Bristol has a huge number of pubs and a decent number of breweries. If you’re in town for a few days or hours, where should you go to drink?
We’re asked for advice on this all the time and in 2018 decided that, rather than keep typing up the advice in emails and DMs, we’d give it a permanent home.
We aim to update this post at least once a year and this most recent update is from 7 December 2025.
If you’re reading this later in the year, some of the pubs we recommend might have changed or closed.
We haven’t been to every pub in Bristol, although we’re not far off, having been to 318 at the time of writing.
We’ve visited most of those in the city centre, and most several times.
In general, Bristol pubs are pretty easy to find, on main roads rather than backstreets.
They’re also fairly easy to read: chain pubs look like chain pubs, craft beer bars look like craft beer bars, and so on.
So, you won’t go too far wrong following your instincts.
There are some hidden gems in the suburbs and up side streets, though, so do explore.
And if you want to keep things loose there are some decent crawls with varied and interesting pubs:
- St Michael’s Hill – Zero Degrees, The Open Arms, The Robin Hood, The White Bear (sometimes), Beerd, The Highbury Vaults.
- Gloucester Road – start at The Inn on the Green at the top, drop into The Crafty Cow, The Wellington, The Drapers Arms, and then keep going until you’re done, or you arrive in town. Or vice versa.
- Kingsdown – The Hare on the Hill, The Hillgrove Porter Stores, The Kingsdown Vaults, The Green Man, The Highbury Vaults.
- King Street – Small Bar, The Royal Naval Volunteer, The Beer Emporium, Llandoger Trow, The Old Duke (jazz and cask ale), among others.
- Bedminster – there are a lot of pubs in Bedminster, from very down-to-earth to super-crafty. Standouts are Lupe (formerly The Old Bookshop), Alpha Bottle Shop & Tap, and the Bristol Beer Factory taproom.
- St Judes – The Crown (Bass, Cheddar Ales), The Swan With Two Necks (see below), The Volunteer, The Phoenix.
Before we get down to business we must once again thank Patreon supporters like Peter Sidwell, Phil Cook and Robert Baker, whose ongoing support justifies us spending time putting this together, including on-the-ground reserach. If you find this post useful please do consider signing up or at least buying us a pint via Ko-Fi.
Our former local
We’re very fond of the The Drapers Arms, 447 Gloucester Road, Horfield, BS7 8TZ, and find it hard to be objective but here are some facts and figures: it’s a micropub; has frequently been selected as CAMRA local pub of the year; serves at least five local ales direct from the cask; is open from 5pm Monday to Thursday, from 4pm on Friday, and at from 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. (Check before visiting, though.) It’s a bus ride from the city centre, or about an hour’s walk along Gloucester Road, with its many interesting shops and cafes.
The shortlist
A while ago we talked about the importance of giving straightforward answers.
With that in mind here are a few quite different pubs we’d particularly recommend if you’ve got a couple of hours spare in the centre, between trains and meetings.
The Kings Head
Probably our favourite pub in central Bristol, this one is owned by Kelly and Bob, formerly of Good Chemistry brewing, and run by Neil and Laura. All of these are pub people through and through.
The beer is a pleasing mix of cask ales and keg, often from out of town through swaps (Fyne Ales Jarl has been spotted). There’s also Orval and a few other continental classics in bottles. You might get your pint served in a 1930s-style ten-sided pint glasses if you’re lucky.
Just be aware that it is a small pub, so not suitable for large groups, and doesn’t open until 4pm on Mondays.
60 Victoria Street, BS1 6DE
The Barley Mow, St Philips
Definitely a pub, but modern. It has a large range of sensibly chosen keg beers; several cask beers, often including Tiley’s and Bristol Beer Factory; and is a short walk from the central station at Temple Meads. It can get busy around rush hour, during the pub quiz, and when Sunday roasts are being served. It has somewhat restricted opening hours, and is closed at lunchtime on Monday and Tuesday.
39 Barton Rd, St Philips, BS2 0LF
The Llandoger Trow
A Bristol classic that nearly shut and has now been revived. It has a great range of German and Czech beer; decent cask ale, often from out of town, as well as local stuff; and interesting keg beers, usually including a sour beer or two. If you can’t find something to drink here, you’re being fussy. We also find the team notably friendly and welcoming.
King Street, BS1 4ER
‘Proper pubs’
We’re talking here about the kind of place with only one, two or three hand-pumps, one of which is permanently dedicated to Bass, Courage Best, Butcombe, or something along those lines; which is, or feels, antique brown; and which, if you’re lucky might have ham rolls in clingfilm, or a pork pie to eat.
