Want to celebrate a birthday, have a family meal or spoil that special someone?
As you’d expect, Bristol is brimming with excellent food options to suit every budget and taste; in fact you can eat well at many of the places below for a little over £10 – be sure to check their early bird deals or see if you can find them on the Wriggle app.
I’ve split the selections below by type, from serious sophistication down to the quirkier venues in town, so whether you’re on a date or a work do, you can work out the sort of mood & location that suits you best.
Break out your best shoes, smooth down your hair and straighten your bow tie – here are my tips for where to go when you’re in need of a serious treat in Bristol…
Sophisticated Spots
The Ox
Steak restaurants don’t come much more opulent than this place, and luckily both the food and drinks menus are equally as attractive. Choose from a selection of tasty small plates and perfectly-cooked steaks (including some impressive sharing dishes such as a 30oz T-Bone), then try and decide between their mega wine list, great selection of local beers or cocktail menu.
Wilson’s
The praise for this neighbourhood restaurant in Redland isn’t limited to locals – the press have been all over this place since it opened, and it even made it on to a list of The World’s Most Underrated Restaurants on CNN! Seriously good food, done unpretentiously – and as a bonus you might even get to have a chinwag with the wonderful Jan Wilson himself!
https://twitter.com/Muddyfox24768/status/865659266098642946
Adelina Yard
Placed in the 100 Top Restaurants list in The Times within momnths of opening, this chilled restaurant on Welsh Back serves up some gorgeous dishes without going overboard on price. Their lunch deal is great value and on sunnier days it’s worth nabbing a riverside seat on their back terrace.
The Lido
If you want to make your meal more of an all-day treat, why not pop along to The Lido for a spa day or al fresco swim to work up an appetite? Their tapas menu is reliably good, and they usually have some good value offers on their website which you can combine with using the spa facilities.
Laid-back Lushness
Broken Dock
Quite possible the best view in town – and that’s quite the statement given how many scenic views we are lucky to have in Bristol. Also see neighbouring restaurant Spoke & Stringer for some seriously gorgeous tapas and live music.
Pasta Loco
Few places make the immediate impact that this punchy family-run joint did as soon as it opened – with Ben making fresh pasta twice daily and his cousin Dom providing enthusiastic and chatty service out the front, you’re unlikely to find better Italian food for miles around, with a lush wine list to boot.
Quirky & Lively
The Gallimaufry
The thing I like best about this place is that you can choose to sit in the bar or bustling outside terrace, or tuck yourself away in their restaurant area for a quieter meal. Choose from a seriously good selection of small plates (there’s a bargainous 3-for-£12 deal before 7pm during the week), and if you time it right you might even be treated to some quality live music in the bar.
Poco
Still one of my favourites in Bristol for a relaxed snack, Poco also has first rate eco credentials, having won several awards for its sustainable approach. The menu is strictly seasonal, as is the succinct cocktail menu (I’m still thinking about the bonfire Old Fashioned they served me over a year ago). Sit up at the high tables or in the window for chinwagging and people-watching, or at a table towards the back for a more chilled experience.
No.1 Harbourside
This place is getting quite the word-of-mouth following for its food, thanks to the exciting creations of their clever chef Scott Raynal Hislop (he’s particularly great when it comes to inventive vegan dishes). There’s also the bonus of being able to sit outside and watch the harbourside go about its business. Expect similarly wonderful things from sister restaurant Canteen on Stokes Croft.
Box-E
A tiny restaurant in a shipping container, but it packs a punch and a half. Tess and Elliott run the joint and are both lovely, the food is first rate (they’ve espedcially made a name for themselves with their seasonal pannacottas) and the views of the harbour from the outdoor seating are lush too.
Flow
A relaxed and welcoming restaurant next to the Bearpit, this place may wear its veggie credentials on its sleeve, but by no means does its appeal stretch only to those who avoid animal products. The small plates are bursting with flavour, and the cocktails are delicious too.
Splashing Out
Casamia
Bristol’s original Michelin-starred restaurant; the team create some of the country’s most imaginative and playful dishes using a range of techniques. The decor is also designed to match the seasonal changes to the menu and give an all-round sensory experience.
Bulrush
Now the fifth Michelin-starred restaurant in Bristol, Bulrush is serving up some of the most exciting food in the city – their tasting menus in particular are not to be missed.
The Pony & Trap
Don’t be fooled by the unassuming appearance of this country pub; chef and owner Josh Eggleton has helped to put Bristol on the map for food, not only through his repeat appearances on The Great British Menu, but also by going on to be one of the organisers of the annual Eat Drink Bristol Fashion event. The Pony & Trap is still where most of his efforts are concentrated though, and it shows through in the quality of everything from their well-crafted dinner menu, to the superb roast dinners.
The Ethicurean
The clue’s in the name here; their short and seasonal menu is about as ethically-sourced as it’s possible to be, and changes daily. However the beautiful views of their walled garden and the hills beyond are just as famous as their menu. The experimental cocktails are also well worth the trip out to BS40.
Just a Few Drinks
If you want to round off your night of indulgence, you can take a look at my guide to Bristol’s Classiest Cocktail Bars, or maybe you’re more in the mood for a local beer at one of Bristol’s Best Craft Bars?
In any case, I hope you have fun trying out some of the finer establishments in Bristol – let me know if you try any of those from my list, or if there are any others you think I need to visit!
In need of a few more recommendations?
A Life Less Organised 
Oh my!
Indeed!
A great run down of where to eat in Bristol, but why no Flinty Red or Bravas? Both worth a trip down Cotham Hill.
Flinty Red is changing hands shortly so I didn’t want to include it in case it changes. As for Bravas, it’s one of my favourites but only have so many I can put on the list, and it may not seem as the right mood for some people looking for a special occasion location. Both excellent shouts though!