Whether you're celebrating a special event, meeting up for a leisurely lunch or indulging in afternoon tea, the Cotswolds is brimming with fantastic foodie destinations.
From traditional country pubs to chic hotels, SoGlos rounds up our favourite places to get the gang together for fabulous food...
Téatro in Cirencester
The ever-so-stylish Téatro Bar and Restaurant is located right next door to chic Cotswold hotel Ingleside House and The Barn Theatre in Cirencester. Serving creative dishes made using the finest locally sourced produce, diners can expect dishes like king prawn linguine, herb gnocchi, moules mariniere, chalk stream trout and Josper grilled steak on its à la carte menu — with pre-theatre small plates and a weekend alfresco 'Chill Grill' menu available, too.
Its Piano Bar comes to life with live music every Friday and Saturday evening; plus there's two-for-one cocktails every day from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
The Fox at Oddington
Highlighted as one of the Michelin inspectors' favourite new restaurants in 2022, The Fox at Oddington is bursting with Cotswold charm and offers a beautiful but unpretentious menu of dishes using produce from its sister farm, Daylesford.
With everything from bar snacks like pork crackling or truffle salami; pub classics like double cheeseburger, Hereford rib eye steak and a traditional Sunday roast; to wood-fired sourdough pizzas, it's a glorious place for a get-together — and a must-visit for local foodies.
Dunkertons Organic Cider in Dowdeswell
Dunkertons Organic Cider on the outskirts of Cheltenham is effortlessly cool, boasting a gorgeous outdoor seating area with crackling fire pits; a selection of some of the tastiest street food Gloucestershire has to offer, including loaded dogs and fries from The Woozy Pig, Baz & Fred Pizza, colourful Filipino food from Humble Kitchen and curries from Bombay Street Food Co; and fresh, crisp cider on tap, of course.
Surrounded by woodland, it's a spectacular location to meet up with friends and watch the sun go down over a laid back dinner and drinks. It also plays host to regular live music, comedy and DJ nights, too.
The Lygon Arms in Broadway
James Martin fans won't want to miss the chance to try his specially-curated menu at The Lygon Arms in Broadway. Promising authentic dishes in a welcoming, laid back atmosphere, the Grill by James Martin menu features some of the TV chef's favourite dishes — including his famous dry aged sirloin or fillet steak — accompanied by a selection of locally sourced drinks.
Other menu highlights include Loch Duart salmon with brown shrimp beurre blanc, potato rosti and caramelised orange chicory; roasted cauliflower and chickpea dhal with crisp onions and pomegranate; and desserts including a banana split Knickerbocker Glory and James's signature white chocolate and whisky bread and butter pudding.
The Old Stocks Inn in Stow-on-the-Wold
One of the coolest places to dine in Stow-on-the-Wold, The Old Stocks Inn is famous for its fantastic food and creative cocktails, not to mention its stylish, colourful decor. Its brunch and small plates menu, served from 11am to 3pm on Saturdays, is ideal for sharing with friends, with charcuterie, cheese and bread sharing boards available, too.
For more sophisticated affairs, it also offers a two or three-course à la carte menu. Roll the dice to try a bespoke cocktail with one of its 'mystery' liqueurs to start, before tucking into dishes like rump and shoulder of lamb with aubergine, anchovies, Lord of the Hundreds cheese and white wine sauce; a sharing steak for two with skinny fries or fondant potato, caramelised onion, spring onion, mushroom, wild garlic and Madagascan pepper sauce; or trout with pink fir apple potatoes and mussel chowder sauce.
The Ox Barn in Southrop
Housed inside, you guessed it, a former ox barn, The Ox Barn at Thyme in Southrop is another venue that has caught the Michelin inspectors' eyes, surrounded by gorgeous Cotswold countryside with produce picked fresh from the fields on its menu.
With its choice of dishes changing with the seasons, The Ox Barn's sample à la carte menu features starters like tema artichoke, lemon, fennel and goat's curd; and anchovy, winter tomato, butter and toast, with mains including potato pavé, ricotta, pumpkin, tardivo and hazelnut; pork chop, tomato, caper and agretti; and sirloin, cime di rapa and tonnato.
Dormy House in Broadway
Afternoon tea is a classy affair at Dormy House, so it's ideal for a special occasion or celebration. Savouries include freshly made sandwiches filled with roast chicken; cheese and tomato chutney; smoked salmon with sour cream and chives; or beef with horseradish and watercress, with sweet treats like lemon meringue tart; pistachio and cherry macaron; praline and caramel éclair; chocolate and clementine mousse; and scones slathered with clotted cream and jam to indulge in.
Its tea station offers a varied selection, from musky darjeeling, refreshing mint to sweet vanilla chai — or if you're really splashing out, opt for a glass of Champagne instead, with Delamotte and Bollinger both on the menu.
The Crown at Ampney Brook
Describing itself as 'a cosy village pub with a community heart', award-winning restaurant The Crown at Ampney Brook offers menus inspired by its Cotswold countryside surroundings, using lots of seasonal, locally sourced produce. Its great value fixed price two- or three-course menu is available from 12pm to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, with mains including steak frites, Devon crab cake or summer pea and mint risotto; and desserts like caramelised brioche bread and butter pudding, freshly baked milk chocolate chip cookie or Eton mess.
