How to Spend Two Days in Bristol, My Favourite Little UK City

I lived in Bristol for the better part of three years, and the city holds a special place in my heart. Even though we’re now based on the other side of the world, we come back every year to hang out with friends, revisit old haunts, and see what’s new and exciting in the place we used to call home. It easily remains my favourite little city in the UK!

While I firmly believe you could spend a week or more in Bristol and not run out of things to do, two days is just enough to get a good feel for what makes this city so special. If you’re visiting for the weekend, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy!

All of the places and experiences on this list are the ones we took people to when they came to visit us in Bristol, and the ones we keep returning to ourselves whenever we’re back in town. There’s no fluff or filler: if it’s not somewhere I’d take my family or best mate to, it’s not on here.

I’ve focused on the central-ish parts of the city for those two days, since that’s you’ll find most of the best attractions, pubs, and restaurants, and is probably where you’ll be staying.

Once you’re at the start point, each day is designed to be walkable rather than relying on a car or public transport to get around. Parking is a hassle in the central city anyway, and public transport…well, it exists, but that’s about it.

That said, while the distances are relatively short, Bristol is hilly once you get away from the harbour. If you’d prefer to drive, take a bus, or call an Uber to get around, I’m not going to hold it against you!

Day 1: City, Harbour, and Surrounds

We’ll start the day in Stokes Croft, an inner city neighbourhood that’s bohemian, edgy, or anarchic depending on who you ask. It’s full of independent shops and independent thinkers, with some of the best food, drink, and shopping in the city.

Breakfast at The Bristolian

The Bristolian was one of the first places we ever went for breakfast in this city, months before we moved there, and we’ve taken parents, siblings, and friends there ever since. It’s a small, busy place, but we’ve always managed to get a table somewhere, inside or out, whenever we’ve shown up.

Tucked away down a quiet side street off busy Cheltenham Road, it’s the perfect introduction to Bristol. Unpretentious, cozy, and popular with locals, they thankfully haven’t tinkered too much with the smallish menu over the years: it’s nice to be able to rely on a few delicious staples.

I pretty much always order the Bristolian Fusion, mostly because I’m a sucker for good chorizo, but also because it’s a delicious variation on the full English. The vegan and vegetarian versions are also excellent, and there are a few smaller options as well.

For a place that’s not a dedicated coffee shop, the flat whites here have always been impressively good, and Lauren’s a big fan of their sodas as well. Basically, it’s the perfect place to start your day!

Explore the Country’s Longest Street of Independent Stores

Once you’ve finished breakfast, wander up Cheltenham Road until it bends slightly to become Gloucester Road, and then…just keep going. This is the longest independent shopping street in the UK, so if you’re after an interesting gift for yourself or someone else, it’s the place to find it.

Everything from cheesemongers to tiny clothes stores, antique furniture to handmade art and crafts, Spanish delicacies to houseplants, and pretty much anything you can think of, all with barely a chain store in sight.

It’s the same with most of the restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars along here as well: sometimes there’s a few other outlets in Bristol or Bath, but often they’re just one of a kind. I talk about several of the restaurants in the dinner section below, including one of my favourite dosa restaurants in the world.

Gloucester Road feels like it goes on forever, but while you could easily spend your entire morning here, there’s lots more on the agenda today! Instead, stroll up one side of the street until you get to somewhere around Berkeley Road (or just feel like turning around), then cross over and walk down the other side, back towards the central city.

Wander Through Bristol’s Old City

Bristol has a long, fascinating, and sometimes problematic history, from its Stone Age origins to its key role in the country’s maritime trading fortunes before and during the Industrial Revolution.

Much of the central city was bombed during World War II, so many of the grand buildings that highlighted the city’s wealth are now long gone. There are still a few dotted around the oldest part of the city, however, with narrow winding lanes and medieval churches a stark contrast to the busy traffic and modern city nearby.

