100 Best Local Restaurants 2026Published 13 July 2026

One could easily drive straight past without registering La Locanda's special presence on the main road through Gisburn village. The solid stone building has no super-flashy signage, and there's no indication that this is anything other than a conventional 'pizza and pasta' pit stop. Yet, for over 20 years, Cinzia and Maurizio Bocchi have been raising the ‘tricolore’ in defiance of the 'fast-food, frozen lasagne and garlic bread' norm still typical of many Anglo-Italian restaurants.

The trattoria setting is homely and modest, with an intimate and unhurried atmosphere and a welcome in inverse proportion to the size of the cramped ground-floor bar. The seasonal menu requires some study, but there’s no rush and Cinzia is on hand to answer all questions. The focus is on a Slow Food-style carte that marries Italian regional dishes (including Maurizio's trademark pasta) and rigorously curated imported ingredients with local produce such as Goosnargh chicken, Gisburn Forest roe deer and Bowland wild garlic. A key part of the ethos is sustainability and authenticity, so the owners only work with like-minded suppliers. 

In summer, you might find specialities ranging from sardine fillets with red peppers, spaghetti alla Trapanese or outstanding pork-stuffed spinach tortellini to wild sea bass partnered with punchy emerald salsa verde or an unusual dish of marinated whitebait typical of the version made with the little freshwater fish of the Italian Lakes. For dessert, there are ice-cream sundaes and the best cannoli we have ever tasted – the secret is fresh ricotta sourced directly from Sicily. The all-Italian wine list is arranged by region, and there's also an extensive range of Italian beers, aperitifs, soft drinks and cocktails – not forgetting a 20-strong 'coffee menu'. 

Cantina Caruso is Margate’s typically cool answer to the problem of where to eat if you have no reservation. An Italian deli by day, it transforms at weekends into a walk-in wine bar with a brief menu of small(ish) plates. Despite being next door to alma mater Bottega Caruso, it has the tucked-away feel of a hidden gem – rustic and atmospheric, with charming staff who are clearly proud of the food and wine they serve. Much depends on sourcing, and Simona Di Dio and Harry Ryder have an enviable reputation for garnering faultless raw materials. Pop in for a glass of Nerocapitano (a Sicilian chilled red) and you could be tempted to add some Sardinian pickles and a plate or two of simple, affordable Italian classics. It’s the kind of unfiddly, big-flavoured food that we all like to eat, seen at its proudest in a dish of local squid and peas or the extraordinary aubergine parmigiana. No wonder Cantina is an all-year-round local hit.

The name Ar Bòrd (‘our table’ in Gaelic) perfectly sums up this little village restaurant – you eat in the spacious front room of Iain and Joyce Hetherington’s modern house. What started out as a supper club some five years ago has evolved into a popular seasonal destination that works because Joyce is a natural host. Moving between the tables, chatting and laughing with the guests, she makes everyone feel at home and the room buzzes with conversation.

Do bring an appetite. Iain loves to cook and portion sizes are generous. His three-course, fixed-price carte is built on produce grown, caught or reared on the island. Meals always start with a thick slice of freshly baked sourdough, followed by an amuse-bouche of, say, smoked sea trout on a wafer-thin crispbread given a sharp kick with homemade green chilli sauce (courtesy of a neighbour's bumper crop). To follow, a mound of delicate white Croig-landed crab was piled on plump chilli pancakes, topped with a cuttlefish-ink cracker and surrounded by a circle of flavourful brown crabmeat – moreishly, plate-scrapingly good.

Mains featured a cassoulet of duck leg, local pork and venison sausage or five-hour slow-cooked shoulder of lamb, but we plumped for pan-fried hake, potato and Inverlussa mussel curry, the fish flaking at the mere touch of the knife and delivering on flavour and texture. Desserts are down-to-earth, perhaps a take on Eton mess involving strawberries, meringue and crumbled shortbread with a thick meadowsweet custard. Guests are gently reminded that the restaurant is BYOB when they book, with a tip that they can pick up some wine at Dugie’s shop in the village.

Located where the outer London suburbs fray into the thickets of Epping Forest, Gina has brought a beam of gastronomic sunshine to the culinary badlands of Chingford’s Station Road since arriving in summer 2025. Step inside and you'll encounter a lively little dining room with long banquettes and bright modern art hanging on scuffed walls – a space that manages to look contemporary but also homely.

The restaurant is named after chef-owner Mattie Taiano’s late mother, and, though Italian heritage is certainly an influence in the kitchen, dishes take inspiration and plunder produce from near and far. Cornish seafood might feature in a medley of monkfish, bacon and oak leaf (a salty and satisfying starter when we visited), though beef tartare might make an equally auspicious opener. Crowd-pleasing food done well seems to be the guiding ethos here, evidenced in the signature main of ‘Gina’s pasta’ (a terrific tangle of spaghetti swimming in marinara sauce under drifts of Parmesan) – although a main course of potato and Gubbeen pithivier made for a worthy rival.

The choice of seven desserts veers towards big, generous flavours, be it a dense slab of Ravi’s chocolate cake (bearing the name of Taiano’s wife and fellow chef-owner, Ravneet Gill) or a scoop of blackberry sorbet. Alongside a thoughtfully composed wine list, you’ll find two house cocktails – Gina’s Martini and Margarita Cremisi.

‘Overall, to find this level of cooking in such an unassuming location was a real treat,’ is praise indeed for Josh and Hannah Byrne’s warmly welcoming rural dining pub, which is surrounded by rivers, mountains and fields. Perched proudly by the side of the road – and seemingly a beacon in an area with not much else around – the Black Bear Inn has quickly built a reputation with diners who keep coming back because the food is precisely what they want to eat. From what must be one of the smallest kitchens in Wales comes a menu heavily weighted towards delicious snacks (we got a little overexcited and ordered too many), but the trio of starters and mains is well worth investigating – perhaps Dexter beef tartare with fried bread and anchovy mayo or haddock and mussels in herb butter sauce. The largely European wine list offers an astonishing range for a country pub, full of excitement, with interesting grape varieties all over the show, interspersed with some orange stuff and chilled reds. Check the blackboard for excellent by-the-glass selections.

