Heading to the Cotswolds and after some fine dining? Having been born and bred in the Cotswolds, I’m well acquainted with the best restaurants in the region. You may also want to check out my guide to the best hotels in the Cotswolds.
It’s the ultimate accolade when it comes to hospitality around the world: a Michelin star. Defined as an award for restaurants offering outstanding cooking, there are actually five different components that go into securing the award. These include: quality of ingredients; harmony of flavours; mastery of techniques; personality of the chef; and consistency across the menu, and over time. If you too appreciate fine dining and excellent cuisine, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds to enjoy during a break in this beautiful part of the UK. If you’re planning to dine in Gloucestershire or Wiltshire, you’ll find some of the best dining in the country at a handful of the country’s Michelin star restaurants, although there are plenty of other Michelin recommended restaurants in the Cotswolds too. Here’s my guide to the Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds, as well as any that are recommended.
Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds: Gloucestershire
Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham
Boasting one Michelin star, Le Champignon Sauvage has provided the perfect special occasion dining in the beautiful Regency town of Cheltenham. Dating back over thirty years, David and Helen Everitt-Matthias are the husband and wife duo behind Le Champignon Sauvage. Helen looks after the décor and service, while David is found in the kitchen. One of the best Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds, Le Champignon Sauvage utilises the best of British when it comes to ingredients. The dishes are based on classic French menus, executed using modern techniques. You’ll often find the odd obscure ingredient on the menu. Food critic Jay Rayner even described his visit as ‘one of the best meals of [his] life’. It’s also located in one of my favourite parts of town, The Suffolks.
Lumière, Cheltenham
A new entry for 2023, Lumière earned a well deserved Michelin star after years of offering exquisite cuisine. Also at home on my guide to the best restaurants in Cheltenham, hard work paid off as Michelin inspectors have been sampling the cooking maturing at the restaurant for over 14 years. While located in an unassuming building, inside you’ll find a chic restaurant. A husband and wife team, Helen looks after the service while husband Jon takes care of the cooking and the team in the kitchen. The cuisine is classical, with ornate attention to detail. Much of the produce comes from the couple’s own allotment. Be sure to get in an early booking at this Michelin star restaurant in the Cotswolds – it’s high in demand following its new status.
Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds: Wiltshire
The Dining Room at Whatley Manor, Malmesbury
Located in a classic Cotswold stone manor house packed with character, The Dining Room is one of the most wonderful Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds. Arrive early so you can enjoy the acres of beautifully manicured grounds around the building. The views across to the Cotswold countryside are beautiful too. Head Chef Ricki Weston takes the lead at the brasserie as well as the cosy dining room. Throughout the restaurant, you’ll find neutral interiors and an intimate vibe. Dining at The Dining Room kicks off with snacks in the kitchen, before enjoying a seven course set menu. There are vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian versions of the menu that you can choose if you prefer. All dishes are contemporary and beautifully presented, boasting innovative textures and flavours. I loved the wine list – there’s a wide range of mature wines, as well as a few biodynamic options too. I recommend staying in one of the elegant rooms at Whatley Manor after so you can really enjoy your dining experience – you can check availability here.
Bybrook, Castle Combe
Set in a stunning country house hotel in the idyllic Cotswold village of Castle Combe, Bybrook is an incredible Michelin star restaurant in the Cotswolds. In a manor house that dates all the way back to the fourteenth century, it has a whopping 365 acres of gardens and parkland to explore before or after your dining experience. You’ll discover a long drive that takes you up to the manor house, and inside there are traditional lounges with open fires. Expect to have a formal dining experience at Bybrook. I began with drinks and snacks in the beautiful bar, before heading to the dining room for dinner. The cuisine is quite the experience. Strong flavours are blended together to create delicious dishes. Homegrown produce is used wherever possible, and the plates are each presented beautifully. I highly recommend staying the night in the manor house after your meal and exploring beautiful Castle Combe – you can check availability here.
Restaurant Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park, Colerne
Restaurant Hywel Jones offers fine dining in a beautiful country house. One of the finest Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds, Restaurant Hywel Jones has an elegant ambience with luxurious furnishings throughout. Lucknam Park itself has a mile-long drive to build the suspense as you drive up to the beautiful house. Led by the Welsh chef, Michelin starred cooking is evident in each and every dish. Feast on incredible dishes from the tasting menu like Cornish lobster, Brecon lamb with Wye Valley asparagus, and Heritage beetroot tart. All ingredients are high quality and locally produced. I highly recommend booking into one of the rooms in the stunning hotel for after your meal. You can check availability here.
Michelin recommended restaurants in the Cotswolds
While the following restaurants haven’t been awarded a Michelin star, they are still prestigious in being recognised by Michelin for their fantastic offerings. Expect to find culinary delights and excellent service from the following:
Gloucestershire
The Ox Barn, Southrop
Set in one of my favourite hotels in the Cotswolds, Thyme, The Ox Barn is well worth a visit. Surrounded by gorgeous countryside gardens, it offers simple dining packed with flavour. The recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean so you well and truly feel like you’re on holiday when dining here.
