15 Best Restaurants in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England, England

This family-run (by four brothers) riverside café-restaurant, a short walk away from the castle and other attractions, feels like a secret dining spot, but it's quite popular. The location, by the weir of the River Teme, creates a soothing setting for what is very much feel-good food: the wholesome, original dishes use seasonal local produce and are infused with global flavors. Vegetarian and vegan options are excellent, and drinks pairings are suggested. There is a great wine list and local beer, as well as home-pressed kombucha from Shrewsbury (the family has a restaurant there too) and other tasty booze-free drinks. Even if you're not hungry, this is a great spot for coffee and a paddle. 

Theatergoers tucking into an early supper to the strains of the piano in the bar, grandmothers enjoying afternoon tea, and couples lingering over candlelit suppers can all happily be found at this restaurant with rooms. Chefs source the best ingredients locally where possible, including meat from Stratford's own Barry the Butcher, and serve up hearty dishes such as pork loin, rib-eye steak, or a signature fish stew.

At one of the most exciting restaurants in Hereford (but not an actual bookstore), you can browse the nice selection of books while you kick back for a leisurely brunch or dinner with great updated British food and drinks in a hip atmosphere. The Sunday roasts have become a must for locals. The laid-back yard, shared with the burger joint and pizza place next door, is one of the city's coolest hangouts.

Once a fire station, this bustling bistro is now unashamedly French and rustic, with red-and-white-check tablecloths and a menu chalked up on the blackboard. Start with some moules marinières (mussels cooked in a white-wine-and-onion sauce) or French onion soup and move on to grilled sea bass or a classic rib-eye steak with Café du Paris butter. The two-course, prix-fixe menu is a great value.

The only pub in Britain to be licensed under two names (the more informal one came courtesy of American GIs who were stationed here during World War II), this is one of Stratford’s most celebrated and consistently rated pubs, attracting actors since the 18th-century days of thespian David Garrick. Along with your pint of bitter, you can choose from the extensive pub-grub menu of fish-and-chips, steaks, burgers, and grills; there are also good-value light bites. Now part of the well-established Greene King Inns, it's not the most characterful of pubs. Still, the lovely veranda that overlooks the theaters and the river makes it worth a visit.

The luxuriant marigolds in the window might draw you in, but locals will tell you it's the Indian dishes that are the real appeal here. The extensive menu lists plenty of balti and rogan josh choices; for a little less heat, try the tandoori chicken with mild spices and mixed fruits, or increase the heat a bit with jhinga bhuna (king-size prawns in a spicy tomato sauce with coriander). Wash it all down with Cobra draft beer.

Birmingham has some of the country’s finest Indian restaurants, and this is one of the best in the city. The cooking concentrates on north Indian dishes like koyla murgh (chicken marinated in yogurt and seared over charcoal) and hara bhara gosht (a casserole of lamb cooked with garlic, chili, and spinach). The decor is traditional and colonial; potted palms and portraits rub shoulders with Raj-style antiques.

There’s always a satisfied hum in the air at this large, modern, and bustling bistro, part of a small chain, that’s close to the river. It’s French and the menu makes that known; olives from Provence, sausage from the Beaujolais region, pâtés, mussels in a Roquefort sauce, beef bourguignon, and rustic French cheeses all appear. Croque monsieur (toasted ham and cheese sandwich) is a popular lunchtime dish. Vegetarians and kids are well catered for, and the service is amicable and attentive.

A location a little hidden away from the main throng makes this gastropub a popular choice for locals and in-the-know visitors. Inside, the wooden tables and floors have a worn, lived-in look that helps create a relaxed atmosphere, and the secret courtyard is a real delight. Local ales are on tap, but it’s the inventive menu with twists on favorite pub dishes that really hits the spot, with items such as the shrimp burger or the Asian-inspired coleslaw served with some dishes.

Hearty, warming meals are offered at this informal, family-style restaurant in a 16th-century building on the main dining street near the theaters. The updated English and international dishes win praise from the locals. There’s a good range of light options and fixed-price menus as well. Make reservations a month ahead in summer.

A stylish dining room is the perfect setting for the inventive Punjabi cuisine at this popular curry palace and cocktail bar on bustling Broad Street. White linen tablecloths, neutral hues, and accents of gold and amber create a plush dining setting, and the food doesn’t disappoint either: try the spinach and prune cakes to start, or the chef’s selection of five appetizers, the Pushkar Panorama, if you want to to sample some unexpected flavors. Your server will guide you through the mains, depending on how spicy you like things—the house specialty tariwala murgh is a good medium-spiced option, and the buttered naan is heavenly. For dessert, try the gajar ka halwa tart, a bed of grated carrots with condensed milk and spices, served with pistachio ice cream.

Plain wood floorboards, comfy sofas, sturdy wooden tables, and solidly good food and drink set the tone at this contemporary gastropub with rooms on the town’s main square. It’s popular with locals, and the owners take pride in offering seasonal food with a focus on sustainability, mixing British and international influences. The set menu from noon to 6 pm is very good value. There's a good area for outdoor dining too. Moderately priced bedrooms provide stylish lodging in the pub and across the lane.

Family-run, this longtime restaurant takes a more formal, old-fashioned approach to service. The menu of traditional Italian favorites is cooked from family recipes and includes main dishes such as veal sirloin grilled with rosemary and garlic butter and black linguine with crab-claw meat and scallops. Upon arrival, sip an aperitif in the lounge before being escorted to your table for a silver-service, white-tablecloth meal. Pre-theater dinners are a good value.

The imaginative, bistro-inspired menu varies each day at this café and wine bar set in a 15th-century building. Tempting British and European-style dishes include confit leg of duck bigarade with dauphinoise potatoes and seared beef fillet Stroganoff. To dine before curtain time, arrive early or make a reservation. The building, largely unaltered since the late 1400s, has lovely flagstone floors and oak beams.

Near the main row of shops and cafés in Ironbridge, this river-facing pub with a large outdoor terrace offers relaxed dining and light lunches in its bar area and a more refined but hearty menu in the country-style dining room. Staff are friendly and helpful, ingredients are of a high quality, and the pub also has some comfortable rooms for those looking to stay the night.