Eating out is one of life's greatest pleasures, whether you're celebrating a big occasion at a fancy restaurant or grabbing some street food on the go.
And you won't need us to remind you that Bristol is one of the best cities on the planet when it comes to doing just that, with an ever-improving food scene that regularly scoops prestigious accolades.
New restaurants are always opening in the city, forcing existing establishments to up their game, and no matter what cuisine you consider to be your favourite, there will be at least a handful of places that pique your interest and satisfy your taste buds.
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But with such a wealth of choice when it comes to grabbing some food you don't have to cook yourself, it can be overwhelming deciding where to go, so we thought we'd give you some inspiration for your next meal out.
Below is a round-up of 21 restaurants dotted around the city - some new, some old - that we think you'll love, from swanky eateries perfect for marking a special anniversary to cheap eats that punch well above their weight.
And if your favourite restaurant hasn't been included, be sure to tell us what we've missed in the comments section below.
Sky Kong Kong
Sky Kong Kong (pictured above) is something of a hidden gem, tucked away in Haymarket just off the Bearpit. It's an organic Korean café and restaurant serving an array of colourful dishes made using fresh, organic and local ingredients. Head chef and owner, Wizzy Chung, makes you feel as if you’re eating at her very own kitchen table and visiting this restaurant is very much an experience as you and your fellow diners, who you sit alongside on a communal table, don't know what food you will be eating until you arrive.
2 Haymarket Walk, Bristol BS1 3LN / Website
Tomo No Ramen
Tomo No Ramen first launched as a pop-up but was such a success that it has reopened as a permanent business. Run by Bristol-based James Stuart, Tomo No Ramen took over the former West Street Kitchen site on West Street, Old Market, in November. It started as a collaboration with Cardiff’s Matsudai Ramen and it became so popular that it sold-out most nights. You can expect a core menu built around lekei-inspired Yokohama-style ‘Tonkotsu’ ramen, paired with a selection of local beers. A fine addition to the city's food scene.
55 West St, Bristol BS2 0BZ / Website
The Blaise Inn
After 12 years behind the stoves at the Second Floor restaurant at Harvey Nichols in Bristol’s Cabot Circus, Louise McCrimmon has taken over The Blaise Inn and is already cementing its position as one of Bristol's finest gastropubs. The pub has been spruced up and one side is now a designated restaurant area, but the character of this venerable inn is still there - and at £30 for three courses or £25 for two it’s sensibly priced, especially considering the high quality ingredients Louise sources from local suppliers.
260 Henbury Rd, Henbury, Bristol BS10 7QR / Website
Milk Bun
Milk Bun initially opened as Bronx Burgers before changing its name soon after launching, and it's already winning over plenty of burger lovers in Bristol. It's run by Matthew and Tom Demichele, two brothers who made their name running a popular Italian restaurant in Corsham before turning their attention to high-end burgers, and as the name suggests the USP here isn’t just the high quality burgers but the bread wrapped around them. The milk buns are made on the premises each day, making it the only place in Bristol crafting its own buns as well as burgers.
25 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4JG / Website
Totterdown Canteen
Every now and then there is nothing better than a proper full English breakfast - especially when you've had a few pints the night before - and there are few places in Bristol that do the dish better than the Totterdown Canteen. When it comes to fry-ups, Totterdown Canteen certainly covers all bases, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free cooked breakfasts on offer alongside the meaty versions. The small breakfast is £5.50, regular £6.50 and the large one is £7.50. Order a regular tea, coffee, hot chocolate or herbal tea and it’s just an extra £1.
141 Wells Rd, Totterdown, Bristol BS4 2BU / Website
St Mary's Kitchen
There are plenty of places to get authentic Caribbean food in Bristol, and St Mary's Kitchen is one of the best. The menu is concise and centres around meat, fish and vegan main courses, all served in two different sizes. There are no starters as such, just sides. The food here is authentic and not anglicised in any way. Meat options include oxtail and jerk chicken or lamb. Fish choices include ackee and saltfish, boneless snapper and curry fish, with vegans able to choose between mixed vegetable curry and garlic spinach and butternut squash. Prices are fair - smaller portions of the main courses are around the £9 mark and larger dishes from £10-£16.
212 Cheltenham Rd, St Andrew's, Bristol BS6 5QU / Website
Bank
Bank is an all-day restaurant serving the Totterdown community with brunches and excellent coffee (owner Dan O’Regan was a finalist in the UK Barista Championships twice) but it takes on a different persona in the evening, when it's all about the small plates and an interesting choice of craft beers, wines and innovative seasonal cocktails.
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The head chef at Bank is Jack Briggs-Horan, whose extensive CV seems to include most of Bristol’s restaurants over the past decade or so including The Glassboat, The Ox, Seven Lucky Gods and Four Wise Monkeys. He is joined in the kitchen by Brian James, who was previously at The Ethicurean in Wrington. Expect to find "playful, intelligent flavour combinations" that are sure to delight the taste buds.
107 Wells Rd, Totterdown, Bristol BS4 2BS / Website
Sonny Stores
It may be small in size but Sonny Stores has made a big impression since replacing Birch in Southville in the summer of 2020. The business was started by Mary Glynn and her chef husband, Pegs Quinn, who had previously worked in London’s famous River Cafe restaurant. As well as strong local support, the small neighbourhood eatery has attracted rave reviews from national restaurant critics including Jay Rayner and Tom Parker Bowles. You can expect to find an ever-changing menu featuring dishes cooked using only the best local ingredients.
