26 Bristol restaurants to visit in 2026
Ready, set, eat.
There is no better thing to ward off January misery than planning your restaurant hit list. As it stands at the start of 2026, here are the top spots in Bristol (and a few in the surrounding areas) we’d recommend…
When it gets a bit warmer: Soft Buoys, Welsh Back
Perhaps soft serve isn’t the first thing on your list to try in January, but believe me, you’ll want to make sure this place is a priority for later in the year. Soft Buoys is a new addition to Welsh Back and is serving Bristol’s most exciting frozen fare and seriously slap up toasties.£ | Walk-ups only | Breakfast & lunch seven days a week | instagram.com/softbuoysbristol
When you want to to be the first on the bandwagon: Brother Thai, Stokes Croft
One of Cardiff’s best Thai restaurants is opening a branch in Stokes Croft this January. The rotis are possibly one of the most umami-laden, buttery, flaky pieces of perfection you’ll ever put in your mouth. The bandwagon is going to be big — get on it ahead of the crowd. Read The Bristol Sauce review.££ | Booking advised | Opening times TBA | brotherthai.co.uk
Brother Thai’s rotis will be all other flatbreads to shame When you want a swim and sauna before dinner: Higher Farm, Shepton Mallet
Another recommendation for slightly warmer climes — but then again cold water wild swimming is all the rage these days, and when you’ve got a sauna and a stellar selection of small plates to warm you up after, well, be rude not to really wouldn’t it? Read The Bristol Sauce review.££ | Booking advised | Reopening in spring | higher-farm.co.uk
The view of the swimming lake and sauna from Higher Farm’s humbly-named ‘Farm Caff’ When you want inspiration: The Scrandit, Christmas Steps
With a different pop-up every week, you might not know what you’re going to get at The Scrandit but you can guarantee it’s going to be good. 2026 is the year of The Scrandit’s first international residents — we’re expecting big things. Read The Bristol Sauce review.££ | Bookings only taken for groups of 6+ | Wednesday-Friday dinner only, Saturday lunch & dinner | instagram.com/thescrandit
When you need a truly top-notch pastry: Hilda, moving locations
Does Will Prosser make the best pastries in Bristol? Quite possibly. And if he doesn’t, we’d love to know where does. We’ll wait. Meanwhile, find him and ‘Hilda’ (his van) in various locations around Bristol.£ | Walk-ups only | Check Instagram for times and locations | instagram.com/hilda.bakery
When you’re happy to wait indefinitely: Kush, Clifton Village
So, we don’t know when Kush will open — it has been delayed indefinitely. What we do know is that when it does open, this roll-out from double Michelin-starred Aktar Islam will be excellent. Hopefully the wait won’t be too long…£££ | TBA | TBA | kushbristol.co.uk
When you want to eat in someone’s house: Chicken Lunch Club, Tristan’s house
When I heard Bristol’s best chef was starting a rotisserie chicken lunch club, I thought I simply must be dreaming. But no — my dreams have in fact come true. Jan Ostle of Wilson’s has teamed up with Tristan Hogg of Pieminister to serve Bristol’s most exclusive rotisserie chicken in Tristan’s front room.
££ | Booking essential | Once monthly | instagram.com/chickenlunchclubWhen everything has to be perfect: COR, North Street
If we ever had to pick a restaurant to represent Bristol, we’d pick COR. It’s cosy, it’s neighbourhood, it’s inventive, it’s got some of Bristol’s best cocktails. The food is sensational. Has anyone ever said a bad word about COR? Unlikely.££-£££ | Booking advised | Monday dinner only, Tuesday-Saturday lunch & dinner | correstaurant.com
When you want the dirtiest burgers: Oowee, North Street
Bristol’s dirtiest burger chain is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, which means we can expect mad marketing tactics, unique specials and drop-everything collaborations. Keep an eye on its socials to be the first to know!
