Bars

Bristol

ALIBI
96 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2QX
Tel: 0117 973 7225
Come the sunshine, they’ll be opening the front windows here to let those rays in. Smart cocktails/spirit bar and eatery with terrific wine selection attracting local residents, professionals and those students who don’t mind paying for quality. Decor boasts a good mix of seating and plasma screens. On the food front, expect to find bangers & mash, wild game pie, sarnies, nachos, fish pie and calamari. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-7pm Food served Daily, all day

ALL BAR ONE
47 Corn St, BS1 1HT
Tel: 0117 930 4762, www.allbarone.co.uk
British beef and New Zealand lamb arrive daily to be handmade into what they reckon are Bristol’s best burgers. There’s a mix of main courses and tapas options, and the drink choices are equally all-encompassing: a dozen continental beers, 40 wines (£7.95-£40 per bottle, all available by the glass). Regular wine-tasting evenings bring wine ambassadors to inform and entertain tables of 12 enjoying blind tastings. Part of a chain, but without the feel, this roomy, uncluttered bar’s enduring Corn Street presence (and the arrival of Sunday opening) confirms they’re getting things right when it comes to eating, drinking and atmosphere. Wooden flooring and long, utilitarian tables mix with comfier chairs to create a venue where a quiet daytime chat’s as eminently feasible as a drink on a buzzing Saturday night. Veggies get excellent options. Over-21s only. Open Mon-Thur 11.30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-12midnight, Sun 11.30am-8pm Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 11.30am-7pm

ANTIX
44 Park St, BS1 5JG
Tel: 0117 925 1139 / 07973 304227, web: www.barantix.com, www.attixloungebar.com
A determination by owner Laz Lazarides to create somewhere everyone can enjoy when it comes to eating, drinking and dancing is realised stylishly at Antix. This is one of only a few venues to be accredited ‘safe and secure’ for customers and staff by Bristol council and our local bobbies. Excellent service and food to match in a venue covering all bases admirably. Mains offer Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish and Greek plus fish dishes. Cocktail selection, wide draught lager range including Hoegaarden and Leffe, plus bottles and fine wines. Occasional Greek nights bring entertainment; renovated ATTIX champagne bar upstairs. Open Sun-Thur 11am-4am, Fri-Sat 11am-6am Food served Mon-Sun

ARNOLFINI CAFE-BAR
16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA
Tel: 0117 917 2300, web: www.arnolfini.org.uk
Menus change regularly in line with seasonality and local availability at the cafe-bar in this contemporary gallery/cinema/performance venue. Good selection of light bites, and, as we go to press, a credit-crunch lunch deal of two courses for a tenner. Open Mon-Sun 10am-11pm (Sun 10.30pm)

BANCO LOUNGE
107 Wells Rd, Knowle, BS4 2BS
Tel: 0117 908 6010, web: www.thelounges.co.uk
The Lounge empire is spreading along the M4 to Reading and Swindon. Banco Lounge remains the youngest of the Bristol family - formerly a bank, the original vault and safe door remain in place (the latter protects beer stored within the former). This Lounge follows its siblings in being a casual neighbourhood cafe-bar, with shabby chic, reclaimed furniture and monochrome photographs. Meat, fish and veggie options are always present and correct, alongside brekkies, burgers, panini and weekly changing specials. Menu changes seasonally but retains a distinct style – the likes of stewed squid, or lamb kofta wrap with mint & yogurt dressing. The chocolate brownie is irresistible. Roasts served 12noon-4pm Sundays, quiz in the evening. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food served Daily 9am-10pm

BAR CELONA
Regent St, Kingswood, BS15 8LJ
Tel: 0117 961 9311, web: www.bar-celona-bristol.co.uk
This slice of Spain in east Bristol continues to go from strength to strength. ‘X Factor’ wannabes should head here on Thur for karaoke, plus salsa dancing and lessons every Wed at a venue that takes its continental credentials seriously. A stylish bar offering excellent food and drink, a great atmosphere and seriously warm service. A staggering array of dishes from Italy, Spain, Greece and the Mediterranean - eat in the roof garden when it’s sunny. Flavours are full, but with a lightness that makes the food perfect nibbling fodder to accompany drinks, friends and conversation. Live to Date singles nights due to arrive. Open Mon-Wed 12noon-12midnight, Thur 12noon-1am, Fri-Sat 12noon-2am Food served Bar: Mon-Sat 12noon-6pm

