Bristol's best restaurants: 11 places to eat in 2024 - part two
Every single one of these places has been called a hidden gem
Substack is a glorious tool and will inevitably be the making of me - I’m set to become a millionaire any day now. Its one flaw is that it imposes an email length limit - well it advises you don’t go over a certain length in case your email gets ‘truncated’. As such, I have had to divide this list into not one, not two, but three parts. Or perhaps I am just milking my content. Either way, you can read part one here, and part three will turn up as a pleasant surprise in your inboxes in the near(ish) future if you’re a subscriber. And if you’re not - don’t worry, I won’t take it personally. Promise.
1 York Place, Clifton
In part one I wrote about Littlefrench, the ode to hearty French cooking from Freddy and Nessa Bird. 1 York Place is the latest opening from the pair. I summarised it as ‘a restaurant fit for royalty’ in December 2023 and just over a month later Tom Parker-Bowles rocked up!
I’d argue my review is funnier though: “I’ve been watching the final season of The Crown recently. What’s that got to do with restaurants? Very little really, but I was almost as sad when we finished York Place’s deep fried flatbread (£7) as I was when Diana died. Just didn’t see it coming. And just like Camilla, the winter tomatoes with smoked pork belly (£7) just couldn’t compete, though they were very tasty.”
What it’s good for: Meat-eaters and people who are happy to shell out (gettit?) £100 on a seafood platter
What it’s not good for: The type of people that cut the fat off their steak.
1 York Place, Clifton, BS8 1AH
Nadu, Stokes Croft
“Thoroughly enjoyed passing through this historic landmark on my visit to Bristol. 24/7 access, natural heating and friendly locals will always ensure that you have a life changing experience (chemically induced or not). A gert lush spot for all ages, races and creeds.”
That is a review of the ‘community garden’ Turbo Island, which is currently sporting a healthy 4.8 star rating on Google as a Bristol tourist attraction. It may be controversial, but I’d argue the best place to sit and soak up the atmosphere of Turbo Island is over a daiquiri and a giant tear-and-share dosa in Sri Lankan restaurant Nadu.
What it’s good for: Big groups with mixed dietary needs. Ideal for parties; birthday celebrators usually get a cheeky shot of rum.
What it’s not good for: People who will be voting for Reform.
Nadu, 77 Stokes Croft, BS1 3RD
Zhyan, Stapleton Road
Zhyan is the Matina of Easton. Think huge portions of lamb shawarma (with some bonus testicles, if you’re so inclined) for you to wrap in pillowy fresh naans with colourful salads and olives. Though I’d recommend the bread, you can also pick up a curry and rice and it’s all ridiculously good value. Scruffy looking on the outside no doubt, but don’t judge this book by its cover.
What it’s good for: People who love kebabs, offal and low prices!
What it’s not good for: Post 7-8pm ventures - they’ve usually run out of everything.
Zhyan, 404 Stapleton Rd, BS5 6NQ
Nice Spice, Denmark Street
I’ve written about some of the restaurants in this list a lot and it can be hard to think of new things to write sometimes. Not with Nice Spice; I could write a novel about their roast meats. £11 for a dish that you’ll struggle to finish but will have your eyes watering with tears of joy is hard to beat.
What it’s good for: Authentic Chinese roast meats.
What it’s not good for: Paying by card. Time to flash the cash baby!
Nice Spice, 24 Denmark St, BS1 5DQ
Bertha’s, Wapping Wharf
There’s many a good pizza in Bristol but there can be only one champion, and no one has yet come close to taking the title from Bertha’s. The classics are flawless, but it’s the specials that will have you returning time and time again. If you get the chance, be sure to attend one of their pizza giros, where you’ll experience flavour combinations beyond your wildest pizza dreams.
What it’s good for: Making you feel vastly inferior in your own pizza making efforts (I speak from experience). Oh and marmite cheese bread. And kids. Did I mention the ice cream?
What it’s not good for: I am literally racking my brains. They even cater really well to vegans and people with gluten intolerances. Nope, I’ve got nothing.
Bertha’s, The Old Gaol Stables, BS1 6WW
Marmo, Baldwin Street
The words ‘gnocco fritto’ will incite a flutter in the chest of anyone who has had the good fortune to eat in Marmo. Set in a beautiful old building with ceilings as high as my expectations, Marmo is probably Bristol’s best Italian - but don’t come here asking for bolognese and pizzas. These are seasonal small and slightly larger plates with which you can pair some seriously good wines.
What it’s good for: If you like your food Michelin-tickled and Italian tasting. And you can take your (well behaved) dog!
What it’s not good for: Kettle pigs and people with bad hearing.
Marmo, 31 Baldwin St, BS1 1RG
Bokman, Nine Tree Hill
The talented team behind Bokman are soon to open their second restaurant on Chandos Road, which I have no doubt will be widely revered from the moment they light the first barbecue. But that should absolutely not stop you from visiting their first restaurant. Bokman is a love story told through Korean cooking that will leave you utterly star-struck. Don’t miss the Tongdak - one of the best roast chickens you’ll ever have.
What it’s good for: Dinner, lunch, soft serve, chicken, drinks, matcha tiramisu… the list is endless.
What it’s not good for: Claustrophobes - the cellar is adorable but petite. Ask to sit at the window.
Bokman, 3 Nine Tree Hill, BS1 3SB
Paco Tapas, Lower Guinea Street
I wrote about Paco Tapas in January of this year. The review was entitled ‘food this good should be protected at all costs’. A couple of weeks later they lost their Michelin star - a travesty and thoroughly undeserved. The silver lining of that particularly ugly cloud is that chef-owner Peter Sanchez-Iglesias is back in the kitchen most weekends. Consequently the food is even better now than it was when I wrote that review. Words don’t do it justice.
What it’s good for: Feeling the heat of the grill on your face as you sit sipping sherry at the kitchen counter and contemplating ordering it all again.
What it’s not good for: Budget diners. If you want to really appreciate it, be prepared to spend upwards of £150 for two.
Paco Tapas, 3a The General, Lower Guinea Street, BS1 6FU
Souk Kitchen, North Street
They say your diet should include all the colours of the rainbow; Souk is the pot of gold. It’s proof that getting all your vitamins and minerals need not be boring. But make sure you get a slap of beige in the form of Bristol's best hummus - Eat A Pitta can Eat Their Hearts out.
What it’s good for: Veggies, vegans and people who want a nice dinner on an even nicer budget.
What it’s not good for: People who hate sharing.
Souk Kitchen, 277 North St, BS3 1JP
Caper and Cure, Stokes Croft
Caper and Cure is the kind of neighbourhood bistro that people move to a neighbourhood for. It’s the diamond in the (increasingly less) rough of Stokes Croft. It's only a matter of time before their crab butter will be as iconic as the nearby Banksys. Prepare yourselves for a particularly good wine list and wander up to Filthy XIII for a post prandial debrief.
What it’s good for: Anyone who misses Wallfish Bistro.
What it’s not good for: Anyone who hated Wallfish Bistro.
Caper and Cure, 108A Stokes Croft, BS1 3RU
Little Hollows, Chandos Road
Little by nature, large by reputation. You don't need me to convince you to go to Little Hollows, you can simply walk past their window and see the sunshine yellow pasta being made fresh every day. It’s their stuffed creations that took them from humble street food stall to the heights of the Michelin Guide, so make sure you get your fill of something filled.
What it’s good for: You won't regretti this spaghetti. Fresh pasta lovers will be in their element.
What it’s not good for: A curry.
Little Hollows, 26 Chandos Rd, BS6 6PF
Can’t fit any more into one post, so part three will be happening at some point.