It’s not the first time an up-and-coming chef has set up shop in an east London pub, but the spirit with which Dara Klein has transformed what was once the Globe into the successor to her family’s trattoria suggests this one is here for the long haul. From the disco ball stained glass window to the vintage Italian crockery and family portraits on the wall, its suffused with life and character,. 

An everyone-welcome atmosphere on our early Sunday lunch visit, with babies and children among the landscape of the packed-out dining room. From the open kitchen, led by a cheery and unfazed Klein, come a series of dishes full of confidence and good instinct. A salad of delica pumpkin, radicchio agrodolce and a unifying taleggio dressing was an early hit full of depth and tang. A humble bowl of pasta e fagioli was anything but: silken with olive oil and bolstered with rosemary. From the secondi a saline dish of braised squid with olives and fragrant mint was triumphantly tender – you could cut it with a spoon. 

This is food that deserves to be lingered over. But if time is short or you haven’t booked ahead, the dedicated bar is an open-armed call for walk-ins to dip into the stuzzichini, enjoy a Guinness on draught, a Cynar spritz or an easy drinking carafe of Tuscan red.

With its buzzing atmosphere, 90s hip-hop soundtrack and killer cocktails (seriously, try the Szechuan Margarita), this neighbourhood Chinese a stone’s throw from Stokes Croft is a breath of fresh air. You won’t find anything sweet ‘n’ sour on head chef Emily Xin Xin Chan’s short, seasonal menu of around a dozen flavour-packed sharing plates and sides. Instead, she raids China’s many regional cooking traditions to create an enticing carousel of complex, vibrant dishes that feel fresh and modern. Chan was formerly head chef at Tare, and her classical training shows in the presentation and clever layering of flavours, whether in a dainty salad of carrot, cucumber and otherworldly wood ear mushrooms in a chilli and sesame dressing or an indulgent plate of spicy charcoal-grilled Xinjiang lamb rump. Wangs is extremely popular with the loyal local crowd, so book to guarantee one of the tightly packed tables on the ground floor, or even a counter seat overlooking the open kitchen. When it's full, the long, thin room with its exposed brick and artfully distressed plaster walls, feels like walking into a party.

Sedate Berkhamsted received an invigorating jolt when Wild opened in 2025. Behind the picture windows, the large interior is light and airy, with blond woods and a beige colour scheme. So far, so Home Counties. But a soundtrack of cool urban beats sets a new tone, as does expert, understated service from a team that includes the former sommelier of Le Gavroche. ‘Ingredients-led’ has become a cliché, but here it has precise meaning. Wild's owners also run an organic regenerative farm near Radlett, so it's no surprise that superlative home-grown produce forms the starting point for a menu of small plates and sharing dishes, including exquisitely crunchy raw turnip accompanied by the restaurant's version of Gentleman’s Relish. Chef-patron Matt Larcombe (formerly at the Crown at Bray) also knows when to enhance his raw materials and is adept at the chargrill. The open kitchen at the back produces beautifully puffy flatbread, filled with luscious strips of tender lamb and blobs of tart rhubarb emulsion, while a masterly take on lemon meringue pie with miso caramel sees the gooey, sweet meringue scorched to bitterness. Such expert touches accentuate Wild's class. 

Although the restaurant itself had to undertake a hasty rebrand not long before opening, the significant name at Almanac is that of chef-proprietor Luke Payne, established five miles down the road at his Pack Horse pub in Hayfield. Here in Glossop, he's built a positive, capable team with a palpable enthusiasm for feeding people well, while cutting no corners. Above a cosy bar, behind café curtains, a simple dining room serves umami-rich British dishes laced with thoughtfulness and great technique.

There'll be no legal action over the trade description of 'orbs of joy', Roscoff onions braised in velvety chicken broth until the middles are slippery and tender. Another small (although really not that small) plate of mutton merguez with pease pudding and chermoula is balanced as well as toweringly meaty, rich and spiced – the nubbly pease pudding a lesson in making alternative starches a trick worth turning. Skate forestière, one of several generous main courses, is lifted by a touch of dashi in a herb-flecked mushroom sauce of compelling, spoonable richness.

Autumn colour continues with an enviably set custard tart in nutty wholemeal pastry, the fine and the rough sitting beautifully together. The choice of wine under £50 aligns happily with the appeal of the food, making Almanac quite the package, at any price.

‘Boy, would I prefer to keep it a secret for just us locals!’ If there’s one thing York residents, visitors and GFG reporters agree on, it’s the pleasure to be had from a meal at this enterprising hybrid café/restaurant, where fresh modern decor (dark panelled walls, light oak furniture, bright kilims) makes for a relaxed and genuinely welcoming experience. Tomasz Mlynarski and Marta Obuchowska, the enterprising Polish couple behind the Black Wheat Club, are ‘a breath of fresh air for the city’s food scene.’ They operate two services. By day, there's an informal drop-in brunch menu, where the likes of poached eggs with creamy goat’s cheese, pickled radish and pumpkin chilli oil on fabulous home-baked sourdough could be served alongside delicious pastries (we recommend the croissant cinnamon swirls) and very good coffee. In the evening, they ramp things up with a selection of tasty and inventive sharing plates based on superb local ingredients – perhaps grilled asparagus with ginger and anchovy butter beurre blanc or roast chicken ballotine stuffed with herbs and garlic. Expect a concise, intelligent, constantly changing and approachable wine list, too.

Here is an off-centre hot spot with USP coming out of its ears. Nicole Yeoh and James Harris have set up camp in a smartly tended Winchester pub, the Green Man, to offer sparkling Malaysian/Chinese-inspired cooking that reflects Nicole's upbringing in Penang. It's a winning formula, as is reflected by the torrent of Best Local Restaurant nominations Lucky Lychee receives: 'we try to get here at least once a month for their roti brunch,' noted one regular. Reporters love the lively ambience, the adventurous approach to food and drink pairings and, of course, the razor-sharp precision and invigorating freshness of the cooking. Nicole weaves her magic with a mix of traditional dishes and seasonal awareness, drawing on regionally sourced produce as well as the assertive seasonings and spices of her culinary heritage Off-piste signature turns involve marinating fried chicken in honey and Marmite, with oyster sauce and toasted peanuts in the mix. House-made cordials, South-east Asian softs, orange wines and fizz all help to make this a happy place.

