Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Cheltenham
Hardens guides have spent 31 years compiling reviews of the best Cheltenham restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 38 restaurants in Cheltenham and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Cheltenham restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Cheltenham Restaurants
1. GL50
restaurant in Cheltenham
8 Norfolk House, Chester Walk - GL50
“Jonas, the owner is friendly, entertaining and clearly knows his way around a kitchen” at this “relative newcomer” (a late-2019 arrival), which aims for a style of ‘informal fine-dining’. All reports acclaim the “delightful, well-balanced and delicious” cooking – “the menu was short but everything looked interesting and all of the courses were excellent”. “It’s relaxed with friendly staff, and chef comes to your table to explain how he forages for some of the ingredients”.
2. L’Artisan
French restaurant in Cheltenham
30 Clarence St - GL50
A “delightful, very warm experience” is provided by French owners at this small and “cluttered” spot. “Chef Yves and front-of-house Elisabeth are absolutely charming and thoroughly professional”. “Tasty” Gallic cuisine provides “bistro cooking to a T” from “an ever-changing regional menu” to complete the deal.
3. Lumière
British, Modern restaurant in Cheltenham
Clarence Parade - GL50
“Chef Jon and his front-of-house wife, Helen, consistently provide a very special experience (along with charming waiter and budding sommelier Matthew)” at the Howes’ small (only 24 covers) establishment, which – though less commented on – vies with Le Champignon Sauvage as the town’s top culinary draw. Fans say it’s “better than ever after the long lockdown”, with superb cooking featuring the stunning presentation of local and seasonal ingredients.
4. Kibou Cheltenham
Japanese restaurant in Cheltenham
Regent Arcade, Regent Street - GL50
“Thankfully now moved to a larger location, so it’s a bit easier to get a booking” – this funky-looking Japanese is no longer a 20-set basement on Regent Street and is now on its way to becoming a national chain with a London sibling opening in 2020 and a new Bristol branch announced in 2021. It wins praise for its “excellent sushi” and “great variety” of other dishes.
5. No. 3 Restaurants
British, Modern restaurant in Cheltenham
12 Royal Crescent - GL50
Rugby World Cup AND Celebrity MasterChef winner Phil Vickery has opened his own restaurant, with his wife Jules and chef Tom Rains, after a year of running a delivery service, No.3 at Home.
6. Purslane
British, Modern restaurant in Cheltenham
16 Rodney Rd - GL50
Gareth Fulford's “intimate”, unprepossessing-looking but nonetheless “top-draw” outfit occupies a backstreet location. The five- or seven-course fish-centric tasting menu is “worthy of attention from any serious fine-diner”, with an “outstanding display of tastes and textures”.
7. The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie
British, Modern restaurant in Cheltenham
Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street - GL50
In a converted bank and ballroom, this national chain spin-off inarguably has a “great setting, especially the central rotunda, given a racing theme in a nod to Cheltenham Racecourse”. But one reporter summarises the limits of the concept at large – “I don't know why I don’t love it more – service is really good, tables well-spaced, great drink selection too… but oddly the menu seems a bit, well, boring for the location”.
8. Prithvi
Indian restaurant in Cheltenham
37 Bath Road - GL53
“Always delicious Indian fine-dining” has established Prithvi – Sanskrit for ‘Mother Earth’ – as a “superb choice for a special occasion”. Emphatically “not your standard Indian”, the venture celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, having upgraded to an elegant Pittville Park setting more suited to its culinary achievements a few years ago.
9. No 131
British, Modern restaurant in Cheltenham
131 Promenade - GL50
In a prime town-centre location, this luxurious hotel (ultimately owned by Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton) is converted from a trio of Georgian townhouses. On limited feedback in this survey, the themes here are the same as in previous years: “attractive setting and good food… but all at a high price”.
10. The Coconut Tree
International restaurant in Cheltenham
59 Saint Paul's Road - GL50
Part of a now eight-strong chain, this youthfully spirited Sri Lankan street-food venture is a laid-back and “homely” (mostly bar stool seating) spot to indulge in some “delicious” sharing plates and wacky “cocktails” – the latter sometimes on fire; best bit – it's “not pricey”, either.
11. Tavern
Burgers, etc restaurant in Cheltenham
38 Evesham Road - GL52
2019 Review: “They’ve got a great menu of American-inspired comfort food” at this bar/bistro in the city-centre “and some real mastery at the grill. Brunches are good too”. Top Menu Tip: “whole deep fried globe artichoke with greek garlic mayo”.
12. Le Champignon Sauvage
British, Modern restaurant in Cheltenham
24-28 Suffolk Rd - GL50
“I continue to applaud and thank David and Helen for creating and nurturing Le Champignon Sauvage!” – “one of the most glorious examples of professional hospitality”. The Everitt-Matthiases’ passion project of thirty years’ standing shows no sign of running out of steam – in fact its ratings only improved during these turbulent times. With David famously ALWAYS “firmly rooted in his kitchen”, and Helen front-of-house, “they all contribute to offering uncompromising levels of skill and excellence in cooking but crown the experience with genuine human warmth”. “New diners should be ready to pace themselves. Not on account of the sensibly judged portions but in face of the assault from the flavours, textures and ideas presented – a delightful assault – with prices that are comparatively low for this high standard”. “Don’t expect a fancy, glitzy restaurant” (the interior is “a bit sparse”). But disappointments were unknown here this year: “we last visited perhaps thirty years ago, a memorable lunch, so it was good to revisit, aware that it could have become a let-down. It was not!”.
13. Bhoomi
Indian restaurant in Cheltenham
52 Suffolk Rd - GL50
“Absolutely fantastic” Keralan scoff generates huge enthusiasm for this Cheltenham original and its Oxford spinoff: “I’d gladly eat their dosas for the rest of my days – in fact I’m salivating just by writing about them!”. In 2018, after trading for six years, Bhoomi “shifted its offering from fine-dining to a mid-range approach”, with BBQ and thali options – “and if anything, the cooking is even better”. “Gorgeous interior, great staff, exceptional food – what more could you want?”.
14. 5 North Street
British, Modern restaurant in Winchcombe
5 North St - GL54
“A small restaurant that punches well above its weight” – Gus & Kate Ashenford’s former Cotswolds tea room has long delivered “a totally outstanding culinary experience”. “The chef-proprietor is highly talented, serving seasonal food with a perfect balance of flavours, exciting combinations and beautiful presentation. It’s French cuisine brought up to date.”
15. Muse Brasserie
Fusion restaurant in Cheltenham
60 St George's Place - GL50
“Put a French chef in a kitchen with an Indian chef and this is what you get” – an idiosyncratic two-year-old restaurant from Gallic bistronomy advocate Franck Grillet, enriched by his longstanding relationship with collaborator Pramod Tirunagari. “Original? yes. gastronomic? definitely!” – “these guys can really cook” (“when you weren't expecting great, this happens!”).
16. Yoku
Japanese restaurant in Cheltenham
No. 131 Hotel, 131 The Promenade - GL50
Part of the Lucky Onion group, this sushi restaurant and cocktail bar opened in March 2022 inside No.131 boutique hotel.
View full listings of 38 Cheltenham Restaurants
Popular Cheltenham Restaurant Searches
Cheltenham Restaurant News
Top Cheltenham Restaurants
Hot Newcomers & Coming Soon
Hot Newcomers
Coming Soon