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At its best, Michelin-starred dining is more than just the food, it turns everything you thought you knew about eating on its head and makes you think, smell and taste ever so slightly differently when you walk out of the door. Sometimes the experience is so mind-bending and brilliant it demands an overnight stay to allow it to settle in, before rounding everything off with breakfast the next morning. We’ve explored the furthest reaches of the UK to map out the very best Michelin-approved restaurants with rooms, to make your next culinary extravagance last a little longer.
Ynyshir, Machynlleth, Powys
Eleonora Boscarelli
It’s difficult to put your finger on Ynyshir because it exists in a league of its own. From everything that passes your lips to how it gets there, it’s bold, brazen and unapologetic. They proudly refuse to cater to dietary requirements or offer any substitutions; it’s Chef Gareth Ward’s way or the highway. Over four to five hours, Ward guides you through 30 courses using the finest ingredients from around the world and closer to home, set to a thunderous selection of underground electronic records. Retire at the end of the night, mind enlightened and palette exhausted, to one of the few rooms next door.
The Black Swan, Olstead, Yorkshire
Photo by Andrew Hayes-Watkins
Neatly tucked into the fringes of the North York Moors, The Black Swan is the perfect countryside pub: roaring fires, exposed beams and a contemporary, explorative tasting menu to balance out all that tradition. The produce-driven menu is mostly sourced from chef Tommy Banks’ (above) nearby family farm which uses sustainable farming practices, hence the addition of a green star to the pub’s Michelin badge of honour. When the seasons change, Banks’ preservation techniques ensure plates are always laden with interesting ingredients, even in the darkest Yorkshire months. All nine rooms strike a balance between countryside cosiness and luxury with grand four-poster beds and roll-top baths. Breakfast is like tying a big red ribbon on the experience, with the option of Tunworth cheese and truffle omelettes when in season.
Osip, Bruton, Somerset
Maureen Evans
A tiny slice of heaven in rural Somerset, Osip celebrates the simple without compromising on brilliance. A sense of calm washes over you as you step inside, due to tastefully pared-back interiors and an innate sense of trust in what chef Merlin Labron-Johnson will deliver. Beneath the unfussy surface there’s complex, culinary genius. Plants are the heroes, most of which come from Labron-Johnson’s organic allotment, and each dish is masterfully executed; no fuss, no faff, just an effortless, self-assured harmony of flavours. Stay the night at Number One, a guesthouse of 12 perfectly charming rooms with a living room filled with contributions from locals including Don McCullin, Bill Amberg and Candace Bahouth.
Grace & Savour, Solihull, West Midlands
@grace_and_savour @hamptonmanor
The restaurant concept came to life as a response to broken food systems and a visit to Grace & Savour is like a 360° culinary experience that unfolds over 24 hours: you’ll be checked in by the chef, guided through the gardens as an introduction to dinner, and encouraged to step into (provided) wellies to explore the estate for yourself. The entire experience is designed to trace the journey from place, to produce, to plate, and the food is sensational – bold yet delicate and nourishing. When you’re not immersed in the great outdoors, you’ll be relaxing amongst the hyper-local interiors – think earthy palettes and ceramics made by local craftspeople.
Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles, Perthshire
It makes perfect sense that Scotland’s only two-Michelin-star restaurant calls the iconic Gleneagles hotel – opened over a century ago – home. Restaurant Andrew Fairlie is like stepping back in time – with dark wood panelling, glinting tableware, and art under spotlights – a dose of old-world decadence in an industry that now leans towards white-walled minimalism. Food is as elegant as you might expect, with a French heart and a Scottish soul. One of the UK’s best Michelin-starred restaurants with rooms.
Marle, Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Bound by the rhythms of nature, Marle’s innovative commitment to sustainability has earned them a green star and an honourary place on this list. Menus are super seasonal, guided by the availability of estate-grown produce at Heckfield’s organic and biodynamic farms. What sets Marle apart from the sea of sustainability-driven concepts is its no-waste menu: three courses made entirely from ingredients that might have otherwise been overlooked and unloved. The no-waste theme extends to the cocktail list which is a smart curation of botanical sips. When you’re done with all the guilt-free indulgence, take a foraged pine negroni to one of the 45 stylish rooms set within the bountiful 438-acre estate.
L’Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria
Cristian Barnett
This feature would not be complete without mentioning the fabled L’Enclume, the first restaurant in northern England to be awarded three Michelin stars. The food is faultless and every single ingredient can be traced precisely back to its roots. What makes L’Enclume the gem on England’s culinary crown is the staff, who move in a synchronised dance and immediately dissolve any sense of stuffiness that comes with being so decorated. All the bedrooms are dotted around the village, situated among postcard-like cottages; an overnight stay guarantees a dinner table, as well as breakfast at Rogan & Co. The unparalleled excellence of L’Enclume makes the journey into the depths of Cumbria more like a pilgrimage.
The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Keith Davies
Located on a winding country road in the hills of Abergavenny, The Walnut Tree sits between the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons and has all the hallmarks of a Welsh countryside inn. Dining at this Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms feels like a hug from someone special, the food is delicious, heart-warming and soul-nourishing, the people are passionate, and the bar is complete with a roaring fire. Rooms feel like a home away from home and make the ideal base for countryside rambles punctuated by excellent food.
Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Great Milton, Oxfordshire
Despite its manicured, archetypally British gardens and decadent 15th-century manor house, Le Manoir is anything but pretentious. As impressive as the surroundings are at the hotel, which now belongs to Belmond, legendary chef Raymond Blanc's food is the magic of Le Manoir; always seasonal, rarely sourced beyond the garden walls and mostly French with subtle Asian and Indian references. Go for the Les Saveurs du Manoir tasting menu; stay for the enormous baths.
Moor Hall, Aughton, Lancashire
A tasting menu at Moor Hall means a journey through the restored 16th-century country home and a jaunt through the five acres of groomed grounds surrounding it. You’ll eat snacks in a laid-back space, chat with Head Chef Mark Birchall (a L’Enclume alumnus) in the kitchen, wander through the gardens, and settle into a striking dining room that feels more Scandinavia than Lancashire. The food is a chorus of subversive slap-you-in-the-face combinations and theatrical presentations, which the abundant team refer to as a “journey”; and with a selection of woodland lodges available you can extend the experience and avoid the journey home.
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