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Restaurants in... UK cities

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Focus on... restaurants on the Isle of Wight - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on... restaurants on the Isle of Wight

The diamond-shaped Isle of Wight is packed with natural assets, from broad-backed, open downs to sandy bays – but these days it’s all about the thriving food culture. The last five years has seen a quiet revolution on the island, with farm cafés and artisan producers setting up shop, and top chefs migrating to the island, attracted by the easy-going lifestyle and superior local produce. Find the best restaurants for a bank holiday break with Square Meal.

Focus on... bars and pubs in Oxford - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on... bars and pubs in Oxford

Despite grotty student dives and the inevitable high-street chains, Oxford’s rich history, distinct districts and burgeoning food scene mean that its pubs and bars are an eclectic bunch, hopping from the ancient to the achingly hip. Backstreets around the town centre are a warren of centuries-old hostelries; bohemian Jericho invites quirky, laid-back lounging; the Cowley Road blends multiculturalism with affordability, and the winding Thames means countless opportunities for a waterside pint.

Focus on... restaurants in Oxford - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on... restaurants in Oxford

If eating in central Oxford was once something endured for the benefit of glorious history, architecture and education, recent years have seen an explosion in casual, affordable restaurants with offbeat personality and a fondness for quality ingredients. While you do need to know where to look, the shoots of a very promising dining scene are hiding among the chains and takeaways that pepper the streets of this high-profile tourist city.

Focus on... bars and pubs in Kent - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on... bars and pubs in Kent

London may be only an hour’s drive away, but its culture of cool bars and cocktails has yet to travel down the motorway. What passes for vibrant nightlife in a Kentish town tends to focus on the bingeing lost generation. However, the county is also blessed with some of the most ancient and picturesque country pubs in England – many so hard to find they will feel like your own personal discovery. Here you will encounter a dream team of Kentish heroes – the region is awash with brilliant microbreweries, cider makers and wineries. Be warned, you may also find yourself checking out the local house prices.

Focus on... restaurants in Kent - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on... restaurants in Kent

Salt marsh lamb, Whitstable oysters, apples, cherries, cheesemakers galore – the gentle landscape of the Garden of England is stuffed with artisan growers and producers. Add the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale (150 acres of orchards displaying 4,000 historic varieties), a profusion of farmers’ markets and independent food shops, and it’s obvious that Kent is no longer a place to pass through on the way to the Channel ports – it’s a place to relish, to explore. For the past decade, the county has been a magnate for talented chefs whose top priority is to promote the wealth of fantastic produce on their doorstep. With a choice ranging from Michelin stars to cheerful, budget eateries, Kent is a fabulous place to eat out.

Focus on… pubs and bars in Brighton - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on… pubs and bars in Brighton

Renowned for its vibrant nightlife, which offers everything from traditional olde-worlde pubs to flamboyant gay bars, Brighton has it all when it comes to drinking and socialising. The live-music scene also offers the full gamut from drum and bass, hard house and big-name DJs such as local Fatboy Slim, to latin beats and jazz. There’s something for everyone: read on for Square Meal’s top 10 bars to kickstart your night, plus perfect pubs in which to hole up.

Focus on… restaurants in Brighton - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on… restaurants in Brighton

Brighton’s creative and diverse food scene and stunning coastal location are a winning combination for trips out of the capital, whether for business or pleasure. The city’s reputation for flying in the face of all things mainstream extends to its restaurants: vegetarians and vegans are well served here, and residents value institutions that focus on sustainability and local produce. Plus, Brighton’s international scope and proximity to London ensure international cuisines are amply represented. Here’s Square Meal’s pick of the best restaurants Brighton has to offer.

Focus on… bars and pubs in the Lake District - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on… bars and pubs in the Lake District

It doesn’t do fancy wine bars or slick cocktails, but what the Lake District does do brilliantly is its host of characterful, unspoiled country pubs. Even better, Lakeland pubs invariably have fantastic beer on tap courtesy of a plethora of high-quality microbreweries and bigger regional brewers who know what they’re doing. Throw in the most glorious landscapes imaginable, and you’re in pub paradise.

Focus on… restaurants in the Lake District - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on… restaurants in the Lake District

It’s safe to say the Lake District is one of the best places to eat in Britain. From Herdwick lamb and Cumberland sausage to sticky-toffee pudding and damsons, the local larder is superb - and eating out is equally satisfying. There are more notable inns offering good food and real ale than any other rural area we can think of. There are duff notes, of course: you need to choose carefully to avoid the odd tired hotel or tea room, and the food offering is predominantly British, but with a bit of guidance, you can dine like a king - with the added bonus of five-star Lakeland views to stir your soul.

Focus on: restaurants in The Cotswolds - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: restaurants in The Cotswolds

Stunningly beautiful year-round, the rolling Cotswolds’ landscape has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and the same could have been said of its culinary scene - until recently that is. Traditional stalwarts – the country-house-hotel restaurant, trad pub grub and twee tearooms – remain, but a new generation offering local, seasonal produce and innovative cooking is muscling in. The result is a much-improving dining scene that’s swiftly updating the Cotswolds’ reputation from culinary backwater to a gastronomic destination.

