For some time a new wave of creative cooking has been sweeping through Bristol. The presence of two Michelin-starred restaurants is a sign of the city's increasing impact on the British food scene, but the city’s cultural diversity, strong belief in sustainable ethics (locally sourced food is a given) and the locals’ passionate support of independent businesses has also been the driving force for something quite special.
What’s more there seems to be a refreshing camaraderie between this new wave of chefs, restaurateurs and suppliers in a bid to enhance and promote the city’s foodie credentials.
From the city’s Michelin-star players and excellent hotel restaurants to the mouthwatering street food of St Nicholas Market and Tobacco Factory Market, Bristol has all the bases covered. Here our expertchooses his favourites.
For further Bristol inspiration visit our guides to the city's best hotels,nightlifeandthings to do.If planning a longer trip, explore our guide to the perfect holiday inSomerset.
Harbourside
Paco Tapas
The creation of chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, who used to have the Michelin-starred Casamia next door – now closed, it has been replaced by the smaller-scale Casa. Paco Tapas, itself a Michelin star holder, offers a special take on the traditional tapas. Think stuffed quail cooked over an applewood fire, Duroc pork ribs, or hake fillet. Naturally, they have an excellent sherry list too. In the same Grade II listed building, is Sanchez-Iglesias’ latest creation Casa, with inventive Italian small-plate dishes, which are meant to be shared. It’s not cheap – there’s a Chef’s Choice for £80pp, but another star is probably the aim.
Contact:pacotapas.co.uk
Price: £££
Reservations: Essential
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (1) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/England/bristol-Paco-Tapas-Credit_%20FayditPhotography%20.jpg?imwidth=350)
Wapping Wharf
BOX-E
BOX-E is snuggly kitted out in the Cargo development of the city’s Wapping Wharf quarter with its ethically sound collection of shops and restaurants all housed in former shipping containers. The restaurant takes up two of them and in the simply decorated surroundings (glass and blonde plywood), chef Elliott Lidstone creates exceptional modern British cuisine. Space dictates everything here – all the ingredients are box fresh and the menu regularly changes – and with seating for just 14 and four people at the counter (for the kitchen table tasting menu) you feel part of something intimate. The charred hispi cabbage with brown shrimp and lemon butter is ace.
Contact: boxebristol.com
Prices:££
Reservations: Essential
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (2) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (2)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/United%20Kingdom/Bristol/box-e-restaurant-bristol-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Root
Root is another of the stars of Wapping Wharf. It stretches to five containers with floor-to-ceiling windows and a hotchpotch of distressed design from glossy green tiles to an egg carton effect around the bar/kitchen. Vegetables are the thing here (although a couple of fish dishes are on the menu). What chef Rob Howell produces is extraordinarily clever – who knew that beetroot, which might be served with blueberries, hazelnut and seaweed, could look so beautiful and be so appetising? Hardly a surprise that what’s on the menu is dictated to by the seasons.
Contact: eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk
Prices:£
Reservations: Recommended
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (3) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (3)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/United%20Kingdom/Bristol/root-restaurant-bristol-guide-oysters.jpg?imwidth=350)
Welsh Back
Adelina Yard
Chefs Jamie Randall and Olivia Barry intend to “challenge the tastebuds” with their cooking at Adelina Yard, which is now in its fourth year. Overlooking the quay, in unpretentious surroundings and a semi L-shaped room with part copper painted walls and similar hued light shades, the pair emphasises their belief in using seasonal ingredients in their modern, multi-inspired cooking. Their diverse tasting menus are hugely imaginative. The chef’s table seat overlooks the open kitchen.
Contact: adelinayard.com
Prices:££
Reservations: Essential
Best table: Chef’s table
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (4) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (4)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/England/adelina-yard-bristol-restaurant-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Cotham
Pasta Loco
This buzzing and hugely popular restaurant has built up a loyal following and it’s easy to see why. In the small but perfectly formed restaurant, with its neutral palettes, funky lampshades and tiny bar, Bristolian cousins Dominic Borel and chef Ben Harvey serve Italian cuisine with a wicked – and affordable – twist. Expect an explosion of flavours with Jamaican and Indian influences but with an Italian spine. The family has a sister restaurant in the city too, Pasta Ripiena (specialising in stuffed pasta). It's hard to choose a favourite on the ever-changing menu but the carbonara is divine.
