Food and drink

Cheltenham restaurants and cafes – food for the soul

Food lovers are in for a treat in Cheltenham. From award-winning fine dining to buzzing street food and local gems, the town offers an unrivalled mix of global cuisine and local flavour.

Fine dining in Cheltenham

Topping the bill are Le Champignon Sauvage and Lumiere Restaurant.

Le Champignon Sauvage is Cheltenham’s Michelin-starred gem in The Suffolks, serving inventive seasonal dishes in an intimate setting. Le Champignon Sauvage has held a Michelin star for 30+ consecutive years, first awarded in 1995. Lumiere Restaurant, a British modern restaurant located on Clarence Parade, retained its Michelin star for a fourth year in 2026.

Other Cheltenham restaurants featured in the Michelin guide 2026 include:

Prithvi - consistently ranked among the UK’s best by TripAdvisor
Bhoomi Kitchen - run by the third generation of a family who settled here from India 50 years ago
Journey - a hidden fine dining adventure which explores flavour, memories, and imagination
Purslane - elegant seafood-focused dining
Memsahib Lounge - contemporary Indian cuisine inspired by a Memsahib style of hospitality
Jai Ho - meaning "let victory prevail" in Hindi, is all about celebrating good times with great food and drinks. Located in Bishops Cleeve.
Cowley Manor - located inside a glorious Cotswolds country house hotel, near Cheltenham. Cowley serves bold, vibrant cooking.

Full details on the Michelin Guide.

Cheltenham independent restaurants and local favourites

Cheltenham is full of outstanding independents that bring creativity and charm to the table. Look out for:

Woodkraft, owned by MasterChef winner Simon Wood
East India Café – Anglo-Indian tasting menus with a heritage twist
Sef Steakhouse – Premium cuts of meat cooked to perfection over charcoal
Chaplais Kitchen, offering global flavours to eat in or takeaway
Paparrito’s, loved for their fully loaded burritos
Bar & Wok, a fast-paced noodle bar adored by locals
The Coconut Tree, for vibrant Sri Lankan street food

Cheltenham cafes, pubs and afternoon tea

Cheltenham’s café culture is as strong as its coffee. Enjoy al fresco dining on the Promenade or at hotspots like The Brewery Quarter and Montpellier.

For a memorable afternoon tea, try:

Huffkins
Victoria’s Restaurant at the Queens Hotel
Dining in the grounds of Ellenborough Park

Unmissable pubs and bars include:

Sandford Park Alehouse, a CAMRA award-winner
The Old Courthouse, set in a restored 19th-century courtroom
Tailors, the ITV Racing Pub of the year
Mr Cambray’s Curiosity, a coffee shop by day and cocktail bar by night

Food and drink experiences in Cheltenham

Cheltenham offers more than just meals – it serves up experiences. Try:

Brewery tours at Dunkertons Organic Cider - Gloucestershire’s largest cidery, Brewhouse & Kitchen and Clavell & Hind
The Curry & Colonels Tour, combining Cheltenham’s Anglo-Indian heritage with a delicious dinner
Year-round food festivals, including the Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival and pop-up street food at the Cheltenham Festivals series (Jazz, Literature, Science and Music)