Best Restaurants in Dorset and Somerset

In total, there are 57 award winning restaurants in Dorset and Somerset, based on the combined awards from the leading UK restaurant guides.

Were you expecting to see more restaurants in Dorset and Somerset? Remember at Leading Restaurants we only list restaurants holding awards from major restaurant guides; currently less than 3% of all restaurants in the UK and Ireland hold an award from a major guide.

The best restaurant in Dorset and Somerset is Osip in Bruton (based on our unique combination of the leading UK restaurant guides) where head chef Merlin Labron-Johnson serves up award winning Modern British Cuisine. Osip currently holds 1 Michelin Star, a ranking of 20th in UK in the Hardens Top 100 and a rating of Exceptional in the Good Food Guide.

There is currently a single listed Michelin Star restaurant in Dorset and Somerset which holds 1 Michelin star. There are also 3 restaurants holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand and 21 restaurants holding a standard Michelin Guide listing.

There are currently 39 listed AA Rosette restaurants in Dorset and Somerset consisting of 2 restaurants holding 3 AA Rosettes, 19 restaurants holding 2 AA Rosettes and 18 restaurants holding 1 AA Rosette.

Nestled in the heart of Southwest England, Dorset and Somerset present more than just picturesque landscapes and sublime coastlines; these charming counties are a treasure trove for food enthusiasts with an array of diverse culinary experiences steeped in historical gravitas. Dorset, blessed with a rich maritime tradition, offers a seafood lover's dream with plentiful catches from the Jurassic Coast. Port towns like Weymouth and Lyme Regis have built gastronomical havens with restaurants serving the freshest seafood plucked right from the surrounding waters. Go beyond the seafood and you would be dazzled by Dorset's famous Blue Vinney cheese and Dorset Apple Cake, firmly entrenching their culinary links to the land and the seasons. Adjacent Somerset, on the other hand, is renowned for its lush pastoral landscapes which intertwine seamlessly with its culinary identity. Somerset has a proud history of dairy farming and is the birthplace of the globally-beloved Cheddar cheese, an inimitable delight with roots dating back to the 12th century. In terms of beverages, Somerset is perhaps best known for its idyllic apple orchards which produce the famous Somerset cider. Beyond the pastoral appeal, cities such as Bath offer a blend of contemporary culinary executions, housed within historic Georgian architecture, making for an exciting juxtaposition of old and new. Truly, Dorset and Somerset represent a delicious blend of maritime and countryside offerings that would tantalise even the most discerning palates.