Bristol's 30 Best Bakeries, Part Two
The most comprehensive guide to Bristol's bakeries ever
Ishita, Bristol’s most informed pastry procurer, is back for part two of her comprehensive guide to Bristol’s bakeries. If you missed part one, you can read it here. You can also follow Ishita on Instagram for regular updates on her baked-goods adventures around Bristol. A reminder that The Bristol Sauce is entirely reader-funded, so if you enjoy this, please consider becoming a paying Saucer to help support our work.
16. Hart’s Bakery, Temple Approach
Underneath the concourse of Temple Meads Station, in a Victorian railway arch, is Hart’s Bakery, which has become synonymous with Bristol’s bakery scene. Sweet and savoury pastries, sourdough loaves, stacks of cookies and shortbread make way for sausage rolls, filled focaccia and daily changing pasties. Try their classic custard tart, Saturday bread — an enriched dough shot through with caramel (only available on a Saturday) — and never pass up a cauliflower cheese pasty. If you’re travelling by train, you must factor in a visit.
Arch 35 Lower Approach Road, BS1 6QS | Tuesday - Saturday | hartsbakery.co.uk
17. Herbert’s Bakery, Montpelier
Established in the 1960s and originally owned by the family behind Hobbs House, Herbert’s Bakery remains a quiet, family-run Bristol institution. Tucked behind the Thali Café, another well-known Montpelier establishment, there have been rumours of closure and redevelopment. While it remains, go for pocket-friendly patties, sausage rolls, upside-down cake and sprinkle doughnuts.
Wellington Avenue, Montpelier, BS6 5HP | Monday - Friday
18. Hilda, various locations
Selling from a converted Piaggio Porter van, Will Prosser, the man behind Hilda, specialises in laminated pastries. Almond croissants, pain Suisse and cardamom-glazed Kouign-amann make regular appearances, alongside pain au chocolat and cinnamon breakfast buns. It’s the seasonal Danishes, however, that are a must. Multi-layered, often with delightful hidden elements — think soft-set jams, baked custards and poached fruits — and topped with herbs or edible flowers. Hilda pops up at Clouds in St Werburgh’s every Saturday and Cor, on North St, the second Sunday of every month and can otherwise be found at Whiteladies Road market.
Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at Whiteladies Road, Saturdays at Clouds, second Sunday of the month at COR | instagram.com/hilda.bakery
19. Hobbs House Bakery, Gloucester Road
Run by fifth-generation bakers and boasting a seventy-year-old sourdough starter, Hobbs House Bakery is one of Bristol’s oldest bakeries. They use organic stone-ground heritage grains in their heritage loaf, marking their centennial celebrations. If it’s on the counter (and you’re omnivorous), don’t miss the chance to try their lardy cake — a rolled and folded sweet, sticky tea cake made using rendered pork fat and dried fruits which is more commonly found at their Nailsworth and Tetbury bakeries.
177 Gloucester Road, BS7 8BE | Monday - Saturday | hobbshousebakery.co.uk
20. Joe’s Bakery, Gloucester Road
A stalwart of Gloucester Road, Joe’s Bakery will have you covered for most of your baked good needs. From split-tins to sourdoughs and ryes, Joe’s also make great cob rolls and brioche burger buns. Turnovers, gingerbread and ring doughnuts with thick pink icing are always a hit, but you cannot beat their vanilla custard slice, which is truly the best in town.
45 Gloucester Road, BS7 8AD | Monday - Saturday | joesbakery.co.uk
21. Little Bagel Co., Clifton Triangle
Little Bagel Company, on the Triangle, is the place for New York-style bagels. Made in house, every bagel is fermented for eighteen hours, hand rolled, malt boiled and baked fresh every day. There are four types: plain, poppy seed, sesame and ‘everything’ style — so you can discover the perfect combination with the 24 fillings (over half of them vegan) on offer. Salmon lox and the salt beef Reuben are stone cold classics, but if they’re on, try their chopped cheese or steak and chimichurri special. Little Bagel also have a second site which is now open on Baldwin Street.
80 Queens Road, BS8 1QU | Seven days a week | littlebagelco.co.uk
22. Lunita Pasteleria, Gloucester Road
Further up Gloucester Road is Lunita Pasteleria, specialising in Argentinian pastries. If you love dulce de leche, a key ingredient in a number of confections, this is the place for you. Try the alfajores de maicena, cookies sandwiched with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut, or cañoncitos, tubes of puff pastry, piped with dulce de leche and dusted with icing sugar. There are freshly made empanadas too — my favourite is a beef and egg, served with a pot of chimichurri.
