When it comes to fine dining, there is no greater destination than a Michelin star restaurant. With roots dating back to 1900, renowned Michelin stars are a globally recognised symbol of culinary excellence and denote the very best restaurants for service and food. Naturally, if you’re looking for somewhere delicious to dine during your boutique Cotswolds escape, we recommend starting here.
Placing together the top eateries in this gorgeous Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we’ve compiled a guide to the Michelin star restaurants in the Cotswolds 2024. Scattered throughout honey-hued villages and picturesque valleys, they offer the ultimate in haute cuisine. Let’s tuck in.
Michelin Star
Bybrook, Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Set within a regal fourteenth century country house, Bybrook takes pride of place within 365 acres of private estate near Chippenham. Named after a silvery river that flows through its grounds, this Michelin star sanctuary is accessed via a sweeping drive and is draped in climbing ivy and flowering creepers. Inside, regal interiors set a magnificent scene, ready to invite you in for an exquisite meal. Crafted with seasonal, local ingredients, its menus proffer flavoursome blends curated by Head Chef Robert Potter. With each one paired with the perfect wine, you can look forward to sophisticated meals in a formal setting, enhanced by polished service and a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere.
The Dining Room, Malmesbury, Wiltshire
The Dining Room at Whatley Manor boasts not only one Michelin star but is also the bearer of a prized Michelin green star. Rewarded for its sustainability, this gastronomical hotspot nestles within twelve acres of formal grounds and features four beehives, orchards and kitchen gardens - all of which are used to add the freshest flavours and flare to dishes. Changing with the seasons, the restaurant’s menus here combine imagination and accomplished cooking to create “food full of personality”. Supported by a brigade of chefs, servers and sommeliers, every detail is carefully considered to offer a divine dining experience. Should you wish, you can also head over for afternoon tea inside or outside on one of the picturesque terraces.
Restaurant Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park, Colerne, Wiltshire
Restaurant Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park invites you to step into a world of gentility and sophistication. From its mile-long drive shouldered by beech trees, it leads you on a journey of excellence and invites you to indulge in a feast for the senses. Take a seat in the grand drawing room or library for a glass of something special to lend a sense of celebration, before being escorted into the restaurant for your meal. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Hywel Jones, the restaurant’s menus comprise a medley of local ingredients and produce, all transformed into mouth-watering repasts. With set seasonal and vegetarian menus, flavour-packed dishes reign supreme here, including specialities such as citrus cured Loch Duart salmon with crispy Porthilly oyster, and roast Jerusalem artichoke with Yellison’s goats curd.
Olive Tree, Bath, Somerset
On the edge of the Cotswolds National Landscape is the historic city of Bath. Well-known for its eclectic menu of eateries, its fantastic places to eat include the Olive Tree in Queensberry Hotel. Driven by award-winning Head Chef Chris Cleghorn, this independent, Michelin star restaurant in Somerset is one of the longest established in the city and is also decorated with three AA Rosettes. In partnership with a range of local suppliers, its menus brandish fare from all the highest quality, sustainably focused producers in the Cotswolds and the West Country. Depending on your mood, you can choose from nine, six, four and three course tasting menus on select days of the week and savour artisan tastes by the forkful.
Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Located in a bustling Regency town, Le Champignon Sauvage is one of the best places to eat in Cheltenham. Run by husband-and-wife duo David and Helen Everitt-Matthias from the get-go, this four AA Rosette eatery first opened its doors in 1987 and has been a formidable frontrunner on the foodie scene ever since. Book yourself a table and take a seat within its warmly illuminated, contemporary interiors. Once ready to eat, you can benefit from Head Chef David’s endless experimentation and culinary vision, choosing from both British and internationally inspired fusions. With both à la carte and set menus available, you are sure to find something to perfectly hit the spot.
Lumiere, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Another wonderful restaurant in Cheltenham is Lumiere. Tucked behind an unassuming façade, this building on Clarence Parade conceals an attractive restaurant run by patrons Helen and Jon Howe. Dedicated to the freshest tastes and textures, the talented team here source hand-picked produce from the family’s fifteen-acre smallholding and pride themselves on their extensive harvests, including herbs, vegetables and edible flowers. Harmonising the farm’s natural bounties with the kitchen team’s innate talent, the classically-styled menus are a real dream. Enjoyed as part of eight, six and four courses, they offer something for everyone and also cater to an array of dietary requirements. Secure yourself a table and let the Michelin cuisine delight and inspire.
The Royal Oak, Whatcote, Warwickshire
After long, leisurely walks in the Cotswolds, there couldn’t be a finer reward than a Michelin star meal. Swap walking boots for bib and tucker and make way to The Royal Oak in Whatcote on the fringes of the Cotswolds National Landscape. Dubbed one of the top gastropubs in the country, this sensational foodie hub delivers high-class country food that reflects each season. Sourcing ingredients from the local area, including game from the surrounding hills, garnishes from nearby hedgerows and vegetables from local no-dig plots, every element is carefully considered and sourced to ensure the best provenance and quality. Select from regular favourites or fleeting house specials and indulge in dreamy bites of deliciousness.
Bib Gourmand
The Chequers, Bath, Somerset
Wend through the beautiful streets of Bath and you’ll come to The Chequers, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant within a striking Georgian terrace. Just a short walk from the city’s Roman Baths, Abbey and Thermae Spa, it invites for laidback moments spent over long drinks and hot plates. Promising traditional cuisine served in an atmospheric setting, its team draws on both local, seasonal snapshots and exotic influences to create dishes that are bold and flavoursome. Look forward to delicacies such as Hereford cross Onglet steak, Orkney scallops and whole-roasted Cornish sole and treat yourself to melt-in-your-mouth magic. To extend your experience, shoulder your main with an irresistibly appetising starter and dessert too for the full works.
Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath, Somerset
One of the best places to go for tasters and tipples in Bath, Beckford Bottle Shop is one for the gourmet agenda. A popular wine shop and bistro, it boasts period features, industrial chic décor and a suntrap terrace to create a cool, dynamic hub in which to while away the time. Awarded Bib Gourmand status by the Michelin guide, its small plates, light lunches and sumptuous suppers are perfect for satiating every appetite, while its extensive collection of beverages mean there is always something to balance each bite. Particularly favoured by vino connoisseurs, its drinks menus propose more than thirty wines by the glass, with grapes from both British and far-flung terroirs, including Beckford’s very own Claret.
The Bull, Charlbury
Offering well-honed flavours in a sweet rural setting, The Bull in Charlbury is a rising star in the Michelin world. Nestled within a sixteenth century inn, the pub exudes charm with original flagstone floors, ceilings lined with open beams, and twin open fires that radiate warmth in the winter months. Secure a reservation in advance for lunch or dinner and enjoy the intimate atmosphere of its countrycore interiors and menus woven with local fare. With specials boards influenced each day by the offerings of local farmers and growers, you can expect an ever-evolving curation of finely-crafted, flavour-brimming dishes at this delightful Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in the Cotswolds.
Ready to sample Michelin fare? Take a look at our luxury cottages in the Cotswolds here.