Download this brochure (pdf) for a walking map and brief commentary, or grab this self-guided app and audio tour for a more detailed, GPS-based look at the old city and beyond. Either way, it won’t take up too much of your day: this isn’t a big area to cover.

If you’d like a more extensive tour of the downtown area that covers everything from history to street art, a friend took this two-hour walking tour when they were in town and absolutely loved it.

Grab a Drink From St Nicholas Market

Off Corn Street and right in the heart of the old part of the city sits St Nicholas Market, one of my favourite places to take any newcomer to Bristol. It’s the oldest market in the city, in operation for nearly 300 years.

I’ve had many different meals from the tiny food stalls there: the Momo Bar is a particular favourite, but there are many other great options, usually at very competitive prices. There’s also a large open room with several dozen stallholders selling all manner of arts and crafts, often locally made.

The food section gets super-busy at lunchtime, which is why I’ve bought you here now, hopefully a bit before the crush. Unless you’re already starving, just grab a hot or cold takeaway drink from one of the market vendors and exit onto High Street.

And Then Enjoy It in Castle Park

You’ll now be right beside Castle Park, a popular area of green space that runs alongside the water from here to (unsurprisingly) Castle Street. It’s the former home of Bristol Castle, which dates back to the eleventh century but now has nothing left beyond its foundations.

Alongside sits the ruins of St Peter’s Church, parts of which also date back to the Norman period but was mostly built in the fifteenth century. Like much of the rest of central Bristol it was bombed during the Blitz: the ruins are now preserved as a heritage site.

The remains of both the church and the castle are worth a few minutes of your time, but if it’s a nice day, you’re mostly here to enjoy that beverage you just bought from the market.

Find an empty patch of grass, sit down for a while, and watch Bristol life walk past in all its forms. When you’re done, wander down Welsh Back, take a quick detour through Queen Square, and head over the bridge to Spike Island.

Visit the M Shed

Bristol has an impressive number of galleries and museums for a place this size, so I’ve had to cut it for this trip: one main one today, one tomorrow. Right there beside the harbour sits M Shed, a former transport shed that now tells the story of the city’s colourful history.

It’s free to all, with exhibits that cover everything from prehistoric artefacts found in the area through to the present day. Having a narrow focus like this means that M Shed can go deep into Bristol’s story: its landscape, geography, and people, as well as key moments like the WWII bombings that obliterated so much of the city.

Those large cranes you see on the dock are also part of the museum’s exhibits: they still work, and you can see them in action most weekends. The same goes for the restored steam engines on the short railway alongside: a ride costs £3.50 one way, £5 return.

M Shed is closed on Mondays, and open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the week.

Have Lunch at a Shipping Container Restaurant

We discovered Wapping Wharf on our very first trip to Bristol, several months before we moved there, and it became a regular fixture whenever we were hungry and in the area. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of nearly 50 independent shops, bars, and restaurants built from shipping containers?

It’s great in any weather, but especially when the sun’s out and you can grab a table outside at somewhere like Cargo Cantina (great tacos and margaritas), The Athenian (Greek street food) or Salt & Malt (proper fish and chips). We’ve eaten at all three many times!

Seating is limited (I mean, shipping containers aren’t large), but if it’s busy, just get your meal to take away and eat it on the benches or harbourside nearby.

Step Aboard the SS Great Britain

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the famous Victorian engineer most famously associated with the Clifton Suspension Bridge that you’ll be crossing tomorrow, the SS Great Britain was the largest passenger ship in the world when it was built in Bristol in 1845.

Very expensive to build and maintain, the owners went bankrupt after having to refloat and repair the ship when it ran aground off Northern Ireland the following year. After carrying emigrants to Australia and serving as a quarantine ship and warehouse in the Falklands, the ship was scuttled there in 1937.

Raised in 1970 and returned to Bristol for restoration, the SS Great Britain is now one of Bristol’s major tourist attractions. You can now see for yourself what luxury transatlantic journeys were like in Victorian times, as well as visit the Being Brunel museum next door that’s devoted to the life and works of the famous engineer.

