Best tasting menus UK: 33 marvellous multi-course meals across the country

Eating out in the UK used to mean choosing from a three-course a la carte almost everywhere you went, but in recent years, tasting menus have grown in popularity. Why are tasting menus so in vogue? In many cases they make life easier on the restaurant and customer, allowing you to try more dishes and enjoy a special experience. So, we've rounded up a list of the very best across the UK for you to get stuck into.

What is a tasting menu, you might ask? In general, the term is used to cover menus where the guest has no, or very little, choice over the menu when they go out for lunch and dinner. Rather than choosing from a selection of dishes and deciding what you want to eat, the restaurant will lay on a menu of dishes for you to eat - all you have to do is turn up, take a seat and enjoy the ride.

These menus have grown in popularity for a variety of reasons. From a restaurant side, it makes service much more predictable and easier to plan. If you’re fully booked and you know exactly how many guests you’re expecting, you can order and prep exactly the right amount of food, which reduces food waste massively. It also means there are less moving parts during service - everyone knows exactly what they’re cooking and when, whereas with a big a la carte, you need an experienced team who can communicate and cook lots of things simultaneously to a high standard.

For customers, it removes the burden of having to choose what you eat. Fine dining restaurants particularly can be overwhelming with choice and ingredients, and it’s easy to feel like you ordered the wrong thing. Restaurants are often able to showcase all their best cooking on a tasting menu, so you can try a wider variety of snacks and smaller dishes, leaving with a sense that you’ve really enjoyed a night out that couldn’t have been done at home.

Tasting menus aren’t for everyone, but they make fantastic choices for a celebration or a date with a partner who loves food. Often they can be ordered with an accompanying wine flight, where a sommelier will curate wines to go along with each course. 

If you’re on the hunt for ‘the best tasting menus near me’, scroll down to have a look at our best picks for each area of the country, including Scotland and Wales. There are plenty more fantastic restaurants to choose from in our list of the Top 100 London restaurants and Top 100 UK restaurants too.

Best tasting menus Scotland

Scotland is blessed with some of the best produce in the world, so it’s no wonder that you’ll find some outstanding restaurants north of the border.

Glenturret Lalique, Perthshire

What: One of the most talented chefs working in Scotland today, Mark Donald turns out exquisite tasting menus at this stunning restaurant in Crieff, housed inside Scotland’s oldest working distillery.
Where: Glenturret Distillery, Crieff, PH7 4HA
Book now: Glenturret Lalique

Condita, Edinburgh

What: Small, exclusive and rather under the radar until the Michelin star arrived, Condita’s blind, playful tasting menus make this one for the more adventurous - you’ll have no idea what you’re eating before you arrive, but you can be assured that it’ll be hyper-seasonal and true to Scotland’s larder.
Where: 15 Salisbury Place, Newington, EH9 1SL
Book now: Condita

Heron, Edinburgh

What: Heron’s lovely location over the Water of Leith is just the start of its charms - the cooking is wonderful, showing off the very best of Scotland’s seasonal produce with an effortless confidence. This is a great choice if you want outstanding cooking but a more relaxed atmosphere.
Where: 7, 91A Henderson Street, Leith, EH6 6ED
Book now: Heron

Cail Bruich, Glasgow

What: After a career forged in the kitchens of Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, Lorna McNee’s first solo venture has been an unbridled success, garnering a Michelin star in short time and rising to become one of the best restaurants in Glasgow’s rejuvenated restaurant scene.
Where: 725 Great Western Road, West End, G12 8QX
Book now: Cail Bruich

Best tasting menus North East England

From the rolling Yorkshire moors to Northumberland and beyond, the North East is home to some exceptional restaurants that make the most of local produce and beautiful surroundings.

Pignut, North Yorkshire

What: Former Rattle Owl chef Tom Heywood has flown the nest and started up a solo restaurant Pignut in the quaint Yorkshire town of Helmsley. Pignut is small and intimate, featuring seasonal Yorkshire produce in intriguing flavour combinations, surrounded by the beauty of the North York Moors.
Where: 12 Bridge Street, Helmsley, YO62 5DX
Book now: Pignut

Winteringham Fields, Lincolnshire

What: One of the more famous, heritage names in British fine dining, Winteringham Fields remains Lincolnshire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant. The experience isn’t just about the fabulous food - dishes at Winteringham Fields are assembled mostly with ingredients grown in the grounds of the estate, or coming from nearby producers.
Where: 1 Silver Street, Scunthorpe, DN15 9ND
Book now: Winteringham Fields