BAR HUMBUG
89 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2NT
Tel: 0117 904 0061, web: www.barhumbug.co.uk
Strip stalwart with its purple, cream, gold and brown colour-scheme combining with a cool vibe to attract a stylish crowd. The menu is set to change as we go to press, but with a new Moroccan chef shortly to arrive, it’s safe to assume there will be some North African influences evident in the cuisine spanning lunches to tapas offerings. Terrace out front has space for 20 covers, and makes a lovely dining spot when the sun’s shining. Plasma screens show sports and DJs up the party vibe. Open Daily 12noon-11.30pm Food served Daily 12noon-9pm

BAR SALT
4-6 North St, Bedminster, BS3 1HT
Tel: 0117 953 1446
Relaxed and laidback when you’re after lounging on the sofas, full of big-match atmosphere when there’s sport to be cheered, and lively when DJs spin on Fri and Sat. Quiz buffs get their fix on Mon, and there’s pool throughout the week. A well thought-out menu covers everything from lasagne, gammon, sausage & mash, lamb shank and sweet & sour chicken to curries, nachos, weekend roasts and their own Jenka Angus burger. Open Sun-Thur 12noon-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-2am Food served Daily 12noon-8pm

BEESES BAR & TEA GARDENS
Wyndham Crescent, BS4 4SX
Tel: 0117 977 7412, web: www.beeses.co.uk, www.myspace.com/beeses
Impossibly beautiful spot with gorgeous alfresco dining. Lindy Leahy and hubby Phil arrived in August 2006, and continue to enhance a reputation for ‘simple things done well’ at an establishment that’s been trading since 1846. Exemplary food offerings and family entertainment (see Beeses listing in Cafes) accompany a full events, festival and music calendar at this riverside venue. Website lists full details - highlights include twice-monthly open mics, classic rock from Straight Shooter and chilled riverside tunes from the Raggle Taggle Band, plus treats like Butcombe Day, adult pirate cabarets and comedy nights. Professor Beese struts his stuff at twice-monthly quizzes. What promises to be the best season yet will be wrapped up with a fourth annual beer and cider festival, with the Bristol Ferry Boat Co running trips to and from. Some great live music is already lined up, including a zydeco band and The Monumentals, featuring ex-Dr Feelgood members. Open Till 27 Sept: Thur 4-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Mon 27 July-end of school hols: additional opening Wed from 4pm. Also open bank hol Mons. Available for private booking at other times Food served Thur 4-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm (breakfast 10–11.30am)

BISTRO LA BARRIQUE
225 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NR
Tel: 0117 944 5500, web: www.bistrolabarrique.co.uk
Charming neighbourhood French restaurant and wine bar. Most wines come from small, independent producers, with wines supplied by Great Western Wine of Bath. Verre-a-vin machine vacuum-seals opened bottles to prevent oxidation, so you can properly enjoy wine by the glass. Menu largely comprises a wide range of French-style tapas (duck confit with creamed julienne of vegetables and orange sauce, mussel & saffron chowder, seafood pancake) plus daily specials. See also Restaurants, French. Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm & 6-10pm, Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-2.30pm

BOCABAR
Paintworks, Bath Rd, BS4 4EH
Tel: 0117 972 8838, web: www.bocabar.co.uk
Kitchen manager Janie Syrett keeps on coming up with the goods, across weekday breakfast snacks (full breakfasts available weekends) and sandwiches a cut above, daytime tapas and hot bruschetta followed by benchmark-defining pizzas (the frutas dos mar has tiger prawns the size of tigers). Quality free live music every Sat, Brazil Night Thur (live bossanova and authentic cuisine), DJs Fri, and no door tax. Sun sees over 100 people get a seriously impressive roast. Outdoor areas are ace for the sunshine. Open Mon-Thur 5-11pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-12midnight Food served Tapas/bruschetta: Mon-Thur 12noon-6pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm. Pizza: Mon-Thur 5-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 1-11pm, Sun 1-10pm. Breakfast: Sat 10am-2pm, Sun 10am-12noon. Sun roast: 12.30-4pm

BORDEAUX QUAY BAR
V-Shed, Canons Way, BS1 5UH
Tel: 0117 943 1200, web: www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk
Modern, airy bar serving extensive and impressive beer and wine range (quality local ales, cider, speciality beers, lagers, classic cocktails) plus nibbles within the environmentally responsible and multi-faceted Bordeaux Quay operation. See also Cafes. Open Bar: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-5pm

BROWNS
38 Queens Rd, Clifton, BS8 1RE
Tel: 0117 930 4777, web: www.browns-restaurants.com
Extensive selection of drinks, from wine and chilled continental beers to a snazzy cocktail list. Food – classic dishes with contemporary touches – is served all day in surroundings that ooze style. See Restaurants, English. Open Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm. Bar open till 12midnight Thur-Sat

