Renowned for its ancient Roman baths and stunning Georgian architecture, it’s no secret that the historic city of Bath is one of England’s most popular tourist attractions. Every year, thousands of visitors roam the cobbled streets of this picturesque city. And it’s easy to see why. With the Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey and dozens of charming independent shops to peruse, you’ll find plenty of things to do. What you may not find, are the exceptional eateries tucked away. Sure, there are plenty of restaurants and cafe’s, but the crème de la crème can be a little harder to find. To help you on your way, I’ve compiled this handy overview of the best restaurants, guiding you on exactly where to eat in Bath.
Clayton’s Kitchen at The Porter
I know you’re meant to leave the best until last, but I decided to mix things up. Clayton’s Kitchen is, without a doubt, the best restaurant in Bath. I first visited Clayton’s with family to celebrate my 21st birthday, and I’ve been back many times since. It’s actually one of my all-time favourites and I’d even go as far to say that it’s one of my top three in all of Europe. So, if you’re torn on where to eat in Bath, this is your place.
Clayton’s Kitchen at The Porter serves delectable dishes for lunch and dinner. Inspired by Mediterranean and modern French cuisine, it’s definitely more a fine dining establishment than a brasserie. The fresh, uncomplicated and divine menus are all created by Michelin Starred Chef, Robert Clayton. With an enticing wine list to boot, there’s always a great ambience in the restaurant. Ideal for a special occasion, or as a culinary treat.
If you’re after a more casual dining experience, you can also visit for lunch. They have excellent prix fixe lunch menus which are very reasonably priced. Perfect for indulging in a little luxury even when you’re on a budget.
Hudson Steakhouse
If you’re a fan of steakhouses, you can’t miss eating at Hudson’s. This award-winning restaurant specialises in prime dry-aged steaks. And I can personally vouch for how excellent they are. Typically I’m not a huge red meat fan, but when it’s this good I can be persuaded.
This particular bar & grill is housed in a converted Victorian pub. With open fires and an open kitchen upstairs, the whole place feels very welcoming. Like a cosy winter hangout. In celebration of the building’s history, the ground floor still retains a pub-like feel to it, with the main bar front and centre. It’s a nice space to enjoy a pre-dinner tipple but I would still recommend securing a table upstairs.
I’d also advise that you save the dining experience here for supper time, as the portions are rather large. Plus the sides are very tempting. Especially the fries, which is always a key factor in my book. Like goldilocks, I must sample all restaurants to find the perfect carbohydrate match. Crispy, but not too dry. Skinny, but not matchstick thin. You know what I mean. Anyway, the point is, Hudson’s get their fries right every time.
Graze
Despite my claims that I don’t tend to eat much red meat, I appear to have added another grill-focussed restaurant to the mix. But that’s not all they have here. Graze is both a modern restaurant and a Bath Ales Microbrewery.
Whilst the menu is centred around British meat and dry-aged steak (cooked in their charcoal oven), there are many other options. These include sociable sharing boards, as well as vegetarian-friendly dishes. And to think, I haven’t even mentioned the best part yet…
Not only is Graze right next to the train station, making it a handy meeting spot for non-locals, it also has a great view. The whole place is a few floors up, but don’t worry, there’s lift access. And the elevation makes for great people-watching. Particularly in the summer when you can make use of the outdoor seating!
Cafe Lucca
The city of Bath celebrates its independent boutiques, many of which aren’t found on the main high street. Wander through the intricate spiderweb of side alleys and discover the real treasures. Whilst you are pottering around Bath deciding where to eat, you might be lucky enough to find the ‘The Loft‘. A unique concept store perched on a rather steep incline, which is only accessible by foot.
The Loft is a fascinating emporium with lots of lovely homeware and soft furnishings to peruse. The building itself is an open, contemporary space with floor to ceiling windows that let in a beautiful light. And during the summer, Cafe Lucca opens up a miniature courtyard, for seasonal alfresco seating.
Otherwise, the dining experience is to be enjoyed right in the middle of the store; offering varied breakfast and lunch options. They have a fresh salad bar every day, gourmet paninis, bruschetta and other goodies to choose from. Not to mention, the ginormous home-baked sweet treats (conveniently located right next to the salad bar). I’ve spent many an afternoon washing brunch down with a glass of fizz, revelling in the vibrant ambience.
The Whole Bagel
This one might seem a bit random but stick with me. If you’re super busy rushing from landmark to landmark, it’s likely you’re after a grab-and-go lunch. And if that’s the case, ignore the standard chains (Pret a Manger etc.) and make your way over to The Whole Bagel. It’s delicious. Everything is freshly prepared right in front of your eyes, so you can customise your order. Not only do they serve tasty bagels, but they also offer the freshest, house-made smoothies.
Whilst The Whole Bagel do have tables available upstairs and a few outside, get your order to go. This way, you can enjoy it with a view overlooking the magnificent city of Bath. Hot tip: Try a picnic in front of the Royal Crescent or atop the Alexandra Park summit.
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Well, there you have it! All my secret foodie hotspots, uncovered, so that next time you visit Bath you know exactly where to eat!
That being said, if you’ve already tried the excellent dining options listed above or you’re looking for a backup eatery, I’d recommend Koh Thai and Firehouse Rotisserie. Both offer tasty food, I just didn’t find them quite as remarkable as the others I detailed. But that’s a personal preference, my other half loves Koh Thai!
I hope that this article has inspired you to visit Bath! If you have any questions about where to eat in Bath, please feel free to share these in the comments section below. I will be continually adding new restaurants to this list and am open to your suggestions. All suggestions will be vetted.
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