47 Raleigh Rd, Southville, Bristol BS3 1QS / Website
Hart's Bakery
Hart's is seen as a Bristol institution by many and for good reason. Hidden underneath Temple Meads railway station, it's a paradise for those who love nothing more than a handmade pastry or loaf of sourdough bread. To wash down the array of pastries and cakes, the bakery also serves first-rate coffee served up by only the most experienced baristas. It's a must-visit when you're heading to or leaving Temple Meads.
Arch 35 Lower Approach Rd, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6QS / Website
Garden of Easton
If you love restaurants that boast décor as beautiful as the food served, the Garden of Easton should be firmly near the top of your list. With hundreds of plants and lovely detailed artwork, not many restaurants in Bristol match up to the Garden of Easton's decoration - and of course its menu is impressive too, whether you're visiting for breakfast, lunch or dinner. To wash the food down there's a range of tempting cocktails to enjoy - what could be better?
89 St Marks Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5 6HY / Website
Yafo
Yafo is the latest addition to the ever-evolving North Street and was a long time coming, with its opening being delayed on numerous occasions, but those who have visited will no doubt agree that the wait was very much worth it. You can expect to find falafel, hummus plates and other Middle Eastern-inspired plates on the menu, alongside locally sourced beers and top notch coffee.
238 North St, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JD / Website
Marmo
Marmo was opened in August 2019 by husband and wife team Cosmo and Lily Sterck, who studied in Bristol before heading to London - Cosmo as a chef and Lily as a lawyer. They returned to Bristol to launch the first restaurant of their own and it has quickly become one of the city’s most talked about venues, with glowing national reviews and a loyal local following. Bristol Live's food critic Mark Taylor gave it a five-star rating in a glowing review when it opened, labelling it "one of the most significant new openings of the year and a restaurant to savour", while Jay Rayner also praised it in his Guardian review.
31 Baldwin St, Bristol BS1 1RG / Website
Kitchen of Anatolia
Run by the affable Bayram Demiroglu, the Kitchen of Anatolia serves authentic Middle Eastern food with everything made fresh to order. It was a finalist for Best Street Food at the inaugural Bristol Loves awards but lost out to Eat a Pitta - and there's certainly no shame in being pipped to the post by them. Prices are very reasonable and you can expect to find wraps overflowing with fresh ingredients for around the £5 mark. Better still, you can enjoy your food at the nearby Castle Park as you watch the world go by.
Castle St, Bristol BS2 0EQ / Website
Koocha
Koocha was founded in 2018 as Bristol’s first totally vegan restaurant - a plant pioneer that has led the way for animal-free cuisine across the city. What really sets it apart is the big, unexpected and delicious spices and flavours from Persia and the Middle East that infuse every dish on its menu. After moving to a new, larger home just around the corner on Cheltenham Road, Koocha has gone from strength to strength and it's no wonder it's one of the city's most popular vegan restaurants.
203B Cheltenham Rd, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5QX / Website
Alp Mac
Bristol is home to a number of popular food markets and there are a few vendors that appear at the vast majority of them which always attract spiralling queues. Just one example is Alp Mac, which serves the most incredible mac 'n' cheese you're ever likely to try. The finest comfort food that just gets better with each forkful.
Various locations / Website
The Cow & Sow
The Cow & Sow is the newest addition to Bristol's food scene and is likely to be a popular one, serving an all-day menu with steaks being the main attraction. The Queen Square restaurant, formerly Graze, has been given a classy refurbishment by managing director of the OHH Pub Company Mark Warburton, who runs a number of popular pubs near Bristol including The Rising Sun in Backwell and the Bear & Swan in Chew Magna.
63 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4JZ / Website
Root
With an ethos that puts sustainability at the heart of everything it does, Roots puts vegetables at the heart of its menu, switching convention to make meat dishes the side options. The Head Chef is Rob Howell, formerly of The Pony & Trap in Chew Magna and Ondine in Edinburgh, while Meg Oakley and Domhnaill Barnes - also of The Pony & Trap - run the front of house operation. The dishes served here are inventive and, above all, absolutely delicious.
Unit 9 Cargo 1, Gaol Ferry Steps, Bristol BS1 6WP / Website
Flour & Ash
Bristol is home to a wealth of fantastic pizzerias, and one of the most popular is Flour & Ash. The restaurant started life on Cheltenham Road before falling victim to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but thankfully it made a triumphant return after reopening on Whiteladies Road, and it has very much been a case of business since usual in its new home. A must for pizza lovers.
50 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2NH / Website
Seven Lucky Gods
Headed up by the renowned Hyde hospitality group, Seven Lucky Gods is a contemporary Japanese-inspired restaurant serving sushi and Asian-themed small plates. One of the most popular dishes on its menu is the chicken katsu curry arancini, which is without doubt one of the tastiest things you'll find anywhere in Bristol.
Unit 26, Cargo, 2 Wapping Rd, Bristol BS1 4RW / Website
Souk Kitchen
Souk Kitchen has two sites, in Clifton and Southville, both of which serve an impressive range of Mediterranean brunch, lunch and dinner dishes. A popular choice is their mezze, which has delicacies such as chargrilled halloumi, roasted Turkish peppers with goat’s cheese and fried cod cheeks.
Aspley Road, Clifton / North Street, Southville / Website
Wilsons
Wilson's is regarded as one of Bristol's finest restaurants. The small, inviting bistro offers a minimalist weekly changing menu alongside organic wines. Sustainability is at the heart of Wilsons and the restaurant endeavours to work with and support producers, growers and traders that use ethical and low impact methods. Wilsons has its own market garden where it grows much of the produce used in the restaurant.
24 Chandos Rd, Redland, Bristol BS6 6PF / Website
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