Adult general admission tickets cost £22, either booked in advance to avoid the queues or in person on the day. They’re valid for a year, so you can use them again next time you’re back in Bristol. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (winter) or 5 p.m. (summer), Tue-Sun.

Check Out Bristol’s Famous Colourful Houses

As you’re walking along the harbour from M Shed to SS Great Britain and beyond, be sure to take a look across the water. There, you’ll see many of Bristol’s famous colourful houses, perched in vibrant rows up on the hillside above Hotwells Road.

They’re not the only ones in the city, but they’re the most well-known and at least in my opinion, the most photogenic. You’ll get a better perspective from down here on the harbourside than from directly alongside (with a lot fewer hills!), but if you do want to get up close and personal, head to Cliftonwood Crescent or Ambrose Road.

Admire the Houseboats in Bristol Marina

I’ve always been a sucker for the romance of houseboat life, and even if the reality isn’t always quite as rose-tinted, it hasn’t put me off the idea of one day buying a canal boat and retiring to a life of puttering along the waterways at 3mph.

For now, though, I mostly just entertain myself by admiring other people’s vessels, and there’s nowhere better to do that than in the small Bristol marina. While most of the outer berths are for small sail and motorboats, the inner section seems to be reserved for permanent narrowboat moorings.

Or at least I assume they’re permanent: I can’t imagine motoring very far with those gardens and outdoor settings on display! Some of these boats are absolutely stunning, and if you’ve ever dreamed of a life on the water like I have, you’ll walk away extremely jealous.

As you’re leaving the marina, also take a moment to find the hidden Banksy artwork in the lane just behind it. Look out for the coffee cart and a building with a raised clock tower: “Girl With a Pearl Earring” is tucked away beside the latter, painted on the wall of a brick building with a metal gate in front.

Underfall Yard

Staying with the boating theme (I mean, you are on a harbour), carry on along the waterfront to Underfall Yard. This boatyard dates back to the Victorian era, and is named after an ingenious system designed by Brunel (who else?) to pump mud out of the harbour and into the River Avon to prevent it from silting up.

It’s worth spending a bit of time in the visitor centre to learn more about the history of the docks and their workers that were the key to Bristol’s prosperity for centuries. There’s also a great little cafe onsite, where I’ve enjoyed more than one sandwich and coffee over the years!

The yard was sadly hit by an arson attack in 2023: it hasn’t really affected the visitor centre or cafe, but workshops and several boats were destroyed. Restoration and rebuilding works are underway, however, so that Underfall can return to being a fully functional boatbuilding yard once again.

Once you’re done there, cross over the bridge in front of you, then turn right to walk back along the water on the other side of the harbour all the way to Millennium Square.

If you’re in need of a drink along the way, good options I can personally vouch for include the Pumphouse (especially outside on a sunny day), Harbour Hub (tucked away in a little inlet in the harbour), and the Grain Barge which I talk more about in the pub section at the end.

We The Curious (Optional)

It’s hard to know even how to describe We the Curious; it’s basically a place full of (very) hands-on science exhibits that cover everything from astronomy to physics, chemistry, human and other biology, and pretty much anything else under the banner of science.

There are over 200 exhibits spread across the two levels, alongside a 3D planetarium and a large section focused on animation and everything involved with it. I’ve marked it as optional, since it’s mainly aimed at kids.

If you do have kids with you, though, plan to spend at least 90 minutes inside: we had to drag my nephews away kicking and screaming, and honestly, you could stay here all day if you wanted to.

It’s a loud, busy place, especially at the weekends, and understandably very popular with families. I’d suggest booking your ticket in advance if you can, since there are often no walk-up tickets left towards the end of the day.

Standard price for an adult ticket is £21.20, but if you arrive after 3pm, it drops to £11.40. We the Curious is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. It’s open Monday as well on bank and local school holidays.

