11 of Bristol’s best food & drink shops according to our EatDrink24/7 2019 panellists

Although new restaurant openings might get the majority of media coverage, it’s food and drink shops in which most of us spend the most time – and Bristol has choices worthy of its proud multicultural heritage.

Here are the shops that got the most recommendations in this year’s EatDrink24/7, Bristol’s only truly independent food and drink guide.

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Read EatDrink24/7 2019 online here

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Better Food
St Werburgh’s, Whiteladies Road & Wapping Wharf
www.betterfood.co.uk

“This is always an essential shopping experience for us as a family.”
Jan Ostle, Wilson’s

“All their cafes are lovely but my favourite is Whiteladies Road: small but perfectly formed. Their freshly-made juices are incredible for lifting the spirits and sorting out the tummy grumbles; cakes and deli foods are delicious, and their coffee is second to none.”
Liz Haughton, Bowl of Plenty

“If I’m on the move and fancy something to eat I head to Wapping Wharf for a great choice at Better Food, where you can get a big box of salad and samosas to eat on the harbourside.”
Jo Ingleby, chef and children’s food consultant

The Bristol Cheesemonger
Cargo 2, Museum Street, Wapping Wharf, BS1 6ZA
www.bristol-cheese.co.uk

“A great selection of cheese and a real advocate for all the good curds and whey in the local area. Rosie has created something special which seems to go from strength to strength.”
Sam Leach, Wildings Cider

“We are so lucky to have Rosie and the team in the unit below us in Wapping Wharf. They really fly the flag for top quality local cheese makers and you couldn’t wish for a more caring and knowledgeable team. It’s like an Aladdin’s cave of delights for anyone that loves cheese. A dream come true!”
Matt Hampshire, Tare

“I have bought cheese from Rosie ever since she started delivering to restaurants on her bike. Her shop is great and such care is taken in sourcing the best local cheese and then selling it at its very best.”
Sam Sohn-Rethel, food consultant

“Heaven in a shipping container! Unparalleled knowledge and hospitality from Rosie and the best selection of cheese to be found in town.”
Shona Graham, Emmeline

“Amazing cheese and well-informed team of cheesemongers. I recently got a delicious aged Cornish gouda, great to replace parmesan, especially in a Carbonaro made with short pasta.”
Josh Eggleton, Pony & Trap

“Rosie Morgan is THE person to visit when you need the best cheese that the UK has to offer. She’s truly lovely, totally passionate about what she does and knows everything there is to know about cheese.”
Ben Pryor, Poco

“Impeccably kept and impeccably sourced cheese. Rosie is also so knowledgeable and passionate.”
Iain Pennington, The Ethicurean

Corks
Cotham Hill, North Street & Wapping Wharf
www.corksofbristol.com

“Probably the most unique shipping container at Cargo 1. It’s an off licence and a wine shop in one. A great range of old and new world wines, and the perfect place to however while you decide which container to eat in!”
Andy Clarke, TV food series producer

“I’m a regular visitor to Corks of Cotham. They have a great range of spirits and beers and when I need a bottle of wine for with dinner I just walk in and tell them what I’m eating and they choose for me. There is such joy in not having to make decisions at the end of a long day’s work.”
Danny Walker, Psychopomp

“As I’m based in Southville, Corks of North Street is a really handy place to pick up a bottle of wine for dinner and you can’t go wrong with any bottle in any of the three Corks shops. I also have a great whisky selection at home thanks to this place!”

Mark Chapman, Season + Taste
“A great wine merchant and their Cargo shop is a great spot to enjoy a glass of wine too.”
Nathan Lee, Hyde & Co

Hart’s Bakery
Arch 35, Lower Approach Road, Bristol Temple Meads, BS1 6QS
0117 992 4488
www.hartsbakery.co.uk

“It’s like they’re not capable of making anything less than delicious! Hart’s Bakery is a place you can always trust and can’t let leave your heart after the first, even 100th visit.”
Arushi Patel, Vela

“The smell and buzz come in equal abundance as you laminate like croissant dough into Hart’s. Maybe you came for a coffee, for a sausage roll or for any of the decadent cakes on the counter. It doesn’t matter, because Hart’s gets everything right every single time.”
Alex Hayes, Squeezed

“Faultless as always. Laura, Pete and their team have been consistently producing Bristol’s best baked goods for the past few years. Hart’s is one of Bristol’s best food and drink businesses and an inspiration to businesses like mine.”
Rosie Morgan, Bristol Cheesemonger

“I spend so much time going from Bristol to London or Cardiff and back that Hart’s is my utopia. If it’s the morning I tend to go for the cheese toastie, afternoon sausage roll or pasty, and if I’m lucky to be travelling at midday I will go for one of their ever changing lunchtime specials.”
Mark Olver, Belly Laughs

“Their breads are perfection, cakes a siren song of irresistible pleasure and their savoury snacks categorically refuse to be bought in singular quantities.”
Ben Pryor, Poco

“Their cinnamon buns make me weep with joy.”
Danielle Coombs, Bishopston Preserves

“A Bristol diamond. Laura Hart’s bakery is pastry heaven. There’s always a buzz, perfect flat whites, exceptional bread and sausage rolls.”
Miriam Delogu, The Circle

