Bristol's sushi scene is small but genuine: Kibou in Clifton Village is the city's dedicated Japanese kitchen and sushi bar, and Yakinori on Park Street is the more affordable, casual alternative near the university. Beyond those two specialists, Wagamama's three Bristol branches (Cabot Circus, Clifton and Cribbs Causeway) cover sushi as part of a wider pan-Asian menu if you want something quick and familiar rather than a dedicated sushi venue.
Kibou, Clifton Village
Kibou at 16 King's Road is Bristol's most striking sushi destination: a two-storey Japanese restaurant and bar styled after Tokyo's neon-lit backstreets, with a dining room overlooking Clifton Village, an open sushi kitchen, and a separate cocktail bar upstairs. It's part of a small UK chain (Kibou also has branches in London, Cheltenham, Solihull, Cambridge and Oxford), and the Clifton branch opened in October 2021.
The menu runs from steamed bao buns and gyoza to ramen, tempura and katsu curry, but sushi is the headline: signature rolls include the Volcano Roll, a tempura-fried futomaki of salmon, avocado and tobiko drizzled in sriracha mayo and unagi sauce (£20.10), plus a range of nigiri, maki and sharing platters, including a dedicated vegan Yasai Moriawase. Prices across the menu run from about £3 for edamame to £40 for the larger sharing dishes. On Saturdays from 12pm to 5pm, Kibou Clifton runs a 90-minute bottomless sushi sitting (£34 per person, booked at least 24 hours ahead), with an optional drinks package on top.
- Address: 16 King's Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4AB
- Phone: 0117 450 2930
- Hours: Monday to Wednesday 12pm-11pm, Thursday to Saturday 12pm-midnight, Sunday 12pm-11pm
- Price range: £3-£40
Yakinori, Park Street
Yakinori, at 78 Park Street, is the more relaxed, everyday option: an independent Japanese kitchen that's been serving sushi since 2015, a short walk from the University of Bristol, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and Brandon Hill. It holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating from over 650 Tripadvisor reviews, placing it among the better-reviewed Japanese restaurants in the city.
The sushi menu covers maki rolls (from around £4), sashimi boxes (around £9), and bento boxes built around sushi, katsu curry or ramen (around £18-£21), alongside poke bowls and a dedicated vegan and vegetarian range, including tofu poke bowls and vegetable sushi rolls. Yakinori also runs a Sushi School masterclass most Thursdays (from £22 per person) if you'd rather learn to make it than just order it.
- Address: 78 Park Street, Bristol BS1 5LA
- Phone: 0117 934 9222
- Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 11am-9pm, Thursday to Saturday 11am-10pm
- Price range: ££ (most dishes £4-£21)
Kibou vs Yakinori, compared
| Kibou (Clifton) | Yakinori (Park Street) | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Styled Tokyo-bar aesthetic, two storeys plus cocktail bar | Casual, everyday Japanese kitchen |
| Signature dish | Volcano Roll, £20.10 | Sushi School masterclass, from £22pp |
| Typical spend | £20-£40 a head for a full sushi meal | £15-£25 a head |
| Good for | A date night or occasion, bottomless sushi Saturdays | A quick, affordable lunch or casual dinner |
| Vegan options | Dedicated vegan sushi platter | Tofu poke bowls, vegetable rolls |
If you just want sushi as part of something bigger
Wagamama has three Bristol branches, Cabot Circus, Clifton and Cribbs Causeway, and includes sushi-adjacent dishes like katsu and ramen alongside a small sushi selection; it's a reliable, familiar chain rather than a sushi specialist, useful if you're in a shopping centre and want something quick rather than seeking out Kibou or Yakinori specifically.
Tips for booking
Kibou's bottomless sushi sitting is the one booking worth planning ahead for, since it's a fixed 90-minute slot capped by group size and needs at least 24 hours' notice. Outside of that, both Kibou and Yakinori take walk-ins, though a Friday or Saturday evening table at Kibou is worth booking given its popularity as a Clifton night-out spot. If sushi is part of a wider night in Clifton, our best cocktail bars in Bristol guide covers where to go afterwards, and our Clifton guide has the fuller picture of the neighbourhood. If you're based nearer the centre, our best Japanese and Asian restaurants roundup covers other options alongside sushi specifically.
Frequently asked questions
Where's the best sushi in Bristol?
Kibou in Clifton Village is Bristol's dedicated sushi and Japanese kitchen, known for its Volcano Roll and Saturday bottomless sushi sittings. Yakinori on Park Street is the better-value, more casual alternative, with a 4.5-star Tripadvisor rating from over 650 reviews.
Is there an all-you-can-eat sushi option in Bristol?
Yes. Kibou Clifton runs a bottomless sushi sitting every Saturday from 12pm to 5pm, a 90-minute session priced at £34 per person (plus an optional drinks package), booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Is there a cheap sushi option in Bristol?
Yakinori on Park Street is the most affordable dedicated sushi venue, with maki rolls from around £4 and bento boxes from around £18. Wagamama's three Bristol branches also serve sushi as part of a wider menu at similar prices.
Do Bristol's sushi restaurants have vegan options?
Yes, both do. Kibou has a dedicated vegan sushi sharing platter (Yasai Moriawase), and Yakinori offers tofu poke bowls and vegetable sushi rolls alongside its standard menu.
Can I learn to make sushi in Bristol?
Yes. Yakinori runs a Sushi School masterclass most Thursdays, priced from £22 per person, where you're taught to make your own rolls rather than just eating them.
Where is Kibou in Bristol located?
Kibou's only Bristol branch is in Clifton Village, at 16 King's Road, BS8 4AB. The brand has other UK branches in London, Cheltenham, Solihull, Cambridge and Oxford, but Clifton is the only Bristol location.