A vibrant tribute to the town's evolving restaurant landscape, Counter Culture is driven by chef Ben Harrison, who offers diners a relaxed small-plates experience that marries Basque-inspired cuisine with modern British ways. ‘It feels like you have left your daily life for a taste of escapism and fun,’ commented one reporter. The place is deliberately informal, even if the bar area is now filled with more bookable tables. You can still walk in for a drink and a snack (including excellent gildas), although some of the backstreet San Sebastián vibe seems to have disappeared. The menu is now dominated by ‘brilliantly executed’ tapas plates, so expect the likes of Tresemble beef shin with milk bread, spinach, kohlrabi, and crispy onions or Cornish monkfish with chicken sauce, bacon, sea herbs and crushed peas. To finish, don’t miss the outstanding Basque cheesecake. Service comes with a true Spanish welcome, and the excellent drinks list runs from organic wines to bespoke vermouths made by Atlantic Brewery. In short, ‘the very best of what you look for in a local restaurant.’

‘It’s become a genuine local “hot-spot” and has quickly built a reputation as one of the most talked-about food spots in Dundee,’ affirms one fan, so expect regular queues and busy service from a team who know most of their customers by name. Founded by renowned chef, wild cook and educator Harris McNeill and his wife Katie, Eastfield serves up local and seasonal produce ‘cooked with flair and passion’. Occupying that sweet spot between daytime café and restaurant, its communal tables, chalkboard menus and shelves of provisions create a real local buzz. Expect simple, unfussy dishes, and readers speak fondly of the ‘elevated breakfast rolls, handmade pasta and standout bakes’ – the Guinness cake gets plenty of attention. Also look out for specials such as spatchcock pigeon with spring greens, charred onions and salsa verde. On Saturday evenings, the place puts on its glad rags, while drinks satisfy all-comers.

A genuine restaurant du quartier, if ever there was, this Crouch End spot is run by the titular duo of Robert Reid at the stoves and Jean-Christophe Slowik (JC, to the army of regulars) out front. If only one of them is French, he is at least bubbling over with enough unabashed Gallic bonhomie for two. Battleship-grey panelling, undressed tables and a trio of blackboards busily covered in numerous chalk-scribbled specials form a backdrop to Reid's assured bourgeois cooking.

You might easily guess what's on the menu, sight unseen (soupe à l'oignon gratinée, garlic-buttered escargots, Bayonne ham with celeriac rémoulade for starters), although you might not anticipate the panache with which the dishes are realised – or the uncommon quality of the raw materials. Moving on, mains might bring entrecôte or ribeye steaks with béarnaise sauce and piles of frites or smoked haddock in mustard sauce topped with a poached egg.

The non-meat alternative of, say, artichokes with ratatouille and chickpeas in cumin-scented roast tomato sauce shows more consideration for veggies than you might find in many a traditional French bistro. Finish with rum baba and apricot compôte or tarte fine aux pommes. A French wine list covers all bases, with glasses from £7.95, plus still or sparkling Kir to start.

Dunkeld's finest, winner of our Best Local Restaurant award for Scotland in 2025, incarnates one of the more pleasurable ways of dining on today's restaurant scene. It's a smart eatery and wine bar in a bottle shop, with little tables amid the wine shelves, a list that's updated weekly, and a programme of daily tastings. Buzzy at lunchtimes, more intimate in the evenings, the place hits the right notes throughout, not least with Morgwn Preston-Jones' carefully considered dishes sourced from Perthshire farms, mills and homesteads. Start with a hunk of home-baked focaccia and charcuterie, before motoring on to wonderful silky pasta dishes or a hefty roast beef sandwich. Fully loaded sharing boards of cured meats, pâté and cheeses, to be mixed and matched with wines by the glass, add greatly to the sum of human happiness. Simple finishers such as ice creams, mousses and affogato add the right kind of closure, before you toddle away with a couple of choice bottles from the shop.

'Well done, Bavette, for getting me outside the M25,' a reader cheers. Quite a way outside too, but the journey to Leeds was evidently worth it to dine at Sandy Jarvis and Clément Cousin's convivial neighbourhood bistro in the northerly suburb of Horsforth. Shelves of books on deep green walls create a smart domestic ambience, and the food does the rest.

It's a Franco-Yorkshire alliance in every sense (M Cousin hails from Anjou on the Loire), and the menu reflects that collaborative spirit. Start with pork and prune pâté en croûte with the house mustard for an inimitably Gallic appetiser experience. Starters might embrace light crab tartelette with fennel, pea shoots and saffron aïoli, before the speciality bavette makes an appearance, tricked out with French beans and frites – the kind of sturdy main course that won't let you down. A more domestic route might yield plaice with potted shrimps, rainbow chard and Jersey Royals.

Italian Candonga could well be a strawberry variety you haven't tried, appearing here in season on Basque cheesecake with yoghurt sorbet; otherwise, the dessert list is pure bistro French – perhaps St Emilion au chocolat or raspberry frangipane with matching sorbet. Wines delve into some of the less heavily trodden byways of France for Jurançon Sec, Gaillac and the Cousin family's own Anjou Cabernet Franc and Grolleau Gris.

‘Cromer is so very, very lucky to have this restaurant in its midst,’ enthused one reporter – delighted that Fino has lifted the town’s seaside spirit and added a touch of effortless cosmopolitan cool. The front bar serves as an informal drop-in, but co-host Ruth Butler’s colourful paintings and the sheer warmth and hospitality of the place will lure you into the smart, blue-hued dining room. There’s a simple elegance to the seasonally changing menu, which is peppered with prime produce from Norfolk and beyond. Cromer crabs are one of the stars (perhaps served with asparagus, spicy tomato syrup and hollandaise foam), while larger plates could plunder the local catch for skate wing or line-caught halibut (with wild rocket vichyssoise), as well as championing Norfolk game (red deer with molasses labneh and sorrel verde, say). There’s plenty of enthusiasm for desserts such as caramelised white chocolate tart, too. Also check out the ‘exceptional-value’ daily lunch specials (£17). Wines by the glass or Lyonnaise pot encourage exploration, while a line-up of unfiltered sherries is a nod to the restaurant’s namesake.

