Where to eat and drink in Totterdown
Totterdown's food and drink is clustered in three places: the Wells Road, which climbs the hill from Three Lamps; Oxford Street, a smaller row of shops near the top; and a handful of corner pubs and cafés on the side streets in between.
Quick answer
- Brunch: The Sundial Kitchen on William Street, a small vegetarian café; book ahead at weekends. [1] [2]
- Pizza: Laura's Pizzas (Neapolitan, takeaway and delivery), A Cappella on the Wells Road, or Florence on Oxford Street. [3] [4] [5]
- Fish and chips: Farrows, 146 Wells Road, a Good Food Award winner in 2020 and 2021. [6] [7]
- A drink: the Oxford, the Shakespeare, the Star & Dove, the New Found Out and the Thunderbolt; Bruhaha brews its own beer, and Carouse is a wine bar and shop. [4] [8] [9]
What are the best pubs in Totterdown?
| Pub | Known for |
|---|---|
| The Oxford, Oxford Street | A locals' favourite for its Sunday roast, plus live music and open mic nights [4] [10] [11] |
| The Shakespeare, 1 Henry Street | Cider, local art on the walls and a walled beer garden [4] [12] [13] |
| Star & Dove, St Luke's Road | Food and live sport, under new management [4] [14] [15] |
| The New Found Out, 60 Green Street | Live sport; reopened in October 2021 after a refurbishment [4] [16] |
| The Thunderbolt, 124 Bath Road | Live music in a Grade II listed former tollhouse [4] [17] |
Is the Thunderbolt closing? The freehold has been put up for sale after 18 years under the same landlord, but Bristol24/7 reported it would keep trading and hosting live events until a sale completes. [18]
Where can you get local beer, wine or a cocktail?
- Bruhaha, 156–158 Wells Road: a brewpub that started as a home brewery in 2019 and opened here in October 2023. [8] Its beers include Three Lamps, an IPA, TotterDowner, a bitter, and Rusty Robot, a porter. [19]
- Carouse, 32 Oxford Street: a wine shop and bar with more than 200 wines and simple food, opened in 2025 in the former Little Kitchen Cookery School. [9] [20]
- BANK, 107 Wells Road: coffee by day, cocktails and craft beer by night. [21] [22]
- Smokebox, 172 Wells Road: smoked barbecue with cocktails, in the former Southside Bar & Kitchen. [23] [24]
Where are the best cafés in Totterdown?
| Café | Why go |
|---|---|
| The Sundial Kitchen, 1 William Street | A small vegetarian café opposite the Shakespeare, popular for brunch, with live music and film nights upstairs. Open on selected days only, so check before you go [1] [2] [25] |
| Totterdown Canteen, 141 Wells Road | A traditional café for a fry-up [4] [26] |
| Fox & West, 172 Wells Road | Deli, café and greengrocer that buys as locally as it can [27] |
| BANK, 107 Wells Road | Speciality coffee during the day [21] |
| The Bakehouse, 118 Oxford Street | Bakery and café [28] |
Where can you eat dinner in Totterdown?
| Place | Food |
|---|---|
| Laura's Pizzas, 1 William Street | Neapolitan pizza with slow-proved dough, for takeaway and delivery on Wednesday to Saturday evenings [3] |
| A Cappella, 184C Wells Road | Award-winning pizzeria, café and trattoria [4] [29] [30] |
| Florence, Oxford Street | Good-value Italian in a small, colourful room; also does takeaway [12] [5] [31] |
| Farrows, 146 Wells Road | Fish and chips; Good Food Award winner in 2020 and 2021 [6] [7] |
| Truffled of Totterdown, 152 Wells Road | Bring-your-own-bottle bistro and supper club, with Sunday roasts by reservation [32] |
| Smokebox, 172 Wells Road | Smoked barbecue [23] [24] |
| Al Waha, 147 Wells Road | Indian food [30] [33] |
| Asia Garden, 29 Oxford Street | Chinese takeaway [34] |
| Star & Dove, St Luke's Road | Pub food [14] |
Food and drink in Totterdown, street by street
- Wells Road: BANK (107), Totterdown Canteen (141), Farrows (146), Al Waha (147), Truffled of Totterdown (152), Bruhaha (156–158), Fox & West and Smokebox (172) and A Cappella (184C).
