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.

Where fine dining meets flair

Topping the bill are Lumiere Restaurant, ranked 9th in the Harden’s Top 100 UK Restaurants 2024 and Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham’s Michelin-starred gem in The Suffolks, which serves inventive seasonal dishes in an intimate setting.

Other top picks include:

Prithvi – consistently ranked among the UK’s best by TripAdvisor
East India Café – Anglo-Indian tasting menus with a heritage twist
The Nook on Five – rooftop fine dining with panoramic views
Purslane – elegant seafood-focused dining
Sef Steakhouse – Premium cuts of meat cooked to perfection over charcoal

Independent gems 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
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

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
Memsahib Lounge

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

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

A tour at Dunkertons Organic Cider, Gloucestershire’s largest cidery
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)