The 20 best restaurants in Somerset — by a local foodie

2. Aurora Kusina, Shepton Mallet

Amber and Ross Smithwick have been busy perfecting the Filipino dishes of Amber’s childhood, inspired by her mother, Aurora, who grew up in Tondo before moving to the UK. While their menu is 50 per cent vegan, the inasal (chargrilled) chicken (£7.50) and pork bicol coconut curry with burnt garlic rice (£14) are standouts. The pair have just opened a second spot in Frome, regularly selling out of colourful brioche buns filled with ube (purple yam) or pandan cream (£2.50).
Details aurorakusina.com

The Friday curry nights in the upcycled tractor shed at Castle Farm in Midford are renowned

JEN ALLAN PHOTOGRAPHY

3. Castle Farm, Midford, Bath

After hiking through the beautiful Midford Valley, Castle Farm is a welcome sight. Set inside an upcycled tractor shed on this organic farm (about as Somerset as it gets), the restaurant is run by the husband-and-wife team Pravin and Leah Nayar. Menus are inspired by Pravin’s mixed Asian and Scandinavian heritage — the Friday curry nights are renowned — as well as what’s coming out of the garden. The Malabar fish curry with Cornish monkfish (£18.50) and roasted chicken curry (£18) are delicious, or you can order a selection for the table (£35pp). Keep an eye out for luxe-themed supper clubs pulling out all the stops.
Details castlefarmmidford.co.uk

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The young chefs at Teals create delicious, hearty food — think hake, brothy chickpeas and aioli

4. Teals, South Cadbury

If a wander around the farm shop followed by a good lunch sounds like an ideal day out, then Teals is the place for you. It’s part restaurant, part food market, with a shop, butcher’s, cheese counter and deli all packed with local produce. The young chefs in the restaurant kitchen — led by Ben Champkin, formerly of the Newt — create delicious, hearty food, with takeaway options including an excellent chicken salad sandwich and At The Chapel pastries. Try wood-fired aubergine with romesco (£12.50), or harissa wood-fired cauliflower, butternut squash, rosemary, cashew raita (£14). The wild-farmed, fennel-spiced sausage flatbreads (£16) are particularly good.
Details teals.co.uk

5. MilkBun Deli, Bath

In my opinion, Bath lacked good sandwiches for years, until MilkBun Deli opened last December serving takeaway sandwiches made with their Japanese-style milk bread, baked in-house. Much like their original burger restaurant in Bristol, the focus is on quality ingredients and flavours inspired by brothers Tom and Matt’s Italian heritage. I particularly like the Muffaletta (£8.95) made with two types of salami and served with tasty sides such as fried pickles (£5.25) and slaw (£4.50). They also do monthly specials and have just launched orzo salads for summer. On the shelves are local provisions to pack for a picnic or to take home: Rockfish tinned fish, Cultjar fermented foods and pickles and tinned bloody marys.
Details milkbun.co.uk

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6. Old Pharmacy, Bruton

A little neighbourhood bistro that is sister to the Michelin-starred Osip in Bruton (which has a new site coming soon). The menu changes daily, with chef Merlin Labron-Johnson and co serving dishes such as fettuccine and rabbit ragu (£18.50), vegetable plates from their allotment, and a cheering, always tempting dessert. Their “Sunday Sessions” are a welcome summery alternative to a Sunday roast, offering Italian-style four courses for £45 — antipasti followed by fresh pasta, porchetta or aged beef with white beans, and something creamy and fruity. Don’t miss the small but perfectly formed cider list featuring Pilton, Wilding and the like — this is cider country, after all.
Details oldpharmacybruton.com

Fancy a traditional pie, a hearty stew or a pint? Head to The Raven in Bath

COURTESY OF THE RAVEN

7. The Raven, Bath

One of the few remaining OG pubs of Bath, family-run the Raven is the best place in the city for a pie and pint. While the space recently expanded into the building next door, and on to a third floor with a hidden library, the menu (unless you count the ales) keeps to a tried-and-tested formula. Their signature pies (£14.80) and stews are excellent (£16.20), including the Deer Stalker pie made with local venison, and the Raven Ale pie with their own ale. As a former goth and biker hangout, you’re also guaranteed to bump into one or two local characters while sipping your stout.
Details theravenofbath.co.uk

Beckford Bottle Shop in Bath is all about creative small plates made with seasonal ingredients

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8. Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath

