15 Great Places to Eat and Drink in Southville, Bristol
Posted on: 25 Jan 2017If you're yet to eat in Southville then you're doing it wrong. With the expanse south of Spike Island generously dotted with coffee spots, bakeries and independent eateries, the area represents a culinary glut of some of the best food in Bristol. Here we present a list of our 15 favourites, compiled in no particular order, with the numbers corresponding to the handy map below.
1. Souk Kitchen
Souk Kitchen remains one of the best places to eat on North Street; their outstanding weekend-only brunches, Wednesday to Sunday lunches and daily dinner menus, see this long-standing business continuing to thrive. Souk Kitchen have been awarded ‘Best Mediterranean’ restaurant in Bristol at the Bristol Good Food awards for 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Using local and seasonal ingredients, Souk Kitchen cite their influences as “The foods of the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and in fact much of the ex- Ottoman empire.”
My personal favourites are the shakshouka at brunch, and a selection of mezze dishes for lunch or dinner.
2. The Steam Crane
I first became aware of The Steam Crane in 2014 when I visited to do a review of their Sunday Roast. I’ve since moved to Southville and I go to The Steam Crane at least once a month. It’s a bright and colourful pub which has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. I’m a big fan of their burgers. It’s a great place to eat with friends, and there’s also a room upstairs which is great for private dining or holding meetings or clubs. My book group meets there and we are always made to feel very welcome, and we love the grand dining table!
3. The Ashville
Located a few minutes’ walk from North Street is The Ashville. The restaurant serves British food such as ham, egg and chips, ale battered cod and chips, or pan fried lamb’s liver, alongside dishes with an international flavour, such as duck leg confit. There is also a salmon and ricotta tart, and vegetarian options such as a beetroot and goats cheese burger.
4. Margot May
Margot May is a bright and colourful tea room, open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and hot drinks and cakes. It is a fantastic place to go if you have any particular dietary requirements; they do gluten and dairy free options as standard. The cake menu is always changing, as cakes are baked in house every day. I’m a big fan of the scones and the Earl Grey tea. The teas are loose leaf, and the coffee is from Bristol-based Extract Coffee Roasters.
5. Hennessey’s Coffee Lounge
Hennessey’s Coffee Lounge is a bit of a hidden gem and quite unlike the typical Bristol coffee shop offering. It’s cosy and homely, and the walls are covered in posters, postcards and ornaments. At every turn there’s something to look at! There’s also a selection of free books, should you fancy something to read. So far, I’ve only nipped in for a quick cup of tea, but the food behind the glass counter looked really tasty so I’d definitely like to go back and try some more of what they have to offer.
6. The Old Bookshop
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One of my absolute favourite places to go along the whole of North Street is The Old Bookshop. I often go there for a Sunday Roast, but I am also really keen to go to their Monday Quiz and Curry Night with Gopal’s Curry Shack. For gin fans, Psychopomp have recently opened their gin cocktail bar within The Old Bookshop too, further widening the selection of drinks on offer. The menu is seasonal, with an emphasis on local and ethical suppliers. I only just found out that they do brunch, so I’m really looking forward to going in to try that.
7. Pizza Workshop
Pizza is hugely popular in Bristol at the moment, and I’m very glad as this boom has meant that Pizza Workshop has opened on North Street. There are not many weeks that go by without me visiting! My personal favourite is the ONE which has a tomato base with Fior di Latte and basil. My husband loves the EIGHT, which has Fior di Latte, prosciutto, salsiccia, Spanish chorizo, and spicy nduja. We sometimes get the Burrata Caprese, which is a whole burrata served with vine tomatoes and fresh basil. As well as their core menu, there are one or two weekly specials. The restaurant is bright and airy, and they also offer takeaway.
8. Earthcake
A very new opening on North Street is Earthcake. Their entire menu is vegan, and they stock a selection of sandwiches, hot drinks and fantastic cakes. They can also make celebration cakes. So far, I’ve tried the chocolate cake, and the carrot cake, both of which were fantastic. I also had a coconut milk latte which was amazing! I’d never had one before and they are really delicious.
9. Mark’s Bread
At the end of North Street, near to Greville Smyth Park, is Mark’s Bread and Café, who serve a simple and tasty menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches, highlighting their wonderful bread. Sweet treats are also available, as well as teas from Canton Tea Company, coffee from Extract Coffee Roaster and a range of alcoholic drinks from local breweries. They’re open Monday to Saturday from 8.00 till 16.30.
10. Thali Café
The Thali Café is on North Street is really spacious, so it’s one of the few places that can comfortably cater large groups as well as smaller parties. I’m a huge fan of their fresh, healthy, Indian food. The Thali Café were responsible for popularizing the use of tiffin tins in Bristol. My husband and I use their tiffin scheme frequently; I love that it’s zero waste, and the insulated tins means that the food stays hot while transporting it home. Whether I’m eating in the restaurant or using the tiffin, I nearly always go for the Rajasthani Lamb Thali which is a 24 hour marinated slow-cooked lamb curry, flavoured with star anise, ginger and cinnamon. This is served with subji, dahl and basmati rice. I’ve also had the fantastic Buttermilk Sigri Chicken which is “Meera’s soft and sumptuous take on Bademiya’s tandoori chicken. Slow cooked free-range chicken 48 hour marinated in buttermilk for a tangy flavour.”
11. Birch
A few minutes’ walk from Mark’s Bread and Café is Birch. Birch describe themselves as ‘one half restaurant, one half garden’. The garden in question is at the southern edge of Bristol. The menu changes daily, and is always seasonal. Birch are renowned for their fresh, simple, excellent food and they are open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday, and for lunch on Saturday from 12.30 till 2pm.
12. North Street Standard
Another spacious restaurant on North Street is the North Street Standard. When I moved to Southville, I was overjoyed to see that the North Street Standard was there, as I used to live opposite the Urban Standard, and went there frequently for a weekend brunch. Since moving, I’ve also tried some of their other food, and it’s all been fantastic. I particularly enjoyed their burger, and their mac ‘n’ cheese.
13. Jasper’s Jamaican Diner
Just across the road from the North Street Standard is Jasper’s Jamaican Diner. I love Jamaican food so was very happy to find this restaurant so close to home. There are all the traditional dishes you would expect, such as jerk chicken, jerk pork, ackee and salt fish, with my personal favourite being the curried mutton. All main meals are served with rice and peas. I also love the Festival dumplings. They’re fried and faintly sweet, like a breadier doughnut. They are a side dish to have with savoury meals.
14. Viva La Mexicana
If you’ve previously only eaten TexMex, you might be somewhat surprised by the menu at Viva La Mexicana; I know I was! I hadn’t realised how much of what I thought was Mexican food, really wasn’t! While there are familiar dishes such as guacamole, tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas, there are also more traditional and unusual dishes such as Huarache Macho which is a ‘sandal’ of fried corn, covered with beans, then eggs which in turn are covered with mild green salsa and cheese. I was also surprised to learn that there are types of edible cactus! You can enjoy Nopalitos, which is a salad of edible cactus seasoned with lime, olive oil, onion and a touch of coriander. I had the Huarache above, as well as guacamole. They were incredibly tasty with really fresh and bright flavours.
15. Tincan Coffee
Top of my ‘Places I need to go’ list is Tin Can Coffee. Their menu looks fantastic; I’m particularly keen to try their baked eggs which sound similar to shakshouka, and also their toasties. As well as their great menu and the fantastic provenance of their coffee, I’m also really attracted to their principles; they only use local, seasonal suppliers, which are organic where possible. In addition, all their packaging and disposables are 100% compostable, recycled, and made using plant-based bio plastic.
Article by:
Sarah is a writer and blogger, as well as running workshops and teaching. Her passions are food and travel, and you can follow her on Instagram at YesStarling and find her website at www.yesstarling.com .
