11 places to avoid in Bristol's Little London (and where to go instead)
Put your money where your mouth is
There’s an area in the centre of Bristol — where the bottom of Clare Street, Baldwin Street and St Augustine’s Parade collide — that has effectively become a ‘Little London’. This term isn’t widely used (yet) but you heard it here first. It is jam-packed with brands that originated in London and have pinned Bristol as a stop on their worldwide expansion plans.
There’s a reason people go to chain restaurants. Perhaps it’s that they’re predictable, they offer vouchers or discounts, they show calorie counts on the menus or because they have massive marketing budgets meaning they are able to remind you they exist through regular emails, push notifications and billboards. There’s considerable evidence to suggest they are unfairly prioritised in Google Maps too. Look at the image below — this is the area to which I refer, and when I search for ‘restaurants’, the majority that show are chains. Back Garden Pizza, Ramen Monster and MeetUp Noodle Bar are nowhere to be seen.
But I know they are there, and that they are definitely worth your patronage — far more so than many of the surrounding chains.
There’s nothing outright wrong with chain restaurants as such, it’s just that by visiting an independent instead you are putting your money directly into individual’s livelihood and back into the local economy, rather than into some London-based investor’s wallet. You’re keeping our high streets filled with local businesses that are unique and individual, rather than allowing them to be steam-rolled into something that looks just like a street in Manchester, or Brixton, or Milton Keynes. And more often than not, the food is genuinely better: when a chain restaurant takes off and gets financial backing, the goal is to make as much money for the shareholders as possible. This in turn means corners are cut — cheaper suppliers are chosen, staff hours cut, small gestures are no longer priority. In an independent, you’re far more likely to get the care and attention that you hope for when you go out to eat.
With that in mind, here’s where to avoid in Bristol’s emerging Little London, and where to go instead. And, if this is the kind of journalism you appreciate, please consider supporting our work by becoming a subscriber. Thanks!
Avoid Flat Iron, instead go to…
Pasture (12 minute walk away) or Cow & Sow (5 minute walk away).
Flat Iron is a recent arrival to Bristol’s Clare Street and is a chain that has become known in London for affordable steaks and utilitarianism. Although nearby Pasture now also has sites in Birmingham and Cardiff, it is a homegrown Bristol success story with a big focus on sustainability and great hospitality. The short rib croquettes are a must-order, unless you don’t eat meat, in which case the vegetarian options are also surprisingly worth seeking out.
If a trip to Pasture is too much of a stretch, just around the corner from Flat Iron is Cow & Sow on Queen’s Square, which also does a great steak in comfortable surroundings.
Pasture | £££ | Booking advised | Lunch and dinner seven days a week | pasturerestaurant.com
Cow & Sow | ££-£££ | Booking advised | Lunch and dinner seven days a week | thecowandsow.co.uk
Avoid Pizza Pilgrims, Franco Manca and Rudy’s, instead head to…
Back Garden Pizzeria (2 minute walk away).
Okay, so Rudy’s is somewhat of an outlier in this list as it started in Manchester and not London, but the same principle applies — which is that we should be spending our money with independent Bristol brands wherever possible. There seems a pizza on every street corner in the centre of Bristol, but not all are created equal. Franco Manca and the soon-to-arrive Pizza Pilgrims both originated in London, and all three of these chains serve Neapolitan pizza. But to get the satisfaction of that thick, chewy crust while supporting a Bristol independent head to Back Garden Pizzeria, which started in a bonafide Redfield back garden and serve some of Bristol’s best slices. BGP have something for everyone on the menu, including great vegan options.
Back Garden Pizzeria | ££ | Dinner only Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, lunch and dinner Friday - Saturday | backgardenpizzeria.com
Avoid Rosa’s Thai, instead try…
Jean’s Bistro (15 minute drive away).
