Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Bristol – Michelin Star & Tasting Menus

Bristol hosts two Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants—Wilsons and Bulrush—alongside Bib Gourmand award winners and top-tier tasting menu establishments that define the city’s elite dining scene.

What Are Fine Dining Restaurants in Bristol?

Fine dining restaurants in Bristol are upscale establishments offering exceptional culinary craftsmanship, premium ingredients, professional service, and elevated atmospheres with menu prices typically ranging from £40–£90 per person. These venues prioritize artistic presentation, seasonal ingredients, and often feature tasting menus, extensive wine lists, and sommelier service.

Bristol’s fine dining landscape encompasses Michelin-starred restaurants, Bib Gourmand award winners, and high-end establishments recognized in the Michelin Guide with Michelin plates. The city’s food scene has evolved significantly since 2022, when Casamia—a three-Michelin-star restaurant—closed due to rising costs, reducing Bristol’s Michelin star count. Today, Bristol maintains its position as a south-western foodie haven with chic, no-expense-spared fine dining options.

The definition of fine dining in Bristol includes establishments serving modern British cuisine, modern European food, and Italian cuisine with locally sourced produce. Key characteristics include multi-course tasting menus (typically 7–10 courses), house-made breads, cured meats, and dishes featuring home-grown vegetables from the restaurant’s own market gardens.

Which Restaurants Have Michelin Stars in Bristol?

Bristol currently has two Michelin-starred restaurants: Wilsons (awarded its star in February 2025) and Bulrush (awarded its star previously), both located within 15 minutes walking distance in the Cotham/Redland area.

Wilsons: The Newest Michelin Star Winner

Wilsons, located at 22a Chandos Road, BS6 6PF in Redland, earned its first Michelin star in February 2025 after holding a Michelin Green Star since 2022. The restaurant is owned by Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson, who operate it as a charming neighbourhood bistro with sustained principles across all operations.

Wilsons’ sustainability ethos includes growing produce from its market garden down the road, fermenting, curing, and preserving as much as possible. The team serves menus highly connected to nature that frequently change based on what’s fresh and seasonal. Michelin inspectors noted: “Wilsons is one of those appealing neighbourhood places that works in pure harmony, with everyone from the chefs to the service team sharing the same ethos. Sustainability leads the way, with generously proportioned, highly seasonal cooking showcasing ingredients from their smallholding”.

The restaurant offers a full six-course menu for lunch and dinner all week, priced at £78 for the full dinner menu. A reduced set three-course menu at lunchtime runs £35–£39, available Wednesday to Friday, making Michelin-starred dining accessible at £35. Opening hours include 12 PM–2:30 PM and 6 PM–9:30 PM Thursday through Saturday, with Sunday closed.

Bulrush: The Established Michelin Star

Bulrush, located at 21 Cotham Road South, BS6 5TZ in Cotham, holds Bristol’s other Michelin star and represents George Livesey’s toned-down whitewash and wood interiors with toned-down influences. Chef/Proprietor George Livesey trained with top chefs including the Roux brothers, serving modern British cuisine at its very best.

The eight-course tasting menu doesn’t pull punches and isn’t afraid of trying new things, featuring dishes like swede chawanmushi, crab and elderflower tart, duck liver macaron, heritage beetroot with whey sorbet and rosehip, scallops with kohlrabi, smoked pike roe, seaweed and verjus, monkfish barbecued on a Japanese konro grill, and smoked mussels with yuzu and salsify. Diners can add an optional cheese course featuring Tunworth, honey, Wiltshire truffle, and homemade crackers.

The £50 tasting menu was available in 2018, with a la carte options ranging from £8–£10 for starters and desserts, and £17.50–£24 for mains. The restaurant operates Tuesday through Saturday from 18:00–19:30 for tasting menu service, with contact number 0117 329 0990.

What Are the Best Fine Dining Restaurants Without Michelin Stars?

Bristol’s top fine dining restaurants without Michelin stars include Adelina Yard (10-course tasting menu at £80), COR (Bib Gourmand holder in Bedminster), Box-E (7-course tasting menu at £55–£59), and The Ox (steak specialist with Josper grill cooking).

