Get out of the office and enjoy something tasty on your lunch break at SoGlos's pick of Cheltenham's best restaurants for a working lunch — with everything from small plates and sharers to steaming bowls of fragrant noodles, curries and bao buns on the menu.
Brewhouse & Kitchen
Offering dedicated 'work space' table bookings with wifi and power sockets, Brewhouse & Kitchen at The Brewery Quarter offers a tasty working lunch deal, too.
Tuck into a home-baked focaccia sandwich or wrap, with unlimited freshly ground coffee for three hours, all for just £10.
Cosy Club
With brunch served until 4pm, a variety of sharing plates which double up as great-sized starters, as well as steaks, burgers and main dishes spanning everything from pan-fried sea bass to black truffle and ricotta ravioli, Cosy Club — conveniently located at The Brewery Quarter — is a lovely location for a working lunch.
Its selection of non-alcoholic coolers, spritzes and punches are ideal for when you're on the clock, too.
Mowgli
Mowgli's unique tiffin boxes for one make for a fun lunch that's different every time you dine. The office workers' tiffin is served in a four-tier tiffin box containing the chef's choice of veggie, meat and carb dishes for a balanced meal that you can enjoy on your lunch break.
There's also a fabulous £15 lunch deal with two chat bombs, a choice of curry with rice and either a lassi, soft drink, house beer or wine — available Monday to Thursday until 5pm.
Sam's Montpellier
Casual fine dining restaurant, Sam's Montpellier, offers a unique menu of small plates in a stylish but relaxed setting, with three plates for the price of two at lunchtimes.
Tucked away in Montpellier Courtyard, the menu is separated into Earth for vegetable dishes, Land for meat and Sea for fish and seafood dishes, which are ideal for sharing between two people. The pistachio parfait with red onion marmalade is a firm favourite with the SoGlos team!
Pho
Slurp down something delicious on your lunch break at Pho in The Brewery Quarter, with fragrant bowls of Vietnam's national dish, creamy curries, wok fried rice, salad and plenty of tasty sides like summer rolls and wings on the menu.
Pho is great for vegetarians and vegans, with loads of options to choose from — plus its gluten-free menu is Coeliac UK approved, so it's ideal for diners with dietary requirements. The Vietnamese iced coffee is a must try.
The Botanist
With a menu that spans nibbles and hot sharing boards, light bites and its famous hanging kebabs, The Botanist at The Brewery Quarter is a stylish spot to enjoy a working lunch.
The spacious restaurant has plenty of quieter corners for meetings and a great selection of botanical-inspired non-alcoholic cocktails to try, too.
KIBOU
One of Cheltenham's prettiest restaurants, adorned with blushing pink cherry blossoms, KIBOU on Regent Street serves up incredible quality sushi, ramen, bao buns and more — and it's open for lunch.
Make choosing easy with one of its mixed sushi platters or sharing dishes, or grab a lighter bite like its new sushi tacos or a trio of bao buns. Its volcano rolls have a cult-like status and come highly recommended by Team SoGlos, too!
The Alchemist
While it's most well-known for its theatrical cocktails, The Alchemist is a great spot for a working lunch with a creative food menu that spans 'mouth-watering morsels' like the jalapeno and parmesan doughnut; sharers like ultimate bao buns, tempura prawn lollipops and duck pancakes; to main dishes like steak, katsu curry, chicken in a basket and a selection of meat and plant-based burgers.
It also offers a set-price lunch of a rice bowl and a soft drink from 12pm to 4pm Monday to Friday.
The Nook
Fancy lunch with a view? Cheltenham's only rooftop restaurant, The Nook, offers walk-ins at lunchtime so diners can grab a spot on its sunny terrace and soak up the spectacular views while tucking into their lunch.
The menu features dishes like baked camembert, chicken Caesar salad, wagyu beef burger, moules marinière to truffle mushroom gnocchi — with two courses costing £20 and three costing £27 Monday to Friday.
Bao + BBQ
Conveniently located on Regent Street, just off Cheltenham High Street, Bao + BBQ is open for lunch from Tuesday to Sunday.
From its namesake bao buns filled with cornflake chicken, drunken duck, ponzu mushroom, beef brisket or pulled pork to Korean fries, noodle bowls, wings and even wagyu burgers, there's plenty of tasty Asian-inspired dishes to choose from whether you're on-the-go or enjoying a leisurely lunch.
Hotel du Vin
Hotel du Vin's Prix Fixe menu is available from 12pm to 3pm Monday to Friday and offers two courses for £24.95 or three for £29.95.
Choose from options like chicken liver parfait on toasted brioche, Severn and Wye smoked salmon or beetroot and goat's cheese salad to start; chicken or halloumi schnitzel, sea bass fillet with pesto and fennel, or spelt risotto for the main course; with creme brulee, 'pot au chocolat' or ice cream for dessert.
The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie
The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie boasts showstopping decor that's ideal for impressing an important client — and its exclusive 1917 menu offers two courses for £19.17 Monday to Friday.
Inspired by its heritage and history, diners can enjoy dishes like truffle arancini, zucchini fritti, Robata grilled chicken skewers with bang bang sauce, pan-fried sea bass with shrimps and samphire, chargrilled halloumi with mixed grains or The Ivy's signature shepherd's pie. Plus, it's only £5 to add on a dessert for an extra special experience.
Woodkraft
Describing itself as an 'artisan cafe', Woodkraft on Cheltenham's bustling Regent Street offers breakfast, brunch and lunch.
From chef's specials like chicken, ham and leek pie; cheddar cheese beignets; seafood chillaquillas; and homemade cornbread, to baps and wraps filled with satay cauliflower, mango halloumi, peri peri chicken or lamb shawarma, there's plenty to choose from.
Flight Club
Social darts venue Flight Club at The Brewery Quarter serves up a bargain lunch deal for local workers, with a dish and a drink for just £10.
Choose from a barbecue cauliflower or chicken souvlaki bowl; falafel and houmous or grilled chicken and bacon wrap; Margherita or pepperoni pizza; chicken Caesar salad; or a signature beef burger with a beer, wine or a soft drink. Bullseye!
The Queens Hotel
Victoria's at the historic The Queens Hotel offers a set menu at lunchtime with seasonal dishes like red pepper and tomato soup, spinach and goat's cheese tart, tempura-battered cod, cottage pie and even white chocolate and Bailey's panna cotta.
It's £22 for two courses or £28 for three between 12pm and 4.45pm Monday to Friday, with a glass of house wine, a pint of beer or a soft drink on the house — ideal for a leisurely lunch in one of the prettiest parts of town.
