Guide Book Recommended Restaurants in Cheltenham

Are you a gastronomic soul who is fuelled by exceptional eats and delightful dishes? Us too! Cheltenham is truly a foodie's paradise.  We are particularly proud of our independent restaurant scene that is not to be missed with award-winning eateries around every corner.

Of course, sometimes it can be hard to choose where to dine in town, so what better starting place than the independent guide books who critique food for a living? That's right, The Michelin Guide, The Good Food Guide and Harden's all have innumerable recommendations in the town and every year the list grows a little longer. 

At the pinnacle, there is of course our one Michelin Star and 4 AA rosettes restaurant, Le Champignon Sauvage, which resides in the very pretty district of The Suffolks. The highlights continue with British produce restaurant Lumiere who also very deservedly feature in many guide books, (they have also won restaurant of the year at the Cheltenham BID Awards, are proud owners of three AA rosettes plus won the best restaurant at the Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards 2019 ).  Meanwhile fish lovers can enjoy dishes by Cotswold Life Food and Drink Awards 2018 Chef of the Year at Purslane. 

Those with a taste for spice are spoiled for choice in Cheltenham.  In no particular order we have... ​​​​​​Prithvi an award-winning Indian voted by TripAdvisor travellers as one of the best restaurants in the country.  The Curry Corner described by Gordon Ramsay as “exquisite flavours, better than in India”.  The Coconut Tree which received a rave review from non other than Jay Rayner, the food critic for the Guardian and Bhoomi for authentic South Indian cooking.

Concluding the guide book recommended restaurant list is The Daffodil whose exceptional food is served in the exquisite surroundings of a converted art deco cinema and No 131. The Prom who are quickly gaining a reputation locally as a world-class restaurant.  

Of course, the guide books are not the only source of credible information and Cheltenham's enviable offering of restaurants, bars and cafes should not be underestimated. Cheltenham nestles against the Cotswolds, one of the finest food-producing areas in the country, giving our restaurateurs access to delicious fare, every single day.

You can see a full overview of our gastronomic delights on our eating out page, where you'll also find information on our national-award-winning pubs and bars, recommendations for al fresco dining during the summer and more on our Purple Flag status. Bon appétit!