Pine, Northumberland

What: Pine’s mammoth 18 course tasting menus can look a little overwhelming but they’re far from a chore - half of those are some of the most delicious single bites you’ll ever eat, all from a beautifully renovated old cow barn in the Northumberland countryside.
Where: Vallum Farm, Military Road, East Wallhouses, NE18 0LL
Book now: Pine

Solstice, Newcastle upon Tyne

What: Kenny Atkinson already had Newcastle’s best-known restaurant in House of Tides, but Solstice has taken things one step further, delivering an even more precise, more innovative tasting menus to the north east, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Tyne Bridge.
Where: 5-7 Side, NE1 3JE
Book now: Solstice

Best tasting menus North West England

The North West has been a foodie haven for some time now thanks to the influx of outstanding restaurants in Cumbria, but Lancashire holds its own too, boasting one of the best restaurants in the country in Moor Hall.

Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Lancashire

What: What more can you say about Moor Hall? Mark Birchall’s expansive foodie retreat is an exceptional achievement on every level, taking you between three rooms and through the kitchen garden during your meal. The team makes a huge amount on-site - from charcuterie and aged meat to cheese, bread and more - and there are overnight rooms too, as well as a second restaurant.
Where: Prescot Road, Aughton, L39 6RT
Book now: Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms

Northcote, Lancashire

What: Lisa Goodwin-Allen leads the kitchen at this highly regarded Lancashire bastion of British food, and Northcote has held a Michelin star for over 25 years now. The experience remains just as impeccable as it ever has been, and the restaurant has added a beautiful sunny terrace too, where you can enjoy a drink and a snack before heading into the dining room.
Where: Northcote Road, Langho, BB6 8BE
Book now: Northcote

Forest Side, Cumbria

What: The Forest Side has always had a reputation for precise, sparkling food, but the current incarnation of this well-respected hotel might just be its best ever. Paul Leonard’s menus shine a light on truly outstanding Cumbrian produce, all from a dining room that feels as though it backs right on to the wilds of the Lake District.
Where: Keswick Road, Grasmere, LA22 9RN
Book now: Forest Side

L’Enclume, Cumbria

What: Forgive us for going with the predictable, but this list wouldn’t be complete with L’Enclume. What more is there to say about Simon Rogan’s magnum opus? Not only does it now hold that precious third Michelin star, but it has birthed a generation of chefs who just want to innovate around seasonal modern British food. Not just one of the best tasting menus, but one of the most influential UK restaurants, ever.
Where: Cavendish Street, Cartmel, LA11 6PZ
Book now: L’Enclume

Best tasting menus Wales

Ynyshir has led the charge for Wales becoming a genuine food tourism destination, but there are delights all over the country, from The Whitebrook in the Wye Valley, to Cardiff’s Home by James Sommerin.

Ynyshir, Powys

What: Gareth Ward’s incredible, unique Welsh restaurant should be on everyone’s bucket list. It’s the definition of rockstar dining - Ward cooks up course after course that focuses on fat and flavour, delivering a riotous menu that has justifiably been crowned as one of the very best in the UK.
Where: Eglwys Fach, Machynlleth, SY20 8TA
Book now: Ynyshir

The Jackdaw, Conwy

What: Nick Rudge spent years working under Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck before returning to his North Wales home to open The Jackdaw. There are echoes of Heston magic here too, alongside a desire to celebrate the history and culture of North Wales.
Where: High Street, LL32 8DB
Book now: The Jackdaw

The Whitebrook, Monmouthshire

What: Chris Harrod’s lovely Wye Valley restaurant with rooms is another spot that goes less heralded than it deserves. Harrod is a master of foraging, and his time at Le Manoir shows in dishes that combine masterful technique with seasonal wild food and gorgeous plating.
Where: Whitebrook, Monmouth, NP25 4TX
Book now: The Whitebrook

Home by James Sommerin, Cardiff

What: Though James Sommerin runs the show at this blind tasting menu Cardiff restaurant, this is a family affair, with daughter Georgia also working alongside dad in the kitchen, and wife Louise running the restaurant.
Where: 1 Royal Buildings, Penarth, CF64 3EB
Book now: Home by James Sommerin

Best tasting menus South East England

London attracts most of the attention, naturally, but the rest of the South East has plenty to shout about. Between Kent, Sussex and beyond there are some fabulous restaurants, from historic hotels to independent eateries that grow all their own produce.

