Eating Out in Bristol
There are heaps of cool places to eat out in Bristol. Whatever kind of food you are partial to, traditional English fare, French, Italian, American, Spanish, Latin or Indian, the city can offer anything from a modest sandwich to a fine dining extravaganza. Have a craving for a traditional Sunday roast and some good old-fashioned home-cooking? Not a problem in this city.
St Nicholas Market on Corn Street in the Old City is full of character and a chance to buy organic and locally home-grown produce and eat tasty food from around the globe. Contained under one roof the displays of food look really tempting, you can find local cheeses and honey, organic fruit and vegetables, sausages, home-made pies, fish, game, and cider here. And if you’re hungry and fancy a snack, then head to the back of the market where you can get Moroccan, Italian, Portuguese, Caribbean, Indian and Turkish cuisine.
The Stag & Hounds in Old Market St. is a beautiful historical building that stands prominently amongst the adjacent modern buildings. Located right in the city centre it was originally a brewery and it still has the old pump installed. The locals have some interesting stories of ghostly goings on in the pub. The menu is traditional English pub food and you can get a good Sunday roast here.
There are some popular eateries in the city that are a mix of bar and dining venue, and are informal places to hang out. Here is a taster of just a few of them. Las Iguanas is a Latin-themed bar and restaurant with great cocktails and a party atmosphere. The Living Room is a cocktail piano bar at the harbourside with a brasserie-style atmosphere. With its contemporary design it looks really expensive as it has a lot of style and elegance but prices are reasonable for its modern British menu filled with old favourites. The Watershed cafe bar serves organic, seasonal, locally sourced food and its harbourside location makes it ideal to stop off for a drink at the bar before hitting the nightspots. Another harbourside restaurant, The Shore Cafe Bar, has spectacular views and delicious cocktails with lip smacking dishes on offer. City Cafe has vegetarian dishes and an interesting European cuisine; if it is warm enough you can sit out on the alfresco terrace to eat. For a traditional British meal and a seasonal menu, try The Orangery Restaurant located in an amazing converted glass house with a lively atmosphere, private bar and al fresco terrace.
Thornbury Castle is famous for a mouth-watering selection of traditional English favourites, such as treacle tarts, butterscotch pudding and Sunday roasts and most of their ingredients are sourced from the local area. They have won various prestigious awards here for their fine food and grow their own herbs and vegetables. Mud Dock Café is above a bike shop and has a relaxed atmosphere and serves European dishes with an international influence, afternoon tapas and has a sun terrace with great views. Sit out on the terrace at the Bridge Cafe overlooking the Avon Gorge and the Suspension Bridge, its menu is inspired and the desserts are excellent.
The city also has a good choice of vegetarian places offering a wide selection of tasty food. Arnolfini is a contemporary arts centre with a café/bar and focus on Italian food. They guarantee that everything is fresh with the emphasis on local produce, and access to the art galleries is free. At Bordeaux Quay enjoy dishes using regionally-sourced organic food and drink with fantastic views of the harbor. The food is sophisticated, but definitely fixed in the traditions of European Provincial cooking. Tobacco Factory Cafe Bar has tasty vegan options and locally-brewed beers, its tough industrial style, healthy Mediterranean food and Tapas menu make it a popular place to eat.