In a Devon barn where grain was once threshed, the Lost Kitchen inspires readers with fresh ideas, a menu supplied by local farmers, and wood-fired cooking that scores highly on the all-important 'scrumptiousness' scale. A gorgeous terrace overlooking the gardens is a must when the sun comes out. Sharing plates mobilise plenty of assertive flavours, as do the tempting pizza variations, while grilling and roasting bring out the best in meat, fish and veggie options. A flexible approach means you can pop in for cake and a hot drink at most times, but tables go quickly for main meals, so always book ahead. West Country cheeses and multi-layered fruity desserts are not to be missed. Everyone agrees that the phenomenal staff help make this an experience to remember, as does the in-house beer and cider brewing. Meanwhile, there are enough wines by the glass to ring the changes for repeat visits.

‘If you’re looking for a place that feels like a warm hug from Nonna, this is an absolute must-visit,' is wise advice from one loyal fan. Nico Pasquali has been bringing ‘a slice of Rome to north Manchester’ since 2014. Even though his homely little all-day trattoria is in the incongruous setting of an industrial estate, it attracts a steady flow of customers drawn by the unfussy, unpretentious vibe, the chequered tablecloths, the soft hum of Italian music, and the precisely cooked traditional dishes – from perfectly crisped Roman-style pizzas to richly sauced hand-rolled pastas. One reporter singled out the cannelloni with ricotta and spinach, but other reasonably priced options might range from battered courgette flowers and crocchette (handmade potato balls filled with scamorza cheese) to lobster ravioli – not forgetting those pizzas (and pastries). To drink, there's a modest collection of artisan Italian wines, as well as cocktails and Italian beers. The expertly brewed coffee also receives rave notices.

Opened in 2007 by novelist Simonetta Wenkert and IT engineer Avi Reichenbach, there’s a rare kind of magic to this homely little restaurant, which is still devotedly serving its local community. At its heart is the restaurant’s namesake, Avi’s mother Ida, whose culinary traditions from her Italian hometown of Cupramontana encompass a generosity of spirit that's about more than just good food. While Simonetta still steers the ship, day-to-day service is run by the next generation with infectious warmth. From the open kitchen comes a succinct but ‘innovative’ line-up of unfussy dishes defined by the uncompromising quality of their ingredients. A salad of white Devon crabmeat, vine tomatoes and Granny Smith apple is enlivened with a velouté of roasted red peppers, while signature pastas include bronze-cut mafaldine with sheep’s ricotta, tomatoes, basil and Parmesan as well as the much-lauded tagliatelle al ragù Marchigiano. For dessert, indulge in seasonal fruit tarts, tiramisu or basil and dark chocolate panna cotta. Service is ‘impeccable,’ and there’s a short but rewarding list of Italian wines; also, don’t miss the saffron and sour-cherry spritz.

‘You can happily eat on your own here,' although this ‘pearl’ of a seafood restaurant (with an adjoining fishmongers) is always packed with locals and well-heeled visitors. Bright maritime-themed interiors set the tone, while Ayrshire-born chef Marcus Sherry puts sustainably sourced Scottish seafood centre stage, cherry-picking the catch from boats in Peterhead and Scrabster. He also sources hand-dived and creel-caught shellfish from Cape Wrath and Macduff – which lends its name to restaurant’s signature crab crumpet (‘a definite must,’ according to one reporter). Also check out the Shetland mussels with ‘nduja jam and white wine. Mains might range from harissa-roasted monkfish with fennel salad to meaty options including Inverurie pork chop with crushed celeriac and lardo. As a finale, try a slab of Blue Murder cheese with a fried clootie dumpling and apple. There’s also a ‘thoroughly affordable’ set lunch, while Marcus’s warmly welcoming wife Jasmine manages front of house. The well-considered drinks list champions wines from biodynamic vineyards and beers from Scottish microbreweries. ‘If this were a show, I would give it a standing ovation,’ cheered one fan.

At one end of a parade of shops and cafés above Carlyon Bay, there is more culinary glamour to Edie's than might first appear. Co-owner and chef Nigel Brown has worked at several fine-dining aristocrats, but Edie’s looks and feels like a true neighbourhood spot – not least because it is run with such sympathetic charm. Contemporary European brasserie cooking is the name of the game, with a good-value fixed-price menu supplementing an impressively adventurous carte delivered with a ‘real eye for detail’ – even in the simplest, most straightforward dishes. Freshly landed Cornish seafood is always a good shout, be it lobster with courgette and tarragon hash brown or hake partnered by a colourful melange of golden beetroot, radish, pancetta and herb yoghurt dressing. Otherwise, there are always plenty of takers for the dry-aged fillet steak with chips, beef tomato and peppercorn butter. Finish with something sweetly seasonal such as strawberry soufflé with elderflower juice or lemon posset with raspberries and Turkish delight. The short, helpfully annotated wine list is notable for its reasonable mark-ups.

‘I just love it here and feel so lucky to have such an exemplary spot as our local neighbourhood restaurant,’ sums up the many reports from locals and visitors who have been impressed by the Union's friendly, relaxed atmosphere – and by the cooking, which is both seasonal, current and fresh. And with a centuries-old rough-hewn interior, this former pub charms with its plank floors, exposed brick and timbers, open fireplaces and simple furnishings. Sharing plates of escalating size signal informality, too, and the oft-changing repertoire (strongly focused on local produce) encourages regular return visits. Dishes are flavour-driven – a mash-up of eclectic global flavours along the lines of wild sea bass with pak choi, cuttlefish and a rich sobrasada sauce. As for drinks, we’ve heard good things about the blood orange Margarita, and the short wine list has been carefully chosen. Everything is offered by the glass or bottle, so it’s tempting to experiment, though the very decent house selection is a perfectly good choice.

With its impressive abstract paintings, café-style furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a homely little pavement terrace, effortlessly stylish Gloriosa gives off a seductive Mediterranean vibe on sunny days. Rosie Healey's cooking matches the lively mood with equally sunny sharing dishes that come out swinging as and when they’re ready. An opener of bluefin tuna crudo, chilli, capers and lemon should reawaken any tired taste buds, or you can seek comfort in a dish of roast cauliflower with labneh, saffron and pistachio. Larger plates major in robust pasta riffs including pappardelle with pork ragù and Parmesan, while fish dishes tend to be sturdy, as in braised squid with potato, mussels and aïoli. Alternatively, consider something seasonal and gamey – perhaps whole partridge with squash agrodolce and hazelnut sauce. Desserts veer towards the sharper end of the spectrum, yielding Amalfi lemon sorbet with frozen vodka or raspberry and almond clafoutis. Knowledgeable, very friendly staff manage proceedings admirably. A carefully constructed wine list spotlights small growers, and you might fancy sipping a spicy Margarita before you get started.

