6 Best Restaurants in The West Country, England

Occupying a former police station, this modern, clean-lined restaurant affords serene views over the passing swans and boats. Upstairs, the more formal restaurant serves delicately cooked dishes like Brixham plaice with 'nduja butter, clams, and samphire, or local asparagus, pea, and fava risotto, while the lip-smacking desserts include passion fruit syllabub with marshmallow and macerated strawberries or ricotta mousse cheesecake with almonds. On the river level, the Pontoon Bar has a more rough-and-ready menu that includes mussels, pan-fried peppers, and burgers, and with its terrace seating, it also makes a great spot for a weekend brunch, afternoon coffee, or evening drinks.

Despite the name, this laid-back and vaguely eccentric restaurant is quintessentially English and is ideal for a relaxed lunch away from the nearby rigors of the Park Street shopping scene. Generous salads, soups, and burgers are available, as are all-day breakfasts and brunches. Find your table first, then either make your order via the QR code or note the table number and order at the bar—you can sit in one of the airy rooms upstairs or in the terraced backyard—a secluded spot for a cup of tea with lemon drizzle cake. The restaurant opens at 8 am and closes at 5 pm (4 pm on Sunday).

Opposite the cathedral, this child-friendly tearoom and restaurant spread over two floors is ideal for lunch, coffee, or snacks. You can also sample one of Devon's famous cream teas, served with jam, scones, and clotted cream, or show up earlier for eggs Benedict or a cooked English breakfast. For lunch, try the Mediterranean-style couscous salad (with spring onions, tomato, red peppers, and focaccia), a "Devon fire burger," or just a sandwich. There's a good range of vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, plus West Country beers and ciders. Tables are available outside in Cathedral Close in fine weather.

For views and location, this breezy beachside eatery with a crisp, modern interior and deck seating can't be beat. On the menu you'll find hearty breakfasts and a judicious balance of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes for lunch and dinner, from salads, sandwiches, and burgers to fish risotto and sweet potato and chickpea red Thai curry. There's also a beach bar for drinks, ice creams, and other snacks, barbecues at weekends in summer (roughly Easter–Oct.), and live music on Sunday evenings.

The best of the numerous natural-food cafés on Glastonbury's High Street offers a fresh and friendly setting in which to enjoy the organic, locally sourced dishes. The menu includes filled jacket potatoes; sourdough sandwiches and toasties; vegetable quiche; Stilton and walnut salad; and a garden platter that consists of flatbread, dips, marinated olives, and salad (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available, of course). A congenial, wooden-floored space with local art on the walls, the café is best known for its breakfasts, snack lunches, coffees, and teas, but it's also occasionally open for dinner. There's a small garden out back, too.

This welcoming tearoom and restaurant offers homemade scones and cakes as well as authentic Devon cream teas served with clotted cream and jam. The menu also lists a range of breakfast dishes, light lunches, and snacks to keep you going, including salads, sandwiches, and Welsh Rarebit, and the daily specials board is also worth consulting. Gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian diets are catered for. It's popular, so call ahead to be sure of a table.