Features / Bristol

Best of Bristol 2017: New food & drink openings

By Martin Booth  Tuesday Dec 19, 2017

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

1. Root

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It was a very brave decision for Josh Eggleton to close Chicken Shed after less than 10 months and reopen the space as a restaurant serving solely vegetarian cuisine. But it has succeeded beyond all expectations, not least because of the talents of Rob Howell at the helm.

Root, Gaol Ferry Steps, Wapping Wharf, Bristol, BS1 6WP
0117 930 0260

www.eatdrinkbristolfashion.co.uk/root/ 

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Read more: Root – restaurant review

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2. Dela 

Dela means ‘share’ in Swedish, with the restaurant inspired by the Scandinavian approach to food and socialising.

Dela, Mivart Street, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6JF
0117 951 1499
www.elabristol.com

3. Rosa

Featuring food and drink from across the globe, it’s a veritable culinary adventure at Rosa, whose menu deserves to be explored.

Rosa, 85 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2NT
0117 973 9302

www.rosabristol.co.uk

4. Otira

One of Bristol’s last restaurant openings of what has been an exceptional year is also one of its very best, on a road with an unrivaled food and drink reputation.

Otira, 5-7 Chandos Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6PG
0117 9733 669
www.otira.co.uk

5. Tare

Head chef Matt Hampshire uses the freshest of ingredients for his dishes, presenting both exciting and beautiful menus.

Tare, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf, Bristol, BS1 6ZA
07876 050909
www.tarerestaurant.co.uk

BEST NEW PUB

1. Snuffy Jack’s

Named after a well-known local character from the nineteenth century, Bristol’s third micropub has a maximum of eight gravity-fed cask ales from its stillage through which you can see the beers. Special events since opening have included tap takeovers from the likes of St Philip’s brewery Good Chemistry.

Snuffy Jack’s, 800 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3TE
0117 965 5158
www.facebook.com/sjalehouse

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Read more: Bristol’s third micropub opens in Fishponds

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2. Wiper & True taproom

Not a pub as such, but Wiper & True with Wiper & True now opening their brewery doors wide every Saturday.

Wiper & True, 2-8 York Street, St Werburgh’s, Bristol, BS2 9XT
0117 9412 501
www.wiperandtrue.com/the-tasting-table

3. The Cotham Arms 

 In a reversal of recent trends, the Cotham Arms is a new pub that replaced a bar. Keep a look out for special events such as gin takeovers.

The Cotham Arms, 155 St Michael’s Hill, Kingsdown, Bristol, BS2 8DB
01179 732 480
www.thecothamarmsbristol.co.uk

BEST NEW BAR

1. Le Poivrot

This new wine bar’s name can be roughly translated from French as a romantic term for a drunkard, more akin to the old sort or charming old boozer according to its owner Richard Tring. Plenty of imbibing of whites, reds, roses and even oranges has been enjoyed this year, as well as a magnifique new food menu.

Le Poivrot, 47 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AX
0117 373 1530
www.lepoivrot.co.uk

2. Paco Tapas

Pop in for a sherry after work at this bar and restaurant from the Casamia team that was awarded a Michelin star this year.

Paco Tapas 3a The General, Lower Guinea Street, Redcliffe, BS1 6SY
0117 925 7021
www.pacotapas.co.uk

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Read more: A sherry with Paco Sanchez-Iglesias in Paco Tapas

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3. Cargo Cantina

Tequila makes us happy. Terrorvision told us that. In Cargo Cantina, we can be very happy indeed. A taste of the street taco stalls of Mexico City in the heart of Bristol.

Cargo Cantina, Cargo 2, Museum Street, Wapping Wharf, BS1 6ZA
www.cargocantina.co.uk

4. The Clockwork Rose

Ascend the steps, push open the double doors and find yourself in a dark steampunk fantasy where no detail is too small.

The Clockwork Rose, 16 St Stephen’s Street, Bristol, BS1 1JR
0117 927 6869
www.theclockworkrose.com

5. Dutch

Dutch on West Street in Old Market has a clear theme, and some 400 different gins to prove it.

Dutch, 16 West Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0DF
0117 330 2905
www.facebook.com/Dutch.Bristol

BEST NEW SHOP

1. The Beer Necessities

A mighty fine collection of beers which you can be asked to be paired to enjoy with a burger from the splendid Squeezed next door. There are also three rotating kegs from which you can fill up a container to take home, further satisfying the thirst for all things beer in Bristol.

The Beer Necessities, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf, BS1 6ZA
@tbnbristol

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Read more: Bristol’s burgeoning taste for beer

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2. Fox & West 

A deli and cafe with a firm emphasis on healthy eating and a friendly community shopping experience.

Fox & West, 172 Wells Road, Totterdown, Bristol, BS5 2AL
0117 300 9086
www.foxandwest.co.uk

3. Bottles & Books 

Bottles & Books is certainly unique in its business model, specialising in craft beer, real cider and graphic novels.

Bottles & Books, 356 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8TP
www.bottlesandbooks.co.uk

4. Coffee & Beer

Coffee and beer is a dream combination at Coffee & Beer. The resurgence of both drinks doesn’t look like ending anytime soon.

Coffee & Beer, 16 Cotham Hill, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6LF
0117 329 3010
www.coffeeandbeer.co.uk

5. Meat Box

The final two units at Cargo 2 were transformed this year into a butchers from award-winning organic farmer Luke Hasell.

Meat Box, Unit 24, Cargo 2, Wapping Wharf, Bristol, BS1 6ZA
www.meatboxbristol.co.uk

BEST NEW CAFE

1. Milk Teeth

Milk Teeth is one indication of this rapidly-changing corner of Bristol. Located on the corner of Portland Square and Bishop Street, barista-turned-businessman Josh Bowker describes it as “at the crux between the clean lines and affluence of the new flats, and the older, more ramshackle side (where I live) that gives the area its vibrancy”.

Milk Teeth, 21 Portland Square, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8SJ
www.milkteethportlandsq.co.uk

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Read more: Milk Teeth opens on Portland Square

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2. Little Bam 

In what used to be a bike shed, the team behind Bambalan upstairs has created a sleek and bright espresso bar.

Little Bam, 12 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 4XE

3. Albatross

A cool cafe by day and a cool bar by night, opened by a couple who also own a vintage clothes shop in Berlin.

Albatross, 60 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 3JE
07398 815788
www.facebook.com/albatrosscafebristol

4. Society

With two cafes in Bath and one in Oxford, Society had been planning to open in Bristol for more than three years  – and it has definitely been worth the wait.

Society, Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA
www.society-cafe.com

5. West Street Kitchen 

Continuing the resurgence of Old Market. Pop in for a coffee in the morning, Guatemalan black beans for lunch and a smoky Espadin Joven mezcal after dark in this effortlessly cool new cafe from cake baker Millie and coffee roaster Nathan.

West Street Kitchen, 55 West Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0BZ
www.weststreetkitchen.co.uk

Read more: Best of Bristol 2017: food & drink

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