Adelina Yard: Relaxed Fine Dining Excellence

Adelina Yard, tucked away near the waterfront at Queen Quay, Welsh Back, BS1 4SL, specializes in modern European food with almost everything created under the Adelina Yard roof. Chef-owners Jamie Randall and Olivia Barry have worked in numerous fine dining establishments and create beautiful dishes focusing on carefully sourced local ingredients.

The restaurant serves a seasonal four-course set menu for £43 available Wednesday–Saturday from 12 PM–2 PM. The eight-course tasting menu runs £70 on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, while the 10-plus course menu costs £80 on Fridays and Saturdays. A nine-course tasting menu is £70 per person with a matching wine flight for £60.

Adelina Yard’s 12-course tasting menu for £80 per person is described as “very reasonably priced, creatively presented and very good” by diners. The restaurant opens Wednesday through Saturday, 12 PM–2 PM and 6 PM–8 PM, with Tuesday closed.

COR: Bib Gourmand Neighborhood Gem

COR, located at 81 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1ES, has led Bedminster’s foodie rise as one of Bristol’s most exciting newer openings. The restaurant marries precise cooking with a friendly, relaxed neighbourhood vibe, featuring classy Mediterranean cooking meeting quality West Country ingredients.

COR maintains room for a separate cheese menu, outstanding desserts, and a lovely natural wine list. Price per person ranges from £50–£60 for dinner. The restaurant operates Tuesday through Saturday, 12 PM–3:30 PM and 5 PM–10 PM, with Sunday closed.

Box-E: Wapping Wharf Shipping Container Fine Dining

Box-E, located at Unit 10, Cargo 1, Wapping Wharf, BS1 6WP, cooks tasty food with skill and care using the best local produce in a compact eatery with only 14 covers. Elliott and Tessa Lidstone’s restaurant has won a legion of fans since opening, making a meal here feel incredibly homely and personal.

The seven-course unwritten tasting menu costs £55–£59 per person (prices vary by source), with an optional wine flight at £40–£44 per head. The tasting menu needs to be requested in advance and changes throughout the year depending on seasons and best produce available. Current dishes include hand-dived scallops with wasabi and sour cream, Farmer Tom’s shiitakes with celeriac, hazelnut and cured egg, and Somerset venison with smoked beetroot and black garlic.

Box-E opens Wednesday through Saturday, 12 PM–2:15 PM and 5:30 PM–11 PM, with Monday and Tuesday closed.

The Ox: Steak Specialist with Josper Grill

The Ox, located in the basement at 43 Corn Street, BS1 1HT in Bristol’s Old City, serves foodie favourite steak in a darkly lit, vintage-style venue that’s dim and cosy. Meat takes precedence here with steaks cooked on a Josper grill to seal in flavour, each dry-aged for 35 days to provide highest-quality eats.

Steak options include 10.5oz bavette d’aloyau (£22), 10.5oz ribeye (£25), 10.5oz sirloin (£24), 6oz fillet (£21), and 10.5oz rump (£18), all served with triple cooked chips and sauce choice. The mixed grill (£45) features rump steak, pork chop, sausages, mushrooms, triple cooked chips, roast bone, marrow and roasting juices. A 30oz bone-in rib steak weighs in at £49.

The prix fixe menu comes at £25 for two courses and £30 for three, with starters like crab croquettes and chicken liver parfait. Between 5 PM–7 PM, a 6oz rump steak with sauce, chips and house wine is £12.50. The Ox operates Monday–Thursday 5 PM–9 PM, Friday–Saturday 12 PM–10 PM, and Sunday 12 PM–9 PM (roasts served until 5 PM).

How Much Does Fine Dining Cost in Bristol?

Fine dining in Bristol typically costs £40–£90 per person for main courses and tasting menus, with Michelin-starred Wilsons offering lunch at £35–£39 and dinner at £78, while 10-course menus at Adelina Yard reach £80.

