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Cosmopolitan
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Bristol city guide: Everything to eat, drink and do on your next staycation
Skins, Banksy, Massive Attack and… the bungee jump were all forged in Bristol. It's also the place where I was invited on a 'boat' trip to Bath and the boat turned out to be a paddle board, but the less said about that the better. Considering its legacy of creating fun, cool things, it's no surprise that, every time I go there, Bristol surprises me. It's a place full of variety, with so many different things to do (and food and drink to consume). Here's everything I've loved in the city… Corn Street, located in Bristol's old town, is a hub for restaurants and bars. A wander up and down offers so many different options, from chain places (don't knock it, sometimes it's nice to go to somewhere you know and love) to more unusual restaurants and bars, in magnificent buildings that I'm told were once banks and merchant halls in the 18th Century. The Harbour Kitchen, housed in an old banking hall, manages to be both chic and romantic with modern floral seating, cornflower blue walls and, most crucially, a simple but classic menu that changes with the season. Speaking of harbours, during the summer, heading down to the harbour and eating by the water, is a surefire way to find a buzzy atmosphere. We had brunch at No1 Harbourside, which had plenty of veggie and vegan options. Sourcing only locally sourced ingredients, and drinks, is the cafe at arts centre, Arnolfini, now managed by award-winning, independent brewery Bristol Beer Factory. They serve food until 3pm, and have an outdoor decking area (as well as plenty of tables inside, in case it's chilly). The Olive Shed also has a huge outdoor terrace, that serves organic and local tapas, overlooking the waterfront. Up in Clifton, which, surrounding the famous (and breathtakingly beautiful) Clifton Suspension Bridge is a warren of cobblestone streets, perfect for mooching about in, stopping for coffee and snacks along the way. For the best view of the world-famous bridge (it's 702-foot long and 250-foot high!) and towers above Avon Gorge, Goram & Vincent, has views wherever you sit, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows and massive outdoor terrace. As soon as I heard there was a bar that served as a filming location for Disney+ historical drama Rivals I knew I had to go and see if I could find my very own Declan O' Hara. Or, at the very least, pretend that I was a glamorous 80s seductive siren (without the shoulder-pads). The Gold Bar (also on Corn Street) is so opulent it really has to be seen to be believed. Its eclectic styling included vintage neon-lit posters, floral wallpaper and huge mirrored chests to rest your cocktail on. But, if you prefer pints over cocktails, you're better off heading to King Street, a famous cobbled street housing historic pubs as well as newer openings that pride themselves on their craft beer. We took a wander down there one afternoon and found locals bursting out the doorways, with live music playing in almost every pub. Or, if you fancy a pint of cider (the drink Bristol is famous for) The Apple is a pub dedicated to the stuff, housed, on a boat over two floors. Let's face it, city-breaks can be absolutely exhausting. Sometimes you don't want to see a castle (although Bristol's was established all the way back in the 11th Century and plenty of people love to visit the remains…) and you just need to chill. I spent a lovely solo-morning at the Bristol Lido, an outdoor heated pool, communal sauna and steam-room with massage treatment rooms. After a couple of laps (and a gossip with locals in the sauna) head upstairs for lunch in the glass-fronted pool-side restaurant. I felt so smug sitting there, after my swim, with my book and a spritz. If you're planning a group trip, and need something to make an endless pub crawl more fun, try Alcotraz. It's a themed bar, with a twist: you 'smuggle' your liquor in (by the way, this means bringing a bottle of a spirit of your choice) become part of the story, and your fellow inmates (the bar staff, but don't tell anyone) mix you personalised cocktails. It's silly and made all the more fun if you truly get into character. Speaking of immersive, Bristol is also home to the UK's largest immersive art experience, Wake The Tiger. It has over 40 uniquely different and interactive spaces and is like stepping into a huge playground. Warning: there are slides, so wear flat shoes (and don't wear a short skirt!) There's something so 'home-away-from-home' about staying in a hotel that's situated above a pub. I will also always choose this option when travelling on my own, as, when you're getting a footing in a new city, there's something so comforting, on the first night, to have a small wander, before having some food in the pub below your room. It's a good way of settling in and feeling at home somewhere. Saying that, the rooms at Horts Townhouse, also scream 'romantic night away'. Each of the 19 brand new and individually designed boutique bedrooms are different, some have roll top baths, others have space if you want to bring along your dog. But what they all have in common is rainfall showers, Nespresso coffee machine, huge beds and a well-stocked mini-bar for tucking into, in robes after… well, whatever you choose to do in that massive bed. Another nearby option