Vellore Restaurant at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel
One thing Britain certainly doesn’t lack is stylish restaurants. From traditional manor-house elegance to cutting-edge contemporary cool, there are lovely eateries around the country that cater to a variety of both gastronomic and aesthetic tastes. To give you a sense of the diversity on offer, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourites – bon appetite!
Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, Perthshire, Scotland
Set amongst rolling hills in the Scottish countryside, chef Andrew Fairlie’s eponymous restaurant strikes an artful balance between modern chic and rich traditionalism. With cosy chenille upholstery in rich, neutral tones, soft lighting and classic white tablecloths, the restaurant is a serene setting to enjoy the innovative approach to Scottish cuisine that earned it its 2 Michelin stars, with the quirky oil paintings lending both a sense of history and character.
Vellore Restaurant at Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
For those who wish they could dine in Jane Austen’s time, this elegant double AA Rosette restaurant offers a magnificent setting in one of Bath’s most luxurious hotels. The hotel was once a grand manor house, and the award-winning Vellore Restaurant occupies what was once the splendid ballroom. It’s a striking setting to enjoy a menu of traditional and contemporary English fare after a day spent touring Bath, or in nice weather you can always retreat to the canopied outdoor terrace for peaceful drinks after dining.
Gidleigh Park Restaurant at Gidleigh Park Hotel, Chagford, Devon & Cornwall
This charming black and white, Tudor-style hotel houses one of the country’s most stylish restaurants. Under the guidance of Chef Michael Caines MBE, Gidleigh Park offers exquisite dining with artistic flair in one of its three dining rooms, each with its own style; choose from sleek and contemporary, elegant and traditional, or bright and airy. Set in spectacular country gardens, including a kitchen garden which in part supplies the restaurant, this 2-Michelin star establishment is a little corner of paradise.
Murano, London
Light, bright, and softly elegant, this crisp Mayfair restaurant conjures visions of a stylish Italian villa flooded with light. On the menu is sophisticated modern Italian cuisine that is perfectly accented by the restaurant’s airy décor, complete with handblown glasswork fittings and painted fresco panels to complete the luxurious Mediterranean feel.
Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland
A relative newcomer on the exciting Edinburgh restaurant scene, Castle Terrace has been garnering rave reviews for its combination of fine Scottish produce and French-influenced technique. Located in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, the restaurant itself is outfitted in rich fabrics and textures in elegant, neutral tones enlivened with flashes of warm colour and modern tartan. It’s the perfect place to hide away from the Scottish weather and savour Chef Dominic Jack’s culinary delights.