“Just a delight. Heaven must look like this.”
Steve Ashworth, amateur chef

Pearly King
17 Chandos Road, Redland, BS76 6PG
www.pearlykingcake.co.uk

“No sign of any sourdough here! My magical cake supplier has her own gaff and it looks as good as the cakes taste. Leanne has combined an old school sweet shop vibe with an open kitchen. You can buy cake by the slice, have a coffee and if you’re lucky you’ll get to witness the artist at work on one of her amazing occasion cakes!”
Shona Graham, Emmeline

“I would usually say no to sugary food. But cakes from Leanne at Pearly King are exceptional and definitely the exception to that rule.”
Fency Feng, KaFei

“For celebration cakes that are quirky and delicious, Leanne never fails.”
Miriam Delogu, The Circle

Popti & Beast
94 Mina Road, St Werburgh’s, BS2 9XW
0117 955 6688
www.poptiandbeast.co.uk

“I love this shop. I go here every Sunday with my son and choose what we’re going to cook.”
Jan Ostle, Wilson’s

“This place really does show you what you can achieve from a relatively small shop front. It’s basically snack heaven. They also have a range of takeaway breakfast options that make the most of both their sublime brioche buns, streaky bacon and chorizo.”
Ben Pryor, Poco

“Chef-owner Leon Hughes has got the midas touch. His food is sensational. Pop in for a marmalade bakewell and see what the boys are pounding on the block also in this Tardis of butchery and bakery delights.”
Alex Hayes, Squeezed

Source
1-3 Exchange Avenue, St Nick’s Market, BS1 1JW
0117 927 2998
www.source-food.co.uk

“I’m always impressed when I go here. They have got awesome products that you can’t find anywhere else.”
George Livesey, Bulrush

“A brilliant butcher and fishmonger. Top quality, plenty of options, from premium cuts to everyday affordable options. This is a firm favourite.”
Miriam Delogu, The Circle

“All shops should be like this – friendly, knowledgable staff who talk with love about their products and can tell you precisely where everything has come from and how it’s been produced.”
Claire Peeters, Food Connections chief exec

“I go here quite a lot for both breakfast and lunch, but also to buy meat and fish from the great produce market at the other end. A great example of a food business run by people who really know and care about what they’re doing.”
Jake Black, Chomp and Bristol Distilling Co.

The Spiny Lobster
128 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2RS
0117 973 7384
www.thespinylobster.co.uk

“This is a great restaurant, especially the fish soup. They also have a fish counter if you want some super fresh fish for home.”
James Wilkins, Wilks

“With fish and seafood caught nearby and staff that provide plenty of knowledge on how to prepare and cook them. Top notch.”
Arushi Patel, Vela

“Super knowledgeable fishmongers selling great quality fresh fish and seafood with an interesting ever-changing selection. You have to get the fish stock they make. It is so damn tasty.”
Danny Walker, Psychopomp and Circumstance

Sweetmart
71-82 St Mark’s Road, Easton, BS5 6JH
0117 951 2257
www.sweetmart.co.uk

“The only place in Bristol that really helps makes it possible for me to cook my Gujarati dishes; specifically with the vegetables they sell. That is all I need to say about how much I value and appreciate them!”
Arushi Patel, Vela

“I get all of my cupboard spices here. Endless choice and it’s so much fun discovering new ingredients. I always seem to bump into a friend for a chat and the staff are so helpful. The fiery parsnips and the samosa chaat from the deli are on my death bed list for sure!”
Shona Graham, Emmeline

“I can spend hours in here. It is a sensory overload that is pure pleasure.”
Steve Ashworth, amateur chef

“There are always things here that you can buy but you don’t know what they are. I then like to figure out how to cook them.”
Anita Atkins, Boston Tea Party

Wai Yee Hong
Eastgate Oriental City, Eastgate Road, Eastville, BS5 6XX
0117 952 4240
www.waiyeehong.com

“I don’t think there is a more comprehensive shop. I love standing in the noodle isle, floor to ceiling, an avenue of noodles.”
Claire Thomson, food writer

“The ‘I just popped in for gochujang and came out with dehydrated mushrooms, Chinese greens, frozen dumplings, white miso paste and a Pokémon fizzy drink’ kind of place. I love the multifarious supplies here, the smell and the atmosphere can soon see you whiling away an hour in this Asian food stockist paradise.”
Alex Hayes, Squeezed

“I could spend hours in the aisles here and do, pure treasure. Dim sum upstairs is a worthy Sunday lunch alternative.”
Graham Faragher, Bertha’s Pizza

Zara’s Chocolates
200 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1JF
0117 963 6956
www.zaraschocolates.com

“This award-winning shop not only has an extensive selection of handmade chocolates which you can see being made on the premises, but now has a hot chocolate menu which allows you to try different types of chocolate from around the world.”
Shonette Laffy, food blogger

“The Willy Wonka of Bristol. Pure choccy delight.”
Steve Ashworth, amateur chef

“It’s impossible to love chocolate and not enjoy yourself at Zara’s. A selection of milk-based hot chocolates with a variety of flavours, to ‘chocspressos’ that are made with water and are absolutely incredible. Smooth and silky on your throat with delightful flavours, providing a proper chocolate experience! They also include small treats with your drinks such as butterscotch and pecan squares or hand-made marshmallows. The best seat is by the kitchen at the back, where you can drool over them making the chocolate goodness whilst sipping slowly on your hot drink, feeling luxurious and fabulous.”
Arushi Patel, Vela

“Zara is a wizard with chocolate, creating exquisite truffles and chocolates that are as beautiful as they are heavenly to eat.”
Jo Scholefield, Bristol Food Tour

Read EatDrink24/7 2019 online here