Daylesford Farm, Moreton-in-Marsh
Awarded a Michelin Green Star, Daylesford Farm set in glorious Moreton-in-Marsh has a number of excellent eateries alongside its popular farm shop. Choose The Legbar for exquisite snacks and nibbles, or the Old Spot for wood fires pizzas. The main restaurant at Daylesford is the Trough Cafe, where you can enjoy a candlelit dinner with a loved one. All their food is organic, with most of the produce grown onsite at the farm. Its Green Star comes from all its sustainable farming with huge care for animal welfare and the environment.
The Fox, Lower Oddington
An upmarket gastropub linked to the wonderful Wild Rabbit in nearby Kingham, The Fox is a culinary treat. A character packed Cotswold pub, it has a generous menu. Feast on dishes including juicy local steaks on the bone to wood fired pizzas. You can also stay in one of the rooms above the pub if you fancy taking advantage of their cocktail menu.
Old Butchers, Stow-on-the-Wold
Located in one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, the Old Butchers really packs a punch with its food. Set in an old butcher’s shop (literally), it has colourful interiors and a wide menu. Expect to find bold flavours and constrasting textures. Make sure you save room for pudding afterwards.
Atrium, Upper Slaughter
It doesn’t get much more idyllic than Upper Slaughter, and the Atrium is well placed. It is quite literally an atrium, with a glass dome in the heart of the restaurant that belongs to a seventeenth century Cotswold hotel. Enjoy the tasting menu which displays some of the season’s finest produce. It boasts a modern approach to classic cooking in a way that will really ‘wow’ you.
5 North Street, Winchcombe
A good friend of mine used to work here, so I know only too well just how great this Michelin recommended restaurant is. Set in the beautiful village of Winchcombe – and just around the corner from Henry VIII’s former lodgings at Sudeley Castle – it’s run by a husband and wife team. A small but might restaurant, it has long been a favourite with locals and its proof is in the pudding. It has a carefully curated menu featuring local ingredients in interesting flavour combinations.
Wilder, Nailsworth
There’s something slightly unique about dining at Wilder. All guests are asked to arrive at 7pm, and often this is a good bunch of locals. You’re then provided with a tasting menu that takes place over three hours. You can add on complementary pairing wines if you wish. Dishes are delivered by the chefs themselves, and everything is delivered with precision. Expect simple ingredients used in ambitious formats.
Journey, Cheltenham
Initially, I found it a little bizarre that a fine dining restaurant set up shop in what used to be a popular nightclub while in my teens. Boy, did they prove me wrong. Chef and owner, Jeff Lewis, often hand delivers all the dishes from the 12 course tasting menu. The cuisine is inspired by his travels through Asia, and from his previous career spent at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck. You’ll find bold flavours served in a contemporary style. There’s a cosy feel in the dining room, which offers a relaxed feel.
Prithvi, Cheltenham
Prithvi has been making waves across the Cheltenham restaurant scene ever since it first opened. Taking pride of place on my guide to the best Indian restaurants in Cheltenham, it’s a small but elegant restaurant offering excellent service. Get things kicked off with a cocktail in the lounge, before moving onto the important stuff. All the plates are inspired by classic south Indian flavours. although they are presented with a contemporary twist. It’s well worth a visit – I’ve not heard of anybody who has not visited and loved it.
Purslane, Cheltenham
We’re not short of a Michelin recommended restaurant in Cheltenham, and Purslane is top of the list when it comes to seafood. Located just off the High Street, Purslane has an intimate feel, with relaxed service. On the menu, you’ll find a carefully curated choice of fresh seafood from Cornwall and Scotland, blended with local ingredients. Their lunch menu is particularly good value.
Bhoomi Kitchen, Cheltenham
The sister restaurant to much loved Prithvi, Bhoomi Kitchen is run by the third generation of a family who settled in the UK from India fifty years ago. And wow, do they know flavours. I visited the restaurant last year for my birthday, and was spoilt to some excellent quality Indian food. The interiors are opulent, and you’ll find southern Indian food on the menu with a barbecued tandoor twist. Everything we ate was truly delicious.
Jonas at GL50, Cheltenham
Nestled in a side street in Cheltenham’s town centre, you’ll find this elegant bistro. Owned by AA award winning head chef Jonas, it is a Michelin recommend restaurant in the Cotswolds with good reason. Jonas focuses on serving excellent food with a mission for minimal waste. Every part of the ingredients are used to create exquisitely presented plates in a creative manner. It’s original and delicious.
Memsahib’s Lounge, Cheltenham
Also one of the best places for an afternoon tea in Cheltenham with a difference, Memsahib’s Lounge is a wonderful restaurant. Set in a charming Georgian terrace building in the heart of the town centre, it has a colonial theme and serves Indian dishes. Get started with their impressive cocktail menu, many of which feature gin and vodka infusions. They serve their dishes in a manner intended for sharing, although you should be sure to try the ‘Experience’ tasting menu.
