When isn’t it wine o’clock somewhere? White, red, sparkling, and orange, there’s a refreshing glass of vino for every occasion! And whether it’s an old or new world wine, or even made from grapes grown in the South West, they all deserve our love and attention (or a good ol’ glug) after a long day at work. From tucked-away, no-nonsense independents serving trendy, natural wines to Italian eateries with an extensive European list, Bristol isn’t short on wine bars.
1. Kask
With the motto, ‘Say no to shit wine’, Kask brings some of the best bottles to the city. Serving organic, sustainable, minimal intervention and vegan wine, it not only boasts a beautiful bar brimming with choice, but a cute garden for an alfresco tipple. The North Street wine bar also hosts regular cheese and wine tasting sessions and flight nights where you can discover some of the ripest wines out there along with cheese and nibbles to complement the wine too.
Kask, 51 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1EN
2. Bar 44
Bringing a taste of España to Bristol, Bar44, has a large selection of Spanish wines for us to enjoy, paired with an incredible menu of delicious tapas. The bar/restaurant has an extensive list of sherry to choose from. Including their own signature Manzanilla, described as ‘en rama’ meaning from the branch which gives it an unfiltered taste.
Or you can sip on a fresh, crisp white or a fruity, full-bodied red alongside Bar44’s charcuterie, tapas and seasonal dishes. With wonderful wines and a relaxed, super-friendly environment, Bar44, who also published a cookbook, is the perfect spot for a date night after months at home.
Bar44, 18-20 Regent Street, Clifton Village, BS8 4HG
3. Tare Bistro
Situated on Bristol’s Wapping Wharf, Tare Bistro recently replaced the equally lovely wine bar, Picole – the sister site of the now sadly closing intimate restaurant, Tare (are you following along?). Offering natural, low-intervention wines, you’ll also find a large selection of small plates – ideal for leisurely lunches and intimate dinners.
Tare Bistro, Unit 25, Cargo 2, Museum St, Bristol BS1 6ZA
4. Snobby’s
Funnily enough, this isn’t a place for just those who are snobby about wine. This is one of the most welcoming wine bars in Bristol. Snobby’s offers casual Italian dining in a relaxed environment serving pizza and small plates. With a huge emphasis on wine (that’s what we like to hear), check out their carefully curated shelves of delicious, reasonably-priced wines from across the globe. If you are feeling flush don’t forget to take a peek at their top shelf too. As well as serving food and wine, Snobby’s is also an art gallery and offers life drawing with wine-tasting events.
Snobby’s, 6 Chandos Road, BS6 6PE
5. Native Vine
There aren’t enough wine bars in the east of Bristol. That’s just a fact. Luckily, there’s still Native Vine. The Redfield wine bar started life as a small retail shelf at The Bristol Loaf – and you’ll still find its bottle shop in Bedminster – but now firmly stands on its own two feet. It even puts on an annual wine fair at the Bristol Beacon! It’s dedicated to shining the spotlight on lesser-known regions and indigenous grapes, with a variety of biodynamic, organic, and natural wines from small producers.
Native Vine, 217 Church Rd, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9HL
The Bristol Loaf, Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, BS1 5AR
6. Marmo
Marmo is an owner-run restaurant-cum-wine bar in the heart of Bristol. Serving a concise, flavour-packed menu featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. it’s a great place for soaking up the city. Grab a carafe of wine with gooey burrata and watch the people pass by.
The Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant’s wine list showcases European producers who farm their vineyards organically or biodynamically and who use minimal or no chemical intervention in the winery. For all the natural and orange wine lovers (or keen to try it), Marmo is the spot to wine and dine.
Marmo, 31 Baldwin Street, BS1 1RG
7. Cotto Wine Bar & Kitchen
It’s from the team behind Pazzo, Pasta Ripiena and Bianchis. So these guys know Italian food, but they also know A LOT about wine too. Cotto offers simple home cooking and a hand-picked selection of wines that span the world. It’s one of the simpler wine bars in Bristol, but one that wears its vino bottle-shaped heart on its sleeve.
Cotto Wine Bar & Kitchen, 29 St Stephen’s Street, BS1 1JX
8. 22 Clifton
Heading down into this Georgian-era cellar, you’ll discover a fairly contemporary wine bar that doubles as a shop and events space. 22 Clifton stocks an extensive selection of high-quality wines with a particular focus on Europe and, especially, the estates of Bordeaux and Burgundy. You’ll also find various wine tastings, which tour the globe, and live gigs – because, you’ve heard that music makes wine taste better, haven’t you?
22 Clifton, The Cellars, 22 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4DS
9. Cave
The only cave we want to curl up and enjoy a glass of wine at. This Gloucester Road wine shop, bar and deli hosts themed food and wine events such as Portuguese tinned fish and wine night, a charcuterie party all weekend long, an oyster pop-up and dim sum and wine tasting nights, plus more country-themed evenings. And if you can’t manage to visit Cave regularly, they have a monthly membership that sends you some of their top-notch wine to your door as not to miss out.
Cave, 286 Gloucester Road, BS7 8PD
10. Le Vignoble
Changing the game when it comes to wine bars in Bristol is Le Vignoble. At their wine lounge at Finzels Reach, customers can enjoy a taster or glass of wine from one of their self-service Enomatic dispensers, which will ensure your wine is delivered in tip-top condition, every time. Sample up to 64 different wines and enjoy an afternoon or night of continental tapas dishes to complement that wine of yours that you got with a hit of a button.
Le Vignoble, Fermentation 3, Finzels Reach, BS1 6JQ