is the Radisson Blu, an 18-storey high-rise with 176 rooms, right beside the harbour in the city centre. It offers 24-hour room service, unlimited Wi-Fi and the bar overlooks the waterfront. It's the perfect place if there's a group of you heading to Bristol for a girl's weekend, especially as it's a short walk away from Corn Street and town. Follow Catriona Innes, Cosmopolitan's Commissioning Director, on Instagram and Substack. Catriona Innes is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Commissioning Editor, who has won BSME awards both for her longform investigative journalism as well as for leading the Cosmopolitan features department. Alongside commissioning and editing the features section, both online and in print, Catriona regularly writes her own hard-hitting investigations spending months researching some of the most pressing issues affecting young women today. She has spent time undercover with specialist police forces, domestic abuse social workers and even Playboy Bunnies to create articles that take readers to the heart of the story. Catriona is also a published author, poet and volunteers with a number of organisations that directly help the homeless community of London. She's often found challenging her weak ankles in towering heels through the streets of Soho. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Business Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Post
101 Great Irish Restaurants: Head for Leinster's best culinary addresses
The 2025 edition of 101 Great Irish Restaurants, produced in partnership with Nespresso Professional, showcases the depth and breadth of Ireland's food scene, from casual bistros to Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants. Here are the venues in Leinster that made the cut this year. The cash-rich, discerning people of Greystones were bizarrely lacking in a restaurant offering good fish and seafood until the arrival of the Harbour Kitchen, which is housed upstairs from the Beach House pub. Now they can choose from dishes like crab with dressed celery and wasabi buttermilk, moules mariniere with chips and sourdough that is an utter bargain at €19.50, and wild halibut with house-made gnocchi. Owner Sheerin Wilde and his young, enthusiastic team offer superb service, while chef Jaco Pretorius, who you might have know of old from La Maison on Castle Market in Dublin 2, cooks up food that is precise, unfussy and bursting with flavour. The gods were certainly smiling on the owners of Carton House when Adam Nevin, a wildly talented young chef from nearby Maynooth, was persuaded to return home from London and take the reins at what must easily be one of the most beautiful dining rooms on this island. Awarded a Michelin star in February, a return visit in April confirmed Nevin's status as a serious talent, with at least two dishes - scallops with preserved truffle and salami, and a strawberry, lime and olive oil pre-dessert - easily at two star level. Expect exciting things in this kitchen over the next few years courtesty of Nevin, who is still only 30, and his team. Bearu, New Ross, Co Wexford, This hard working little gem of a restaurant run by husband and wife Dave Rowley and Siobhán Ward lures the punters in with delicious breakfasts, lunches and afternoon cake breaks, with stunning bakes from Claire Griffin, and stays open for dinner too on Friday and Saturday nights. The concise, seasonally-led menu has three choices of starter and main, and two for dessert. It changes very regularly, which is great for local customers, and draws on Rowley's extensive repertoire of classics. Fish is always a good choice, being so close to the busy south east fishing ports, and a recent dish of pan-roasted cod, with chicken velouté, wild garlic and celeriac was a standout. Leave room for desserts, which are outstanding without being overly fussy. From this month, newly-sanctioned daytime outdoor seating will be a big draw here. Thyme, Athlone, Co Westmeath, To scroll through Thyme's Instagram feed is to almost guarantee that soon - very soon - you will get in your car and drive to Athlone to eat the food there. If you're visiting in game season, you might get to eat Sika deer with red cabbage and kohlrabi; in spring, a rhubarb and stem ginger baked Alaska. Chef John Coffey, who runs Thyme with his wife Tara, is not only a wonderful chef, but a generous mentor to the young cooks who come through his kitchen, and a champion some wonderful Irish food suppliers. Chakra by Jaipur, Greystones, Co Wicklow, One of the pioneers of Indian fine dining in Ireland, Asheesh Dewan is the man behind this bright, airy restaurant in the Meridian Point centre in Greystones. The room was always an attractive one, but a post-Covid makeover that included the addition of new booths and a bar, as well as a serious upgrade to the cocktail offering, only enhanced its appeal. Everything is good here, but some particular favourites include chef Santosh's Nepalese chicken, the Himalayan venison - it'll put hairs on your chest - and the Goan prawn curry. Vegetarians and vegans will be spoiled for choice, and the presentation of the dishes is among the most elegant you will see anywhere. Campagne, Kilkenny city, No one does the classics like Gareth Byrne. Confit of suckling pig with black pudding and choucroute, Paris-Brest with hazelnut butter cream and lemon curd - his menu is a temptation-packed delight. Opened in 2008 and awarded a