NEW
BSB BRASSERIE & LATE-NIGHT VENUE
CORN STREET: 41 Corn St, BS1 1HT
Tel: 0117 911 4950, web: www.bsbbars.co.uk
Business crowd by day and a dressed-up crowd by night, when DJs take the party into the small hours. Food details are being finalised as we go to press; core menu is likely to be similar to the Waterside BSB (see below). Extensive cocktails and extensive beer selection. Open Mon-Thur 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat 8am-3am, Sun 10am-1am

NEW
WHITELADIES: 93-95 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2NT
Tel: 0117 911 4950, web: www.bsbbars.co.uk
The conversion of the former Henry J Bean’s. As with its two siblings, food details were being finalised as we went to press, but likely to be similar to the Waterside BSB (see below). Open Daily 11am-12midnight

THE WATERSIDE: U-Shed, Canons Rd, BS1 5UH
Tel: 07595 200555, web: www.bsbbars.co.uk
Sleek and stylish yet accessible bar where you’re equally at home getting coffee, breakfast or a homecooked muffin before the working day, doing lunch halfway through, dropping in on a Sat afternoon to watch the footy results come in, or coming back later for some uplifting tunes. Food offerings are being finalised as we go to press, but expect all-day full English breakfasts, ham, egg & chips, burgers, sausages, risotto, steak and linguini. Setanta, Sky Sports and six plasma screens. Open Sun-Thur 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat 8am-3am Food served Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm

BYZANTIUM
2 Portwall Lane, BS1 6NB
Tel: 0800 034 0934, www.byzantium.co.uk
Super-stylish restaurant with bar licence for its casbah reception, which makes for a unique drinking/dining experience. Weekend entertainments are a strong suit: expect anything from belly dancers to flamenco guitarists, and even the odd humble DJ night. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Tue-Sat 6pm-late

CAFE ROUGE
85 Park St, BS1 5PJ Tel: 0117 929 2571
Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD Tel: 0117 954 4808, web: www.caferouge.co.uk
Friendly, authentic French cafe-bar/brasserie/restaurant serving high-quality food in convivial surroundings. See Restaurants, French.

NEW
CHIMP HOUSE
232 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8NZ
Tel: 0117 944 3092, web: www.thechimphouse.co.uk
Licensee Kyle Morgan-Dixon’s vision was to create a fun place where parents can bring their cheeky monkeys for daytime dining amid contemporary, rustic decor, with a massive 90ftx30ft garden out back. Parents might want to find a babysitter and return for the loungey evening ambience. There’s a Madrid mood, with big flavours, generous portions, over 30 wines, extensive beer options and free-pour spirits to bring back fond holiday memories. Local suppliers include Pawson’s Greengrocer’s and butcher DG Meats. Open Mon-Fri 6pm-12midnight, Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun TBC. Daytime opening (till at least Sept) due soon Food served Mon-Fri 6-9pm, Sat 12noon-3pm & 6-9pm, bar snacks & tapas at other times. Kitchen hours due to increase with opening hours

CITY CAFE
City Inn, Temple Way, BS1 6BF
Tel: 0117 910 2700, web: www.citycafe.co.uk
See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean.

CLIFTON WINE BAR
4 Richmond Terrace, Clifton, BS8 1AB
Tel: 0117 973 2069
A crowd of 25-35-year-old professionals enjoying the lounge/bar atmosphere within this much-loved Clifton institution, which now benefits from heaters and shelters in the garden out back. Food remains pleasingly unpretentious, with Pieminister pies, burgers, scampi & chips, nachos and sharing plates fuelling a lively vibe. Screens show Setanta and Sky Sports. Quiz starts 8.30pm Sun. Food served Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 6-8.30pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-7pm

COSIES
34 Portland Square, BS2 8RG
Tel: 0117 942 4110, web: www.cosies.co.uk
Your drinking-in-Bristol experience is incomplete if you haven’t spent a night at Cosies. DJs and dancers arrive after dark; visit during the day and you’ll find a professional crowd enjoying some top-notch dining conjured up by newly arrived and highly experienced chef Norman Andrews. Expect to find rustic flavouring across offerings like mozzarella salad, pork medallions, steak & ale pie, feta & spinach filo parcel, Cumberland sausages, mussels, panini and tasty soups of the day - affordable fine dining using locally sourced ingredients. Specials change weekly, company buffets can be arranged, and there’s a traditional roast on Sun. Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-2pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

