Your Go-to Guide for Bristol’s Best Restaurants

There’s plenty of places to eat in Bristol, that we know. Its dining scene is flourishing as a foodie haven and you can find quite literally whatever you’re craving.

The diversity of restaurants, cafés and bars on offer in Bristol is truly striking. It’s got great markets, it’s arguably the vegan capital of the world, and the number of creative, independent eateries is beyond thrilling.

If you don’t believe us, you can hear it here from world-renowned food critic Jay Rayner. He clearly loves eating out in Bristol. Perhaps after reading about the below restaurants, you’ll soon be nodding your head in agreement.

We’ve broken our list up into different categories, for easy navigation. So get inspired by Bristol’s restaurant scene – whether its British, burgers, upmarket, European or Asian!

Best British Restaurants

Pasture

The brainchild of chef owner Sam Elliott, Pasture is a contemporary steakhouse that celebrates the glory of beef. Sourcing the best meat from local Southwest farms, Pasture’s dry-aged juicy steaks are something else. They’re cut fresh by in-house butchers and then cooked to perfection over charcoal and cherry wood.

2 Portwall Lane, Redcliffs, Bristol BS1 6NB

The Ox

The Ox also focuses on steak, but all-round gourmet British cuisine can be sampled regardless of what you order from the seasonal menu. Feast on caramelised bone marrow on toast, pan-fried skate wing in brown shrimp butter and top-quality cured meat boards. Sunday roasts here are not to be missed either.

43 Corn St, Old City, Bristol BS1 1HT

The Crafty Cow

For welcoming hospitality and classic pub grub that’ll make you drool, head over to The Crafty Cow. Making use of locally-sourced ingredients, these guys serve reliable and hearty food we Brits all love, but with an impeccable quality. Come for wild boar sausage rolls, cider-battered fish and chips or stilton and broccoli pie. Better yet, the vibes are always family-friendly.

635 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, Bristol BS7 0BJ

Best Burgers Restaurants

The Burger Joint

Build-your-own burgers is the name of the game at The Burger Joint, one of Bristol’s best places to eat for obvious reasons. There’s an enormous amount of fillings to pick from, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. We’re talking 4 buns, 15 patties, 29 toppings, 24 sauces and a wealth of sides and starters too.

83 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2NT

Burger Bear

Wow. That’s probably what you’ll say when you get your hands on food from Burger Bear, a low-key restaurant in Ashley Down. If you scroll their Instagram, you’ll see what we mean. These guys serve monster burgers which are stacked with filthy flavour and juicy ingredients. A must try in Bristol.

213 Gloucester Rd, Ashley Down, Bristol BS7 8NN

Bare Grills Smokehouse

Bare Grills is bringing authentic American-style BBQ to Bristol. They serve a dozen different burgers fresh from the grill, ranging from chilli cheese to buttermilk fried chicken. You can also expect hot dogs and slow-cooked meats like pulled pork, smoked brisket and baby ribs. All in all, Bare Grills is heaven for any meat lover.

41 Triangle W, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1ER

Best Upmarket Restaurants

Casamia

In the heart of the city you’ll find Casamia, a fine dining restaurant with one Michelin star that’s arguably the best place to eat in Bristol. This family-run restaurant is something special, offering a seasonal menu that is endlessly creative and inspired by multicultural cuisine. With only nine tables, it’s very hard to secure a booking. But if you manage it, you’ll be rewarded beyond belief.

8, The General, Lower Guinea St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6FU

wilks

Also in the Michelin Guide with one star, wilks offers modern European cuisine from an inviting restaurant space in Redland. The dining atmosphere here is one of warmth and welcome, rather than fine dining snobbery. As for the menu, guests can expect clean and natural flavours instead of rich decadence, with fresh locally-sourced ingredients driving each seasonal dish.

1 – 3 Chandos Rd, Redland, Bristol BS6 6PG

Pony & Trap

While a little outside of Bristol – we’re talking countryside Chew Magna – The Pony & Trap is absolutely worth a trip. This is a Michelin-starred gastropub with a point of difference, all within the ambience of a 200-year-old pub. They serve sensational British-style cuisine that celebrates local suppliers and includes produce from their own personal garden.

Moorledge Road, Newtown, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8TQ

Best European Restaurants

Pasta Loco

Pasta Loco is a contemporary Italian restaurant in the business of keeping things original with artisan fresh pasta. Owners Ben Harvery and Dominic Borel, cousins in fact, draw inspiration from both their Italian heritage and the soulful nature of Bristol. The result is a bustling eatery with charm, sophistication and quality. Chefs make the pasta fresh every day, with gluten-free options also available.

37A Cotham Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS6 6JY

Bravas

To taste authentic Spanish cuisine, a visit to Bravas is a must. This Clifton hotspot is a passionate tapas bar that loves good food and great atmosphere. Inspired by the unpretentious and easy-going vibes of tapas bars in Spain, they’ve replicated it in Bristol and locals love it. Expect gourmet small plates and a superb Spanish drinks list.

7 Cotham Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS6 6LD

Flour & Ash

Any city restaurant guide needs a delicious pizzeria on the list and Flour & Ash fits the bill perfectly. Wood-fired sourdough pizzas are the speciality, with the menu featuring both seasonal pizzas and quintessential Italian classics like buffalo mozzarella with basil, chorizo with rocket and anchovy with garlic. Their gelato and drinks list are also superb.

203B Cheltenham Rd, The Arches, Bristol BS6 5QX

Best Asian Restaurants

Nutmeg

Inspired by food from all 29 states of India, Nutmeg offers a carefully-curated menu of standout dishes from one of Britain’s favourite cuisines. Now that’s quite a feat, as the breadth and diversity of Indian cuisine is truly enormous. But this vibrant restaurant in Clifton achieves just that and Bristol locals absolutely love them for it. It’s little wonder it made Quandoo’s Top 100 restaurant list.

10 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4DR

Indian Rassasy

Indian Rassasy is very new on Bristol’s dining scene, but it’s quickly earned a reputation for its delicious and modern Indian food. Lead by Shamshuddin Bagalkote, formerly of Urban Tandoor, the restaurant describes itself as “unique Indian dining” and we’d have to agree. Expect the likes of fenugreek Scottish salmon tikka, masala roast lamb shank or aloo brie cheese cashew tikki.

275 Hotwell Rd, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4SF

Woky Ko

If you’re after contemporary Asian cuisine in Bristol, your best and most eclectic bet is Woky Ko. It’s actually a group of restaurants, their menus all created by MasterChef finalist Larkin Cen who brings both fun and creativity to his dishes. Kaiju serves ramen and yakitori, Sticks does robata street food, meanwhile both Cargo and Kauto offer bao, noodles and rice.

Kaiju: Unit 25 Cargo 2, Museum St, Wapping Wharf, Bristol BS1 6ZASticks: Unit 33, 34 Glass Arcade, Old City, Bristol BS1 1JQCargo: Unit 7, CARGO, Wapping Wharf, Gaol Ferry Steps, Bristol BS1 6WP,Kauto: 7 – 9 Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1QE

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