Here’s a situation for you: you’re in Bristol for a couple of days. You’re a proper foodie, so you’re keen to visit as many of the city’s top-notch eateries as you possibly can. You don’t mind what the cuisine is as long as it’s made with love and good quality ingredients. Great! But how do you then choose where you’re going to eat? Worry not, we have you covered with this short, but extremely sweet, list of must visit restaurants.

Located on the ever-fashionable Whiteladies Road, The Spiny Lobster is a restaurant and monger of fresh seafood. Visit any day of the week for a delicious surprise, as their menu is ever changing to accommodate whatever the catch of the day may be. Fabulous, but why must you visit this establishment? Well, the talented chefs specialise in cooking over an open fire, giving their food a wonderfully deep and unique flavour. If you’re able to book in advance, you can also try one of their Jazz and Shellfish nights. Held on the last Wednesday of every month, these popular occasions are the perfect combination of live music, lobster, oysters and crisp white wine.

Italian cuisine. We love it. It’s simple, comforting and undeniably tasty, but not necessarily easy to get right. Luckily, we’ve found a place up in lovely Clifton that knows how it’s done. Serving up large portions of wholesome Italian food all made with good quality, seasonal ingredients, Rosemarino’s weekly changing, no fuss menus won’t be beaten. Whether it’s brunch, lunch, antipasti, pasta or seafood you’re after, these guys won’t disappoint.

On Lower Guinea Street, in the centre of Bristol, can be found a family-run gem of a restaurant called Paco. These guys specialise in traditional tapas, but with their Michelin starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’s unique spin. A wood-burning fire and sherry available straight from the barrel by the glass, bottle, or mixed into delicious cocktails work together to create a warm, rustic vibe that will transport you from Bristol straight to Andalusia. Their menu may be small, but it is varied and always accompanied by daily changing specials to be enjoyed in Paco’s sociable interior layout.

Located in the city centre, Sky Kong Kong is a real treat for those of us in the know. Tucked away on the seemingly unremarkable Haymarket Walk, this is a must-visit for flavour-filled Korean dishes. For these guys, taste is everything, so you’ll not find any passing trends or gimmicks here, only delicate, beautifully presented bentos and dinners made using locally sourced, seasonal and organic ingredients. Sky Kong Kong’s interior style is as pure and clean as the food, their favoured aesthetic being one of understated wooden simplicity for a laid-back vibe.

Should your travels take you to the south-west of Bristol and towards the Mendip Hills, or even if they don’t, The Ethicurean is definitely worth a visit. Set in beautiful countryside surroundings with a historic Victorian walled kitchen garden, this unique restaurant offers culinary experiences rather than meals. Patrons will often come for the wonderful food, but stay for the epic views and delightful staff. Booking is always essential, with weekend lunches being a firm favourite amongst locals and tourists alike, although any meal here is always a fresh, laid back and utterly joyous occasion.

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