A chic, well-heeled town famed for its handsome buildings and affluent residents, Cheltenham´s dining scene is every bit as sophisticated as visitors would expect. From double Michelin-starred restaurants to laid back pavement cafes, the city is a haven for food enthusiasts. The city´s location, in the heart of Gloucestershire and surrounded by the beautiful Cotswalds countryside, means that restaurants have easy access to wonderful locally-grown ingredients.

Award-Winning Food

No should come to Cheltenham without visiting the wonderful Le Champignon Sauvage restaurant at 24-26 Suffolk Road. The husband and wife team of David and Helen Everitt-Matthias have built an unsurpassed reputation during their 20-plus years at the helm of this restaurant, picking up an abundance of awards along the way. Not the least of these are the 2-Michelin stars, which sit alongside several Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year awards, 4 AA rosettes and countless rave reviews in the national press. Lunches and dinners start at around 45 pounds per person. As the name suggests, the food at Le Champignon Sauvage has a French flair, but the emphasis is really on locally-grown ingredients.

Le Champignon Sauvage may be the most celebrated place to eat in Cheltenham, but don´t despair if you can´t get a table --there are plenty more high quality places to eat in the city. Among these is Du Vin, at Parabola Road, that combines a French bistro atmosphere with contemporary pan-European cuisine. Another nice choice is The Daffodil, at Suffolk Parade in the Montpellier neighborhood, where a handsome 1920s Art Deco cinema has been transformed into a laid-back restaurant with a great atmosphere, good service and delicious food.  The Daffodil offers nice vegetarian options such as sun-blush tomato and mozzarella risotto dumplings in a tomato and herb sauce. A la carte selections at The Daffodil can be pricey but ordering from the daily set menu can make dining more affordable.

Cafe Society

Eating out in Cheltenham need not be all about putting on your best clothes and heading out for a formal meal in a plush restaurant. There are scores of cafes, coffee shops and sandwich bars throughout the city, all of which offer snacks and main meals in relaxed atmospheres and at affordable prices. The city´s many pubs and bars are also great places for a meal and a drink, offering everything from traditional British 'pub grub' to tapas. The city´s university adds a lively note to the cafe scene, and makes for some good pricing from establishments wanting to attract  cash-strapped students.