There is nothing worse than visiting a city and not knowing the best places to eat! Websites like TripAdvisor are great, but they aren’t quite the same as true local knowledge. Bristol really is packed full of great independent restaurants, with a huge range of options, so here are some of our favourite Bristol restaurants for you to try. From street food to fine dining you are sure to find something to suit your needs.
The Barista Coffee Collective really is a little gem. Located on the corner of Victoria Street and St Thomas Street it is just across the river from Castle Park. The owner George and his team really have a passion for great coffee, so let them know exactly what you are after and they will make a coffee to suit your tastes. As well as great coffee they have a healthy selection of salad boxes, inventive wraps and sandwiches, as well as a yummy selection of cakes and sweet treats!
If you have looking for somewhere for a quick lunch, a favourite spot of ours is St Nicholas Market, just around the corner from our Cleyro serviced apartments at Finzels Reach. It has lots of independent food traders and the ones we visit most frequently are:
Home to the best wraps in Bristol, you would be forgiven for walking past Matina at the entrance to St Nicholas Market in the Glass Arcade off the High Street, Bristol. Don’t be put off the basic exterior or the long queues as the service is fast and comes with a smile and the wraps and are definitely worth the wait. The freshly made Kurdish flatbreads are baked on the premises, in a tandoor style oven, and you can choose from a great selection of freshly prepared ingredients. Chicken, lamb, halloumi, roasted vegetables and great slaws and salads and sauces help to create a sumptuous and tasty lunch!
Another great spot in the Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market is the Moorish Café which is another favourite of ours. They offer a range of authentic Moroccan dishes all freshly made and packed with flavour and warm spices.
Eat a Pitta are also in the Glass Arcade and offer a great range of pittas, falafels and hummus. Their influence comes from the back streets of Algeria and Grandma Yolande’s traditional kitchen. All their disposables are compostable and biodegradable and they are very popular with vegetarians and vegans as most dishes are nut free, dairy free, egg free, gluten free and vegan friendly. They even offer a home delivery service should you need it.
You will find Cafe Amore on Nelson Street just around the corner from The Galleries and the Bristol Shopping Quarter. This is a bit of a Bristol institution, perfect for a good value lunch in a quirky setting. The walls of the cafe are decorated with lots old signs giving it a great vibe, and the food and service are faultless too.
Friska have a number of locations dotted around Bristol, including one on Victoria Street just around the corner from our Cleyro Finzels Reach serviced apartments. They are very popular for breakfast, lunch or just for a coffee. Their menu is inspired from dishes around the world and they have great reuse, recycle, and animal welfare and charity credentials too.
You will find Pho Café on the corner of Clare Street and St Stephen’s Street inside a beautiful Bath stone house called Clare Street House. It had a great selection of Vietnamese dishes and our favourite is Bún bò Hue a hot & spicy brisket beef served with a chilli shrimp paste. Super tasty!
If you are looking for something a little more special, head just north of Bristol Bridge and turn left up Corn Street and you will find San Carlo which in our opinion is the best Italian in Bristol. We love it for its great selection of seafood dishes as well as grill specialities, and pizzas and pastas. It is ideal place for a truly authentic Italian meal, in a beautiful roomy restaurant with mirrored walls and great lighting.
Casamia is an amazing Michelin Star restaurant in Redcliffe. It is a small, family run Bristol restaurant offering a multi-course tasking menu based of seasonal produce. There are only a handful of tables, which are very sought over, so make sure you get your booking in early!
If you aren’t lucky enough to get a booking at Casamia, why not try the equally superb Paco Tapas restaurant next door which is owned by the same chef-owner Peter Sanchez-Iglesias and also holds a Michelin Star. Make sure you have a booking to avoid disappointment and try the ‘Chef’s Menu’ for a fantastic tasting tour of Spain.
Finally if you fancy venturing out of the city centre, we recommend heading up to Redland, Clifton and trying Wilks Restaurant. You will find a modern, vibrant restaurant which champions local produce whilst producing global dishes. It also holds a Michelin Star and we recommend booking in advance.
We hope you enjoy visiting some of our favourite Bristol restaurants and have some great meals along the way. Of course if you haven’t already booked with us, and you are looking for somewhere to stay in Bristol, then check out our great range of Cleyro serviced apartments. We’d also love to hear your feedback, so please let us know how you get on with any of our recommendations, or alternatively if you find somewhere else you think we should add to our list, please send us a message.
We look forward to hearing from you
The Cleyro team