The best fine dining restaurants in Bristol

Located in the Cotham/Kingsdown area, Bulrush started life as a supper club in London but has grown into a fine dining marvel loved by many. Chef/Proprietor George Livesy has trained with top chefs including the Roux brothers, so it’s clear he knows his stuff, serving up modern British cuisine at its very best. Diners can expect dishes such as Aylesbury duck breast and baby beetroot with smoked beetroot puree.

If you’re looking for relaxed fine dining in Bristol, look no further than Adelina Yard. Tucked away near the waterfront, this place specialises in modern European food where almost everything is created under the Adelina Yard roof. From the freshly baked breads to the cured meats, you know that you’ll be getting something that has been prepared to perfection. Chefs Jamie Randall and Olivia Barry have worked in their fair share of fine dining establishments and together they create beautiful dishes with a real focus on carefully sourced local ingredients.

The next stop on our tour of fine dining in Bristol is the impeccable Aqua. Founded in the city in 1998, Aqua is an independent local Italian restaurant focusing on ‘healthy, tasty and beautifully presented Italian cuisine’, with produce sourced locally. The menus are diverse and diners can choose anything from oysters to burgers, and we can’t forget to mention the amazing offers this place has going.

Set in a darkly lit basement, in one of the oldest parts of Bristol, The Ox is a local favourite that serves a foodie favourite: steak. A proper vintage-style venue, it’s dim and cosy, and the perfect place to indulge in some really tasty food. As the name suggests, meat takes precedence here, with the obligatory steaks sitting alongside ox-aged beef cottage pie, and starters of bacon and pig’s trotters on sourdough toast. And what fantastic meat it is! Cooked on a Josper grill to seal in the flavour, each steak has been dry-aged for 35 days to provide you with the highest-quality of eats. If you’re looking for some fancy dining in Bristol, we definitely recommend The Ox.

This tiny, 20 cover restaurant is located in Bristol’s famous food hub – Wapping Wharf. It aims to cook tasty food with skill and care using the best local produce it can find. The tasting menu is seven courses and is served alongside a unique, specially designed drinks list to compliment your meal. The menu changes throughout the year depending on the seasons and the best produce available. There are separate meat and vegetarian menus, and customers are welcome to mix between the two. Current dishes on the menu include hand-dived scallops served with wasabi and sour cream, Farmer Tom’s shiitakes served with celeriac, hazelnut and cured egg, as well as Somerset venison served with smoked beetroot and black garlic. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly with amazing and attentive staff. Due to the size of the restaurant we definitely recommend booking to make sure you can get a seat.

Ron Faulkner is the owner-chef of Ronnie’s and has an exceptional food pedigree. His distinguished career has seen him work in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the UK and Europe, for celebrated chefs such as Anton Mosimann and Ed Baines. Schooled in classic French techniques, Ron’s modern European cooking style is underpinned with a passion for using the very best seasonal ingredients. There’s a lunch tasting menu offering five courses with the option of wine. From wild boar, fig and walnut terrine, to grey cod, baby leek, gnocchi and spinach volute, this is an exceptional place for a more upmarket lunchtime.

The small and independently owned Wilsons in Redlands is the proud owner of a Michelin Green Star. The Michelin experts said: “Wilsons is one of those appealing neighbourhood places that works in pure harmony, with everyone from the chefs to the service team sharing the same ethos. Sustainability leads the way, with generously proportioned, highly seasonal cooking showcasing ingredients from their smallholding.” Here you’ll find nothing but exceptional ingredients gathered, grown and hunted by the staff themselves.

Bristol is one of the leading cities in the country for Bib Gourmands, a distinction highlighting establishments offering great quality and great value cooking. The Blaise Inn pub is one of those awarded a Bib Gourmand. The pub in Henbury was taken over by new owners in 2021, which has brought the kitchen into the 21st century. The Michelin Guide has praised the inn’s “good value, traditional British dishes cooked with a skilful, modern approach”.

Root is a small independent restaurant, with a terrace overlooking Bristol’s harbouside, that’s been recognised by the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand. This small plates restaurant focuses mostly on vegetables, championing seasonality and using local suppliers where possible. The team has recently opened a site under the same name in Wells, which has also been awarded a Bib Gourmand.

Littlefrench is a bistro with a cosy, rustic feel where you can taste some of the best French food you’ve had in your life. This includes starters such as fillet steak tartare with bone marrow toast and a selection of delicious mains such as wood-grilled veal chop, hispi, sauce robert, garlic and rosemary fried potatoes. If you’re visiting with your friends or family, you can choose one of the sharing dishes and pair it all with a glass of affordable wine. The interior combines French influences with bohemian Bristol, so if you’re looking for somewhere with a unique atmosphere, make sure you give littlefrench a go.