Admittedly if you’re in the centre of town then a trip up Gloucester Road to Jean’s Bistro is a bit of a mission, but it’s well worth the trip and any money spent on an Uber will be saved with the joys of Jean’s bring-your-own-booze policy. Jean’s is the best Thai restaurant in Bristol and laden with authentic flavours from Jean’s home of central Thailand. It’s cash only, but there’s an ATM opposite. Jean’s has got ten times the personality and flavours of Rosa’s; a chain which started in London and now has over 50 sites.
If you’re desperate for the flavours of the far East without wanting to go so far, check out what’s on offer at The Scrandit (7 minute walk away), who often have pop-up chefs cooking Thai, Cambodian, Filipino and more.
Jean’s Bistro | ££ | Booking advised | Monday - Thursday dinner only, Friday - Saturday lunch and dinner | jeansbistro.co.uk
The Scrandit | ££ | Bookings only taken for groups of 6+ | Wednesday - Friday dinner only, Saturday lunch & dinner | instagram.com/thescrandit
Avoid Tonkotsu, instead go to…
Ramen Monster (3 minute walk away), Tomo No Ramen (20 minute walk away) or MeetUp Noodle (less than 1 minute walk away).
Sometimes only a big bowl of ramen will cut it, and in such trying times, it can be easy to fall into the lap of Tonkotsu. Their ramen is good — but supporting a local brand will feel much better. Your closest alternative is Ramen Monster — a mere three minute walk away — which serves very authentic ramen in a simple setting and does a very good vegan bowl for our plant-based pals. For something a little more sophisticated, make the short journey across Castle Park to Tomo No Ramen, where owner James has been honing his craft for years and has gotten his bowls of broth down to a very fine art.
Alternatively, MeetUp Noodle is 50 yards from Tonkotsu — that’s less than a one minute walk — though it is Chinese, so not quite the same. But, did you know that ramen originally comes from China, and not Japan? MeetUp Noodle Bar offers warming bowls of Chinese noodles in broths and other dishes, and is cheap and friendly.
Ramen Monster | ££ | Booking advised | Lunch and dinner, Monday - Saturday | ramenmonster.co.uk
Tomo No Ramen | ££ | Booking advised | Tuesday - Friday dinner only, Saturday lunch and dinner | tomonoramen.co.uk
MeetUp Noodle Bar | £ | Booking optional | Lunch and dinner, seven days a week | meetupnoodlebar.co.uk
Avoid Gail’s (like the plague) and instead go to…
Pipp & Co (1 minute walk away), Little Bagel Co — Baldwin Street branch (9 minute walk away) or Mokoko at Wapping Wharf (15 minute walk).
I’m not going to get into the many thousands of reasons that you should not be patronising Gail’s — we’d be here all day — but I will share one: the products do not taste good. It’s no wonder given it’s all baked in a central warehouse and then shipped to stores where staff are allegedly treated appallingly and trained using an in-house AI called ‘BreadGPT’. Anyway. I said I wouldn’t get into it. Instead just a few metres away from Gail’s on College Green in the lovely Pipp & Co, who make the most wonderful doughnuts, sweet treats and coffee. If you’re after something savoury, look no further than Little Bagel Co on Baldwin Street, who will craft you a brunch or lunch that you’ll be thinking about for days afterwards. And if you’re in need of a loaf of bread, try Mokoko just across the water in Wapping Wharf. All are Bristol brands, and all deserve your support far more than the faux-artisan monstrosity that is Gail.
Pipp & Co | £ | Breakfast, lunch and afternoons, seven days a week | pipp.co
Little Bagel Co | £ | Breakfast and lunch, seven days a week | littlebagelco.co.uk
Mokoko | £ | Breakfast and lunch, seven days a week | mokokobakery.com
Avoid Mowgli, why not try…
Urban Tandoor (2 minute walk away) or Nutmeg Street Kitchen (4 minute walk away).
