10 Great Places to Eat and Drink in Southville in Bristol
Posted on: 02 Mar 2015Southville is one of the most thriving and dynamic parts of Bristol.
** Check out our updated 2017 Guide to Southville's best restaurants here **
With its unique and often idiosyncratic mix of cafes, bars, shops an restaurants, it has confidently shifted from the once up-and-coming label to nestle quite snugly into the firmly-established category.
Of course, community spirit has always played a crucial role in the area, and it fuses a vibrant and distinctive mix of urban savviness with an independent, bohemian aesthetic. This is one area that has truly taken on board the concept of 'think local, act global' and embraced it with energy and passion.
We look at 10 of the top and - even if we do say so ourselves - unmissable cafes, pubs and restaurants in the Bedminster and Southville area.
The Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Road, Avon, Bristol BS3 1TF - Tel. 0117 902 0060
The red-trousered Mayor George Ferguson may live in the penthouse at the top, but The Tobacco Factory has for some time been the solar plexus of the Bedminster and Southville communities.
The large industrial interior houses an impressive, modern cafe bar which embraces the history of the building itself. Always welcoming, always friendly, there's a great range of real ales, ciders and wines, and the kitchen serves up an impressively diverse range of healthy Mediterranean-inspired food. Their Sunday Market is also exceptionally popular. The true encapsulation of the Southville spirit.
Hen & Chicken, 210 North St, Bristol BS3 1JF - Tel. 0117 966 3143
Home of the legendary Comedy Box venue, the Hen and Chicken is a local pub in the very heart of Southville.
There's a mouth-watering selection of real ales (Cask Marque accredited), ciders and wines, while the extensive menu uses high quality, locally sourced ingredients.
They're equally - and justifiably - famous for their sensational 12" pizzas, which have taken on a legendary status in the area (2 for £12 on Mondays). Pub cat Henry is also known to make regular appearances.
The Steam Crane, 4-6 North Street, Bristol BS3 1HT - Tel. 0117 923 1656
One of the quirkier additions to the Southville set, The Steam Crane has been given a unique makeover comprising Victorian print wallpaper, leather sofas, chandeliers and mirrors, and the work of local artists adorning the walls.
There's a fine selection of locally brewed beers, premium brands and cocktails, and their menu includes pies, fish dishes, burgers and small bites and sides.
With a spacious courtyard in the back which is perfect for balmy summer evenings, this is a pleasingly offbeat pub restaurant.
The Burger Joint, 240 North Street, Bristol, Avon BS3 1JD - Tel. 0117 329 2790
There's certainly no shortage of burger restaurants in Bristol, but since it opened in 2009 The Burger Joint has sealed a solid reputation as one of the leading purveyors of deliciously meaty goodness in the city.
The stats, word-of-mouth and glowing praise has also led to the venue winning top burger restaurant in the 2013 Bristol Good Food Awards as well as garnering first-rate reviews.
Eat in or take away, the mouthfuls of magnificent meatiness are some of the best in the city.
The Thali Cafe, The Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Rd, Bristol BS3 1TF - Tel. 0117 953 2783
Created 15 years ago over a series of summer music festivals, The Thali Cafe offers food inspired by Indian cuisine to bring the real, tasty, authentic Indian street food experience to Bristol.
'Thali' actually refers to the way meals are eaten in India with a combination of delicious, nutritious and healthy meals all being dished up on one plate, as well as referring to the compartmentalised, stainless steel dishes they're served in.
The restaurant started life on the festival circuits and business has been so good and the food so popular they have another venue in Montpelier as well as Southville.
Souk Kitchen, 277 North Street, Bristol BS3 1JP - Tel. 0117 966 6880
Serving up food that is inspired by the traditional souks of Damascus, Marrakech and Beirut, Souk Kitchen bring a genuine taste of the Middle East to Bedminster and Southville.
Their ethos is to encourage people to enjoy and share the food and to taste and try new dishes, offering a myriad of plates, mezze, dips, tanginess, grill dishes and salads that are guaranteed to excite your taste buds.
Zazu's Kitchen, 220 North Street, Bristol BS3 1JD - Tel. 0117 963 9044
With an emphasis on people, fun and, of course, food, Zazu's Kitchen pride itself on being one of the best restaurants in the Bedminster/Southville area to meet, drink and eat.
Even better, they're open all day, serving breakfasts, lunches and suppers, and covering all the foodie bases from simple tucker to sophisticated fare.
With its unique combination of great food and drink and an informal, neighbourood brasserie feel, it's a popular destination for the region's community.
The Spotted Cow, 139 North St, Bristol, BS3 1EZ - Tel. 0117 963 4433
A firm favourite amongst the Bedminster and Southville crowd, The Spotted Cow building has existed for over 200 years and is brimming with a rich, interesting heritage that dates back to Bedminster's agricultural roots.
It's a cosy, friendly pub restaurant that serves great ales and cider and boasts an impressive food menu. There are also regular live music acts and a big walled garden at the back which is a marvellous sun-trap in the summer.
Quirky, unique, traditional and modern fuse to create this distinctive, welcoming venue.
The Southbank Club, Dean Lane, Bristol, BS3 1DB - Tel. 0117 966 5552
A venue that hosts an eclectic mix of attractions and events, it's seen by the Southville and Bedminster community as a creative melting pot.
It has gallery space, meeting rooms, dance studio and music club, and has held everything from cider festivals and live bands, zumba and arts and crafts afternoons.
It's free to join as a member, or the are packages available for you to support the club and get discounts and free access to certain events. An important venue for locals that uses the space in an innovative, entertaining and fun way.
The Ashville, 15 Leigh Street, Bristol BS3 1SN - Tel. 0117 939 6897
Some people might remember it as the Try Again when it was a popular haunt for Bristol City fans to rendezvous for a livener or two before an Ashton Gate game, but the pub is under new management and has undergone a dramatic refurbishment.
It's a stylish, smart gastropub with more of a focus on the family dining experience. B&B bedrooms have also been incorporated into the pub upstairs. There is a superb range of guest ales including Doom Bar and Bath Ales Gem, and ciders including Addlestone's Cloudy and Stowford Press.
Food is just as important, with a superb menu serving up dishes such as rack of lamb, smoked haddock saffron risotto, and camembert stuffed duck burger. They're also getting a reputation for their excellent Sunday roasts, which are proving very popular.
A proper community local that's worth making a detour for.
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
