We think there are few things nicer than a slow potter around Prior Shop. Proudly in the heart of Bristol’s Cabot Circus shopping district, we’re tantalisingly close to some brilliant independent cafes. So why not stay in town and linger over a coffee and a slice of something delicious. Go on, treat yourself.
Here’s our guide to our Bristol indie coffee shop favourites within a five-minute or ten-minute walk, or a little bit further.
Five(ish) minutes away on foot
Vintry Building, Wine Street BS1 2BD
Deceptively cavernous coffee shop by day, event space by night. Doorstep sandwiches the size of your head and their own house blend of Triple Co coffee. We rave about this place to anyone who’ll listen.
We love Old Market, Prior’s original (and spiritual) home. Impressively healthy salads, the flakiest of pastries (hello, almond croissant), and a wall of deli delights to take home with you, from local beers to chocolate, coffee and olives.
Wood-panelled nostalgia in what must surely be one of Bristol’s oldest cafes. Big, bountiful full English breakfasts, all very reasonably priced. It’s somewhat of an institution.
Facing onto Bond St, 1 Brunswick Square BS2 8PE
Serious pastries. We can’t get enough of the fluffy but flaky spiced buns and the chocolate babka. Get there early – they go like hot cakes.
Slinging Clifton Coffee alongside coffee from a range of guest roasters, Small Street is a firm Prior team fave. Friendly staff, sourdough sarnies and bags of charm. Sit outside with your latte and watch the world go by.
Rare and interesting coffees, alongside some the FCP team roast themselves. Add mid-century furniture (and vibes) and you’ve got coffee heaven in the heart of the Old City.
Amazing, very reasonably priced quesadillas and, according to our Lauren, ‘the world’s best guac’. Three floors of higgledy-piggledy places to sit, hang out and watch the world go by on bustling Corn Street.
Craft coffee, cocktails and board games. Perch on a swing seat and enjoy one of their homemade cakes. An absolute delight of a coffee shop.
Vegetarian and vegan stalwart slap bang in the centre of St Nick’s Market. Fuel up on toasties, jacket potatoes and homemade cakes, with heaps of options for people with different dietary requirements.
Ten to fifteen minutes on foot
Lower Station Approach, Temple Meads BS1 6QS
Treacly Saturday bread that’s well worth getting up early and queuing round the block for. Harts are pastry extraordinaires, serving tip-top coffee. We think it’s worth more than a pre-train visit.
Gloriously sculptural cakes. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Ahh Toots celebrate baking as an art form, and we’re here for every crumb. If you’re lucky, sit in a nook in their ancient, low-beamed building at the foot of Christmas Steps, or grab a slice and coffee to go.
One of Bristol’s best roasteries has a coffee spot and cupping room (fancy!) at the foot of the M32. Ask the team for their recommendations and they’ll grind it fresh in front of you. Stay and slurp or grab a bag to go.
Nestled at the end of the Bristol Bath Cycle Path, Bakehouse has what must be Bristol’s biggest counter of cakes. Not to mention, their toasties are incredible. And how can we forget the carrot cake?
Further afield
Dog-friendly, with delicious coffee, a small range of sandwiches and sweet treats, and plenty of power outlets if you need to catch up on work. In particular, don’t sleep on the banana bread – always get it warmed up so the chocolate chips ooze.
One for the coffee nerds. Sweven roast their own coffees (which they ship round the world) and their corner shop on North Street brews them to perfection.
7 Lower Redland Road BS6 6TB / 223 North Street BS3 1JJ
Extract Coffee and locally-sourced food make Burra’s two locations well worth the long walk (or bike, bus, drive). Their Antipodean-style brunch and lunch options keep us coming back.
Award-winning deli, catering and cookery school just off Whiteladies. We love browsing the treasure trove of artisan foods before grabbing a coffee and a salad or pastry from the glass counters. Foodie paradise.
6A Boyce’s Avenue, Clifton BS8 4AA
Crumpets and cappuccinos. French fries and flat whites. There’s a lot to love about Mercy Mercy Mercy. And it’s close to Clifton’s best independent shops, so perfect for more browsing after brunch.
14 King’s Road, Clifton BS8 4AB
FYI Clifton’s first independent bakery!
We could go on! For more on Bristol’s best independent shops, cafes and markets, check out the Shop Bristol directory. And pop into Prior Shop if you want to hear us wax lyrical about more of our favourite spots.