£ | No bookings | All day, seven days a week | ooweediner.comWhen you want the best food in Bristol: Wilsons, Chandos Road
Bristol’s best restaurant and one of our most sustainable too. The Wilsons team grow most of their produce on their nearby small holding and then turn it into the most innovative, super-seasonal tasting menu. Read The Bristol Sauce review.£££ | Booking advised | Wednesday-Thursday dinner only, Friday-Saturday lunch & dinner | wilsonsbristol.co.uk
When only Mexican will do: Condesa, Whiteladies Road
I’ve only been to Condesa once but it’s top of my list to return to — largely because everything I hear suggests this Mexican spot from the Season & Taste team is only going from strength to strength. Plus, they’ve got Bristol’s best mezcal collection. Need I say more? Read The Bristol Sauce review.
££-£££ | Booking advised | Monday-Saturday, lunch & dinner | condesabristol.co.ukWhen you want to get ahead of Michelin: Dongnae, Chandos Road
Chandos Road is already littered with Michelin stars and recommendations, and Dongnae is very much a part of that list. But if we had to put money on where would be the next place in Bristol to be elevated to star status — our answer would be this Korean joint without a doubt. Read The Bristol Sauce review.£££ | Booking advised | Tuesday-Saturday, lunch & dinner | dongnae.co.uk
When you need a micro-holiday: The Pony, Chew Valley
The twists and turns of the Chew Valley country roads, a romantic walk around the vegetable garden with a glass of wine, the panoramic views distracting you from your dinner — an evening at The Pony truly feels like a bucolic break from reality.£££ | Booking advised | Wednesday-Saturday lunch & dinner, Sunday lunch only | theponychewvalley.co.uk
When you want an incredible cocktail: Same Again, Finzel’s Reach
Two world-class bartenders have teamed up to open ‘Same Again’, a whisky and champagne focused bar in Finzel’s Reach. Admittedly it’s not a restaurant, but it would be remiss not to include, for I dare say it will completely redefine Bristol’s drinking scene and I thought you’d want to be the first to know. You’re welcome.££ | Booking advised | TBA | instagram.com/same.again.bristol
When you’re trying to show someone that Chinese isn’t just chow mein: Wangs, Montpelier
Thought Wangs was good last year? Brace yourselves. This spring will herald the arrival of the team’s new Cantonese charcoal roasting oven which will take their already excellent menu to new heights. Oh and did I mention they’re opening a cocktail bar downstairs too?££ | Booking advised | Tuesday-Saturday dinner only | wangsnoods.com
When you want the perfect pub: The Woolpack, Slad
The Woolpack is the pub that you envision when you think of the perfect pub. A warm, cosy fire, historic exposed brick walls, a great range of ales and ridiculously good food. Admittedly it’s not in Bristol — but a stomp around Slad and a shop in Stroud is just the thing to build your appetite. Read The Bristol Sauce review.££ | Booking advised | All day, seven days a week | thewoolpackslad.com
The food at The Woolpack was described by Grace Dent as ‘confident, swaggering cooking’ When you’re sick of getting lunch from Pret: Nice Spice, Denmark Street
Good luck finding better Chinese roast meats in Bristol than those hanging in the window at Nice Spice — though with the arrival of their new oven Wangs could be a contender. Nice Spice is a no frills affair; plastic stools, laminated menus and a whole lot of crisp skin. It’s well worth ten minutes in the omnipresent queue.
£ - cash only | No bookings | Closed Wednesdays, open every other day for lunch & early dinner | instagram.com/nice_spice18When you want to feel like part of a cult: Gigi’s, Old Market
Gigi’s opened just over a year ago and already has a cult-like following for its enormous New York style pizzas. Order by the slice, get down to business with a 12 inch, share an 18 incher…. or don’t. With toppings like beef shin ragu, vodka tomato sauce and cacio e pepe you’ll be questioning whether sharing really is caring after all.
