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The Best Places to Eat in Bristol: A Foodie’s Guide

the-best-places-to-eat-in-bristol:-a-foodie’s-guide

Looking for the best restaurants in Bristol? Who better to guide you than one of the city’s favourite chefs? Freddy Bird, head chef and founder of Little French and former executive chef of The Lido Bristol, gives us his favourite places to eat out in Bristol.

Lido, Bristol

The Lido Bristol

Freddy Bird

‘I was born and raised in Bristol but moved to London to gain some experience at The Square and Moro – where my love for cooking over fire was born. I returned to Bristol in 2008 to head up the kitchen at The Lido and have been lucky enough to experience the amazing renaissance of food culture in this great city. Although there are many new places opening up all the time, there are a few places around that I keep coming back to time and time again.

‘I’m a huge coffee drinker so I’ve got to start my day with one (or three). The coffee scene in Bristol is really booming and you can find great coffee all over the city now; favourites are Spicer and Cole in Clifton Village and Hart’s Bakery at Temple Meads. Hart’s do the most amazing pastry selection too so if I’m feeling peckish I’d find it difficult to turn down their layered pastries.’

Freddy Bird

Freddy Bird

Freddy’s Pick: The Best Restaurants in Bristol

Bravas

Bravas is a wonderful tapas place started by an old sous-chef of mine at the Lido, Imogen and her partner Kieran. The tapas-style of eating is quite big in the city. At Bravas there’s always delicious sherry, food and service – I really like their open kitchen which provides a buzzing atmosphere. bravas.co.uk

Wapping Wharf

CARGO down on Wapping Wharf is a great place to grab some amazing smaller bites to go or to take home with a bottle of wine or cider – I enjoy the tacos at Cantina (the little sister of Bravas), and a block of local cheese or two at The Bristol Cheesemonger. wappingwharf.co.uk

The Mayflower

The Mayflower is my favourite pit-stop after a long service. Open until 3am and situated under the bus station, it’s location only adds to its charm and the most delicious and authentic Chinese food. I regularly order their chilli squid, steamed tripe and ginger or crispy fried pig’s intestines – I know they sound a bit off the wall but they are seriously amazing. mayflowerbristol.com

Lido, Bristol

The Lido Bristol

Freddy Bird recently opened a new restaurant in Bristol’s Westbury Park, Little French. He’s also worked at The Lido Bristol and Three Brothers Burgers.

And here are some of our favourites…

Wilsons

Issy Croker

Wilsons

Founded in 2016 by Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson, Wilsons is a neighbourhood restaurant with impressive green credits, having received a Michelin Green Star last year. Its own farm grows produce for a weekly-changing six-course tasting menu alongside a daily ‘du jour’ set lunch menu. wilsonsbristol.co.uk

Rock Salt

Much to the dismay of locals, the lovely Bellita on Cotham Hill closed in 2021 – but its replacement Rock Salt offers new culinary delights. Here co-founders Harris Massey of Dishoom and former Dhamaka chef Kedar Subedi bring together many years of experience to create a unique fusion restaurant which offers both Indian and Chinese cuisine, with sweet and sour chicken sitting alongside their signature lamb raan. rocksaltbristol.co.uk

Rosemarino

For a really good brunch, head to Rosemarino, a bright and airy award-winning Italian restaurant in Clifton. They’ve won best breakfast and best Italian restaurant at the Bristol Good Food awards for three years in a row, and if you go you’ll see why. Their all-day breakfast menu features classic brunch dishes cooked to perfection: Eggs Benedict, spicy shakshouka and fan favourite ‘Tommy’s 1 Pan’: ham hock with chopped sausage, onions, mushrooms and potatoes, cooked with eggs and served with toasted focaccia. It’s also a lovely dinner spot – the menu changes every day but it’s generally vegetarian friendly, making the most of local, fresh and seasonal produce. Staple dishes include risottos, pasta, gnocchi, homemade bread and antipasti platters designed for sharing. rosemarino.co.uk

Thali Cafe

Originally a food truck in Glastonbury, Thali Cafe now has restaurants dotted all over Bristol. Authentic Indian dishes are served ‘Thali’ style: a way of eating in India where a selection of dishes are served on one big steel plate. Fan favourites include the Goan fish curry, a crispy paneer dish and the spinach daal, served with fresh spinach and a handful of aubergine curry. Fresh ingredients, great flavours, and a relaxed atmosphere – a winning combination. thethalirestaurant.co.uk

The Ox

The Ox, Bristol

Hidden away in a basement below The Commercial Rooms on Corn Street is The Ox, a stylish and intimate restaurant in the heart of the city. As the name suggests, the menu features good quality, perfectly cooked meat, with prime focus on juicy steaks from the local butcher’s Buxton of Winterbourne. Cousin of popular bars Hyde & Co, Milk Thistle and Pata Negra, The Ox has an impressive cocktail menu too. Go for the early evening deal (Monday-Saturday 5-7pm), where you can enjoy a a 6oz rump steak, fries, sauce and a glass of house wine all for just £15. theoxbristol.com

Bosco

Bosco is a great pizza spot on Whiteladies Road where you can watch your Neapolitan style pizza being cooked on a wood-fired oven. boscopizzeria.co.uk

Boston Tea Party

A firm favourite with students and locals alike, Boston Tea Party recently became the first café to ban single use coffee cups. There are various branches across Bristol and Bath, but their flagship on Park Street is our favourite – the tiered garden is a dream during the summer months. Their brunch is particularly good, and it’s near-impossible to resist a purchase from their cake display. bostonteaparty.co.uk

Poco Tapas Bar

A tapas restaurant launched with the planet in mind, Bristol’s Poco Tapas Bar was named the most sustainable restaurant of the year in 2016 thanks to its commitment to the zero waste movement. Food is seasonal and changes often, but classic dishes include deep fried oysters and pork belly with fennel. pocotapasbar.com

Souk Kitchen

With two locations across Bristol, Souk Kitchen serves up vibrant and delicious Mediterranean food for great value – think marinated halloumi, chargrilled meats, falafels and lots of hummus. soukkitchen.co.uk

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