There’s award-winning cuisine – and then there’s the chefs that take a gastronomic experience to a whole new level. From newly-crowned game-changers to the legendary eateries loved for years; here are 10 exceptional Michelin star restaurants to add to your fine dining menu.
The Fat Duck, Bray
Michelin Stars? ***
For three decades this eaterie has been thrilling diners with gastronomic theatre you can only expect from Heston Blumenthal. Embark on an adventure of innovative, multi-sensory dishes – we challenge you not to be talking about them for decades. The Journey – a 12-course tasting menu (£350) – will be your ultimate passport to Hestonland. Including dishes such as crab and passionfruit 99’, and lamb, cucumber and smoked caviar, The Fat Duck continues to push cuisine forward. www.thefatduck.co.uk
Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Auchterarder
Michelin Stars? **
Nestled among Gleneagles Hotel, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie is Scotland’s longest-standing two Michelin star restaurant. Committed to sustainability and traceability in food, many of the ingredients are cultivated in the restaurant’s secret garden. House favourites such as mushroom and black truffle ravioli and fillet of halibut with baby leeks, mild curry and Shetland mussels can be found on the decadent four-course menu (£175) and are bound to enthral. www.andrewfairlie.co.uk
Moor Hall, Aughton
Michelin Stars? ***
Housed within a beautifully restored 16th century country house and five acres of Lancashire gardens, this scandic-style restaurant is renowned for its brilliant combinations and produce-driven menu. Chef Patron, Mark Birchell, hails from Lancashire and is famed for his gastronomic genius and championing of his local area. For an indelible experience, sample the Provence menu (£265) – the honey roast Sladesdown duck and Ormskirk gingerbread are culinary masterpieces. www.moorhall.com
L’Enclume, Cartmel
Michelin Stars? ***
Located in the heart of a beautiful Cumbrian village, everything about this restaurant exemplifies Simon Rogan’s farm-to-fork philosophy. Keeping seasonal produce at its heart, each dish begins life at L’Enclume’s own farm, or from wild and local producers. Perfect for diners craving a take on culinary alchemy, dive into dishes like fritter Duroc pig and smoked Eel from the tasting menu (£265) – or take one of six coveted seats at the exclusive Aulis Cartmel to witness Simon in action. www.lenclume.co.uk
Skof, Manchester
Michelin Stars? *
One of the most exciting restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star in 2025, Skof is Tom Barnes’ debut restaurant after working for 20 years as a chef in some of the world’s best. Located in an old warehouse, you won’t find tablecloths here, but you will find cuisine to enliven your taste buds. The tasting menu (£175) includes Chalkstream trout with salted plum condiment, with your dining experience ending with Barney’s Tiramisu, a pudding touchingly inspired by Tom’s late father. www.skofmanchester.co.uk
D’Olier Street, Dublin
Michelin Stars? *
A fine-dining experience in the city centre, soak up the atmosphere in the dining room or take a bird’s eye view at the chef’s counter. Headed by Australian-born James Moore, D’Olier Street received its first Michelin star this year thanks to its artfully designed 13-course tasting menu (€135). Updated every eight weeks and spotlighting delicious dishes such as foie gras custard and Irish Wagyu spiced taramasalata with onion and caviar, Dublin has a new icon in the making. www.dolierstreetrestaurant.com
Gorse, Cardiff
Michelin Stars? ***
From Pierre Yovanovitch’s cosy and contemporary interiors to the welcoming staff, everything about this fine dining favourite exudes elegance. The kitchen’s mastery showcases the best in seasonal produce with exquisite flavours from Hélène’s international travels. Try the Isle of Mull lobster with tandoori spices or the A5 wagyu beef with white miso in the Taste of Autumn seven course menu (£225) – or watch culinary art come to life by taking a seat at the newly unveiled Chef’s Table. www.gorserestaurant.co.uk
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, London
Michelin Stars? *
After three years at The Fat Duck, welsh-born Tom Waters opened his own restaurant, receiving a Michelin star in just eight months. Enjoy intimate surroundings and unobtrusive service, while savouring a menu centred around Wales’ bountiful produce. The 10 course tasting menu (£125) includes bara brith, perl wen and Welsh truffle – a dish that combines homey ingredients with luxury, while the mackerel with horseradish, lovage and apple puts Welsh gastronomy on its rightful pedestal. www.the-connaught.co.uk
The Ledbury, London
Michelin Stars? ***
Every ingredient is of premium quality at The Ledbury, from the pigs raised on head chef, Brett Graham’s, farm, to the restaurant’s much-prized mushroom cabinet. Offering beautifully balanced modern combinations, such as hay-aged pigeon with girolles, vadouvan, cherry and sauerkraut, the feel at The Ledbury is sophisticated but never over-complicated. Enjoy the eight course tasting menu (£260) or dinner tasting menu (£285) for a procession of refined gastronomic perfection. www.theledbury.com
Gymkhana, London
Michelin Stars? **
Taking inspiration from the elite clubs of India, where high society revelled in the very finest of food and company, if you like your classic Indian cuisine to be served with a side of luxury, Gymkhana never fails to delight. An unrivalled choice for vegetarians, the meat-free tasting menu (£135) offers delicious mouthfuls such as beetroot chops pao with peanut ghati masala and gucchi, and khumb and truffle pilau, while the meat version (£145) offers the foodie famous wild venison biryani. www.gymkhanalondon.com
Disclaimer All prices, menus and availability details are accurate at the time of publication; however, these may be subject to change without notice.
