Best roast dinners in Bristol: 15 places to spend your Sunday

Looking for the best Sunday roast in Bristol? One of those spots where you can cosy up on a weekend and tuck into roasts served with all the trimmings? There's a reason that a Sunday roast has become a weekly staple for most of us. Come Sunday, plates are piled high with roast chicken or beef, stacked with all the trimmings, from roasties to seasonal veggies and a Yorkshire pud or two, all covered in lashings of gravy. What’s not to love? 

Bristol has made a bit of a name for itself amongst foodies, with many making the journey out to the south west to see what all the fuss is about. The city has become a bit of a cultural hub for all things cuisine, with everything from Michelin star tasting menus to restaurants by Bristol Harbourside. It therefore comes as no surprise that they've got a pretty hefty selection of places to go for a roast dinner too!

When looking for a good Sunday lunch in Bristol, you have more options than just the local pub, although that's still a possibility too. Many of the options offer relaxed but stylish dining serving refined dishes that can easily become a three course feast. You'll also find several of the city's beloved steakhouses searing up T-bones to go alongside your roasties. But if you're looking for some classic pub grub then don't worry, that's still an option too. There's truly something for everyone. 

We've scoured the city and rounded up the best of the best in one handy guide just for you. From tapas bars adding a Spanish twist to steakhouses by the harbour, they might not all be 100% traditional but these are the best places to grab a Sunday roast in Bristol. If something strikes your interest, be sure to click through and get booked in for your next weekend feast. 

ABOE

What: When a place names itself ‘a bit of everything’ you can pretty much guarantee that a roast will be part of that equation: and you’d be right. Putting the focus on fresh and seasonal produce, ABOE’s Sunday lunch offerings may not be 100% traditional but that doesn't mean they’re any less delicious. Here, you can choose between Korean glazed truffle stuffed chicken, umami short rib and tempeh cake, all served with the slightly more classic sides of roasties, cauliflower cheese, red cabbage, chard, Yorkshire puds and plenty of gravy.
Where: 109 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2PB
Book now: ABOE

The Bank Tavern

What: If you ask locals where to find the best Sunday roast in Bristol, chances are plenty of them are going to mention The Bank Tavern. It may only be a small pub, but it’s full of life, holding its own since the 1800s. Outdoor seating and hanging floral baskets bring this place to life in the summer, but there are excellent offerings all year round. Roasts here are pretty legendary, offering up a pretty traditional feast of beef, pork belly, or a veggie loaf, accompanied by roast potatoes, parsnip puree, creamy leeks, Yorkshire puds and your own jug of gravy, to make sure everything is appropriately drenched. 
Where: 8 John Street, BS1 2HR
Book now: The Bank Tavern 

The Clifton

What: A quintessential gastropub, The Clifton is more than just your local watering hole, ensuring a relaxed atmosphere and top notch food. Menus here are known for their frequent changes with dishes changing twice a day to keep things as seasonal as possible. On a Sunday, The Clifton cooks up the complete works with this slightly more upmarket roast. Here, you can tuck into rolled and stuffed pork belly with duck fat potatoes and applesauce, or mutton leg with mint sauce. Make the feast an indulgent three course affair, with oysters to start and an apricot souffle or treacle tart to finish. 
Where: 16 Regent St, BS8 4HG
Book now: The Clifton 

The Ox

What: Known for its steaks, The Ox’s subterranean location beneath The Commercial Rooms on Corn Street offers a cosy little place to get stuck into a roast. Whilst weekdays see the focus on prime cuts of steak cooked on the site’s Josper oven, on a weekend you’ll find roasts served with all the trimmings. Choose from beef rump, slow roasted porchetta or a nut roast, alongside roasties, carrots, braised cabbage, leeks and greens and Yorkshire puddings. For something a bit more lavish, be sure to get the 30 oz T-Bone sharing platter, for a beautifully cooked steak with all the sides of a roast - a winning combination.
Where: 43 Corn Street, BS1 1HT
Book now: The Ox 

BANK Bristol

What: An independent joint in Totterdown, BANK is housed in a grand old bank, hence the name. Menus boast a selection of small plates with influences from across the globe but roasts here don't stray too far from the classics. White pork belly with black garlic and miso or salt marsh lamb rump with wild garlic harissa are the kinds of things you'll find on a Sunday. All meat has been sourced from within 30 miles of the restaurant, keeping things pretty local, with all the usual suspects in the sides department. 
Where: 107 Wells Road, BS4 2BS
Book now: BANK Bristol  

The Second Floor Restaurant and Bar at Harvey Nichols 

What: Harvey Nichols’ award winning Second Floor Restaurant is pretty well known across the South West, and it will come as no surprise that they do a pretty decent roast as well. Menus here have just three options to choose from, offering beef, pork or a lentil wellington, alongside greens, root veggies, roasties, Yorkshire puddings and bottomless gravy. There’s also some pretty substantial sides on offer with the likes of cauliflower cheese or truffle dauphinoise potatoes. If all this hasn’t filled you up, finish your meal with a decadent chocolate delice or Paris-brest in true Harvey Nichols’ style.
Where: 27 Philadelphia Street, BS1 3BZ
Book now: The Second Floor Restaurant and Bar at Harvey Nichols 

The Albion

What: Housed in a Grade-II listed former coaching inn, The Albion has been serving the people of Bristol for over 250 years. Nowadays, you’ll find menus of classic pub grub all ready to be enjoyed by the roaring fire. Sundays are particularly special, and popular - choose from beef sirloin, pork loin, braised lamb shank or a lemon, thyme and garlic chicken supreme, plus nut roast for the veggies. Roasties, seasonal veg, Yorkshire puds, cauliflower cheese and buckets of gravy just sweeten the deal with this one.
Where: Boyces Avenue, BS8 4AA
Book now: The Albion 

