The Good Food Guide was founded by Raymond Postgate in 1951 and today it remains the longest-standing and best-selling guide to dining out in the UK.
Inspections are conducted on an ongoing basis and anonymously with impartial recommendations then offered. Members of The Good Food Guide Club can access hundreds of reviews and pictures via their app.
Here are the 19 Bristol restaurants that are currently recommended by The Good Food Guide, with ratings ranging from Local Gems to Very Good.
5. Sonny Stores, Southville - Rating: Good
“Co-owned by Josh Eggleton, this on-trend shipping-container eatery is bedded into Bristol’s waterfront Cargo development. Pared-down Scandi-style interiors give way to alfresco tables with views of the docks and the local scene, but nothing distracts from the restaurant’s novel, forward-thinking USP. Small plates are to be expected, but the menu turns the old convention of meat and fish plus the odd veggie option on its head; here you’ll find a full contingent of vegetarian and plant-based dishes taking centre stage, with a couple of fleshy alternatives tacked on almost as an afterthought (perhaps Cornish hake with borlotti beans and Westcombe sobrasada). “ | George Jones
6. Bulrush, Cotham - Rating: Very Good
“The violet-blue frontage of a one-time greengrocer’s shop in Bristol’s Cotham district is a marker for George Livesey’s unassuming neighbourhood restaurant. Inside, whitewashed walls, bare tables and basic bistro furniture all scream local hangout but don’t be fooled. Bulrush is home to some seriously ambitious cooking, no surprise given that Livesey is a veteran of London big hitters including St John and Club Gascon. His skill and ingenuity are given full rein on a tasting menu (now the only option) that throws down the gauntlet with nibbles of swede chawanmushi, crab and elderflower tart, and a savoury macaron filled with duck liver. “ | Belrush
7. Bokman, Stokes Croft - Rating: Good
“Don’t be fooled by the unassuming red and white storefront tucked away at the end of a steep cul-de-sac off Stokes Croft, Duncan Robertson and Kyu Jeon’s small Korean restaurant has a big reputation. The best seats in the house are on the ground floor, otherwise descend to the basement dining room, where rough stone walls, chalkboard menus and clattering chopsticks give the place an air of friendly bustle. Tongdak is what draws the crowds here: crispy-skinned rotisserie chicken stuffed with sticky rice and slow-cooked until it melts off the bone. Served with tangy pickled mooli and dipping sauces, it is a comforting treat.” | Duncan Robertson/Bokman
8. COR, North Street - Rating: Good
“At the hip end of North Street, this cool but relaxed small-plates diner has created something of a tidal wave of enthusiasm since opening in October 2022. It feels like a breath of fresh air, with a spare, white interior and large plate glass windows that flood the space with light. You can book a table or simply drop in and bag one of the countertop stools if you fancy a quick plate of something delicious – perhaps a fennel salami croquette or a scallop served on the shell in a pool of miso and caper butter, with its crispy deep-fried roe balanced on the side” | Cor