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Cotto
Photograph: Shonette Laffy

The 20 best restaurants in Bristol

Feeling peckish? Whatever cuisine you’re after, our pick of the best Bristol restaurants will have you covered

Shonette Laffy
Written by
Sammy Jones
&
Shonette Laffy
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You’re never far from a good munch in Bristol, whether you’re grabbing a doorstop bacon sanger from a kiosk on the harbourside or enjoying a chef’s table experience in one of the city’s top restaurants. The difficult part? Knowing what to try first.

Some of Bristol’s best bites can be sampled at the various markets dotted around town, with the hotly-anticipated BOXHALL set to bring even more choice to the street food scene when it opens this 2024. But if you’re hungry to really understand the beating stomach of the city, book a table at a few of the restaurants below, all of which show off what the Bristol food scene is about: local, seasonal and casual. 

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This guide was last updated by Shonette Laffy, is a writer based in Bristol. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Top Bristol restaurants

Cor
Photograph: Shonette Laffy for Time Out

1. Cor

What is it? Mediterranean small plates, with a few surprises thrown in.

Why we love it: This perky little restaurant in Bedminster has been the talk of the town since it opened in late 2022, headed up by well-respected chef Mark Chapman, who had already made his mark on the city with his stints at local favourites Bravas and Gambas.

Time Out tip: Order the Cor trademark dish of cannellini beans with lemon beurre blanc, smoked caviar and panko breadcrumbs (trust us, it’s a delicious wallop to your taste buds).

Bokman
Photograph: Shonette Laffy for Time Out

2. Bokman

What is it? Homely Korean cooking from super talented chefs.

Why we love it: Bokman does understated food that you’ll be thinking about for a long time afterwards. Go with friends to try a proper selection of Korean stews, mandu, banchan and noodle dishes: you’ll leave very full and very happy.

Time Out tip: Tongdak is the star of the show here – charcoal grilled whole chicken stuffed with sticky rice, best eaten with a selection of pickles.

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Cotto
Photograph: Shonette Laffy

3. Cotto

What is it? Wines by the glass and simple yet refined Italian cooking

Why we love it: The team behind Pasta Ripiena, Bianchis and most recently Pazzo are best known for bossing casual Italian dining across Bristol, with Cotto their most laidback affair. Low lights, pasta for around a tenner and a range of wines to work your way through – this is the place to catch up with friends and stay for hours when you only popped out for one.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss their two-for-£10 deal on spritzes or Negronis every Monday.

The Saigon Kitchen
Photograph: Shonette Laffy for Time Out

4. The Saigon Kitchen

What is it? Home-style Vietnamese recipes from Trung and his family

Why we love it: Load up on Hanoi-style fried spring rolls and zingy mango salad before tucking into a fragrant noodle dish or one of their grilled fish specialities. Relaxed, refined and really delicious to boot.

Time Out tip: Brush off the cobwebs with Saigon Kitchen's traditional pho, served only on Sundays. Choose to pair it with a punchy Vietnamese coffee or Bloody Mary.

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Root
Photograph: Louis Smith

5. Root

What is it? Inventive dishes celebrating seasonal ingredients.

Why we love it: Well-known for taking a veg-first approach to its menu (you’ll only find a couple of meat and fish dishes), Root puts some wildcard combos together which you’ll raise an eyebrow at before fighting over the last morsel – whether it’s carrot hash browns or beetroot with hazelnuts.

Time Out tip: Nab an outdoor table for some scenic harbour views, or sit up at the bar to watch the chefs in action.

Lucky Strike
Photograph: Shonette Laffy

6. Lucky Strike

What is it? Relaxed, retro vibes in Bedminster.

Why we love it: There’s been a big move towards nostalgic food in recent years, but Lucky Strike manages to smash out these old school British recipes without them being too hipster or overdone. The evening menu changes with the seasons, but you can rely on some classic staples for brunch, including homemade spaghetti hoops on toast, kedgeree or Anglesey eggs. 

Time Out tip: Try the latest cocktail specials – they also make a fantastic Negroni. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Spanish

What is it? Sumptuous Spanish small plates.

Why we love it: Get a true taste of Spain at this tapas bar and restaurant owned by couple Kieran and Imogen Waite. This duo take their staff to Spain annually to ensure their food remains on point and to cement their connections with Spanish suppliers.

Time Out tip: Try its sister restaurant, Gambas, too – it’s based at the harbourside and focuses on fish.

Bertha’s Pizza
Photograph: Bertha's Pizza

8. Bertha’s Pizza

What is it? Always special sourdough pizza with a story.

Why we love it: Right at the top of Wapping Wharf, behind some big yellow doors, is some of the best pizza in the South West. The team at Bertha's live and breathe sourdough pizza, and it shows. Alongside the best local suppliers in the region, they whip up pizzas with passion and creativity.

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  • Restaurants
  • Vegetarian

What is it? Excellent-value Middle Eastern-inspired small plates.

Why we love it: Purveyor of Middle Eastern cuisine, Souk Kitchen offers a fantastic array of mezze, including chargrilled halloumi with watermelon and Aleppo chicken wings. However, it isn’t just exotic ingredients on offer here. The sausages are from Gloucester Old Spot pigs, and most of the bread is made by Mark’s Bread, a few hundred yards away.

Time Out tip: Order lots of plates and share around. You’re not going to want to miss out.

10. Real Habesha

What is it? Family-run restaurants serving up Eritrean and Ethiopian specialities.

Why we love it: Having recently expanded to a second site on Gloucester Road, Real Habesha has won over a new crowd, having already built up a loyal following for their first restaurant in Easton. Order one of their meat or veggie platters which come with a mix of stews, rich and veg, then finish with an intense Ethiopian coffee.

Time Out tip: Go easy on ordering sides and extras – that injera bread will fill you up more than you think. 

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