The best restaurants in Bath

Drink and dine through the city

Our team of holiday planning experts know all the best spots to book a table, whether it’s tapas and cocktails or pasta with a view. And when it comes to restaurant recommendations, Bath will have you spoilt for choice. Championing the small independents over the well-known chains, join us as we drink and dine our way through the 10 best restaurants in Bath.

Solina Pasta

If you’re anything like us, you’re always looking for up-and-coming restaurants to add to the date night roster. Solina’s blue branding appeared on our “for you” page at the start of this year, and it claims to have the best tiramisu in town.

The neighbourhood pasta restaurant opened in September 2024 and specialises in fresh, homemade Italian dishes. They’re open seven days a week and don’t take reservations, so you’re best to pop by. Flicking through the menu, you’ll find antipasti and pre-dinner snacks like whipped cod’s roe, burrata, and truffled wild mushroom arancini, plus delicious-sounding cocktails like the Peach and Elderflower Hugo, or Tommy’s Margarita finished with agave and lime.

For the main course, choose from rigatoni with pork and fennel ragu, bucatini with cacio e pepe, radiatori with chorizo and squid, or spaghetti with garlic and chilli. If the “best ever” tiramisu isn’t enough to tempt you for dessert, try the panna cotta with poached plums, or the pistachio affogato.

Where to find it: Grand Parade, BA2 4DF or here on Google Maps.

© Solina Pasta via Instagram

Sotto Sotto

Step away from the limestone streets of Bath and straight into Italy at Sotto Sotto. This authentic restaurant is a short walk from a myriad of must-see spots, including Pulteney Bridge, Parade Gardens, Sally Lunn’s and the Roman Baths. Like a lot of restaurants and pubs in the city, it’s underground and accessed via a steep set of steps from street level – something to bear in mind for guests with limited mobility.

Once inside, you’ll be shown to a candlelit table, poured a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir, and left to browse the menu of pasta, seafood and risotto dishes. Highlights include prawn linguine, butternut squash fettucce and fresh grilled swordfish with roasted vegetables.

Where to find it: 10 North Parade, BA2 4AL or here on Google Maps.

Walcot House

A short walk from The Circus and a stone’s throw from the River Avon, Walcot House is tucked into one of Bath’s best foodie neighbourhoods. An all-day restaurant and café-bar, it’s led by a team of chefs who are passionate about nose-to-tail cooking. The restaurant sources its meats from its own butcher, the bread is baked in-house, and all other ingredients come from local Somerset producers.

Walcot House opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or you can just pop in for a drink at their Dilly Bar. Cocktail highlights include classics like negronis and espresso martinis, or opt for a unique “Thistle and Hive” whisky special with honey and chocolate bitters.

Evening meals here are best enjoyed with friends – take your pick from sharing cuts of chateaubriand and bavette to pair with hispi cabbage, skin-on fries or pan-fried courgettes from the tempting sides menu. Plus, if live jazz nights are your thing, keep an eye on their Instagram page for 2025 dates.

Where to find it: 90b Walcot Street, BA1 5BG or here on Google Maps.

© Walcot House via Instagram

Salathai

Adding to Bath's best restaurants, it’s unassuming hidden gems like this one that make city's food scene so unique. If you’re looking for a true taste of Asia in a restaurant focussed on quality, book a table at Salathai on Pierrepont Street. With dinner served from 6 to 9pm every day, its intimate size (roughly 20 tables) and proximity to Bath Abbey means it’s a popular spot when the Bath Christmas Markets are in full swing.

While it may lack the luxurious interiors and showy cocktails featured elsewhere on our list, the food here is simply a must-try. In particular, we’d recommend the moreish Pad Thai with prawns or chicken, the pad nam mun hoi with duck, or the Gaeng Kiew Wann curry. Plus, it's perfectly positioned for a post-dinner walk to see Pulteney Weir by night, with a gelato from The Real Italian Ice Cream Co picked up en route (two-minute walk away).

Where to find it: 14 – 15 Pierrepont Street, BA1 1LA or here on Google Maps.

The Circus

For modern European food accompanied by old-world wines, The Circus is considered one of the best restaurants in Bath. The Times list it as one of their top 20 “secret restaurants that foodies love”, and you’ll find it at the top of the city, near Bath’s Royal Cresent. Having opened its doors over 15 years ago, the restaurant was taken over by head chef Matthew Lisanti in 2021.

Menu-wise, think starters like Sri Lankan roti, mains like duck a l’orange and desserts like dark chocolate ganache pecan tart. The Circus opens Monday to Saturday, children must be aged seven or over to dine, and it’s worth noting that the bathrooms are accessed via a flight of stairs.

