The best restaurants in Bristol for 2025

What is it? Michelin-starred cooking in an understated neighbourhood restaurant. 

Why we love it: Some of the best and most creative cooking in the city is coming out of a cosy restaurant in Redland. Wilsons is a project of Jan and Mary Wilson, with many ingredients coming from their own market garden, game shot by the chef himself, and unusual, low intervention wines selected by Mary. They’ve had a Michelin Green Star for their commitment to sustainability, but were awarded an all-new Michelin star earlier this year. 

Time Out tip: Pop in for their lunch set menu to try Jan’s cooking for just £35, or visit their bakery a few doors down at the weekend for reputedly the best bacon roll in the city.

Address: 24 Chandos Road, BS6 6PF, Bristol

Opening hours: Tuesday 7pm–8.30pm, Wednesday through Saturday noon–2.30pm and 6–9.30pm, Sunday and Monday closed

Expect to pay: Set menu is £73, mid-week reduced menu is £35

What is it? A cosy dim sum and wine bar in the emerging food district of St Werburghs

Why we love it: Does it get better than a stack of dumplings? You may be used to washing yours down with a beer or two, but wine and cocktails are the main draw at newly-opened Clouds, whether you opt for a funky orange wine or something a bit crisper and cleaner. The dumplings themselves are delicate and downright delicious, from crispy pork & prawn wontons to earthy chestnut mushroom parcels. There are also a few larger sharing dishes to choose from if you want to break up the dumpling deluge to your table.

Time Out tip: Make sure to leave room for dessert – the lava baos with salted duck egg yolk custard are too delicious to share.

Address: 105–107b Mina Rd, BS2 9YR, Bristol

Opening hours: Wednesday through Friday 5pm–11pm, Saturday 10am–11pm, Sunday 10am–10pm, Monday andTuesday closed

Expect to pay: £5 to £8 for dim sum, £8 to £18 for sharing plates

What is it? In-your-face contemporary dining, with a menu as eye-catching as its menu

Why we love it: Other feels like the first of a new generation of restaurant in Bristol, with its semi-communal seating, bold style and uncompromising menu – with the bonus that the menu prices won’t make you weep. Each dish packs in as much flavour as it feasibly can, drawing on influences from across the world. Start with chicken sesame toast, topped with sliced onion gently spiced with sumac and a pot of poky harissa mayo, or the rich and smokey lamb neck with plum sauce. Expect to see eyebrow raising plates such as BBQ gurnard collars (‘chicken wings of the sea’ as they say)

Address: 32 Cannon Street, BS3 1BN, Bristol

Opening hours: Wednesday through Saturday 5.45pm–9pm, Friday and Saturday 12.30–2pm, Sunday through Tuesday closed

Expect to pay: £4.5 to £10 for starters, £20 to £24 for mains

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).

Address: 81 North Street, BS3 1ES, Bristol

Opening hours: Monday 5–10pm, Tuesday–Thursday 12–3.30pm and 5–10pm, Friday–Saturday 12–10pm, Sunday closed

Expect to Pay: 

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.

Address: 3 Nine Tree Hill, BS1 3SB, Bristol

Opening hours:

Tuesday through Friday noon-2:30pm and 5pm-11pm, Saturday noon-3pm and 5-11pm, closed Monday and Tuesday

Expect to pay: from £9 to £30 per person, set lunch menu at £15

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.

Address: 31 St Stephen’s Street, BS1 1JX, Bristol

Opening hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 5pm–9:30 pm, Thursday through Saturday noon–2 pm and 5pm-9.30pm, closed Sunday

Expect to pay: £4 to £11 for small plates, £14 to £22 for mains

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.

Address: 277 North Street, BS3 1JP, Bristol

Opening hours: Monday–Tuesday 5–9.30pm, Wednesday–Saturday 12–2.30pm and 5–9.30pm, Sunday closed

Expect to pay: £4 to £7 for nibbles, £9.5 to £17 for mains, £20 set lunch menu

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.

Address: 23–25 Zetland Road, BS6 7AH, Bristol

Opening hours: Tuesday through Wednesday 6pm-11pm, Thursday through Saturday noon–11 pm, Sunday noon–3 pm

Expect to pay: £3 to £9 for sides and starters, £13.50 to £20 for mains

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.

Address: Unit 9 Cargo 1, Gaol Ferry Steps, BS1 6WP, Bristol

Opening hours: Monday through Wednesday 5:30 pm–9 pm, Thursday through Saturday noon-2pm and 5:30pm-9pm, Sunday noon–2 pm

Expect to pay: £5 to £12.50 for small plates, £8.5 to £22 for mains

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.

Address: 7 Cotham Hill, BS6 6LD, Bristol

Opening hours: Monday through Saturday 11:30 am–11 pm (kitchen closes at 10pm)

Expect to pay: £4 to £20 for tapas