The most picturesque restaurants in the UK – which don’t compromise on food

London

At first you might feel a little sorry for Brunswick House. A once-grand Georgian mansion, it’s stuck in the middle of the mayhem that is Vauxhall; the glossy skyscrapers of Nine Elms to one side and a hectic transport hub the other. Step inside though, and it’s obvious that Brunswick House doesn’t give a toss. A kind of Miss Havisham fever dream, the main dining room is part architectural salvage yard, part antique chandelier display store. Giant vintage posters line the walls and you can venture down into the historic vault bar below for regular jazz nights. The food just so happens to be some of the best in London too; the grilled potato bread with green garlic butter is the stuff of legend.

Kent

In front of you: a perfectly seared sharing steak and the crispiest of mini ratte potatoes. But around you? A distraction, the good kind: the painstakingly restored Boys Hall, a Jacobean mansion and restaurant-with-rooms that dates back to 1616. It’s the kind of space where both your boyfriend and your nan would feel at home, with its pea-coloured velvet bench seats and bottle-green leather chairs. There’s a wood-burning stove and huge fireplace to one side and a view of the flower-filled lawns on the other. Some come for the great-value set lunch, others for pricier steak, but the sensible come for an evening meal and stay the night, retreating to opulent rooms that royalty have slept in and waking up the next day to one of the best English breakfasts in the county.

Cornwall

On first glace, it might just look like a wooden shed overlooking the beach – and in some ways, it is. But its simplicity is part of what makes Hidden Hut so irresistible – as well as its delicious, windswept spins on classic British grub (expect pasties, sandwiches, ice cream and epic BBQs), lack of phone signal and tangible community spirit. Situated on a National Trust coastal path offering glorious views over the Roseland Penisula, there’s an irresistable British charm to this place that makes the experience of eating here just as beautiful in the 35-degree Cornish summers as it does in the damp and drizzle. If you can get your hands on a ticket, their local feast nights are a must-do, too.

Argyll & Bute

Situated in a former crofter’s cottage and boat store on the shores of Loch Fyne, acclaimed contemporary Scottish restaurant Inver is completely at one with its surroundings. Views from the bright and humble dining room – with its exposed timber flooring, white walls and sheepskin-covered armchairs – are across the tidal flats of one of Scotland’s most stunning sea lochs. Founder-owners Pamela Brunton and Rob Latimer pride themselves on making the dining experience as personal as possible, as well as ensuring the journey your food takes to plate is short and sustainable. Expect the very best local, wild and farmed ingredients used in traditional Scottish dishes done with a modern twist – from Cumbrae oysters with habanero hot sauce to scallop with carrot and kumquat.

London

Edinburgh

Dark, oak panelled walls, long candle sticks, a towering bust of Lucifer himself and just footsteps away from Edinburgh Castle, eating at The Witchery is enough to make you feel like you’re in a fairytale, ‘Dracula’ – or at least one of the Shrek films. This 16th century building, done up in the most decadent, gothic baroque style, is both dark as it is romantic. Food wise, expect everything rich, seasonal and Scottish – we’d recommend their two-course lunch menu, or try booking a room in the equally stunning hotel so you can roll right from dessert into a deep slumber. 

Brighton

There tends to only be a handful of days when the UK’s lovely beaches can be enjoyed in all their sunny glory – but in Brighton, that’s not really a problem. The team behind the OG Riddle & Finns in The Lanes have expanded to this breathtaking space housed inside the renovated former glass dome of Shelter Hall: a glitzily-decorated shield from the elements which offers you a front row seat to observe them. The panoramic, floor-to-ceiling French doors make for a bright, elegant place to dine in summer, but hearing the waves crash around the restaurant’s exterior on a stormy evening, with a glass of wine and some heartily-cooked fish, is an unexpectedly sensory way to enjoy the taste of the sea.

London

You might already recognise the dining room of uber-trendy Clerkenwell resto Sessions Arts Club from on screen in Killing Eve, or at least your Instagram Explore page. Situated in a Grade II-listed former courthouse – all pink, peeling plaster, restored double-storey columns, large arched windows and a mezzanine – it’s irrestably romantic, like you’re eating in a fading Venetian villa rather than in Zone 1. Food wise, ex-Polpetto chef Florence Knight doesn’t skimp in the kitchen: expect dedacant bowls of pasta, arty takes on seafood and their legendary confit potato and eel. 

Lake District

First of all, this place has a cool three Michelin stars. So, while it might be reasonably difficult to get to – in the small village of Cartmel in the heart of the Lake District – it’s very much attested that Simon Rogan’s 16-course hyper-seasonal tasting menu is worth the journey. The restaurant itself, situated within an eight-centuries-old former blacksmiths, is just the right sort of quaint: with crooked, characterful white-washed walls, wood-panelled ceilings and other original features balancing with tasteful contemporary sculptures and Scandi-style seating. Lush.

Manchester

You’ll catch your breath as you walk into the dining room of this former stock exchange building, which now houses Great British Menu star Niall Keating’s new restaurant Tender. Built in 1904, the Grade II listed building has all the curves and domes of its Edwardian Baroque heritage, with an ornate rotunda ceiling guiding your gaze upwards. The sustainably minded chef has given the space a bit of a green bath with sage-coloured paint on the walls, matching leather seating, and hanging Monstera plants. Expect small plates and brasserie classics like rib of beef and Dover sole with all the requisite emulsions, veloutés and brown butter sauces.

Lochaber, Highlands

It’s a long, windy road to Mingary Castle – so just as well this wildly romantic restaurant-with-rooms has a hell of a lot going for it. Dating back to the 13th-century, the building itself is built into the cliff edge, complete with drawbridge, canon and cobbled courtyard. On a clear day, you’ll get show-stopping views out over the ocean to the Isle of Mull. The interiors are just as stunning: all light wood and unfussy tables balancing just the right amount of tradition and now. That’s before we even mention the food, which uses veg from the local community garden and fish sourced from Tobermory Fish Co in its six-course tasting menu.

Manchester

What would you get if you whacked the ancient architecture of Athens, the agricultural roots of the Aegean Islands, the Epicurean extravagance of Mykonos and a slice of Manchester in a blender? Fenix, a lavish Greek restaurant serving up smashing small plates like tempura halloumi and short rib moussaka. Visually, too, Fenix is a feast – in a nuts sort of way. Inspired by the fiery bird of rebirth, the decor features a flaming cauldron, a ceiling made of barley, a giraffe print floor, a cliff face structure and (go on then!) a 25-foot oak tree. For minimalists, it’s a tragedy. But, for the rest of us, Fenix is the stuff of legend.

Somerset

Bougie Bruton is full of oh-so-perfect places to eat and oh-so-quaint cottages to gaze upon, but none quite compare in ‘ooh’ factor to the grand galleried space that is At The Chapel. A Grade II listed converted place of worship, even the most staunch atheist could possibly thank the lord if they time their visit correctly. Dappled sunset twinkling through the two large 18th century chapel windows as you tuck into your dainty small plate of smoked chicken caesar with bacon croute and boquerones is an experience not to be missed.