Ben Wilkinson at The Pass, West Sussex

What: Ben Wilkinson made a name for himself at The Cottage in the Wood in Cumbria before heading south to take over the renowned flagship restaurant at South Lodge in Horsham. Guests are seated right in the middle of the kitchen, immersing them in the atmosphere of the kitchen over a seven-course tasting menu.
Where: Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham, RH13 6PS
Book now: Ben Wilkinson at The Pass

The Small Holding, Kent

What: Will Devlin has taken this old pub and turned it into a brilliant farm-to-fork restaurant that has regularly featured on our Top 100 Restaurants UK list. Though the restaurant has come far, it still retains the most down-to-earth friendly vibe you can imagine. The food is superb, using ingredients that have often been grown metres away from the dining room and picked just hours before they arrive on the plate.
Where: Ranters Lane, Kilndown, Cranbrook, TN17 2SG
Book now: The Small Holding

Dilsk, East Sussex

What: Dilsk is a small independent fine dining restaurant with a lot to offer. Tom Stephens is the highly accomplished chef behind the operation, who's trained with the greats (Tom Kerridge, Marcus Eaves and the like) and previously worked as head chef at another Brighton favourite, 64 Degrees. There are three tasting menus on offer at Dilsk, from a shorter six-course option for £55, and the 'full' 10-courser for £95 a head.  Dishes change with the seasons, but examples include Orkney scallop with cucumber, melon and smoked ham broth, south coast brill with squid, courgette, salted ricotta and sunflower, and Sussex lamb with girolles, onions, beans and truffle.
Where: 44 Marine Parade, BN2 1PE 
Book now: Dilsk

The Clock House, Surrey

What: The stylish Clock House in Surrey runs a variety of lunch and dinner tasting menus, including a vegetarian tasting menu, which is not as common as you may think (many similar restaurants aren’t able to cater for dietaries). The location is lovely too - an old townhouse right in the centre of Ripley.
Where: High Street, GU23 6AQ
Book now: The Clock House

Furna, Brighton

What: Furna was a revelation when it opened at the back end of 2022, and it seems to remain rather unheralded on the national stage. Truth be told, the tasting menu we enjoyed here was as good as almost anything else we ate all year in the capital and beyond. Brighton is lucky to have such a restaurant on its doorstep.
Where: 6 New Road, BN1 1UF
Book now: Furna

Best tasting menus South West England

With swathes of farmland and coastal waters, the South West has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to produce. No wonder some of the best restaurants in the country are down here, spread from Bristol and Bath right into the far reaches of Cornwall.

Lympstone Manor, Devon

What: It wasn’t all that long ago that Michael Caines was one of the most celebrated chefs in the country, spearheading the two Michelin-starred culinary fortress that was Gidleigh Park. Dare we say, his food at Lympstone Manor might be even better, and with his vineyards also starting to mature, this south Devon retreat offers a lot to foodie visitors.
Where: Courtlands Lane, Exmouth, EX8 3NZ
Book now: Lympstone Manor

Paul Ainsworth at No.6, Cornwall

What: One of the most recognisable chefs in the UK today, what better hands could you find to cook a celebration dinner than Paul Ainsworth’s? No.6 is as excellent - and popular - as it has ever been, and Ainsworth has always been a master at combining classy, consistent, satisfying cookery with a bit of magic and gutsy Britishness.
Where: 6 Middle Street, Padstow, PL28 8AP
Book now: Paul Ainsworth at No.6

Osip, Somerset

What: Another chart topper from the SquareMeal Top 100 UK Restaurants, Osip scooped our top award in 2022. We’ve celebrated Merlin Labron-Johnson’s cooking ever since his days at Portland, but Osip combines his delicate touch with true farm-to-fork chops. Oh, and the dining room is just beautiful.
Where: 1 High Street, Bruton, BA10 0AB
Book now: Osip

Wilsons, Bristol

What: Wilsons is the neighbourhood restaurant we all wished we had (and, to be fair, Bristol’s Redland cuts a case for one of the nicest neighbourhoods in any UK city). The restaurant is the result of beautiful alchemy - a combination of Mary Wilson’s agricultural efforts and Jan Ostle’s smart cooking. At £68 a head at the time of writing, Wilsons is unbelievable value for the quality.
Where: 24 Chandos Road, BS6 6PF
Book now: Wilsons

