St Michael's Bistro, Painswick, Gloucestershire

Located right in the heart of Painswick by St Mary's Church (be sure to take a stroll around the striking churchyard). You're perfectly located to explore the town centre, with its pretty little lanes lined with Cotswold stone buildings, while if you're walking The Cotswolds Way, you'll be passing right past the door. Nearby Stroud hosts a lively Farmers' Market every Saturday and the beautiful Rococo Garden is worth a visit, with its geometrical shapes and curving lines.

By car: The hotel is 2 hours 45 minutes from London and around 1 hour from Bristol.

By train: London Paddington to Stroud takes just over an hour and a half. The station is a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Book trains to Stroud.

This small guesthouse is run by Matt and Madga, a welcoming British-Czech couple who have transformed their former home into a guesthouse (they live in the adjacent building). It's set in a 17th-century Grade II listed building and, with only five rooms, the atmosphere is private and intimate. The themed rooms feature wide-ranging designs, from Indian to Retro, thought up by owner Magda.

This is a small guesthouse with limited facilities, although the owners go out of their way to make guests feel at home. In spring and summer, you'll find freshly picked flowers in the rooms, while celebratory cakes can be prepared in-house for special occasions. There's on-street parking, as well as a free car park nearby, making it particularly convenient if you're travelling by car. There are a handful of tables in a small courtyard tucked away at the back of the building where you can sip a coffee and catch a few rays during the warmer months.

• Garden
• Sun terrace

• Sister restaurant

• Pet friendly

• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

The five themed rooms are spotless and soundproofed, individually decorated with bold choices of colours and furniture: from scarlet walls in the Indian room to filigree lamps in the Bohemian Suite. Beds are comfortable and bathrooms are the highlight, with monsoon showers and underfloor heating.

Room types: The Retro Suite, The Bohemian Suite, The Rococo Room, The Art Deco Room, The Indian Room

Key amenities: ensuite shower, tea and coffee facilities, hairdryer, TV, free Wi-Fi

The ground-floor bistro is a separate business from the guesthouse, run by a friendly Romanian couple, with Marin in the kitchen and his wife Catalina serving at the tables. The cuisine is British with an Eastern European twist, with wholesome, hearty dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. In the mornings, breakfast tables are piled high with fresh produce and homemade pastries.

The Bistro: Hearty British fare with an Eastern European twist. Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch and dinner and Tuesday for dinner. Dinner mains from £14.50.