Here are the places I have to give a double thumbs up to, should you find yourself uninspired by your packed lunch or office canteen. I’ve tried to keep the suggestions to the centre, otherwise this post would be even longer!
Let me know where else you rate for lunchtime munching in the comments below!
St Nick’s
Where to start? St Nick’s is famously a veritable feast of munch options.
Want something stodgy to keep you going all day? Head along to Pieminister for some pie, mash and minty peas (they’ve recently started doing lighter pies, but the original Heidi or Matador do it for me).
Veggies are also very well taken care of, between Royce Rolls serving up some great sandwiches, tarts and veggie/vegan cakes, and Eat a Pitta doing some seriously massive salad boxes.
On the subject of huge portions – Matina are famous around these parts for their humongous wraps; choose from chicken, lamb or vegetables cooked on the grill and wrapped in Kurdish flatbreads still hot from their tandoor oven.
Of course, I still haven’t even mentioned the Moroccan delights from Al Bab Mansour, Indian snacks from Spice Up Your Life, the mum-sized portions from Caribbean Wrap, the impressive deli options at Source Food Hall and the cake utopia that is Ahh Toots.
St Nick’s, we salute you.
Cafes
Sandwich Sandwich – Come for the sandwiches, stay for the salad bar; they let you have chicken kiev in it for chrissakes. The hot wraps are also lovely, particularly the jerk chicken, and they even do a gourmet fish finger sarnie (!)
Friska – These lot have been steadily spreading their tasty and ethically-sound wares across Bristol. I’m particularly fond of their hot boxes – at £5 they’re generous, packed full of flavour and nutrionally balanced too. Also worth investigating for their hot wraps or buckets of pho & soups.
https://twitter.com/FriskaFood/status/710790127660998656
Veggie-riffic
The Spotless Leopard – If you find yourself in the mood for a tempeh Reuben sandwich, vegan macaroni cheese or a gorgeous cake, pop along to this van on Whiteladies Rd and be assured of a tasty treat without any animal involvement.
There’s also the infamous Battle of the Falafel (or maybe I made that up, but it should be a thing) between Edna’s Kitchen in Castle Park, Falafel King and Eat a Pitta – it’s a hard one to call, so why not try them all and let me know your verdict?
Street Vendors
The street food scene has exploded in Bristol in the past couple of years, and you won’t have to stroll far to find a great snack, from Mexican to sandwiches to grilled cheese.
There are also various street food events and markets around town, my favourite during the week being the Temple Quay market every Thursday.
Pickle – Based more towards the Redcliffe/Temple Meads end of town? You may be stuck in the most uninspiring part of town, but your lunch can still be exciting! Check out their Facebook or Twitter for daily specials, but there’s a reason this place always commands mega queues (their stews are famously amazing).
Woolly Cactus – Just by Bristol Bridge, the burritos here are hefty and packed full of flavour, but you can also choose from fajitas, soft mini tacos (my fave), quesadillas or a naked burrito (nothing to do with scantily-clad service – this is their Mexican style salad option).
Top Lunchtime Deals
To sum up, there are plenty of excellent lunch offers across town, but I’ve got my favourites and here they are:
1. Three Brothers Burgers: Pay £5 for a burger & fries (and their burgers are gooood, and their milkshakes – oof! I’m still thinking of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups one)
2. Manouche, fruit juice & fruit at Five Grains for a fiver. A super tasty toasted Lebanese flatbread sandwich, along with a freshly squeezed juice, which feels like you’re offsetting the hefty sarnie you’re about to gobble down.
3. The Apple: Try something from their Ploughman’s menu (summer only) – not so much a ‘deal’, but I just think it’s ridiculous how much you get for around the £9 mark. A proper cheese feast. Lunchtime cider optional (hah!)
That’s all from me, let me know which of the above is your favourite lunchtime stop-off, or which place/deal I’ve missed off. Also remember to check the Wriggle app for any special lunchtime deals. Cheers then!
If you like this, you’ll also like…
A Life Less Organised 
You’ve made me desperately hungry 🙂
Sorry! 🙂
It’s all good! 🙂
Spicer and Cole just off Queen Square/Welsh Back is one of my favourites. Amazing flatbreads, quiches, salads and cakes. And everyone tells me the coffee is great too!
These all look so delicious!!! I’ve only been to Pieminister once, but I definitely recommend it!! You can’t go wrong with the moo ;). I definitely plan on trying some of these places!!
Maximillions is the stuff of legends!
It really is – an oldie but a goodie!