Where better to start than Somerset? With its rich farmland, orchards, dairies and proud food culture, this is a county that knows a thing or two about eating well. And, trust us, these are the places worth knowing about.
A note: we haven’t included pubs with food in this list because Somerset has such a slew of strong contenders – watch out for a separate feature devoted solely to the taverns worth tarrying in.
Main image: Da Costa, Bruton
RESTAURANTS
Briar, Bruton
@briar_restaurant
A fab addition to Bruton’s already impressive food scene, Briar is a farm-to-table restaurant at the hotel, Number One Bruton. The chef, Sam Lomas, has an unfussy approach to cooking, with proper craft at its heart. Think excellent bread, butchery and preservation as well as seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding countryside. Relaxed, generous and very Somerset. Book a table.
Da Costa, Bruton
@dacosta.somerset
Da Costa brings a little northern Italian sunshine to the Somerset countryside. Nestled within Hauser & Wirth’s Durslade Farm, its menu is built around traditional Italian cooking – antipasti, homemade pasta and dishes cooked over fire – with plenty of ingredients from the walled garden. Particularly good for a long lunch. Book a table.
Osip, Bruton
@osiprestaurant
One of Somerset’s most talked-about food destinations, Osip is tucked away in the countryside just outside Bruton and takes the farm-to-table idea very seriously. The cooking is thoughtful, seasonal and produce-led, with the restaurant’s rural setting very much part of the experience. A mega treat. Book a table.
CAFES
At the Chapel, Bruton
@atthechapel
Housed in a beautifully converted former chapel on Bruton High Street, At the Chapel is both buzzy and relaxed. Offering all things to all men very well, it serves coffee, breakfast, insane baked goods, lunch, dinner and drinks. Take your pick and watch the essence of Bruton distilled in the clientele.
Alfredo’s, Somerton
@alfredossomerton
Alfredo’s is the sort of café you won’t have heard of but need on your radar if you’re exploring this corner of Somerset. Good coffee, lovely food and a low-key atmosphere make it an ideal stop for breakfast, lunch or a restorative piece of cake in the heart of the tiny market town of Somerton.
The Pharmacy, Bruton
@thepharmacybruton
A tiny Bruton favourite with a neighbourhood feel, The Pharmacy is perfect for when you want good coffee, something delicious to eat and a table you can happily linger at. Good for a fortifying breakfast or lunch before wandering around the town’s independent shops and galleries.
BUTCHERS
Gilcombe Farm Shop, nr Bruton
@gilcombefarm
Gilcombe is all about good food with a strong connection to the land. The passionate staff’s focus is on natural, carefully farmed produce, including delicious free-range meat and poultry. With plenty of other locally produced goodies on its shelves as well, it’s the sort of place you go into for one thing and come out with dinner.
Bill the Butcher (Spar), Bruton
Tucked into a corner of the charming and well-stocked Spar in Bruton High Street, this artisan butcher specialises in the best regeneratively farmed, local meat. Proof that some of the best food finds are hiding in the most unexpected places.
Newlands Farm Shop, Keinton Mandeville
@newlands.farmshop
Run by the same family of beef farmers for three generations, Newlands sells its own home-reared meat alongside a thoughtfully chosen range of local produce. There’s a great café, too. This place is the real deal.
CHEESEMONGERS
Barber’s Cheese
@barberscheese
One of Somerset’s great cheesemaking names, Barber’s has been making Cheddar in the county for generations. They are a reminder that Somerset’s food heritage is about much more than cider and farmhouse produce: this is serious cheesemaking country, and a chunk of the world’s Cheddar story starts here.
Godminster
@thegodminstershop
Godminster is Somerset cheese at its most recognisable. Made just outside Bruton, the original recipe dates back 90 years (though the range now stretches from vintage cheddar to smoked, chilli and truffle versions). The shop on Station Road is worth a visit.