The Merchants Arms, Hotwells
A small, basic 19th century beerhouse with partitions, pork pies and soft light through etched windows. Cask ale is often from the excellent Cheddar Ales. Check whether Bristol City are playing at home or whether there’s rugby on because it’s tiny and gets busy on matchdays.
5 Merchants Road, BS8 4PZ
The Bank
Our suggestion for a central, old-school, backstreet pub. On an alleyway next to a churchyard along the line of the old city wall, this small pub has the feel of a local boozer despite its central location. Small range of local ales, often including Cheddar Ales. (But busy on Sundays when it serves its famous roast.)
8 John St, BS1 2HR
The Orchard, Spike Island
A genuine backstreet pub hidden away behind the SS Great Britain. It specialises in cider (hence the name) but also has decent beer and a vast range of good value bar snacks. The photo above is from a few years back. In 2025, if anything, it’s even more ‘pubby’. On a recent visit, we waited a few minutes for a seat, but it was very much worth it.
12 Hanover Place, BS1 6XT
The Open Arms
Formerly The Colston Arms. A multi-room pub, one bare, one fancy, with Bristol Beer Factory beers and a varied crowd heavily seasoned with medical types.
24 St Michael’s Hill, BS2 8DX
Highbury Vaults, Kingsdown
A characterful, truly broken-in Young’s pub with invariably excellent Ordinary, alongside other beers. Wonderfully cosy in winter, with a large semi-covered yard for summer drinking. It was formerly the flagship pub for defunct brewery Smiles and traces of that history can still be spotted.
164 St Michael’s Hill, BS2 8DE
The Nova Scotia, Hotwells
This pub came under new ownership in 2024. It was always a traditional, characterful, old skool boozer but now has a slightly better beer range, including things like London Pride, Bass and Wye Valley Butty Bach, and a warmer vibe. Pies, scotch eggs and rolls are available.
1 Nova Scotia Place, BS1 6XJ
Bristol beers and breweries
At the time of writing Bristol has, give or take, around 20 breweries, ranging from tiny (Ashley Down) to big local players like Bristol Beer Factory and Left Handed Giant.
And there are plenty of other breweries outside the city, such as Cheddar Ales and Butcombe.
If you’re in town for a weekend or a day trip look out for:
- Any of the quirky one-offs from Ashley Down
- Bristol Beer Factory’s pale-and-hoppy range
- Butcombe Original
- Cheddar Ales Gorge Best
- Left Handed Giant Hefeweizen
- Lost & Grounded Keller Pils
- New Bristol Brewery Cinder Toffee Stout
The Bristol brewing scene is in constant flux with breweries closing, changing hands, and opening, so this is by no means a definitive list.
Pubs for beer and other special attractions
The Swan With Two Necks, St Jude’s
Relaunched in 2019 with a light facelift. It still feels as if it’s on a backstreet in Manchester or Birmingham, and is surrounded by factories and council flats. The keg list is stronger than the cask but there’s always something good to drink and a cool, laidback atmosphere. In recent months, some excellent cask ales from Burton Bridge have been a fixture. Sunday afternoons are especially good with DJs playing old records and free roast potatoes on the bar. (But bring hand sanitiser because handwashing facilities are not a given.)
12 Little Ann St, BS2 9EB
Lupe, Bedminster
Looks like a café with lots of light but has an impressive range of beers from Belgium, Germany and the UK. Formerly The Old Bookshop, it’s not quite as special as it was, but still has one of the most interesting ranges of beer in the city. Food on our most recent visit was a Japanese-style menu, including gyoza dumplings, from local favourites Eatchu.
65 North St, BS3 1ES
Grain Barge, Hotwells
A pub on a boat with views over the water and across to the SS Great Britain. A long-time favourite of ours with a range of Bristol Beer Factory beers on cask and keg, and in bottles, plus guests. Lots of eating goes on but isn’t compulsory. The best seats are on the shelf opposite the bar from where you can watch passing boats, paddleboarders, swans, and other maritime goings-on.
Mardyke Wharf, BS8 4RU
The Portcullis, Clifton
A pub with an even more convincingly Belgian atmosphere that could have gone in a couple of other sections in this guide: it’s also a ‘proper pub’ and ‘neighbourhood standout’. Extremely cosy with a well-chosen range of Belgian beer on draught and in bottles, plus cask ale from breweries such as Bristol Beer Factory.
3 Wellington Terrace, BS8 4LE
The Bridge Inn
A very cosy corner pub on the edge of the city centre with a decent range of cask ale in good condition, Belgian bottles, and German lager on keg. Much improved in the last year or two.
