1 You can spot the queues long before you reach Mark Newman’s artisan bakery (291 North Street) on the increasingly popular North Street. Bag a loaf of his sourdough, still warm from the ovens behind the counter, or settle down with a paper and croque Monsieur in the café next door.

Advertisement

2 Soak up the atmosphere at St Nicholas’ Market (Corn Street) which offers everything from wheatgrass juice to handmade Pieminister pies (try the Heidi with Somerset goat’s cheese), and pulled pork sandwiches from Grillstock Smokeshack. At the gorgeous Source food hall & café, grab a Gloucester Old Spot sausage roll or stock up on local goodies.

3 The Bristol Cider Shop (7 Christmas Step) is one of the numerous independent vendors on Bristol’s medieval Christmas Steps, stocking over 100 local ciders. Try the champagne-style Pilton cider and Julian Temperley’s Somerset Pomona, which is great with cheese.

4 Ease yourself into the day with brunch at one of Bristol’s longest-standing food institutions, the Primrose Café (Clifton Arcade, 1 Boyce’s Avenue). Go for the All-In-Two cooked breakfast, haddock fish cakes, or a slab of its legendary chocolate and salted caramel cake.

5 Transport yourself to the Med at Papadeli (84 Alma Road), a deli-cum-café-cum cookery school whose ‘papa’ is affable ex-chef Simon MacDonnell. If you’re staying beyond the weekend, book onto a weekday evening cooking class. Otherwise, devour a chocolate brownie in the café or snap up a Sorelle Nurzia Italian Easter Colomba cake in the deli.

More like this

6 Do a few lengths in the restored Victorian pool to sharpen your appetite then enjoy a two-course poolside lunch at Bristol Lido (Oakfield Place). Chef Freddy Bird’s must-eat dishes include wood-roast scallops with herb and garlic butter and his salted butter caramel ice cream. Downstairs offers tapas. Booking essential.

7 Tucked away in tranquil Kingsdown, the cosy Green Man (21 Alfred Place) could almost be in a Somerset village. Savour a pre-dinner pint of Bristol Best, made with British malt and hops by Westcountry brewers Dawkins (who own the pub). If you’re not booked elsewhere for dinner, the home-cooked food is good too.

8 Bell’s Diner (1-3 York Road) in boho Montpelier used to be Bristol’s fine-dining destination, but it’s now relaxed into a local bistro with dishes inspired by the Mediterranean and Middle East. Enjoy the succulent, slow-cooked veal cheek with morcilla, sherry and celeriac purée. The wine list is imaginative.

9 Bag a table by the window (or on the terrace) in the glass-fronted River Station (The Grove) to catch the action in the harbour. Go all out in the smart upstairs restaurant with mains such as roast hake with parmesan crust and cannellini beans, the two-course set lunch in the relaxed downstairs café-bar is a bargain.

10 Round off the evening with a cocktail at Hyde & Co (2 The Basement, Upper Byron Place), Bristol’s prohibition-style bar. We recommend a Stroll in the Grounds; Somerset cider brandy shaken with sloe gin and lavender sherbet, topped with Camel Valley fizz.

11 Take your pick from the veg-laden cart outside another Bristol stalwart, Reg the Veg greengrocers (6 Boyce’s Avenue). Reg has moved on and it’s now run by John Hagon and son Tom. Vegetables come from nearby Failand or in the case of asparagus, the Wye Valley. There’s Bradley’s apple juice and Ooh! Chocolata bars made in Nailsea too.

12 ‘Hopping’ green chocolate frogs made with popping candy by James’ Chocolates and sold at Arch House Deli (Boyce’s Avenue) make novelty Easter presents. Stock up your own fridge with West Country cheeses such as Montgomery Cheddar or local charcutier Vincent Castellanos’ pâté de champagne.

13 For a pre-dinner bite, cross Whiteladies Road to small, buzzy Bravas (7 Cotham Hill), which, with its exposed brick walls and hessian coffee sacks, could be a backstreet tapas bar in Spain. Make sure you try the lamb à la plancha with hazelnut and parsley salsa or the tortilla with homemade aïoli.

14 Amble back into classy Clifton for tea at the newly opened Spicer & Cole (9 Princess Victoria Street), the antidote to faceless coffee shop chains. Ingredients are locally sourced and the sandwiches and cakes are handmade on site. The carrot cake is addictive.

15 Finish with a flourish by dining in central Bristol’s only Michelin starred restaurant, Wilks (1B Chandos Road). Chef James Wilkins’ lobster bisque is a starter you’ll want to remember forever. Or try the five course vegetable tasting menu (available Sunday only, booking essential).

TRUST olive

Clare Hargreaves is a Bristol-based food writer who’s been eating her way around the city for 15 years. She also organises Feast with a Chef: dinners cooked by top-drawer chefs around Bristol and Bath.


HOW TO DO IT


GET THERE

Trains (First Great Western or Cross Country) run to Bristol Temple Meads, the main railway station. National Express coaches arrive at the bus station in Marlborough Street; Megabus at Colston Street. Bristol Airport is eight miles from the centre and served by easyJet, BMI regional and Flybe.


STAY THERE

Book one of 10 stylish rooms at Number 38 Clifton, a boutique B&B.


ON A BUDGET?

Try Brooks Guesthouse bang in the centre of St Nicholas’ market.


More information: visitbristol.co.uk


You might also like

Naples, Italy: Marina O'Loughlin's best food and drink guide

Manhattan, New York: Marina O'Loughlin's best food and drink guide

Toulouse, France: Marina O'Loughlin's best restaurants, food markets and hotels

Marrakech, Morocco: Marina O'Loughlin's best restaurants and hotels

Queens, New York City: Marina O'Loughlin's best food and drink guide

Portland, Oregon: Marina O'Loughlin's food and drink guide

Cork, Ireland: Marina O'Loughlin's best food, drink and hotel guide

London's best food markets, chosen by Marina O'Loughlin

Limousin, France: Marina O'Loughlin's best food, drink and hotel guide

Advertisement

Dublin, Ireland: Marina O'Loughlin's best food and drink guide


Travel editor Rhiannon gives her top tips on eating out with kids (and gives specific recommendations of places to try in Bristol)

olive magazine podcast ep59 - eating with kids in Bristol, fermenting fun, and how to make fruit liqueurs and up your instagram game

Comments, questions and tips

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

Choose the type of message you'd like to post
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement