Mystique Barn

If you were to ask Chef Zak Hitchman what kind of food he cooks, you may not get a clear answer, such is the variety of influences that he skilfully adopts. That’s borne out here in a playful, constantly changing menu served inside this small, modish bistro with bright orange walls. If there’s anything on the menu involving the hot and sour crab sauce, don’t hesitate in ordering it, as it’s the perfect encapsulation of the kitchen’s understanding of flavour. Everything, including the wines, comes with an appealing price tag and the friendly service is the icing on the cake.

This busy, welcoming little restaurant occupies five first-floor shipping containers on Wapping Wharf, a thriving neighbourhood with an array of top eateries. Vegetables lead the way here, with the majority of dishes being vegetarian and utilising the best produce from small local suppliers in simple yet flavour-packed sharing plates. Ingredients from carrots to hispi cabbage are elevated with well-balanced and wholly satisfying flavour combinations. There’s a terrific buzz and the service team run their deservedly popular restaurant admirably smoothly.

Located inside a converted shipping container in Bristol's hipster-foodie haven of Wapping Wharf, this compact restaurant comes clad in chipboard and plywood – and with a terrace that almost triples its size. The husband-and-wife team offer a warm welcome and will ensure you're well looked after, with Tessa providing engaging service and knowledgeable wine recommendations, while Elliot crafts generous, boldly flavoured dishes. Soy-glazed onglet is a fine example of what this kitchen is about, as is the excellent panna cotta to finish.

Like most of the restaurants occupying the reclaimed shipping containers in Wapping Wharf, this authentic Italian eatery is cool, compact and totally irresistible. Coming from the same team as nearby COR, what it lacks in size it makes up for in flavour, with each simply prepared dish utilising the well-sourced seasonal ingredients to maximum effect. The menu’s designed for sharing and the prices are generous, so order in abundance and revel in everything from the moreish garlic and rosemary focaccia to the fish and meat cooked over fire. Finish with their creative take on tiramisu.

Featuring stunning views over the eponymous valley, this aptly named former pub now operates more as a restaurant, with a lengthy refurbishment expanding its scope to include an orangery dining room and a cookery school. The menu uses the seasons as a guide and showcases produce from the kitchen garden in vibrant, colourful dishes which mix creative and a few traditional elements – look out for the 'Pony Garden Salad' that comes as an extra course at dinner. The midweek set menu offers great value for money.

In the old part of the city close to the famous docks you’ll find this intimate, personally run, 2-room restaurant, with a small front terrace, a warm service team and a buzzing atmosphere. The two menus – most diners plump for the tasting menu – offer original, modern and sometimes intricate dishes, which are aesthetically striking and full of flavour.

Deep within the Georgian lanes of Clifton, lies this neighbourhood bistro with an uncluttered feel. Sit on the ground floor to make the most of the natural light flooding in the large windows, or head down the spiral staircase for a more intimate setting. The date-stamped menu takes a pan-European approach, be it ricotta gnudi from Italy, squid ink bomba rice from Spain or veal schnitzel from Austria. The relaxed service is delivered with a smile and sharing dishes like whole roast chicken add to the conviviality.