Bristol Cathedral

Let’s finish off the sightseeing for today with a quick visit to Bristol Cathedral, just over the road from We the Curious. First built as an Augustine abbey in the 1100s, most of the cathedral dates to the medieval period, and it’s an impressive house of worship.

I love all the stained glass, most of it from the 1400s, and the stunning stonework inside and out. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon-Sat (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays), the cathedral is free to visit, with donations welcomed.

Right outside is lovely College Green, where you’ll pretty much always find students and others hanging out and having picnics whenever the sun’s out. If the weather isn’t as nice, Bristol’s main library sits alongside, and is the ideal place to shelter from the rain with a good book!

Time for Dinner!

You’re now back beside the central city, and it’s getting on for dinner time. I’ve got so many eating recommendations for Bristol that it’s kind of ridiculous: depending on where you’re staying and what you’re in the mood for, here are a few great places to eat, but there are of course many others.

Within a roughly ten-minute walk of the cathedral are Asado (burgers), Under the Stars (tapas on a boat in the harbour), The Ox (steak), and Urban Tandoor (Indian). They’re all good choices: Asado and Urban Tandoor are cheaper, more casual options, while Under the Stars and the Ox are a bit more upmarket.

If you’re staying back near where you started today, there are also some fantastic food options on Stokes Croft/Cheltenham Road/Gloucester Road. They’re all the same street, it just depends how far north you are as to what it’s called.

I’ve paid multiple visits to Caribbean Croft (delicious Caribbean classics), Coconut Tree (Sri Lankan), Ramen Ya (Japanese/ramen), Kal Dosa (South Indian), and Crofters Garden (pizza in an outdoor garden), and had a great meal every time.

I’ve also got a bunch of pub recommendations below, again spread out around the central-ish city. It’s not a comprehensive list, just a few of my favourites, but if you’re in the mood for a drink, they’re all a delight. If you’d like to eat there as well, I’ve made a note of which ones do food.

Day 2: Clifton and Surrounds

We’re heading to Clifton today, a more upmarket part of Bristol where grand houses command incredible views and incredible prices to go with it. Greener and leafier than anywhere you went yesterday, it has a charming, local feel, especially around Clifton Village.

Have Breakfast at Primrose Cafe

I don’t remember the first time we stumbled on Primrose, a sprawling yet cozy cafe on a little pedestrianised section beside the Clifton Arcade, but it quickly became a firm favourite.

So much so, in fact, that Lauren’s mum absolutely insists on a visit whenever she’s in town: if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for me, and that’s why it’s my breakfast recommendation for your second day in Bristol.

You’ve got plenty of choice about where you sit: outside on the cobbled pavement, upstairs on the roof terrace, or anywhere in between. It’s a busy spot at weekends, but we’ve never had to wait long for a table. You can’t book, so just show up when you’re ready.

We’ve enjoyed both the Full and Mini Monty (basically a big or small full English), plus the brunch BLT, a couple of different styles of pancake, and more cakes, scones, and cream teas than perhaps a nutritionist would recommend.

Primrose is open from 9 a.m. til 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Last food orders from the kitchen are at 3 p.m.

Explore Charming Clifton Village

Once you’ve filled up on breakfast, it’s time to go and walk some of it off. Clifton Village is one of the fanciest and most photogenic parts of the city, with stunning rows of terrace houses, a wide selection of local boutiques, and stunning views over a wide swathe of the city.

Have a stroll through the little stores in Clifton Arcade (right beside Primrose), then visit Reg the Veg, directly opposite: this local greengrocer is a Clifton institution. Carry on down Boyce’s Ave, stopping at a few of the boutique clothing and homewares stores along the way, then turn left and walk the couple of minutes to Royal York Crescent.

You may well have seen photos or postcards of this famous street before, with its gently-curving line of pastel houses that are a Grade II listed building and some of the most expensive real estate in the city. The views are exceptional, to say the least.

