Matt Anniss

Bristol might be located deep in cider country, but the craft beer revolution hasn't passed us by. In fact, our city now boasts some of the best small-scale independent breweries in the UK. Reducing the many brilliant craft beer options available in Bristol down to just five was, then, a near impossible task. But we did our best - so argue among yourselves if you like, but think of these as a selection of what Bristol's local breweries, bars and pubs have to offer, rather than a definitive top five. RECOMMENDED: Time Out's full guide to the best craft beer from around the UK

Since launching 15 years ago, the Thali Café has become one of Bristol’s greatest culinary success stories. Initially focusing on selling home-made Indian street food at summer festivals, the business now includes four low-key, laidback restaurants across Bristol, and a thriving takeaway service built around re-usable tiffin tins. According to the owners, some 10,000 Bristolians now own their own Thali tiffins – a remarkable fact, if true. For first-timers, the Montpellier branch – tucked away on the corner of York Street and Picton Street – is the best way to sample the unique atmosphere and menu. The first restaurant to open, it is small, intimate and quirky, with a relaxed atmosphere that suits their rustic, home-style menu. The emphasis is on ordering one of their numerous Thali dishes, which feature regionally themed meat or vegetarian dishes main courses, accompanied by numerous small side dishes, rice and raita. Whether you choose to pop into one of their four branches, or invest in a re-usable tiffin tin and opt for a takeaway, the Thali Café’s greatest calling card is its casual nature. What they offer is no-nonsense, well-cooked comfort food, in a relaxed environment. It’s no wonder it has become something of a Bristol institution.

Bristol’s street food scene has made great strides over the last couple of years, with the traders of the BEATS collective, in particular, getting rave reviews. It would be interesting to know what Spice Up Your Life founders Bill and Suki Wagay make of this street food explosion, for they’ve been serving up delicious, authentic Punjab food on the go from their St Nicholas Market location for the last decade.  Unfussy, fresh and simple, with bold spicing and a notable lack of artificial colours and flavours, their ever-changing menu rewards regular lunchtime visits. While there are daily meat specials, their reputation was forged on offering tasty vegetarian and vegan options. For a more authentic Punjabi street food experience, it’s this side of their menu that you should concentrate on. There are various meal deals and combinations available, homemade soft drinks to wash down your curry, and plenty of snacks for those who don’t fancy getting stuck into a full plate of curry and accompanying rice. Even a veritable feast won’t make a massive dent in the wallet, making Spice Up Your Life an essential destination.

Despite its off-the-beaten track location, Urban Tandoor is fast becoming one of Bristol’s best-loved Indian restaurants. While those unaware of its side street location may struggle to find it, Urban Tandoor is well worth seeking out. Given the restaurants intimate nature and relatively small number of tables, advanced booking is essential.  The menu is smartly put together, and features a mix of well-known curry house favourites, obscure regional dishes and more inventive options to tickle the fancy of those looking for something out of the ordinary. In this category, we’d put their Safroni Nihani Gosht, which features a slow-cooked lamb shank smothered in a rich, spicy sauce. Many of the other house specials are worth tasting too, with the Chettinad Prawn Masala delivering just the right balance of fragrant spicing and a subtle chili kick. While the wine list is nothing to shout home about, the service is attentive and friendly, with waiters more than willing to suggest dishes for those struggling to choose. It’s perhaps this, as much as the quality of the food, that has earned Urban Tandoor its impressive reputation.

Situated across the road from Colston Hall, on the ground floor of the imposing Colston Tower building, Kathmandu has long been regarded as one of Bristol’s best-kept secrets. Family-run for well over a decade, the smart and attractive restaurant stands out from the crowd thanks to its focus on Nepalese cuisine.  Those looking for standard British Asian offerings should look elsewhere. But for those with a sense of adventure, there’s much on the menu to get the pulse racing. Nepalese cuisine is subtly different from that found in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, with hints of all three, plus influences from Tibet and Thailand. This is well reflected in Kathmandu’s menu, which includes authentic regional curries – try, for example, the dark, exotic, whole-spice lamb dish Masa Kirtipur – and some superb seafood options. Of these, the restaurant’s signature dish, Sunkoshi – sea bass, salmon or king prawn in a delicious sauce, accompanied by pan-fried potatoes, asparagus and saffron rice – is a revelation. Although a large restaurant, service is efficient. While the modern-meets-traditional décor and furnishings won’t be to everyone’s taste, they certainly add a touch of class. Given the quality of the food, though, it’s almost an irrelevance.

