The Top 2%: Our favourite cosy spots around the UK

The cream walls and abstract frames positively glow in the golden candlelight at this old-school Italian spot in the depths of Soho. Cosy and convivial, it’s all about piled-high plates of pasta such as agnolotti with butter beans, while the likes of aubergine caponata and breaded lamb chops are equally comforting. Perfect for whiling away long, leisurely hours as you shelter from the wind and rain howling outside.

Tucked away under a railway arch just a short walk from Manchester Victoria station, and dotted with uplighters and floor lamps that cast a flattering glow, The Spärrows is the epitome of cosy. It specialises in dishes inspired by Central and Eastern European cuisines, like comforting spätzle and dumplings. With lovely staff, a warm setting and exceptional food, it’s the perfect spot for rainy-day dining.

It’s all about the roaring fireplace and exposed beams at The Unruly Pig, a true Suffolk’s gem. It’s led by chef patron Dave Wall and serves up a fresh, seasonal menu of Italian-leaning British food (‘Britalian’, anyone?). Think comforting wild-mushroom arancini, indulgent dry-aged beef battuta, and ricotta gnudi with a devilishly good brown-butter dressing. The dining room is just as much of a draw, with Persian carpets underfoot and rustic tables. Bag the sumptuous booth by the aforementioned fireplace for the cosiest spot in the house.

In late 2023, the team behind Notting Hill gastropub The Pelican set up shot in the Cotswolds, revamping a cosy 16th-century pub into a restaurant that’s a hit with locals and visitors alike. Against a strictly candlelit backdrop, local produce is very much the star of the show on a menu that changes daily, while access to a local huntsman means game dishes also take centre stage. Decidedly unfussy, the wooden bar plays host to just as many pints of beer as it does flutes of Champagne – delightful.

Not all cosies are made equal. Such is the case at Brunswick House in Vauxhall, the former working men’s club-turned-Jackson Boxer-restaurant housed inside a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion. Also home to architectural salvage company Lassco, you’ll dine on indulgent, retro comfort food surrounded by curios, knick-knacks and antiques, all illuminated by dazzling age-old chandeliers and candlelight.

Eclectic interiors full of evolving antiques – thanks to a partnership with a local dealer and a policy of showing local artists – makes York’s Partisan a cosy spot indeed for everything from breakfast and brunch to lunch and afternoon tea. The regularly changing menu reflects fresh, seasonal produce, while the sourdough laden with Turkish figs and goat’s cheese is a go-to throughout the year. Talk about the warm and fuzzies. 

With everything served in an intimate, front room-like space that’s flooded with light from the big, 17th-century windows, The Kinneuchar Inn is one of Fife’s cosiest spots – nay, its cosiest. Simplicity is at the heart of the menu – think high-flavour, low-faff – and Scottish seafood is big: Carlingford oysters; Skye langoustines; fried chipirones from the Moray Firth. But the best bit? Wet dogs are allowed in the bar area, meaning it’s the perfect spot for a post-walk refuel.

Fans of the sea’s spoils at Mourne Seafood Bar in Belfast regularly make the pilgrimage to Bank Street for some of the freshest local fare in Northern Ireland. Get the lunchtime deal of two courses – add a half-dozen oysters for some true indulgence – or pair a classic beer-battered cod and chips with a crisp white wine. Against a backdrop of exposed brick and nestled in a sumptuous booth, we challenge you to find anything more comforting.

Rustic but smart with plenty of spots to keep you toasty, rural gastropub The Black Bear Inn serves a concise and seasonal British menu. Produce is sourced locally, the menu changes weekly and everything is made from scratch. Order some snacks to nibble on – Irish rock oysters and Welsh rarebit, of course – and get stuck into the extensive drinks list, which features everything from pet nat to local cider. Sure to stave off the cold.

You wouldn’t think a small, white dining room would feel cosy, but intimate tables, low lighting and New York-by-way-of-Bristol vibes make Wilson’s a hotspot for date-night foodies. That it’s home to some of the most creative cooking in Redland certainly helps, with many ingredients sourced from its own garden, game shot by the chef himself and low-intervention wines selected by co-founder and wife Mary. Pull up a chair and stay a while.

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