South West England
Best bib and tucker
Worth dressing up for
Updated
For an anniversary or a big birthday, Bristol has plenty worth dressing up for. Bulrush in Cotham and Wilsons in Redland do careful tasting menus in small rooms, and Dongnae, on the same stretch of Chandos Road as Wilsons, does Korean set menus. Adelina Yard is run by the couple who cook for you, on the quay by Bristol Bridge, and Chef’s Table near the Cumberland Basin has proper cheese and dessert trolleys. In Clifton, 1 York Place has a long wine list a short walk from the Suspension Bridge. For something louder, there’s steak over fire at Pasture or down in the old bank vault at The Ox.
Our picks
Bulrush
Cotham Road South, Cotham
Address: 21 Cotham Road South, Bristol BS6 5TZ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book the tasting menu at the Michelin-starred neighbourhood restaurant in Cotham, with inventive, seasonal cooking in a relaxed room.
Why it's a good date: The one to save for an anniversary: serious food without the stuffiness. Book well ahead.
Wilsons
Chandos Road, Redland
Address: Wilsons, 24 Chandos Road, Bristol BS6 6PF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book the tasting menu at the small Michelin-starred restaurant on Chandos Road, with much of the produce grown on its own smallholding.
Why it's a good date: Thoughtful, seasonal cooking in a tiny, relaxed room, and many say it's the best meal in Bristol. It books up weeks ahead, so plan early for a weekend.
Adelina Yard
Queen Quay, Welsh Back
Address: Adelina Yard, 3 Queen Quay, Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SL- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Settle in for a tasting menu of modern, seasonal cooking at the chef-owned restaurant on the quayside by Bristol Bridge.
Why it's a good date: A small, rustic room run by the couple who cook for you. Ask for a table at the back by the water, or sit at the chef's table to watch the kitchen.
1 York Place
York Place, Clifton
Address: 1 York Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book a table at the Clifton bistro for generous European cooking, with dishes made for sharing and a long wine list.
Why it's a good date: It's tucked into Clifton's Georgian lanes, with window tables upstairs and a more intimate room downstairs. Walk to the Suspension Bridge before or after.
littlefrench
North View, Westbury Park
Address: littlefrench, 2B North View, Bristol BS6 7QB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Cosy
Share rustic French cooking from a menu that changes every day, at the family-run bistro in Westbury Park.
Why it's a good date: Warm and lively, the kind of place that feels like a treat without any fuss. Ask for a booth by the kitchen when you book.
Dongnae
Chandos Road, Redland
Address: Dongnae, 5-7 Chandos Road, Bristol BS6 6PG- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book the Korean set menu at the charming Chandos Road restaurant, with charcoal-grilled dishes and house-made condiments.
Why it's a good date: Something a bit different for a special night, with warm service and plenty of small dishes to share between you.
Chef's Table
Avon Crescent, Hotwells
Address: Chef's Table, 1a Avon Crescent, Bristol BS1 6XQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Choose the tasting menu at the small, personally run restaurant by the Cumberland Basin, and save room for the cheese and dessert trolleys.
Why it's a good date: An old-fashioned sense of occasion in two cosy rooms near the docks. Take the harbour ferry or walk along the water to get there.
Pasture
Portwall Lane, Redcliffe
Address: Pasture, 2 Portwall Lane, Bristol BS1 6NB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Share a dry-aged West Country steak cooked over fire at the buzzy steakhouse opposite St Mary Redcliffe.
Why it's a good date: Loud and glamorous, which suits a celebration, with much of the beef and produce from the owners' own farm. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday.
The Ox
Corn Street, Old City
Address: The Ox, 43 Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1HT- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Big night
- Romantic
Head down into the wood-panelled old bank vault under Corn Street for charcoal-grilled steak and a cocktail.
Why it's a good date: Dark and plush, and a little bit secret, which makes it a fun one for a celebration. St Nick's and the Old City's bars are right on the doorstep.
Quick answers
Which Bristol restaurants should we book well ahead?
Wilsons on Chandos Road is small and books up weeks ahead for weekends, and Bulrush in Cotham is worth booking well ahead too. Pasture in Redcliffe is busy on Fridays and Saturdays.
Is there a special occasion restaurant by the water in Bristol?
Adelina Yard is on Queen Quay by Bristol Bridge, and Chef's Table is by the Cumberland Basin in Hotwells, where you can walk along the harbour or take the ferry to get there.
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