Menu pricing varies significantly across establishments. Wilsons’ full dinner menu remains priced at £78, providing outstanding value for a Michelin star menu. The set lunch menu at Wilsons runs £35 Wednesday–Friday, allowing more guests to enjoy the creative cooking.

Adelina Yard’s pricing structure includes £38 for four-course lunch, £70 for eight-course evening tasting menu, and £80 for 10–12 course Friday–Saturday menus. Box-E offers the most affordable Michelin-recognized tasting menu at £55–£59 for seven courses.

Bulrush’s £50 tasting menu (2018 pricing) represents mid-range Michelinstar dining, with a la carte starters at £8–£10 and mains at £17.50–£24. The Ox provides accessible steak options starting at £18 for rump, with premium cuts like the 30oz rib at £49.

COR positions itself at £50–£60 per person for dinner, representing neighbourhood fine dining value. Evening meals at most establishments range £50–£80, while lunch options often drop to £35–£45.

What Types of Fine Dining Cuisine Are Available in Bristol?

Bristol’s fine dining cuisine spans modern British (Wilsons, Bulrush), modern European (Adelina Yard, Ronnie’s), Italian (Aqua, Bianchi’s Group), Mediterranean (COR), steak speciality (The Ox), and vegetable-focused small plates (Root, Marmo).

Modern British cuisine dominates Michelin-starred establishments, featuring dishes like Aylesbury duck breast with baby beetroot and smoked beetroot puree at Bulrush. Wilsons emphasizes home-grown vegetables and West Country suppliers with nature-connected, frequently changing menus.

Modern European cooking appears at Adelina Yard with freshly baked breads, cured meats, and carefully sourced local ingredients. Ronnie’s owner-chef Ron Faulkner, schooled in classic French techniques, delivers modern European cooking underpinned by passion for seasonal ingredients.

Italian cuisine focuses on “healthy, tasty and beautifully presented Italian cuisine” at Aqua, founded in Bristol in 1998, with diverse menus from oysters to burgers and locally sourced produce. The Bianchi’s Group operates Bianchi’s, Pasta Ripiena, Pazzo and Cotto across the city.

Mediterranean cooking meets West Country ingredients at COR, featuring precise cooking with friendly neighbourhood vibe. Vegetable-focused establishments include Root, which isn’t strictly vegetarian but focuses on vegetables making it vegan and veggie friendly with plenty of choice. Marmo offers hyper-seasonal small plates like roasted artichoke with hazelnut and green asparagus with smoked cod’s roe.

Steak speciality defines The Ox with Josper grill cooking and 35-day dry-aged beef. Korean cuisine appears at Dongnae on Chandos Road alongside Wilsons.

Where Are the Best Fine Dining Locations in Bristol?

Bristol’s finest dining locations concentrate in Cotham/Redland (Wilsons, Bulrush), Wapping Wharf cargo container district (Box-E, Root), Bedminster (COR), Clifton (The Clifton gastropub), and Welsh Back waterfront (Adelina Yard).

Chandos Road in Redland/Cotham represents Bristol’s most exciting foodie neighbourhood, boasting an astonishing collection including Michelin-starred Wilsons, Korean restaurant Dongnae, and Little Hollows Pasta. This area transformed from a dead zone for food decades ago into a thriving foodie district.

Wapping Wharf, Bristol’s relatively new cargo container district on an island in the city middle, hosts two Bib Gourmand-holders: Box-E in compact Unit 10 with 14 covers, and Root in Unit 9 with terrace overlooking Bristol’s harbouside. This waterside setting provides unique dining atmospheres.

Bedminster has become a hotspot of foodie activity in recent years, with COR leading the charge as one of Bristol’s most exciting newer openings on 81 North Street.

Clifton, trendy and home to Bristol’s best restaurants and highest house prices, features The Clifton gastropub at 16 Regent Street, BS8 4HG, toast of the city for tremendous seasonal British cooking and elegant timber-clad dining room.

