Bath’s restaurant scene is competitive and fast changing. As such, the cream rises to the top and those establishments that survive are usually good value and reliable. London trends mingle with West Country influences, and all tastes are catered for.
The Bath restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
Expensive (over £40)
Moderate (£25 to £40)
Cheap (up to £25)
These prices are for a three-course meal for one, including half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, tax and service. A service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill in most restaurants. If service is not included, 10% tipping is customary.
Expensive
The Bath Priory Restaurant
Cuisine: Haute cuisineThe Bath Priory Restaurant boasts Bath's only Michelin star and offers a menu of traditional English dishes with continental influences and seasonal ingredients, many of which are taken from the hotel's 1.5 hectares (4 acres) of award-winning gardens. A classy and elegant restaurant with superb service and great food.
Address: , Weston Road, Bath, BA1 2XTTelephone: +44 1225 331 922
Website: http://www.thebathpriory.co.uk/restaurant
The Dower House
Cuisine: Haute cuisineThe large windows of The Dower House look out over the tranquil greenery of The Royal Crescent Hotel's grounds where visitors dine alfresco in the summer. Dishes are contemporary in presentation, with small portions packing a flavourful punch. Highlights include the mackerel ceviche starter, and a main of chunky pork belly topped with sticks of crackling. Friendly sommeliers helps you match from an extensive wine list.
Address: , The Royal Crescent Hotel, 16 Royal Crescent, Bath, BA1 2LSTelephone: +44 1225 823 333.
Website: http://www.royalcrescent.co.uk
The Porter
Cuisine: English ModernThe Porter rose from the ashes of a grimy pub, the gentrification of which has left Bath with one of its best fine dining restaurants – Clayton's Kitchen, home to Michelin-starred chef Rob Clayton. Despite the star credentials, the creative menu is reasonably priced and the ambiance relaxed. Look out for the ewe's curd and lemon zest mousse starter and melt-in-the-mouth steak with duck fat chips.
Address: , 15a George Street, Bath, BA1 2ENTelephone: +44 1225 585 100.
Website: http://www.theporter.co.uk/claytons-kitchen
Moderate
Jamie's Italian
Cuisine: ItalianSimple, fresh, quality dishes are the order of the day at Jamie Oliver's chilled-out chain. Offering seasonal choices that won't break the bank, this recently refurbished Jamie's Italian now also offers an online booking facility. Look out for perennial favourites such as the Sharing Plank (essentially a delicatessen served on a cricket bat) and quirky innovations like Italian nachos.
Address: , 10 Milsom Place, Bath, BA1 1BZTelephone: +44 1225 432 340.
Website: http://www.jamieoliver.com/italian/restaurants/bath
Martini Ristorante
Cuisine: ItalianWith its bright red facade and central location on George Street, Martini Ristorante is a popular and busy Italian eatery offering authentic Italian cuisine at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is lively and enjoyable - and very Italian.
Address: , 8-9 George Street, Bath,Telephone: +44 1225 460 818.
Website: http://www.martinirestaurant.co.uk
The Chequers
Cuisine: BritishTucked away on one of Bath's most picturesque streets, this lovely little gastropub is a short stroll from the Circus. Offering locally-sourced produce crafted into expertly flavoured dishes, anticipate contemporary touches such as blowtorched mackerel with beetroot and apple served up alongside hearty mains like the haunch of venison with garlic dauphinoise and blackberries.
Address: , 50 Rivers Street, Bath, BA1 2QATelephone: +44 1225 360 017.
Website: http://www.thechequersbath.com
Cheap
Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen
Cuisine: VegetarianFormerly named Demuth's after culinary pioneer and former owner, Rachel Demuth, Acorn continues in her gourmet vegetarian fusion footsteps. The ingredients are organic and locally sourced as far as possible and the dishes, such as the carrot and cashew paté or poached rhubarb with thyme meringue, are innovative and tasty.
Address: off Abbey Green, 2 North Parade Passage, Bath, BA1 1NXTelephone: +44 1225 446 059.
Website: http://www.acornvegetariankitchen.co.uk
Eastern Eye
Cuisine: IndianEastern Eye is Bath's best Indian restaurant. The Georgian interior and domed ceiling make for a magnificent dining room, the service is excellent and the food exemplifies Indian cuisine at its most exquisite.
Address: , 8A Quiet Street, Bath, BA1 2JSTelephone: +44 1225 422 323.
Website: http://www.easterneye.co.uk
Grillstock
Cuisine: BBQThe restaurant arm of the annual BBQ and music festival, Grillstock offers Bathonian carnivores a rough-around-the-edges southern-style BBQ experience. Custom sauces and freshly smoked meat combine in a laid back, elbow-to-elbow atmosphere. For those who have trouble deciding what to order, the Lockjaw Burger is pretty much everything on the menu between bread.
Address: , Unit 4, 12 Brunel Square, Bath, BA1 1SXTelephone: +44 1225 466 772.
Website: http://www.grillstock.co.uk/the-vaults-bath
Images of Yarmouth beaches, Isle of Wight
Images of Woolacombe beaches, Devon
Images of Winterton-on-Sea beaches, Norfolk
Images of Whitstable beaches, Kent