Bristol's wine scene has grown well beyond the cocktail bars and cider pubs the city is better known for. There's a proper cluster of independent wine bars now, from a natural-wine specialist in Bedminster to a sherry bar inside an old Clifton bank vault. Here's where to go and what each one actually does well.
KASK, Bedminster
KASK, at 51 North Street in Bedminster, is Bristol's best-known natural wine bar and shop. The focus is on organic, biodynamic and minimal-intervention wine from independent producers, with a list that changes regularly rather than sitting still. It's a small, unfussy space rather than a big night-out venue, which suits the way most people use it: a couple of glasses and a proper conversation about what's in the glass. It's an easy add-on to an evening in Bedminster or Southville; see our Bedminster and Southville area guide for what else is nearby, or just head down North Street.
Bar 44, Clifton Village
Bar 44, at 18-20 Regent Street in Clifton Village, is a Spanish tapas restaurant and sherry bar set inside a converted old bank, with two underground vaults now used as private dining rooms. The drinks list is entirely Spanish: sherries, Spanish wines from across the country's regions, gin and tonics made with Spanish gin, and Spanish cocktails. Because it serves proper tapas alongside the wine, it's one of the few wine-focused venues in the city that also works as a full dinner out. It sits right in the heart of the area covered by our Clifton guide.
The Gallimaufry, Gloucester Road
The Gallimaufry, at 26-28 Gloucester Road in Bishopston, is part restaurant, part bar, part live music and arts venue, and its wine list punches well above what you'd expect from a venue that's known just as much for gigs. Expect a strong lean towards organic and biodynamic bottles alongside more familiar names. It's a good stop if you want wine with a bit of atmosphere and the chance of live music rather than a quiet, considered tasting.
Bristol Wine Vaults, Clifton Village
Bristol Wine Vaults sits in the underground vaults of a historic Clifton Village building and runs regular wine tastings and live music nights alongside its everyday drinks list. It's worth checking their events listings before you go, since the tasting evenings are the main draw here rather than just dropping in for a glass.
Tare, Harbourside
Tare is a small, intimate restaurant on the Harbourside with a wine list that mixes international bottles with wines made closer to home in Somerset and Gloucestershire. It's the most central of the venues on this list, making it the easiest option if you're staying near the water or don't want to travel out to Clifton or Bedminster.
How they compare
| Venue | Area | Specialism | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| KASK | Bedminster | Natural, organic, biodynamic wine | A focused wine evening |
| Bar 44 | Clifton Village | Spanish sherry and wine, with tapas | Wine plus a full dinner |
| The Gallimaufry | Gloucester Road | Organic-leaning list, live music | Wine with atmosphere |
| Bristol Wine Vaults | Clifton Village | Tastings and events in old bank vaults | Tasting evenings |
| Tare | Harbourside | International and local English wine | Central, low-key drinks |
Getting between them
Clifton Village, Bedminster and Gloucester Road are all a short bus ride or taxi from the city centre rather than walkable distances from each other, so it's worth picking one area for the evening rather than trying to bar-hop across all three. If you're planning a wine crawl around Clifton Village, Bar 44 and Bristol Wine Vaults are close enough to combine in one night out.
Menus, opening hours and even a venue's whole focus can shift over time, wine bars especially. If something here is out of date, let us know and we'll get it fixed.