Westcombe Dairy
If you care about cheese, make a beeline for Westcombe. This family-run dairy, with the twinkly Tom Calver at its helm, makes traditional clothbound Cheddar from unpasteurised milk, alongside excellent Caerphilly, ricotta and Westcombe Red. There’s also a brilliant little dairy shop selling cheese, charcuterie, bread, flour and other Somerset goodies.
LUXURY FOOD STORES
The Newt, Castle Cary
@thenewtinsomerset
The Newt’s farm shop is a danger to anyone who likes beautiful food and beautifully packaged things. It’s packed with produce from the farm and beyond, and makes an excellent place to stock up on Somerset treats. If you’re not staying at The Newt or visiting the gardens, console yourself with a browse of the very good website.
Durslade Farm Shop, Bruton
@farmshopuk
Part of Hauser & Wirth’s dreamy sprawl just outside Bruton, Durslade Farm Shop is a very stylish take on the traditional farm shop. Expect excellent local produce, seasonal fruit and vegetables, bread, cheese, meat and plenty of tempting things to take home. Pair it with a visit to the gallery and Da Costa (above) for the perfect Somerset day out.
Teals Farm Shop
@teals_store
Teals is such a joyful emporium, you’ll find it hard to believe that it lies alongside the A303. With excellent local meat and fish, heritage cheeses, bread and pastries, jars and packets of goodness homewares and plenty of great presents (for yourself or others), it is an excellent pitstop.
FAQS: EATING WELL IN SOMERSET
What are the best restaurants in Somerset?
Somerset has an increasingly exciting food scene, with standout restaurants including Osip and Briar in Bruton, and Da Costa at Durslade Farm. The emphasis is often on seasonal, locally sourced produce, with Somerset’s farms and gardens playing a starring role.
Where are the best places to eat in Bruton?
Bruton has become something of a Somerset food destination, with excellent restaurants, cafés and food shops. Highlights include Briar, Osip, Da Costa, At the Chapel and The Pharmacy, as well as Durslade Farm Shop for excellent local produce to take home.
What are the best farm shops in Somerset?
Some of Somerset’s best farm shops include The Newt near Castle Cary, Durslade Farm Shop near Bruton and Teals Farm Shop. They are particularly good for local meat, cheese, bread, seasonal produce and beautifully packaged Somerset treats.
Where can I buy the best Somerset cheese?
Somerset is famous for its Cheddar, and there are some excellent places to buy it. Westcombe Dairy makes traditional clothbound Cheddar, while Godminster is known for its organic Cheddar and Barber’s is one of the county’s great historic cheesemaking names.
What food is Somerset famous for?
Somerset is particularly famous for Cheddar cheese, cider and excellent farmhouse produce. Its fertile farmland also produces superb meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables, making the county one of England’s great food-producing regions.
Where can I buy local meat in Somerset?
For excellent local meat, try Gilcombe Farm Shop near Bruton, Bill the Butcher inside Bruton Spar or Newlands Farm Shop in Keinton Mandeville. All have a strong connection to local farming and offer high-quality meat alongside other Somerset produce.
Where are the best cafés in Somerset?
For a good coffee, breakfast or cake, try At the Chapel or The Pharmacy in Bruton, or Alfredo’s in Somerton. These independent cafés combine good food with the relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes Somerset such a lovely place to eat.
Where can I buy Somerset Cheddar?
Westcombe Dairy, Godminster and Barber’s Cheese are three excellent places to start if you want to buy Somerset Cheddar. Westcombe is particularly known for its traditional clothbound Cheddar, while Godminster makes a range of organic Cheddars.
What are the best food shops near the A303 in Somerset?
Teals Farm Shop is an excellent A303 pitstop, with local meat and fish, cheeses, bread, pastries, store-cupboard goodies, homewares and gifts. It’s the kind of place that makes a motorway stop feel considerably more pleasurable.
What are the best foodie things to do in Somerset?
A Somerset food day could involve lunch at one of Bruton’s excellent restaurants, a visit to a local cheesemaker or farm shop, and picking up some local produce to take home. Durslade Farm Shop, Westcombe Dairy, Godminster and The Newt are all worth putting on the list.