Focus on: bars and pubs in The Cotswolds - Recent London restaurant openings Focus on: bars and pubs in The Cotswolds

A jaunt to the sticks is always an appealing prospect, and The Cotswolds is no exception. Expect to find quaint, history-steeped, honey-coloured hostleries set in gloriously unspoiled scenery, and quite possibly some exceptional food and drink, too. The Cotswolds bar scene is on the up. Maybe it’s because it’s where the money is, with people like Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz and Kate Moss always popping in for a swift half, or because owners are making the most of some of Britain’s best local producers and brewers. This is farming country, after all, and the only place worth buying a drink is the local pub. A few are fantastic, some remain pretty average, but with informed choices this part of the world won’t disappoint.

Focus on: bars and pubs in Bristol - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: bars and pubs in Bristol

Bristol's bar scene has music, culture and entertainment at its heart. Whether you opt for a pint of scrumpy in a dingy music venue, or a swanky cocktail made with perry liqueur and other fancy (but still local) booze, you'll find Bristol's bar-goers friendly, unaffected and nearly always up for it.

Focus on: restaurants in Bristol - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: restaurants in Bristol

Bristol boasts plenty of cheery caffs and easy-going eateries, but neither ‘fine dining’ nor culinary risk-taking seem to be a top priority here (with one or two notable exceptions). Given the wealth of excellent produce on its doorstep, you might expect the city to have a more innovative restaurant scene. Still, if you're after wholesome, economical food, there are plenty of possibilities.

Best university eats and drinks in the UK - Restaurants in... UK cities Best university eats and drinks in the UK

University is beckoning for freshers and seasoned students alike, and ritual demands Britain’s bright young things have a final farewell meal with their parents before getting sloshed with their new mates. If you’re looking to fill your offspring up with something hearty before sending them off to the land of crisp sandwiches and and cheese toasties, look no further than Square Meal. And for added street-cred, why not suggest a bar or two you can drop them off at afterwards?

Focus on: bars in Cardiff - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: bars in Cardiff

Not so long ago, Cardiff was a down-at-heel city with an impoverished bay area. But now, it’s a slick capital city with a thriving arts scene and countless pubs and bars that reflect this shift. Some of the best offer a lively programme of live music and DJs – try Gwdihw (pronounced “goody hoo”) or Buffalo to mingle with an arty crowd and enjoy the music; Milgi and Cardiff Arts Institute are a good choice if you like the occasional arts happening thrown in. If beer is your priority, head to Zero Degrees, a bustling bar with its own microbrewery, or North Star, where there’s a worldwide selection of lagers and beers. For a touch of glamour, Ba Orient in the revitalised Bay area is worth a visit, as is Barocco, which sits close to the Millennium Stadium. Pica Pica, also close to the stadium, is another great-looking venue, and a good bet for wine and cocktails. For a relaxed pub environment, try the Vulcan Lounge or the North Star, both city boozers that, like so much of Cardiff, have undergone a stylish transformation in recent years.

Focus on: restaurants in Cardiff - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: restaurants in Cardiff

A few years ago, the dining-out scene in Cardiff centred around a handful of trusty stalwarts such as Woods, the Thai House and Patagonia, but as Cardiff has blossomed into a vibrant capital city, an exciting new wave of restaurants has appeared. Take the Potted Pig, for example, with its passion for nose-to-tail eating, or The Canteen, where vegetarian options make up about 80% of the menu. The recent closure of Le Gallois – previously Cardiff’s finest – has been softened by two exciting new openings, both run by Le Gallois alumni: Garçon, a snappy French brasserie in the revitalised Bay area, and Pier 64, a stylish steakhouse in Penarth Marina. The general trend in Cardiff is towards an informal style of eating underpinned by excellent Welsh ingredients, from fish and seafood to Welsh Black beef. Here are some of our favourites.

Focus on: restaurants in Edinburgh - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: restaurants in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the UK’s ‘second city’ for eating and drinking. It may not be on the same scale as London (its population doesn’t even reach half a million), but with five Michelin-starred restaurants and a distinguished supporting cast of eateries and bars, it’s simply streets ahead of anywhere else. Capital status and the celebrated festival month of August – when the city transforms itself into a world-class cultural centre – play no small part in supporting its buoyant food and drink scene.

Focus on: best bars in Manchester - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: best bars in Manchester

Ian Brown observed that Manchester has everything except a beach, and that includes more great bars, pubs and offbeat drinking oddities than you can shake a bucket and spade at. A proud culture of creativity, as well as a keen collective thirst, has contributed to the development of the Northern Quarter as the drinking hub of the city. Here, late-night New York-style pool rooms share customers with revitalised heritage pubs, and real ale enthusiasts have a funky new place to call a home-from-home. Glamour lives across town on Deansgate where nights out are done in style and sometimes at great heights, while drinking and thinking are perfectly possible at the arty hangouts of Oxford Road. Luckily, Manchester is eminently walkable, so you don’t have to choose.

Focus on: restaurants in Manchester - Restaurants in... UK cities Focus on: restaurants in Manchester

Home to one of the nation’s best-established urban food and drink festivals and surrounded by fabulous produce, Manchester is an endlessly diverting place to eat out. Hardcore foodies with Michelin stars in their eyes puzzle over the lack of really fancy places – the tough truth is that there aren’t enough people with enough money to sustain more than one or two – but what the city lacks in starched napery, it claws back in diversity. A thriving Chinatown is home to fabulous Szechuan food, the trend for small Italian plates is alive and well in an unlikely in-store spot, and there are independently-minded chefs with great experience ploughing brave furrows on the fringes of town. When Mancunians fall in love with a place, they fall en masse, so don’t forget to book.

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