Bulrush, Bristol

What: This Bristol institution flies quietly under the radar, but George Livesey’s cooking is some of the most interesting anywhere in the country. A minimalist whitewashed restaurant lets the food do the talking, but covers aren’t exactly plentiful, so make sure you book ahead.
Where: 21 Cotham Road South, Kingsdown, BS6 5TZ
Book now: Bulrush

Best tasting menus Midlands

The Midlands once had a bit of a dreary reputation for fine dining but these days it’s a hotbed of talent. Michelin-starred Grace & Savour was our number one restaurant in the UK in 2023, and there’s plenty more to shout about in Birmingham, Nottingham and beyond.

Grace & Savour, Hampton-in-Arden

What: Number one in our Top 100 UK Restaurants 2023 list, Grace & Savour couple Anette and David Taylor hit the ground running after arriving in grassy Hampton-in-Arden from Oslo, where David worked at renowned three Michelin-starred Maaemo. What the team achieve here is unfathomable - the tasting menu is perfectly judged, and uses hyper-seasonal ingredients exclusively from the local area, supporting biodynamic producers as well as growing ingredients in the walled garden outside.
Where: Hampton Manor, Shadowbrook Lane, B92 0EN
Book now: Grace & Savour

The Wilderness, Birmingham

What: Alex Claridge’s provocative restaurant has made a habit of pushing the boundaries both on the menu and off it. From loud rock music and striking interiors to a dish simply called ‘carrot 2023’, The Wilderness is high octane right from start to finish.
Where: 27 Warstone Lane, B18 6JQ
Book now: The Wilderness

Alchemilla, Nottingham

What: Alex Bond’s brilliant restaurant is nestled in an old Victorian coach house, and the team goes to great lengths to produce everything themselves within the kitchen (they even make their own yeast extract from sourdough offcuts). The menu packs in big, bold flavours, whilst also managing to be smart with use of meat and fish - proteins are often used to accompany star vegetables, rather than the other way around.
Where: 192 Derby Road, NG7 1NF
Book now: Alchemilla

Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms, Nottingham

What: Holder of two Michelin stars for over ten years, RSB’s spot underneath the Nottingham flyover isn’t exactly an obvious choice for one of the best restaurants in the country. Still, Sat Bains and wife Amanda have built this fine dining juggernaut into one of the very best in the country, and also one of the UKs most successful incubators - the likes of Gareth Ward, Alex Bond and Paul Foster all cut their teeth here before winning their own stars.
Where: Lenton Lane, NG7 2SA
Book now: Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms

Best tasting menus London

Unquestionably one of the most diverse and exciting food cities in the world, you could live in London for a lifetime and not experience half the food here. So, we’ve done a separate roundup of the best tasting menus in London, but here’s a little snapshot to get you started.

Sketch: The Lecture Room & Library, Mayfair

What: Sketch might be most famous for the Instagram-famous gallery and toilets, but head up the stairs and you’ll find one of London’s few three Michelin-starred restaurants. Formerly run by famous French chef Pierre Gagnaire, the restaurant is now run by Daniel Stucki, who runs an eight-course evening tasting menu.
Where: 9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG
Book now: Sketch: The Lecture Room & Library

Hakkasan, Mayfair and Fitzrovia

What: Hakkasan’s moody, downlit styling has entertained a generation of glitzed-up diners for a long time now, but despite the shade that sometimes gets thrown its way, there’s no denying the food is tasty. Hakkasan’s tasting menus are a great way to try out all the restaurant’s big hits.
Where: 17 Bruton Street, W1J 6QB; 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD
Book now: Hakkasan Mayfair; Hakkasan Hanway Place

HIDE, Mayfair

What: Does anywhere in London assemble delicate, spectacular plates in quite the same way as Hide? Ollie Dabbous - though perhaps not quite as high profile as he once was - is still a supremely gifted chef, and his tasting menus at Hide are totally unique. Plus, the presence of Hedonism Wines means that some incredible wine vintages are also within reach (the restaurant will send a courier to pick up a bottle from the Hedonism shop if need be).
Where: 85 Piccadilly, W1J 7NB
Book now: HIDE

If you're saving your pennies for that splash-out celebratory meal at one of the above, our list of quality cheap eats in London might help you keep some precious dollar in the bank.