- Oxford Street: the Oxford, Florence, Carouse (32), Asia Garden (29) and The Bakehouse (118).
- Side streets: the Sundial Kitchen and Laura's Pizzas (1 William Street), the Shakespeare (1 Henry Street), the New Found Out (60 Green Street) and the Star & Dove (St Luke's Road).
- Bath Road: the Thunderbolt (124).
Addresses are from the sources in each table above.
Where can you eat with children in Totterdown?
- Tots & Teapots, Wells Road: a play café with sessions for young children, food and party bookings. [35]
- Windmill Hill City Farm: a short walk away, with a café open every day and free entry to the farm. [36] [37] See parks and green spaces.
Where to eat during the Totterdown Arts Trail
Many local venues open specially or run pop-ups during the arts trail weekend, which is on 14 and 15 November in 2026. The organisers publish a food and drink list on their website, and the printed trail map is available in local businesses. [30] [38]
Sources
- The best brunches in Bristol, Life Less Organised, May 2026: lifelessorganised.com
- New vegetarian cafe and event space opens in Bristol, Bristol Post via inkl: inkl.com
- Laura's Pizzas Totterdown, Deliveroo; Food Standards Agency rating: deliveroo.co.uk; food.gov.uk
- The locals' guide: Totterdown, Visit Bristol: visitbristol.co.uk
- We visit the tucked-away Bristol pizza restaurant, Bristol World: bristolworld.com
- Award-winning fish and chip shop to open second premises, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- Farrows, 146 Wells Road, food hygiene rating: foodhygieneratings.org.uk
- Independent brewery opens first permanent taproom, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- New wine shop and bar preparing to pop the cork, Bristol24/7, 2025: bristol247.com
- Totterdown, Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- The Oxford, Oxford Street, BS3 4RL, food hygiene listing: hygienescore.co.uk
- Bristol neighbourhood guide: Totterdown, 365Bristol: 365bristol.com
- Shakespeare, Bristol, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- Pub of the week: Star and Dove, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- Star & Dove, Bristol, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- New Found Out, 60 Green Street, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- The Turnpike Public House, 124 Bath Road, Grade II listing, British Listed Buildings: britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
- Historic Bristol pub and venue for sale, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- Bruhaha, Bristol, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- Carouse Wines review, The Infatuation: theinfatuation.com
- Award-winning barista to open new cafe and cocktail bar, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- BANK, 107 Wells Road, Harden's: hardens.com
- Smokebox, Bristol, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- 26 Bristol restaurants to visit in 2026, The Bristol Sauce: thebristolsauce.com
- The Sundial Kitchen, 1 William Street, food hygiene rating: foodhygieneratings.org.uk
- Totterdown Canteen, Tripadvisor: tripadvisor.co.uk
- Shop of the week: Fox & West, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- The Bakehouse, 118 Oxford Street, food hygiene rating: foodhygieneratings.org.uk
- A Cappella, 184C Wells Road; restaurants near Totterdown Canteen, Tripadvisor: tripadvisor.co.uk
- Food and drink in Totterdown, Totterdown Arts Trail: totterdownartstrail.org
- Florence, Oxford Street, BS3 4RJ, food hygiene listing: hygienescore.co.uk
- Truffled of Totterdown: truffledoftotterdown.webflow.io
- Al Waha, 147 Wells Road, food hygiene rating: foodhygieneratings.org.uk
- Asia Garden, 29 Oxford Street, Tripaligner: tripaligner.com
- First look at new Bristol play cafe, Bristol World: bristolworld.com
- Contact and opening times, Windmill Hill City Farm: windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk
- Visit us, Windmill Hill City Farm: windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk
- The oldest arts trail in Bristol is celebrating 25 years, Secret Bristol, 2025: secretbristol.com