The Michelin Guide for Great Britain & Ireland 2024 is out. Sadly, there are no new winners for Bristol – even sadder still, there might even be a loser. It appears only one of Bristol’s (previously) two Michelin restaurants has retained its stars for 2024. But which one?
A couple of years ago, with Casamia and Paco Tapas, Peter Sanchez-Iglesias had two Michelin restaurants in Bristol. With the release of the 2024 Michelin Guide, he no longer owns any. Unfortunately, the Spanish tapas-style restaurant can no longer count itself among the elite – though it’s still one of the best restaurants in Bristol. Bulrush in Cotham, however, still holds one Michelin star.
Meanwhile, The Clifton was awarded a Bib Gourmand for offering great quality, great value cooking. Only opening in July last year, the pub has impressed by making everything from scratch, from sourdough bread and cultured butter to fresh pasta, and takes influences from ‘Nose to Tail’ and wood fire cooking. Expect anything from Welsh rarebit to venison, trotter and pickled walnut pie, poached pear and beetroot salad or whole grilled quail, cavolo nero and chasseur sauce.
What are Bristol’s Michelin-star restaurants?
1. Bulrush
Bulrush is well-known for blending Anglo-French cuisine with Japanese and Scandinavian influences. There’s also a large focus on locally sourced and foraged ingredients while preserving and pickling also play a key role. Just some of the dishes you’ll find at this cosy Cotham neighbourhood restaurant include Jerusalem artichoke chawanmushi, duck liver macaron; and roast fallow deer, hen of the woods, black pudding Danish. It’s also one of the UK’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurants – Bulrush’s tasting menu is £90 and an extra £70 for accompanying wines
MICHELIN Guide says: “It might appear quite modest, but this neighbourhood restaurant is a sweet spot, with an appealingly relaxed, cosy feel; sit downstairs to soak up the atmosphere from the on-view kitchen. Top-notch seasonal ingredients are either foraged or organic, and preserving and pickling play a key role on the imaginative, well-balanced and deftly prepared tasting menu. Combinations are original and provide plenty of contrasts and flavours are clear and natural, with the occasional Japanese influence. The astutely chosen wine flight creates the perfect partnership.”
21 Cotham Rd S, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5TZ