‘The atmosphere makes you feel special as soon as you walk upstairs’, notes a fan of this charmingly relaxed small-plates bistro above Bath’s deservedly popular Landrace community bakery (famous for milling its Somerset grains in-house). Stone walls adorned with framed posters, high shelves lined with empty wine bottles and scruffy wood floors create a cool, rustic feel that’s matched by the kitchen’s equally rustic flavours. Chef Rob Sachdev’s passion for local sourcing is evident throughout the menu, and sharing is the name of the game, whether you’re into small plates or full-on main courses. Duck mortadella or pot-caught octopus with tomato and bread salad might be one way to start, or you can go big with a winning plate of pasta such as fettuccine with ragù di cortile. Otherwise, get satisfaction from a summery serving of Gotheleny pork with broad beans à la plancha. Desserts, meanwhile, are a great advert for the bakery's patisserie skills, as in pistachio and mascarpone mille-feuille. An adventurous list of natural and biodynamic wines offers a chance to be pleasantly surprised by something new. 

Chef Abby Lee and Vanessa Fernandes have turned Mambo into a neighbourhood gem, aptly described by its strapline: ‘Malaysian heat + Juicy wines’. It remains a small-scale independent, with extra space in a covered backyard; maybe it’s a little scuffed and scruffy (with an edgy soundtrack to boot), but it is irresistible – especially if you get a kick from electrifying cooking and can survive without luxurious trappings. One of the thrills of eating here is the rolling roster of creative seasonal dishes on the short menu: you might find grilled celeriac skewers with persimmon sauce, ahead of stir-fried palourde clams seasoned with white pepper and chrysanthemum leaves or grilled hogget rump with mamak-style kari and green chillies. Coconut pandan rice is the go-to filler, while offbeat desserts might bring caramelised cassava cake. To drink, there are iced teas, ciders, a fistful of natural wines and a trio of cocktails (developed in collaboration with the guys at Malik Acid), which can take all those full-on, upfront flavours in their stride.

Spread over two floors with bare wood, beige walls and mismatched china creating a low-key DIY vibe, this laid-back bottle shop-cum-restaurant is right at home in the increasingly foodie neighbourhood of Pontcanna. The homely upstairs room is bookable, while the ground floor is reserved for walk-ins and those just wanting to drink. With its seats in the window and at a central island counter overlooking a big hatch into the kitchen, we thought this was the livelier option. Chef Alex Vines' menus focus on locally sourced organic, seasonal vegetables with meat and fish as an occasional treat: a short but inventive selection of salads and sandwiches on delicious home-baked bread for weekday lunches, plus an evening chalkboard featuring a dozen or so sharing dishes that might include a smoked haddock rarebit pie or an ‘exceptional’ confit belly pork with crispy crackling. Wine, chosen by co-owner Siôn Iorwerth, is natural and produced with minimal intervention – a single red, white and orange available on tap, served by the glass, 500ml carafe or bottle. Alternatively, take advice and choose something from the ground-floor shelves.

The Friskney-Bryers have created ‘a Fowey institution’ in their converted boatshed restaurant overlooking the comings and goings of small craft out on the creek. The couple are fully committed to seasonality and sustainability, and their staff are also impressively clued-up when it comes to all things local. An infectiously informal vibe prevails in the main dining room with its long communal table, festoon lights, open kitchen and simple blackboard menu. Each week, the kitchen has a fish soup on the go, made from trimmings that can’t be used elsewhere; otherwise, the roll call of fabulous seafood specialities, might take in anything from cured pollack with fermented chilli dressing or confit sea bass with Cornish ‘earlies’, mayo and lovage to salt fish gratin. Away from the sea, you might also find slow-cooked lamb bolognese or nettle gnudi with mushrooms, and it's hard to resist the chocolate mousse with caramel and salt. To drink, a handful of natural wines by the glass do the trick – or you might fancy some grape juice from the Tamar Valley.

‘Anchored in its local community and owned by someone who lives close by,’ Long Friday thrives on its vibe – a mix of ‘cool hospitality’ and a ‘really warm neighbourhood atmosphere’. Just add incredibly knowledgeable staff and a ’fantastic and ever-changing range of unusual, seasonal dishes’ prepared with a sophisticated eye for detail and a sense of fun. Snacks such as tom yum crab on a tapioca cracker prime you for a build-your-own-banquet of sophisticated and creative small plates, with local Northumbrian produce to the fore, but influences as far-reaching as Mexico, the Med and Japan. Meat and fish dishes (BBQ cod with braised butter beans and chorizo, for example), are matched by a hefty contingent of vegetable specialities such as roast cauliflower with smoked houmous and chermoula. Do save room for the likes of fried apple pie with Chantilly or tonka bean and lemon sundae with nettle jelly. Long Friday's mixologists also serve ‘the best spicy Margaritas in town,’ according to one, and the owners take wine very seriously too.

Located in a parade of shops in Liverpool's Aigburth suburb, this Thai café lacks nothing in local support – even midweek evenings are reliably rammed. With a Buddhist fantasy mural on one wall, and staff who are full of smiles and advice, it's a winning formula. Nor does the menu stick rigidly to tried-and-tested Thai classics. Vigorously seasoned dishes built from many ingredients keep the taste buds tingling, with stir-fries of cashews, sweet orange, shallots and chilli jam adding lustre to grilled prawns or fatty pork belly in stinky shrimp paste with asparagus, chillies, garlic and dill. The approach to chilli, often hot as Hades in Thai cooking, is at the subtler end of the spectrum here, but dishes are nonetheless impeccably balanced. A side of stir-fried greens with edamame and chunks of garlic nicely boosts the plain jasmine rice. A short drinks list includes a lime-fragrant off-dry Rhine Riesling, the perfect complement if Singha or Chang beers aren't your thing.

