Bath Restaurant Guide

A “lovely” spot for a “nice, well-presented family meal” in Bath, this six-year-old from chef Chris Tabbitt (who trained at Simon Hopkinson’s Bibendum) and Sarah Olivier has built a solid following for its “very proficient” modern European menus.

The “particularly pleasant outdoor terrace” and “lovely interior” are – as is typical for the brand – key attributes at this link in the ubiquitous national chain, which is one of the more commented-on destinations in the city. Gastronomically, it “does not excite”, although some reporters are “pleasantly surprised at the food”.

“Dining is always special in this lovely Georgian townhouse bistro”, where chef Rob Clayton has served “really great” modern French meals in a “bustling, bright dining room” for more than 10 years. A veteran of the legendary Chez Nico in London, Rob first came to Bath to head up the kitchen at the luxury Priory Hotel.

This “absolutely spot-on coffee shop” is the “perfect place to kill time time, and the coffee is sensational” – “served by knowledgeable staff” led by Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, a three-time UK barista champion and pioneer who studied ‘third wave’ coffee in Melbourne before founding his shop in 2009.

A range of “eclectic English seasonal tapas/small plates” – with plenty of modern European influences – is served alongside “a very credible but affordable wine list” at this wine shop and bar off Queen Square that started life as a pop-up social project. “There’s now a huge barn extension that allows for a pleasant summer evening” spent sampling “interesting and unusual wines”.

Wild game is the highlight of dining at this venture from specialist Mike Robinson (co-owner of the Harwood Arms in Fulham), who manages deer herds on local estates to produce venison for chef Gavin Edney’s “very good” menu. The stylish 166-bedroom boutique hotel opened in 2020 following the renovation of several adjoining Grade I and Grade II listed Bath stone townhouses.

Noya Pawlyn’s “delightful Vietnamese food” – “varied, interesting and full of fresh flavours, with a vibrant and zesty edge” – “delivers on every single visit” and has made the small restaurant she opened five years ago “justifiably popular”. “How little Noya does it so well is a mystery” – but it may have something to do with the skills she learnt as a child, cooking for her siblings in a Hong Kong refugee camp while her parents went out to work. And it’s not just a cheap and cheerful option: there’s a “surprisingly good wine list”, and “it’s a great place for a date”.

“Delicious small plates and a great wine list make this a real treat” – as the name suggests, it is primarily a vintner’s with “excellent wine served by knowledgeable and charming staff”, but “the tapas-style food is great”, with “interesting seasonal-inspired small plates” full of “punchy flavours”. Top Tip – “a steal on a Monday when you can choose any wine from the shop at retail and enjoy it with your meal”.

“Outstanding fish” is one of the better bets at this popular independent close to the town centre, and “service is outstanding too”. The “excellent pre-theatre menu is delightful and a bargain”.

A “quirky and interesting” local with a “good atmosphere” serving a “creative menu, with cooking of a consistent high standard”. It makes a “fantastic pub for Sunday lunch”, with “outstanding roasts”.

This “top-notch gastropub” offers both “good vegetarian options” and “great Sunday roasts”. Its popularity and “buzzy atmosphere” owe much to a “lovely pub garden” and handy town-centre address, around the corner from the Royal Crescent.

The “food and wine are always interesting” and are “still as good as ever” at engaging Anglo-Scottish chef Gordon Jones’s former sandwich shop on the southern edge of town. There’s “a single tasting menu available” (the only choice is whether to have 7 or 9 courses) and it comes as a complete surprise, with each dish introduced as it arrives at your table (and no vegetarian or other options).

Long a bastion of traditional fine dining in Bath, this luxury hotel was the first acquired by Andrew & Christine Brownsword almost 30 years ago, as they started to put together their portfolio of leading properties. Ratings have slipped in the past couple of years, though, with a high proportion of reports even from fans suggesting that “the prices are too much” for “food and service not at the level expected”. Damning critiques are absent, however – it’s a question of value.

“Wonderful, precise modern British fine dining” is presented with “impeccable service” in the “beautiful surroundings” of this privately owned luxury spa hotel, built in a mish-mash of historical architectural styles. Hywel Jones, who has presided over the signature restaurant since 2006, “is undoubtably one of this country’s very best chefs, known for his tireless mentoring of up-and-coming talent”.

“Fantastic for a foodie weekend” – this comfortably boho country-house hotel in the Mendip Hills from the Pig group owes its vibe to the shabby-chic interior designed by Judy Hutson, wife of Robin Hutson (ex-Hotel du Vin and Soho House) who founded the chain a dozen years ago with backing from Ineos billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. The 25-mile kitchen sourcing regime results in some “amazing local ingredients” on the table.