10 Great Restaurants in Bristol

The Ivy Clifton Brasserie is a sophisticated and spacious restaurant that is great for special occasions in Bristol. Overlooking the scenic Mall Gardens, the restaurant has 2 seating areas, a bar, and 2 private rooms for personal celebrations.

It offers brunch and afternoon tea, as well as dinner a-la-carte and set menus. Here, you'll find modern takes on British classics, from simple fish and chips to twice-baked cheese soufflé. Finish off your meal with a delicious dessert or an expertly crafted cocktail.

BOX-E is a fine-dining restaurant in CARGO, a vibrant dining and retail yard of converted shipping containers. It accommodates up to 14 people at a time, resulting in a cosy and intimate dining experience in Bristol.

BOX-E has an ala carte menu that changes regularly, depending on the season. Its autumn menu has included the likes of black truffle with soup and duck breast with radicchio. There’s also a secretive unwritten 7-course tasting menu that requires advanced booking. Meals are reasonably priced for such haute cuisine.

Adelina Yard is a modern Michelin-starred restaurant with a warm atmosphere. The expert chefs serve up seasonal dishes, sometimes literally by bringing them directly to your table. Summer often sees its terrace fully occupied by diners keen to enjoy sunny days.

Adelina Yard offers 4-course lunch and 8-course dinner tasting menus (only on Wednesdays and Thursdays). Visit on a weekend to enjoy its special tasting menu, which has included the likes of aged beef fillet and Cornish hake. It’s a good idea to book a table due to the high demand on Fridays and Saturdays.

Paco Tapas breaks the French-leaning mould of the Michelin star with its Spanish flavours. Head chef Bathurst Basin changes up the menu regularly, resulting in a mix of delightful modern and classic tapas. The service is quick but welcoming, and dishes are explained where needed.

You might not have the chance to try a dish twice at Paco Tapas. Look forward to light bites like chorizo and Jamon croquettes, as well as filling options such as duroc pork ribs and whole mackerel. Finish your meal with a decadent chocolate mousse with toast and olive oil.

Gambas is a delicious tapas bar that prides itself on serving fresh seafood dishes. While you can find many similar spots around Bristol, none does seafood quite like this one. Located in Wapping Wharf, the restaurant has terrace seating offering lovely canal views on either side.

You can choose from 5 different types of prawn dishes, plus various fried classics. For a bit of everything, do indulge in Gambas’s cured meat and cheese board. Wash everything down with a delightful Spanish wine or a chocolatey dessert.

Root is an award-winning restaurant in Bristol’s Wapping Wharf neighbourhood. You can enjoy modern vegetarian small plates in one of its 5 refurbished shipping containers, all of which overlook the scenic Museum Square.

We highly recommend ordering 2 to 3 plates per person – it's common to share the dishes around the table. Produce comes from small and local suppliers, which means the menu changes very regularly. Root is a great spot for vegetarians, but you can find a few fish dishes if you practise a flexible diet.

The Mint Room utilises local British ingredients to create its extensive menu of modern Indian dishes. Its exotic sense of aesthetics covers all bases, including the dining room and décor.

Food-wise, you can expect a lengthy a la carte menu of classic and modern takes on Indian favourites. Opt for the Tour of India tasting menu, which consists of 7 dishes like tandoori monkfish with caviar and rice pancake with rabbit. You can find The Mint Room on Clifton Road, around a 15-minute walk west of Cabot Tower.

The Ethicurean is an ethically conscious restaurant overlooking Mendip Hills in Bristol. Expect Modern British cuisine made with locally sourced meat, fish, dairy and vegetables – some of which come from its own Victorian walled garden.

The Ethicurean Experience tasting menu is a 4-hour experience, starting with welcome drinks and freshly baked bread, followed by several savoury courses and a dessert. Its dining room has fire pits and indoor log burners to provide much-needed warmth during Bristol's colder months.

The Chef’s Table offers a seasonal dining experience by the River Avon. It’s on Spike Island, just a short walk from the Underfall Yard Visitor Centre. Here, chefs take great pride in what they do – you can even watch your food being prepared in the kitchen.

The creative menu is changed every 2 months to make the most of seasonal local ingredients. Its autumn a-la-carte menu has featured risotto with wood pigeon and mackerel with kadaifi (Turkish pastry). You can also enjoy vegetarian and vegan tasting menus, plus a variety of high-class wines to pair with your meal.

The Blaise Inn is a cosy Bristol pub with a Michelin-awarded menu. Set along Henbury Road, it’s within a short walk of notable landmarks like Blaise Castle, St Mary's Church, and the National Trust's historic Blaise Hamlet.

Menu changes occasionally – its sample menu has Modern British dishes like poached salmon with tarragon mayonnaise, seared onglet steak, and roast skate wing with new potatoes. Desserts are usually British classics with a twist, such as sticky toffee pudding with Chantilly cream, bay-scented custard tart, and lemon verbena pannacotta with amaretti crumble.