Again, Mowgli technically started up North, but with now over 27 sites across the UK I think it’s fair that we can afford to give the Corn Street branch a miss. After all, once you’ve gotten past the gimmicky fairy lights and swings, there’s very little to it. If it’s gimmick you’re after, head instead for nearby Urban Tandoor of TikTok fame and there’s a good chance you’ll end up accidentally starring in a viral video. The food is still pretty good though. Or, for a more relaxing evening, you can do much worse that Nutmeg Street Kitchen which offers some of Bristol’s best Indian food against a plush, comfortable backdrop.
Urban Tandoor | ££ | Booking advised | Lunch and dinner, seven days a week | urban-tandoor.com
Nutmeg Street Kitchen | ££ | Booking advised | Dinner only Monday - Tuesday, lunch and dinner Wednesday - Sunday | nutmegstreetkitchen.com
Why on Earth are you going to Bella Italia when you could be going to….
Pasta Ripiena (2 minute walk away) or Cotto (2 minute walk away).
I’m reasonably confident that I won’t have to convince many of you to give Bella Italia a miss — this chain restaurant peaked in about 2005 and has been on a steady decline ever since. It’s massive, comprising over 90 sites, and is part of The Big Table group which also owns Frankie & Benny’s, Cafe Rouge and Las Iguanas.
For Italian food that’s actually good and not just lining shareholders’ pockets, try Bianchis Group restaurants Pasta Ripiena or neighbouring Cotto. Ripiena specialises in stuffed pasta and Cotto is part restaurant-part bar with a focus on delicious Italian small plates. Both will leave you inspired.
Pasta Ripiena | ££ | Booking advised | Dinner only on Tuesdays, lunch and dinner Wednesday - Saturday | pastaripiena.co.uk
Cotto | ££ | Booking advised | Dinner only Monday - Wednesday, lunch and dinner Thursday - Saturday | cottowinebarandkitchen.co.uk
Don’t bother with Honest Burger — you’ll have a much better burger at…
Squeezed (12 minute walk away).
Honest Burgers are actually pretty good, and true to their name, they are transparent with their sourcing and ethics. But they’re still a chain and still from London, so it’s only fair they go on the list. Bristol’s Squeezed is a burger joint in Wapping Wharf that was voted purveyor of Bristol’s best burger by The Bristol Sauce in 2025, and we stand behind it to this day. So next time you’re headed for Honest, try this shipping container spot instead. We promise you won’t be disappointed.
Squeezed | £ | No bookings | Lunch and dinner, Tuesday - Saturday, lunch only on Sundays | bristolsqueezed.co.uk
The final boss — don’t go to Turtle Bay. You’re much better off at…
Rice & Things (23 minute walk away) or Caribbean Croft (17 minute walk away).
There’s a whole host of reasons you shouldn’t go to Turtle Bay — not least that the food and drinks taste of little other than cultural appropriation. Did you know that the chain ran a marketing campaign in 2015 called ‘Rastafy Me’ in which they edited customers’ selfies to give them blackface and dreads? Yeah. Don’t eat there.
Bristol has a wealth of amazing, authentic Caribbean restaurants. Perhaps the forerunner is Rice & Things on Cheltenham Road, in which diners can get a true taste of Jamaica in a humble interior. Enjoy proper curry goat, ackee and saltfish or if you’re lucky, whatever they’ve got on the barbecue that day.
Slightly closer and more accessible for those less familiar with Caribbean flavours is Caribbean Croft, which is a lively Stokes Croft establishment with dishes from across the West Indies including fried chicken, jerk salmon, curried goat and rotis served alongside a generous collection of rums.
Rice & Things | £ | Booking optional | Lunch and dinner, seven days a week | riceandthings.co.uk
Caribbean Croft | ££ | Booking advised | Dinner only Monday - Thursday, lunch and dinner Friday - Sunday | caribbeancroft.co.uk
All words by Meg Houghton-Gilmour, photos as labelled
The Bristol Sauce is an AI free publication — all our work is written and edited by humans.
Great piece with loads of food (literally) for thought. Would be good to have a shout out for the many other brilliant bakeries too
What a brilliant list! Thank you!