This West Country urban center has grown up a bit in late days , thanks to an inflow of up - and - comers from London who ’ve dump the large metropolis for immature ( and chintzy ) pastures . Their arrival has spur a culinary renaissance of variety , and Bristol ’s nutrient scene now admit everything from gourmet burgers to homestyle Indian curry . Here are the 12 best place to exhaust in town right now .

< h2 > well tasting menu : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / eat / london / restaurant / bulrush" ; target="_blank”>Bulrush

< em > KingsdownThis narrow eating place has one nether region of a pedigree , founded by chef George Livesey ( of such iconic spots as Roux , L’Enclume , and St John ) and partner Katherine Craughwell . Whether you go vegetarian or carnivorous , the tasting menu combine traditional factor with some more unusual choices ( like pine yogurt and hay - baked Apium graveolens rapaceum ) , many of which are source topically or made in - house .

The Ox

The Ox

< h2 > Best modern British : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / rust / london / restaurants / bells - dining car - and- … ; target="_blank”>Bell ’s Diner & amp ; Bar Rooms

< em > MontpellierWith a account going back to 1976 , this in style rendition of Bell ’s come from the hand of chef Sam Sohn - Rethel and feature internationally inspired minor plate like behind - fake octopus with peas and mint , volaille oyster pinchos marinade in chipotle , and Turkish falafel with tahini sauce . This is < em > the place to go with a ( smallish ) grouping of champion where you order the entire menu and struggle for final morsel .

< h2 > dependable repast you ’ll exhaust in a basement : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / eat / london / eating place / the - ox" ; target="_blank”>The Ox

The Ox

The Ox

< em > BroadmeadWhile the beautiful union of essence and John Barleycorn is nothing Modern , this particular combining of succulent steaks and cocktail number from the same squad as Hyde & amp ; Co and The Milk Thistle . Go alone with a 6 oz fish fillet and triple - cooked chips , or bring some friends and split the 30 oz T - osseous tissue ( or os - in costa steak ) . The atmosphere is all dark - leather booths , bookcases , and pendant , so whatever cut you choose , it ’ll be eaten in finely posh surroundings .

< h2 > good Spanish tapas : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / eat / london / restaurants / bravas" ; target="_blank”>Bravas

< em > CothamLoud , lively , and fill with sass - lachrymation smell out from its semi - opened kitchen , this small room is like walk through a portal vein to some effortlessly cool part of Barcelona – anticipate belittled table , expose brickwork , and brass metalwork . possessor Kieran & amp ; Imogen Waite take annual trips to Spain to ensure they consistently get the flavours correct , as well as pick up new item of aspiration to create computer menu items like wild venison chorizo , boquerones en vinagre , and hake frito .

Bravas

Bravas

< h2 > skilful position to eat while save the world : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / eat / london / eating place / poco - bs2 - 8jp" ; target="_blank”>Poco

< em > Stokes CroftOne of the forerunners of the British movement for local , sustainable , in force - for - everything types , Poco necessitate this scene to another level . From limiting the mileage its ingredients can travel to maintaining a 95 % recycle waste average , this is the kind of joint that makes you ( at least feel like ) a better human . We ’re in small - photographic plate territorial dominion , so hear a scrap of everything from house - made merguez and scallop ceviche to a goat ’s Milk River chocolate potful . Naturally , there ’s a strong gluten - free game here as well ( if that ’s your affair ) .

< h2 > Best hyperlocal fare : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / locale / eat / london / restaurants / birch" ; target="_blank”>Birch

Poco

Poco

< em > SouthvilleWith a story dot with London hotspots like St John and Quality Chop House , Sam Leach and Beccy Massey started off switch supper clubs to really hone what they wanted to make and the answer is perfect . Everything here is handmade ( or at least locally sourced ) , from the refreshing wampum bake in - house to the wildflowers break up in the owner ’s backyard . The carte is short and bare , changing every few Clarence Day and highlighting local ingredient like deviled pig skin & amp ; ewe ’s curd .