DECO LOUNGE
50 Cotham Hill, BS6 6JX
Tel: 0117 373 2688, web: www.thelounges.co.uk
The folks at Deco Lounge are due to replace their wooden doors with glass to brighten up what’s already a shining star of Bristol’s dining scene. If you’ve not dropped in yet, you’re recommended to give Deco substantially more than a dekko. It’s hard to remember a time when the six Lounges weren’t serving up their trademark easygoing yet stylish grub in easygoing yet stylish surroundings. Five specials change every two weeks - expect dishes like pea & mint risotto, panfried chicken breast, panfried pork loin and classic fish stew beside ciabattas, cakes, coffees and more. Food served Daily 9am-10pm

EL PUERTO
57 Prince St, BS1 4QH
Tel: 0117 925 6014, web: www.el-puerto.co.uk
Authenticity is all at El Puerto, where 30 Spanish wines accompany some of the tastiest dining this side of Madrid, with live music Wed, and live music and flamenco dancing on Sun. The real beauty of this place is its ability to do the simple things well. Undoubted highlights on the menu include some hearty red wine-soaked chorizo infierno, and a generous helping of mussels. Mains include fillet steak, sea bass, skewered chicken and paella. The upstairs room, with a view across the river, can cater for parties of up to 40. See also Restaurants, Spanish & Portuguese. Open Daily 11am-11pm Food served Mon-Fri 11am-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm

GOLDBRICK HOUSE
69 Park St, BS1 5PD
Tel: 0117 945 1950, web: www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk
With the AA having re-awarded this multi-dimensional venue its two rosettes for 2008/9, it’s clear that Goldbrick House was never going to be a flash in the pan - they set the gold standard when it comes to bar food. This all-purpose multi-storey eating and drinking den has a cafe-bar serving a breakfast and brunchy menu all day and evening, a first-floor champagne and cocktail bar with a warren of adjacent rooms, and the restaurant proper. Food at the cafe-bar changes with the seasons - diners were enjoying winter warmers of lasagne, fish & chips, venison casserole, and chicken, leek & bacon pie as we went to press, with spring’s flavours shortly to arrive. A regular menu offers Observer-praised brunch, comfort food, open sandwiches, salads and light bites. Nippers get their own choices, and the puddings delight young and old alike. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open/Food served Mon-Sat 9am-11pm

GRAIN BARGE
Hotwell Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4RU
Tel: 0117 929 9347, web: www.bristolbeerfactory.co.uk
Venue awarded Grain Barge a golden Top Banana for Best Bristol Bar in 2007. You want a butty? How about a steak sandwich with roast red onion and cheddar in homemade three-seed bread? Expect to find dishes like fillet steak (cooked differently daily), spiced corn-fed chicken breast with spinach and red pepper, or caramelised cherry tomatoes with goat’s cheese tartin. Dishes change daily to incorporate fresh produce that’s locally sourced and Fairtrade where possible. Tue is tapas evening, Wed is homemade pie and pint night (beer comes from the Bristol Beer Factory), Fri brings live music, and Sun brings the roast. Funky happenings include monthly art exhibitions, mural paintings, networking nights, occasional ‘secret party’ Thur happenings, Grapeshot nights in conjunction with Start the Bus’s Special Wednesday Crew, Tonecology nights, film showings and another big event to run alongside Harbourside Festival (31 July-2 Aug), with live music, food and beer. Food served Tue-Fri 12noon-3pm, Tue-Wed 6-9pm, Thur-Fri 6-10pm, Sat 12noon-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

HA! HA! BAR & CANTEEN
Berkeley Square, Triangle, BS8 1HP
Tel: 0117 927 7333, web: www.hahaonline.co.uk
Set to become Ha! Ha! Bar & Grill, an emphasis giving due credit to the award-winning steaks savoured here – and these aren’t just any old steaks. A warm, earth-toned dining area is the setting for the likes of Moroccan spiced lamb steak, sausage & mash and homemade fishcakes, lining up alongside low-calorie options and an extensive sharing section including nachos and tapas. The suntrap courtyard is set to benefit from the general refurb - there’ll be no discontent this summer. Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur-Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 10am-10.30pm Food served Daily from 10am till an hour before closing

HALO
141 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8BA
Tel: 0117 944 2504, web: www.halobristol.co.uk
This venue staged Venue’s last Christmas shindig and emerged unscathed, entering 2009 with its reputation for top grub, drink and partying intact. This Bishopston community fave adopts a swish cocktails/bar-like feel once the kitchen’s closed. Admirably diverse food options cover breakfast and tapas, burgers and open sandwiches, wraps and salads in a wealth of flavoursome and filling options. Evening starters have included stirfried prawns, soup and goat’s cheese souffle. Expect to find evening mains like braised lamb shank, honey teriyaki duck breast and courgette & feta cakes, followed by irresistible desserts. Roasts celebrate Sundays throughout the year, while this welcoming space invites events - tango, salsa and acoustic nights feature in a busy calendar. Open Daily 10am-12.30am Food served Daily 10am-10pm

