Bristol’s best toasties

For Mice and Men are street food toastie specialists. A Brooklyn and Bristol duo, the pair behind the business are dedicated to serving some of the finest grilled toasties in the city. Made with thick, homemade sourdough, and a variety of fillings, these sandwiches aren’t for the faint hearted: portion sizes are huge! We don’t doubt that you’ll have any trouble getting through one of them, however; particularly if you decide to build your own! Begin by picking a cheese (cheddar, smoked, camembert or stilton), add a toppling (red onion, fried egg, chicken, bacon, olives), and finally select a dipping sauce (aioli, spicy mayo or buffalo), and don’t look back! The team’s super friendly and the toasties are genuinely out-of-this-world good. Not one to be missed.

Chance & Counters is the brainchild of three friends: Luke, Steve and Richard. The concept? A cafe where you can play board games (there’s over 600 on offer!) while enjoying craft beer, speciality coffee, and fresh simple food. The venue is purpose-built for board gamers of all ages and abilities to enjoy, from causal players to seasoned strategists. But, it gets better. Beside games, what Chance & Counters does really well are toasties. The choices are extensive, and the flavour combos are super creative. From the Elvis (a toastie jam-packed, if you pardon the pun, with smokey bacon, chipotle peanut butter and cinnamon banana jam), to the BBQ pulled pork toastie, served with house slaw, there’s plenty on offer. There are also plenty of vegan and veggie options too – like the pulled jackfruit toastie, or the three cheese toastie, complete with cheddar, mozzarella, Gruyère, and caramelised onions. Toasties and board games? Yes please!

Grate is a celebration of Somerset’s artisan cheeses. It’s on a mission to make the humble cheese toastie as fine as it can be: think incredible handmade cheese oozing from golden, crispy, organic sourdough. Wow! The mantra here is ‘local, ethical, seasonal’, and those are the rules that the team lives by. You can find the delicious toasties at street food markets, festivals and a range of other gigs all over Bristol. For the most sophisticated toastie in town, look no further.

Combining the best of British pub hospitality with “individuality, character and quirky charm”, The Gloucester Old Spot is an independently owned pub, just minutes away from Bristol’s pretty Gloucester Road. The ambience is laid-back, and the menu, though full of comforting classics, is refined. There’s a lovely beer garden to be enjoyed during the warmer months, and cosy booths for when the weather turns. Cold or hot, you’ll want to sample a taste of one of the famous handcrafted toasties. There are only three to choose from, but you won’t be disappointed with any one of them. Purists will enjoy the simple ham and cheese option, elevated with roast gammon, sharp cheddar and a red onion marmalade. For those more on the adventurous side, there’s a kimchi and cheese number, or even a Bombay potato and cheese toastie, complete with new potatoes, chilli, coconut, peppers and accompanied by fries. Triple carbs? Count us in.

If you’re bored of your usual run-of-the-mill toasties, then look no further. Enter Mud Dock Cyclework’s ‘Subs’: super-sized toasties made with baguette, melted local cheddar or vegan cheese, and served with home-cut chips and salad. Arrive hungry — portion sizes are generous and the fillings are hearty. From bacon and fried egg, to broad bean falafel and hummus filled-toasties, there’s something to tickle all taste buds. If you’re really in the mood to indulge, polish off your mega-toastie with a slice of homemade cheesecake and thank us later!