The best lunch spots to visit from Gather Round

Bristol is renowned for its independent eateries and bustling restaurant and cafe scene.

Lucky for us, Cigar Factory in Southville and Brunswick Square in St Pauls are a stone’s throw from some of Bristol’s brightest lunch spots. Whether you’re seeking a caffeine hit from award-winning roasters, brunch at the hippest place in town or lunch to keep you going all day, you’re spoilt for choice. With bakeries, cafes, pubs, restaurants and delis to choose from, we’ve rounded up the best spots to grab lunch, have a coffee and take a break from the working day. You deserve it!

Crafty Egg

Avocado toast with halloumi and poached egg, baked Afghan Eggs with herb smash or pancakes stacked with bacon and maple. The Crafty Egg is the stuff of brunch dreams. Grab a table by the window and watch Stokes Croft go by, or head to the laptop bar at the back to catch up on emails. The team here are green-fingered too and sell a selection of house plants, soak up the jungle vibe or take a slice of it home with you.

Farro Bakery

Whisper the name Farro and fellow devotees light up. In a city of delicious bakeries, Farro stands out amongst the crowd. Dive into a Pain au chocolat, a Pastel de nata or a Breton Kouign and forget all your worries. As they say at Farro; all the butter, no regrets. We couldn’t agree more. The art of pastry and bread is taken very seriously here and it goes without saying, the coffee is banging.

Brunswick Square

Artist Residence

A brand new kid on the block Portland Square. Previously, an old boot factory, Artist Residence has been renovated beautifully; think velvet sofas, exposed brick and bold art. It’s the perfect spot to start the day with their all-day brunch. Treat yourself to the banana bread French toast topped with caramelised banana and vanilla mascarpone or Turkish eggs with sourdough, you’re worth it. Wash everything down with award-winning, locally roasted Extract coffee or a mango smoothie.

Tuk Tuck

Find bibimbap, dumplings and bowls of noodles and soups to soothe the soul here. Tuk Tuck celebrates all that Asian street food has to offer. Just a stone’s throw from Brunswick Square amidst the colourful shops of Stokes Croft, Tuk Tuck satisfies lunch cravings like no other. If you’re in the mood to treat yourself, their dirty kimchi loaded fries will not disappoint. Grab and go or sit by the window and people watch.

Emmeline

These guys know just how to please a lunching crowd. Colourful salads, toasties to die for and a range of pastries and bagels to delight. Vegans and veggies are catered for and super quick service makes this spot a pleasure to visit. The Emmeline crew behind the counter always have a smile! We’d be smiling if we were that close to such delicious cakes too. There’s a garden out front if the sun is shining and a handful of seats inside.

Eat a Pitta

As big a Bristol institution as Turbo Island and Big Jeff, Eat a Pitta has been delighting the Broadmead masses with its family recipe since 2011. We’ve been loving their falafel, salad and hummus-filled pittas ever since. Piping hot falafel, vibrant, fresh salads and dressings to shout about, will keep you coming back time and time again. Healthy, reasonably-priced and damn tasty, you won’t find much better in the city centre.

Cigar Factory

Tobacco Factory

By night Tobacco Factory serves up theatre, music and dance, by day a vegetarian cafe bar with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of tables to sprawl. Fuel your day with their selection of brunch, small plates or main dishes. A strong recommendation from the Cigar Factory crew for the Aubergine Katsu Curry! Tobacco Factory is part of the Sustainable Restaurant Association and the majority of its ingredients are grown from their own local farm.

Yafo

Bristol loves falafel, what can we say? The team at Yafo are passionate about authentic and delicious Middle-Eastern inspired food and it shows in all they do. Needless to say, the falafel and salad pittas are top-notch but the shawarma, shakshuka and stuffed Malawach are noteworthy too. The Yafo breakfast of labneh, vegan Balkan cheese, tahini, avocado, Yafo salad, olives, slow hard-boiled egg and frena bread will keep you going all day. Friendly staff and warm interiors make this a welcoming spot to linger over lunch or brunch.

Mark’s Bread

Mark’s Bread has been serving their infamous Southville Sourdough since 2007.

Everything on the menu here is freshly made, by hand in their kitchens. From the pain au raisin to the lemon drizzle, the soup of the day to the salad boxes and make your own sarnie station at the deli. If you love your lunch, their grocery store sells homemade sauces, chutneys, pickles, granolas and more so you can recreate your favourite dishes at home.

Southville Deli

The perfect spot to grab and go on your busier days. Salad boxes and sandwiches are the order of the day and there’s always a tempting selection of cakes, flapjacks and brownies. The deli stocks an impressive selection of local cheeses, olives and cured meats perfect for creating your own grazing lunch.

Sonny Stores

Sonny Stores have been hitting Best Restaurant lists since they first appeared on the scene as The Lockdown Pizza in 2020. A daily changing menu of seasonal produce with an Italian influence; think pappardelle, chicken livers and 24-month aged parmesan and Dover sole, broad beans sott’olio, anchovy and rosemary. Enjoy a quick plate of pasta at lunch or head after work for a leisurely three-course meal, Sonny Stores is a Bristol gem.

Hennesseys

Come for the ambience, stay for the cake. Hennessey’s is the kind of spot that boasts superfans, with customers greeted like old friends. The sandwiches are big, the coffee is strong and the decor is weird and wonderful. Holding court at the top of North Street, this is a great spot to take a break and escape from it all.