Guidebook for Bristol
Food Scene
A Bristol institution, the Thali Cafe has several restaurants across the city. It easily holds it's own, serving Indian street food and Southern Indian Thalis, in the centre of Bristol's vibrant Indian community. It is also used by locals as a cafe during the day.
76 locals recommend
The Thali Restaurant Easton
64-66 St Marks Rd A Bristol institution, the Thali Cafe has several restaurants across the city. It easily holds it's own, serving Indian street food and Southern Indian Thalis, in the centre of Bristol's vibrant Indian community. It is also used by locals as a cafe during the day.
Fantastic local cafe and deli, it can get quite busy but there is a sweet little garden outside to relax in. They do beautiful cake and great coffee.
42 locals recommend
No12 Easton
12 High St Fantastic local cafe and deli, it can get quite busy but there is a sweet little garden outside to relax in. They do beautiful cake and great coffee.
A bright South American cafe, serving lovely light meals and good cake and coffee.
28 locals recommend
Este Kitchen
7 Greenbank RdA bright South American cafe, serving lovely light meals and good cake and coffee.
A legndary bakery and cafe underneath the approach to Temple Meads Station, everything is baked on the premises and you can expect good hearty fare. There are often queues out of the door on a Saturday but it' worth it.
27 locals recommend
Hart's Bakery
Arch 35 Lower Approach RdA legndary bakery and cafe underneath the approach to Temple Meads Station, everything is baked on the premises and you can expect good hearty fare. There are often queues out of the door on a Saturday but it' worth it.
A nice cafe with good coffee, it's popular especially with young families.
19 locals recommend
The Faraway Tree
136 Church RdA nice cafe with good coffee, it's popular especially with young families.
Bristol Spirit serve an extensive list of cocktails and spirits all infused by the Bristol Spirit team. I celebrated moving into the flat with a Custard and Rhubarb Prosecco cocktail there! They also host various pop-up restaurants, check online for what food they're doing at the moment. They also do movie nights and theme evenings too.
6 locals recommend
Bristol Spirit
86 Whitehall RdBristol Spirit serve an extensive list of cocktails and spirits all infused by the Bristol Spirit team. I celebrated moving into the flat with a Custard and Rhubarb Prosecco cocktail there! They also host various pop-up restaurants, check online for what food they're doing at the moment. They also do movie nights and theme evenings too.
Great take away pizza with unusual toppings, they have vegetarian and vegan options. They also sell local ales by the bottle and deliver too.
15 locals recommend
G Brothers Pizza
2B High StGreat take away pizza with unusual toppings, they have vegetarian and vegan options. They also sell local ales by the bottle and deliver too.
A new addition to Church Road, the Bristol Loaf serve up fabulous sour dough bread along with great coffee, sandwiches and cake. They have expanded to make room for their cafe. Everything is baked on the premises.
25 locals recommend
The Bristol Loaf
213 Church RdA new addition to Church Road, the Bristol Loaf serve up fabulous sour dough bread along with great coffee, sandwiches and cake. They have expanded to make room for their cafe. Everything is baked on the premises.
A Bristol institution, the Canteen serves good food at reasonable prices in a large open plan restaurant in the heart of the Cultural Quarter of Stokes Croft. There is often live music on after 9pm where they move the tables and chairs to make way for dancing. Above is Hamilton House which houses hundreds of local artists and entrepreneurs, as well as many classes talks and events.
102 locals recommend
The Canteen
80 Stokes CroftA Bristol institution, the Canteen serves good food at reasonable prices in a large open plan restaurant in the heart of the Cultural Quarter of Stokes Croft. There is often live music on after 9pm where they move the tables and chairs to make way for dancing. Above is Hamilton House which houses hundreds of local artists and entrepreneurs, as well as many classes talks and events.
Dela is a Swedish cafe / restaurant, it's not the cheapest in the area but the food is beautiful, fresh locally sourced produce, with great flavours. They are based in the bottom floor of Mivart Studios which houses many artists in the floors above.
