Must-see restaurants in Great Britain

  • Old Forge

    West Highlands

    The Old Forge is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as Britain’s most remote pub. It’s surprisingly sophisticated – as well as having real ale on tap,…

  • Whitebrook

    Southeast Wales

    Hidden down green-canopied country lanes in a remote part of the Wye Valley, this wonderful Michelin-starred restaurant-with-rooms is well worth the…

  • Riverford Field Kitchen

    South Devon

    This ecofriendly, organic, plough-to-plate farm is where everyone wants to eat when they visit Totnes. It began as a food-box scheme, and has now branched…

  • Rhubarb

    Holyrood & Arthur’s Seat

    Set in the splendid 17th-century Prestonfield hotel, Rhubarb is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. The over-the-top decor of rich reds set…

  • Drunken Duck

    The Lake District

    Long one of the Lakes' premier dining destinations, the Drunken Duck blends historic pub and fine-dining restaurant. On a wooded crossroads on the top of…

  • Talbot Yard

    North York Moors National Park

    Across the road from the Talbot Hotel, this huddle of converted stables has been reimagined as an extraordinary food court housing the stuff of gourmands'…

  • Smoking Goat

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Trotting in on one of London's fleeting flavours of the week, Smoking Goat's modern Thai menu is top notch. The industrial-chic look of exposed brick,…

  • Checkers

    Powys

    One of the main drawcards of Montgomery is this truly excellent restaurant-with-rooms. With an inquisitive modern-French approach to fresh, locally…

  • Sportsman Pub

    Kent

    The anonymous and oddly named village of Seasalter, 4 miles east of Whitstable, would hardly receive a trickle of visitors were it not for the deceivingly…

  • Oystercatcher

    East Coast

    Seafood aficionados shouldn’t miss this quirky restaurant, which serves brilliant fare in a small room on the Portmahomack waterfront. Lobster is a…

  • Glasshouse

    Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court

    A day at Kew Gardens finds a perfect conclusion at this Michelin-starred gastronomic highlight. The glass-fronted exterior envelops a delicately lit, low…

  • John's House

    The Midlands & the Marches

    Chef John Duffin was born here on 16th-century Stonehurst Farm, 8 miles north of Leicester. After working in Michelin-starred restaurants, he returned in…

  • Salutation

    East Devon

    You can almost taste ambition at this exquisite restaurant-with-rooms: chef Tom Williams-Hawkes has worked with international financiers the Rothschilds,…

  • Ninth Wave

    Mull

    This excellent croft restaurant is owned and operated by a lobster fisherman and his Canadian wife. The daily menu makes use of locally landed shellfish…

  • Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

    Kensington & Hyde Park

    With two Michelin stars, sumptuously presented Dinner is a gastronomic tour de force, taking diners on a journey through British culinary history (with…

  • Punch Bowl Inn

    The Lake District

    If you don't mind a drive, this renowned gastropub in the village of Crosthwaite has long been known for its top-notch food. Whitewashed outside,…

  • Riverstation

    Bristol

    Riverstation's waterside location is hard to beat, with a view over the Floating Harbour, but it's the classical food that truly shines, from confit duck…

  • Temple of Seitan

    East London

    Vegans, hail seitan – devilishly good meat-free alternatives are cleverly composed into belt-busting fried Chick'n at this Hackney hole-in-the-wall. Pick…

  • Fischer's Baslow Hall

    Peak District

    This 1907-built manor house, 4 miles northeast of Bakewell, has a magnificent Michelin-starred dining room showcasing British produce (Derbyshire lamb,…

  • Tayberry

    Dundee & Angus

    Neutral decor enriched with splashes of berry purple create an understated atmosphere in which accomplished chef Adam Newth presents gorgeous and…

  • Jacka Bakery

    Plymouth

    Quietly groovy, fantastically friendly and extremely good at baking things, Jacka is much loved by locals. It excels at immense croissants, cinnamon…

  • Carlton Riverside

    Powys

    This upscale restaurant has a boutique feel and a mantelpiece groaning under its many awards. There's an upstairs bar (open Tuesday to Sunday evenings),…

  • St John's Place

    Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

    St John's Place is only open two nights a week and offers only three 'plates' alongside a wider range of 'bar snacks', but this narrow focus seems to…

  • Magdalen Arms

    Oxford

    A mile beyond Magdalen Bridge, this extra-special neighbourhood gastropub has won plaudits from the national press. A friendly, informal spot, it offers…

  • Tomatitos Tapas Bar

    Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

    Friendly, bustling Tomatitos combines the atmosphere of everyone's favourite pub with an España-centric menu. Staples such as tortilla and chorizo in…

  • Company Shed

    East Anglia

    Bring your own bread and wine to this seaside shack to tuck into mussels, oysters, prawns, lobster, jellied eels, smoked fish or their signature seafood…

  • Cub

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    It's no surprise that the brains behind Cub's ‘cocktail-led tasting menu' is Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, who's won more bartending awards than we…

  • Kota

    The Lizard

    Porthleven's top restaurant is run by half Maori, half Chinese-Malay chef Jude Kereama. Set in an old harbourside mill, the menu is spiced with Far…

  • Hook Camden Town

    North London

    In addition to working entirely with sustainable small fisheries and local suppliers, Hook makes all its sauces on-site and wraps its fish in recycled…

  • Breddos Tacos

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Started in an East London car park in 2011, Breddos found its first permanent home in Clerkenwell, dishing out some of London's best Mexican grub. Grab…

  • Peat Inn

    St Andrews

    This superb Michelin-starred restaurant, backed by a commodious suite of bedrooms, makes an ideal gourmet break. The chef makes a great effort to source…

  • Ee-Usk

    Oban

    Bright and modern Ee-Usk (how you pronounce iasg, Gaelic for fish) occupies a prime pier location. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow diners on two levels to…

  • Elephant

    Torquay

    The jumbo on Torquay's fine-dining scene: Michelin-starred and critically lauded, Elephant belongs to chef Simon Hulstone, whose taste for seasonal food …

  • Côte du Nord

    North & West Coast

    Brilliantly innovative cuisine, wonderfully whimsical presentation and an emphasis on local ingredients are the highlights of the excellent gastronomic…

  • Ultracomida

    Ceredigion

    Aber is lucky to have Ultracomida – an importer, deli and restaurant that's clearly motivated by a personal love of all things Iberian. Out front is an…

  • Turl Street Kitchen

    Oxford

    Whatever time you drop into this laid-back, not-quite-scruffy, seductively charming all-day bistro, with its fairy lights and faded-wood tables, you can…

  • Midsummer House

    Cambridge

    At the region’s top table, chef Daniel Clifford’s double-Michelin-starred creations are distinguished by depth of flavour and immense technical skill…

  • The Old House

    Yorkshire

    Once an old pub, now the base of Hull street-food brand Shoot the Bull, this lovely restaurant does refined comfort food exceptionally well. Locally…

  • Paul Ainsworth at No 6

    North Cornwall

    Rick Stein might be the household name, but Paul Ainsworth is often touted as Padstow's pretender to the throne. His food combines surprising flavours and…

  • Wheatsheaf

    The Cotswolds

    Lively, stylish and laid-back, this beautifully revamped coaching inn – where diners dig into excellent, elegant seasonal British dishes with a…