It's also a fantastic brunch spot, with small plates ideal for sharing including gochujang fried oyster mushrooms; chicken, ham hock and black pudding terrine; and pan seared king scallops, all washed down with brunch cocktails including a mimosa, kir royale or aperol spritz. Sunday roasts and afternoon teas are available, too.
The Old New Inn in Bourton-on-the-Water
Great for get-togethers with little ones in tow, The Old New Inn is right next door to the Bourton Model Village, so you can tire out the kids exploring this miniature scale model of the Cotswold town before sitting down to a tasty meal.
The Tap Room is known for its sharing boards that are ideal to pop in the middle of the table and graze on, with options including smoked salmon, shell-on prawns, rollmop herring, scampi, marinated anchovies, tartare sauce and sourdough; home-cooked Gloucestershire ham, Cacklebean Scotch eggs, artisan sausage rolls, cheddar, pickled onions and house chutney; baba ganoush, Padron peppers, marinated olives, Caesar salad and pan fried goats cheese; or an oozing baked camembert with house chutney and toasted sourdough.
The Snooty Fox in Tetbury
Tetbury's The Snooty Fox is an elegant but relaxed venue with menus that champion local produce and creative cooking. Great for sharing over a glass of wine or two, its nibbles menu offers three plates for £15 with options including fish goujons with tartar sauce; pigs in blankets with Dijon mustard; hummus and hazelnuts with flatbread; and potato bravas with smoked tomato and red pepper sauce.
For something more substantial, its bar classics menu features Cumberland sausage with mash, caramelised onion gravy and crispy onions; or fish and chips with tartare sauce and lemon, with its main evening menu including beef and veggie burgers from the grill along with dishes like pan roast chicken supreme with fondant potato, roasted carrots and thyme jus; and slow cooked pork belly with apple and parsley mash, savoy cabbage and cider sauce.
Three Ways House Hotel in Chipping Campden
One of the most memorable dining experiences in the Cotswolds, The Pudding Club meets at the Three Ways House Hotel in Chipping Campden every Friday throughout the year.
Proceedings start with a glass of Buck's Fizz and a light main course, followed by a parade of seven traditional puddings! Served on long, communal tables, it's a social affair, where diners get to vote for their favourite pudding over coffee at the end of the evening — and take home a certificate, too!
The Lakes by YOO in Lechlade
Serving up breakfast, brunch and lunch with idyllic lakeside views over its 850-acre estate, The Lakes Bar and Kitchen at The Lakes by Yoo is a rustic restaurant where you can while away the hours watching sailboats go by.
Breakfast comes in the form of forest mushrooms and spinach on toast, buttermilk pancake stacks, smashed avocado on sourdough or a classic full English or full veggie breakfast and is served from 9am to 12pm — while the all-day menu spans stonebaked pizzas and pasta; specials including the YOO burger, beer-battered fish and chips, or the YOO ramen; and small plates like prosciutto, lobster lettuce tacos, Thai mussels and crab muffin.
The Fish Hotel in Broadway
Tucking into delicious food at the super stylish The Fish Hotel in Broadway is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in the Cotswolds with friends. Available every day from 12pm to 9pm, diners can enjoy relaxed bites from its all-new hot dog menu, with choices including the 'porkshire terrier' with caramelised onion, bloody Mary ketchup and mustard; or the 'all bite, no bark' plant-based hot dog with BBQ pulled jackfruit and naked slaw, with a great choice of wines, beers and cocktails on offer.
The Fish's Sunday roasts in its Hook restaurant are the talk of the town, too, with starters like fritto misto; smoked haddock chowder; and twice-baked cheese soufflé, followed by roasted beef rump with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings; Cornish mussels with white wine, parsley and fries; and cod Kiev with miso mayonnaise and seaweed fries.
The Halfway at Kineton in Guiting Power
Having worked at the Michelin-starred Simpsons in Birmingham and The Wild Rabbit in Kingham, rising star chef, Nathan Eades, now holds the reins at The Halfway at Kineton, making it a hotspot for foodies from the Cotswolds and beyond — including Dame Prue Leith and famously hard-to-please food critic, Giles Coren.
Its hearty menu boasts what Giles calls 'the best pie in England, no question' — its celeriac and mushroom pie with creamed potatoes, braised red cabbage and mushroom sauce — along with dishes like double baked Comté cheese souffle; beer-battered haddock and chips; and venison cottage pie with buttered greens. It also serves up spectacular Sunday lunches of grass-fed Hereford beef, Norwegian skrei cod or that famous pie with double spuds, seasonal vegetables, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding.
The Lion Inn in Winchcombe
Cosy Butcombe Brewery pub, The Lion Inn, is a traditional Cotswolds watering hole with a classic menu of really good pub grub, from steak and thick cut chips to beef burgers, beer-battered fish and chips, or wild garlic, pea and watercress orzotto — ideal for a casual lunch or dinner, especially if you've been out walking the nearby Cotswold way or exploring Sudeley Castle.
The Lion is well-known for its epic Sunday roasts, too, with rump of Hereford and Angus beef, Cameron Naughton pork belly, roast Castlemead Farm chicken or seasonal vegetable wellington to choose from, accompanied by seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and red wine gravy — with rich cauliflower cheese with thyme crumb available as a side dish, too.
