Long Melford Swan

Tucked away on a residential square, this neighbourhood restaurant is warmly and personally run by a husband and wife team, and the unusual name is a nod to the old town green which once stood out front. The daily changing menu of North African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes involves a range of ingredients cooked over charcoal. The sourdough flatbread fresh from the oven kicks things off perfectly and the unfussy dishes deliver bold, well-defined flavours which are skilfully executed. The esoteric wine list champions organic and natural wines, while the lunch menu provides great valu

From the wooden beams to the antique furniture, there’s a huge amount of character to this spacious pub that sits inside four former cottages. The welcoming feel of the inglenook fireplace is matched by the warmth and pride of the service team as they serve a menu offering something for everyone, from a few pub classics to more inventive dishes. Great care in the cooking allows strong, complementary flavours to shine through, as in a lemon posset dessert with pistachio cream and a great bergamot gel. On a summer’s day, make sure you head straight for the terrace.

This red-brick pub has stood here for over 500 years and nowadays looks as good as ever thanks to its beautiful, no-expense-spared restoration. The stylish restaurant is divided into several rooms – and fans of wooden beams and open fireplaces won’t be disappointed. The kitchen team excel in making their simple yet skilled dishes uncomplicatedly delicious, like the pea and mint soup or the terrific boulangère potatoes, whose perfect crisping and flavour exemplify the virtues of the place. Stay overnight in one of the bedrooms and explore the area.

The bucolic village setting, lush gardens and well-kept exterior bode well as you approach this lovely village inn. Once you enter, its charming spell remains unbroken, with a friendly team and bags of character. The décor blends the modern and the traditional with aplomb, whilst maintaining a proper pub feel – you'll likely find a group of regulars and their dogs by the fire. The menu changes depending on the produce available, but you can expect gently modernised pub dishes, with steaks a feature of the menu, from sirloin to chateaubriand for two.

Those who like to see chefs at work will find their paradise at this 20-seater counter in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. A chef-led operation, where the kitchen team both cook and serve their dishes, it’s the brainchild of Spanish chef Ruben Aquilar Bel and his Hungarian-born wife Gabi, who makes the desserts and the excellent bread. Sharing plates are an option at lunch, while only a tasting menu is served for dinner, showcasing Spanish flavours with a degree of restrained creativity. "Yaya Bel’s Iberian Ham Croqueta" is a lovely snack to start, paying homage to Ruben’s grandmother.

A converted 17th-century house plays host to this town centre restaurant that – as the name would suggest – is firmly French at heart. The cooking is classic Gallic in base, with occasional modern and international touches on show. Seafood is a strength, with fine produce like fresh tail of turbot cooked with obvious skill by the kitchen team. Your final course will be a treat too, with desserts like brûlée of pear as well as excellent French cheeses from the trolley – accompanied by some fine wines by the glass.

This small, sweet building overlooks an abbey and a cathedral in the centre of this historic market town. Over the years, it has been a police station, a bus shelter and a florist; now it’s a pared-back restaurant with modern art adorning the whitewashed walls. Choose from a great range of modern small plates that deliver satisfying, carefully judged flavours with a definite Mediterranean influence. Dishes could include cod cheek tempura or sopressini cacio e pepe – if you can’t make your mind up, go for the ‘Kitchen Selection’.