6 of the best Sunday roasts in Bristol

Last updated on November 24, 2023

Is there anything better to do on a Sunday than going for a roast with friends? I love one at home, but sometimes going to a pub or restaurant is just the ticket for a lazy Sunday. And in Bristol, as with all things foodie in the city, we’re spoiled for choice.

This list isn’t pretending to be comprehensive. There are many roasts I haven’t had the likely pleasure of trying yet, but this is a collection of my favourites. I’ll add more as and when I find them. So do let me know if you have any top recommendations.

Note I’m vegetarian so I can’t comment on the meat, but these all offer excellent veggie options and, of course, all the trimmings. I’m a huge roast potato fan, so particular attention has been paid to those. Give me a tough potato and you’re out!

So here’s our guide to the best Sunday roasts in Bristol…

Caper and Cure

Caper and Cure is one of my favourite restaurants in Bristol, so it’s no surprise they also do a banging roast. Chef Craig can always be trusted to make something simple into something delicious and that’s what you see on the roast, with everything from the veg to the crispy roast potatoes done to perfection.

Plus you can also pair it with starers or appetizers from the restaurant’s usual menu of seasonal, Mediterranean-leaning cuisine. The friendly restaurant is casual, but still more formal than a pub, making it ideal for a special occasion Bristol Sunday roast.

The Kensington Arms

The Kensington Arms, or “The Kenny” as it’s affectionately known, belongs to Holly and Josh Eggleton’s, heavyweights on the Bristol food scene. Josh and Holly are best known for the former Pony & Trap, a pub in Chew Magna that gained a Michelin star and was a destination restaurant for people across the south west.

The Pony & Trap has closed and The Kenny is now the only pub in the Eggleton’s collection.

It focuses on hearty, British food in a classic, traditional pub and the roast often wins accolades for being among the best in Bristol. I can confirm that the praise is worthy, and The Kenny can 100% be trusted upon for a top notch roast. I particularly love th broccoli cheese.

Old Market Assembly

I love everything about the Old Market Assembly. It’s one of those venues that oozes character and is a pleasure to spend time in. It’s perfect for a Sunday when there’s a good level of laid-back hubbub that serves as an ideal backdrop for a hearty, relaxing meal.

The roast itself is excellent with crispy potatoes and a nut roast that’s more like a stuffing (which is a good thing in my books). And the cauliflower cheese is sublime gooeyness. Our four-year-old said it was the best he’d ever had. The yorkshire pudding also gets top marks.

The Victoria Park

The Victoria Park is another winning pub and comes with one of the best views in Bristol, peering out over the city from Totterdown. The roast has previously won awards for being the best in Bristol, but that was before the pub was taken over by a bigger company. As such, it has lost a little of its character in terms of both food and style, but we still rate both the pub and its roast.

The potatoes are hit and miss – some perfect and others bad, but everything else is great. Plus the pub has a great vibe and the view is lush. It’s particularly good for kids with a menu that goes beyond roasts if that’s not what they fancy (ours loved the veggie sausage and mash).

The Canteen

When people talk about The Canteen being good for food, it’s often with an air of surprise. The Stokes Croft bar at the bottom of Hamilton House doesn’t give the first impression of being a place that would serve top notch food. It feels more like a bar and music venue than a restaurant, but it really does serve lush meals, including Sunday roasts.

It’s all vegetarian and vegan, so is a particular treat for non-meat eaters. There are three different roast options: a wellington, seitan and a veggie crumble. The seitan is a nice alternative to classic veggie roast options. Veggie or meat eater, it’s one of the best Bristol Sunday roasts.

Whitmore Tap

The Whitmore Tap at the junction of Whiteladies and Cotham Hill is a Butcombe Brewing pub, which can always be trusted to serve up a good meal of elevated pub classics.

The roast is solid with good potatoes, a nice selection of veg and a seasonal veggie wellington. Everything is done with a bit of added flair, from garlicky greens to perfectly seasoned cheesy leeks.

It’s a bit noisy downstairs so I’d recommend trying to get a table upstairs in the casually elegant dining room where you get a prime view of the open kitchen.

Harbour House

This historic boat shed on the river used to house the popular Severnshed, but after a brief downfall (famously selling a still packaged Asda camembert!) now has a new chef and has become the Harbour House, regaining its reputation as a popular dining spot.

It’s a little more upmarket than the restaurants that characterise the Bristol scene and is particularly known for its seafood – and also its roast.

The setting itself is a treat, especially if you happen upon a sunny day and sit with a river view. And the food is good with excellent roast potatoes and a not-to-heavy veggie pastry. My only complaint is that it could do with more gravy – and I prefer a traditional one to the (still delicious) mushroom sauce we were served.

It’s a perfect choice if you’re looking for a Sunday roast on Bristol harbourside.

Places I still need to visit, but I hear are excellent…

I’ve heard great things about all of the places below, and will potentially add them to the list once I’ve tried them (if they’re good enough, of course!). Although you’ll have to wait for the Bank Tavern as it has such a cult status that it’s near impossible to get a table!

• Pasture
• The Grace
• Bar 44
• The Bank Tavern (booked up for the foreseeable)
• Brace and Browns – I did actually try this one recently, and while the roast was good, I think the venue really lacks character, so I wouldn’t recommend it, esepcially considering there are so many other creative options in the city.

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