Chester Restaurants and Dining

(Chester, Cheshire, England, UK)

When it comes to eateries and dining out, Chester has something to cater for all tastes and budgets. Restaurant highlights include such Michelin-starred establishments as the Chester Grosvenor and Oddfellows.

An evening or lunch out can take you to pretty much any corner of the culinary globe. For those looking for a light snack, morning coffee or afternoon tea, the city also boasts an abundance of cafes and sandwich bars.

Lunch is generally served between 12:00 and 15:00 on weekdays and Saturdays. Evening meals are served from 17:00 until late. On Sundays, opening hours are often more restricted, with restaurants opening for lunch from 12:00. Of note, cafes and snack bars tend to open during shopping hours.

What to Eat

The area that surrounds Chester is renowned for its locally grown fresh produce. Potatoes, soft fruit, apples and locally reared chicken and duck are all familiar items on menus in the county.

That said, you can't leave the city without sampling some of Cheshire's famous cheese. Red Cheshire is described as being 'tasty', whilst White Cheshire has a rather mild flavour.

Where to Eat

The Michelin-starred restaurant attached to the five-star Grosvenor Hotel is the best place in Chester to see and be seen. Other fine dining establishments include Oddfellows and Aiden Byrne's British Grill at the Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel, which serves classic British dishes with a chef-inspired twist.

If it is views, as well as fine food that you are after, then the 1539 Restaurant and Bar delivers in abundance. This extremely popular restaurant, which serves contemporary British cuisine, overlooks Chester Racecourse. The views are perhaps best appreciated in the evening, as the sun goes down.

Setting to one side the delights of fine dining, there is also no shortage of eateries in the city centre where you can dine out fairly cheaply. Bargain bites are usually available at Chester's many Italian and Asian restaurants, where for a relatively small portion of your daily holiday budget you can enjoy a hearty meal in more simple surroundings. In particular, it is worth checking out any special offers, such as 'early bird' discounts or fixed-price two-course menus.

Heading out of town, the Cheshire countryside is home to a plethora of village 'foodie' pubs that offer a more intimate dining experience than their city centre rivals. The informality of these local inns, with their oak beams, open fire places and relaxed atmosphere, often belies the high quality of the food that is served.