It may have been momentarily upstaged by the instant success of its younger sibling, the Highland Laddie (winner of the GFG’s 100 Best Pubs 2025), but the reborn Empire Cafe is still one of the most talked-about eateries in Leeds. Its current incarnation is ‘a place for old-school values and new-wave cookery’, whether you’re in the windowless basement dining room or enjoying a cuppa and a breakfast bap outside on the pavement. Owners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton have done a grand job here, rekindling the nostalgia while making the place feel emphatically of the moment, 'high-class yet down-to-earth'. The kitchen’s rolling menu is an ever-evolving feast of treats, with the grill and BBQ taking centre stage. Recent arrivals include slow-smoked lamb rump served over an apricot BBQ sauce, although nothing can trump the iconic rotisserie chicken piled onto dripping ‘schmaltz’ potatoes. For something lighter, there might be a twisted take on oysters Rockefeller, while desserts could feature seasonal asparagus ice cream or a chicken skin, chocolate and caramel bar. Drinks include suitably off-piste cocktails and tipples from local merchant Wayward Wines.

This love letter to Italian regional cooking not only serves its neighbourhood brilliantly, but the fun now extends to an additional bar for counter dining, which provides even more opportunities for socialising. The feel is of a modern refettorio with a sleek navy-blue frontage and a cool, softly lit interior. Brilliant staff go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good time and the food is tailor-made for happy mixing and matching, kicking off with inspired antipasti selections such as Roman-style arancini or burrata with strawberries, pistachio and basil oil. Pasta is a sure-fire hit (pappardelle with rabbit ragù, for example), while main dishes are robust and rustic along the lines of lamb shoulder with braised peas and Tropea onions (of course). Anyone leaving without having bitten into one of the bombolone (filled doughnuts) has missed a textural sensation. Not surprisingly, Italy is the reference point for an approachable wine list with plenty by the glass or carafe; also ask to see the prestigious 'cellar list' of fine vintages.

Next door to elder sibling the Little Chartroom, this all-day venue is the McCarrons' first foray into casual eating. The compact café, wine bar and bottle shop is open all day, offering a flexible menu that deals in everything from full breakfasts (with very good coffee) to brunchy kedgeree fritters with curry mayo and cured egg yolk or BBQ flatbread with ox tongue and romesco – though with the likes of crispy squid bun with mushroom XO and baby gem also on offer, it’s possible to assemble a three-course dinner from the various options. The bottle shop’s range is included in the wine list (add corkage to the shelf price), or you can sip local beers and cocktails.

At first glance, Soulshine is a humble café – a cluster of bar stools fronting a silver espresso machine, with a selection of cakes placed on the bar. Follow a corridor, however, and you enter a semi-secret dining room – a bohemian space with a profusion of potted plants, where artworks, chairs and cushions come in bright primary colours, and locals drop by to plunder a similarly colourful small-plates menu four evenings a week.

By and large, the kitchen lets the ingredients speak for themselves: Baron Bigod brie with salted walnuts and a drizzle of Devon honey makes for a moreish opening act, swiftly succeeded by the more complex flavours of Dorset venison, pork and sloe salami, served alongside cornichons. There’s also plenty of imagination at play in tightly choreographed medleys such as peach with whipped ricotta, pickled onion and almonds or beetroot with barley, black garlic and hazelnuts – though a standout when we visited was the umami punch of tamari-glazed cod with romesco and agretti.

Puddings include simple, satisfying offerings such as a dark chocolate pot with cherries, or perhaps affogato with locally roasted Goose & Badger coffee. Also look out for set-menu supper clubs, as well as winning breakfasts featuring the likes of shakshuka and locally foraged mushrooms. As for drinks, an extremely succinct but eclectic wine list has bottles from £27.

'I have visited multiple times,' observes a fan, 'and every time the food, hospitality and atmosphere have been exceptional.' We don't want to say we told you so, but we flagged Duncan Robertson and Kyu Jeong as Chefs to Watch in 2025, and here we are. In the Redland district of Bristol, their Korean venue's name means 'neighbourhood', signifying everything we expect in a local favourite. Kyu draws productively on her own gastronomic heritage, but also takes a looser approach, weaving Korean flavours and techniques into freshly inventive dishes that might act as gateways to those who are new to them. Charcoal-grilled meats, including pork skirt and wagyu striploin, are the heart of the operation, but seasonal asparagus or Cornish red mullet might find themselves sizzling too. Meanwhile, smaller plates offer pin-sharp seasoning elements – gochujang, baek-kimchi, mussel salt with soondae blood sausage – that set the palate alight. Low-intervention wines, including chilled reds and crisp bubbles, make for great partnerships. 

‘Great atmosphere, casual service and proper homemade food using local produce,’ is a winning formula at this formidable dining room in a former bank (complete with original marble, soaring ceilings, ornate wooden doorways and huge, slender windows). Run with personal charm and good humour, it’s an upbeat place that knows how to win friends and strike the right note between traditional and contemporary. Lloyd Morse’s kitchen takes a resolutely nose-to-tail approach, showcasing his deep love of Italian and French cuisine, with the emphasis firmly on provenance, seasonality and a style of cooking that is unfussy, hearty and deeply satisfying. One thought their pork belly with polenta and Parmesan was ‘delightful’, while others have praised the 'beautifully cooked’ Shetland lamb chops partnered by freekeh, runner beans and anchoïade; otherwise, consider a bowl of fish stew. The much-loved in-house bakery produces exceptional bread, as well as pastries, while desserts such as buttermilk panna cotta are highly praised. You can dine at the bar without booking, but don’t ignore the Newbarns beers, the coffee Negronis or the impressively adventurous wine list.

‘Always warm and inviting, busy with locals, excellent pricing and really interesting food,’ just about sums up this unpretentious neighbourhood eatery born out of a pop-up in Nunhead and a popular residency in Peckham Rye. Chef/owner Ady Jacob earned his stripes at Le Cordon Bleu and brings the same professionalism to his personal take on modern Malaysian cooking. Expect up-front creativity and pin-sharp technique in ‘super-flavourful’ dishes ranging from slow-braised beef rendang to stir-fried greens, sambal and sago pudding, plus off-piste ideas such as ayam goreng susu (sticky milk-fried chicken with oyster sauce, white pepper, condensed milk and pickled beetroot). Also expect a gregarious party vibe, fuelled by a drinks list that runs from quaffable everyday wines (plus BYOB) to Singaporean Tiger beer, ‘teh o lemon’ (black tea with lemon) and spicy mocktails such as Onde-Onde (soy milk, palm sugar, vanilla, coconut cream). Long weekend lunches are also worth checking out.

