Must-see restaurants in Bristol, Bath & Somerset

  • Fine Cheese Co

    Bath

    In this hog heaven for fans of les grands fromages staff will soon have you sampling a top-notch selection of cheesy delights. The adjoining cafe is…

  • Boston Tea Party

    Bristol

    First-rate sandwiches and burgers, fresh juices and locally roasted coffee are served up in style at this southwest deli chain's very first store. Brunch…

  • Glassboat

    Bristol

    This converted river barge is an ideal spot for a romantic dinner, with candlelit tables and harbour views through a glass extension. The refined food…

  • Sotto Sotto

    Bath

    The setting – an artfully lit vaulted brick chamber – is superb, and the food matches it for style. Authentic Italian dishes include choices such as herb…

  • Small St Espresso

    Bristol

    A gleaming pale blue espresso machine sits at the heart of this artisan coffee house where caffeine connoisseurs sit at tiny clumps of tables munching on…

  • Mortimers

    Exmoor National Park

    Chunky wooden tables and exposed brick defy traditional tearoom expectations; the menu is surprising, too. Expect homemade 'moo burgers' (beef sandwiched…

  • Scallop Shell

    Bath

    One of Bath's best fish eateries is also one of its simplest – bags of potatoes piled up beside the door and plain wooden tables. The theme continues with…

  • Kitnors

    Exmoor National Park

    A quintessential thatched tearoom 1 mile east of Porlock dishing up toasties, soups and afternoon teas featuring homemade scones, proper clotted cream and…

  • Square Edge

    Bristol, Bath & Somerset

    There's an easygoing charm to Square Edge, a retro eatery where 1950s movie posters frame old jukeboxes and vintage radios. Treats range from full-blown…

  • Hudson Steakhouse

    Bath

    Steak, steak and more steak is this acclaimed eatery's raison d'être. Tuck into top-quality cuts from porterhouse to prime fillet, all sourced from a…

  • Cargo

    Bristol

    Set in scores of former shipping containers stacked two stories high on the dockside, these bijou eateries offer bites ranging from curries and burgers to…

  • Whortleberry

    Exmoor National Park

    The tangy whortleberries that grow on Exmoor's gorse-clad hills not only give this traditional tearoom its name, they're also in the jam that goes on the…

  • Cobblestones

    Exmoor National Park

    The treats at cosy, friendly Cobblestones range from Somerset pork and cider casserole to renowned Sunday roasts, via a belt-busting Exmoor cream tea…

  • Crown Hotel

    Exmoor National Park

    As befits a hotel set right beside Exford's village green, the restaurant at the Crown revels in a country-house vibe, offering twice-baked cheese soufflé…

  • Exclusive Cake Co

    Exmoor National Park

    Real rarities stack the shelves here: bread made with Exmoor ale, cheese and wholegrain-mustard; Somerset cider cake; venison and port pie. Note the…

  • Esplanade Fish Bar

    Exmoor National Park

    An award-winning chippy set a few steps from the shore. Take away and eat on the rough-sand beach, or dine inside within the cheap 'n' cheerful cafe.

  • Chapter & Holmes

    Bristol

    Top-notch coffee and cake served from a lovingly converted Piaggio Ape parked up near the Clifton Suspension Bridge visitor centre.

  • Tantivy

    Exmoor National Park

    A gift shop, a deli and a tearoom where you can buy a hiking map, peruse the preserves then sip an espresso on the tiny patio.

  • Farmers Market

    Bath

    Excellent farmers market held on Saturday mornings inside Green Park Station – a disused railway hall.

  • Vanilla Pod

    Exmoor National Park

    At this sweet little eatery, it may be eggs Benedict with Devon ham for brunch, a ploughmans for lunch, and a Devonshire cream tea in the afternoon…

  • Rainbow's End

    Bristol, Bath & Somerset

    This psychedelic cafe sums up the Glastonbury spirit, with its all-veggie food, potted plants and mix-and-match furniture. Tuck into homity pie or a hot…

  • Hundred Monkeys Cafe

    Bristol, Bath & Somerset

    A buzzy bistro with handwritten blackboards and a fair-trade, local, seasonal, organic ethos that infuses the mezze platters, pasta dishes, curries and…

  • Who'd a Thought It Inn

    Bristol, Bath & Somerset

    In this pleasantly peculiar locals' pub vintage advertising signs sit beside an old red telephone box and an upside-down bike dangles from the ceiling…

  • Olive Shed

    Bristol

    With tables right beside Bristol Harbour, this rustic eatery is a top spot for a waterfront lunch. It serves tapas and twists on Mediterranean food, such…

  • Good Earth

    Bristol, Bath & Somerset

    A wholefoods shop that's branched out into homewares and a fantastic veggie cafe, which offers two daily dishes plus salads, soups, pizzas and quiches. To…

  • Strangers with Coffee

    Bristol, Bath & Somerset

    'Life is too short to drink bad coffee' says the sign – something they've taken to heart here as staff work caffeinated magic with some of the best beans…

  • Captain's House

    Exmoor National Park

    Tucked away from Lynmouth's main gift-shop drag, this tiny riverside tea garden serves pasties, ploughman's lunches, cakes and barley water.

  • Yen Sushi

    Bath

    Bath's own kaiten (conveyor-belt) restaurant, with colour-coded dishes of nigiri, sushi and sashimi.