Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Afternoon in Bristol

11 replies

Thesebloominhorses · 21/02/2025 23:41

Hello, DH and I have an unexpected few hours in Bristol this weekend.
can anyone recommend the best place for some nice lunch and some shops to potter around please?
We don’t want a big mall full of chain stores. Or massive department stores like Harvey Nicols. So definitely not cribs causeway pls.

any suggestions ?
thank you

OP posts:
mitogoshigg · 21/02/2025 23:43

Go up to Clifton, independent shops and restaurants

mitogoshigg · 21/02/2025 23:45

There's a particularly nice Japanese restaurant and bar if you like that sort of thing that's I've been to.

If you want to chill out with a beer I recommend King St near the harbour side, pubs are around 400 years old but modern craft beers, outdoor seating if dry

maudelovesharold · 21/02/2025 23:46

I was also going to suggest Clifton village, which has lots of nice restaurants and cafes, and independent shops to potter round. Also close to the Suspension Bridge.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Baby & toddler products
PlantDoctor · 21/02/2025 23:47

I do really like Clifton, but if you want to be more central you could visit St Nicolas market. Loads of great food vendors there!

Beansandneedles · 21/02/2025 23:59

Lots of lovely independent eateries around Whapping Wharf. There's at least one shop there, Fig1. You can also take a ferry taxi across the river if that takes your fancy, or stroll around the harbour which takes around 40 minutes. From the floating harbour head towards the cathedral and turn left to the independent shops of park street.

Or from the cathedral you can also walk 10-15 minutes to Ahh Toots which is a fabulous cake shop, next to a kooky little historic pub called The Christmas Steps which is worth popping into for a drink before you cross quay street, head up broad street (which used to be full of printers, enjoy the Raspberry Thief on the right-hand side) to visit st Nicholas market as someone mentioned above. From there cross onto Welsh back to enjoy the historic buildings of King Street, and perhaps cross Queen Square en route to visit the Arnolfini.

That's what I would do with a few hours in Bristol :)

LateNightReads · 22/02/2025 00:01

Whapping wharf

https://www.wappingwharf.co.uk/eat-drink-shop

SoloSofa24 · 22/02/2025 00:05

Beansandneedles · 21/02/2025 23:59

Lots of lovely independent eateries around Whapping Wharf. There's at least one shop there, Fig1. You can also take a ferry taxi across the river if that takes your fancy, or stroll around the harbour which takes around 40 minutes. From the floating harbour head towards the cathedral and turn left to the independent shops of park street.

Or from the cathedral you can also walk 10-15 minutes to Ahh Toots which is a fabulous cake shop, next to a kooky little historic pub called The Christmas Steps which is worth popping into for a drink before you cross quay street, head up broad street (which used to be full of printers, enjoy the Raspberry Thief on the right-hand side) to visit st Nicholas market as someone mentioned above. From there cross onto Welsh back to enjoy the historic buildings of King Street, and perhaps cross Queen Square en route to visit the Arnolfini.

That's what I would do with a few hours in Bristol :)

It's the Strawberry Thief, not Raspberry Thief! Very good Belgian beer bar which does some food as well.

I think this area (Christmas Steps to St Nicks market) is more interesting for mooching than Clifton these days, which has more and more chain restaurants (Ivy, Cote etc) and things like branches of Farrow & Ball, though the area around Boyce's Avenue and the Clifton Arcade still has good little quirky independent shops and cafes.

EasterIssland · 22/02/2025 00:15

Whipping wharf
clifton
north st in bedminster

duc748 · 22/02/2025 00:21

Beansandneedles · 21/02/2025 23:59

Lots of lovely independent eateries around Whapping Wharf. There's at least one shop there, Fig1. You can also take a ferry taxi across the river if that takes your fancy, or stroll around the harbour which takes around 40 minutes. From the floating harbour head towards the cathedral and turn left to the independent shops of park street.

Or from the cathedral you can also walk 10-15 minutes to Ahh Toots which is a fabulous cake shop, next to a kooky little historic pub called The Christmas Steps which is worth popping into for a drink before you cross quay street, head up broad street (which used to be full of printers, enjoy the Raspberry Thief on the right-hand side) to visit st Nicholas market as someone mentioned above. From there cross onto Welsh back to enjoy the historic buildings of King Street, and perhaps cross Queen Square en route to visit the Arnolfini.

That's what I would do with a few hours in Bristol :)

From what I remember about Bristol, that's a very good shout!

Beansandneedles · 22/02/2025 08:54

SoloSofa24 · 22/02/2025 00:05

It's the Strawberry Thief, not Raspberry Thief! Very good Belgian beer bar which does some food as well.

I think this area (Christmas Steps to St Nicks market) is more interesting for mooching than Clifton these days, which has more and more chain restaurants (Ivy, Cote etc) and things like branches of Farrow & Ball, though the area around Boyce's Avenue and the Clifton Arcade still has good little quirky independent shops and cafes.

Show quote history

You're quite right!! My tired brain let me down there.

Original poster
Thesebloominhorses · 22/02/2025 22:17

Thank you all.
we headed to Clifton village, had the most delicious lunch at a place called Saffron and had a lovely potter round the shops.

thanks for the ideas

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page