NEW
HARVEY NICHOLS
Second Floor, Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus, BS1 3BZ
Tel: 0117 916 8898, web: www.harveynichols.com
Opened in September 2008, the bar in this flagship store has a stylish atmosphere taking on the tones of silver and pewter. Rough-cut diamond stools and banquette seating, both in luminous dark silver leather, are complemented by a centrepiece marble bar lit from within. Cocktail masterclasses are soon to be launched, followed by a light lunch in the second-floor restaurant. Food not served in the bar as we go to press, but will arrive at some stage over the next 12 months. Great wine and champagne lists plus cocktails covering champagne, martini-style, house specialities, classic and non-alcoholic varieties. Disabled access. Open Bar: Mon 11am-6pm, Tue-Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 11am-5pm

NEW
HATTERS
97 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AT
Tel: 0117 330 5740 / 07772 787419, web: www.hattersbristol.co.uk
Wilfully eclectic bar/cafe/event space that defies pigeonholing and brings a slice of the Mad Hatter’s tea party to the Gloucester Road. Practical round in the Wed quiz involves the construction of bottle rockets and spaghetti towers that lead to much scratching of heads. Drinks include Staropramen, Becks Vier and Stowford Press, plus bottles like Miretti, Bath Ales’ Gem and wines from those ace Nicolas people. Dine by day on freshly made crepes, homemade falafels, cheeseyburgers and toasted ciabattas. After dark it transforms into a chic cocktail and wine bar serving mezze and sharing platters, with fun ranging from paper hat parties to scavenger hunts. Newly arrived cocktail menu inspired by Kinder Surprise. Coffee machine stays on all night. Available for private hire for fully customised parties from food to theme. Free Wi-Fi. See also Cafes. Open/Food served Mon-Fri 9.30am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 11am-5pm

JAVA
9 Park St, BS1 5NF
Tel: 0117 930 4561, web: www.javabristol.com
Sandwiches, panini, jackets, salads, homemade burgers and soup can be enjoyed in front of large windows perfect for people-watching. As the name suggests, this cafe-bar is a fine place for enjoying a fantastic coffee (and delicious pastry) too. Open Mon-Thur 9am-12midnight, Fri 9am-2.30am, Sat 9am-4am Food served Mon-Sat till 5pm

LAS IGUANAS
Anchor Square, Harbourside, BS1 5UH Tel: 0117 927 6233
113 Whiteladies Rd, BS8 2PB Tel: 0117 973 0730, web: www.lasiguanas.co.uk
Cachacaria bars (these guys distil their own brand of cachaca) combined with great South American food make Las Iguanas huge favourites, particularly among those after a party feel. Superb cocktails, excellent tapas, and good fish/vegetarian/salad options. Set lunch and happy hour deals are always good value. See Restaurants, Mexican & South American. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm (Harbourside till 12 midnight), Sun 12noon-10.30pm

LOUNGE
227 North St, Bedminster, BS3 6JJ
Tel: 0117 963 7340, web: www.thelounges.co.uk
The great and the good gather here of a Monday night for a fantastically fascinating and frustrating quiz. Irrespective of whether the jackpot is bagged, the evening is always a winner. As with all the members in the Lounge family, the grub’s eclectic stuff, offering steaks, burgers, panini, ciabattas, veggie dishes and the chocolate brownies, the removal of which seems as likely as that of the ravens from the Tower of London. Specials have included Becks lager-battered cod & chips and belly of pork braised in Stowford Press cider. Outside seating fore and aft. Now, what’s the capital of Peru? Open Daily 9am-11pm Food served Daily 9am-10pm

MR WOLF’S
33 St Stephens St, BS1 1JX
Tel: 0117 927 3221, web: www.myspace.com/mrwolfsbar
lMr Wolf’s isn’t trying to be like anywhere else. And it couldn’t be in any other city, born as it is of Bristol’s effortless cool – once a humble yet innovative noodle bar, it’s now one of the city’s premier music haunts. Grab yourself a bowlful of noodles – grub and gigging here is a great experience. Veggies will delight in greater emphasis on non-carnivorous cuisine here in future, with changes planned for a menu that’s been featuring goodies like fajitas, olives, hummus, cashews and nachos. Food is cooked to order in an open kitchen, but there are plenty more theatrics to behold: live bands play Thur to Sat, and you’re likely to cop for solo artists on Mon, open mics on Wed, Bitch and Stitch on the first Sun monthly, Weapon of Choice live painting and Brown Note Sessions on the month’s second and third Tuesdays respectively, as well as cult films (and DJs) on the third Sun monthly. Open Sun-Tue 6pm-2.30am, Wed-Sat 6pm-4am Food served Daily 6pm-late