‘Always delicious. Always seasonal,’ proclaims one reporter, while another notes that James Carn’s classy venue is ‘totally focused on delivering a culinary experience with personality’. There are a few tables on the pavement and the interior is plainly furnished in café style, complete with a variety of soothing pictures, while service comes from a knowledgeable and passionate team who know how to take care of their customers. A thoroughly modern menu kicks off with an ample choice of nibbles and small plates ranging from cep arancini to cured Suffolk sea bass paired with horseradish, kohlrabi and tartare sauce. As the plates get larger, the combinations of flavours and textures become more artful and stimulating – as in spatchcock quail with black-bean purée and Padrón peppers. At the finishing line, desserts mobilise vivid fruit flavours and there’s often a seasonal trifle too (perhaps cherry and white chocolate). Wines are an imaginative spread offered at prices it's hard to argue with – even at the top end, where some glittering vinous treasures await. In short, ‘the perfect local spot.’

‘Bauji bears comparison to places like Gunpowder, Kricket and Cinnamon Kitchen … I would absolutely kill to have it as my local,' is praise indeed for this charming neighbourhood restaurant, a five-minute walk west of Worthing town centre. The cooking reimagines the comfort food of Rajasthan, where chef-proprietor Dayashankar Sharma grew up, and he hits the target with a longish menu that delivers well-judged spicing and a kaleidoscope of flavours and textures. We like the mainstream dishes – the signature shatkora jhinga (huge shatkora citrus-infused grilled prawns), an ‘absolutely fantastic’ chicken biryani – more than the contemporary interpretations (we suggest swerving the cranberry-stuffed paneer). But a meal here will impress. Portions are generous, and prices are reasonable. As for drinks, the brief, spice-tolerant wine list opens at £33 for a bottle, £8 by the glass.

An elegant addition to Kent’s lively restaurant scene, Shwen Shwen (the name apparently means ‘fancy fancy’) is a celebration of Maria Bradford’s Sierra Leonean heritage and her feel for Afro-fusion cuisine. Daintily tucked away behind a sheltered courtyard terrace (great for alfresco meals), the place itself creates a real vibe with its warm terracotta tones, upholstery decorated with multi-coloured kpokpo fabrics and striking photos of Maria’s West African heritage. Dining takes place in two hospitable upstairs rooms with tightly packed tables, where personable staff are more than ready to guide customers through the intricacies of a menu peppered with unfamiliar ingredients.

Sophistication and comfort define the mood, while culinary exploration is the name of the game, from small sharing plates pointed-up with fonio (a West African ‘supergrain’) and kankankan (a smoky, aromatic spice blend) to a mille-feuille dessert involving moringa-leaf cream. Fixed-price lunches, early dinners and a £75 ‘chef’s choice’ taster provide a decent overview of the cooking, and it’s also worth taking a serious dive into the drinks list with its global tea menu, creative infusions, zingy cocktails and well-chosen international wines.   

‘The entire dining experience captures everything we love about the Lakes,’ commented one reporter; ‘from the rustic aesthetics, the friendly, knowledgeable staff, locally sourced produce, and – of course – the incredible food, every detail feels thoughtfully done.’ There’s a sense of true dedication about this family-run ‘bistro with beds’ found up an easy-to-miss track off the Grasmere to Keswick road. Here, an industrious kitchen produces daily menus specialising in fiercely local produce, including a mighty ‘brekkie’ offered to all-comers, as well as stupendous Sunday roasts (including ‘the best mash ever’). At dinner, local beef can appear in several guises and Grasmere Herdwick lamb stars in the signature shepherd’s pie, but the kitchen isn’t averse to going walkabout for the likes of Basque mussel stew or crispy sushi rice with wild mushrooms. Portions are hefty, so you might want to skip a starter (say, crab and sweetcorn fritters) or dessert (egg custard tart with gooseberry and elderflower compôte). As for drinks, there are non-alcoholic spritzes, homemade fruit cordials and on-trend cocktails, plus a short list of global wines.

The citizens of Swansea (and beyond) continue to praise this buzzy restaurant in a former grain store on the city's regenerated waterfront. Inside, original features are offset by bright design flourishes and a theatrical open kitchen – all overseen by a small team of knowledgeable staff. Chef Jonathan Woolway is a Swansea boy who worked at Fergus Henderson’s St John before returning to his hometown; you can see the nose-to-tail influences in his ‘bold, confident and very punchy cooking’ – in fact, his commitment to Welsh seasonal produce is 'a joy to see!’ Cockle croquettes with malt vinegar are a perennial hit but also consider the Gower lamb rissoles with fried egg and brown sauce or the potted Car-y-Mor crab with flatbread. For a real blowout, however, share a mighty lamb, leek and laverbread pie with mint sauce. This is generous, big-hearted food, but do leave room for dessert: fruity bara brith with heritage Teifi cheese, perhaps, or sorrel parfait with blackcurrant compôte. The ‘decent’ wine list features bottles for most pockets and tastes.

‘The whole vibe is incredible,’ writes a fan of this ‘absolutely fabulous’ family-run spot just off Saffron Walden's main square. Chater’s nods to its warehouse origins with high ceilings and polished concrete floors, while the kitchen taps into a local appetite for keenly priced food and good ingredients. Drop in for coffee and cake from 9am, or come for a simple Italian-style lunch, an aperitivo or a full evening meal. Small plates anchor the offer, from cured trout with horseradish and broccoli to chopped beef with crisps. If you're really hungry, a dish of homemade pasta sorts that out pronto: try the canestrini with pork shoulder and cime di rapa. Desserts keep it simple, with tiramisu perhaps lining up alongside white chocolate panna cotta and rhubarb. There is vigorous applause for the Negroni made with red vermouth from the Chater's Vault distillery next door, while Ark Pinot Gris from Mount Farm Vineyards near Sudbury is an appealing entry point on the wine list. Service is every bit as warm.