£ | Walk-ins only | Monday-Saturday lunch & dinner, Sunday lunch only | gigispizzashop.comWhen you want proper al fresco: Chez Candice, Boiling Wells
Chez Candice is a restaurant writer’s dream — utterly bonkers, totally Bristol and ridiculously good. It is a little more than a horse box on a farm, so if you’re going in cold weather — wrap up. But the tiny nature of the kitchen and the refreshing surroundings of vegetable patches only serve to make the food being proffered all the more impressive. Read The Bristol Sauce review.£ | Walk-ins only | Thursday-Saturday breakfast & lunch | instagram.com/chez_candice
When you want to try something completely new: JJ’s Doubles, The Station, Frome
Ever tried Trinidadian doubles? Pronounced dobbles, this vegetarian Caribbean dish is one of the best examples out there of what to do with chickpeas — the answer is to load them, curried, into an impossibly flaky paratha and top them with tamarind, coriander, cucumber and pepper sauce. Sounds simple, but à la Dua Lipa, I guarantee this will blow your mind. The only place in the South West to get this is at Frome Station from the man, the myth, the legend — JJ.
£ | Walk-ins only | Thursday-Friday dinner, Saturday lunch only | instagram.com/jjsdoublesWhen you’re with a group: Sambol, East Street
While you don’t need a group to go to Sambol, it is the recommended course of action because you will want to order the entire menu and you would be right to do so. Sambol is one of a few Sri Lankan restaurants in Bristol, but it’s easily one of the best. Read The Bristol Sauce review.
£-££ | Booking advised | Tuesday-Sunday, lunch & dinner | instagram.com/sambol.bristolWhen you want the most innovative food in town: Other, Bedminster
Zak Hitchman’s culinary CV is very impressive, but not as impressive as his menu at Other and his ability to come good on everything it promises. Having now travelled a good chunk of the world, I can confidently say that the food served at Other is some of the most impressive and innovative not just in Bristol, but, well, anywhere. Read The Bristol Sauce review.
££ | Booking advised | Wednesday-Thursday dinner only, Friday-Saturday lunch & dinner | otherrestaurant.co.uk
Other serves the best doughnut in existence When you want comfort food: Chris and Jo’s Kitchen, St Michael’s Hill
When the only thing that will do it is hearty food in unpretentious surroundings, look no further than Chris and Jo’s Kitchen. The menu is eclectic and changes regularly, but the cooking and warm service never faults. Their Sunday roasts are particularly worth seeking out.
££ | Booking advised | Thursday-Friday lunch & dinner, Saturday dinner only, Sunday lunch only | instagram.com/chrisjoskitchenWhen Veganuary is over: Smokebox, Totterdown
Good smoked meats in Bristol are thin on the ground, mostly scattered around markets or street food stalls. If you fancy eating brisket in the warmth of a restaurant, a short jaunt down Wells Road might well be your best bet. The menu also offers up a surprising amount of vegetarian options. It is Bristol, after all. Read The Bristol Sauce review.
£-££ | Booking advised | Wednesday-Sunday, lunch & dinner | smokebox.ukWhen you want spice and all things nice: The Pukka Peacock, Brislington
Brislington is not a destination for much. There’s a weird pub that looks like a castle, a pick ‘n’ mix selection of estate agents, corner shops and nail salons and a wonderful surprise in the form of The Pukka Peacock, where you can enjoy dishes like oyster mushroom varuval or tandoori-spiced roast lamb. Read The Bristol Sauce review.
££ | Booking advised | Wednesday-Saturday dinner only, Sunday brunch only | thepukkapeacock.co.ukWhen you want out of your comfort zone: Authentic Hotpot and Hand-Pulled Noodles, Redcliffe
Home to Bristol’s best noodles, AHAHPN (come on, I’m not writing that out again) is perhaps the only place in our glorious city you can watch your dinner strung out in front of you and then have it dumped straight in your hotpot.
££ | Walk-ins only | Monday-Sunday, lunch & dinner | instagram.com/authentichotpot
Now share this with your friends so you can start planning your first stop. You’ve only got 12 months!
Excellent round up! I’ve shared it with friends and family in the area!
The "26 for 2026" framing is clever marketing but what actually makes this list valuable is the mix of new openings and established spots that people might've forgotten about. Lists like this work best when they give people permission to revisit old favorites alongside discovering new ones. The Brother Thai mention is a solid call since getting ahead of hype before a place blows up is genuinly helpful, unlike most "best of" lists that just recycle the same spots evreyone already knows.