12 new places to eat in Cheltenham

If you’ve wandered through Cheltenham recently, you may have noticed several new restaurants and cafes cropping up around the town.

With colourfully painted exteriors, delicious scents emanating from within or enticing coming soon signs posted up on the pavement, Cheltenham is bucking the trend of the pandemic with lots of new eateries opening their doors for business.

Our round up features restaurants, cafes and bakeries that have opened, or are due to open very soon, in Cheltenham. Featuring restaurants serving cuisines from around the world from Greek to Mexican and Filipino to Korean plus artisan bread, freshly baked bagels and even coffee in an art gallery!

The Steamhouse

Unit 3 St George's Pl, Cheltenham GL50 3PN

The Steamhouse team first flung open their doors in Leamington Spa in March 2016. Growing from a team of three, selling thirty bagels a day, to owning their own bakery and opening stores in Worcester and more recently in July, Cheltenham. The first of their stores to offer hot sides alongside their bestselling bagel and doughnut menu!

If you’re looking for pure decadence, we recommend ‘The Salt Beef Chief’, a collaboration with local spice legend Tubby Tom, or ‘The Cuban’. While vegetarians are sure to love the ‘Not So Modest’ with plant-based chicken tenders.

The Wilson Kitchen

51 Clarence Street, Cheltenham, Glos, GL50 3JT

Opening alongside the Wilson Museums grand re-launch this summer, The Wilson Kitchen is a vibrant arts café on the ground floor of the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum. Offering a dynamic café experience in colourful, cultural surroundings.

Feast on hearty breakfasts and weekend brunches (complete with live acoustic music) with the family. Enjoy an informal business meeting with open-faced, toasted sandwiches and visual art displays. Or sip on coffee and cake while hot desk working with a laptop. The Wilson Kitchen offers flexibility in an engaging environment.      

Pyesta!

40 Clarence St, Cheltenham GL50 3NX

Just across the road from The Wilson is Pyesta! which opened mid-September. The first Filipino restaurant in the Cotswolds. The colourful, family-run restaurant promises to bring the fun and festive side of Filipino cuisine and hospitality. So, expect lots of amazing south-east Asian flavours wrapped up in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

There are separate menus for lunch and dinner, with a selection of small plates available all day and a variety of sharing and sizzling dishes to sate an evening appetite. We can’t wait to try the Adobo – the national dish of the Philippines, or the Tortan Talong, a deep-fried, panko-breaded aubergine with banana ketchup. Delicious.

Nagomi

40 Clarence St, Cheltenham GL50 3NX

Situated in part of the same building that once housed The Stable. Pyesta’s new neighbour Nagomi is a unique Korean barbeque / Japanese grill style restaurant offering a fusion of Japanese-Korean cuisine, opening on the 29 September. 

At Nagomi, it is their mission to make all customers feel welcome with the famous Japanese ‘Omotenashi’ hospitality, meaning to wholeheartedly look after guests. Diners can expect authentic, shared plates of quality meats, seafood and veggies; delivered fresh to their own 'smokeless' Japanese table grill. Try your hand at smokey Kushiyaki skewers and Shabu-shabu Japanese hotpot.

Mr Souvlaki

38 Clarence St, Cheltenham GL50 3JS

Another new restaurant rubbing shoulders with Pyesta and Nagomi on Clarence Street, which is quickly shaping up to become Cheltenham’s newest foodie paradise, is Mr Souvlaki.  Due to open its doors in the next few weeks. 

Originally launched in 2017, the Cheltenham branch will be the third to open, following Banbury and Leamington Spa. Dines can expect tasty Greek comfort food such as traditional souvlaki, skepasti and baklava.

With Souvlaki, it was owner Alexeas’s vision to develop a small, canteen-style venue, focusing on high-quality and authentic Greek street cuisine with an artisanal twist. Perfect for a quick bite or leisurely lunch.

Santiago’s

23 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1LE

Continuing on round to The Promenade, we have Santiago’s, which opened over the summer. An authentic Spanish and Cuban restaurant originally from Cardiff. Cheltenham is the third store to open from this independent, family-run team.

Specialising in Tapas, Santiago’s offers a genuine Latin dining experience using the finest Spanish and local ingredients and produce. 

For a true taste of the Spanish coast, we recommend a tapas combination of Galician Octopus, Garlic Gil Gil Prawns and Patatas Bravas.