20 locals recommend
Dela
Mivart StreetDela is a Swedish cafe / restaurant, it's not the cheapest in the area but the food is beautiful, fresh locally sourced produce, with great flavours. They are based in the bottom floor of Mivart Studios which houses many artists in the floors above.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is your local pub, it's a real cracker, with loads of ales and ciders on tap and a range of wines. The atmosphere is friendly, the owners have a couple of little dogs that have the run of the place and there's a decent back yard for warm evenings and smoking. They also do good pub grub in the form of Pieminister Pies with all the trimmings.
26 locals recommend
The Dark Horse
172-174 Church RdThis is your local pub, it's a real cracker, with loads of ales and ciders on tap and a range of wines. The atmosphere is friendly, the owners have a couple of little dogs that have the run of the place and there's a decent back yard for warm evenings and smoking. They also do good pub grub in the form of Pieminister Pies with all the trimmings.
Another local pub, this one has new management. I haven't been yet but it has an eclectic line up most nights everything from heavy metal to afro beat, check out their facebook page to see if it's to your taste.
17 locals recommend
The red lion
206 Whitehall RdAnother local pub, this one has new management. I haven't been yet but it has an eclectic line up most nights everything from heavy metal to afro beat, check out their facebook page to see if it's to your taste.
A ramshackle wonderful venue where live music 'Gypsy, Folk, Swing, Ska, Reggae music and much more' they also do an all night jam session supporting their mission to network creatives in the city.
Jam Jar
Little Ann StreetA ramshackle wonderful venue where live music 'Gypsy, Folk, Swing, Ska, Reggae music and much more' they also do an all night jam session supporting their mission to network creatives in the city.
A friendly welcoming pub featuring a steady stream of up and coming local and not so local bands. Punters from all walks of life and a great atmosphere.
Golden Lion
244 Gloucester RoadA friendly welcoming pub featuring a steady stream of up and coming local and not so local bands. Punters from all walks of life and a great atmosphere.
The Plough is really a pub but most people only see it when it comes alive after 11 with a heaving dancefloor and reliably eclectic DJ's. It's easy to find yourself still dancing at 3am when you were expecting to have a quiet night.
33 locals recommend
The Plough Inn
223 Easton RdThe Plough is really a pub but most people only see it when it comes alive after 11 with a heaving dancefloor and reliably eclectic DJ's. It's easy to find yourself still dancing at 3am when you were expecting to have a quiet night.
A good destination for a bike ride on the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path. The pub sits overlooking a weir in a beautiful spot for the evening sunshine. It does serve food but can't guarantee the quality, it's all about the location with this one.
7 locals recommend
Jolly Sailor
Mead LaneA good destination for a bike ride on the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path. The pub sits overlooking a weir in a beautiful spot for the evening sunshine. It does serve food but can't guarantee the quality, it's all about the location with this one.
Sightseeing
A must see for a first visit to Bristol, the bridge was designed by Isambard kingdom Brunel and is a feat of engineering. The Avon Gorge hotel overlooks it and is a good place to stop for a drink.
540 locals recommend
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Bridge RoadA must see for a first visit to Bristol, the bridge was designed by Isambard kingdom Brunel and is a feat of engineering. The Avon Gorge hotel overlooks it and is a good place to stop for a drink.
Gloucester Road claims to be the longest (mostly) independent high street in Europe. You will find a myriad of charity shops, craft shops, cafes, bars, pubs, bakeries and pretty much anything else you can think of. The most vibrant section is further towards the centre starting from the Somerville Road junction.
38 locals recommend
Gloucester Rd
Gloucester RoadGloucester Road claims to be the longest (mostly) independent high street in Europe. You will find a myriad of charity shops, craft shops, cafes, bars, pubs, bakeries and pretty much anything else you can think of. The most vibrant section is further towards the centre starting from the Somerville Road junction.
Arts & Culture
The artistic heart of Bristol, loads of arty and alternative cafes have sprung up in the area along with extensive graffiti murals. There is a Bristol graffiti sightseeing tour available. The Canteen bar and music venue sits in the middle of Stokes Croft and there are loads of classes and events happening within the building above.