MUD DOCK
40 The Grove, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 934 9734, web: www.mud-dock.com
Uber-cool combination of bike emporium and chilled cafe-bar gastro hangout, with great watery views from the sundeck. Well-stocked bar. Jazz on Sun afternoon. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon 10am-3pm, Tue-Thur 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-5pm

ONE30
130 Cheltenham Rd, BS6 5RW
Tel: 0117 944 2442, web: www.one30.co.uk
Traditional Spanish tapas bring a taste of Barcelona to Bristol, with offerings like braised chard, sticky chicken and marinated grilled lamb – as recognised by 2007’s Which Good Food Guide. A la carte options include roast duck breast, confit pork belly and grilled rib-eye steak (2 £19, 3 £24.50). Cuisine incorporates the best local produce plus authentic Spanish ingredients: chorizos, hams, cheeses and peppers from Padron. Great weekend fry-ups too. There’s a full cocktail list, and a drinks list showcasing some of Spain’s top wine producers. Sofa/chill-out and alfresco areas; regularly changing artwork exhibitions. Open Mon-Fri 5pm-12midnight, Sat 11am-12midnight, Sun 11am-5pm

PORTO LOUNGE
765 Fishponds Rd, Fishponds, BS16 3BS
Tel: 0117 902 4567, web: www.thelounges.co.uk
Porto proves the best things come in small packages, this being the dinkiest of the Lounges. You’ll find dishes like rump steak, beer-battered fish & chips, sweet potato curry, pasta, burgers, salads and open club and doorstep sarnies plus a children’s menu. It’s the nearest thing there is to a proper restaurant at this end of town. Staff are friendly and the house wine is eminently quaffable. Fortnightly quiz. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food served Daily 9am-10pm

PROM
26-28 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, BS7 8AE
Tel: 0117 942 7319, web: www.theprom.co.uk
l Music is ever in the air at the Prom, with live acts nightly (including a jam session on Sun) except Tue, when the pop quiz is Bristol’s longest. In one incarnation or another, the Prom’s been around for the best part of three decades. As we go to press they’re experimenting with longer food-serving hours. The diverse menu includes all-day breakfasts, chicken enchiladas (and roast vegetable alternative), burgers, fish & chips, lasagne, steaks, salads and light bites, with cassis royale among the desserts. Lovely pavement seating for watching Gloucester Road’s colourful characters promenading by. Open Mon-Thur 11am-12midnight, Fri-Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-12midnight Food served Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm

RACKS BAR & KITCHEN
St Pauls Rd, Clifton, BS8 1LX
Tel: 0117 974 1626, www.racks-bristol.co.uk
Relaxing, popular place where you can enjoy anything from a pint and steak sandwich with your rugby match, to long, late, lazy lunches, alfresco cocktails and food till after 10pm. See Restaurants, World & Pacific Fusion. Open Daily 11am-11pm Food served Mon Sat till 10.30pm, Sun till 10pm

RIVERSTATION
The Grove, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 914 4434, web: www.riverstation.co.uk
Classic, high-quality wines by the glass and a wide range of interesting bottled lagers and beers. Bar/kitchen serves well-prepared, simple food late into the evening. Extended dockside terrace for warmer months. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Bar/kitchen: Mon-Wed 9am-11pm, Thur-Sat 9am-12midnight (last food orders 10pm), Sun 11am-10.30pm (last food orders 9.30pm)

NEW
SASPARILLA
65 Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, BS8 2LY
Tel: 0117 973 0574
This institution that was Henry Africa’s is no more, replaced by cocktail bar venue Sasparilla. An extensive refurb has brought a distinctive purple, brown and gold exterior, and a new look indoors. It’s largely as-you-were in the kitchen: starters and snacks include nachos, quesadillas, wings, skins, duck spring rolls, mozzarella sticks and crab cakes. Mains take in barbecue ribs, fajitas in chicken, beef or vegetable varieties, and wild mushroom enchiladas topped off with voodoo chilli. Plus burgers, steak or chicken ciabattas with chunky fries, chicken & bacon salad et al. Open Mon-Thur 4.30pm-12midnight, Fri-Sun 12noon-12midnight