This is where I go in Bath for a special treat, especially with first-time visitors who fall in love with its elegant Georgian surroundings. But really, this intimate bistro and wine shop is all about the food — and drink. With its own no-dig allotment and garden chef, and head chef James Harris hunting and foraging many of the ingredients himself, you’ll find pick-and-mix British boards of cheese and charcuterie (£9-£19) alongside a generous menu of creative small plates and specials. Must-orders include the Bath chaps (pig’s cheek) with Bramley apples (£7.50) and pomme paillasson (potato cake) with brown crab (£9.50). Ask the friendly team to advise on more than 30 wines by the glass. You can also pay corkage to enjoy something from the shelves, and when you find a favourite, take a bottle (or two) home — stopping by sister restaurant (and Giles Coren favourite), Beckford Canteen a few doors down, to book for next time.
Details beckfordbottleshop.com

The Walled Garden offers hand-blended coffee and tea, plus a number of gluten-free and vegan sweet treats

IAIN KEMP

9. The Walled Garden, Mells

Mells is a picture-perfect village with charming cottages, riverside walks and cyclist-friendly paths. At its centre is the Walled Garden — a community plant nursery-cum-seasonal outdoor café. Tables are scattered throughout, peeking out of rose bushes and topiary, where you can enjoy tea and cake or pizza fresh from the woodfired oven — the margherita is delicious (£11.50). Be sure to look out for Di, selling antiques on the pavement outside her cottage.
Details thewalledgardenatmells.co.uk

Having a drink at Roth Bar is like sitting in an art installation

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10. Roth Bar, Bruton

There are plenty of good pubs around here, but few proper bars. The recently reopened Roth Bar is set to fill this gap. Set within the Hauser & Wirth Somerset gallery, having a drink here is like sitting in an art installation. Cocktails are shaken and stirred with a Somerset twist — think Milk Wash Margarita (£11) or Bacchus Martini (£12) with the farm’s own wine — and pair perfectly with bar food such as smash burgers (£19) and buttermilk fried chicken (£9.50). On Wednesdays, locals gather for DJ nights with a line-up curated by Soho House resident DJ Ross Wilson, who plays once a month.
Details rothbar.co.uk

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11. Rye Bakery & Pizzeria, At The Station, Frome

Rye Bakery has been an important part of the community since opening in 2017. Its second site at At The Station — a collective of independent eateries — houses their own mill, turning local and ancient grains into fresh flour for the bakery and pizzeria. Visit in the morning for cinnamon buns and one of 14 types of sourdough loaf (£3-£5.50), or in the evening for their legendary pizzas, now served four days a week with toppings such as crushed tomatoes and Glastonbury fior di latte mozzarella. There’s often live music — they’re spontaneous sorts, so keep a lookout on their Instagram for who is appearing. Their new Wine Bar & Bottle Shop next door offers low-intervention wines (ie wines made as naturally as possible) by glass or bottle, in a space designed to feel like someone’s kitchen at home — where all the best parties happen.
Details rye-bakery.com

12. Gothelney Farm, Bridgwater

Gothelney Farm is run by the pioneering regenerative farmer Fred Price, who grows cereals alongside forage-fed, native-breed pigs. Gothelney supplies grain for Rye Bakery and pork for local restaurants such as Owen’s Sausages & Hams. Even better, they host regular food events and gatherings such as the “Farm Meat Up” (£15), which includes a farm walk discovering more about how diverse, agroecological food is produced, plus two flatbreads made with their own meat and flour. They also open their Field Bakery on Saturday mornings where you can pick up provisions such as their honey, flour or Gothelney Pork Rolls (£9.50 for two) — hand-laminated all-butter pastry, filled with a mince mix from their heritage breed pigs.
Details gothelneyfarmer.co.uk

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Root serves up seasonal, local produce with a twist

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13. Root, Wells

Renowned for its vegetable-led (though not entirely vegetarian) small plates, the original Root was established seven years ago in Bristol’s Wapping Wharf. Following its success, head chef Rob Howell opened this branch in his hometown of Wells, where there’s also a twice-weekly market and annual food festival. Root serves up seasonal, local produce with a twist, such as Chuckleberry Margaritas (£10) sipped with grilled courgette with whipped tofu (£10), and marinated artichoke with panisse, pickled fennel and broad beans (£9).While you’re in the area, I recommend stopping at Wells Reclamation Yard for a rummage.
Details rootwells.co.uk

The sunny dining terrace at Holm looks out over a quarter-acre garden with herb beds

