Bristol’s most delectable European restaurants

This restaurant and bar is located in Clifton and serves up gorgeous Mediterranean-style food. The menu is full of small plates including dishes such as burnt aubergine moutabal with mint & sumac, or why not try the slow cooked Romana courgette with mint, seasoned yogurt & pine nuts?

All of the food is light, fresh and sourced locally, keeping it sustainable too. The Mediterranean menu combined with the fact the restaurant overlooks the beautiful Roman-style baths below, creates a European summer atmosphere and on a sunny day you could really believe you are dining abroad. Why not buy a swim pass while you’re there and enjoy a leisurely swim before or after your meal?

You can find Bar 44 in an old bank on Regent Street. The building has been lovingly refurbished, creating a fun and sophisticated dining experience. You can really see the attention to detail that has gone into designing each and every aspect of the restaurant, with the walls featuring art from Andi Rivas, a Spanish artist, helping to create the perfect atmosphere to enjoy your food.

The menus are designed with a focus on showcasing outstanding produce from Spain whilst ensuring equal attention to both food and drink menus. The tapas menu has a range of Spanish classics such as ensalada de crudos, Spanish tortilla and ham croquetas. The 17 page drinks menu features a huge range of spirits, cocktails wines and beers. You can get traditional Spanish sangria too (our top pick!). We have to recommend Bar 44 for a traditional Spanish dining experience, where attention to detail in the service, as well as the food, really shines through.

You can find this French bistro on Cheltenham Road; it really is a sanctuary among the hustle and bustle of busy Bristol. Its classy and calming atmosphere is the perfect place to relax after work, and its menu aims to bring a taste of Parisian culture to Bristol. Enjoy a beer or a glass of wine paired with some delicious traditional French fare.

The menu has a mix of small plates, sharing boards, and main dishes featuring loads of French classics like salad gourmande, duck confit, and smoked salmon tartare. The owners of this restaurant are best friends and it’s reflected in the warm and inviting atmosphere they have created inside, reflecting all the best parts of Paris right here in Bristol.

Bristol has big competition between its many Italian restaurants, but Pasta Ripiena is one that stands out from the crowd. With perfectly crafted stuffed pasta alongside wine pairings, this restaurant elevates hospitality into an art form that’s intimate, playful and dynamic. We suggest starting with a selection of antipasti from the starters section of the menu, which includes mussels in cider with shallots, garlic and cream, or chicken thigh with pesto alla siciliana and burnt lemon.

For mains, it has refined a small selection of stuffed pasta options, all of which have been carefully selected with the flavours complementing each other perfectly. For example, the triangoli of spinach & mascarpone with ‘nduja and prosciutto or the tortellini of ricotta & mint with lamb ragu, broad beans and chimichurri. Overall Pasta Ripiena demonstrates how unpretentious and honest food served in a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere can create a meal to remember.

This beautiful restaurant is tucked away in Clifton village and focuses on creating a perfect space for any time of day. If you’re looking for a relaxing brunch or a more sophisticated dinner, Coppa Club has it covered. Huge windows flood the restaurant with light, and plants and bookcases make you feel right at home. The lounge, with comfy sofas and coffee tables are the perfect setting for a cosy catch up or a quick coffee stop.

The menu is inspired by a lot of different European cuisines with pizzas, antipasti, hummus platters, and plenty of fish, so there’s a wide variety of dishes on offer. If the weather is nice, the outside terrace area is a beautiful and relaxing place to sit for a lovely alfresco dining experience.