dishes. Apartamento 16 serves Italian charcuterie and wines amongst washing lines of jeans, Baobab use local vegetables to make hearty Gambian peanut stew, domoda, and Thrilla in Manila does a brisk trade in spicy Philippine skewers. There are also Nordic Hotdogs made with South Jutland sausages and Crispy Pig roast pork sandwiches for those in search of classic Danish street food. reffen.dk Hart Bageri – for sourdough treats This mini chain of artisan bakeries from Danish chef Richard Hart spotlights sourdough in innovative sweet and savoury treats. Try doorstopper Danish ham and cheddar rye sourdough sandwiches, seasonal custard-filled croissant tarts and rotating Danish pastries. Relax by the water in the branch in maritime district Holmen or on the cobbled street patio in Nørrebro. hartbageri.com Dyrehaven – for all-day casual dining With black leather booths, patterned tabletops lit by sunset-coloured lampshades and a wood-panelled bar this hip Vesterbro hangout has a distinctly retro vibe. On weekend nights the DJs come out and cocktails are served but visit during the day and you’ll be rewarded with generous smorrebrods, the Danish open sandwich. Try homemade rye piled high with new potatoes, smoked cheese mayo, crunchy asparagus, cucumber and crisp onions. Dyrehaven also does an epic Flaeskesteg – roast pork (complete with crackling) served with red cabbage, red onion and pickled gherkins on a toasted sesame-topped burger bun. Or, pop in for breakfast and start the day with a red grapefruit laced with ginger syrup and mint, or one of Denmark’s breakfast plates ­– avocado on malt bread with lime, olive, radish and fresh chilli, eggs Benedict and Icelandic skyr. dyrehavenkbh.dk Grød – for porridge and risotto bowls Grød is Danish for porridge, which is the speciality at this pared-back micro chain of restaurants. Go for breakfast and choose between oat porridge with caramel sauce, fresh apples and roast almonds or gluten-free acai-chia porridge made with almond milk and topped with fresh berries, nuts and organic skyr yoghurt. In the evening its custom-made ceramic bowls are filled with comforting risotto. Our favourite is dyed red with beetroot, thickened with parmesan and served with finely sliced rainbow beetroot, whipped ricotta and fresh thyme. If it’s a nice day, sit outside on wooden picnic-style benches. groed.com Vækst – for a great-value plant-forward tasting menu Nordic veggies and herbs are at the heart of the menu at this plant-filled restaurant, where – to reinforce the message – tables are centred around a greenhouse that’s been constructed inside the building. The three-course tasting menu is excellent value, the dishes peppered with amuse bouches and palate cleansers to extend the experience. Sourdough with lovage butter kicks things off, followed by chive oil-drizzled mushroom soup, pickled celeriac and lemon cream, and pan-fried halibut on parsley root purée with mussel sauce. Mains are accompanied by notable sides such as mash with smoked cheese and fried buckwheat, and crunchy green beans, green tomatoes and buttermilk dressing. cofoco.dk Hija de Sanchez – for tacos Rosio Sanchez is a Mexican, Noma-trained chef who’s now running a taco stand. This popular street food spot in Copenhagen’s Torvehallerne covered market does wonders with corn tortilla tacos ­– think spit-roast pork with little chunks of pineapple and onion topped with coriander, roast chicken in a rich chocolaty mole sauce, or grilled two month-aged, Mexican-style grilled cheese (albeit made from organic Danish milk) served with punchy guacamole and spicy morita chilli salsa. For dessert try Mexican ‘paletas’ – ice pops that combine Danish and Mexican ingredients (frozen avocado with freeze-dried raspberries, hibiscus tea with mezcal and oialla chocolate with Lakrids liqourice), or sip on a silky Aztec hot chocolate. hijadesanchez.dk Café det Vide Hus – for ice cream A favourite of Noma chef Rene Redzepi, Café det Vide Hus is a tiny spot with a view of fairytale Rosenborg castle and a penchant for locally foraged finds. Such special ingredients are used to compliment homemade ice creams – go for sea buckthorn sorbet dipped in white chocolate or elderflower ice cream dipped in chocolate and bee pollen. On cooler days, climb up the spiral staircase and find a seat in the snug lounge to sip on coffee from Copenhagen’s renowned roaster, The Coffee Collective. facebook.com/detvidehus Torvehallerne – for market shopping For high-end groceries and snacking, spend some time in Copenhagen’s biggest food market. Over 60 stalls sell Danish produce (local seafood and meats, open sandwiches, pastries, regional akvavits) as well as Mediterranean delicacies, exotic spices and freshly brewed coffee. The weekend crowds create a welcome buzz. Mikeller – for craft beers When maths and physics teacher Mikkel Borg Bjergso taught two of his students to brew they ended up taking the lesson so strongly to heart that they opened this seriously cool bar, with a staggering 40 micro-brewed beers on tap, along with over 200 bottled beers from Mikkeller, To Ol and other small-batch breweries. Shiny turquoise floors reflect onto bespoke pale wooden structures that create intimate corners and cubbyholes in the otherwise clean-lined canvas of the original Nørrebro bar. mikkeller.dk Kiin Kiin Bao Bao – for Thai tapas Danish chef Henrik Yde has recently opened a wallet-friendly alternative to his restaurant Guldbergsgade Kiin Kiin (the first Thai restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star). This more laid-back venture is a shimmering room that blends Thai and Danish design: soft grey walls, sleek tables and chairs, rounded sofas, globe lanterns and intricate teak panelling. The menu is tapas-style and there are over 25 small plate options – try the classic milky, fluffy bao with braised pork, peanuts and sweet hoisin sauce; a bowl of crispy kale chips with vibrant miso and pea mayo; fat, creamy Norwegian scallops in a mild ginger broth; and the 62 degrees egg, so silky and soft, with XO sauce and dried shrimp. Barabba – for late-night Italian Local chefs head to this buzzy Italian restaurant for post-shift plates of pasta, punchy cocktails and natural wines. The vibe is shabby chic, with ornate chandeliers on the rough walls, antique dressers on terrazzo tiles and wooden tables and chairs laid with vases of white flowers. Try silky folds of pappardelle with rich hare ragu, juniper and taggiasche olives, gnocchi with wild mushrooms or spaghettone with savoy cabbage and mussels. For a more substantial meal, follow your pasta course with a small but perfectly formed piece of brill, cooked on the bone with quince and citrus cream. Then finish with a crunchy, chocolatey semi-frozen hazelnut “rocher” with sour cherry coulis. The kitchen stays open until 2am with a late-night menu and there are regular negroni-fuelled parties, so keep an eye on Barabba’s Instagram feed to be kept in the know. barabba.dk Now you've got your list of restaurants and places to eat in Copenhagen, check out where to stay below... Where to stay in Copenhagen All hotels have been chosen and reviewed independently by our expert locals. Hotel Alexandra – for design-led comfort Double room from £97 per night based on two people sharing; check availability at booking.com, Michelin Guide For a primer on mid-century Danish design that’s almost as good as a trip to Copenhagen’s Design Museum, book a room at this stylish hotel. The hotel owner has curated pieces built in Denmark in the 1950s and ‘60s, so the bedrooms’ wooden floorboards and large windows form the perfect backdrop to a collection of rattan headboards, graphic turquoise armchairs and wooden writing desks. Larger suites are like decorative tributes to individual designers – one is dominated by Jens Risom’s sleek sofa and wooden geometric side table, the Verner Panton suite comes complete with a groovy orange living area. The stylish lobby area doubles up as an all-day hangout, with an honesty bar, complimentary wine hour and a record player ready to play the hotel’s selection of vinyl. In the morning, head down to connected bistro Godtfolk and create your own breakfast wheels from the continental buffet laid out in the conservatory – dill gravalax, Danish sausages, holey cheeses and slices of seeded, malty rye. The hotel is perfectly situated for exploring all of Copenhagen’s foodie neighbourhoods in one weekend, with Vesterbro’s Meatpacking District 15 minutes’ walk West, Torvehallerne food market a brisk 10-minute walk through Ørsteds Park, and Tivoli and the train station less than 500m away. Central Hotel og Café – for pint-sized café chic Rooms from £285 per night based on two people sharing; check availability at Central Hotel og Café The first floor of this wonky one-up, one-down building is home to a single-bedroom hotel. The pint-sized coffee shop below doubles up as the reception; pop in for a Risteriet coffee, old-fashioned milkshake or thick hot chocolate in the morning before mooching over to sister café Granola for brunch. Coffee aromas follow you upstairs to a matchbox room, perfectly befitting of a hotel in Hans Christian Anderson’s hometown. Oak beams, dark green walls and a traditional writing desk add to the hygge vibe. Luxurious finishes are kept local – Geismars bed linen is woven in a nearby mill, bespoke Tromborg toiletries await in the tiny bathroom, and contemporary art by Danish artists hangs from sage green wallpaper. Borrow a yellow bike free of charge to explore trendy neighbourhood Vesterbro. Nimb – for luxury set in the grounds of Tivoli Gardens Rooms from £390 per night based on two people sharing; check availability at booking.com, Hilton, Mr & Mrs Smith This five-star luxury hotel is nestled on the edge of the iconic Tivoli Gardens theme park, and reservations come with free access to Tivoli Gardens and all its rides. Original Moorish-inspired palatial features intertwine with contemporary Scandinavian design to create a uniquely serene space adorned with chandeliers, trickling fountains and antique furniture. The original façade’s signature starry pattern is worked into trellising and even woven through bedding and ties of the attentive concierges. All but one of the 38 rooms face onto Tivoli Gardens, and most have balconies and sweeping terraces to soak up the fairground vibes. Each is unique while consistently catering to every luxury, including four-poster beds, two-person Agape bathtubs and complimentary danish treats in the mini bar. A large brasserie-style space serves Scandi French fusion, with prime positioning to watch Tivoli’s Friday night concerts, while old school frills and seasonal smørrebrøds are served park-side at Fru Nimb. Set on its own boating lake in the gardens, The Japanese Pagoda curates a rotation of residencies from Michelin-starred restaurants across the world, a recent gem being Nicolas Min Jørgensen’s greenhouse-like Tri perched in the Danish North Sea fjords. Amble back beneath twinkling lights to Nimb’s ballroom turned bar for fairytale themed cocktails, such as forest margaritas laced with pine tree liqueur, sipped by the striking fireplace. First published January 2017, updated November 2019 and June 2025
Manchester’s food scene is buzzing, with fine dining to street food, hidden cocktail bars to craft beer joints. See our pick of the best places to eat and drink
