South West England
Good grub, Bristol fashion
Good food, small bill
Updated
Bristol eats well for not much, if you know where to look. St Nicholas Market in the Old City is the classic, a covered market of street-food stalls, and Chilli Daddy started there before opening its own Sichuan place on Baldwin Street. Up the hill, Stokes Croft and Montpelier have the Canteen, with live music most nights, Biblos for wraps, Rice & Things for Jamaican home cooking and Thali, a local favourite for over twenty years. Pizzarova on Gloucester Road, Pieminister by the harbour and the Tobacco Factory’s Sunday market fill in the rest.
Our picks
St Nicholas Market
Corn Street, Old City
Address: Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1JQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Wander the old covered market by Corn Street, with its glass-roofed arcade of street-food stalls, and eat your way around the world for lunch.
Why it's a good date: Each of you chooses a stall and you swap halfway. Have a look round the little shops in the market afterwards.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
The Canteen
Stokes Croft
Address: The Canteen, Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share seasonal vegetarian plates at the big, friendly bar and kitchen in Hamilton House, then stay on for the free live music.
Why it's a good date: The menu changes with the seasons and there's a band most nights, so dinner turns into a proper night out without costing much. Walk up the Croft afterwards to see the street art.
Thali Montpelier
York Road, Montpelier
Address: Thali Montpelier, 12 York Road, Bristol BS6 5QE- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Order a thali each and share the little bowls of curry, dal and pickles at Bristol's original thali spot, tucked away on a Montpelier side street.
Why it's a good date: A Bristol favourite for over twenty years, with a warm, colourful room and generous plates. It's dinner only and gets busy at weekends, so book ahead.
Rice & Things
Cheltenham Road, Montpelier
Address: Rice & Things, 120 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5RW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Tuck into home-style Jamaican cooking at the long-running family restaurant on Cheltenham Road, with curries, stews and rice and peas.
Why it's a good date: Big, comforting plates and a friendly welcome, for very little money. It's a short walk from the Stokes Croft murals, so make an afternoon of it.
Biblos
Stokes Croft
Address: Biblos, 62 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QU- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Grab a table at the Stokes Croft original for big Middle Eastern wraps and mezze, with plenty for vegans and veggies.
Why it's a good date: Filling and cheerful, and right in the middle of the Croft's bars and street art, so it's a good start to a night out.
Chilli Daddy
Baldwin Street, Old City
Address: Chilli Daddy, 45-47 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1RA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share fiery Sichuan noodles and dumplings at the little restaurant on Baldwin Street, from the team that started with a stall in St Nick's.
Why it's a good date: Proper Sichuan heat at a very kind price. Ask for a milder level if one of you isn't keen on spice, then walk down to the harbour.
Pizzarova
Gloucester Road, Bishopston
Address: Pizzarova, 289 Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8NY- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Share a sourdough pizza at the Bristol-grown pizzeria on Gloucester Road, the city's long strip of independent shops.
Why it's a good date: Good pizza that's easy on the wallet. Have a browse along Gloucester Road first and end up here for dinner.
Tobacco Factory Sunday Market
Raleigh Road, Southville
Address: Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Road, Bristol BS3 1TF- Restaurant
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Wander the Sunday market outside the old Tobacco Factory and graze the street-food stalls, bakers and local producers.
Why it's a good date: A relaxed Sunday with a neighbourhood feel. Pick a stall each and share, then wander along North Street for a coffee or a drink.
Pieminister Broad Quay
Broad Quay, City Centre
Address: Pieminister, 7 Broad Quay, Bristol BS1 4DA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Have pie and mash with gravy at the home-town branch of the Bristol pie makers, in an old building by the harbour.
Why it's a good date: Warming and good value, which makes it a good stop on a cold day. It's a few steps from the water, so walk off dinner along the harbour.
Quick answers
Where can we eat cheaply in Stokes Croft?
The Canteen in Hamilton House has seasonal vegetarian plates and free live music most nights, and Biblos a few doors down does big Middle Eastern wraps and mezze. Neither takes bookings, so just turn up.
Is there a good cheap Sunday lunch date in Bristol?
The Sunday market outside the Tobacco Factory in Southville has street-food stalls, bakers and local producers. Pick a stall each, share, then wander along North Street.
Save these to your jar
Dote keeps every date idea you find in one jar you share with your partner, and tells you which ones suit the weekend weather. It's free on iPhone and Android.
