My Bristol Highlights!

I recently had a fantastic long weekend away in Bristol exploring the culinary wonders of the city! From hidden gems to well-known haunts and I even made-up a bit of a walking tour of some of the tantalizing foods and delectable mixology for us to enjoy.  So, dear readers, grab your forks and raise your glasses as I let you in on my mouth-watering highlights of Bristol's culinary tapestry. There is definitely plenty of amazing food and drink waiting to be explored in this foodie hotspot city break location!

Hotel - Mollie's Motel!

We choose to stay at Mollie's Motel for our stay, which was an quirky alternative to many standard hotel choices in Bristol. Located on the outskirts of the city, Mollie's features interiors designed by famous Soho House, with high tech contemporary bedrooms, all day dining at the accompanying American diner and a 24 hour bar. A fab mix of vintage with highly contemporary feel to bring the concept of the motel-diner up to date in the UK!

The rooms are cosy, but have fantastic features to make your stay feel luxurious. Comfy king-sized bed, power rain showers, super-fast Wi-Fi, app controlled TV that you can sync to your Netflix, Cowshed products, and even Dyson Hairdryer & GHD straighteners!

We loved having the Mollie's diner right next door, serving up delicious breakfasts each morning, food to go and tasty dinners. Of course we had to try the American classics of pancakes with bacon & maple syrup, waffles with chicken, chicken wings and I even had 'frickles' (fried pickles!). The food was delicious, and the staff were all extremely friendly, making it really fun to try different diner dishes. There were also plenty of tasty tipples to enjoy, with spicy margaritas, rum punches and more - you can even buy ready made cocktails to take away!

Cargo

A mini village of converted shipping containers on the harbourside is an outstanding foodie hotspot that has to be on your itinerary! It's filled with small, independent restaurants, cafes, food shops and more. Be sure to pop down during the day and evening, plus note many eateries don't take bookings.

Cargo Cantina

Inspired by the authentic cantinas of Mexico, Cargo Cantina had some of the best Mexican food I've had outside of Mexico, with fab service and a great atmosphere as well! The food is all freshly made, with carefully sourced ingredients and seasonal specials to keep the menu vibrant at all times. The menu lends itself to sharing with starters to whet your appetite before main dished and a great variety of tacos! We had the best fully loaded nachos, followed by Yucatan chicken and pork adobo tacos. All the dishes were packed with amazing flavour, I would definitely try a taco sharing feast and their margaritas next visit!

Pigsty - Cargo

As a huge fan of Jolly Hog food, I knew I needed to eat at the 'Home of the Hog'. They offer a fantastic selection of loaded burgers & dogs, sandwiches, brunches, snacks, sides and their notorious Pig Board! Of course I had to try it in all it's porky glory! It features plenty of wonderful Jolly Hog products including BBQ ribs, Scotch egg, Proper Porker sausages, slow cooked pork belly, crackling, BBQ loaded pork fries, slaw, cider apple sauce and dips! Go hungry and you won't be disappointed! Plus a great selection of craft beers, like this Sabrotage Hazy pale ale.

Gin + Juice

This highly unique cocktail located on Park Street is renown for it's vast gin selection that I would say is unmatched! The staff are extremely knowledgeable and will help you find the perfect drink whether you are after something new or a true gin aficionado! Every gin has a blurb in the menu, with flavour profiles, ideal tonic pairings and cocktail suggestions. The garnishes are extravagant, so every drink is always Insta worthy! The bar has a great vibe, with opulent stylish and quirky décor. Perfect for any event be it large or small, or with gin lovers or gin newbies!

Bristol Dry Gin at The Rummer Hotel

The historic Rummer Hotel, located near St. Nicholas Market is the home of Bristol Dry Gin and a great spot for a hand curated cocktail after your explorations. The micro-distillery is located in the basement and produces an extensive range of core and small batch gins that are all highly unique in their botanicals and experiements. Gin tastings are available Friday - Sundays with pre booking and include a welcome G&T followed by 5 sample gins & mixers explained by the friendly host. We popped in for a drink after exploring the nearby market (which is well worth a visit!), we even got to meet the very friendly pub dog for some pets!

Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery

The home to the colourful Dead Man Finger's rum range, this distillery on Park Street is a fab place to evolve your knowledge and palate for rum! The distillery has a 500L and 200L still on site, and you can even attend their Rum School to enjoy a rum masterclass before making your own rum to take home. The bar is spread over 3 floors, with plenty of quirky spaces for your group and over 150 rums behind the bar to sample. We stopped in for some amazing cocktails and will definitely have the rum school on our plan for a future visit!

Swoon Gelato

The home of gelato to fall in love with, Swoon has just been named the best ice cream store in the country! The team use the best ingredients to produce their classic and seasonal special flavours. Did you know that Gelato is typically 50% less fat than traditional ice cream? Making this a great guilt free treat on your trip. We tried a cherry cheesecake flavour, which incorporates poached amarena cherries into a proper cheesecake base, and of course I couldn't resists the Speculoos flavour (another name for Biscoff!) both had me falling head over heels for Swoon!

Bristol Ferry - Gin Ferry Cruise!

Enjoy an evening cruise around the Bristol harbour whilst sipping on a G&T! This was a great way to see the sights of the Bristol waterfront, with some of the best views of tourist highlights like the Hotwell colourful houses. As well as ticking off some of our must see sights, we also spotted a few places to go back to explore. The cruise departs from the main ferry port (by Under the stars bar) and lasts for 1.5 hours; prior booking is essential. You will enjoy two gin drinks on the cruise, and can purchase more as required. Be sure to take a jacket as this did get a bit chilly!

Pinkman's Bakery & BristoL'eclair

If you are after a sweet treat then these two are your perfect destinations. Pinkman's Bakery specialise in wild yeast and sourdough baking, and offer a wonderful choice of sweet or savoury delight. We opted for their famous sour-dough-nuts with a honeycomb and raspberry & white chocolate treat. They also serve fresh sandwiches and lunch options.

BristoL'eclair on Whiteladies Road serves up elegant, hand decorated pastries that look like they are fresh from a French patisserie! If you want to live your best Emily in Paris life then be sure to pick up a macaron, choux bun or exquisitely decorated éclair from the store as a treat.

The Cloakroom

This cute coffee shop on the corner of Park Row has unique origins, as it was once the site of a public toilet! The Cloakroom has maintained some elements in a nod to it's past in décor, but is now a flourishing café serving up amazing local coffee, fresh sandwiches and an array of delicious sweet treats to enjoy. The perfect place for a pitstop for a drink and snack on your adventures in Bristol - I definitely recommend the blondies!

Other activities!

• Bird & Blend Tea shop - perfect store for any tea lover, plus they offer tea lock in's and other events to keep an eye out for.
• Under the Stars Bar - a floating bar & restaurant on the harbour, the perfect location to stop at after the gin cruise.
• Create your own food tour - there are so many amazing food/drink stops in my highlights above from Whiteladies Road down Park Street. You can easily do your own walking tour of these, stopping in fab independent shops and seeing Banksy art work on the same road!
• Walk across Clifton Suspension Bridge - we were dropped at the visitors centre and walked across the bridge for great views. You can then go to the vantage point to see views including the bridge!
• The Wildlife Project is located right near Mollie's and is the perfect place to see some wildlife up close and personal. We loved being in with the lemurs!

What are your recommendations for Bristol? Share them in the comments below!