Italian££MontpelierTue-Thu 17:30-23:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-16:00, 17:30-23:00; Sun 12:30-17:30
Bianchis is Montpelier's green-tiled Italian trattoria, the anchor of a small Bristol group that also runs Cotto, with pasta made in-house daily.
Signature: Handmade pasta
Order: The five-course set with the house pasta; Sunday lunch is the local ritual.
Tip: Last tables are seated two hours before closing, so treat 21:00 as the real cut-off for a full dinner.
Italian££Old CityTue-Sat 12:00-14:00; Mon-Thu 17:30-21:00; Fri-Sat 17:30-21:15
Marmo runs an owner-led Italian kitchen and wine bar in Bristol's old Guardian Assurance building on Baldwin Street, holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Signature: Handmade pasta
Order: The day's fresh pasta with a low-intervention European wine from the list.
Tip: The wine list leans organic and biodynamic and doubles as a bottle shop; lunch is the quiet way in on Fridays.
Italian££SouthvilleTue-Wed 17:00-23:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-17:00
Sonny Stores fills a former Southville corner shop in Bristol with River Cafe-trained Italian cooking from Pegs Quinn and Mary Glynn, named for their son.
Signature: Acqua pazza, Fresh pasta
Order: The day's pasta, then poached cod acqua pazza if it is on.
Tip: Jay Rayner's Observer review filled the books for months; the weekday set lunch is the easiest table to land.
Spanish tapas££CothamMon-Sat 11:30-23:00
Bravas has run its candlelit Cotham Hill tapas bar since before Bristol's small-plates boom, sending staff on yearly trips to Spain to research suppliers.
Signature: Tortilla, Patatas bravas
Order: Tortilla, boquerones and the croquette of the day, with a glass of fino.
Tip: Window seats and the bar are held for walk-ins, so turn up early rather than despairing at the online book.
Middle Eastern££SouthvilleMon-Sat 17:00-21:30; Wed-Sat also 12:00-14:30
Souk Kitchen cooks Middle Eastern and North African plates on North Street in Southville, Bristol, a Time Out pick for excellent-value small plates.
Signature: Mezze plates
Order: A spread of mezze and the daily flatbread, with pomegranate over everything.
Tip: Much of the menu can be made gluten-free; the deli counter sells spice blends to take the cooking home.
Vietnamese££RedlandTue-Wed 18:00-23:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-15:00
The Saigon Kitchen brings chef-owner Trung's home-style Vietnamese cooking to Zetland Road in Bristol, from Hanoi beef pho to steamed Devon mussels.
Signature: Hanoi-style beef pho, Bun bo nam bo
Order: Hanoi-style beef pho, then bun bo nam bo if you are two.
Tip: The kitchen closes at 21:30 even when the room runs later; Sunday is a short 12:00 to 15:00 lunch service.