Looking for Manchester restaurants? We've found the best places to eat and drink in Manchester, from the trendy Northern Quarter to neighbouring Salford. For more exciting restaurants and weekend ideas for food lovers, check out our best UK city breaks and UK's best artisan bakeries. For more foodie guides, discover the best restaurants in Birmingham, best restaurants in Liverpool, best restaurants in Glasgow and the places to eat in the Lake District. Best places to eat and drink in Manchester Skof – for Michelin-starred dining Located within a handsome phalanx of Victorian-era buildings, Tom Barnes’ debut restaurant is a suitably class act. A former exec chef at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume, Tom deftly deploys exceptional produce (some from Rogan’s Cartmel Valley farm) across tasting menu dishes of, say, Orkney scallop, barbecued kohlrabi, apple and watercress, or miso custard, mushrooms, truffle and dashi. This is precise, flavour-forward food served with a rare polished ease in a warm, comfortable dining room. Skof was awarded a Michelin star in February 2025. skofmanchester.co.uk Winsome – for prime seasonal British produce After winning acclaim at Manchester’s The Edinburgh Castle gastropub, chef Shaun Moffat has moved across town to create Winsome, a restaurant and adjoining bar at Whitworth Locke, a hip aparthotel on the edge of the city’s Gay Village. “Thoughtful British cooking” is the tagline, with Shaun using prime seasonal produce, from Yorkshire rhubarb to Brixham crab, in multi-size sharing dishes of, for example, confit mussels and trotter on toast, pork chop with a sorrel, mustard and trout roe sauce, or whole brill with parsley liquor. These are served with European wines and, from the Winsome bar, well-executed classic and original cocktails. winsomemcr.co.uk Idle Hands – for brunch Serene, canteen-feel hang-out, serving excellent coffee and well-executed brunches including Turkish eggs with garlic yogurt, chilli butter and za’atar focaccia, and garlic and thyme mushrooms on sourdough in a fennel cream. Idle Hands’ sweet pies (think pecan, chocolate cream, banana and cherry) are much-loved, too. idlehandscoffee.com Stow – for open fire cooking When Stow opened in late 2024 its mission statement was “great ingredients cooked over open fire with very little faff”, which landed with an appealing directness. In the open kitchen at this 30-cover restaurant and bar, chef and co-owner Jamie Pickles leads the team in creating seasonal, smoke-kissed sharing plates using a custom-built grill by Somerset’s Fire Made, a pizza oven and barbecue. Dishes range from red peppers with sherry vinegar or overnight roasted beetroots, ricotta and smoked honey, to brined chicken with tarragon jus or monkfish tail in a trout roe beurre blanc. These are accompanied by French wines, neat cocktails and a discerning, modern beer list. stowmcr.co.uk Kala – for a family-friendly feast Chef Gary Usher’s northern restaurant group, Elite Bistros, creates highly persuasive, multi-gen spaces. Places cool enough for your hipster cousin and classic enough for granddad that deliver for diners of all ages (kids’ menus available). On-point dishes range from baharat-spiced butternut squash with hazelnut ‘cream’ and dill pickled cucumbers, to braised featherblade, truffled parmesan chips and red wine sauce. A good Sunday lunch option, too. kalabistro.co.uk Exhibition – for three independent kitchens in one restaurant This striking open-plan venue is unusual and unusually good. It houses both a large bar (good cocktails, DJs, 1am finish at weekends) and a restaurant where you can order from three kitchens, simultaneously. These are Baratxuri, a seriously good homage to the Basque Country, Scandi-influenced Osma, and Jaan, specialist in topped, Persian-style flatbreads. Whether having lunch with family, or cocktails with your crew, Exhibition works from all angles. Note: Jaan is a spin-off from Another Hand, a cool, creative restaurant hidden up on Deansgate Mews, and a must-visit in itself. exhibitionmcr.co.uk Slap & Pickle@Society – for food-hall favourites From the Arndale Market – home of the legendary, Mexican-owned Pancho’s Burritos – to Mackie Mayor, grand offspring of Altrincham Market, Manchester has a varied food hall scene. At Society, we can’t get enough of Slap & Pickle’s next-level smash burgers; also, Yoki’s Korean fried chicken or mandu dumplings, and Chaat Cart’s Indian dishes. The bar features a vast range of beers from excellent West Yorkshire brewery, Vocation. societymanchester.com Madre – for Mexican In its Sunday markets, pop-up events and venues such as NY-style pizza bar, Nell’s, and bakery-café, Pollen, the Kampus residential development is something of a foodie hub. Stylish, clubbable Mexican restaurant Madre is a key draw. Do not miss its slow-cooked beef birria tacos; wood-fired, pistachio-crusted lamb; and epic crispy potatoes with garlic cream. Madre exec chef Sam Grainger also runs the eclectic Medlock Canteen, across town at Deansgate Square. thisismadre.co.uk Higher Ground – for local produce and natural wines A restaurant, yes. But also in its sourcing and ethos, a model for hospitality’s sustainable future (think seasonal, heritage UK ingredients; whole animal butchery; minimal-waste cooking; natural wines). Often using produce from allied market garden, Cinderwood, chef Joseph Otway creates dishes both arresting and irresistibly comforting: an Isle of Mull cheddar tart; marinated celeriac, whipped goat’s curd and salted gooseberry; roast pork with a mushroom grain porridge. For a more casual taste of this aesthetic, Higher Ground has a wine bar, Flawd, at New Islington Marina. highergroundmcr.co.uk Go Falafel – for lunch on-the-go This corner of town (Gujarati snacks at Bundobust, the veggie-slash-vegan options at Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurant, Asmara Bella) is home to some of Manchester’s tastiest meat-free food. If you’re dashing around, Go Falafel is an essential stop. Packed with vibrant pickles and salad items, lush hummus, tahini and perfectly crisp, light falafel, its takeaway wraps are brilliant. gofalafel.co.uk Erst – for a natural wine bar and sharing plates The Ancoats side of Manchester city centre is alive with good food, from cutting-edge Michelin-starred Mana to Detroit-style pizza destination, Ramona. Natural wine bar and restaurant Erst, a chic, minimalist space with a convivial buzz, is a neighbourhood favourite of national renown. Chef Patrick Withington handles vivid flavours with great confidence across sharing plates of, for example, grilled scallops in roe and charcuterie sauce; short rib ragu with cavatelli pasta; or bream tartare, blood orange and radish. erst-mcr.co.uk Lupo – for everything Italian Tucked away on a Prestwich trading estate, about three miles from central Manchester, Nico Pasquali’s Lupo, a combined restaurant, take-out counter and bakery, is a cult favourite worth hunting out. Seated in a cosy, colourfully decorated nook of this warehouse space, you can relax over quality pasta dishes, pizzas and family recipes such as a starter of agrodolce fried peppers. lupocaffe.co.uk Nell's – for New York-inspired pizza A homage to New York pizza, Nell’s was created by Jonny and Charlotte Heyes, owners of the legendary bar Common in Manchester’s hip Northern Quarter. The foundation for Nell’s pizza – served in slices and whole 14-inch or 22-inch pies – is a 36-hour fermented dough made with Shipton Mill organic flour. Examples of its creative toppings include the Corn Supremacy (miso corn, Lancashire cheese and crispy onions with garlic and jalapeño creams) and the Funghi Jambon’s combination of roast ham, mushrooms, vodka sauce, mozzarella and oregano. Nell’s has four locations to choose from. nellspizza.co.uk Grub & Fairfield Social Club – for foodie events Hidden up Red Bank, on the edge of the city centre, Grub is best known for hosting spring-summer street food parties in its hip, upcycled beer garden. But this multiuse venue (cinema, comedy, disco bingo!) also hosts food events, from kids’ pizza making to immersive screenings of food-themed films such as Ratatouille. Nearby sister venue, Fairfield Social Club, will, this year, host cider and Italian food festivals, a regular Turkish brunch and food quiz, Mouthful, where contestants face on-stage taste challenges. grubmcr.com Companio Bakery – for baked goods and classes In addition to its original Ancoats outlet, Companio now has an attractive bakery-café in the Northern Quarter, where – as well as retailing A1 breads, pastries, savouries and coffee – co-founders Baneta Yelda and Neil Large are hosting collab events, supper clubs and baking classes. Tutorials in sourdough breads, brioche dough or cinnamon rolls will be seasoned with, for example, events where Iraqi-born Baneta explores Middle Eastern cooking. companiobakery.co.uk Climat – for wines and views of Manchester's skyline Manchester’s Climat, the second venue from Chester’s Covino team, is a wine-led rooftop restaurant, where the 300-bottle list ranges from classic grand crus (in Burgundy, a climat is a unique, prized vineyard plot), to hip orange, pét-nat or small-producer wines from less-celebrated areas. Executive chef Luke Richardson’s love of the new wave of informal, internationalist Parisian bistros informs Climat’s menu, created with head chef Simon Ulph. Signature vol-au-vents sit alongside sharing plates of, for example, sardines, salsa verde, lemon and pine nuts; tandoori quail, chilli carrot salad and lime pickle; or duck with clementine and radicchio. restaurantclimat.co.uk Rudy’s – for pizza Rudy’s is an unanimous favourite among Manchester’s foodies that has now spread across the UK. It’s a go-to place for pizza and cocktails with your pals. Pizza dough is made on site twice a day and cooked for no longer than a minute to produce a springy base. Choose from toppings including classic margherita with buffalo mozzarella, spicy nduja sausage with tomato and fior di latte, or white pizza with smoked mozzarella, Tuscan sausage and wild broccoli. The aperitivo list uses some of our favourite Italian brands to create great twists on classic cocktails – gin fizz is spiked with Cynar (a bittersweet artichoke leaf liqueur) and Disaronno is mixed with limoncello, lemon juice and fresh basil for a refreshing amaretto sour. Otherwise, go for a creamy Dolci Colline prosecco, a bright and citrusy Sicilian white or forest-fruity Puglian red. rudyspizza.co.uk 10 Tib Lane – for date night Its scale and location (two compact floors on a back street), décor (candles, wood, distressed walls) and feel (calm, welcoming) make 10 Tib Lane a date night doozy. Start with cocktails, such as the whisky and soda made using a house yogurt-washed Chivas Regal. Revived, head upstairs for on-point sharing plates of smoked trout mousse, roe and brioche toast; sea bream with champagne sauce; or sea salt caramel tart. 10tiblane.com Pollen Bakery – for 28 hour fermented sourdough With its rich, caramelised crust, Pollen’s 28-hour sourdough was a game changer when it hit Manchester in 2016. Pollen’s Kampus and Ancoats Marina bakery-cafés, both stylishly functional spaces, maintain similar standards in their stellar brunch dishes (think eggs benedict with smoked ham hock, brown butter hollandaise and crispy kale) and pastries ranging from cinnamon morning buns, made using laminated croissant dough, to seasonal specials such as light joconde sponge cakes, topped with pistachio and Yorkshire rhubarb. pollenbakery.com New Century – a slick and stylish food hall Built in the 1960s within a then-futuristic office complex for the Co-operative Group, the New Century conference centre and dance hall was a key fixture in Manchester’s cultural life, hosting the likes of The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. This now Grade II-listed building was reborn as a gig venue and ground-floor food hall. Its kitchens mean you can choose from pizza, 'Parmageddon', Japanese fusion and more. newcenturymcr.com Another Hand – for casual dining and natural wines In their slick Deansgate Mews hideaway, chefs Max Yorke and Julian Pizer marry the ancient (foraging and fermenting books share shelf-space with natural wines), and the modern – rare species of mushrooms cultivated indoors in Altrincham, for example – to produce visually dashing, highly creative plates. Think charred Hispi, pickled clams and burnt butter, or a trout tartare in a stunning smoked turnip and burnt apple dashi. anotherhandmcr.com The Feel Good Club – for relaxed & friendly brunches Kiera and Aime, the wives behind Feel Good Club, are on a mission to make spaces where people feel comfortable, safe and good about themselves. Their flagship coffee house in Manchester opened mid-pandemic from a simple aim to make one person each day feel less alone or give them a reason to smile. It also has a full bar and brunch menu with our favourite, classic crumpets on offer. Each Friday, they book out the long communal tables for freelancers and solo-workers. Look up their weekly events, you might catch anything from Plant Club, Karaoke, Juno’s Pup Club or even Miss Chief Cabaret. feelgoodclub.co Ginger’s Comfort Emporium at Afflecks – for small batch ice cream surrounded by curiosities Google Afflecks and you’ll find it described as an ‘emporium of eclecticism, a totem of indie culture in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.’ Iconic for its family of 60+ independent traders that make up the indoor market, it’s a seamless side-step into Ginger’s Comfort Emporium. Tucked in a bright corner of the first floor, it’s home to deliciously innovative real dairy, vegan ice cream and sorbet flavours you likely won’t have tried anywhere before. Chef and former food stylist Claire Kelsey has several British Street Food Awards and a recipe book, MELT under their belt, thanks to an idea she had in 2010 to refurbish an old ice cream van. Original ice cream flavours, including marmalade on toast and olive oil & sea salt, remain on the menu today. Toasted ice cream sandwiches, shakes and changing specials are also up for grabs. The mint stracciatella, flavoured with fresh mint leaves, was a perfectly sweet refresher. gingerscomfortemporium.com Mackie Mayor – for global food against a historical backdrop This 1852 Grade II listed market building is the only one remaining fully intact in the city’s historic Smithfield Market and is now home to 10 independent bars and kitchens. Its high window-lined ceiling means the space is always flooded with natural light and even when it’s busy, doesn’t feel overcrowded. It’s a great brunch spot for sharing a tray of Pico’s breakfast nachos layered with salsa roja or verde, queso fresco and topped with a runny fried egg. You don’t need to book, plus it’s dog friendly. instagram.com/mackiemayor Freight Island – for social street food, live music and rollerskating Just five minutes from Manchester’s Piccadilly station is one of the city’s latest examples of urban regeneration: a food hall in the footprint of what was formerly a freight depot, now a vibrant centre for eating and socialising. The space is packed with multi-level terraces, long benches and tables for trying diverse eats from the variety of street food joints, but there are quiet spots dotted around if you’re after a more relaxed date-night. Venture past the live music stage and you’ll find o Mayfield Park, the new green space, which opened in September 2022 as Manchester’s first new city park in 100 years. It’s 6.5 acres big, perfect for mooching around to walk off your food. escapetofreightisland.com Siop Shop – for alternative artisan doughnuts Coffee and doughnuts are the specialties here, but whatever you’re imagining, it’s better. Siop is the Welsh word for shop and this is just one of many personal, creative touches that owners, Iwan Roberts and Lucy Jackson of Blawd Bakery have curated to create a relaxed and welcoming pit stop on Tib Street. The doughnut menu changes regularly. During the Manchester Coffee Festival in November, we tried the brand’s limited edition coffee bean, ‘48hr cold proofed carbonic macerated thermal shock brioche with coffee creme diplomat injection’ doughnut. For firework night, they developed an apple compote-filled number with a toffee glaze on a lollipop stick. This is fun, delicious food. siopshop.co The Midland Hotel – for regal afternoon tea Its elegant tea room is a modern addition but the Grade II Midland has been acing the scone game since 1903. Said scones arrive with clotted cream and award-winning jams from Cheshire’s Mrs Darlington’s, amid a regal parade of sandwiches and enticing work from pastry chef, Austin Appleton. Think Valrhona dark chocolate mousse with salted caramel or raspberry opera cake with lemon grass panna cotta. The Midland’s loose leaf teas include three unique blends created with supplier Quinteassential. themidlandhotel.co.uk Wash House speakeasy – for satisfyingly secret cocktails Before Covid descended, the password to this speakeasy on Shudehill Street was reportedly, ‘I’d like to put a wash on.’ Now you book in advance, but the concept remains the same. Laundrette on the outside, cocktail bar within, the Wash House is inconspicuous to those not in the know and for those who do, an adventurous cocktail menu awaits combining a liquid alchemy full of surprises. washhousemcr.com Bundobust – for Indian street food and craft beers Bundobust is many things (craft beer haunt, Indian street food hangout, veggie restaurant) but it sells itself as a ‘beer and Indian joint’. The basement bar is filled with casual, communal tables that encourage interaction with fellow punters, and has a relaxed order-at-the-bar system that keeps the crowd mingling. The food menu is all about vegetarian Indian street food. We suggest opting for one of the combos that arrive on wooden trays – a modern twist on the thali. Plant-based are filled with paneer and mushroom tikka skewers marinated in yogurt curd, crisp onion, broccoli and kale bhajis spiced with fennel, and tarka lentil dhal to mop up with deep fried bhatura flatbread. Our highlight was the bundo chat – layers of crisp samosa, sweet-and-sour tamarind and frilly little crunchy bits on top. Beers include collaborations with Leeds brewery Northern Monk and several Manchester breweries (see some of the best in the Beermoth section below). There’s simple house chai for a booze-free option, though you can add a dash of bourbon or cognac if you’re after more of a kick. bundobust.com Federal – for leisurely brunch This popular antipodean cafe drags loyal Northern Quarter locals out of bed at the weekend for its epic brunches. Emily’s homemade banana bread is treacly and dark, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg with a fragrant vanilla mascarpone. If you’re really hungry, the hefty French toast is very popular, laden with homemade summer berry compote, almonds, whipped vanilla mascarpone and salted caramel; while corn fritters with a choice of toppings make a worthy savoury choice. Federal’s owners are committed to excellent sourcing, with sourdough bread brought in from Lovingly Artisan in the Lake District, and coffee carted up from London’s Ozone Coffee Roasters (try a signature espresso martini made with vanilla infused vodka and Ozone espresso). It’s a lovely spot to spend a few hours – above wooden floorboards mustard banquettes hug two sides of the almost triangular corner room, and lush green plants spill out of tiny hanging pots. federalcafe.co.uk El Gato Negro – for stylish small plates This upmarket tapas restaurant opened in 2016 and quickly gained a reputation as Manchester’s go-to spot for a splash-out dinner, and now has a branch in Liverpool too. Set over three storeys of a converted townhouse, there are plenty of choices when it comes to seating – a ground floor bar framed with shiny black tiles and seats that spill out onto the pavement, and red leather stools overlooking the open kitchen on the first floor, allowing punters to inhale aromas from the Josper grill. Then there’s el Gato Negro’s trump card, a swish rooftop dining area, complete with sliding roof, where you can enjoy a glass of fresh and fruity Albariño wine from Galicia. The restaurant’s small plates menu sees chefs adding modern twists to traditional tapas dishes. Though we thought some additions weren’t needed (Galician octopus, for example, was so soft and beautifully finished on the Josper grill that it didn’t need the punchy pickled shallots), other dishes really shone – long, slim heritage carrots were drenched in walnut pesto, miso and aubergine purée, while croquettas entailed an extra cheesy béchamel encased in crisp breadcrumbs. elgatonegrotapas.com Bunsik – for Korean street food A viral sensation in London, Bunsik’s Korean-style corn dogs have now landed in Piccadilly Gardens. These crispy, deep-fried skewers of battered, crumbed chicken sausage (with the option of added mozzarella and diced fries) share a menu with Korean street food faves, including ddukbokki – tubular rice cakes in a spicy sauce – and fried chicken. bunsik.co.uk Beermoth – for craft beers by the bottle This small shop on buzzy Tib Street is jam-packed with bottles, cans and kegs of beers from Manchester, as well as from the UK and across the globe. Brews from the inner city include neon-packaged Runaway Brewery (smoked porter, summer saison, American brown ale), Track Brewing Co. (visit its weekly brew tap events under the arches of Picadilly), and Cloudwater (which has gained a global reputation over the past few of years). The friendly staff sure know their porters from their DIPAs, so make sure you pick their brains. We came across a fab new favourite from Northern Ireland after describing our preferences. beermoth.co.uk Adam Reid at The French – for fine dining Hidden behind a curtain in a corner of the grand lobby of the Midland Hotel, there’s more than a feel of Alice in Wonderland as you are transported through mirrored doors into the dining room of The French. Soft grey and sage green tones give everything a muted luxurious feel and there are two huge cylindrical chandeliers which throw light back and forth via the mirrored panelling around the room. Chef Adam Reid’s cooking is inventive and playful but executed with real precision and flair. When we visited, a nibble of the creamiest smoked cod roe with puffy squid ink wafers kicked the six-course tasting menu off in style. Crispy pig’s trotter to start, proper came as fall-apart meat slowly braised in a rich deep umami soy base then breadcrumbed and deep fried into a crisp nugget, with pickled onion purée. Courses to follow include corned beef and potato hash, brill with silky artichoke and basil purée and suckling pig belly served with fermented cabbage and punchy cherry sauce. Reid won the Great British menu in 2016 with his Empire apple dessert – a blown sugar apple filled with a meadowsweet custard mousse – and our incredibly pretty pud is a take on that, this time a shiny orange clementine sugar shell filled with airy white chocolate mousse. It’s a little piece of cooking wizardry which perfectly reflects the rest of the menu at this magical place. themidlandhotel.co.uk/thefrench TAST – for Catalonian cuisine Executive chef Paco Pérez, who holds five Michelin stars across seven restaurants around the world, is behind the Catalonian menu at Tast. ‘Tastets’ are similar in size to tapas, and beg to be matched with the all-Spanish wine list, Catalan gins and out-there cocktails (try vodka with apple, black garlic and basil oil). Order a couple of tastets each, then move on to shared rice platters, or the likes of Iberian pork presa and bone-in sirloin steak cooked in a charcoal oven. The décor is slick but understated, with plenty of natural light. tastcatala.com 20 Stories – for modern British with a view All-day restaurant, bar and grill, 20 Stories sits on the 19th floor of the No1 Spinningfields building in central Manchester. The modern British menu in the main restaurant showcases local produce, with the majority sourced within a 50-mile radius of the city. Herdwick lamb sits on potato gnocchi and chanterelle mushrooms, poached John Dory is served with a smart langoustine velouté and white asparagus, and butter-poached salsify is topped with burnt leeks and parsnip purée. There’s also a more casual brasserie focussing on the grill, serving the likes of Yorkshire beef steaks, grilled heritage beetroot salad, and bone marrow burgers topped with beef cheek, mushroom and an onion ring. With 360-degree views, the swish space also brings the outside in with glamorous interiors inspired by nature (plenty of wood, hanging plants, stone features). The bar and outdoor terrace is dedicated to cocktails, including the signature 20 Stories cocktail made with Tanqueray gin, vermouth, honey and herb cordial, and grapes shaken with fresh lemon. 