You’ll have more time to explore Clifton Village later, but for now, follow Wellington Terrace around from the end of Royal York Crescent, and make your way towards the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. It’s pretty hard to miss!

Take in the Epic Views From Clifton Observatory

You’ll already have had some great views of the bridge as you walked towards it from the south, but for the best photos, keep going over the road and up the hill to the Clifton Observatory.

Although it’s called an observatory, it’s actually an old windmill that dates back to the mid-18th century. Restored about a decade ago, there’s now a full-service cafe, museum and camera obscura at the top of the tower, and the so-called “Giant’s Cave” that takes you down a staircase through a natural passage in the rocks to a viewing platform.

None of the attractions are show-stoppers, but an adult ticket is only £5, so it’s not going to break the bank if you decide to have a look around. The coffee at the cafe is pretty good as well.

If you choose not to pay, never fear: you’ll still have a fantastic view of the bridge from alongside the tower!

Walk Across Clifton Suspension Bridge

Now that you’ve taken a hundred photos of the bridge, it’s time to take a stroll across it so you can take some more. Opened in 1864, it was the longest chain bridge in the world at the time, and considered an engineering marvel of the Victorian age.

Vehicles pay £1 to use it, but it’s free to use your feet or a bicycle. Pedestrian walkways run along both sides: you can usually use either one unless there’s maintenance going on.

The walkways can get quite busy with other pedestrians on sunny weekends, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to stop to take photos and admire the views: towards the city in one direction, and the Bristol Channel in the other.

At the other end sits the small bridge museum and visitor centre, which opened about ten years ago and is well worth a visit if you’re interested in the bridge’s history. Entry is free, with donation-based guided tours available at weekends if you’d like to explore in more depth.

Get Back to Nature In Leigh Woods

One of the many things I love about Bristol is how, even when you’re right in the heart of the city, you’re never far away from unspoiled nature and wonderful walking trails.

One of the best examples of this is in Leigh Woods, a National Trust-managed woodland that covers a large area of the clifftop plateau above the Avon Gorge. The main entrance and carpark is barely a 15-minute walk from the end of the bridge, and yet on many of the quieter trails, it feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Various waymarked trails run through the forest, marked with blue, purple, and red trail markers: red and purple are the shorter options.

I often just make up my own route along the smaller paths instead, which avoids the busy sections at weekends. It’s worth downloading the AllTrails app beforehand if you’re going to do that, since it shows all of the little tracks, making it easier to find your way back to the start.

Unless you’re up for a much longer and steeper walk, don’t follow the blue path downhill to its end: while it’s very scenic and often deserted, you’ll end up beside the river, and have to walk all the way back up again to recross the bridge!

Have Amazing Tapas at Bravas

Chances are you’ve worked up an appetite by now, so it’s time to start making your way towards what may well be my favourite restaurant in Bristol. Head back across the bridge, then take a leisurely route through the quiet back streets of Clifton Village towards Cotham Hill.

We used to live around here, which was a great choice for many reasons, but none more so than its proximity to the wonderful tapas at Bravas. Tucked away on a short pedestrianised strip off the busy Whiteladies Road, it’s easy to walk straight past it. Definitely do not do that.

Every single person we’ve taken here has loved it, including my parents when they flew over to visit. It’s the kind of small, intimate tapas restaurant that you find everywhere in Spain but very rarely outside it, with exceptional food, friendly staff, and perfect vibes.

There are a few tables inside, a few more under cover outside, and a smattering of high stools along the bar and window, but they fill up quickly. That’s the reason I’m suggesting coming here for lunch, when you can usually walk straight in, rather than in the evening when you often can’t.

Order whatever you like from the menu, since it’s basically impossible to go wrong. If you do want a few recommendations, though, the boquerones (small fish), cured meat board, and sangria shown in the above photo are an excellent place to start!

