The county of Somerset is a gorgeous rural holiday heaven and is full of charm. As for its restaurants, Somerset offers some of the best and most interesting places to eat in the South West; we’ve compiled a guide to help you narrow down your choices.
Whilst you are discovering Somerset’s best places to eat and drink, enjoy a stay at one of our self-catering holiday cottages. If you are a budding chef yourself, many of our properties have impressive kitchens, packed out with all the latest gadgetry and features like large ovens and lots of worktop space. Visit our collection of Somerset holiday cottages today.
Read through our list of places to eat in Somerset - booking ahead is advised at many of them because they can all get very busy during peak times and holiday periods.
Somerset cottages
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Top gastropubs in Somerset
The Forester’s Arms, Dunster | £
Somerset certainly isn’t short of gastropubs; it’s a veritable jungle of tasty prospects. The Forester’s Arms, close to Dunster Castle, is the pub food vendor to head to if you are in the area. Dunster is one of the best places to stay in Somerset, and there’s nothing better than a hearty lunch or dinner in a gastropub after a wander around the village. Serving a broad menu with surf-n-turf choices and vegetarian options, you could enhance your meal with a pint of ale or a nice glass of wine from the bar. The Sunday lunch here is also worth the trip; be sure to book in advance because it’s a popular choice.
Stay at: High House | sleeps 10 + 2 dogs
The Riverside Inn, Cheddar | £
The Riverside Inn near Cheddar Gorge is worth seeking out if you like a sturdy lunch after drumming up an appetite after walking on the trail. It’s a delightful village pub that specialises in serving and cooking up delicious and unfussy food that keeps pace with the farming calendar. Using local producers, you know the pub is truly an important part of the local community. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, if you are in Cheddar Gorge on a fun-filled Somerset day out, this place could well become your local HQ.
Stay at: Riverside Bridge Apartment | sleeps 2
Top Italian restaurants in Somerset
Scoozie Ristorante, Clevedon | ££
Tucked away in the Victorian seaside town of Clevedon is this wonderful Italian restaurant. Specialising in delicious wood-fired oven-baked pizzas and a wide menu full of Italian classics along with some exciting, modern dishes, this restaurant combines stylish, contemporary, yet informal dining. At Scoozi, the chefs use only the freshest and finest ingredients to produce its authentic Italian cuisine, and the pizza dough is made fresh daily – so you know you’re in good hands.
Stay at: Red Apple Lodge | sleeps 2 + 1 dog
Il Michelangelo Restaurant, Weston-super-Mare | ££
Il Michelangelo Italian Restaurant of Weston-super-Mare is another sure bet for authentic Italian food and hospitality. Giving you the taste of Italy, it uses the freshest produce from high-quality local suppliers. It prides itself on providing a comfortable environment, with excellent service and attention to detail to complement the food and wine list. Why not visit after working up an appetite on a coastal walk nearby?
Stay at: The Coach House - Royal Sands |sleeps 6
Top Indian restaurants in Somerset
Mem-Saab, Yeovil | ££
Mem-Saab in the heart of Yeovil is a great Indian restaurant and takeaway. It specialises in bringing you the exquisite tastes of Asia, perfected by its experienced chefs and made using the freshest authentic ingredients. Enjoy the most mouth-watering flavours with the finest ingredients and using sweet and hot spices, stimulating the palate to the very last bite. Mumbai flavours with a sprinkle of Somerset charm await.
Stay at: Hyde Cottage | sleeps 2
The Curry Garden, Weston-super-Mare | ££
Weston-super-Mare is a great place for an evening meal of the exotic kind. Head to the Curry Garden to experience all the authentic flavours of India. It offers a unique outing by bringing a sense of style and sophistication to the restaurant scene of Weston-super-Mare. You can dine-in, enjoy takeaway options, as well as choose from lots of vegetarian and vegan dishes too.
Stay at: Newbarn Lodge | sleeps 2 + 2 dogs
Top dog-friendly places to eat in Somerset
The Windmill, Portishead | £
The Windmill is a dog-friendly pub inside a former windmill, located on the lovely waterfront at Portishead. Overlooking the Severn Estuary, this is a good spot for a dog walk along the beach or promenade just metres away. Dogs can enjoy a refreshing bowl of water after charging about on the sand, whilst you order a nice pint or a glass of wine. There is a large picture window or glass wall where you can enjoy the waterside views from the comfort of the pub. The menu is full of British pub favourites. The dining area is a dog-free zone, however our four-legged friends are more than welcome in the bar area and the pub garden.
Stay at: Mendip View | sleeps 5 + 2 dogs
The Cottage, Taunton | £
The Cottage Inn is a very pleasant dog-friendly pub near Taunton with a cosy and welcoming feel to it. It serves Somerset ales and ciders alongside proper pub grub like sausage and mash, fish and chips, and burgers, as well as veggie choices too. Dogs are made to feel like special guests here and they’re allowed in all areas of the pub so you can drink and dine with your best friend by your side. Dog treats are available at the bar! This place isn’t dog-friendly as an afterthought; it really is a genuinely excellent place to enjoy a pint with your pet unhindered.
Stay at: Kibbear The Byre | Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
More Somerset dog-friendly pubs
Top Somerset pubs with the best views
The Old Ship Aground, Minehead | £
Relax with a pint and a spot of delicious lunch at this wonderful gastropub located on Minehead's harbour; the iconic Old Ship Aground is a vibrant spot bursting with character, so expect a warm welcome. Take a look at the interesting wine menu and its varied selection of ales and ciders. The River Cottage-inspired menu concocted from home-grown or locally sourced produce is worth visiting this pub for. Seafood aficionados, make your way down to the Old Ship Aground as the menu showcases delights from the local coast. As for the view, you can see the town’s lovely harbour and views across the Bristol Channel to Wales (on a clear day).
Stay at: Mulberry Cottage - Somerset | sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
The Bottom Ship Inn, Porlock Weir | £
Porlock Weir is an exceptionally beautiful village on the Somerset coast. The Bottom Ship Inn is a charming watering hole, a perfect place for thirsty patrons to enjoy a refreshing selection of real ales and local ciders as well as the freshly cooked hearty pub fare. Coincide a visit with WeirFest, which occurs every June, a blend of live music, BBQ and ale tasting.
Stay at: Porlock Sunnyside | sleeps 6 + 1 dog
Stay in Somerset
We hope our guide has inspired you to take a gourmet trip to Somerset. As you can see, there is a broad choice of places to eat and drink all across the county from fine dining options to cool dog-friendly pubs with excellent views. Stay at one of our self-catering cottages on your holiday to Somerset. Our collection is comprised of alluring holiday properties to suit any of your requirements from large family cottages to cosy countryside boltholes. Bring your hound too, as an increasing number of our holiday homes welcome dogs.
Somerset cottages
Photo credits:
- Foresters @ Wintersinpetra
- The Riverside @ lindyloubigmac
- Scoozie @ cowabungadoood4
- Il Michelangelo Restaurant @ hannahk.m.g
- Mem-Saab @ takingcurry
- Curry Garden @ eatsleepinsomerset
- Windmill @ cbvdata
- The Cottage @ millybeels
- Old Ship Aground @ oldshipaground
- Bottom Ship @ porlockcrow_magnon