86 locals recommend
Stokes Croft
Stokes CroftThe artistic heart of Bristol, loads of arty and alternative cafes have sprung up in the area along with extensive graffiti murals. There is a Bristol graffiti sightseeing tour available. The Canteen bar and music venue sits in the middle of Stokes Croft and there are loads of classes and events happening within the building above.
A wide ranging history of Bristol, with really interactive exhibits, free to get in to the main exhibition, the changing exhibition you have to pay for.
219 locals recommend
M Shed
Wapping RoadA wide ranging history of Bristol, with really interactive exhibits, free to get in to the main exhibition, the changing exhibition you have to pay for.
Parks & Nature
Quite large local park, it has a small boating lake and skatepark with plenty of opportunity to lounge around in the sun.
62 locals recommend
St George Park
Church RoadQuite large local park, it has a small boating lake and skatepark with plenty of opportunity to lounge around in the sun.
If you follow the river Froome through Eastville Park you will eventually come to Stoke Park estate. It can often be bracing as it's quite exposed but you get great views across the city.
15 locals recommend
Stoke Park Estate
M32If you follow the river Froome through Eastville Park you will eventually come to Stoke Park estate. It can often be bracing as it's quite exposed but you get great views across the city.
Another local park with a boating lake, this one has a family of Otters living on the island in the middle. The river Frome runs through the park and beyond all the way to Snuff Mills which makes a pretty decent walk.
28 locals recommend
Eastville Park
Fishponds RoadAnother local park with a boating lake, this one has a family of Otters living on the island in the middle. The river Frome runs through the park and beyond all the way to Snuff Mills which makes a pretty decent walk.
A large estate with deer and a mix of woodland and green space. There's even a golf course. There are good views across South Bristol.
87 locals recommend
Ashton Court Estate
A large estate with deer and a mix of woodland and green space. There's even a golf course. There are good views across South Bristol.
Entertainment & Activities
An art house cinema and bar / cafe, the watershed often have cultural events and festivals.
110 locals recommend
Watershed
1 Canon's RdAn art house cinema and bar / cafe, the watershed often have cultural events and festivals.
The City Farm has lots of animals for the kids to see and the farm cafe serves great food. There's a playground too.
73 locals recommend
St Werburghs City Farm
Watercress RoadThe City Farm has lots of animals for the kids to see and the farm cafe serves great food. There's a playground too.
A small theatre company at the back of The Old Market Assembly which is a bar, restaurant and live music venue. The theatre company put on hilarious, wild and imaginative shows for a variety of ages and tastes. From September twice a month they do a fantastic improvised soap opera for only £6 a ticket!
23 locals recommend
The Wardrobe Theatre
25 West StA small theatre company at the back of The Old Market Assembly which is a bar, restaurant and live music venue. The theatre company put on hilarious, wild and imaginative shows for a variety of ages and tastes. From September twice a month they do a fantastic improvised soap opera for only £6 a ticket!
Essentials
ALDI
273-279 Church Rdsupermarket, cheap and near by.
Southville Deli
262 North StGreat shop for all things organic and for alternative food etc.
Massive supermarket, if you couldn't get what you need in Aldi, Tesco will have it.
65 locals recommend
Tesco Extra
Eastgate RoadMassive supermarket, if you couldn't get what you need in Aldi, Tesco will have it.
The Sweet Mart is famous across Bristol for it's amazing community spirit, it's huge selection of ingredients from around the world, and how amazingly cheap it is. You can get vegetables there as well as a wide range of organic, vegetarian and vegan items along with a massive range of spices and just about everything else. They don't do many meat goods or western bread. There is a deli at the side serving a range of samosas and pakora among other things. It's worth a visit just for the experience!
59 locals recommend
Bristol Sweet Mart
71-82 St Marks RdThe Sweet Mart is famous across Bristol for it's amazing community spirit, it's huge selection of ingredients from around the world, and how amazingly cheap it is. You can get vegetables there as well as a wide range of organic, vegetarian and vegan items along with a massive range of spices and just about everything else. They don't do many meat goods or western bread. There is a deli at the side serving a range of samosas and pakora among other things. It's worth a visit just for the experience!