Stroll Through The Downs (Optional)

My next recommendation kinda revolves around how nice the weather is, how tired you are after the walking you’ve already done, and how full/drunk you are after your time at Bravas, so I’ve marked it as optional.

If you do have the sunshine, energy, and wherewithal, though, I’d suggest heading up Whiteladies Road to one edge of the vast green space known as the Downs, made up of Clifton Down on one side of Stoke Road, and Durdham Down on the other.

I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve been here, whether it was to have a chilled-out picnic, jog around the perimeter, admire the views of the bridge and river from the Sea Wall, or be walked by a friend’s dog that we used to regularly borrow.

Like I say, it’s a big space, and you could easily spend hours here if you wanted to. Durdham Down is largely open green fields; while there’s plenty of that in Clifton Down, there are several large patches of unmanicured grass, bushes, and trees as well.

Climb Cabot Tower

Whether you made it up to the Downs or not, it’s now time to head back towards the central city. Make a beeline for Brandon Hill, a small and surprisingly steep park in Clifton Triangle, and specifically Cabot Tower towards the northern end.

Dating back to 1897, the stone tower itself is only about 100ft tall, but because it’s raised up on the hill, it commands sweeping views in every direction. It’s free to climb up the spiral stair inside to the viewing area at the top: metal maps along the edges tell you what you’re looking at.

This was our nearest park for a while, and we’d use it for everything from having a BBQ on a sunny day to watching the annual Bristol Balloon Fiesta: it’s a much more chill spot to admire the hot air balloons drifting by than most other viewpoints in the city.

The tower opens at 8 a.m., and closes around sunset throughout the year.

Visit Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

Just up from Cabot Tower, and clearly visible from it, sits the grand stone building that houses the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. I used to walk past it every day on my way home, and often popped in to see what had changed since my last visit.

It houses a fairly eclectic standing collection, ranging from local wildlife to a good-sized selection of Egyptian and Assyrian artefacts, dinosaur bones, Chinese glasswork, and my personal favourite, Banksy’s large “Paint Pot Angel” sculpture in the main hall.

The museum also runs regular temporary exhibitions: there’s a particularly good photography one on as I write this.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free for the permanent exhibits (donations welcomed), while temporary exhibits typically cost £5-10 for an adult ticket.

Christmas Steps

Once you’re finished in the museum, walk down Park Row (it’s much easier than walking up it) and Perry Street towards the Christmas Steps.

Dating back to medieval times and having undergone plenty of name changes along the way, this narrow pedestrian lane is home to several listed buildings and a variety of small shops, bars, and cafes.

Take a moment to admire the grand old gothic almshouse just to your right on Colston Street as you descend: it’s now private accommodation, so you can’t go inside, but there’s still good photo opportunities from the footpath.

Highlights on the steps include Chance & Counters (my favourite boardgame cafe anywhere!), the cozy Christmas Steps pub near the bottom, and the high-end barber shop, Harry Blades and Angry Dave’s. I mean, how could I not love that name?

The base of the Christmas Steps is where I’ll leave you on this itinerary: you’re back in the heart of the city, with all of the food options I mentioned for last night’s dinner still on offer, and of course many more besides.

If you’re in the mood for something more alcoholic, though, keep reading a little longer.

A Few of My Favourite Pubs and Bars In Bristol

Bristol has a wonderful pub scene, with everything from high-end cocktail bars to cozy old-man pubs and absolutely anything in between. These are a few of my favourites, whether I’m after a glass of wine in a sunny beer garden, a cosy pint on a rainy winter afternoon, or a fancy cocktail made by a master mixologist on a night out.

I’ve included a Google Maps link for each one to make it easier to find.

The Hope and Anchor

Let’s start with the Hope and Anchor, which was my local for the first year or so I lived in Bristol. It’s not the only pub in the Clifton Triange area, but it’s definitely the best, even though it looks like absolutely nothing as you walk past it on busy Jacob’s Wells Road.

