Essex


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-essex">ESSEX</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stark-east-mersea"><a href="https://www.starkfood.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stark</a>, East Mersea ★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/stark-food-copy.jpg" alt="Food from Stark" class="wp-image-27501" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/stark-food-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/stark-food-copy-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/stark-food-copy-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/stark-food-copy-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/stark-food-copy-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ant Jones, Box River Studios</figcaption></figure>



<p>A first for Mersea Island, Stark has retained the Michelin Star (for the 7th year) that it earned in Broadstairs and brought it to its new location in Essex. Head Chef Ben Crittenden works solo, spinning top-notch produce into cleverly refined flavour combinations. Stark is surprisingly relaxed, come as you are, and don&#8217;t expect to be overwhelmed by indecision – Stark offers a frequently changing, seasonal six course tasting menu for £100, and it&#8217;s everything you&#8217;ll need.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-norfolk">NORFOLK</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mark-poynton-at-caistor-hall-nbsp"><a href="https://www.mjpatcaistorhall.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall</a>&nbsp;★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Mark-P-caistor-Hall.jpg" alt="Chocolate dessert by Mark Poynton at Caistor Hall" class="wp-image-27483" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Mark-P-caistor-Hall.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Mark-P-caistor-Hall-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Mark-P-caistor-Hall-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Mark-P-caistor-Hall-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Mark-P-caistor-Hall-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Opened in 2023 inside the elegant Georgian Caistor Hall Hotel, Mark Poynton’s restaurant has confidently held onto its Michelin star for a second year running. Expect bold, flavour-packed cooking with a playful edge &#8211; and desserts that linger long in the memory, especially the chocolate ones (Michelin agrees, and frankly, so do we).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meadowsweet-holt"><a href="https://www.meadowsweetholt.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meadowsweet</a>, Holt ★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1090" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Meadowsweet.png" alt="Dish by Meadowsweet restaurant" class="wp-image-27484" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Meadowsweet.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Meadowsweet-734x800.png 734w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Meadowsweet-917x1000.png 917w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Meadowsweet-768x837.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Holding steady in Holt, Meadowsweet keeps its Michelin star for a fifth year &#8211; and it’s easy to see why. This little Georgian gem hides a big heart: a garden entrance sets the scene, then inside it’s all clever touches, deep flavours and a tasting menu that surprises at every turn. Desserts are playful and made for sharing, and with three dreamy bedrooms upstairs, it’s the perfect excuse to linger… and maybe order another course.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nbsp-morston-hall-morston">&nbsp;<a href="https://www.morstonhall.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Morston Hall</a>, Morston ★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/morston-hall-hotel-restaurant7.jpg" alt="Meat dish by Morston Hall" class="wp-image-27485" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/morston-hall-hotel-restaurant7.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/morston-hall-hotel-restaurant7-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/morston-hall-hotel-restaurant7-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/morston-hall-hotel-restaurant7-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/morston-hall-hotel-restaurant7-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Celebrating 27 years of Michelin-starred brilliance, Morston Hall is a culinary playground for Norfolk’s finest produce. From the kitchen garden to nearby beaches and the UK’s top suppliers, every ingredient gets its moment to shine in dishes rooted in classic flavours. Summer? Take the conservatory with garden views. Staying the night? Choose between contemporary country-house rooms or luxe garden suites. Long-running, utterly charming, and very much still at the top of its game.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-neptune-hunstanton"><a href="https://theneptune.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Neptune</a>, Hunstanton ★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1507" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/The-Neptune.jpg" alt="Dish by The Neptune" class="wp-image-27486" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/The-Neptune.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/The-Neptune-531x800.jpg 531w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/The-Neptune-664x1000.jpg 664w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/The-Neptune-768x1157.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>16 years and still Michelin-starred, The Neptune thrives on skilful simplicity. Chef Kevin Mangeolles lets the seasonal Norfolk produce do the talking with fresh fish and lobster often star of the show, while his wife Jacki runs the 18th-century inn with calm confidence. No fuss, no frills &#8211; just perfectly balanced dishes in a cosy, down-to-earth setting that makes you want to come back again and again.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-suffolk">SUFFOLK</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pea-porridge-bury-st-edmunds"><a href="https://peaporridge.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pea Porridge</a>, Bury St Edmunds ★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/pp-image-2.jpg" alt="Dish from Pea Porridge" class="wp-image-27505" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/pp-image-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/pp-image-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/pp-image-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/pp-image-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Tucked away on a quiet residential square, this neighbourhood fave is warmly run by husband-and-wife team Justin Sharp (in the kitchen) and Jurga front of house. The quirky name nods to the old town green that once stood outside, while the food looks further afield: a daily changing menu of North African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, much of it cooked over charcoal. Sourdough flatbread fresh from the oven sets the tone, followed by unfussy plates delivering bold, well-defined flavours. The offbeat wine list majors on organic and natural bottles, the lunch menu is keenly priced, and the whole thing feels lively, relaxed and full of personality — just a five-minute stroll from the Buttermarket.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cambridge">CAMBRIDGE</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restaurant-twenty-two-cambridge"><a href="https://www.restaurant22.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Restaurant Twenty-Two</a>, Cambridge ★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Restaurant-22.png" alt="Dish from Restaurant 22" class="wp-image-27509" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Restaurant-22.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Restaurant-22-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Restaurant-22-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/Restaurant-22-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Opened in a beautifully restored Victorian townhouse just off the River Cam, Restaurant Twenty-Two has held onto its Michelin star for 2026. Run by husband-and-wife team Sam Carter and Alex Olivier, it delivers modern British cooking that’s bold, seasonal and led by whatever the best local suppliers have delivered that week. Expect punchy flavours, a smart, well-judged wine list and a setting that works just as well for a relaxed lunch after a stroll on Jesus Green as it does for a special night out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-midsummer-house-cambridge"><a href="https://midsummerhouse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Midsummer House,</a> Cambridge ★★</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/MiDSUMMER.jpg" alt="Coconut dessert by Midsummer House" class="wp-image-27518" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/MiDSUMMER.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/MiDSUMMER-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/MiDSUMMER-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/02/MiDSUMMER-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Set in an enviable spot overlooking Midsummer Common, this elegant Victorian villa has been quietly setting the standard for over two decades. Daniel Clifford’s two-Michelin-starred cooking continues to evolve, with a kitchen unafraid to push things forward while keeping everything beautifully judged. Expect confident, luxurious modern British dishes built around immaculate seasonal produce, clever textures and precise flavours — with desserts that regularly steal the show (the coconut parfait in its chocolate shell is rightly legendary). Refined but never stiff, this is a special-occasion restaurant that still feels comfortable in its skin, with the River Cam at its back and the cows of the Common grazing lazily out front.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">In the mood for more?</h2>



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