20stories.co.uk Salut – for wine by the glass “Salut aims to be the place where you want to break bread and drink wine with your pals,” says Sara Saunby, co-founder of Salut Wines, which she opened with husband Jon in 2014. With the help of an Italian Enomatic wine preservation and serving system, Salut offers around 60 wines by the glass as well as a large range of craft beers and spirits. salut.co.uk Porta – for inventive tapas Founded by brothers Ben and Joe Wright, there are now four Porta wine and tapas bars spread across the north-west. The Iberian-influenced tapas – staples of jamón, croquetas and patatas bravas but also slow-roasted ox cheek, pickled walnuts and purple sprouting broccoli with romesco sauce – is complemented by a carefully curated selection of Spanish wines, cava, beer, sherries and vermouth. portatapas.co.uk A weekend break in Manchester Mooch around Manchester’s Northern Quarter and adjoining trendy Ancoats neighbourhood for the weekend. Start at antipodean-style Federal, and brunch on French toast laden with summer berry compote or corn fritters piled high with toppings. Work your way through the Northern Quarter’s network of shops, cafés and bars – Beermoth is jam-packed with local brews. Amble over to Ancoats’s New Islington Arena to scandi-cool Pollen Bakery to enjoy canalside Manchester tart cruffins and cuddles with Maru the chow chow. For dinner, Rudy’s is the local go-to for Neapolitan pizza and refreshing aperitivo with pals. The next day, head over to The Feel Good Club for crumpets with thick lashings of butter and jam, or Mackie Mayor for a less traditional nacho brunch beneath the high glass ceilings of the former Smithfield market, built in 1852. For something sweet, pass Siop Shop to grab an artisan doughnut before venturing down to Mayfield Park, circling back to visit Escape to Freight Island’s self-contained deck courtyard lit by strings of festoon lights for wiling away long afternoons with Pomona Island craft brews and plates from its restaurants within. For a whistle-stop tour of Manchester’s cultural and foodie history on foot and more meals than you can fit in, try a bespoke Scranchester Food Tour. Where to stay in Manchester Converted textile warehouse Native Manchester is part of the Grade II listed Ducie Street complex of serviced apartments under five minutes walk from Piccadilly station. Each apartment comes kitted out with a well-equipped kitchen, living room and super comfy bedrooms, plus the lobby doubles up as a restaurant, bar and all-day deli. There are also classes available at BLOCK gym in the basement. Studio doubles from £125 per night, check availability at booking.com Words by Alex Crossley, Tony Naylor and Mark Taylor More UK restaurant guides Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in Broadstairs Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in the Lake District
Discover what to eat, where to stay and where to go in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico – from barbacoa to traditional cacao rituals
Learn all about what makes the cuisine of Oaxaca in Mexico so special, from an abundance of tropical fruits to ancient cooking traditions of barbacoa and mole. Plus, we share where to eat and where to stay whilst you're in Oaxaca. For more deep-dives into global cuisines, check out our guides to the South Tyrol, Grenada, South Africa and Mumbai. Jump to: 10 things we love about Oaxaca Where to eat and drink in Oaxaca Where to stay in Oaxaca 10 things we love about Oaxaca Cultural diversity Oaxaca is Mexico’s fifth largest state but is the most ethnically diverse, home to 16 different indigenous groups (the majority Zapoteco) and 52 languages. This, along with its geographical diversity, creates a distinctive gastronomic culture combining ancient traditions and contemporary techniques. Chillies The region boasts a huge variety of chillies including dark and smoke-fried pasilla de Oaxaca, fiery berry-like Chiltepin peppers, and fresh green chiles de agua, often stuffed with meat and cheese. Barbacoa Oaxacan barbacoa is an ancient cooking tradition that plays a central role in celebrations. It has pre-Hispanic roots with a technique known as pib, when meat was wrapped in banana leaves, maguey or palm then buried in earth ovens to cook slowly with hot embers. The most common barbacoa nowadays is goat, flavoured with chillies and local herbs like aviste. The juices collected during cooking are served as consommé, often with rice, chickpeas and sometimes the animal’s cooked blood. Corn Corn is used to create staples of Oaxacan cuisine, many cooked on a traditional limestone comal oven. Dishes include large pizza-shaped tlayudas topped with refried beans, veggies and Oaxacan cheese, as well as triangular-shaped tetelas stuffed with black beans, little round memelas and large cheese-filled empanadas. In July, Oaxacans celebrate Guelaguetza, when people from the villages gather in the city to dance, join parades and share food. Grasshoppers Chapulines, or grasshoppers, come from the wild mountains. They are coated in pepper powder, garlic and lime, grilled or fried in a pot above a comal and displayed in huge mounds in the region’s markets. Cacao Cacao is deep-rooted in Oaxacan culture, used to give texture, sweetness and decoration. It’s ground and whisked into hot water, and served in a bowl to sip on like coffee, fermented and mixed with corn to create tejate (know as the drink of the gods) or toasted on a comal oven then ground and stirred into moles. Mayordomo is a household brand that locals know and love. Mole Oaxaca is the home of mole, a thick sauce that varies in texture, tone, colour and flavour depending on the region, town and household, and time of year. The most common are black, green or red, often made up of more than 30 ingredients including cacao, dried Guajillo chillies, grasshoppers, raisins, almonds, pepper, olives and more. Quesillo Oaxacan cheese, known as quesillo, is unique in its string-like texture, wrapped up into large balls. It comes from Reyes Etla in the south-eastern valley region. Locals eat it fresh as snacks or shredded and melted into quesadillas, empanadas and tacos de guisado. Mezcal Oaxaca is home to hundreds of agave distilleries, known as palenques, where this earthy, smoky spirit is made by roasting the heart of the agave plant (the piña) in an underground pit, then milling to release juices before fermenting and distilling. Tropical fruits Tropical guava, with its unique sweet-tart flavour, has diverse uses from cocktails to sweet treats and even sweet, tangy moles. There is a road from the valley to the Pacific Ocean lined with mango trees, with varieties including extra sweet Manila and soft and juicy Ataulfo that is eaten fresh and laced with Tajín and sweet and sour pickled fruit sauce, chamoy, with flavours including tamarind and watermelon. Where to eat and drink in Oaxaca Sabina Sabe This first-floor cocktail lounge exudes elegance and boasts an incredible selection of mezcal. Cocktails encapsulate the state’s diverse regions – try the intensely green signature, Selva, made using hoja santa leaf, mezcal and agave honey garnished with a tiny ball of Oaxacan cheese. Bag a table on the little balconies to soak up the city’s vibrant buzz. @sabinasabeoaxaca Panadería Bodæga At his blue-hued bakery, chef Rafael Andres Villalobos Valderrama spotlights Oaxacan ingredients and small-batch grains in stunning laminated bakes, each meticulously finished to order with fresh flowers and fruit toppings. Think hibiscus danish pastries, guava cream cruffins, and mango, prickly pear and passion fruit spandauer. @bodaega.oax Crudo Chef-owner Rikardo Arellano serves a Oaxacan ingredient peppered omakase menu at his intimate sushi restaurant – jicama replaces ginger, black bean reduction for soy, dried pasilla chillies as a dipping sauce for seared tuna, and fresh prickly pear to top cacao granita. Fusion standouts include a nori taco wrapped around torched amberjack fish and bitter native herb chipilín-flecked rice. @crudo__oaxaca Levadura de Olla Set in a colourful courtyard adorned with ancient artefacts, this popular restaurant showcases regional Oaxacan dishes. Highlights include the picture perfect multicoloured tomato salad, shrimp in guava mole, and banana leaf tamales filled with spiced pork mince, chicken and cracked corn. levaduradeolla.mx Rambling Spirits Join agave experts Anna Bruce and Brooks Bailey in the heart of mezcal producing country as they share knowledge, intimate experiences with growers and rare mezcals that you might only ever try there and then. Excursions can be tailor-made to those who want to geek out on mezcal or to introduce novices to the process, local characters and restaurants in the heart of Oaxaca’s breathtaking agave fields and mountains. ramblingspirits.net Where to stay in Oaxaca Grana B&B This 18th-century house turned B&B is bang in the centre of the city, its large wooden doors shutting out the noise to make way for a peaceful, cactus pot filled courtyard, homey kitchen and expansive rooftop that boasts 360-degree views of the city, its Santo Domingo church and surrounding Sierra Norte mountains. Three Mexican pals have seamlessly intertwined contemporary and traditional design elements to deck out the 14 rooms in earthy tones with brushed concrete walls, artisan artefacts and turquoise tiled bathrooms. The master suite includes a terracotta bathtub on its own raised platform with shuttered windows that open onto the hustle and bustle of the city below. Breakfasts are a relaxed affair around the communal table in the kitchen, where guests can help themselves from a selection of local sweet treats, cold cuts and fresh fruits alongside hand-crushed cacao served in a green glazed pot on the stove. Daily rotating specials made on the comal by all-female cooks include chicken and salsa verde tamales, toasted memelas and fried corn tortilla chilaquiles coated in green or red salsa and cheese. granabnb.com Hotel Sin Nombre A stone’s throw from Oaxaca’s 20 Noviembre market, this converted 17th century mansion is home to a 22-room boutique. Many original features remain including Catalan vaults in the striking atrium hung with white linen rippling in the gentle breeze, while murals, photographs and rotating exhibitions from local artists add pops of colour. Gnarly wooden doors open into serene rooms, minimal in design, with antique furniture and wooden shutters, and bottles of house mezcal for sipping. Simple breakfasts, taken poolside on the plant-filled rooftop, include tropical fruits, yogurt and granola with Oaxacan coffee, plus an à la carte selection such as blue corn hotcakes. Come noon, the shaded terrace morphs into a buzzy restaurant for the likes of squash tamales with salsa macha, prickly pear salad and slow-cooked brisket coated in homemade mole to scoop into fresh tortillas. Guest experiences include chef-guided market visits and cooking classes, agave cocktail tastings and yoga followed by cacao ceremonies. Adjacent bar, Cantinita, is a mecca to mezcal, where you can learn about the agave in guided tastings and try it in cocktails such as Yuk-a-tan, where mezcal is distilled with mango and Mayan lime, and stirred with Campari and vermouth for a Oaxacan-style negroni. hotelsinnombre.com More cuisine guides Puerto Rico cuisine: 10 things we love Fez cuisine: 10 things we love Puglian cuisine: 10 things we love Andalusian cuisine: 10 things we love Jamaican cuisine: 10 things we love Georgian cuisine: 10 things we love Colombian cuisine: 10 things we love The Algarve's cuisine: 10 things we love Thai cuisine: 10 things we love South Korean cuisine: 10 things we love Nashville cuisine: 10 things we love Norwegian cuisine: 10 things we love Tuscan cuisine: 10 things we love Cork cuisine: 10 things we love Northern Ireland cuisine: 10 things we love Finland cuisine: 10 things we love
