Bristol makes a great day out for a family of any age range. From traditional attractions like the new Bristol Zoo or Aquarium to the SS Great Britain, or a trip across the Clifton Suspension Bridge, there’s plenty to tire little legs out and build up a hunger.
Newer visitor ideas include interactive art exhibit Wake the Tiger, the We Are Curious science experience and many more. But at some point, fingers will point to empty tummies and expect topping up.
Fortunately, Bristol is also blessed with a decent number of great family-friendly restaurants that can provide a culinary education or just fill them up for the next bout of adventuring. As a popular destination, we recommend you book a restaurant in Bristol, and we list some great family-friendly dining ideas to get you started.
Family Dining in Bristol
A stone’s throw from Bristol Aquarium, Cappadocia on Baldwin Street offers fine Turkish dining with something for everyone. From Turkish pizzas to kebabs, chicken wings to lamb chops, and plenty of vegetarian options, with chicken nuggets, fish fingers, chicken shish or falafel on the kids’ menu for younger diners who want something simpler.
On Corn Street by the River Avon, among some grand old buildings, Bristol Harbour Kitchen & Bar’s menu offers local produce and flavours from partridge to halibut, with junior options including fish goujons and chicken strips. Mains include grilled chicken, battered haddock, or a burger.
Further along the Avon by the SS Great Britain, The Boardwalk offers everything from breakfast baps to cheeseburgers or pizza for lunch. At dinner, the lights go down and there are kebabs, tiger prawns, sirloin steak, maple cured salmon and a fish or allotment sharing board for families to tear into.
Colourful on the outside and a cheery delight indoors, Koocha Mezze Bar on Cheltenham Road, down from Gloucestershire Cricket Ground has something for all ages with an experimental palette, and a great vegan range.
From doner bao buns and roasted tenderstem broccoli with almonds to sweet potato samosas. Kids can try their own mini mezze, or play safe with a cheese burger or chicken kebab, with bottomless fruit juice to quench their thirst.
And for burger officiados, Milk Bun offers a great range of locally sourced beef, chicken and vegan burgers in their distinctive milk bun., With plenty of exciting toppings and sides, plus a strong range of cocktails and wines for the adults to wind down with.
Attractions and Dining Around Bristol
As big and busy as it is, Bristol has plenty of attractions in the local area outside the city. Head to Nailsea for Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Tyntesfield House, a National Trust property with charming gardens. And easy access to Weston-Super-Mare, Portishead and Clevedon Pier with the majesty of the Bristol Channel beyond.
As you head out to Clifton, a warm welcome is offered by the Ivy Clifton Brasserie. The all day menu does superb basics like fish and chips, or pan-roasted salmon, up to exciting dishes like steak tartare, bang bang aubergine and a range of steaks from the grill. The 1917 heritage menu offers a vegetarian heavy range from avocado puree to sweet potato and spinach curry or minute steak and grilled chicken for the carnivores.
When it comes to lunch or dinner, for something traditionally British, The Moorend Spout in Nailsea offers great pub food and a child’ s menu with ribs and chicken wing starters, burgers (with veggie option), nuggets, fish fingers and sausages, followed by a delicious salted caramel chocolate brownie, ice cream or cookie dough pud.
Older children and adults can wade through the lunch, set or Sunday menu for everything from full roasts to handmade chicken & ham hock or steak and ale pies, and grilled steaks.
Out in Clevedon, the Bristol Inn welcome travellers that made it this far, with a relaxing atmosphere by the River Avon and pub classics on tap with ideal meals for younger mouths from a garlic oven-baked ciabatta to sticky chicken wings to start, and nuggets, pizza, fish fingers, bangers and mash or beef burger mains
Summary
Wherever your wanderings take you in and around Bristol, there are plenty of great places to eat, from South American-flavoured festivals of beef to solid English fare, but only the one non-major-chain Japanese restaurant in Kibou Clifton.
Hopefully Bristol will up its variety in coming years for the next time you visit, but for now, there is plenty of variety, and children are welcome in most diners to prepare them for the next phase of your west-country journey.