The Lychgate

There is so much to enjoy, and so much to admire, when dining at Wilsons. It’s one of those appealing neighbourhood operations that works in pure harmony, with everyone from the chefs to the service team sharing the same ethos. Environmental awareness and careful sourcing of superb ingredients are at the forefront, with the restaurant’s own smallholding providing much of the produce on the tasting menu of expertly crafted dishes. Each one is exquisitely balanced and full of understated originality, like dry-aged trout with pickled mushrooms and sweet onion broth.

There's an appealingly relaxed, cosy feel to this neighbourhood restaurant, where the downstairs room benefits from the atmosphere of an on-view kitchen. An imaginative streak runs through dishes based around top-notch seasonal ingredients that are either foraged or organic, while preserving and pickling also play a key role on the well-balanced and deftly prepared tasting menu. Highlights could include the likes of Wagyu beef with black bean ketchup and a terrific Bordelaise sauce. The astutely chosen wine flight creates the perfect partnership.

The very definition of a destination restaurant, this place's isolated woodland feel is part of its inherent charm, as are the nature-inspired colour theme and rustic wood flooring. Ingredients are sourced from the Wye Valley and their own kitchen garden, and are used in dishes with a creative streak. Middle White suckling pig is one of their signatures, prepared with a nose-to-tail ethos that includes a croquette of minced pig's head, an offal faggot and compressed shoulder. There’s also a particularly creative vegetarian menu. Bedrooms follow the theme of bringing nature inside.

Bristol's pasta-lovers are really being spoilt with this rustic bistro run by a charming and knowledgeable team. The pasta itself is freshly made each morning beside the window, catching the eyes of passers-by before being fashioned into bright, flavour-packed dishes. The options are often vegetable-centric, such as agnolotti with a delicious mix of cherry tomatoes, garlic, mascarpone, fior di latte and parmesan. For dessert, you can end on a high with Italian classics including a generously portioned tiramisu. The set lunch menu is quite the bargain.

The former Guardian Assurance Building makes a charming spot for a restaurant, thanks to its characterful interiors with high ceilings, parquet flooring and panelled walls. The rustic look is a perfect fit for this osteria-cum-wine-bar, where the concise menu of classic Italian dishes adheres to the old adage that 'less is more' – straightforward options like tagliolini with Devon crab, tomato and almond deliver on flavour with just a few ingredients. If you needed more reasons to visit, the service is confident and personable, and it all comes with an appealing price tag.

This busy, welcoming little restaurant occupies five first-floor shipping containers on Wapping Wharf, a thriving neighbourhood with an array of top eateries. Vegetables lead the way here, with the majority of dishes being vegetarian and utilising the best produce from small local suppliers in simple yet flavour-packed sharing plates. Ingredients from carrots to hispi cabbage are elevated with well-balanced and wholly satisfying flavour combinations. There’s a terrific buzz and the service team run their deservedly popular restaurant admirably smoothly.

Like most of the restaurants occupying the reclaimed shipping containers in Wapping Wharf, this authentic Italian eatery is cool, compact and totally irresistible. Coming from the same team as nearby COR, what it lacks in size it makes up for in flavour, with each simply prepared dish utilising the well-sourced seasonal ingredients to maximum effect. The menu’s designed for sharing and the prices are generous, so order in abundance and revel in everything from the moreish garlic and rosemary focaccia to the fish and meat cooked over fire. Finish with their creative take on tiramisu.