Features / best of 2024
Bristol’s best new food and drink openings of 2024
Anybody starting a new business this year deserves to be commended and – more importantly – supported.
2024 has not been a bumper year for new openings but I have still tried my best to tuck into some of the best.
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
1. Dongnae
5-7 Chandos Road, Redland
Grilled pork belly with ssam and condiments, served with soup, rice and banchan – photo: Dongnae
A new restaurant from the team behind Bokman on Bristol’s culinary hotspot of Chandos Road was always going to be highly anticipated and Dongnae has exceeded all expectations. The cooking here is as authentic as you can find this side of Seoul and specialises in traditional Korean barbecue. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try the hanjeongsik menu which showcases some of chef-owners Kyu Jeong Jeon and Duncan Robertson’s favourite dishes.
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2. Wangs
66 Bath Buildings, Montpelier
Each of Wangs’ Cantonese chicken sticky rice bowls gets finished with a soy-cured egg yolk – photo: Wangs
Pop-ups have had a resurgence in Bristol this year and Wangs is proof of what pop-ups can become. Their restaurant may have opened in July but it has been in the works since 2019. This new neighbourhood eatery serves a small and regularly changing menu of dishes from across China.
3. Other
32 Cannon Street, Bedminster
Emma Lyons and Zak Hitchman outside Other, which they opened in October – photo: Other
With secret menu items and food served on Wallace & Gromit plates, Other from Emma Lyons and Zak Hitchman is one of the best new restaurants of the year and definitely the most fun. Popcorn chicken goes side by side with crab claws in this colourful new culinary experience in BS3.
BEST NEW PUB & BAR
1. The Crown Tavern
17 Lawfords Gate, St Jude’s
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This St Jude’s boozer might not officially be a new pub but the Crown is a new opening for all intents and purposes. From Sam Gregory of the Bank and the Bell – who also this year reopened the Sugar Loaf in Easton, and the Nova Scotia and the Rose of Denmark in Hotwells – it promises darts, dogs, sports music and a warm welcome. For traditionalists, it still serves bass and its refurbished dancefloor hosts Northern Soul sessions each Sunday evening.
2. Carmen Street Wine
Carmen Beckford Street, St Paul’s
Carmen Street Wine is only a stone’s throw from their sister restaurant Caper & Cure – photo: Martin Booth
From the team behind Caper & Cure, Carmen Street Wine is named after the new street it is located on within the Carriageworks development that itself is named after midwife and social activist Carmen Beckford. Head here for not just a glass of plonk but also for lunches, oysters and bottles for sale.
3. Lupe
63 & 65 North Street, Bedminster
Enjoy Eatchu’s karaage chicken loaded fries at Lupe – photo: Lupe
Another new bar from an experienced team, with Emily and Mike from Alpha Bottle Shop taking over the premises that for the last 13 years were the Old Bookshop. With Eatchu in the kitchen, Lupe – like Carmen Street Wine – only opened in October but has already become a firm favourite.
BEST NEW CAFE
1. Lonely Mouth
401 Gloucester Road
Lonely Mouth is inspired by Japanese listening cafes – photo: Lonely Mouth
Lonely Mouth has the distinction of being Bristol’s first and so far only Japanese listening cafe. The idea is to talk less and listen more, with thoughtful sound placement given the first priority. Following pop-ups at the Volunteer and the Plough, Olivia Maxwell-Yates has opened her first bricks and mortar premises with food favourites including spicy plum tofu and a kimchi cheese toastie, and a coconut water and matcha cream the drink of choice.
2. Commune
Castle Street
Commune has been opened by the Left Handed Giant team – photo: Martin Booth
Enjoy coffee from Triple Co as well as fresh sandwiches and salads, and a hidden garden. Commune – best accessed by bike on the Old Market side of Castle Park – is from Left Handed Giant, whose Hotplate Diner on Stokes Croft only narrowly missed out being included in this year’s favourite new openings.
3. Dareshack
4 Christmas Steps
Dareshack on Christmas Steps is a ‘coffee house concept’ – photo: Martin Booth
Dareshack is “a speciality coffee brand powering creativity with caffeine”. Their own caffeine, like Commune, is from Triple Co in Montpelier (for who 2024 has gone from strength to strength). The second Dareshack is a bijou cafe that’s now part of the tightly-knit Christmas Steps community.
Main photo: Benjamin Pryor
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