Oxfordshire
The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
I love visiting The Wild Rabbit after a day at Daylesford Farm Shop, and it’s no surprise to me that it’s on the list of Michelin recommend restaurants in the Cotswold. Owned by the Bamford family behind Daylesford, The Wild Rabbit is their contemporary country pub. Enjoy modern dishes that are full of flavour, with many ingredients grown organically on the nearby farm. I recommend the ribeye steak with watercress, duck fat potatoes, and horseradish sabayon. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I went!
The Chequers, Churchill
Also making my list of the best pubs in the Cotswolds, I love The Chequers. Far beyond a pub, it also serves food so excellent it has made the Michelin recommended restaurants list – and rightfully so. A welcoming pub in the heart of the gorgeous village of Churchill, The Chequers serves sensational food. Expect to find gastropub classics like beer battered haddock with fries, a delicious salad menu (their hand picked white crab meat salad is to die for), and a range of steaks. Their Sunday lunch in the Cotswolds is incredible too. Wash it all down with a good local ale and enjoy this character packed pub.
Minster Mill, Minster Lovell
As if the beautiful village of Minster Lovell was not idyllic enough, you also have Minster Mill. A beautiful Cotswold stone building, it’s surrounded by stunning gardens and a river that runs freely through. While it ticks boxes for its scenic surroundings, the cuisine is also delicious. Here, you’ll find contemporary British dishes, presented excellently and in a creative manner. Enjoy dishes like Cotswold venison loin and butter roasted turbot. The welcoming service is particularly good too.
Warwickshire
Henne, Moreton-in-Marsh
‘Henne’ is a nod to Moreton-in-Marsh’s original Cotswold town name, and this restaurant is one of the jewels of this pictuesque town. Run by two friends, it’s an intimate restaurant showcasing curated ingredients of local suppliers. Opt for the delicious tasting menu, which services contemporary British dishes with powerful flavours. You’ll find simple dishes like Salcombe crab with Heritage tomatoes, and Paddock Farm beef fillet with mushrooms and cauliflower. Henne is well worth a visit while visiting the Cotswolds.
Howard Arms, Ilmington
Set in a beautiful Cotswold stone building, The Howard Arms is a wonderful local gastropub and restaurant in the Cotswolds. Boasting a plethora of culinary awards – as well as being a Michelin recommended restaurant – The Howard Arms serves classic British dishes, but beautifully executed. Each dish packs a punch with its flavours. I highly recommend the Hereford cross rump cap with smoked bone marrow, watercress, and Jersey Royals. Truly to die for!
Wiltshire
Grey’s, Malmesbury
Set alongside the Michelin star The Dining Room at Whatley Manor, Grey’s is a fantastic restaurant in its own right. A chic eatery that offers a more relaxed option to The Dining Room, it still has all the great flavours and fantastic service you’d expect from a Michelin recommended restaurant. Each of the dishes revolves around the seasonal produce available from the food grown in the kitchen garden, as well as local suppliers. Sample dinner dishes include crispy Middlewhite pork belly with date puree and potato rosti, and roast Cornish ling with baby gem relish and sprouting broccoli.
Castle Inn, Castle Combe
A beautiful Cotswold inn that dates back to the twelfth century, Castle Inn is well worth a detour just to sample some of the wonderful cuisine on offer. You’ll find a blackboard featuring daily specials, and each and every dish offers intense flavours that aren’t easy to forget. The comforting pub fare includes dishes like the lager battered catch of the day with beef dripping chips and mushy peas, or the Brixham cod with ox cheek, charred leeks, and beef fat hash brown. I’d highly advise saving room for dessert. I had the Yorkshire rhubarb and custard ice cream sandwich and it was truly delicious.
Worcestershire
Buckland Manor, near Broadway
If you’re in the mood for some quintessentially English fine dining, head to Buckland Manor. Set in the upmarket dining room of this gorgeous country house, you’ll find classically prepared dishes with a contemporary touch. Begin your meal in one of the cosy lounges, before moving into the dining room with garden views and wood panelling.
MO, Broadway
Nestled in the gorgeous Cotswold village of Broadway, MO is nestled behind a country house hotel. Offering just 12 covers around a U-shaped kitchen, it offers an eight course menu that changes with the seasons. One of the best things about this Michelin recommended restaurant is how interactive the dining experience is. You’ll engage with the chefs, and feast on colourful dishes using spectacular ingredients. There are some excellent wine pairings on offer too.
The Back Garden, Broadway
Set in the gorgeous Dormy House hotel in Broadway, The Back Garden is an elegant restaurant with floor to ceiling windows. Offering an airy ambience, the Michelin recommended restaurant offers a carefully curated menu of modern dishes with a Mediterranean influence. Expect to find locally sourced ingredients and meats in each and every tasty plate.
That’s my guide to the best Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds! Whether you’re visiting Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, or Wiltshire, there are so many options. Are there any restaurants you’d add to my list? Let me know in the comments below.
