If we could only visit one restaurant for the rest of our lives,
Souk Kitchen would be up there as a seriously strong contender. The
Middle Eastern menu gets top marks for its locally sourced
ingredients, with standouts including a falafel and beetroot salad,
chilli chicken thighs and tomato-drenched keftedes. Brunch fans
should save their visit for a weekend, when banging veggie fry-ups
are served alongside extra-spicy bloody Marys. Insider tip: Souk
Kitchen has a smaller sister restaurant in Clifton, where a
dazzling deli stocks some of its own spice blends – pantry upgrade,
pending.

We wouldn’t be one bit surprised if Rosemarino was to provide
the backdrop for the next big rom-com. Spread across two floors,
the intimate, snug space transports visitors straight back to an
old-school Italian ristorante – think sage-green walls framed by
chalkboard menus and fairy lights, the happy sound of clinking wine
glasses and heady scent of tiramisu. Start by ordering the burrata
and calamari, then snag a plate of the homemade ricotta gnocchi,
baked with fresh basil, grilled cheese and tomato passata – we
wouldn’t raise a brow if you ordered two.

Slap-bang in the middle of Bristol’s most vibrant street – all
gastropubs, edgy eateries and bunting-clad facades – Chido Wey has
become something of a Mexican mecca for locals. From the outside,
the honey-hued building appears somewhat minimal, with a handful of
wooden tables on the pavement, but, inside, an explosion of colour
awaits – picture beer barrels for plant pots, walls clad with
enormous abstract prints and dramatic murals. The food? Tacos,
burritos and quesadillas stuffed in baskets wrapped in red
chequered cloths. A daily happy hour takes place from 4-6pm: be
there or risk missing the sweet taste of a ginny melon cocktail –
frozen gin infused with watermelon and lime.

A love letter to the flavours of founder and head chef Noda
Marvani’s childhood, Koocha Mezze Bar made its way onto Bristol’s
foodie scene in 2018, as the city’s first fully vegan restaurant.
Bringing a different meaning to eating green, the menu, which gives
traditional Persian recipes a contemporary twist, offers the likes
of veggie fritters, spiced cauliflower and sweet potato parcels.
Ask any Bristolian what their order is and they will no doubt sing
about the saffron and tahini kebabs – we can confirm that they’re
just as spectacular as they sound. Truth be told, we’d visit this
place just to gawk at its dramatic facade – all whimsical animals
and florals.

Alright, alright, the Ethicurean might be a 30-minute drive away
from the city centre, but the scenic countryside cruise is more
than worth it for the award-winning field-to-fork menu. Housed in
the beautiful Barley Wood Walled Garden, the restaurant’s
ingredients are freshly picked from the ground. The brainchild of
Matthew and Iain Pennington, this sustainable set-up is much more
than a place to come and feast. Through an immersive five-course
dining experience, epicures join the pair on a culinary journey
through nature. Be warned: spaces are limited and book up fast.
Check the website for further details.

Sustainable food warrior Ian Clark is the chef behind Poco,
which has scooped up a whole bevy of awards including Best
Sustainable Restaurant. Slotted on a buzzing street corner in
Bristol’s art-splashed Stokes Croft district, this gritty nook
serves up colourful, eclectic small plates using hyperlocal
ingredients and creating as little waste as possible. Despite its
name, there is no Spanish influence here. Instead, seasonal dishes
draw on British classics. Serving the likes of rainbow trout and
soft herbs with white wine and clams, this is a fantastic spot for
a midweek feast.

Bristol Harbour has become a breeding ground for experimental
restaurants, with some of the city’s most talented chefs setting up
shop on the riverside. Wapping Wharf is home to CARGO, Bristol’s
first retail yard made up of converted shipping containers, and
Root is housed in one of them. The vegetable-focused fine-dining
restaurant was brought to life by the team behind Eat Drink Bristol
Fashion festival. Expect beautifully presented small plates
featuring locally sourced produce. Choose one of the kitchen-facing
seats to watch head chef Rob Howell work his magic or, if the
weather’s good, grab a table on the wraparound terrace overlooking
the water.

Jim Pizer fell head over heels for India’s cuisine when
travelling across the country’s colourful landscape. On his return
to the UK, he launched Thali Easton as a street-food truck at
Glastonbury Festival. Today, the Bristol outpost is a space that
truly embodies the spirit of India. Hot-pink walls, sepia-toned
family portraits and hand-painted wooden signs make for an utterly
charming atmosphere, while a menu that showcases a rainbow of
dishes will transport you from the beach shacks of Goa to Bomaby’s
legendary street markets.

Bulrush is one of Bristol’s best restaurants – a neighbourhood
fine-dining spot that has had critics drooling over its seasonal
tasting menus ever since it opened in 2015. Head chef George
Livesey creates modern British dishes, using local produce and
foraged ingredients from the surrounding area. Expect artfully
plated local meats, West Country cheeses and organic veg alongside
biodynamic wine and seasonal cocktails served in a serene room of
grey wooden floors, bare bricks and copper accents.