Bristol Insider Tips: Our Favourite Places and Culinary Discoveries

View across the canal to the harbour docks and the mighty Bristol Cathedral in the background.

Bristols centerpiece is the Floating Harbour - a body of water that looks like a river at first glance, but is actually a harbor. In the old town, narrow alleys lead past medieval palaces, cool bars, and nice shops, while the Stokes Croft district is home to the creative scene and the upscale Clifton boasts boutiques, chic restaurants, and Georgian architecture.

Young man with art piece under his arm crossing a bridge in Bristol.

Bristol has a great creative scene.

The architecturally most beautiful villas are in the Clifton district.

The famous street artist Bansky comes from Bristol and has left his mark on many facades. "Well Hung Lover" can be seen on Park Street.

two people in Bristol crossing the street with an umbrella

Bristol Style: the main point is to look fashionable, even in the rain.

The Left Handed Giant brewery and pub in the back, the River Avon in the front.

Break in one of Bristol's hip coffees.

Worth a visit: St Peter's Church, a ruined church in Castle Park.

Typical Somerset landscape: green, unspoilt and gently undulating.

Feeding swans at the Cross Harbour Ferry jetty.

Bristols Altstadt : klein, verwinkelt und voller schöner Gebäude.

Bristol's old town : small, winding and full of beautiful buildings.

Villa in the elegant district of Clifton.

#1 Hotel - The team's choice

The Bristol Hotel

Chic city hotel in a prime location between restaurants, bars, and museums in Bristol's cobblestone harbor district. Behind the brutalist facade, there are 187 comfortable rooms and suites in bright natural colors and contemporary design, a beautiful brasserie with floor-to-ceiling windows and dock views, a cocktail bar, and a fitness room. doylecollection.com, doubles from 81 GBP.

Breakfast, snacks and drinks are also served in the beautiful lobby of The Bristol.

#2 Delicious Food

Wilsons

Small bistro with great, seasonally oriented, and ecologically conscious cuisine. Chef Jan Ostle's grilled sea bass on langoustine bisque, garlic chicken with mushroom ketchup, and organic and biodynamic wines earned him a green Michelin star. wilsonsbristol.co.uk

The lunch menu at the gourmet eatery Wilsons costs £25. A delicious dessert is always included.

Bristol Somerset 2023, Restaurant Wilsons

Salt & Malt

Fish and chips in a shipping container: owner Josh Eggleton pays attention to sustainable products, his cod fillets are crispy, the peas only mushed. There are also oysters, scallops, and Fritto Misto, with a clear view of the harbor facilities. saltandmalt.co.uk

The fish & chips with green peas is considered a speciality at Salt & Malt and the best in Bristol.

Bristol Somerset 2023, Restaurant Salt & Malt

Pieminister

The traditional British meat pie ("pie") gets a new look (cool locations), attractive design (pea-cheddar topping), delicious fillings (jackfruit with pepper, chicken tikka), and fun names like Moo or Heidi for urban chic. pieminister.co.uk

Also a visual delight: the Mothership Pie with peas, cheddar and crispy onions at Pieminister restaurant.

#3 Trendy Bars and Coffee Shops

Cafe & Bar Artist Residence

Industrial shabby chic with worn floorboards, velvet sofas, leather armchairs, and wooden tables in a former boot factory. Locals come for breakfast, cappuccino in between, and cocktails in the evening. artistresidence.co.uk

Waiter with two cappucinos smilling in camera

Cool location, cool service - the café in the Artist Residence is totally hip.

Spicer & Cole

The independent café chain has four stylish locations in the city. Their beans are "ethically sourced," many from local roasteries. Fluffy croissants, avocado toast, and homemade cakes accompany your espresso or latte. spicerandcole.co.uk

Whether it's a pie or a salad - the small coffee chain Spicer & Cole is from Bristol and pays attention to organic quality.

Bristol Somerset 2023, Spicer and Cole Cafe

The Milk Thistle

As befits a cocktail bar, the lamps are dim and the leather banquettes are red. There are exciting house creations to drink, with the Ripple Triple with vodka, white chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla being the bestseller. Only those who ring the bell can get in. milkthistlebristol.com

Dim lighting and innovative cocktails - The Milk Thistle is a young bar with retro flair.

#4 Good Shopping

That Thing

Colorful lifestyle store with products from over 50 local designers. There are funny earrings, unique socks, unusual greeting cards, patterned tote bags, candles in sneaker form, and casual fashion from their own production. thatthing.com

If you're looking for an original gift, you'll find it here: That Thing in the trendy Stoke Croft district.

Bristol Blue Glass

Cobalt blue glassware has been made in Bristol since the 18th century. These can be glasses and jugs, but also jewelry and animal figurines. Each piece is handcrafted using traditional techniques, and you can watch the process in the workshop on the outskirts of the city. bristol-glass.co.uk

The glasses have many shapes but only one colour: at Bristol Blue Glass, everything is handmade and cobalt blue.

#5 Must see

The Clifton Suspension Bridge hangs 75 metres above the River Avon and is a Bristol landmark.

View from the Clifton Suspension Bridge of the River Avon and the district of Clifton.

The Clifton district is elevated on a hillside, with the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the background.

The Cloakroom - formerly a public toilet block, now a cool café.

The Crepe and Coffee Cabin offers exactly that and stands on the Prince Street Bridge.

The imposing Bristol Cathedral on College Green.

Arnolfini

Bristol's center for contemporary art is located in an impressive historic harbor building. Changing exhibitions, as well as performances, films, and dance performances, are shown. Additionally, there is a bookstore with over 100 magazines and a nice café. arnolfini.org.uk

The exhibition "Adore" with works by Bristol-born artist and photographer Garry Fabian Miller can be seen at the Arnolfini Art Centre until the end of May.