Queen of Cups

A pub in the heart of Glastonbury isn’t the first place you’d expect to find some of the best Middle Eastern food in the country, but Queen of Cups has cemented its reputation as a multi-award-winning restaurant that surprises and delights.

Leiths graduate Ayesha Kalaji relocated to the Somerset town from London (where she cooked at Bubala, The Good Egg and The Palomar) to establish her own restaurant with friend and business partner Mary-Elizabeth O’Neill.

Drawing on her Jordanian heritage and French training, Ayesha and her talented team craft unique dishes that dazzle with their bold flavours and bright colours.

Ayesha’s creative cooking and delicious execution not only saw her pick up the award for Best Chef in the Trencherman’s Awards 2025, but also won her a place on the BBC’s Great British Menu following her successful TV debut in 2023 on MasterChef: The Professionals. She is now a regular face across the national press and has worked on a number of chef residency programmes, both at home and abroad.

The restaurant holds Michelin Bib Gourmand status. Sourcing seasonal and local ingredients is vital, and inventive dishes include the likes of beef-shin vine-leaf chou farci, kamouneh-spiced beef-heart skewer, and fermented wild garlic labneh. Desserts are equally innovative – think ruby chocolate and raspberry crémeux infused with hibiscus.

Trencherman’s tip

Check out the restaurant’s custom drinks offerings thanks to collabs with a gin distillery and New Bristol Brewery. The Queen of Cups IPA is a must-try.