Welsh Back waterfront near the harbour houses Adelina Yard at Queen Quay, tucked away near the waterfront for relaxed fine dining. The River Avon and Wapping Wharf make unique settings for Bristol’s fine-dining and award-winning spots.

Bristol city centre contains former Casamia at The General, Lower Guinea Street, BS1 6FU, now closed since August 2022. College Green, BS1 5TA hosts Marriott Royal Hotel and Miller and Carter Bristol City Centre.

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What Makes Bristol’s Fine Dining Scene Unique?

Bristol’s fine dining scene uniquely combines ultra-sustainable principles (Wilsons’ market garden), shipping container dining (Box-E at Wapping Wharf), vegetable-focused menus (Root, Marmo), and the city’s position as leading UK location for Bib Gourmands recognizing quality-value cooking.

Sustainability leadership defines Wilsons, which grows huge produce from its market garden down the road, ferments, cures and preserves as much as possible, with menus frequently changing based on freshness and seasonality. The restaurant’s dedication to sustainable cooking earned both Michelin Green Star (2022) and Michelin star (2025).

Bristol’s shipping container dining innovation at Wapping Wharf demonstrates creativity, with Box-E cooking quality food from a compact 14-cover eatery. This relatively new cargo container district on an island in the city middle provides unique waterside dining settings.

Vegetable championing appears at Root, focusing mostly on vegetables while championing seasonality and using local suppliers, making it very vegan and veggie friendly. Marmo’s hyper-seasonal small plates include roasted artichoke with hazelnut and green asparagus with smoked cod’s roe and fried nettles.

Bristol ranks as one of the leading cities in the country for Bib Gourmands, a distinction highlighting establishments offering great quality and great value cooking. The Blaise Inn pub in Henbury and Root both hold Bib Gourmand awards, with Michelin praising The Blaise Inn’s “good value, traditional British dishes cooked with a skilful, modern approach”.

The city’s food scene evolved significantly after Casamia’s August 2022 closure, which reduced Bristol’s Michelin star count from three to one (Bulrush) until Wilsons’ 2025 award brought it to two stars. Despite this reduction, Bristol maintains something for everyone from chic fine dining to cheap cheerful cafes.

Bristol’s incredible vegan choice stands out, with roundups of Bristol’s best vegan restaurants available. The city produces some of the country’s best tasting menus before considering vegan options.

Local ownership and independence characterize many establishments: Aqua is independent local Italian founded 1998, Wilsons is Jan and Mary Wilson’s charming neighbourhood bistro, Box-E is Elliott and Tessa Lidstone’s compact eatery, and COR represents a stunning neighbourhood restaurant.

West Country suppliers and home-grown vegetables dominate menus, with Wilsons showing heavy lean on home-grown vegetables and West Country suppliers recognized by Michelin’s 2022 Green Star award. George Livesey at Bulrush combines wide-ranging influences and unusual ingredients masterfully, pairing Isle of Wight tomatoes with saffron, sancho pepper and lemon leaf.

How Has Bristol’s Fine Dining Scene Changed Recently?

Bristol’s fine dining scene changed dramatically when Casamia closed permanently in August 2022 due to rising costs, reducing the city from three Michelin stars to one (Bulrush), until Wilsons earned its first Michelin star in February 2025, bringing Bristol back to two Michelin-starred restaurants.

Casamia, Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ flagship Bristol restaurant in the top 100 of National Restaurant Awards, was one of the first eateries in Bristol given a Michelin star and undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best, restaurant in Bristol at the time. The family reviewed financial viability for months, with some months breaking even and others losing money, leading to the difficult decision to close permanently on August 20 with a big closing party on August 23, 2022.

The unfortunate closure reduced Bristol’s Michelin star count, and for a while the city was home to a single Michelin star spot, George Livesey’s Bulrush. Just a few years ago, Bristol had more Michelin star restaurants than any UK city outside London.

In 2025, sustainable restaurant Wilsons joined the Michelin star list, adding to its existing Michelin Green Star awarded in 2022, bringing Bristol back to two Michelin-starred restaurants within 15 minutes walking distance.