Nook on Five

The Quadrangle Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1PZ

On to the Quadrangle and Cheltenham’s first rooftop restaurant is The Nook on Five. With stunning vistas overlooking the Imperial Gardens, The Nook is sure to become a centrepiece for the town. Promising to bring together aesthetics, local produce and diners holistically in celebrating the Regency setting that makes Cheltenham special.

Guests can look forward to creative and innovative menus of contemporary British cuisine with a nod to traditional French gastronomy. With a focus on quality seasonal ingredients, local suppliers and British craft drinks.

The independent restaurant will open its doors to customers in *November 2022. 

*Although the rooftop terrace itself won’t be fully open to the public until spring 2023.

The Artisan Baker

The Quadrangle, Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1PZ

Back down on the ground floor of the Quadrangle, we have the Artisan Baker, set to open its doors in October, following the huge success of the original bakery based in Stroud.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a delicious range of organic baked goods, such as The Nelson Loaf, a South African seed bread, and a Challah loaf, a savoury-sweet Jewish bread.

Alongside the bread, pastries and cakes, coffee and hot drinks will also be available, as well as sandwiches and a selection of small plates, including cheese and charcuterie.

Bosco Pizzeria

The Quadrangle Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1PZ

Can’t wait for The Nook on Five and Artisan Baker to open their doors? Head on next door to Bosco Pizzeria for fine Italian dining you can enjoy right now.

Inspired by the best pizzerias of Naples and New York City, Bosco is a neighbourhood Italian restaurant serving wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza.

At Bosco the focus is on service with personality, so you can expect a buzzy atmosphere accompanied by a specially curated soundtrack, and fresh food straight from the heart of Italy.

Cantina Del Barrio

162 - 164 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7NF

Fans of margarita cocktails and wholesome food will be looking forward to Cantina Del Barrio’s grand opening on Bath Road in Leckhampton on the 29 September. 

Designed to be a laid-back spot for chilling with friends or family, the new ‘neighbourhood kitchen’ is set to deliver unique twists on Mexican street food staples.  

We can’t wait to get our hands on the Cantina Del Barrio quesadillas and layered tacos as well as their own ‘Barrio bowls’, a Mexican-inspired take on the classic Buddha bowl.

L’Artisan Bistro – Café Du Midi

30 Clarence Street, Cheltenham GL50 3NX

Although not a new establishment. L’Artisan has been a much-loved resident of Cheltenham since 2013. From June 2022, owners Yves and Elisabeth decided to re-orientate their business in a new direction. Transforming their fine dining restaurant into a French Bistro - Café du Midi.

The Bistro offers Morning Coffees (and Croissants), a Lunch Menu and their highly regarded Set Menu of the "Tour de France", where French recipes get modern twists. Try the Colombo Pork Stew for a warming winter lunch, or the marinated fish salad for something lighter.

Restaurant Journey

12 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HD

Added 30/09/22 - Hot on the heels of this guide being published we received more exciting news for foodies! October 28 will witness the first guests being welcomed to a new fine dining venue on Bath Road, Leckhampton - Restaurant Journey. Promising diners -  “Fine dining with a difference at an experience to ignite all of your senses.”

Restaurant Journey will encourage diners to take a culinary adventure to explore global flavours in a fun and immersive experience.

Offering 12 course tasting menus which will be exquisite yet playful. They are the concept of Jeff Lewis, Michelin trained head chef and owner. Jeff  has extensively travelled around the world and worked in kitchens across Asia, which has allowed him to experience different cultures, flavours and culinary practices. He combines these global influences with his former training at Ynyshir and through working at The Fat Duck in Bray.

Brazao Forte

25 Clarence Parade, Cheltenham GL50 3NX

Not a restaurant but an independent food business we really wanted to shout out about to you foodie fans!

Searching for a different take on the usual butcher experience? Brazao Forte is a Brazilian butcher and convenience store with a whole host of enticing Portuguese and Brazilian products to enjoy.

The independent business opened over the summer and has already gained a fabulous local reputation for great products and a friendly service. Offering cured meats, Brazilian sausages and juicy steaks to take away (ask the staff for tips on the best way to cook your meat) as well as an array of fresh hot snacks to enjoy on the go.

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Looking for more new places to eat out in Cheltenham?  Check out our previous guides - 15 new places to wine, dine & shop in Cheltenham (published Jan 2022) and 6 new places to eat, drink and dance in Cheltenham (published Nov 2021). 

For more inspiration visit Cheltenham Food + Drink Week | Restaurants in Cheltenham | Bars in Cheltenham.