SEVERNSHED
The Grove, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 925 1212, web: www.shed-restaurants.com
How classy is this place? Bagged a bronze Venue Top Banana last time out for ‘consistently making the best cocktails in town’. The building in which it stands is a former boathouse designed by Mr Brunel, and it boasts bar and restaurant sides with separate identities, with both areas united by the unique state of the art stainless-steel floating hover bar which can be moved up and down the building. Eating options in the bar are light bites with fish, charcuterie or vegetarian sharing platters and sides like garlic bread. At night the bar changes to a chic lounge/cocktail bar serving classic cocktails. DJs on selected occasions, live jazz Sun. Look out for drinking and dining deals, plus promotions for regular customers. See also Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon-Thur 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-1.30am, Sun 11am-10.30pm Food served Sun-Thur 12noon-9pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-5pm

SLUG & LETTUCE
26-28 St Nicholas St, BS1 1UB
Tel: 0117 952 9900, web: www.slugandlettuce.co.uk
Separate dining and drinking areas create the perfect mood whether you’re eating or chilling. Offerings like burgers, pasta, Thai chicken curry, lamb shank and fish pie may be subject to change when the spring menu arrives. Open Mon-Wed 10am-11pm, Thur 10am-12midnight, Fri-Sat 10am-12.30am, Sun 10am-10.30pm Food served Daily till 10pm

START THE BUS
7-9 Baldwin St, BS1 1RU
Tel: 0117 930 4370, web: www.startthebus.tv, www.myspace.com/startthebus
Strings, drums, quizzes, jumble sales, bingo, after-parties, local film showings and pretty much anything else that’s fun and innovative… this extraordinarily diverse space still embraces scene-setting creativity after a first year of dizzying variety culminating in a Venue Top Banana. It’s part adult-youth-club, part pub-with-great-food, with punters copping for sarnies, burgers (including a ‘hippy’ variety), Bath Ales Gem-battered fish & chips, cottage pies and Welsh rarebit, plus sides and desserts and admirably varied drink options. Fine Sun roasts, too, so you can chill out in the same place you partied down the night before. Open Mon-Wed 10am-1am, Thur-Sat 10am-3am, Sun 12noon-1am Food served Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 12noon-9pm

STONEHOUSE BAR
28 Baldwin St, BS1 1NG
Tel: 0117 946 8160
Pub menu serving dishes like steak, jackets and pasta in a venue offering quality service in a relaxed atmosphere. Punters are encouraged to make what they will of the spacious chilled feel and comfy sofas. Open/Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-2am (snacks after 8pm)

SUBLIME
31 King St, BS1 4DZ
Tel: 0117 929 3470. Web: www.sublimebristol.com
The name is staying the same but new ownership brings a new era at this King Street location, being launched as we go to press. The emphasis will be on attracting the cocktail crowd rather than the pint-nursers, with a chilled daytime atmosphere. Cuisine details are sketchy as yet, but expect basic, decent food (rather than Heston-style froth) heading in a British/European direction. Already here are funkier tunes after dark when you can fully let loose. Open Sun-Wed 11am-11pm, Thur-Fri 11am-1/2am, Sat 11am-2am

TANTRIC JAZZ CAFE-BAR
39-41 St Nicholas St, BS1 1TP
Tel: 0117 940 2304, web: www.tantric-jazz.co.uk
Wonderful, intimate candlelit place that’s a “jazz bar in your own lounge”. Live music every night takes in everything from western/eastern/Latin jazz to blues, soul and world music. Open mic on Tue, with drink offers. Admission free except £3 Fri-Sat Lovely tapas menu. See Cafes. Open/Food served Tue-Sat 6pm-3am (Sun-Mon open to private parties of 20+)

TERRACE
15 Berkeley Square, Clifton, BS8 1HB
Tel: 0117 921 0455, web: www.cliftonhotels.com
On the ground floor of Clifton’s chic Berkeley Square Hotel, starters like duck liver parfait, grilled fillets of mackerel and warm salad of beetroot along with mains like slow-cooked belly of pork, steamed River Exe mussels and pithivier of Cornish yarg evince the calibre of cuisine enjoyed at the extremely elegant Terrace bar. This place is all polished wood floors, deep sofas, opulent velvet armchairs, mirrors, artworks and state of the art video wall enhanced by a beautiful garden. Extensive wine list includes champagnes, beers, lagers, cocktails, digestifs, aperitifs. Food served Summer: daily 12noon-3pm & 5-10.30pm

THEKLA
East Mud Dock, The Grove, BS1 4RB
Tel: 0117 929 3301, web: www.theklabristol.co.uk
Sandwiches, pies, burgers, bangers and mustard mash plus loveliness like fish & chips, all served up aboard a boat with a bar area, concert space below decks and a fantastically well-appointed bow if you’re eating alfresco. You want to do your bit for the environment? Eat chips at Thekla - reason being that the oil used gets converted into biofuel, which could conceivably be used to power the van delivering more oil, used to fry more chips for you to enjoy. Lovely and unselfconsciously laidback, with genuine vibe, top music, ace view and environmentally sound chips. What more could you want? Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-7pm (till 9pm on gig nights), Sat-Sun 12noon-5pm