Myristica has a rising reputation. Since opening, it’s bagged countless awards, and was named by one national newspaper as among the best 20 indian restaurants in the UK. Certainly, the food is delicious. While there are variations on tried-and-tested curry house favourites – Chicken Tikka Masala, Vindaloo, Rogan Josh, and so on – the ‘A La Carte’ menu boasts numerous intriguing options for those keen on authentic regional dishes and modern Indian cuisine. It’s rare, for example, to see halibut tail, duck, guinea fowl and scallops on a curry house menu, but these each form part of some of Myristica’s most memorable dishes. All are delicately spiced – even those with a greater hit of chili heat – and beautifully presented.  Browse the menu, and you’ll also notice a number of charcoal-grilled kebabs and simple meat dishes. These are well worth trying, with the mixed kebab platter offering perhaps the best option. Perhaps unusually for an Indian restaurant, Myristica also boasts an impressive – not to mention extensive – wine list. The friendly waiters are more than happy to suggest wines to compliment dishes, adding a touch of class to the dining experience.

Tucked away in a basement below King Street, close to the Bristol Old Vic, The Raj has long been one of the city’s most popular Indian restaurants. It first opened its doors way back in 1981, and little has changed – aside from the odd refurbishment, of course – since. It retains the same high standards it had when it launched over 30 years ago. Menu wise, there’s little in the way of contemporary thrills. Instead, the emphasis is on British curry house favourites, cooked well, with a sprinkling of lesser-seen regional dishes – in this bracket, we’d recommend the minced lamb and peas of the Keema Matar, which is worth spicing up with the optional addition of chilies – and traditional side dishes. The basement space is relatively intimate, so advance booking is recommended if you plan on heading down at weekends. For those willing to eat a little earlier, The Raj offers an “Early Bird Menu” seven days a week. This set menu includes a large number of options for starters, side dishes and main meals, and for £15.95 you’ll leave utterly stuffed.

Since opening at the tail end of 2013, the diminutive Aviator Bar in Redland has earned a decent reputation for the quality of its’ craft ales and hearty, unfussy food. Certainly, it’s well worth deviating from Whiteladies Road or Gloucester Road to try some of the 13 draught beers they have on offer. The one-room venue itself is small and intimate, with Bristol Aeroplane Company memorabilia adorning the walls and bar in celebration of the city’s aviation heritage. That The Aviator Bar feels mature and grown up, rather than gimmicky, is testament to the work of its’ beer-loving owners. Their impeccable craft beer offering – think both ales and lagers, with better-known brands joined by obscure international brews – is particularly attractive. They have their own ‘house beer’, the sweet-but-dry Aviator Wing, as well as a string of craft lagers from the UK and the Czech Republic. For those who aren’t so keen on beer, the wine list is surprisingly impressive for such a small bar.  Beer enthusiasts are well catered for, with third of a pint and half pint measures also available, allowing the option to taste multiple beers in one session without needing to be carried home at the end.

When it opened its doors in 2004, Zerodegrees was like nothing Bristol had seen before: an architecturally impressive bar, restaurant and microbrewery perched precariously in the steep space between Colston Street, Christmas Steps and Park Row. Boasting no less than three balconies, exposed metal around every corner and a main bar area with a surprisingly high ceiling, it took George Ferguson’s Tobacco Factory blueprint and twisted it into new, thrillingly modern shapes. Eleven years on, the building may have lost a little of its’ shine, but the venue itself remains as popular as ever. While they’ve always put dining at the heart of their offering, it’s their beer range – brewed on-site in the first-floor microbrewery – that’s always proved a bigger draw for drinkers. Given that Bristol’s craft beer scene has expanded rapidly over the last decade, Zerodegrees was certainly ahead of the trend. Their beer range is fairly eclectic, with a high quality, award-winning Pilsner being joined by an American style Pale Ale, Wheat Lager and Black Lager. Arguably best of all, though, is their seasonal Mango Beer, which is the kind of summer thirst-quencher that seems tailor made for boutique music festivals and lazy al fresco drinking.