From perfect cinnamon buns to seafood displayed in a rolltop bath and fry ups in an antiques shop, a local shares her guide to where to eat, drink, shop and sleep across this Somerset city
Looking for restaurants in Bath? Want to know where to eat in the historical spa town? Local residents, past and current, share their tips for the best restaurants in Bath, along with where to find the best coffee, bakeries and gin bars. Plus, find out the best afternoon tea in Bath here. Check out more UK restaurant and travel inspiration, from city breaks to pubs with rooms and foodie day trips from London by train. Or find our local guides to the best restaurants in Oxford and where to eat in Cornwall. Jump to: Best places to eat and drink in Bath Where to stay in Bath Food shops in Bath Best places to eat and drink in Bath Landrace Bakery and Cafe – for cinnamon buns Every time you return to this unassuming corner of Walcot Street, Landrace is doing something new and brilliant. Most recently, the bakery has expanded into a fully-fledged café, with ample seating and space to linger. The new interior is lovely and bright, and the bakery itself is unparalleled: cinnamon and cardamom buns galore alongside the iconic breads, sold in various other outlets across the wider countryside, because they're just so good. The bakery works in conjunction with Landrace Milling, a portion of land at Westcombe in southern Somerset, where specialty grains are grown and milled. Grab a coffee and a pistachio cornetto, and pause on a window seat to watch the world go by. landrace.co.uk Upstairs at Landrace – for elegant bistro vibes First came the bakery, and then came the excellent restaurant above. Set across two fetching upstairs dining rooms, donned with wine bottles and vibrant posters, this neighbourhood bar and bistro is doing brilliant things, with Chef Rob Sachdev at the helm in the kitchen. Seasonal sharing plates sing of beautiful produce and rustic provenance. Start with a plate (or two) of the cheddar fritters, accompanied by a glass (or two) from the adventurous natural and biodynamic wine list, and then meander through the succinct but perfect array of plates that follow. There’s always a seasonal, handmade pasta or two – get the ragù if it’s there – and make sure to save room for one of the desserts, which champion the bakery’s patisserie skills. landrace.co.uk OAK – for vegetarian dishes Bath’s acclaimed vegetarian restaurant Acorn has evolved into the more relaxed OAK. The cosy Georgian room is fitted with mustard and cream panelled walls, dried Somerset flowers and soft lighting. Huddle up in the little alcove at the back, with window seating boasting views of a perfect hidden nook of Bath ­– the abbey looming majestically over blackbirds picking berries from the trees. Choose the five course meat-free feast to try a variety of new flavours, with the option of small-batch natural wines to match. Highlights include crisp panko-covered arancini with an aubergine centre; chickpeas tossed in a creamy, smoky vegan pine nut sauce with crisp pangritata and greens; and springy pieces of homemade sourdough cavatelli pasta tossed with vibrant heritage tomatoes. On your way out, peruse the selection of Somerset products, including artisan pottery, lockdown baby Hárth chocolate truffles and pretty bottles of natural wine. oakrestaurant.co.uk Thai Balcony – for authentic Thai food Open for more than two decades now, Thai Balcony is a stalwart of Bath cuisine, so-called because of its narrow, flower-filled balcony, overlooking King’s Mead Square. Climb the stairs up to the gilded interior and take a seat at the window or out on the balcony if you’re lucky enough to nab one of the tables for two out here. The food is superb and varied, fine Thai cuisine: glorious curries (the Gaeng Kua Goong with pineapple and prawns is fantastic) and the pad thais are much-loved, but don’t forget to order a portion or three of sticky rice, as well. A true Bath classic and an old faithful amongst the ever-changing restaurant scene. thaibalcony.vdit.co.uk Taylor’s Bagels – for top notch bagels This neighbourhood bagel spot has become so deservedly popular that it’s popped up in three locations in Bath so far, and more recently migrated to Keynsham as well. Originally a boutique café, it switched to bagels, and the results speak for themselves. People flock from all around to get their hands on these freshly-made, New York style bagels, with a brilliant array of fillings. In the mornings, expect breakfast items in abundance, and at lunch, try the New Yorker (pastrami, sauerkraut, pickles, cheddar) or the Bath Bagel (beef brisket, pickles, cheddar and mustard mayo.) With great coffee as well, these friendly cafés are a must-visit on a trip to Bath. taylorsbagels.com Beckford Bottle Shop & Bistro – for wine Stumble across this wine-lovers’ emporium and you'll be delighted to discover that it also boasts a bistro with a Michelin Bib Gourmand as well! Friendly staff will help you find new wines in the shop, which you can then take next door to the restaurant to enjoy with a corkage fee. The menu features sharing small plates, charcuterie and cheese - all designed to be enjoyed alongside a glass or two. Dishes celebrate the bounty of Somerset produce, resulting in a considered and quietly-excellent array, with a bit of fun thrown in, too. The bistro interiors are cosy and charming, perfect for whiling away an hour or two eating great food and admiring the hubbub of the top end of the city from a window seat - but you can also sit in the wine shop itself, surrounded by bottles and in the midst of it all. beckfordbottleshop.com Beckford Canteen – for modern British dining Also from the team behind Beckford, this old Georgian greenhouse, now a modern British restaurant, sits on a cobbled mews street in the top half of the city and is a true asset to the food scene in Bath. The space is beautiful, bright and airy with elegant touches, like the iconic wall of Majolica plates. The food here is confident and comforting: snacks to start, such as crab potato rosti followed by seasonal stars of asparagus with coddled eggs and anchovies, and for mains, perfectly-cooked meat and fish dishes with a comforting side of mash. On Sundays, its famed for legendary roasts and confit potatoes. Cooking focuses on seasonal and local produce, with meat from Walter Rose Butchers and produce and vegetables from The Community Farm Bristol. The wine list centres around the food, with a wide variety available, and the Bottle Shop just up the street if nothing tickles your fancy. beckfordcanteen.com Fat Boys Cafe – for a fry-up in an antique shop A hop and a skip from Bath Spa train station is Fat Boys Cafe: recently an antiques shop and now an eclectic but remarkably good breakfast caff. Bacon baps to go are sublime: buttery brioche buns with perfectly cooked rashers, but if you have time to sit inside – amongst the antique paraphernalia and humorous wall art – the full English and breakfast stacks are worth making time for. Fat Boys is the perfect marriage of greasy spoon and English country house: an extremely good butty on a Spode blue and white plate. The Scallop Shell – for upmarket fish and chips This simple seafood restaurant is unpretentious and artily rough around the edges – the day’s catch is piled high in a rolltop bath snagged off eBay, and there are light fittings fashioned from colanders, lobster pots and fishing nets. Starters are unfussy plates of the freshest shellfish available on the day, while the mains range from hake in crisp batter to grilled skate, all with proper 'chippie' chips and homemade tartare sauce served in a pretty scallop shell. If you're staying in the west of the city look out, too, for The Oyster Shell, the restaurant's younger sibling based on Moorland Road. thescallopshell.co.uk Colonna and Small's – for coffee Head to this contemporary coffee shop and roaster for a serious espresso. The brews, all double shots, change weekly, there are tasting notes for each one (including how the flavour changes when adding milk), and the in-house baristas are all experts. The Gigesa Grade 1 Washed, an Ethiopian coffee with promise of peachy sweetness, hints of melon and bergamot. colonnaandsmalls.co.uk Pintxo de Bath – for tapas This Basque-style tapas bar with a pretty garden and a dedicated sherry menu is tucked away in Bath’s theatre district. Order sharing plates of pan con tomate y jamón along with tinned sardines served with bread and aioli before moving onto albóndigas (meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce), gambas al ajillo and fried padrón peppers. A succinct dessert menu offers warm chocolate and almond cake as well as vanilla ice cream, both of which can be ordered individually or together, with a shot of Pedro Ximenez sherry on the side. Choose your sherry of choice from the dedicated menu and make the most of any sunshine in the leafy sherry garden out back. pintxobath.co.uk Noya's Kitchen – for Vietnamese After moving from Vietnam to England at a young age with her family, Noya Pawlyn has become one of the most loved foodies in Bath and has recently transformed her popular Vietnamese supper club into a restaurant. As well as serving informal but hearty sharing dinners in the evening, Noya’s Kitchen also opens for lunch, Tuesday to Saturday, offering a thali-style menu, presented as a tray os small dishes that diners eat clockwise, starting with an appetiser such as fresh summer rolls with punchy dipping sauce or a squidgy pork bun, followed by small portions of Noya’s favourite Vietnamese stews and broths, and finally a miniature dessert. Noyaskitchen.co.uk Yak Yeti Yak – for Nepalese food Bath's long-standing Nepalese restaurant, with its quirky decor, cushioned seating area and friendly staff, is a great option for families and groups. The traditional menu includes Nepalese classics such as delicately spiced, fun-to-dip momos and curries, served with rice, orange dal and homemade chutneys. yakyetiyak.co.uk The Dark Horse – for cocktails A local and seasonal ethos is the central tenet of cult Bath bar The Dark Horse. It draws a grown-up crowd with its dark basement setting, traditional styling (brawny wooden furniture, button-back sofas and rioja-coloured walls), table service and ultra-local drinks list. Alongside beers and ciders from the Southwest, and English wines and liqueurs are cocktails made with juices pressed to order and homemade syrups, cordials and bitters (often made not just with seasonal ingredients, but locally foraged ones). This experimental approach means there are a few misses – we weren’t wild about our Twelfth Night (Tullamore Dew whiskey, Cocchi Torino, Somerset Pomona and coffee) – but the gamble usually pays off. Dear Prudence (Sipsmith gin with strawberry and lavender syrup, fresh lime and orange bitters) was a triumph. darkhorsebar.co.uk Berdoulat – for foodie souvenirs Over 50 spices from the jar, shelves of small batch wines and a bakery concession can all be found at this impeccably restored grade II listed food emporium. The shop has been a labour of love for Patrick and Nuri, who have uncovered the building’s past to reveal cheesemonger’s receipts and vaults that now nurture plants as an on-site fernery. The couple have curated and crafted their own pieces to sit alongside original apothecary-style furnishings. Order a loose-leaf tea and fresh cinnamon bun or madeleine from Frome’s Rye Bakery concession and head up to the gallery where cookbooks sit alongside candles and aprons for sale. Look out for supper clubs and sophisticated foodie events, including London’s Honey & Co brunch on 9 September. berdoulat.co.uk Elder – for wild game and sophisticated Sunday roasts A series of intimate, green-panelled dining rooms make up Bath’s new restaurant from wild game chef, Mike Robinson. Dark wood floors, framed