The 11 best restaurants in the Cotswolds
Cotswold restaurants worth their salt thrive on the richly varied produce of the region: local lamb; Gloucestershire Old Spot pork; seasonal fruit and veg, from asparagus to plums; double and single Gloucester cheese; fish from Donnington and Bibury trout farms – and much more.
Eating out in the region has been revolutionised by the rise of the gastropub. Yet should posh pubs not appeal, a number of seriously good traditional restaurants are very much holding their own too.
For further inspiration, see our guide to the Cotswolds and the best hotels, pubs, afternoon teas, shops and things to do in the area.
Find a restaurant by area
North Cotswolds
Wild Rabbit, Kingham
You take an exquisite food adventure here. Set in pretty Kingham, the Wild Rabbit is a few fields away from sister enterprise Daylesford, the acclaimed organic deli and farm ‒ and the chefs here make brilliant use of this larder. Expect the likes of rabbit agnolotti with celeriac and lovage oil, and smoked venison with Jerusalem artichoke and coffee. Opt for the tasting menu and you’ll enjoy creative wonders such as cep parfait dessert.
Contact: thewildrabbit.co.uk
Prices: £££
Best table: By fireside in winter, on the terrace in summer
The Royal Oak, Whatcote
Hidden away in a small village about four miles down narrow lanes from Shipston-on-Stour, The Royal Oak is a wonderful, undersung village pub with a Michelin-star restaurant. Dating from about 1500, it’s one of the oldest inns in the country, now run by husband and wife Richard and Soulange Craven. The exquisite dishes are his creation; Richard grew up in the area and delights in the local produce – think fallow buck with marsh blueberry and desserts such as dark chocolate souffle with cobnut ice cream. Soulange is the welcoming front-of-house manager bringing warmth to the pared-back décor of the restaurant section (the bar, with pool table and lots of local action, is in a separate part of the building). Come for a superb gourmet feast of three or six courses from Thursday to Sunday evenings.
Contact: theroyaloakwhatcote.co.uk
Price: £££
Best table: By the floor-to-ceiling windows at lunchtime and on long summer evenings; near the cosy bar for winter dinners.
The Back Garden and MO, Broadway
Scandi-chic Dormy House hotel has two seriously sophisticated restaurants that are well worth a detour if you’re not staying here. The Back Garden is a wonderfully stylish venue with floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto a walled herb and flower garden (hence, obviously, the name). Its small brasserie-style menu celebrates Cotswold flavours with dishes such as braised beef cheek with cauliflower puree, and lamb (hogget and pressed belly) with potato and turnip gratin. Exclusive MO restaurant is a theatrical treat of a place in which just 12 diners sit at the chef’s table watching exquisite small dishes being put together and feasting on a seven-course tasting menu.
Contact: dormyhouse.co.uk
Prices: £££
Best table: By the French windows in summer
The Lamb, Shipton-under Wychwood
This pleasing 16th-century inn was recently revived and refurbed and now offers excellent food alongside feel-good local character. There’s a generous, well-priced menu with foodie flourishes - expect the likes of venison loin from nearby Cornbury Estate, John Dory with seaweed butter, and very flavoursome côte de boeuf, along with pizzas, beer battered haddock and more.
Contact: thelambshipton.com
Prices: ££
Best table: All the dishes are served in restaurant or bar; choose the restaurant for slightly more formality and peace; opt for the bar if you want local buzz.
The Old Butchers, Stow-on-the-Wold
Set in an old butcher’s shop, this unpretentious bistro is a hands-down favourite of local foodies. It’s a laid-back venue with wooden floors and tables, and quirky flourishes such as upturned colanders as lampshades. Owners Peter and Louise Robinson (she’s front of house, he masterminds the kitchen) are passionate about good produce, and serve honest, unfussy dishes. Expect the likes of ox cheek bourguignon or crispy pig’s head croquette with walnut ketchup (delicious, and far less challenging than it sounds).
Contact: theoldbutchers.squarespace.com
Prices: ££
Best table: Look on to pretty Stow from a window table
Mid Cotswolds
The Rectory, Crudwell
For modern British dining in a relaxing setting head to The Rectory at Crudwell on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds. The restaurant at this low-key yet graciously chic hotel has built a local reputation for great flavour combinations presented with unfussy flare. Here you’ll enjoy dishes such as Parmesan gnocchi with walnuts and spring greens, and wild sea bass with artichoke and Swiss chard.
Contact: therectoryhotel.com
Prices: ££
Best table: In the glorious conservatory
The Ox Barn at Thyme, Southrop
Thyme is an epicurean haven of a hotel with a magnificent restaurant set in a former cow barn. With its huge archways and splendid old beams, the Ox Barn conveys a terrific sense of agricultural heritage. Its short menu reflects a passion for the land around and is based on produce from local farms and especially from Thyme’s own vegetable garden. Dishes include the likes of cauliflower, fennel and almond soup, and grilled Southrop lamb with braised beans and spinach.
Contact: thyme.co.uk
Prices: £££
Best table: The quieter, more romantic tables are by the majestic arched entrance
The Halfway, Kineton
This haven of a pub was recently transformed from a rural boozer into a foodie destination by two accomplished chefs who are also the hands-on landlords. Tucked away down narrow lanes, it offers a quiet setting, unfussy décor, and some of the most flavoursome food you’ll enjoy in the Cotswolds. Dishes on the ultra-seasonal menu might include creamed wild mushrooms with hazelnut pesto, and braised local lamb shoulder with buttered kale.
Contact: thehalfwayatkineton.com
Prices: ££
Best table: By the window
The Falcon, Painswick
Set in the very centre of the prettiest little town in the western Cotswolds, the Falcon became part of the Balfour Winery group in late 2021 – since when it has become an increasingly applauded foodie venue. The small menu is big on flavours. Classic pub food is given an uplifting twist – fish and chips comes with a caviar garnish and lemon-infused chips; burgers have a special house sauce. More sophisticated fare includes sea bream with soba noodles, ginger and chilli, and sirloin steak with truffle mash and tomato concasse. Sunday lunches have become something of a local institution – booking essential. Vegan and vegetarian adjustments can be made, in line with the pub’s accommodating ethos. Wines are pleasingly well priced, particularly flights of Balfour’s sparkling wines.
Contact: thefalconpainswick.com
Prices: ££
Best table: By the window in the (relatively) quiet, elegant library
South Cotswolds
Restaurant Hywel Jones, Lucknam Park
A magnificent Palladian mansion with stables, tennis courts, spa and more, opulent, elegant Lucknam Park exudes a tremendous sense of aristocratic country house luxury. Its Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones has a suitably grand setting, with chandeliers, great swags of curtains and gleaming glasses on white-clothed tables. Flavour combinations here are brilliantly, unexpectedly complementary, such as pigeon with caramelised turnip and pickled cherries.
Contact: lucknampark.co.uk
Prices: £££
Methuen Arms, Corsham
Set in handsome Corsham, 17th-century Methuen Arms is a smart-casual place with parquet floors, wooden tables and stylish banquettes. The food follows a nose-to-tail philosophy and is based the best seasonal – and very much local – produce. Expect the likes of partridge and chips with tarragon jus. Well-priced Sunday lunches include vegetarian options such as mushroom, fig and pecan roast.
Contact: themethuenarms.com
Prices: ££
Best table: Opt for a corner table indoors adjacent to the feature tapestry; on fine days eat in the courtyard
How we choose
Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every type of traveller’s taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations.
