SqaureMeal’s UK Top 100 Restaurants is unique in that it excludes London restaurants from its list. Shining its light on the rest of the UK’s exciting dining scene and giving places like Bristol plenty of room to shine – with five Bristol restaurants featuring among an impressive cohort.
The green-fingered, farm-to-table restaurant, Wilsons is this year’s biggest Bristol achiever – leapfrogging many others to go from last year’s 64th to SqaureMeal’s 20th top restaurant in 2024. SquareMeal says, “Plates that appear deceptively simple but are underpinned by exacting technique are the order of the day at Wilsons, one of Bristol’s best restaurants. Here you’ll find true allegiance to showcasing sustainability through seasonality in fresh new ways.”
Elsewhere, Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ Michelin-starred Paco Tapas, the “refreshingly relaxed Spanish tapas restaurant in Bristol”, came 25th, while his other restaurant, Casa, “bringing back refined Italian cuisine to Bristol”, also featured again (44). Also returning from last year’s SqaureMeal’s UK Top 100 Restaurants list was COR (92), which was described as “a warm and friendly environment for all”.
The only restaurant not to return from last year is, surprisingly, Bristol’s only other Michelin-star restaurant – Bulrush. There was a new addition, however, the live-fire cooking restaurant, BANK (82). SquareMeal says: “Excellent produce cooked over fire is exactly what to expect from this neighbourhood joint. Head chef Jack Briggs-Horan brings produce to life with indulgent dishes that are designed to share.”
Which other local restaurants made SquareMeal’s UK Top 100?
The South West’s biggest winner, or loser depending on how you perceive it, was Osip in Bruton, Somerset. After winning in 2022 and coming second in 2023, it came sixth. But as SquareMeal says: “Our top UK restaurant of 2021 is still flying high, and with Osip due to move to a brand new location in the near future, we’re expecting even bigger things from Merlin Labron-Johnson in 2024. Gentle, precise and elegant, Osip is still a must-visit restaurant.”
Pine in Northumberland topped SquareMeal’s UK Top 100 of 2024. “This windswept old cattle barn has been transformed by Cal and Sian Byerley into a truly transcendent destination restaurant. Even the smallest details are executed with watchmaker’s precision, but Pine still manages to be effortlessly charming and relaxed. An incredible achievement.” Sounds incredible, but six hours from Bristol, we won’t be visiting anytime soon.
Olive Tree (71), Upstairs at Landrace (76), The Beckford Canteen (95) in Bath, Lumiere (55) in Cheltenham, Holm (49) in South Petherton and The Clockspire (100) in Sherborne, however, are all a bit more local to Bristol. To see the complete SquareMeal’s UK Top 100 head here.