LIZ BAKER PHOTOGRAPHY

14. Holm, South Petherton

There’s much to love about this rural restaurant with rooms. Championing West Country produce, the menu changes regularly but might include Cornish crab ravioli, cod with barbecued leek and mussels (£26.50) or Bagnell Farm lamb croquette (£11.50). A set lunch menu offers good value at two courses for £25pp or three courses for £29pp. You can book the open kitchen counter for up to six, but a favourite spot is on the dining terrace, looking over the quarter-acre garden with its raised beds and extensive herb garden — look out for events here over the summer, including “Balfearic Sundays” with Mediterranean menus and chef-director Nicholas Balfe on the decks. There are also seven beautiful en suite rooms, so you can explore the thoughtful wine list with impunity.
Details holmsomerset.co.uk

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15. Landrace Upstairs, Bath

Set above the much-loved bakery, with its mill based at Westcombe Farm, Landrace Upstairs is a friendly neighbourhood restaurant offering a simple sharing menu of rustic pastas, slow-cooked meats and coveted Westcombe cheddar curd fritters (£8). Start with a Sprigster Sour mocktail (£12) and country loaf slathered in butter (£3), then end with a plate of cheese (£12), as is the local custom. A tip that I’m frankly hesitant to share is that the restaurant is open Friday and Saturday mornings, so you can pop upstairs for a delicious fresh pastry from the bakery below, instead of queuing with the takeaway crowd downstairs.
Details landrace.co.uk

For a real treat at Pony Chew Valley, try the six-course tasting menu on Fridays and Saturdays

16. Pony Chew Valley, Bristol

One of the best places to be on a sunny Somerset day is on the terrace of the recently revamped Pony Chew Valley, enjoying the panoramic views. It’s much more than a restaurant — there’s a cookery school, vegetable garden, beehives and fruit trees. They serve a variety of meals from afternoon tea to à la carte, but for a real treat, try the six-course tasting menu by the chef Josh Eggleton on Fridays and Saturdays (£60pp).
Details theponychewvalley.co.uk

17. Woodshedding Beer Hall, Westcombe Farm, Shepton Mallet

After-work drinks look different in the country. Woodshedding Beer Hall is based at Tom Calver’s Westcombe Farm (home of Westcombe Dairy) and run by Adrian Peskin. Inspired by British and German brewing traditions, they turn quality ingredients from local farms into the freshest small-batch beers. On Fridays and Saturdays, they serve the ultimate ploughman’s called the Westcombe Plate (£9) — Westcombe cheeses and charcuterie with Landrace Bakery bread — and you might find the Galapagos-born local chef Ana Ortiz cooking up a South American-style fiery feast.
Details woodsheddingbrew.com

The menu at Three Horseshoes celebrates each season. In July, expect grilled fish, peas and gem lettuce or pork chops with chard

ED SCHOFIELD

18. Three Horseshoes, Batcombe

The news that the chef Margot Henderson (co-patron of the popular Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch, east London) would be overseeing the kitchen caused great excitement among the locals when the Three Horseshoes reopened in spring 2023. The comforting setting of flagstone floors, notched beams, fires and candlelight perfectly matches the elevated retro pub fare of game pies, roasted meats and dripping toast. Expect dishes such as pork belly with turnips and green sauce (£22), grilled cod with greens and anchovy (£23), seafood specials such as lobster wellington (£40) and plum sorbet (£7) to finish. When the weather’s nice, there’s also a charming sun terrace for sipping rosé with views of the church.
Details thethreehorseshoesbatcombe.co.uk

19. Little Walcot, Frome

Newly opened Little Walcot is made up of a restaurant, a café-bar and a club. The full-height windows allow you to people-watch up and down cobbled Catherine Hill to your heart’s content. There’s an emphasis on nose-to-tail eating, and the meat is from their own butchers, while all baked goods are made in-house. These are dishes that you really want to eat — beef burgers (£12), cod kiev (£16) and sharing côte de boeuf (£10.50/100g) — and bougie bar snacks such as anchovies on grilled sourdough (£6) and wild mushroom arancini (£6). Wash it all down with a classic cocktail such as a negroni or simple citrussy daiquiri.
Details littlewalcot.com

Albóndigas at Pinxto restaurant in Bath

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20. Pinxto, Bath

Serving authentic Basque-style tapas in a secluded side street, this bustling spot makes you feel as if you could be in San Sebastian. A tip — they don’t take bookings so arrive early in the evening, and if you need to wait, get a seat at the bar and order some gildas (£5) while browsing the dedicated sherry menu. Must-try dishes include the spider crab and saffron croquettes (£9.50) and the fried aubergine with miel de cana molasses (£7.50); and churros for dessert (£8.50) — because you’re on holiday after all.
Details pintxobath.co.uk

Jessica is a lifelong Somerset resident and Co-Founder of hospitality PR consultancy YARROW, Jessica Parkhouse, shares her favourite places to enjoy the county’s produce, from honeyed terraces to sprawling farms.