As if Bristol wasn’t blessed with enough lovely wine bars to leave us wobbly at the knees. The owners of Bristol restaurant Tare have launched another at Wapping Wharf. Picole, a wine and food bar, has opened at the Cargo 2 development site previously home to Woky Ko.
Tare opened in 2017 with the launch of the Cargo’s shipping containers, with the 20 cover restaurant offering a tasting menu of global dishes made from high-quality West Country ingredients. Picole, meanwhile, has been in the works for several years to express the Tare’s growing passion for wine.
As such, Picole have a far greater focus on wines than its sister site. With natural, low-intervention wines selected by the wine bar’s manager, Davey Alford, it offers a diverse wine list with plenty of by-the-glass options. If you’re more of a wino than a wine snob, don’t worry. The team will happily guide you through the menu.
Head Chef, Rino Di Donato also has prepared a selection of small plates, sharing boards and snacks too. So no one leaves the wine bar too light-headed at the end of the day. Expect anything from fried pommes anna and cauliflower arancini, to steamed mussels and Cornish lamb shoulder ragu. We have our eye on the orange tart from the sweet menu.
Since the closure of Gaol Ferry Bridge earlier this year, many businesses in the Wapping Wharf area have struggled to attract visitors. Cargo’s shipping containers are likely to be replaced in the near future too. with plans in place for a new 12-storey building on Bristol’s harbourside.
Whatever happens, however, we’re sure Picole will hit all the right notes to be a success. Book ahead to guarantee a spot, but there is a small area for walk-ins on a first come first serve basis. To learn more and to book a table head here.
Unit 25, Museum Street, Wapping Wharf, Bristol BS1 6ZA