The 8 top hidden foodie destinations in the UK

Everyone bangs on about Margate’s food scene, but nearby Deal is like its cute little sister, and possibly Kent’s most exciting food destination right now. And the secret is very much out, with a ton of new openings from the last few years, including Cherub’s, the first solo venture by London’s Bouchon Rachine chef Jakob Grant (July 2024) and the Blue Pelican, behind the masterful team at The Rose (Nov 2023). But make no mistake, it’s old classics are still going strong too, like the Frog & Scot, where the menu changes daily but offers the best of both its namesake countries with dishes like pig’s head and haggis terrine and stonebass, beurre blanc and parisenne potatoes.

Stay here: Delightful boutique hotel The Rose is a foodie destination in itself – worth visiting for the breakfast alone. 

📍The best things to do in Deal

Charlbury is very, very posh. But try not to hold that against it. This quaint Cotswolds village is fast becoming a foodie mecca and you don’t have to be a red trousered toff to enjoy it. Situated within stomping distance of Soho Farmhouse, you’ll find the excellent likes of The Bull – which is run by the same folk as west London gastropubs The Pelican and The Hero – a ye olde inn with a very modern menu stacked full of super local, super fresh meat and veg. Meanwhile, 17th century pub The Bell serves up a menu full of stock from its sister venue, the fancy farm shop Daylesford – which also isn’t too far from the village, if you want to stock up on upmarket picky bits.

Stay here: Reimagined 18th century cottage ‘The Barn’ is half an hour’s drive away, and is the perfect place to lay your head after stuffing yourself to the brim.

The historic market town of Bury St Edmunds is home to Suffolk’s one and only Michelin star. Pea Porridge is part of Bury’s rich history – the cottages that form the restaurant date back to 1820 and it’s named after the old town green that once stood opposite. The daily-changing menu is anything but traditional, though. Its produce-driven approach combines local ingredients with flavours from North Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, with dishes like Suffolk wild rabbit kibbeh and a Basque-style cheesecake. For a less rustic vibe, head to Maison Bleue for French fine dining with crisp white tablecloths, impeccably dressed waiters and a wine list so impressive it scooped the Michelin Guide Sommelier Award last year.

A short train journey east of Edinburgh delivers you to the seaside town of North Berwick. It’s attracted day-trippers for decades thanks to its iconic seabirds and sandy beaches, but now you can combine a day at the coast with a day of eating very well. Start with a trip to Steampunk Coffee for the finest flat white in town, then follow your nose one street over to pick up a fresh loaf at Bostock Bakery. For lunch, the Herringbone is a crowd-pleaser, while the Lobster Shack offers the freshest catch of the day in an informal setting right on the harbour. For dinner, drive down the road to Gullane to the Bonnie Badger where chef Tom Kitchin has transformed a rustic coaching inn. The price-to-quality ratio of his seasonal Scottish cuisine is so good that the Michelin Guide awarded it a  ‘Bib Gourmand’ this year.

📍The best things to do in North Berwick

For such a dinky village in the middle of nowhere, Bruton punches above its weight in both the art and culinary worlds. The Hauser & Wirth gallery draws in a creative crowd and Roth Bar & Grill feeds them. Set in an old cow shed, the grill is half true to its rustic roots – its popular Wagyu X Burger is made with beef raised on the farm – and half a ‘salon-style’ art exhibition featuring contemporary artists. Other Bruton restaurants of note include Osip, which was awarded a Michelin star this year for its farm-to-table cuisine. Working with whatever’s in season and harvested that morning from its local allotments, the staff have done away with menus and instead ask visitors to trust they’ll serve up something delish.

📍The best things to do in Bruton

To someone passing through, Bray looks like any other quaint parish town. But it has a secret: It’s home to two of the UK’s three-Michelin-starred restaurants. Stellar reputations aside, the two couldn’t be more different. One of the longest-starred restaurants in the UK, The Waterside Inn offers fine-yet-unpretentious dining on the banks of the Thames. The menu may be French – think crispy frogs’ legs with basil agnolotti – but the setting is quintessentially British, with weeping willows and swans sailing past. For something completely different, Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck is one for more experimental foodies. The Fat Duck turns 25 this year and to celebrate you can book tickets for the retrospective ‘anthology menu’ where each seasonal ‘volume’ features some of Heston’s most original dishes.

If the last time you visited Aberystwyth was to see your mate who went to uni there, then you’re missing out on a whole other scene. The now-closed SY23 previously put Aberystwyth on the culinary map when it was awarded a Michelin star (and Michelin’s Opening of the Year Award), but the quaint seaside town has always had loads of independent restaurants. Mediterranean café Medina is a great example with a menu filled with fresh mezze, kebabs and salads. Wine lovers should head to Ultracomida for its huge range of Spanish wines and deli-based menu. This little space started out in Aberystwyth back in 2001 with a small seating area in a cellar and is now a well-loved favourite, with a branch in Cardiff too. 

As of this year, this teeny medieval village in rural Cumbria became home to the first northern restaurant with three Michelin stars. Many of L’Enclume’s ‘truly traceable’, hyperlocal ingredients are harvested from chef Simon Rogan’s nearby 12-acre farm, although a few might leave you furtively Googling before you order (Red Orache? Diana radish? Marigold salt?) Those with a sweet tooth might also be interested in Cartmel’s most famous export. Many years ago, the top-secret recipe for the Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding was born in the village shop. If you can’t justify a trip to the Lakes to grab one, you’ll find the famous Cartmel-branded puddings on the shelves in Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and other fancy stores.