Bristol’s best restaurants for a graduation dinner

Under the Stars is a floating Mediterranean tapas bar, moored on Bristol’s harbour. Its central location makes it the perfect choice for an after-graduation meal, but not only that, it also has gorgeous views over Bristol’s iconic harbourside. Inside, the dark wood and mustard yellow décor creates a warm and cosy atmosphere, and the top deck offers all year round al fresco dining. The menu is inspired by the idea of travel and dishes have been chosen from places that the ships leaving Bristol harbour would have visited. Mainly inspired by the Mediterranean, the menu features dishes like spiced lamb kofta, spider crab and saffron croquettes, and chicory and couscous salad. No matter what your party size, the tapas-style dining allows everyone to eat as much or as little as they’d like as well as trying a big range of dishes, which can make it easier to make sure everyone is happy. There’s definitely a reason this restaurant is still open after 13 years and we really recommend trying it out.

If you’re looking for a meal followed by some drinks, then Bambalan is the perfect place for a graduation celebration. The terrace overlooks Bristol’s rooftops and is a beautiful spot to watch the sun set with a drink in hand. The food is Mediterranean inspired, with a menu full of small plates, grilled meats, salads, gyros and wood-fired pizzas. The drinks menu is extensive with lots of cocktails and beers from local suppliers. It also holds music events so after dinner you can dance until the sun goes down. Overall, this bright and lively restaurant is the perfect option for a meal followed by some drinks with your friends and family.

Adelina Yard is a great option if you’re looking for a more sophisticated meal. It’s an imaginative restaurant that serves locally sourced fine dining, but in a relaxed and friendly environment. It has an outstanding tasting menu inspired by modern European food, including dishes like aged raw beef served with burrata and smoked ox heart, and koji cured red mullet with wild rose and crème fresh. There are also pescatarian and vegetarian tasting menus. Olivia and Jamie who run the kitchen have both worked in Michelin star restaurants before and it really shows in the food they are creating. The tasting menu changes frequently and also comes with an option of a wine flight if you want to get the full tasting experience. So, if you can afford to splash out then definitely try Adelina Yard for a graduation meal to remember.

Muse is a great option if you’re looking for something a bit different. This is the only French and Asian fusion restaurant in Bristol, and the blend of rich French food with the vibrancy of Asian flavours ensures it’s always going to be a meal to remember. The menu was created by Franck Grillet and Chef Pramod, and together they have created a cuisine fusion with heavy French and Indian influences. Options on the menu include Malabar prawn curry, Tandoori cauliflower steak, and jackfruit and sweet potato served in a Kerala sauce. The restaurant aims for every guest to leave with their expectations exceeded and this is ensured through the attention to detail in the ingredients of the dishes, décor in the restaurant, the knowledge of the staff, and even the artwork on the menu. All round, this restaurant is the perfect blend of crowd-pleasing food and sophisticated atmosphere making it a great choice for a graduation meal.

For somewhere more casual, check out Quay Street Diner. This independent American-style diner is inspired by the sunny shores of California and with bright décor and fresh food, it certainly feels like you could be abroad. It serves casual food in a relaxed atmosphere, and it offers loads of diner classics. The burgers are all made with 28-day aged Devon beef, and are juicy and tasty. As an independent business themselves, these guys support the use of local suppliers where possible. The chicken and waffles is another customer favourite, and is served with bacon, pickles and maple syrup. This delicious fuss-free food is definitely a good choice if you want to keep things simple, but don’t want to compromise on taste and service.