The 10 restaurants and bars to have opened in Bristol this year

We’re never really disappointed by the food and drink options that Bristol offers, and this year has certainly not disappointed with the new restaurants and bars that have opened throughout the course of the year.

There’s been a real variety of newbies opening their doors from exciting new adventure bar launches to quiet little neighborhood style hangs. Whatever food or drink it is that you like, chances are one of the new openings of this year will be right up your street. So, let’s take a look at what’s been happening in the food and drink scene.

RESTAURANTS

Magari

Aiming to bring something different to Bristol and to shine a real spotlight on the authentic way the Italians do aperitivo and socialising over food, Magari opened up on Wapping Wharf earlier this year. Calling themselves authentically Italian but sustainably British, it’s all about celebrating local produce here but presenting it in a truly Italian manner. The small independent eatery makes pasta fresh on site every day, which you can eat in-house or you can pop by and pick up from the deli counter to cook at home. Accompany it with a perfect Italian spritz and you’ve got yourselves a pretty lovely situation!

Tomo No Ramen

Tomo No Ramen opened up on Old Market in January of this year, and to quite the high acclaim, too. Focusing on doing ramen the Bristol way, the restaurant is small but perfectly serves up  a small menu of the Japanese noodle dish. The restaurant has a changing menu so you never quite know what type of ramen you’re going to get. ​​They are constantly creating new dishes with seasonal and local ingredients taking inspiration from the classics that have influenced the world.

Hoba Kebab

A restaurant that started life as a pop-up, Hoba Kebab opened up a permanent and larger restaurant on Bristol harbourside in March. It all started whilst visiting Berlin, when founders Hope and Annie were awestruck at the incredible kebab houses, with their lunchtime queues stretching down the street. They became obsessed with trying to find one in the UK, but it became clear they were going to have to recreate their own. Everything is made in house, too. All of their sauces, pickles, vegan chick’n, koftes and marinades are made in house, and they only use local free range meat and ethically source our produce, which all bursts out of their bespoke HOBA bread.

Cotto

Cotto opened its doors in April of this year, brought to Bristol by the Bianchis team. The little cantina is next door to sibling restaurant Pasta Ripiena, in Bristol city centre, and Cotto simply means cooked, baked or done in Italian. The restaurant operates a small daily changing menu that is comprised of a list of dishes that are led by what’s in season, inspired by classic Italian cooking and created in a kitchen that’s dedicated to their ethos that good food and wine doesn’t have to be complicated.

Harbour Hub

Finding themselves in a prime location on the harbourside, in the site of the old Spoke & Striger restaurant, Harbour Hub opened up in June to much appraise for their pina colada slushies. The new establishment is brought to us by the brains behind Dhamaka on Corn Street and Rocksalt on Cotham Hill. Serving coffee and croissants in the morning, and a bar that serves food through the afternoon into the evening, Harbour Hub focuses on simple dishes such as caesar salad and fish and chips.

The Cow and Sow

Housed where Graze used to be, just next to Queen’s Square, The Cow and Sow arrived on our doorsteps in January, much to the delight of the meat eaters across the city. The restaurant describes itself as a contemporary chophouse, focussing on prime cuts and small plates. The team of talented chefs have created innovative menus utilising the very best local prime cuts and fresh produce from across the south west, and they want the restaurant to be used just as much for cocktails and brunch, as they do for their evening meals.

Kitchen + Bar

Bristol Old Vic launched a brand new food and drink venue last month in July, which is open all day and serves up locally-sourced deli-style food, coffee, cocktails and drinks. You can eat and drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day apart from Sunday and the kitchen is headed up by local chef Luke Spencer-Harrop, who is known for his work at the Alma Tavern, Bank Tavern and Inn on the Green.

BARS

Blame Gloria

Bristol was chosen as the first city outside of London to play host to another bar from the founders of Blame Gloria, who operate two successful cocktail bars in the capital city. The fun bar opened this month in the former Timbuk2 nightclub site on Small Street and offers up late-night cocktails in glamorous and opulent surroundings. The intimate venue offers low arched ceilings and gives a sense of intimacy despite the new bar allowing a capacity of up to 400 guests and staying open until 3 am.

Four Quarters

Four Quarters opened early in 2022 on Park Street and offers a new new arcade gaming bar to Bristol which hosts over 20 original arcade machines and retro console booths, and has a basement bar to complement our main floor. The UK’s original arcade bar, they have an extensive beer and cocktail menu which features collaborations with local breweries such as Lost and Grounded and Bristol Beer Factory, as well as classics that will excite a range of beer drinkers. Alongside their permanent drinks, they also rotate many beers weekly – so you can try something new every time!

Wiper and True New Taproom

The new Wiper and True taproom in the city centre is not one to miss experiencing. The award-winning brewery opened the new site in July which sees the company doubling its brewing capacity at the huge new venue. The cool new space occupies five units on an industrial site and is full to the brim of foliage and cool interiors, as well as 22 different brews. The St Philips taproom is also serving up food from popular St Nick’s Market eatery, Eatchu.