There’s a small and cosy front bar, but for me it’s all about the hidden beer garden out the back. I can’t even tell you the number of times my Sunday lunch or dinner plans would get derailed by the thought of a roast and a pint at the Hope and Anchor, but it was a lot.

Throw in a great, ever-changing selection of craft beers and local ciders and knowledgeable, friendly staff, and what’s not to like?

Vittoria

Another one of those pubs on a busy street with an unremarkable frontage, the Vittoria is tiny: just a few tables along the wall beside the bar. It can be hard to get a seat inside as a result, but it’s worth popping your head in if you’re walking past along Whiteladies Road.

It’s a good place for a drink at any time of year, but I especially love going there on a wet winter afternoon. Whenever I think of warm, cozy pubs, the Vittoria is what immediately springs to mind.

I’ve had fantastic Sunday roasts there as well, so much so that in the pandemic, I’d order them in advance to collect and takeaway on a very regular basis. The vibes in my living room weren’t anywhere near as good, but the food definitely was.

Small Bar

Despite the name, Small Bar is probably bigger than both of the places I’ve just mentioned, and is easily my favourite pub in the central city. I can’t think of anywhere else nearby that has such an extensive beer selection, always including several that I’ve never seen before but end up being super-tasty.

It’s in one of the main nightlife areas in downtown Bristol, but even when it’s been crammed with people on a Friday or Saturday night, it’s always had a chilled-out feeling. For some reason it just doesn’t attract the super-noisy crowd you’ll find elsewhere on King Street.

The food is surprisingly good as well: shout-out to both the jackfruit and Korean chicken burgers in particular!

The Grain Barge

Another one of those places that we always seem to end up in with friends and family, it’s not hard to find the Grain Barge: just look in the harbour!

It’s an old grain barge (shock) that’s been permanently docked just opposite Bristol Marina and converted into a kick-ass restaurant and bar. The outdoor tables upstairs fill up fast on a sunny afternoon, so book in advance or arrive early if you’re planning on grabbing one of them.

There’s a small but tasty menu that’s big on local produce and sustainability, including an excellent Sunday roast. I’ve always eaten well there, but for me, it’s really about having a drink in the sun in such an unusual location!

The Lansdown

Tucked away on a back street towards the bottom of Clifton Hill, the Lansdown is a delightful old Georgian pub, with loads of space both upstairs and on the large, sunny terrace outside.

As a result, it’s rarely felt particularly busy…unless I’m there for the Sunday roast. Word has clearly got out about the size and quality of the portions, and you’ll definitely want to book if that’s when you’re planning to go.

I took my parents there for the roast one Sunday lunchtime, and they were impressed with everything about the place: despite how busy it was, the staff stayed cool under pressure and the food arrived fast, hot, and delicious!

The rest of the time, though, it’s a chilled, local kind of place, with a large and interesting beer selection, a big screen outside that shows all the major sporting events, and lots of good vegan options on the menu if you’re looking for a meat-free meal. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

The Milk Thistle

I’ll finish off with The Milk Thistle, a much fancier place than any of the others I’ve mentioned, and spread across several speakeasy-style levels right in the heart of the city. Ring the bell to get let in if the door’s closed!

If you’re in the mood for quality cocktails, this is the place to get them in Bristol. There’s an extensive menu that covers everything from light and fruity to dark and smoky, plus several that defy easy description yet are super-delicious.

The staff have always been extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, full of advice if you want it, but not forcing it down your throat if you don’t. I’d highly recommend booking if you’re visiting on a Friday or Saturday evening, but you can usually just walk in at other times.

They often run private events on one of the levels as well: we went to a gin-tasting night there one chilly Thursday in November, and while things got a little hazy after the navy-strength stuff started rolling out, we both agree that we had a fantastic time doing it.

And that’s it for two days in Bristol! I hope you’ve found this itinerary useful, and if you’ve got any questions, drop them in the comments and I’ll try to answer them.