Bristol’s 10 best pubs and bars – according to our EatDrink24/7 panellists

EatDrink24/7 is Bristol’s only truly independent food and drink guide, with recommendations from an unrivalled group of panellists choosing their favourite places across the city.

Read the full guide online here

Here, in alphabetical order, are Bristol’s 10 best pubs and bars according to our panel:

The Bag of Nails
141 St George’s Road, Hotwells, BS1 5UW

“Great beers, hilarious pub quiz, board games and cats… lots of cats.”
Sam Fryer, Rosemarino

Bar Buvette
31 Baldwin Street, BS1 1RG
0117 370 9667
www.barbuvette.co.uk

“An effortlessly chic bar where you can drink interesting natural wines by the glass. Their food is also fabulous: house-made charcuterie, cheeses from the Auvergne and a daily changing menu of simple but classic French dishes. If you squint, you could be on the Left Bank rather than Baldwin Street.”
Ishita Wilkins, Eat Your Words

The Barley Mow
39 Barton Road, St Philip’s, BS2 0LF
0117 930 4709
www.barleymowbristol.com

“One of my favourite locals, off the beaten track yet not far at all from the centre, boasting a great selection of cask ales, keg beers, bottles and cans in comfortable surroundings. If this pub was in a more trendy location it would be too rammed. Thankfully its location keeps it free of the stag do’s and circuit drinkers and means you get a warm welcome.”
Justin Hawke, Moor Beer

Bravas
7 Cotham Hill, Cotham, BS6 6LD
0117 329 6887
www.bravas.co.uk

“A great tapas option. Sit up at the bar and order a cold fino then let the small plates keep on coming. Busy, a little squished but all the better for it.”
Elly Curshen, Pear Cafe

The Gallimaufry
26/28 The Promenade, Gloucester Road, BS7 8AL
0117 942 7319
www.thegallimaufry.co.uk

“My favourite pub on Gloucester Road. Good music, good atmosphere and seriously good food. Quite possibly the best roast north of the river!”
Pete Snowman, Bristol Cider Shop

The Hillgrove
53 Hillgrove Street North, Kingsdown, BS2 8LT
0117 924 9818
www.dawkinsales.com/page28.html

“Exactly what an honest boozer should be, with an ever-changing array of interesting beer, The Hillgrove is such an easy, relaxed place to be and with good food pop-ups too. And that view is so worth the slog up the hill!”
Kelly Sidgwick, Good Chemistry

The Milk Thistle
Quay Head House, Colston Avenue, BS1 1EB
0117 929 4429
www.milkthistlebristol.com

“This cocktail bar needs to be seen to be believed.”
Dan Vaux-Nobes, bon vivant

Psychopomp
145 St Michael’s Hill, Kingsdown, BS2 8DB
07511 934675
www.microdistillery.co.uk

“There’s something a bit magical about Psychopomp. The shop front resembles an old apothecary and inside there’s a whole lot of alchemy going on. Every gin these guys produce is an absolute winner. The perfect place to have a G&T against a backdrop of copper sills doing their thing and a whole wall of gin bottles.”
Tessa Lidstone, Box-E

Small Bar
31 King Street, BS1 4DZ
www.smallbar.co.uk/bristol

“Always an amazing selection of beers and really knowledgeable staff. Somehow, at the end of any night out in Bristol, all roads seem to lead to Small Bar.”
Jake Black, Chomp

Wild Beer​
Gaol Ferry Steps, Wapping Wharf, BS1 5WE
0117 329 4997
www.wbwappingwharf.com

“You’ve got things that are accessible which you can drink quite easily, but then you can drink something really different as well. This is a nice relaxed place to go and it’s on our doorstep as well.”
Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, Casamia