For first-timers, finding The Volunteer Tavern – tucked away on a back street behind Cabot Circus, and a stone’s throw from the Trinity Centre – can be a little tricky. It’s worth seeking out, though, because its’ historic nature, homely feel, high quality food and revolving real ale range add up to something rather special.  The 17th century building and roomy walled garden are both hugely welcoming, as are the enthusiastic staff and friendly “pub dog” (a frequent feature of dedicated real ale establishments that get the CAMRA seal of approval). The food offering is a cut above the norm, too, meaning that booking is essential if you want to sample one of their popular Sunday roasts. Their craft beer range is small but perfectly formed, with local suppliers – think Wiper & True, Wye Valley, Wickwar, Cotswold Spring, and Arbor Ales – taking precedence. They also run regular beer festivals, with a wide range of weird and wonderful, small-run beers being dispensed from casks in the back yard. It all adds up to a hidden gem that should be on any Bristol beer enthusiast’s radar.

Perched high on a hill between Stokes Croft and Cotham in Kingsdown, The Hillgrove has been a feature of Bristol’s real ale scene for longer than anyone can remember. Certainly, it’s been a regular destination for students, 30-somethings who should know better and real ale enthusiasts for many a year. Before the craft beer boom swept through Bristol, the Hillgrove boasted one of the most impressive real ale ranges in the city, with up to twelve cask and keg choices. The range is still impressive, with beers from owners Dawkins – whose other pubs include The Victoria in Clifton and The Miner’s Arms in St Werburghs – being joined by an eclectic range of guest ales, ciders and perries. Landlord Jamie Ashley, a familiar face at the bar even when off duty, ensures that the beer is kept to a high standard. Décor-wise, The Hillgrove feels like a proper, traditional pub, with seating in various nooks and crannies, and an outside courtyard area for the smokers. Capacity is relatively limited, though, so getting a seat at busy times – notably Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday during their popular “late roast” slot – can sometimes be tricky.

The Hare proudly boasts that it’s “Bristol’s best public house”. While that’s undoubtedly a bold claim, it’s certainly one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Its strongest selling point, for those keen on decent beer, at least, is that it doesn’t try to do too many things. It revels in its status as a “proper pub”, focusing on drinks and atmosphere rather than food and other 21st century gimmicks. Inside it’s intimate and cozy, with wooden tables, chairs and stools clustered around a small but well-stocked bar. There’s a small but frequently changing real ale range, mostly from local microbreweries, plus high quality continental style lagers and a delicious Camden Ink stout. The Hare’s other unique selling point is its reclaimed “secret garden”. Accessed via a flight of stairs, it’s long and thin with a seeming jumble of different areas to explore. While it seems small, it can seat 60, making it a perfect place to enjoy the sun in spring or summer.

These days, Southville residents are pretty well off for quality drinking options, with The Hare, The Steam Crane and The Tobacco Factory making North Street one of Bristol’s better stretches for craft beer enthusiasts. Even so, The North St Standard has managed to make its’ mark in a crowded marketplace by offering something a little different. Stylistically, it’s similar to its’ big brother – the Gloucester Road-based Urban Standard – with furniture, décor and artwork (provided by local street art specialists Upfest) that’s modern, stripped-back and hipster friendly (see also The Canteen in Stokes Croft). There’s a similar feel to the popular food offering, too, which offers a thoroughly contemporary twist on traditional pub fare. The seasonal specials – particularly the ‘Catch of the Day’ fish option – are always worth a look, too. Drinks-wise, you’ll normally find six or so craft beers on offer, with local microbrewery favourites being joined by continental and North American lagers and ales. They recently collaborated with Easton-based Arbor Ales to produce their own house beer, too, the rather tasty Double Standard.