16 Passage St, BS2 0JF
Bristol flat Bass
Bass has long been a popular beer in Bristol and is still served in many old skool pubs, especially in the outer suburbs.
At pubs like The Sandringham in Sandy Park and The Avon Packet in Bedminster it is served from vintage 1970s electric pumps with absolutely no foam whatsoever. That is, completely, totally headless.
This isn’t a flaw, it’s a feature. Publicans are proud of getting this right and veteran Bristol Bass drinkers expect it to be served this way.
The Crown, a newly refurbished pub in St Jude’s has broken with tradition. Though the long tradition of selling Bass continues, and there is even a loyalty card scheme, it is served with a handpump and a head of foam.
Standout neighbourhood pubs
Snuffy Jacks, Fishponds
Another of Bristol’s six micropubs, looking out onto a busy artery road. It has a bank of guest ales and a good atmosphere when busy, with lots of local regulars. It keeps unusual hours, though, so check before you go.
800 Fishponds Road, BS16 3TE
The Good Measure, Redland
Another pub owned by Kelly and Bob, late of Good Chemistry, and run by Neil and Laura. A little out of town. Minimal but not sparse, with a small but carefully chosen selection of keg and cask beers, often including things like Timothy Taylor Landlord – a real statement of intent alongside the hazy IPAs.
2b Chandos Road, BS6 6PE
The Plough, Easton
A large backstreet pub just off the Bristol-Bath cycle path. Hippy vibes, a St Pauli obsession, busy pool table, pickled onion monster munch, and a sensible beer range for the location. On our most recent visit in December 2024 we enjoyed very decent pints of Butcombe Bitter.
223 Easton Road, BS5 0EG
The Duke of York, St Werburghs
A quirky, bohemian pub decorated with, for example, a collection of Victorian dolls, and a bookcase made from a coffin. It has a working West Country skittle alley, an excellent range of crisps and snacks, and a very decent selection of beer. On our last visit, in December 2024, we enjoyed Wye Valley Butty Bach and Nightjar, the same brewery’s Guinness clone.
2 Jubilee Rd, BS2 9RS
The Annexe, Bishopston
A strange pub in a permanent temporary structure behind its twin, the Sportsman. It feels a bit like a sport-and-social club but is very pubby nonetheless, with a good line-up of classic ales, usually including things like Timothy Taylor Landlord. Great value pizzas. And all of the sports, on multiple TV screens.
Seymour Road, BS7 9EQ
The Oxford, Totterdown
A community local, cult favourite, and Good Beer Guide regular. Students and elderly ska-fans on one memorable visit, with Bristol Beer Factory milk stout on cask.
120-122 Oxford Road, BS3 4RL
The Star, Fishponds
An Irish pub in the sense that it is run by Irish people and lots of Irish people drink there. It claims to have the best Guinness in Bristol and it is certainly served with care and reverence, if that’s your thing.
539 Fishponds Rd, BS16 3AF
Old Castle Green
A new entry for 2026, this pub in Bristol’s gay village has a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere and a very decent range of local cask and keg beers. It also has one of the better beer gardens in Bristol.
46 Gloucester Lane, Bristol BS2 0DP
Chain pubs and bars
Zero Degrees
The interior might be rather sterile but the beer is simply very good these days, especially the takes on classic Continental styles. The view from the roof terrace is pretty spectacular, too.
53 Colston St, BS1 5BA
The Old Fish Market
A flagship Fuller’s pub in central Bristol which is corporate-feeling but is smart, well run, and has great beer.
59-63 Baldwin St, city centre, Bristol BS1 1QZ
Other chains
There are also multiple BrewDog bars, Wetherspoon pubs, and a branch of Brewhouse & Kitchen, if those are your kind of thing.
Brewery taprooms
This isn’t really a guide to taprooms but, for completeness, our personal favourites for 2025 are…
- Lost & Grounded, 91 Whitby Rd, Brislington, Bristol BS4 4AR, weekends only – unusual focus on lager and Continental beer styles.
- Wiper & True, Unit 11, City Business Park, St Jude’s, Bristol BS5 0SP – a flagship taproom with a gorgeous urban garden, plenty of space, and all the W&T beers.
- Little Martha, Arch 23, Oxford Street, Bristol BS2 0QT – often very busy thanks to its proximity to various office blocks and Temple Meads.
Finally, here’s most of that in the form of a Google Map (last updated 5 January 2025).
How we put this guide together
Patreon subscribers (subscriptions start at a couple of quid a month) can also read a note on the process behind putting this guide together – including explanations for why some pubs have been removed, and for some potentially controversial omissions.