Contact: pastaloco.co.uk
Reservations: Essential
Prices: ££
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (5) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (5)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/England/pasta-loco-bristol-restaurants-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Bulrush
George Livesey, who has had associations with the likes of Club Gascon and St John in London, now has this delightful restaurant – set on two floors in a former greengrocer’s – and deservedly a Michelin star. The restaurant may be small but the Anglo/French dishes are wonderfully ambitious with a tasting menu including, perhaps, the likes of barbecued stone bass with smoked eel, and Russel’s duck, hedgerow hoisin, chervil root, muscat puree.
Contact: bulrushrestaurant.co.uk
Reservations: Essential
Prices: ££
Redland
Wilson’s
Behind an attractive stained glass sign, the unostentatious, simply styled decor of Wilson's gives little hint as to the wonders of the cooking at Mary Wilson and Jan Ostle’s small restaurant. With rickety tables and chairs, an open kitchen, pretty flowers on the bar and blackboard denoting the day’s menu, the restaurant styles itself as an English bistro and the emphasis is very much on British cuisine. Ostle concocts “elegant but basic” dishes – you really do get value here and it’s clear a lot of love and thought has gone into the cooking. If on the menu try the roe deer, which may well have been shot locally by Ostle. Check out the restaurant’s Bread Shop on Friday and Saturday for its pastries and bacon Hokkaido rolls.
Contact: wilsonsrestaurant.co.uk
Prices:££
Reservations: Essential
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (6) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (6)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/England/wilson%27s-bristol-restaurants-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Stokes Croft
Caribbean Croft
Reflecting the diversity of the city, Caribbean Croft is an instantly inviting cookhouse and bar. Deceptively spacious with a long bar, it shows off its credentials with reggae soundtracks (there’s a DJ once a month), bright adverts on the wall for Red Stripe and Appleton Estate rum and local artwork. Run by the hands-on owner Peter Innes, the food is a major draw with homespun dishes reflecting the swathe of Caribbean islands, from Jamaica to Trinidad and Barbados. Slip swiftly into the spirit by tucking into curried goat or ackee saltfish and one of the 72 types of rum.
Contact: caribbeancroft.co.uk
Reservations: Recommended in the evening.
Prices: £
Best table: In the window, or at the kitchen table
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (7) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (7)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/England/caribbean-croft-bristol-restaurants-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
St Pauls
Jikoni East Africa
Chefs Imam Salat and James Hillier conjure up mouthwatering East African dishes – Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia – inspired by the former exploring the Nairobi food scene of her youth. The pair opened the restaurant in 2022, two years of running it as a mobile food business, and have quickly established a popular reputation. Imagine tucking into Somalian filo pastry; Awaze chicken, Ethiopian style chicken thigh with adzuki beans and green chilli sauce or crispy lentil fritters.
Contact: jikonieastafrica.co.uk
Reservations: Not essential
Prices: £
Clifton
Nutmeg
Think you know your Indian food? You might have to reconsider when you visit Nutmeg, which aims to capture the full flavour and culinary diversity of India’s 29 states – and not just the usual favourites. In the rarified surroundings of Clifton and with a boldly styled interior (check out the brightly stencilled mural), the two floors of Nutmeg offer a welcome and imaginative take on the sub-continent’s cuisine. You won’t see mango chutney on the menu but you will find beef madras and pork cheek vindaloo, with many of the ingredients are locally sourced.
Contact: nutmegbristol.com
Prices:££
Reservations: Recommended
![The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (8) The 11 best restaurants in Bristol (8)](https://i0.wp.com/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/England/nutmeg-bristol-restaurants-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Kibou Japanese Kitchen & Bar
Whether it is the handmade sushi, the bowls of ramen or the soft bao buns, Kibou is a worthy addition to the Clifton restaurant scene. Add to that they have a huge selection of whiskies too. This is the fourth outlet of the Kibou brand (Cheltenham and London, among them) and it’s set over two colourfully decorated floors (bold prints and geisha murals); an intricate burgundy Japanese acer tree also weaves itself up and around the first floor windows, which look out over Clifton Village. Make sure to head to the co*cktail bar first.
Contact: kibou.co.uk
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended
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