Best restaurants in Bath

The Ivy Brasseries are synonymous with glitz and glamour, and the Bath outpost is no different. Crowd-pleasing international favourites are served in a high-ceilinged traditional dining room filled with botanical prints and plush velvet furnishings.

Holding Bath’s only Michelin star, this is the most luxurious dining experience in the city. Imaginative and exciting cooking comes by way of a five- or seven-course tasting menu, and wine pairings are also available.

Proudly British and steeped in Nostalgia, The Scallop Shell in Bath serves up incredible seafood platters, fresh oysters and good old fish and chips – complete with homemade tartare sauce. This is perfect for family dining.

An early adopter of the ‘blind’ tasting menu, chef Gordon Jones has always been keen to excite guests through his cooking. Expect edgy plates, like a ‘cappuccino’ of wild mushroom mousse with smoked milk foam.

This is another slightly outside of Bath, but if you’re ready for a change of scene this opulent dining room makes a wonderful space to relax in, to enjoy all the trappings of fine-dining cookery.

Recognised by Michelin, this sweet local spot is a favourite of visitors and residents alike. During the day the space offers bargain lunches and afternoon tea, while in the evening it has a bistro vibe.

The Pig hotels are quirky and creative, with the restaurants following suit. While this is a little way outside the city, it makes a lovely place to retreat to following a busy day of sight-seeing.

What started as a supper club in London has morphed into a permanent restaurant in Bath. Despite the change of location, the premise remains the same - quality ingredients served simply at a fair price point.

For a cosy pub lunch, this is the perfect venue. You’ll find named suppliers on the menu, with plates of hearty ingredient focused fare like chargrilled pigeon or Cornish mackerel with salsa verde on offer.

Vibrant and fresh, the plates at Noya’s Kitchen are handmade to order. Here aromatic flavours are king, with pho, curries and small plates to choose from, while Friday nights bring a 5-course supper club menu.

Henry’s serves plates of modern European fare in stripped back surrounds for a meal that is in equal parts laid back and luxurious. A dedicated vegetarian menu allows enjoyable dining for all in mixed groups.

There are some situations where only a pizza will do, and the best place for that in Bath is at Dough. These handmade, artisan pizzas are topped with premium ingredients like Neapolitan yellow tomato sauce.

Just a mile from the city centre, this restaurant is worth the walk (and dare we say working up an appetite is no bad thing). Plates are pretty as a picture, while interiors are classic.

There’s not much that can go wrong when your offering is expertly sourced bottles of wine accompanied by small sharing plates. Think crisp courgette fritti and aioli, steak tartare or an indulgent mixed charcuterie board.

With a chef patron who comes from a Michelin background, this elegant Bath restaurant offers diners smart, seasonal combinations. Make time for pre-dinner cocktails before tucking into dishes like crab with asparagus and lemon mayonnaise.