Bristol Restaurants and Dining

(Bristol, England, UK)

Bristol is home to some of the best restaurants in the south-west of England. Over the last decade the city has expanded its variety of cuisine and now has an enormous selection of places to eat out, serving food from all over the world. Independent restaurants in Bristol are thriving, and the redevelopment of old industrial and dock warehouses has contributed to their success, along with the arrival of the Cabots Circus shopping complex, next to Broadmead.

Bristol has some of the best cafés, coffee shops, bistros, pubs and restaurants in England and a truly world-class selection, many of which are located in the heart of the city centre. With more than 100 local dining establishments, these are usually excellent value for money and some offer discounts on meals for both children and seniors eating out. If you are shopping in Broadmead and just after a quick snack, then a local bakery, Burger King or McDonald's may well suffice, or perhaps sandwiches from M&S.


Each area of Bristol has its own atmosphere, with the cafés, restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs boasting their own unique style. The city's traditional public houses are situated at the end of cobbled alleys and hidden lanes in the Clifton neighbourhood. In the Harbourside area, trendy restaurants and bars line the way, and this is a particularly lively and social area, especially at night.

Public Houses / Pubs

There is an enormous range of varied public houses in and around central Bristol and most of these serve food, ranging from simple bar snacks to high-quality meals in restaurant areas. Many of the city's pubs and wine bars are concentrated around the city centre, the Harbourside, on Whiteladies Road and on Gloucester Road.

Breakfast

If you plan to eat breakfast outside of your hotel, then the city offers a variety of options in the central area. One of the most popular places to eat breakfast in Bristol is at the city's numerous coffee shops and cafés. Most coffee shops open at around 07:30 and serve coffee, hot chocolate, teas and a wide choice of pastries. Popular brands include Caffe Nero at the House of Fraser, Costa Coffee at Broadmead, and Starbucks, which has outlets located on Victoria Street, the Glass Walk and Temple Quay. Other options include a number of central bars and cafés, which serve full-English breakfasts, including sausages, bacon and eggs, as well as other more continental choices.

Lunch

Lunch in Bristol is one of the most popular meals of the day and many bistros, cafés and bars attract people by reducing their prices during lunchtime. Lunch is generally taken between 11:30 to 14:30. Many local dining venues also offer 'eat as much as you want' lunchtime specials at fixed prices, where Chinese, Thai, Italian and Mexican restaurants, amongst others, provide extensive, mouthwatering buffets, which offer excellent value for money. These are spread throughout central Bristol, but are particularly concentrated in the Broadmead and Cabots Circus shopping centres, where the best quickly become crowded on busy Saturdays. These include the Brasserie Blanc, Bella Italia, Cafe Rouge, Frankie & Benny's, the Harvey Nichols 2nd Floor Restaurant and La Tasca, amongst other choices. Also, a number of cafés in the centre of Bristol have seating areas on the wide pavements outside.

Fastfood Outlets

Bristol offers numerous fast-food restaurants and outlets, and these provide a wide choice of food suitable for picnics in nearby parks and central squares. These outlets include McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and a number of smaller, independent local shops.

Other lunchtime snacks can be purchased from Bristol's countless bakeries, which provide a good selection of freshly made sandwiches, baguettes, salads, pasties, sausage rolls and cakes.

Dinner

Bristol restaurants generally open for dinner at around 18:00 and stay open until around 23:30 or later, although many may open earlier or may actually be open throughout the day. There are so many to choose from that you are almost spoilt for choice.