Bristol's best pub gardens

First published 15/7/20; last updated 26/2/21. 

We’re sure you’ve heard the good news – from 12 April 2021, pub gardens and terraces can reopen once again for groups of six, providing it’s safe to do so.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best beer gardens in Bristol, to get you in the mood for a nice cold pint in the spring sunshine. We can almost taste the cider now…

Please check directly with pubs and bars for updates on their reopening plans. Read our latest Covid-19 guidance and advice here.

The White Lion

This Clifton pub has one of the best views in the city from its back terrace, overlooking the Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The menu at The White Lion is a mix of traditional pub favourites, and the terrace is heated for chillier evenings when you can't tear yourself away from that iconic vista!

Racks

Nestled between Clifton Village and the Triangle, Racks Bar & Kitchen has a pretty heated terrace to relax in on sunnier days as well cosy alcoves inside for the winter months. It's especially worth stopping by for their regular special offers on both food and drink.

Source - Racks

Arnolfini Café Bar

There are few sights more typically Bristol than that of people sat on the quayside outside Arnolfini.

Rather than a traditional beer garden, Arnolfini's Cafe Bar opens out onto the harbour, with an ever-changing view of boats, cranes and paddleboarders. The menu is a short and sweet selection of seasonal dishes, perfectly combined with one of their Bristol Beer Factory tipples.

• See the best places to eat al fresco in Bristol

Source - Arnolfini 

King Street Brew House

One of the busiest places in the city for al fresco beers has to be King Street. With one end known fondly as 'The Beermuda Triangle' for its trio of top notch craft beer bars, this small street boasts eight pubs, and that's without including The Apple cider boat which sits at the end of the street!

The King Street Brew House has a fabulous selection of beers, as well as wine, cider & spirits. The perfect place to start any ambitious pub crawl! 

• Read more: Beer and breweries in Bristol

Source - King Street Brew House

Stokes Croft Beer Garden

A large, astro turf-clad garden tucked behind one of the busiest roads in Bristol, the Stokes Croft Beer Garden manages to be a bit of an oasis in the middle of the city. Take a seat at one of their benches or lounge on a big beanbag while you sip some local beers and take in the chilled atmosphere. Stop by for a BBQ at weekends!

• See our guide to Bristol's best rooftop bars

Source - Stokes Croft Beer Garden

The Ostrich

Another pub which doesn't have a pub garden as such but instead a huge terrace overlooking the harbour, The Ostrich is another of our favourites for enjoying a drink in the open air, complete with some top views of Redcliffe and the passing river traffic.

Apparently there are smuggling caves underneath the pub, as well as a pirate skeleton (fake, well, we hope!) in one of the cave entrances in the corner of the pub - spooky!

If you love harbour views, make sure to visit their sister pub The Cottage too.

Source - The Ostrich

Tobacco Factory Cafe Bar

One of the largest outdoor spaces on the list, Tobacco Factory has a massive terrace, perfect for hosting a multitude of events, from beer festivals to street food markets.

There's also an outdoor bar which serves a tasty pizza menu, and music on selected evenings.

Source - Tobacco Factory 

The Full Moon

This lively venue is one of the most buzzing pubs along Stokes Croft, hosting a range of music and club nights every month.

Its huge beer garden is great for people watching or making new friends, and you can also refuel with a pizza from Pepe Nero in their pop-up kitchen, which offers vegan and gluten free options.

• Read our guide to Bristol's best budget vegan eats

Source - The Full Moon 

The Hope & Anchor

Sandwiched between the harbour and the steep hills of Clifton and Park St on Jacobs Wells Road, this small pub and its quirky tiered garden is a little oasis in the middle of the city.

Source - The Hope & Anchor 

The Spotted Cow

If you're in Bedminster to check out the Upfest murals, The Spotted Cow is one of the top pubs in the area to rest your feet.

A local favourite due to its big beer garden, you'll almost always be able to find a space on the grass or at one of the many tables.

Source - The Spotted Cow

Beese's Riverside Bar and Garden

A short drive or boat ride from the city centre, Beese's sits beside a tranquil stretch of the River Avon, with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the scenery.

Stop by for a relaxed drink, cream tea or roast dinner. During the summer months you can also watch bands play here every Friday!

• See more Bristol boat trips

Source - Beeses

Riverside cruise with pub stop off

Bristol Packet Boat Trips offers a cruise through the Harbour and upstream, along beautiful rural stretches of the Avon, before locking through Hanham Lock and stopping for lunch at The Old Lock and Weir or The Chequers Inn.

The Farm

Tucked away in the St Werburghs district of the city, just a short walk or cycle ride from Stokes Croft is The Farm, so-called for its close proximity to the city farm next door. 

The garden here is big and spacious, and the roasts are legendary. Well worth the trip from wherever you are in the city.

Source - The Farm 

Which beer garden or terrace will you be heading to first post-lockdown? Share your favourites with us over on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

You might also like:

• Top spring walks in Bristol
• The best places to eat al fresco in Bristol
• Bristol's best picnic spots