TINTO LOUNGE
344 Gloucester Rd, BS7 8TP
Tel: 0117 942 0526, web: www.thelounges.co.uk
Winning formula of food, mood and drink that scooped the Lounge family more Venue Top Banana recognition in 2008 to follow its mid-noughties success. The ‘fine, juicy burgers and dense chocolate brownies’ particularly delighted Venue’s judges, with friendly staff creating dishes like falafel & roasted Moroccan vegetable salad, panfried monkfish marinated in garlic and smoked paprika on herb polenta, 28-day-aged rump steak, sweet potato, puy lentil and spinach curry, along with a fine tapas selection. Open Daily 9am-11pm Food served Daily 9am-10pm

TOBACCO FACTORY CAFE-BAR
Raleigh Rd, Southville, BS3 1TF
Tel: 0117 902 0060, web: www.tobaccofactory.com
Novel gatherings abound at this enduringly cool hotspot, popular with a young, funky crowd as well as locals, theatregoers, film-lovers and scientists. Flexible spaces with audio/visual facilities and a dance studio are available for private hire. The green room shows regular short films, events of special interest and houses a monthly science cafe forum plus the local Stitch & Bitch group. Exhibition space is provided for exciting artists, new work arrives monthly and most pieces are for sale. Sunday is market day (10.30am-2.30pm), with the cafe-bar opening 10am for brunch. More than just a place to shop, it’s a meeting point for the community. With around 30 stalls, there’s a strong bias towards ethical, eco-friendly, Fairtrade, organic and local products. For a chilled end to the weekend, live music follows in the evening, while Thur is DJ nights. Food has a Mediterranean feel with a wide choice, with kids meals available lunchtimes, plus crunch lunch available weekdays. Mains include a good selection of meat, fresh fish and vegetarian, all regularly updated. The bar’s low-cost interior design makes a virtue of the industrial feel: warehouse chic with bare brick walls and metal pillars, while the yard, perfect for the sunshine, now includes a terrace with a dramatic tensile structure canopy that just has to be seen. Open Mon-Wed 12noon-11pm, Thur-Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 10am-11pm

WATERSHED CAFE-BAR
1 Canons Rd, Harbourside, BS1 5TX
Tel: 0117 927 5101, web: www.watershed.co.uk
Continental cafe by day, hugely popular bar by night, open early till late for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and late-night bites – fresh, local and ethical. Independent beers and international wines, not to mention three cinemas showing independent films in this arts and media centre. Balcony serves up great waterside views. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon 10.30am-11pm, Tue-Thur 9.30am-11pm, Fri 9.30am-12midnight, Sat 10am-12midnight, Sun 10am-10.30pm Food served Mon 10.30am-9pm, Tue 9.30am-9pm, Wed-Fri 9.30am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 12noon-7pm

WHITE LION BAR & TERRACE
Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LD
Tel: 0117 973 8955, web: www.theavongorge.com
Hugely popular bar attached to the Avon Gorge Hotel, complete with absolutely magnificent view. One of the South West’s largest terraces overlooks the Suspension Bridge and Somerset’s hills beyond. Bar menu features sandwiches/baguettes and sides, jackets, salads and mains like Cumberland sausage, chicken casserole, White Lion burger, meatballs and roasted Mediterranean veg penne pasta, but was due to change after we go to press. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-10pm, Fri-Sun 11am-closing. Food served Daily 12noon-10pm

ZERODEGREES
53 Colston St, BS1 5BA
Tel: 0117 925 2706, web: www.zerodegrees.co.uk
Brew award-winning beers on site (no artificial colouring, preservatives or sweeteners), served up alongside European-influenced dishes, all within a sleek industrial interior with alfresco dining balconies. See Restaurants, European & Mediterranean. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-12 midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm

ZEST CAFE, LOUNGE & BAR
408 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, BS7 8TR
Tel: 0117 949 0142
Mediterranean dining amid chunky wooden tables, yellow and orange hues and, later on, flickering church candles. There’s a holiday feel at this intimate, versatile venue, whether you’re after breakfast, morning coffee, lunch or dinner. Menu combines authentic Mediterranean and traditional British cuisine, from the mighty full British breakfast through morning coffee, cake and light bites, to the evening’s restaurant incarnation. Starters include shrimp casserole flamed with ouzo; tempting mains include stuffed chicken filled with roasted peppers and goat’s cheese. Open Daily 10am-11pm

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