New exciting openings emerged post-Casamia closure: COR led Bedminster’s foodie rise as one of Bristol’s most exciting newer openings, Zak Hitchman flexed culinary muscles at OTHER (32 Cannon Street) with thrilling sense of adventure refusing to be pigeon-holed, and The Blaise Inn in Henbury was taken over by new owners in 2021 bringing the kitchen into the 21st century.

Bristol’s foodie neighbourhoods transformed: Chandos Road alone from dead zone decades ago now thrives as one of Bristol’s most exciting foodie neighbourhoods with astonishing restaurant collection. Bedminster became a hotspot of foodie activity in recent years with COR leading the charge.

Wapping Wharf developed as Bristol’s relatively new cargo container district on an island in the city middle, hosting Box-E and Root as two Bib Gourmand-holders. The Clifton gastropub became toast of the whole city recently thanks to tremendous seasonal British cooking and elegant timber-clad dining room.

Peter Sanchez-Iglesias wanted to reopen Casamia just under two years after closure (January 2024), but the reopening status remains unclear. Meanwhile, Zak Hitchman, who served as head chef at Casamia before closure, now really flexes culinary muscles at OTHER with cooking refusing to be pigeon-holed, grabbing influences from far and wide.

Bristol maintains its position as south-westerly foodie haven with something for everyone from chic no-expense-spared fine dining down to comforts of cheap cheerful cafe or pub. The city still has some of the country’s best tasting menus before considering incredible vegan choice.

What Should You Know Before Booking Fine Dining in Bristol?

Before booking fine dining in Bristol, you must book ahead due to limited covers (Box-E has 14 covers, Adelina Yard is 20 covers), check opening hours as many close Sundays or specific days, and consider lunch pricing which is often 40–50% cheaper than dinner.

Limited seating requires advance booking: Box-E’s 14 covers make meals incredibly homely and personal, requiring booking to guarantee a seat. Adelina Yard’s tiny 20 cover restaurant located in Bristol’s famous food hub Wapping Wharf also recommends booking to make sure you get a seat.

Opening hours vary significantly: Wilsons closes Sunday, Box-E closes Monday–Tuesday, COR closes Sunday, Adelina Yard closes Tuesday, and The Ox operates limited Monday–Thursday evening hours. Many restaurants only open Wednesday–Saturday for evening service.

Lunch pricing offers substantial savings: Wilsons’ set lunch runs £35 Wednesday–Friday versus £78 dinner, Adelina Yard’s four-course lunch is £38–£43 versus £70–£80 evening tasting menus, and The Ox’s 5–7 PM special offers 6oz rump with sauce, chips and wine at £12.50 versus £18–£25 regular steak prices.

Tasting menu requirements vary: Box-E’s seven-course unwritten tasting menu needs to be requested in advance. Wilsons can cater to all dietary requirements with 48 hours notice. OTHER offers dedicated vegetarian and vegan menus.

Wine flights complement tasting menus: Box-E offers optional wine flight at £40–£44, Adelina Yard’s nine-course menu includes matching wine flight for £60, and Wilsons offers optional wine flight for £45 with five-course set menu.

Service charges typically apply: Most restaurants add 10% service charge (Adelina Yard, COR), which affects total pricing.

Location accessibility matters: Wilsons and Bulrush are within 15 minutes walking distance in Cotham/Redland, Wapping Wharf sits on an island in city middle requiring transport consideration, and Henbury’s The Blaise Inn is stone’s throw from Blaise Castle Estate gates perfect for post-walk lunch.

Dietary flexibility exists: Wilsons caters to all dietary requirements with 48 hours notice, OTHER does dedicated vegetarian and vegan menus, and Root is very vegan and veggie friendly with plenty of choice.

Seasonal menu changes mean dishes vary throughout year depending on seasons and best produce available, so specific dish expectations should remain flexible.

Bristol’s fine dining scene offers exceptional value compared to London, with Wilsons providing “outstanding value for a Michelin star menu of such quality” at £78 dinner and £35 lunch.