Michelin star in 2013, this Kilkenny city gem is run by Byrne and his partner Brid Hannon, and has built up an incredibly loyal customer base. Don't live locally? Not a problem. Campagne is only a few minutes walk from the train station. The Sea Rooms at Kelly's, Rosslare, Co Wexford, It's hard to know where to look when you sit down to dinner in this stunning, elevated glass box structure with its unobstructed views of the magnificent manicured gardens and outdoor art installations at Kelly's Resort Hotel and the Irish sea beyond. As you enter, take note of the custom built Smokin' Soul grill; this beast is the beating heart of the restaurant, bringing the fire and smoke that subtly permeate head chef Chris Fullam's menu. The Dubliner is going into his third season here and he brings an interesting, sophisticated take on modern dining, capitalising on the hotel's vegetable garden, proximity to the sea and the lush Wexford grazing pastures. Demonstrating his versatility, Fullam offers both vegetarian and vegan versions of his seven-course menu. On the core menu, available as either seven courses or three, you might find dishes such as barbecued halibut with white asparagus, garden peas, pesto and vin jaune. Square, Dundalk, Co Louth, Conor Halpenny's Square was always worth a vist - a Business Post review late last year described the cooking there as 'quietly brilliant' - but a recently-completed renovation makes it even more of a draw. What to eat? The fried corn ribs are a joy whether you're veggie or not, while the Square KFC - available as either a starter or a main - will make you wonder why you ever crossed the door of a certain chain of fast food chicken restaurants. The drinks selection is superb across the board, too. The Dining Room at Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Co Laois, One of three Irish restaurants to win Michelin stars for the first time in February - the Morrison Room at Carton House, and Lignum in Galway being the other two - the dining room at Ballyfin Demesne makes the most of the estate's incredible kitchen garden. You might presume that somewhere this grand would only offer a tasting menu, but there's an a la carte too, with full vegetarian versions of both also available, something that remains incredibly rare in Ireland. The setting, as you'll know if you've visited, is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but the service is wonderfully warm too. Alumni Kitchen Table, Rathangan, Co Kildare, For three nights each week, chef Philip Mahon and his sommelier wife Kathy open their home and business to a maximum of eight guests, seated at a communal table in their kitchen dining room, or at the prep counter, right in the middle of the action. They call it an 'immersive culinary experience with food, wine and hospitality in mind', and it really is something quite unique. Every morsel, from the snacks that open your meal to the handmade chocolates that bring it to a delicious close, is made in-house by Philip, who brings his Michelin experience to dishes such as Union Hall lobster, spiced tomato ketchup, burnt cream and tarragon emulsion. Most diners stay overnight in one of the four bedrooms available to guests. The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, This grand dame benefits from having one of the most exquisite dining rooms in the country, with views over the immaculate gardens to the river Nore beyond. Michelin has bestowed a star on the restaurant for the past 12 years, and for eight of those chef John Kelly has headed the kitchen. He says he brings his personality, his locality and his travels to his cooking, as demonstrated by a dish of Tipperary organic veal, baby leek, black truffle, aged Comté cheese. He also has an extensive on-site larder to capitalise on, so you'll find estate herbs and 'salad cream' paired with asparagus, and Mount Juliet honey in a dessert with Waterford whiskey and orange. This year, chef Kelly and sommelier Jean-Baptiste Renault have introduced an elevated prestige wine pairing to sit alongside the fine wine pairing offered with the tasting menu. Keep your phone camera ready, if that's your thing, for the arrival of the custom made petits fours trolley. The Coach House, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, This is the kind of place where you'd be happy to get snowed in - in fact, you might actually pray for it. It's an impossibly cosy spot in the tiny Wicklow village of Roundwood where you'll find dishes like free range chicken schitznel and Wicklow venison pie, as well as rooms on-site with comfy beds that you can flop into after eating. Simon Pratt and Monique McQuaid are at the helm of this complex, which also includes Roundwood Stores, the much-adored cafe. Apparently, Billie Eilish once popped in to eat in the Coach House, and if it's good enough for a musical icon, it's good enough for us. Bramley, Abbeyleix, Co Laois, Where would we be without family-run, small hospitality businesses like Bramley? Run by husband and wife Sam and Emily Moody, it offers lunch and dinner dishes that are simply, but deliciously executed. Dinner might include organic free-range pork with home made gnocchi, or venison with turnip and a spiced date puree. For dessert, you'll find it hard to resist the hot chocolate soufflé with white chocolate ice cream - you're only human, after all - but there are also lighter options like strawberries with mint, lime and elderflower ice.