332 Gloucester Road, BS7 8TJ | Wednesday - Sunday | lunitapasteleria.com
23. Mark’s Bakery, Tobacco Factory
Mark’s Bakery (formerly Mark’s Bread) is one of Bristol’s original small batch bakeries. Focusing on slowly fermented breads, many of them sourdough, they have a daily special: ciabatta on Mondays to challah on Fridays. Sweet breads like their Chelsea and Belgian buns are also a forte, as are the seasonal Danishes. Now Mark’s is sharing a space with Five Acre Farm, you can pick up some locally grown produce to boot.
Tobacco Factory, BS3 1TF | Seven days a week | marksbread.co.uk
24. Mokoko, Brabazon
Spitfire Hangar is a community hub in the new Brabazon development, on what used to be Filton Airfield. On the ground floor is the newest and largest Mokoko Bakery — an independent local chain with bakeries across Bristol and Bath. Cakes, pastries and loaves are made daily on site. Try their mango and passionfruit cruffins if they’re on the counter (which I’ve tried at their Wapping Wharf bakery) — they’re pure sunshine. The walnut and honey caramel croissants are very good too.
Frise Street, Patchway, BS34 4AE | Seven days a week | instagram.com/mokokobakery
25. The Park Bakery, North Street
Taking its name from Victoria Park, where the original bakery is located, The Park Bakery has a second café on North Street — rather fittingly next to Ebenezer Gate Pocket Park. They have a great overnight loaf and granary bloomer, also used for their generously-filled sandwiches. Cinnamon buns with cream cheese icing and cardamom knots are both good choices but it’s their millionaire’s shortbread and caramel flapjacks that really steal the show.
49 North Street, BS3 1EN | Seven days a week | instagram.com/theparkbakery
26. Pinkmans, Bristol Cathedral
Another small, city-based chain, Pinkmans’ most central location is now in Bristol Cathedral’s refectory, after a fire devastated their café bakery on Park Street. They have quite a following for their sourdoughnuts, with fillings like pecan chocolate brownie or a light honeycomb mousse. Their cruffins are also good — especially raspberry and passionfruit curd or toffee apple, when on the menu.
College Green, BS1 5TJ | Seven days a week | pinkmans.co.uk/bristol-cathedral
27. Pipp and Co, College Green
Before the arrival of that ubiquitous American donut chain, there was Pippin Doughnuts, selling from their Wine Street market stall. Now Pipp and Co, with a premises opposite the cathedral, you no longer need to wait for the weekly food market. Mixed berry remains my favourite, with an excellent dough-to-filling ratio and lip-smacking tartness. Vanilla custard, passion fruit curd and cinnamon bear claws are also excellent.
35 College Green, BS1 5SP | Seven days a week | pipp.co
28. Small Goods, Temple Quay
Sandwiched between corporate offices and HMRC, Small Goods, in Temple Quay, makes some of the best doughnuts in town. Light, crisp, pillowy and bursting with filling; the flavours change regularly. House-made jams, poached fruits, flavoured custards, cheesecake centres, and tangy glazes are often vegan-friendly. Bostocks, brownies, focaccia and brioche buns are just some of the other offerings, if doughnuts aren’t your thing.
Unit 3, Temple Quay, 2 Glass Wharf, BS2 0EL | Monday - Friday | smallgoods.co.uk
29. Sotiris, Park Row
Underneath a striped awning and Aegean blue frontage, Sotiris Bakery on Park Row proudly declares its Greek baked goods. The place is compact but bursting with pastries, biscuits and baklava, plus Greek essentials for your store cupboard. Try their bougatsa for breakfast with a cup of Greek coffee or a wedge of spinach and feta spanakopita. Their chocolate tahini biscuits and wafers are a real treat too.
16 Park Row, BS1 5LJ | Seven days a week | sotirisgreekbakery.co.uk
30. Wilson’s Bread Shop, Chandos Road
Run by the Michelin-starred Wilson’s team, a few doors down from the restaurant, Wilson’s Bread Shop is housed in the old Redland Bakery. Country sourdough, focaccia and Icelandic rye are staples here with guest loaves from time to time. Cookies, choux au craquelin, flan patissier and layer cakes also grace the counter but it’s the Hokkaido milk buns with house koji-cured bacon that draws queues.
18A Chandos Road, BS6 6PF | Thursday - Sunday | wilsonsbristol.co.uk/the-bread-shop
All words and photos by Ishita DasGupta
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