hunting paintings and terracotta-coloured leather banquettes add a lavish cosiness to the converted Georgian terrace that also houses the city’s boutique Indigo Hotel. Dinners kick off with a complimentary rosemary and sherry-infused venison tea served with crusty, warm granary bread. Highlights of the menu include venison tartare on a squidgy brown butter crumpet, cod cheeks in a creamy guanciale sauce with puffed rice and pea purée, and an elegant black bream fillet with crisp capers and Jersey Royals. Visit on a Sunday to tuck into a sophisticated roast of perfectly pink beef, a dinky copper dish of the crunchiest golden roasties and a Yorkshire pudding filled with caramelised onions and white sauce. theelder.co.uk Kingsmead Street Bottle – for craft beers Step off lively Kingsmead Square into one of Bath’s more contemporary establishments. Scandi interiors include a concrete bar, a few window tables and funky illustrations hand-squiggled onto the wall. Rotating beer taps offer Cornwall’s Verdant Brewing Co, Bath’s own Electric Bear Brewing Co and hoppy Black IPA from North Wales’ Polly’s Brew Co. There’s a fridge of beers by the bottle and plenty of natural wines to take away. If you’re staying in, pair your brews with a Bath-based cheeseboard. The line-up includes nutty, semi-hard Wyfe of Bath and creamy brie-style Bath soft cheese alongside a bespoke chutney made with cider, soft berries and fresh apple. palmerstbottle.co.uk Swoon Gelato – for ice cream Bristol's artisan gelato shop has a second brand in Bath, serving seasonal gelatos and Swoon on a Sticks (think artisan Magnum). Guest flavours include cremino, a heady whirl of vanilla, chocolate and coffee but regular varieties include that children’s holy trinity of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. swoononaspoon.co.uk Olé Tapas – for Spanish food A tiny, corner tapas bar with charming, Spanish staff, Olé is tucked in above Paxton & Whitfield cheesemongers in Bath. Settle in with a tabla mixta – jamon de bellota, spicy chorizo rounds, soft salami, pink slices of tender cured pork loin, triangles of manchego and goats’ cheese, the obligatory quince paste and bread sticks. Then turn it up a notch with fiery paprika-dusted slices of pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus), tempura-battered, deep-fried aubergine sticks drizzled with dark honey from Malaga, and ensalada de tomato (the ripest raf tomatoes with aggressive minced raw garlic, earthy dried oregano, and the best Spanish olive oil). Don’t forget drinks as the booze is just as well-considered: think dry manzanilla sherries, white tempranillo riojas and Spanish craft beers (try El Boqueron, made from seawater). Book a table or turn up late (it’s one of the few places in Bath where you can grab a table after 9pm) and eat and drink until you (nearly) fall off the barstools. oletapas.co.uk Mokoko – for coffee There are two elements that set Mokoko apart. One is the coffee, which is all single origin and roasted in-house (as well as the usual flat whites and cappuccinos you can choose between aeropress, chemex and syphon filter coffees). The other is its cakes, which are freshly baked at the Bristol bakery, change regularly and usually include a vegan choice or two. Current picks include the cherry cheesecake cruffin and banana and peanut butter cake. mokokocoffee.com Tea House Emporium – for loose-leaf tea If tea is more your, er, cup of tea, you’re also well catered for in Bath. The Tea House Emporium is great for stocking up on loose-leaf teas, as well as pots, tins and infusers. teahouseemporium.co.uk Where to stay in and near Bath The Royal Crescent Hotel Few visitors to Bath see beyond the façade of the magnificent Royal Crescent, the city’s most impressive landmark. Fewer guess that No 16 extends into beautiful hotel gardens with lavender path, a haven for birds and butterflies where afternoon tea, cocktails and light lunches are taken. Chef Martin Blake balances simplicity with on-trend touches. Montagu’s Mews’ evening tasting menu starts with tiny canapés of Bath Blue cheese and avocado mousse with cucumber and borage. Then shokupan, a soft Japanese-style milk bread with Somerset’s Ivy Farm butter and smoked roe studded with salmon ikura. Hollandaise for beef tartare is spiked with Bath Ale and IP8 (beer) vinegar. A forced rhubarb dessert is softened with olive oil and vanilla. The comprehensive wine list includes confident choices such as a barrel-aged assyrtiko. The hotel’s five-star spa includes a heated pool with sauna and steam, tranquil treatment rooms and a small garden where you can relax after a swim, still in your robe if you like. Rooms are built for comfort and luxury, some with terraces and views on to the gardens or over the sweeping lawns of the Crescent. Fireplaces in bedrooms may be filled with decorative pinecones, modern art sits alongside vintage portraits and busts, and everywhere the outside is brought in with plants and floral displays. Rooms from £435 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Homewood Set in 20 acres of rolling gardens and woodland just outside Bath, Homewood is a boutique country house hotel that gives you the option to easily explore the country or city. The honey-coloured stone building is framed by landscaped grounds with an outdoor terrace overlooking the well-tended gardens and the Somerset hills. The heated outdoor pool and whirlpool are the perfect place to relax after a day exploring and you can order drinks and light snacks straight to your sun lounger. It's well worth prioritising a weekend where you can book into La Taberna, set in a vibrant orangery you are treated to an extensive Sunday lunch cooked over open flames. The meal starts with a glass of champagne and a private tour of the stunning fruit and vegetable gardens, the menu makes the most of their homegrown products and you can expect flame-grilled cote de bouef served with garden vegetables, new potatoes, cauliflower cheese and a rich bone marrow gravy. The table is set with freshly-cut flowers and it’s a social affair with guests sat around one long but lavishly decorated table. Children are welcomed with the same warmth as all their guests, special treats include a complimentary pick and mix sweet bar and dedicated play spaces, however the overall feel is calm and luxurious so it’s perfect for an adult-only weekend too. From £230 her night including breakfast, check availability at homewoodbath.co.uk Hotel Indigo A honey-hued Georgian terrace in the heart of Bath is home to this 166-room hotel that nods to the city’s past. Depending on your choice of room, individual quirks include exposed sand stone, murals that reach all corners and funky wallpaper. Smaller details add extra charm – manuscripts and maps on the walls, old-school telephones on side tables and velvet headboards that frame comfy Hypnos beds. Bathrooms offer lavish touches, including vibrant foliage-adorned wallpaper, walk-in rainforest showers and a selection of Bramley products. Aside from its location, the hotel’s biggest pull is the ground floor restaurant. Before dinner, prop up the bar on a plush red leather stool with a Kamm & Sons English spritz or a barrel-aged negroni. Pad through The Elder’s cosy rooms to tuck into wild game dishes and lavish Sunday roasts (more information above). bath.hotelindigo.com From £115 per night, including breakfast, check availability at booking.com. Eight Just a few cobbled steps away from big-hitting local attractions such as Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths, this hotel’s two beautiful bow windows give passers-by a glimpse into this recently revamped and restored townhouse on North Parade Passage. Rooms are decked out in a palette of chic, neutral greys with colour pop accents – burnt orange in our superior double – on velvet furnishings and thoughtful illustrative artwork. There are a variety of tea and coffee pods for the Magimix drinks machines, as well as homemade shortbread in a Kilner jar for dunking (though UHT milk is a disappointing surprise; there are no in-room fridges). There’s an unexpectedly cool bar below the hotel for its residents. It makes the most of its medieval structure, with cavernous original fireplaces and stone stairways to nowhere. Decked out in shades of opulent dark blue and emerald, set off with the odd metallic shimmer from gently flickering lanterns and collections of statement mirrors, it feels like the perfect ‘secret’ spot to hunker down after dark. From £141 per night, including breakfast; check availability at booking.com. The Bath Priory At first glance, everything in this honey-stoned country house hotel on the fringes of Bath is pretty much as it’s been for decades, from the ticking clocks and carefully plumped sofas in the library to the starched white tablecloths and synchronised cloche flourishes in the dining room. But appearances can deceive. In the kitchen, Michael Nizzero's style is modern classical French (no sous-vide cooking here) but with a delicate touch and clean flavours. His star-studded CV includes not only the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn at Bray where he worked alongside Michel and Alain Roux, but the Hostellerie La Briqueterie in France (where he won a star while executive chef) and most recently The Ritz. From £219 per night, check availability at booking.com. Timbrell’s Yard, Bradford on Avon Doubles from £88 per night, check availability at booking.com In a converted Grade II-listed building, tucked away by the river near the iconic Town Bridge and Lock Up, Timbrell’s Yard provides the perfect hideout for a gastro pub style weekend getaway. With a well-stocked bar buffeted by smartly upholstered sofas and wooden tables, plus a large restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, you need only leave Timbrell’s Yard to stroll up through the town’s honey-stone houses to cafes, shops and delis, or to stride out along the banks of the River Avon into the Wiltshire countryside. Check availability at booking.com Hare & Hounds This stone-built, dog-friendly inn is only a mile from Bath city centre, but nevertheless the Hare & Hounds is surrounded by beautiful countryside and extensive gardens. From the terrace, there are sweeping 10-mile views across the city towards Solsbury Hill, an Iron Age hill fort immortalised in song by Peter Gabriel. Perhaps the best views in the city (along with those of the Packhorse Inn, a community-run pub on the southern slopes of the city with a fabulously set beer garden). The Hare & Hounds garden comes into its own in the summer, with its large lawn, picnic benches and children’s play area. It all makes for a lovely spot to enjoy a pint of Somerset-brewed Butcombe ale and simple dishes such as beer-battered fish and chips, or mash and beef braised in red wine. hareandhoundsbath.com Best food shops in Bath If you’re self-catering in Bath, make a beeline for some of Bath’s best independent food and drink stores – among them The Fine Cheese Co. and Paxton & Whitfield for cheese, and Wolf Wine and Independent Spirit for booze. Head along Walcot Street to Didi Cakes and pick up something from its vast range of cupcakes (peanut butter, Black Forest and passionfruit cheesecake among them), a slice of vegan banana bread or a pear and almond tart to take away and eat in nearby Hedgemead Park. For more conventional baked goods, Bath’s most famous bakery is arguably the Bertinet Bakery (which also has a nearby cookery school in Bath). It's known for its traditionally made breads – sourdoughs, ciabattas, baguettes and focaccias – but if you want a sugar hit, look out for their superior twist on a Bath bun, essentially a sugar-topped sweet roll. For foodie souvenirs, make your way to Mr B’s Emporium and Topping & Co. for cookbooks, Magalleria for obscure indie food magazines, and Rossiters for cookware. Bath is also home to various markets, including Bath Farmers Market, which takes place at Green Park Station every Saturday morning and draws some of the region’s best small produce traders. You can pick up a wedge of Westcombe Dairy’s tangy Somerset Cheddar or try a pint of Dick Willows’ proper West Country cider (Green Park Station). On the third Sunday of the month between March and October there's also the Independent Bath Market for high quality baked goods, cheeses, charcuterie, preserves and pickles. More UK travel guides Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in Broadstairs Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge
Make the most of your garden, terrace or outdoor space with our creative entertaining ideas, from al fresco afternoon tea to DIY gin bars
Looking for outdoor entertaining ideas? Want to host friends in your garden? We've come up with plenty of ways to create an event to remember with our alfresco entertaining ideas. Create a makeshift bar, invest in a pizza oven or build your own fire pit for toasting s'mores. Try our ideas below then check out our picnic food recipes, BBQ recipes, plus our guide on how to create a festival in your garden. For more entertaining advice, we asked 15 top chefs and foodies to share their effortless entertaining hacks and tips. Best outdoor entertaining ideas BBQ from scratch Take your BBQ to the next level by pre-making your own condiments and serving in hand-labelled bottles and jars. Try our homemade BBQ sauce, homemade sriracha, BBQ marinades, aïoli and hot pepper jelly. Other creative ideas include a build-your-own kebab stand and a pick 'n' mix wing station (try making a combination of BBQ chicken wings, BBQ fish sauce wings and vegan cauliflower buffalo wings). Outdoor afternoon tea A homemade afternoon tea makes the most picturesque picnic. Invite your friends or family round for tea and surprise them with an elaborate spread of sandwiches, scones, patisseries and cakes. Our favourite al fresco afternoon tea picnic recipes include cheese and chive scones, early grey and yogurt madeleines and coffee loaf cake, but you can pick and choose from our best afternoon tea recipes. If you don't have an outdoor table, give a wooden crate a clean and turn upside down for a rustic look, or invest in a sturdy picnic blanket. Gin and tonic garden bar Make like Café Öbergskain Gothenburg, and set up your own DIY gin bar in the garden. Check out our guide for how to make the perfect gin and tonic, including perfect serves – which tonic water to match to each type of gin, from spiced to citrus, floral to juniper-forward, along with garnishes that bring out particular botanicals. You can even forage for the latter in your garden and set your guests on a quest to find the likes of lavender, mint, basil and more for a fun, interactive experience. Serve your gins in these pretty tumblers, or check out our favourite gin and cocktail glasses. DIY pizzas Perfect your pizza skills with our expert, step-by-step guide to making pizza from scratch. Get the bases ready then prep a selection of toppings and let your guests decorate their own. Our pizza dough recipe works equally well in a domestic oven, and our expert has included cooking instructions for the perfect crisp base. If you want to invest in a pizza oven, we love Ooni's elegant, portable model which you can take on the move, whether it's on a camping trip with family, to the beach with friends or somewhere further afield. Check out our guide to the best pizza ovens to buy for summer for more models, tried and tested by experts. Backyard campfire Build a fire pit to gather around and pretend you're in the wild in your own back garden. Made with just five ingredients, our take on s'mores features the all-American pairing of peanut butter and jam, or build your own s'mores pots for a memorable dessert. Outdoor cocktail party Make a few batches of bottled cocktails and put them in the freezer until your guests arrive. Display them on ice along with a selection of garnishes and cocktail glasses, and let your guests pick and pour their own on arrival. Choose between pre-bottled limoncello, our summer bottled cocktail, or our elderflower and raspberry bottled mocktail. We also love Max and Noel Venning's (of Three Sheets and lockdown success online bottle shop, Shop Cuvée) book Batched & Bottled for next-level, pre-batched seasonal drinks recipes. Prefer to leave the mixing to the experts? Buy concoctions from the UK's best mixologists using our pre-bottled cocktails guide. Pickling station Get creative with activity ideas and create a pickling stand in the garden. Despite what you might think, you don’t need lots of specialist equipment and expert know-how to get started with pickling – you probably have everything you need in your storecupboard. Most pickles are made by soaking (mostly) raw, fresh ingredients in a vinegar-based brine with sugar and salt, flavoured with spices and herbs. Give a jar to each guest and have ingredients in bowls ready to add to the mix. Try our best pickling recipes to get you started. It's a fun foodie activity and guests can take away not only a new skill but a jar of pickles to add crunch to sandwiches, create a stunning charcuterie platter or an epic bbq burger. Alfresco brunch bar Make your own waffles and get people to mix and match with toppings. Serve the toppings in bowls and the waffles in a pile and let everyone build their own. Add some fresh, homemade bagels to the table with smoked salmon and cream cheese, or make like the French and bake your own baguettes to serve with various spreads, for an authentic 'pâte à tartiner' experience – we love Biscoff biscuit spread, Venchi's hazelnut spread and Sous Chef's Sicilian pistachio cream. Or check out more brunch ideas in our collection.
Dorset best restaurants: where to eat, drink and stay
Discover the best restaurants in Dorset for a gourmet weekend away, from fresh seafood to tapas and creamy ice cream, plus our best picks of where to stay in Dorset
Want to know the best places to eat in Dorset? One of the richest corners of the UK for food, it would be easy to spend three months eating your way around Dorset and still not try all that’s on offer. Read our expert guide to the best Dorset restaurants to find the best meals during your visit, from seafood on the coast to unexpected Asian flavours and the creamiest ice cream. Plus, discover the foodie highlights of Lyme Regis and our picks of where to stay in Dorset. For more UK travel inspiration, check out our guide to the best restaurants in the Cotswolds, best restaurants in Cornwall and the best places to eat and drink in Brighton. Jump to: Best places to eat and drink in Dorset Best ice cream in Dorset Foodie neighbourhood spotlight: Lyme Regis Where to stay in Dorset Best places to eat and drink in Dorset Brassica, Beaminster Run by a culinary dream team of chef Cass Titcombe (ex-Daphne’s and Canteen) and interiors guru Louise Chidgey (ex-Conran Shop), Brassica in Beaminster is the classy but unassuming provincial restaurant you always hope to find but rarely do. Luckily for anyone visiting Beaminster they’ve succeeded. The restaurant’s cheerful dining room (exposed stone and brick, sheepskin, floral fabrics, rainbows of candles in antique holders and bright little posies of fresh flowers on each table) works just as well for a casual lunch as it does a romantic supper. As for the menu, it changes daily and is reassuringly short, with a smattering of seasonal drinks (a chilled glass of Manzanilla, perhaps, or an alcohol-free spiced quince soda) and snacks (fluffy focaccia with aioli, antipasti) to start, a few seasonal sides and a choice of five starters, five mains and five desserts. All of which can be ordered separately except on Sundays (when there’s a Sunday lunch menu) or ordered as part of a great value prix fixe menu on Wednesday to Saturday lunchtimes. Keep an eye out too for occasional evening events (foodie film nights, paella suppers, street food takeovers…). brassicarestaurant.co.uk Catch at the Old Fish Market, Weymouth Opening in 2021, Catch has become a firm favourite of the Dorset food scene. Upstairs at the Old Fish Market on Weymouth’s picturesque quay, the original vaulted timber roof and harbour views create a relaxed atmosphere. Fish and shellfish travel a few steps after being landed to reach the restaurant’s kitchen, and local and sustainable are top of mind for the rest of the menu, too. You can also enjoy a mixture of celebrated and lesser-known wines from Dorset, Hampshire and further afield. Ben Champkin took the helm in 2024, a Dorset local who has worked in celebrated kitchens across the globe before returning home. Ben’s six-course set menu showcases the freshest ingredients with sincerity and a delicate touch, making the most of each element. As you’d expect from a menu built around the day’s catch, it’s constantly changing. We started with potted crab, enveloped in a lightly bruléed hollandaise and served with a brandy-rich crab tea and dark sourdough. Braised squid with smoked potatoes was incredibly tender. An optional and indulgent addition, native lobster was coal roasted and served with blistered kale sprouts. A selection of regional cheeses showed the quality of thought and sourcing that goes into every detail of your meal, and burnt cheesecake with forced rhubarb was a perfectly executed finale. The restaurant was busy when we visited in February, so book early in summer when the crowds descend. catchattheoldfishmarket.com Shell Bay Restaurant & Bistro, Studland Shell Bay Restaurant & Bistro on the tip of the Jurassic Coast is a scenic sunset-watching spot that specialises in open-fire cooking. Its exciting menu champions local lobster, bass and Poole Bay oysters, with dishes including fire-roasted miso and yuzu cod and pepper soft-shell crab with smoked pineapple chilli sauce. shellbay.net Soulshine Café, Bridport This colourful, welcoming café is the perfect chillout space if your feet are sore from pounding Bridport’s pavements in search of its best independent shops (there are many of them). Pull up a chair at one of its simple wooden tables, let the kids run off to explore the stack of vintage Fisher Price toys and order a freshly pressed juice (maybe a Soulshine – carrot, apple, pineapple, ginger and orange – or a Care Pear – pear, apple, fennel and lemon), smoothie or coffee (the house blend is from Extract Coffee). Bread is baked fresh every morning. There’s a pile of blankets to help yourself to if you’re mulling over whether it’s warm enough to sit out in the little courtyard garden. The cake selection is both whopping and attention-grabbing (anyone for a raw, vegan, gluten-free chocolate beetroot bar with rose petal sprinkles?) and, while carnivores can get their meat fix with Moroccan chicken salads and posh bacon butties, there are also plenty of veggie and vegan choices on the breakfast and lunch menus, from veggie chillis to a ‘vegan English’ (corn fritters with tomato, mushrooms, homemade beans, toast and olive oil). Kids are well catered-for, too, with a dedicated menu that ranges from veg sticks and hummus to cheese on toast. If you’re staying locally, keep an eye out for the café’s occasional evening supper clubs; tickets tend to sell out early for these, from Christmas tapas evenings to burger, curry and Mexican nights. soulshinecafe.co.uk Dorshi, Bridport If there were a more surprising location for Dorshi, tucked down an alleyway in the unshowy historic English town of Bridport, it would be hard to imagine what that might be. Founders Jolly Carter and Radhika Mohendas started out running supperclubs serving sushi made only with Dorset ingredients (Dor-shi, geddit?). Now the business has branched out into a small, fully-fledged restaurant. Dishes follow the brand’s surprising but successful combination of local and Asian flavours (the secret ingredient in the winning chicken dumplings, for instance, is Dorset Red cheese, slipped in along with lime, four types of pepper and mushrooms). Also a hit is the cauli popcorn, served with a punchy Dorset honey and kimchi dressing. To drink? Craft