The Kensington Arms

What: The Kensington Arms - more commonly known as The Kenny - has long solidified its space as a top roast in the city, whipping up hearty British classics seven days a week. Everything is homemade, boasting locally sourced goods to showcase the best of the West Country. A classic carvery in Bristol, there are three different options on a Sunday, allowing diners to enjoy fennel cured pork belly, rump of beef or a veggie wellington all served with roasties, mixed greens, cauliflower cheese and sherry glazed beetroots. This is the kind of place that serves all of its roasts with Yorkshire puds - whether you agree with that or not! 
Where: 35-37 Stanley Road, BS6 6NP
Book now: The Kensington Arms 

Pasture

What: Pasture sure knows a thing or two about meat, with its charcoal grills, dry-aging cabinets and in-house butchers. Roasts here are taken very seriously with a two- or three-course menu served on Sundays. Mains include perfectly pink rumps of roast beef, or slow cooked lamb shoulder with greens grown on the site’s own farm alongside bottomless gravy! The starters are good too and worth ordering, particularly the Cornish crab with toasted brioche. Puds are indulgent if you still have room – think a chocolate dome with molten caramel sauce.
Where: 2 Portwall Lane, BS1 6NB
Book now: Pasture 

The Gallimaufry

What: The Gallimaufry is hardly your traditional British pub, swapping out the neutral decor for colourful pop-art murals and unique ceilings decked out with geometric hanging shapes. Boasting locally sourced ales, seasonal menus and live music every night of the week, this is one to have your radar. Plus, the roasts are pretty decent too. Enjoy the likes of chicken with garlic and thyme stuffing and cranberry compote or beetroot, lentil, pesto and goats cheese puff pastry wellington. Roasts come with herb roasted potatoes, seasonal veggies and gravy with the options to add Yorkshire puds, stuffing and cauliflower gratin on the side. 
Where: 26-28 The Promenade, BS7 8AL
Book now: The Gallimaufry 

Caper and Cure

What: Just a stone’s throw from Cabot Circus, Caper and Cure comes with an eclectic history reflected in its name: from the cures of its time as a chemist to the japes and capers of life as a music venue. Nowadays, you’ll find a relaxed and independent restaurant, specialising in refined, European dishes during the week and a selection of tasty roasts when the weekend rolls around. Tuck into beef, pork belly or a mushroom and oat wellington with roasties, honey roast carrots, crushed swede, Yorkies and lashings of gravy. Plus, there’s a pretty extensive wine list on offer if you’re looking for something to help wash it all down. 
Where: 108A Stokes Croft, BS1 3RU
Book now: Caper and Cure 

Bar 44

What: One of three locations across Wales and the West Country, Bar 44 comes from founders Tom and Owen Morgan, who just love all things Spanish. From Monday to Saturday, menus here are all about tapas, but on Sunday you can swap your patatas bravas for roasties and your jamon iberico for a nice slice of pork belly. But this is not your traditional British roast, instead incorporating that Spanish flare with manchego cauliflower cheese, chorizo Yorkshire puds and jamon fat roasties which are sure to go down a treat. Take a seat in the stylish restaurant, grab yourself a couple of copas and enjoy. 
Where: 18-20 Regent Street, BS8 4HG
Book now: Bar 44  

Square Kitchen

What: Located in the heart of Clifton, Square Kitchen is the kind of place where you can enjoy something slightly more elegant in a glamorous dining room. Whilst a pretty extensive tasting menu is on the cards throughout the week, on a Sunday it’s all things roasts. Here, options are a bit more refined, offering the likes of porchetta with crispy artichokes, roasties and cider gravy or a dry aged beef rump with roasted onion puree and a red wine gravy. All roasts here come with seasonal veggies and a rather indulgent truffled cauliflower cheese. If you can manage it, desserts of lavender creme caramel or mandarin baked Alaska are a lovely way to finish your feast.
Where: 15 Berkeley Square, BS8 1HB
Book now: Square Kitchen 

The Lock Up

What: This family-run joint specialises in British cuisine which, of course, includes a pretty excellent roast. Start your Sunday with a Bloody Mary or Bellini before turning to the likes of rare beef rump or cider braised pork belly with crackling, a black pudding fritter and all your favourite trimmings. Veggie options and children’s portions are all available, plus, you can always order more roasties or Yorkshire puds if you like.
Where: 182 Church Road, BS5 9HX
Book now: The Lock Up 

The Cow & Sow

What: Another top quality steakhouse, The Cow & Sow has two Bristol locations, offering a high end setting to enjoy prime cuts and small plates. The Sunday menu runs all afternoon and evening, so you don’t have to get up early for this one, and can enjoy roasties and Yorkshire puds for both lunch and dinner. It’s no surprise that there’s a pretty hefty selection of meats available here, including various cuts from the chophouse as well as beef, chicken supreme, porchetta and beef brisket as the main event. Can’t decide? You can get a mix of meats, served together with rosemary and garlic spuds, spiced red cabbage and maple-glazed parsnips, all topped off with a rich bone marrow and beef gravy - yum.
Where: 46 White Ladies Road, BS8 2NH
Book now: The Cow & Sow 

Looking for a slightly boozier way to spend your weekend? Be sure to check out one of the best bottomless brunches in the city.