St James Lodge

For over 35 years, David and Helen Everitt-Matthias have been serving the Cheltenham dining scene with this spacious restaurant. David is in the kitchen crafting technically sound dishes that, as the restaurant's name would suggest, have one foot firmly in France. Your visit will be book-ended by a terrific bread basket and a delicious dessert; the latter has long been a real strength here, so look out for a cheesecake or chocolate delice to satisfy your sweet tooth. The wine list has plenty of depth and, like the food, is pleasantly well-priced.

A smart, stylish restaurant with smooth service from a welcoming team; start with a drink in the first floor lounge. Dishes are inspired by classic Indian flavours and textures but are presented in a deconstructed, eye-catching modern manner. The charming owner adds to the experience.

Located just off the main high street, this modern restaurant has a comforting neighbourhood feel – and the service is equally relaxed. Fresh seafood from Cornwall and Scotland is combined with good quality locally sourced ingredients to produce interesting, original dishes with effective contrasts of flavour and texture. The lunch menu represents great value.

There’s a certain style to this two-roomed basement in a smart Georgian terrace: the colonial-themed bar offers a good range of cocktails, as well as gin and vodka infusions, while the adjoining dining room has a clubby feel, with its charcoal portraits and sepia prints. The Indian dishes are for sharing, although the 'Experience' tasting menu is perhaps the best way to go, and there are also vegetarian and pescatarian versions. They even serve an Indian-themed afternoon tea.

The ‘secret’ location – revealed via clues sent to you 24 hours before your reservation – is just the start of the fun at this playful and unconventional restaurant. Once inside the exclusive-feeling dining room, sit back and watch the changing projections on the wall and let yourself be immersed as each creative, complex dish arrives. The chef’s travels are a heavy influence on the dishes, as are his experiences working at the likes of Ynyshir and The Fat Duck. Plenty of punchy flavours and relaxed, well-versed service ensure the experience is an enjoyable one from start to finish.

You’ll receive a warm welcome at this sumptuous restaurant, run by the third generation of a family who settled here from India 50 years ago. The menu is mostly southern Indian, with a particular focus on recipes from Kerala, and the dishes prove to be bright and authentic. Options like the 'Chilli Chicken', combining succulent chicken breast with a rich tomato, chilli and garlic sauce, showcase skill and flavour aplenty. If you're celebrating or simply feeling indecisive, the 'Banquet' and 'Feast' menus are a great way to go.

Smart, stylish and boasting an immaculate open kitchen, this charmingly run Indian restaurant – whose name means “let there be victory” in Hindi – is a younger sibling to Cheltenham institutions Prithvi and Bhoomi Kitchen. There is a more distinct street food influence here, with the well-priced menu offering sharing plates that arrive when they’re ready. Look out for the coal-roasted dishes, including unmissable lamb chops, and the regularly changing house biryani. The desserts don’t let the side down either, with the gulab jamun a particular treat.