beers, ciders, cocktails, wines and sakes all feature on the drinks list, as do brews from local tea specialist, Comins Tea. dorshi.co.uk Crab House Café, Weymouth On the water’s edge where Weymouth meets Portland Bill, the Crab House Café is essentially a weather-beaten shack attached to an oyster farm. The oysters and local crabs take star billing on the menu, which can change twice a day depending on what’s landed by day boats working out of Poole, Weymouth or Brixham. The view from the restaurant and tables on the shingle outside looks across Chesil Beach to some of the fishing boats supplying the kitchen. crabhousecafe.co.uk The Anchor Inn, Seatown The Anchor Inn is a dining pub serving fish caught just offshore, in Lyme Bay, and crabs from within scuttling distance. The real draw here is the setting – a scene-stealing cottage almost right on the sand, with a great curve of shoreline sweeping away from it. Order a glass of local Furleigh Estate Bacchus, or one of the bar’s 46 rums or 34 gins (Conker or Lilliput are both distilled in Dorset: here are our favourite British gins) and carry it up to the terrace at the side of the pub to sit and sip with one of the best beer garden views in the country. theanchorinnseatown.co.uk Soulshine Café, Bridport For a great brunch, Soulshine Café is on-the-button with superfood spirulina smoothies, oat milk lattes and a vegan full English on the menu – meat-eaters needn’t worry you’ll find sausage sarnies here too. wearesoulshine.co.uk Bodega, Christchurch Megan Spink and Andy Fielden’s wine bar, deli and shop has picked up countless accolades including two in the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The pair pride themselves on searching high and low for products from the very best artisans and producers. The wine menu and cheese/cured meat selections change regularly and there are weekly events including wine tastings, cocktail masterclasses and cheese and wine pairing nights. bodega-christchurch.com Thirteen, Poole Thirteen comes from head chef Alex Naik, whose tasting menus combine locally sourced and foraged ingredients – courses might include the likes of mushroom tom kha soup with seaweed noodles, velvet shank and oysters, and thyme panna cotta with orange jelly, ginger gel and clementine powder. thirteenrestaurant.com Deans Court, Wimborne A beautiful old manor house that hosts occasional food-focused events, Deans Court is also home to a quirky homewares shop, set in a former squash court (look out for household brushes, crockery and aprons), and a cosy café scattered with mismatched wooden tables, salvaged metal chairs and glowing tealights. Much of the produce served in the café’s salads, quiches and soups is grown in Deans Court’s extensive kitchen garden – delicious and zero food miles. Grab a snug corner table and settle down to a slice of caramelised fennel and red onion tart with homegrown salad slicked with peppery olive oil, a warming bowl of red lentil and chard soup, a gooey pumpkin blondie or just a pot of Dorset tea. deanscourt.org Best ice cream in Dorset Baboo Gelato Baboo Gelato, with six sites across Dorset including kiosks in West Bay, Lyme Regis and Weymouth, has grown a dedicated following across the region, and beyond, for its short but sweet range of artisan gelatos and lollies; look out for gooseberry and elderflower, Nutella, pear sorbet or Sumatran Bourbon – the latter made with coffee from Read’s Coffee in Sherborne - among more classic flavours such as mint choc chip, raspberry ripple and honeycomb. baboogelato.com Gelateria Beppino, Bridport Baboo has competition in the shape of Gelateria Beppino. Not only does this café and ice cream parlour do a brisk trade in gelato (flavours such as cookies and cream, salted caramel and liquorice are made with Dorset milk) and seasonal sorbets (did someone say blood orange?) but its other big draw is freshly made cakes. gelateriabeppino.co.uk Foodie neighbourhood spotlight: Lyme Regis Affectionately known as the pearl of Dorset, thanks to its beautiful bay, the areas surrounding Lyme Regis are also rich in culinary delights. The Seaside Boarding House, overlooking Lyme Bay, champions local Dorset produce and has a guest series with a host of exciting chefs including Jeremy Lee, Rick Toogood and Abby Lee. The Parlour at Bredy Farm offers Italian small plates like Tuscan fish stew with Dorset clams and courgettes alla poverella. And Rachels in West Bay is a beach side hut with fresh local seafood platters, moules and chowder, plus it gets our vote for the best fish and chips in the area. If you’re looking to cook your own supper, sign up for one of Fore Adventure’s coastal foraging and food trips. We like the sound of its Kayak, Fish, Forage and Feast tour – half or full-day trips that take participants out by kayak to catch their own fish before returning to shore to cook up seabass parcels stuffed with herbs and lemon back on the beach. Where to stay in Dorset The Ollerod, Beaminster The Ollerod is a great base for a weekend escape: stay here and you can choose between forays into picturesquely rambling countryside or salty sea air (the nearby Jurassic coast is just a pebble’s throw away). The style remains traditional, highlighting the property’s stately original features. Each of the bedrooms is uniquely decorated – stylish and homely, with a hint of countrified opulence (updated rooms have less patterned wallpaper and more understated glamour but all are decadent, with Frette linen and organic toiletries). All are large in size, apart from one Tiny Double, described as “perfect for the solo traveller, but can sleep two if you’re happy snuggling”! The rooms in the neighbouring coach house all have showers over bathtubs, with the two ground-floor rooms dog-friendly (the third of an acre of garden will keep children and canines happy). Doubles from £165, check availability at booking.com The Pig on the Beach, Studland Bay One of a mini-chain of The Pig hotels created by Robin Hutson, founder of Hotel du Vin, this one perches on a clifftop, surrounded by sweeping lawns – and fields full of pigs (Oxford Sandy and Blacks), chickens (Legbars and Burford Browns) and sheep (Dorset Horn). Set in a 16th-century manor house, rooms have cosy, country-house style with rolltop baths in some of the more luxurious rooms. There’s also a walled kitchen garden where the hotel grows both traditional and sea vegetables – menus operate on a 25-mile radius, sourcing everything locally. Join a free kitchen garden tour every day at 11am. In between meals and exploring Dorset, relax in the spa treatment cabins for a facial or massage using Bamford products. Doubles from £305, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com The Alexandra Hotel, Lyme Regis With its spectacular view across Lyme Bay and Lyme Regis’ famed harbour wall, The Cobb, the Alexandra is in prime position if you’re looking for a luxury seaside escape. The crowd here is a reassuring mix of locals and tourists. Sunset ramblers from the public gardens below are enticed onto its well-kept lawns or wisteria-draped terrace, where bar staff linger to take orders. Have dinner at Ammonite, the hotel restaurant which is partially supplied by a small patch of herbs, salad leaves and sprouting vegetables in the hotel’s gardens. The pinnacle of the accommodation is the sizeable Countess’s Room, with its towering headboard, floral furnishings and grand bay window overlooking the rear gardens and sparkling coastline; plus a rather opulent master bathroom, with walk-in shower and a bath with a built-in television. At breakfast, fresh juice and strong coffee are accompanied by none other than local success story Dorset Cereals, homemade granola, pastries and Moore’s Dorset Preserves, plus a hearty West Country breakfast with local sausages and bacon. Check rates and availability at hotelalexandra.co.uk The Seaside Boarding House, Burton Bradstock It’s all about location at the Seaside Boarding House. This smart seaside hotel sits so close to the coast above Burton Bradstock’s beach that it’s practically surfing; most of its nine bedrooms have sea views. Décor pays an ironic nod to boarding house chic. Tables are laid with paper cloths printed with the hotel’s name, there’s a piano in a backstairs hallway for anyone to play should the urge strike and bedrooms mostly have baths for deep, post-coastal walk soaks; if you want a shower you can take one of the shower rooms on the ground floor. In keeping with the retro theme, bedrooms don’t have TVs, just radios and books – a brave move but one that promotes a restful feel. Huge beds are brilliantly comfortable. Food is a highlight. In the dining room, an elegant space overlooking Lyme Bay, tables are laid with bone-handled cutlery and monogrammed crockery. The kitchen team is headed up by another London settler, Dan Richards, who puts his former experience at St John to good use in understated but punchy modern dishes such as marinated beetroot with super-fresh goats curd, dill and toasted seeds on citrusy Tamarisk Farm leaves. For lighter lunches and dinners there’s also a (well-priced) bar menu, serving fish soup with rouille, gruyere and croutons, kedgeree, crab sandwiches, chips and Dorset cream teas. (Read our guide to the best afternoon teas in the UK, here). Breakfasts tie in with the rest of the hotel’s understated ethos; don’t expect a vast amount of choice on the continental front (fresh orange juice, yoghurt, homemade berry compote, croissants and a bowl each of bananas and satsumas). For anything else, however, they prefer to make it on request. Hence a made-to-order breakfast menu that covers everything from a traditional fry-up to French toast, pancakes, boiled egg and soldiers and bacon sandwiches. Make sure you save space for one of the hotel’s ice creams later in the day. Order a couple of scoops out on the terrace if you want to enjoy them, retro-chic, in a silver coupe. Or wander over to the ice cream cart perched out on the grass at the top of the cliffs in the summer months and grab a cone to take down to the beach. We kept it simple with a scoop of fresh strawberry and it was a world away from the industrially produced stuff; not overly sweet, the perfect creamy consistency and jam-packed with the flavour of fresh strawberries. We would happily drive all the way back to Dorset just for a second scoop. theseasideboardinghouse.com River Cottage HQ, Axminster The 17th-century whitewashed farmhouse on the Devon/Dorset border that was first brought to foodie attention by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (it’s at the heart of his River Cottage HQ) has long been a place of pilgrimage for those wanting to learn how to bake sourdough, cure and smoke pork, cook over fire or preserve hedgerow finds. In the past, however, the site was only open to visitors during the day. Now, the farmhouse has been cosily kitted out and opened up to overnight guests, too. The master bedroom is spot-on – sleek, lots of beams, pale hues, and a big bathroom stocked with Bramley products and a basket of fluffy white robes. Soak in the stand-alone tub and take in views of the rolling hills beyond the kitchen garden. The two other rooms, equally as stylish and with timber beds, share a bathroom complete with rain shower and more naturally-scented Bramley products. Sheepskin rugs warm up flagstone floors, a muted grey palette offsets original beams and squishy sofas sit beside crackling fires, encouraging conversation among guests. Share a bottle of Lyme Bay wine or pour yourself a nightcap from the honesty bar stocked with local spirits – Black Cow vodka, Somerset cider brandy or Conker gin. Time your stay to coincide with one of the River Cottage feasts for a full foodie experience. rivercottage.net/accommodation More UK restaurant and travel guides Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Bruton Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in Manchester Best restaurants in Glasgow Best restaurants in the Lake District