Where to find it: 34 Brock Street, BA1 2LN or here on Google Maps.

© The Circus via Instagram

Bandook Kitchen

Brought to you by the team behind Mint Room on Lower Bristol Road, you’ll find Bandook Kitchen in Milsom Place. A lovely part of the city surrounded by boutique homeware stores, courtyard gardens and cocktail bars, it’s a five-minute walk from The Jane Austen Centre, and provides the perfect end to a day’s sight-seeing in Bath.

The packed menu features everything you’d hope for in an authentic Indian restaurant: curries, rice dishes, chaats and salads. Promising to be big on flavour, there are small plates like tofu chilli bites and Punjabi lamb chops, as well as heartier dishes like the Somerset tandoori murgh which is marinated in yoghurt, chilli and spices, then cooked in a clay oven.

Where to find it: 3 – 7 Milsom Place, BA1 1BZ or here on Google Maps.

© Bandook Kitchen

Dough

A city of pizza-lovers, Bath is lucky enough to have two Dough restaurants. One is in The Corridor near Guildhall, but we’d recommend heading to the larger spot in Kingsmead Square. There’s a nice mix of indoor and outdoor tables here which makes al fresco dining all the more tempting in summer.

Menu-wise, Dough specialises in traditional and speciality pizza, meaning you can opt for a margherita on your first visit and a seafood-topped feast on your next. There’s also plenty of choice if salad bowls, pasta dishes or calzones are more your thing. Founders Massimo and Emiliano are passionate about making their food accessible for everyone, so diners with dietary requirements can expect gluten-free and vegetarian dishes too.

Where to find it: 9 Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AB or here on Google Maps.

Banana Tree

Banana Tree is a Southeast Asian kitchen that’s known for its punchy flavours and botanical décor. It’s at the top of Bath on Milsom Street, with menus featuring dishes from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Our favourites are the grilled teriyaki salmon from the “Explorer’s Tapas” set menu, and the Singapore Laksa with rice noodles.

We think this restaurant may be a good choice for guests with accessibility needs. There are plenty of tables with space to move around, and an accessible toilet that’s wheelchair-friendly. Milsom Street is on a gradual slope, but the ramp into the restaurant should make for a hassle-free dining experience.

Where to find it: 15 Milsom Street, BA1 1DE or here on Google Maps.

© Banana Tree

Olio

Located on the outskirts of Bath at the Homewood in Freshford, you’ll find great food and gorgeous interiors at Olio. It's considered one of the best places to eat in Bath, and the bar and conservatory are dog-friendly.

For something truly unique, book a dining dome for up to eight guests and soak up an evening beneath the stars. As lunch (12 – 3pm), dinner (7 – 10pm) or afternoon tea (4 – 6pm) is served, mood lighting will flicker, glasses will clink and blankets will keep everyone warm through winter.

On the menu, look forward to Wiltshire venison loin, herb-crusted black seabream, and smoked Merrifield Farm duck breast – with ingredients sourced just over the border in Devon.

Where to find it: Abbey Lane, Freshford, BA2 7TB or here on Google Maps.

© Olio via Instagram

The Pig near Bath

Sitting pretty on the Mendip Hills, The Pig near Bath prides itself on a 25-mile menu and high-quality kitchen garden produce. Menus can change as often as twice daily, but signature dishes include Creedy Carver duck breast, hand rolled cavatelli, Newton Farm pork loin and South West shellfish stew.

If you’re tempted by a tipple, head to the bar for a crisp Somerset cider, or try the “Time After Thyme” cocktail: a rich and citrussy blend of Cotswolds Distillery single malt whisky, Drambuie, blackberry and thyme jam and lemon juice.

Where to find it: Hunstrete House, Pensford, BS39 4NS or here on Google Maps.

© The Pig near Bath

Foodie holidays in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall

Left: Compass Point in Coverack | Middle: Upcott Farm in Dulverton | Right: Waterside in Salcombe

Tempted by a foodie staycation? Fall in love with our luxury homes in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. With instant access to our team's expert knowledge from the moment you book, we can take care of restaurant reservations, taxi bookings, and even in-house private chefs. Find out more about our concierge service and make those holiday dreams a reality.

Image credits: © Banana Tree | © Bandook Kitchen | © Olio via Instagram | © The Circus via Instagram | © The Pig near Bath (including main image) | © Solina Pasta via Instagram | © Walcot House via Instagram | All other images are our own.