5 Bites Of Bristol Slideshow

Start your day at Bordeaux Quay in the heart of Bristol's Harbourside neighborhood.  The options range from a traditional fry up to posh smoked salmon and scrambled eggs or French pastries.  Whatever you choose, the prices are low for one of Bristol's premier restaurants.  If it's a nice day — a relative fact in the drizzly West Country — you can sit outside with a lovely view onto the River Avon.

From Harbourside, walk into Bristol's city centre to go to Small Street Espresso.  The city centre was heavily bombed during World War II and, apart from historic Corn street, looks it.  Small Street Espresso is a small little café that brought a much-needed injection of serious coffee to Bristol.  Choose from either the house or a guest coffee, strike up a conversation with the friendly owners and feel the pace of Bristol.

Boston Tea Party, called BTP by the locals, may have a funny name for us Americans, but the café is a West Country institution.  Head to the location on Park Street to hang with the university students — it's like the school's unofficial canteen — or to the location on Whiteladies road to see a more community driven side to Bristol.  Aside from coffee and tea, BTP has fantastic food from quick ready-made sandwiches to prepared-to-order meals.  The options range from traditional British — jacket potato anyone? — to new British — they make a fantastic veggie-burger.  Take a number, find a seat and linger for as long as you want.  If you have room for dessert, the flapjack is legendary.

Papaji's on Whiteladies road is Bristol's go-to spot for innovative cocktails.  From twists on traditional drinks with the passion fruit martini and the completely original tea-infused cocktails, Papaji's is a laid bck environment to have some pre-dinner sips.  

England is synonymous with Indian food and for good reason.  Head to Thali Café in posh Clifton to taste the difference in quality.  Thali café serves Indian street food with few options to confound the fussy eater.  Each meal is served in big metal plates with some rice, dal, curry and the protein of your choise (choose from vegetarian, meat and fish).  The portions are huge, this meal will definitely fill you up for some time, but the atmosphere is inviting and pleasingly casual.  A perfect way to finish up your jam-packed day in Bristol!