< h2 > good space to relax : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / locale / lido - bs8 - 2bj" ; target="_blank”>The Lido

< em > CliftonConnected to an award - make headway spa and breathtaking swimming consortium , this is n’t your usual OCD wellness - intellectual nourishment slur . sure enough , it ’s all really reasonably good for for you , but chef Freddy Bird offers a profusion of menus to choose from , including a daily breakfast , hearty a la carte , set carte du jour , all - day tapas , and even a exceptional " BirdFood " carte du jour . gestate saucer like smoked cod ’s hard roe on sourdough toast , imam bayildi , and lamb tagine . There are also poolside table ( literally ; prepare to get your feet besotted ) in case you ’ve forget your suit of clothes but still want the ambience . & nbsp ;

Lido Restaurant and Spa

Lido Restaurant and Spa

< h2 > Best position to wine & amp ; dine : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / eat / london / eating house / casamia" ; target="_blank”>Casamia

< em > RedcliffeThis fellowship - have hot spot startle as a mama - and - dad workshop serving authoritative Italian fare , until mom and pop handed over the keys to their son in 2006 , who flipped the entire affair on its head and went on to earn a Michelin asterisk ( one of only three in the Bristol region ) by commingle hyper - seasonal factor and forward-looking technique with their family unit ’s proven formula . You ’ll find wildly different menu here count on what time of year you visit , but the level of attention put into each is what makes it stand out , throughout not only the region but the entire commonwealth as well .

< h2 > beneficial Warren Burger : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / deplete / london / eatery / chomp" ; target="_blank”>Chomp

Chomp

Chomp

< em > BroadmeadThis spot depart off as the fantastically appoint Beef & amp ; Beer soda - up , which grew into a furore - favorite nutrient truck before this brick - and - mortar localisation opened in 2014 . Burgers are the berth ’s call to celebrity , but it also grills up some mean steaks , from soft and juicy filet to list and beefy flat - iron cuts . While its dearest affair with beer is still live and kicking , Chomp ’s boom its liquid menu with a strong choice of Bourbon dynasty , wine , and even cocktails .

< h2 > Best homestyle Indian : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / eat / london / restaurants / chai - shai - kitche … ; target="_blank”>Chai Shai

< em > BrandonOriginally open as more of a deli than a true pose - down restaurant , this family - run Bangladeshi eatery offers up delectable morsel like pakoras , samosa , and Timothy Miles Bindon Rice bowls . The formerly cramped interior has ( thankfully ) been expanded a touch , but it ’s still extremely recommend to plan ahead for this one .

Wilks

Wilks

< h2 > Best post to take the parents : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / eat / london / eating place / wilks - restaurant … ; target="_blank”>wilks

< em > RedlandThe first clew with this chef - driven restaurant should come from the fact that it beak up its first Michelin star within a year of opening . The next should be that when you walk in , it still feels like a house restaurant with pocket-size ( gratefully well - comport ) children in gamey chairs , even though the dishes calculate like artwork . wilks – named for the chef in dubiousness James ' Wilks ' Maurice Wilkins who civilise with Gordon Ramsay , the Galvins , and Richard Neat ( to name a few ) – is a classic vicinity restaurant that also happens to serve up plates fill up with caramelized dear sweetbreads , violet potato gnocchi , and wild monkfish escalope .

< h2 > Best halfway Eastern : < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / wipe out / london / restaurants / souk - kitchen" ; target="_blank”>Souk Kitchen

< em > Clifton & amp ; SouthvilleThis situation serve blanket halfway Eastern transportation , meaning you ’ll get the undecomposed bites from across the region with plates like Moroccan - spiced Charles Lamb with couscous , tidy sum , mechouia & amp ; yoghurt , Harissa - fried potatoes topped with feta , and ras el hanout salmon with slow - cooked fennel in yogurt and pine nut . It ’s also known for making some seriously originative brunch and at the Clifton branch , there ’s even a shop class where you’re able to corrupt some of those yummy ingredients to take home with you . & nbsp;<a class=“vortex - clear " data - campaign=“5708 " href=“https://signup.thrillist.com/" ; target="_blank”>Sign up here for our day-after-day Thrillist email , and get your fix of the best in food / drink / fun.