It might be a tiny converted shed tucked behind Bridport’s police station, but this weekends-only restaurant is both sophisticated and instantly lovable. Sisters Connie and Jess Booth are floral decorators and growers by day, but come Friday and Saturday evenings, they chalk up a confidently short blackboard menu detailing exactly what you might want to eat for the time of year (and even the weather). Two sittings (6.30pm and 8.30pm) make the most of the 20 or so covers, which are quite comfortably accommodated around little bistro tables dressed with white paper tablecloths and colourful dinner candles. Start with a local pint or cocktail du jour to kick things off and let the buzzing atmosphere and vibey music wash over you. Thursday nights offer a single-choice dinner, often with live music, and are saved for walk-ins; otherwise, bookings should be made via their Instagram page. Don’t miss Selected Grapes, the wine bar and shop across the yard, for a pre- or post-meal bottle.

Striding confidently towards its third year, The Nettle in Settle shows no sign of slowing down – open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, it’s a great all-rounder. Hard to miss overlooking the Market Place, it's a busy but relaxed spot – one where your kids and dogs will always be welcome – and very much at the heart of the community. When it comes to influences, the all-day small-plates menu takes a broad view – a dish of cauliflower teamed with a peanut and sesame dressing, yeast and Indian oil may have an Asian bent, but there are Euro-classics too, such as chicken schnitzel with a fried egg. Overall, this exuberant repertoire of well-wrought dishes has won the kitchen a band of firm local devotees. The warmest of welcomes helps things no end. The short but smart wine list majors on natural varietals; otherwise, there are cocktails and beers on tap.

‘Simplicity, modesty, passion’ – three little words that sum up Francesca and Wesley Smalley’s well-run modern restaurant just off Maidenhead town centre. The bright interior is dominated by a gleaming central island kitchen, and the unique design of the place ‘makes every diner feel like they have a seat at the chef’s table.’ Here, Wesley conjures up a roster of assured, seasonally inspired dishes, while also finding time to greet customers when they arrive. His smart, innovative menu is peppered with delicious enticements, with flavours gleaned from across the culinary globe – from ‘patatas bravas’ fondant to sake-cured sea trout with Waltham beets and grelot onions via the familiarity of roast cod with spring vegetables, peas and smoked bacon velouté. Desserts such as pistachio crème brûlée or a chocolate and cherry choux bun maintain Seasonality's enviably high standards. In addition to the regular fixed-priced menu, there’s now a modest lunchtime carte featuring some of the chef’s current favourites. Just add charming service and a wine list that's arranged by style and weight, with a good choice by the glass.

Nick Nairn, an avuncular celebrity chef and TV personality (‘veering towards national treasure status,' thought one reporter), is to be found at this rural complex comprising a home and lifestyle store (set up by his wife Julia), a restaurant, kitchen garden and Cook School near the picturesque Lake of Monteith. In a rural setting rather than on the waterfront, the restaurant spills out onto decking peppered with wicker bucket chairs overlooking a leafy field – the best tables in summer. Open all day, we just managed to squeeze into the overflow car park for a late lunch (booking is advised), but the welcome was genuine and while the menu is more crowd-pleasing than inventive (and prices can be punchy), it did deliver on the food front. A home-cured turbot and trout taco, for example, served with jalapeño sour cream, charred avocado, pico de gallo and lime was refreshingly delicious, and we would happily go back for a pizza on a sunny summer’s afternoon, or some shellfish from the BBQ. 

The formula could hardly be simpler: izakaya-style eats and drinks at the back end of the week in a simple white-walled space lit by paper globe lanterns in the evening. Much of Margate's culinary renaissance has been happening along the Northdown Road, and Mori Mori is an integral part of it. Regulars never fail to praise the uplifting atmosphere, which has none of the stuffiness of formal Japanese dining. Smartly compiled sushi boxes, noodle dishes teeming with umami seasonings, okonomiyaki and gyoza options, and a list of savoury nibbles all press the right buttons. It feels like 'clean healthy cooking', but without the earnestness, and staff invariably make everybody feel welcomed like old friends – the modest dimensions of the place giving it an intimate feel. Nobody would forgive us for failing to mention the matcha cheesecake with malted caramel crumb and coconut, which has its confirmed devotees. Sake and skin-contact wines lead the drinks range.

‘Great menu, great service, welcoming staff, seasonal fresh food’ – no wonder the locals of Putney feel ‘incredibly lucky' to have such a terrific asset on their doorstep. Rebecca Mascarenhas and Craig Gordon's hugely popular all-day diner ticks every box, while the chesterfield banquettes, bentwood chairs, long bar, covered terrace and conservatory all help to create a fresh, modern look. What dazzles is the simple, well-prepared comfort food with its penchant for flavour – seen in classic nibbles such as cauliflower cheese croquettes. The full menu covers a lot of popular ground, from gazpacho and tuna tataki with alphonso mango and chilli salsa to almond tart or strawberries with clotted cream. In between, expect the likes of glazed pork cheeks with grilled hispi cabbage and XO butter sauce or shrimp burgers with sriracha mayo. Home’s all-inclusive neighbourly offer extends to Saturday brunch, winter Sunday roasts with duck-fat roasties and summer Sunday BBQs. The well-considered list of predominantly European wines is arranged by style, with a focus on mid-priced options; otherwise, check out the list of creative cocktails.

‘Francophiles love this place,’ although Pompette is not only a godsend for Summertown locals but also draws in diners who are prepared to undertake a long trip to sample its wares. With its walls emblazoned with artwork, a gorgeous summertime terrace and ‘attentive but knowledgeable staff’, no wonder it is reckoned to be ‘a must-visit’. And that’s before we get to the food. Long-serving chef/co-owner Pascal Wiedemann’s menu is entrenched in bourgeois French cuisine (with the odd European detour) and everything is crafted with care, passion and ‘perfect balance’.  Welcome to the world of sautéed lamb’s sweetbreads with peas, broad beans and anchovy dressing, richly flavoured coarse-textured beef onglet, and kirsch choux buns with griottines and warm chocolate sauce. Other highlights include poulet frites on Wednesday (served Provencal-style in summer), a proper petit-déjeuner from 10am, and also a regular apero hour. Pompette is the charming French word for tipsy, so we do need to mention the drinks: Ricard, Picon Bière and Normandy cider all get a look-in alongside a list of patriotically French wines.