48 Hours in the Cotswolds: Where to Eat, Best Pubs & Restaurants
If you do the Cotswolds wrong, you’ll end up in crowded villages eating average food and wondering what the hype is about.
After multiple trips, we built the 48-hour Cotswolds food itinerary we wish we had the first time — focused on:
- Where to eat in the Cotswolds
- The best restaurants in the Cotswolds
- The best pubs in the Cotswolds
This is how to actually experience it 👇
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Where to Stay in the Cotswolds
Use Stow-on-the-Wold as your base.
It has:
- The most restaurants + pubs
- Easy access to nearby villages
- Charm and actual life (some towns feel like movie sets after 5pm)
We stayed right downtown at the Old Bakery Flat, and it was AMAZING. The location, size, amenities are 10/10
>>Click here to see photos, read reviews, and check prices and availability <<
Day 1: The Iconic Cotswolds (Done Right)
Best Breakfast in the Cotswolds
The Old Bakery Tea Room (Stow-on-the-Wold)
A true hidden gem run by just two people — everything is homemade.
👉 What to get:
- Fresh baked scones with jam + cream
Why it’s worth it:
Cozy, personal, and one of the best tea room experiences in the Cotswolds.
Best Lunch in the Cotswolds
Huffkins (Burford)
A classic British tea room known for elevated comfort food.
👉 What to get:
- Cheese toastie with chutney
- Welsh rarebit
Why it’s worth it:
Simple food done really well — one of the best casual lunch spots in the Cotswolds.
Where to Walk Between Meals
Skip overplanning. Do this instead:
- Walk Lower Slaughter → Upper Slaughter (30–40 mins)
- Quick stop in Burford for shops + cafes
👉 Skip or limit: Bibury & Bourton-on-the-Water (beautiful but very crowded)
Best Pub in the Cotswolds (Dinner)
The Bell at Stow
This is exactly what you want from a traditional English pub.
👉 What to order:
- Scotch egg
- Fish and chips
- Bangers and mash
Why it’s worth it:
Cozy, classic, and one of the best traditional pubs in the Cotswolds.
Best Cocktail Bar in the Cotswolds
The Old Stocks Inn (Stow-on-the-Wold)
A modern, creative cocktail bar inside a historic building.
👉 Known for:
- Signature cocktails
- More elevated nightlife vibe
Day 2: Hidden Gems + Local Food Spots
Best Farm Shop Breakfast
Ellenden Farm Shop
Farm shops are where you actually experience local food culture.
👉 What to get:
- Eggs on toast with chutney
- Breakfast bap
Why it’s worth it:
Hyper-local, simple, and one of the most authentic food experiences in the Cotswolds.
Underrated Villages to Visit
Skip the crowds and go here instead:
- Blockley – quiet, local, no-tourist feel
- Kingham – foodie hub + beautiful village
- Snowshill – our favorite hidden gem
👉 These feel like the real Cotswolds
Best Gastro Pub in the Cotswolds
The Wild Rabbit (Kingham)
A modern gastropub known for food + drinks.
👉 What to get:
- Seasonal cocktails
- Light bites
Why it’s worth it:
More elevated than a traditional pub — great mix of food + atmosphere
Best Sunday Roast in the Cotswolds
The Halfway at Kineton
One of the most memorable meals of the trip.
👉 What to order:
- Roast lamb or beef
- Yorkshire pudding
- Full Sunday roast
Why it’s worth it:
Comfort food done perfectly — this is what English food is supposed to be.
Best Sausage Roll in the Cotswolds
The Cotswold Guy (Guiting Power area)
👉 Worth noting:
- One of the most hyped sausage rolls in the region
- Locals love it
- It’s David Beckham’s FAVORITE sausage roll in the country!
Best Pub (Hidden Gem)
The Pheasant Inn
👉 Why go:
- Cozy local vibes
- Less touristy
- Great outdoor + indoor space
The Perfect Foodie Weekend in The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds isn’t just about pretty villages —
it’s about slowing down, eating well, and finding the right spots.
👉 Do the tourist stops quickly
👉 Spend your time at the pubs, cafes, and hidden villages
That’s where the magic is.
