10 Best Local Restaurants in Bath

The Circus is a much-loved family restaurant that specialises in seasonal, locally sourced and freshly cooked English fare. A hub for foodies in the city, this restaurant stands out for its friendly service, fair pricing and, of course, their fabulous food.

With a focus on fresh produce, the menu changes frequently yet always scores high on both value and quality. Utilising meat, seafood, dairy and vegetables from the surrounding area, it offers a true taste of Bath and the wider county of Somerset. Situated between Bath Circus and the Royal Crescent, The Circus sits in a fine Georgian house and remains busy year-round, so booking is always advised.

Bath is a genteel city with a slow pace of life. Enjoying some cakes and tea served in bone China cups is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours here. Sally Lunn’s teahouse is one of many tearooms in Bath, but we prefer this spot down a narrow alleyway close to Bath Abbey. Not only is it reported to be the oldest house in Bath (built in 1482), but this is where the famous fluffy buns known as Sally Lunn buns were first baked. This sweet, brioche-style bread goes great with a cup of tea.

Situated inside a 4-floored Georgian townhouse with a rustic-chic interior, Clayton’s Kitchen, headed by renowned chef Robert Clayton, has been a staple of Bath’s dining scene since 2012. The menu changes seasonally, but dishes are inspired by modern French and Mediterranean cuisine. There’s also an extensive wine list, vegan options, and a children’s menu.

We recommend trying the honey-roasted Creedy Carver free-range duck breast, the roasted cannon of lamb or the roasted fillet of beef, followed by a dessert such as a lemon meringue pie or a vanilla panna cotta. If you want to dine on a budget, visit during lunch and order from the set menu.

At The Herd Steak Restaurant in Bath, the locally sourced, 21-day aged fillet, ribeye and sirloin steaks always go down a treat, particularly when washed down with a prosecco or brandy, followed by a delectable dessert such as ginger ice cream or sticky toffee pudding. Adding to the restaurant’s charm are rustic wooden tables and painted stone walls, housed inside a historic building in Bath’s city centre.

If you want to enjoy dinner at The Herd Steak Restaurant on Friday or Saturday, we recommend booking a table in advance, though there’s usually no wait through the week or during lunch.

At the Michelin-starred Henry’s Restaurant, you can feast on elevated British fare with seasonal vegetables inside a relaxed bistro with a sophisticated décor and wooden seating. A set lunch menu is offered from Wednesday to Saturday, while 5- or 7-course tasting menus are offered at dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.

Menu favourites at Henry’s Restaurant include lobster bisque and lamb rump, and there’s an extensive selection of treats for vegetarians. Booking a table in advance comes highly recommended.

The OAK Restaurant is Bath’s premier vegetarian diner, serving up tasty treats such as pea risotto, polenta and cooked dhal with a focus on local ingredients. After your main course, you can treat yourself to an ice cream, strawberry parfait or chocolate ganache, paired with a dessert wine, gin martini or bellini. If you don’t drink alcohol, you’ll enjoy the tea, espresso or chocolate frappe.

If you want to try a range of ingredients and flavours, order from the tasting menu, though the 2-course set menu is delicious and affordably priced. There may be a small wait for a table over dinner on weekends.

A stalwart of the city’s dining scene, Sotto Sotto is widely considered to be Bath’s best Italian restaurant. Located in an intimate space beneath the kind of grand old building that Bath is famous for, the dimly lit, stone-walled ambience at Sotto Sotto perfectly evokes the city’s Roman heritage.

While there is nothing innovative or daring about its menu, diners continue to return to this subterranean eatery for classic Italian cuisine executed with real panache. Standouts include fresh chicken livers served on homemade Tuscan bread. For those seeking something lighter, the chargrilled polenta with caramelised butternut squash, cream of spinach and pecorino cheese is a speciality that Sotto Sotto is famous for.