What to order at The Christmas Steps

The dish to know
Craft pints on the medieval steps
Editor tip
The pub anchors the bottom of the historic steps; Ahh Toots' cake counter sits across the lane for afters.
CuisineBritish gastropub
Price££
NeighborhoodOld City
HoursMon 17:00-00:00; Tue-Thu 12:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00; Sun 12:00-23:00
Open until01:00 Fri-Sat
The dishCraft pints on the medieval steps
Last verified

Tip: The pub anchors the bottom of the historic steps; Ahh Toots' cake counter sits across the lane for afters.

Location

Address: 2 Christmas Steps, Bristol BS1 5BS

Also in Old City

The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer ★ 4.3

British gastropub££Old CitySun-Tue 12:00-00:00; Wed-Sat 12:00-01:00; roasts Sun 12:00-17:00Until 01:00 Wed-Sat

The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer runs 36 all-UK beer and cider lines inside a 1673 King Street building, Bristol's Grade II listed craft beer flagship.

Try: A final rotating keg on King Street

Tip: Locals call it The Volley; once a rotating keg goes it is gone, so order the interesting line first.

The Bank Tavern ★ 4.4

British gastropub££Old CitySun-Wed 12:00-00:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-01:00; food 12:00-16:00Until 01:00 Thu-Sat

The Bank Tavern hides down a John Street alley in Bristol with an award-named Sunday lunch so popular its roast bookings sell out a year ahead.

Try: A closing pint down the alley

Tip: Sunday sittings for 2026 sold out again; weekday lunches need no booking and carry the same kitchen's cooking.

The Beer Emporium ★ 4.2

Cocktail bar££Old CityTue-Wed 16:00-03:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-03:00; Sun 16:00-01:00; closed MonUntil 03:00 most nights

The Beer Emporium runs 32 keg and cask lines in vaulted cellars under King Street, the underground bar of Bristol's self-styled Beermuda Triangle.

Try: Late cellar pints and Pepenero pizza

Tip: It pours until very late for King Street; the in-house Italian kitchen means the last pizza lands well after midnight.

The Milk Thistle ★ 4.5

Cocktail bar£££Old CityTue-Thu 18:00-01:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-02:00; closed Sun-MonUntil 02:00 Fri-Sat

The Milk Thistle stacks four floors of hidden cocktail rooms behind an unmarked Colston Avenue door, Bristol's grand speakeasy with a whisky vault.

Try: Nightcap cocktails in the parlour

Tip: Ring the doorbell and book ahead for weekends; the vault below street level takes small groups for whisky tastings.

Full Old City food guide →

More late-night eats in Bristol

The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer ★ 4.3

British gastropub££Old CitySun-Tue 12:00-00:00; Wed-Sat 12:00-01:00; roasts Sun 12:00-17:00Until 01:00 Wed-Sat

The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer runs 36 all-UK beer and cider lines inside a 1673 King Street building, Bristol's Grade II listed craft beer flagship.

Try: A final rotating keg on King Street

Tip: Locals call it The Volley; once a rotating keg goes it is gone, so order the interesting line first.

The Bank Tavern ★ 4.4

British gastropub££Old CitySun-Wed 12:00-00:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-01:00; food 12:00-16:00Until 01:00 Thu-Sat

The Bank Tavern hides down a John Street alley in Bristol with an award-named Sunday lunch so popular its roast bookings sell out a year ahead.

Try: A closing pint down the alley

Tip: Sunday sittings for 2026 sold out again; weekday lunches need no booking and carry the same kitchen's cooking.

Taka Taka ★ 3.8

Greek£Clifton TriangleMon-Fri 11:00-04:00; Sat 12:00-05:00; Sun 12:00-01:00Until 04:00 weeknights, 05:00 Saturday

Taka Taka grills gyros and souvlaki on the Clifton Triangle until 04:00 or later, the Greek kebab counter that closes out student Bristol's nights.

Try: Gyros and souvlaki

Tip: It is the honourable end to a Park Street night; the halloumi gyros converts even committed doner loyalists.

Miss Millie's Fried Chicken ★ 3.6

Fried chicken£Gloucester RoadSun-Thu 11:00-02:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-03:00Until 03:00 Fri-Sat on Gloucester Road

Miss Millie's is Bristol's own fried chicken chain, serving since 1998, and its Gloucester Road shop keeps frying to 03:00 weekends for the night-bus crowd.

Try: Fried chicken and spiced fries

Tip: Ask for the signature spice mix on the fries; seven other Bristol branches cover most late routes home.

The Beer Emporium ★ 4.2

Cocktail bar££Old CityTue-Wed 16:00-03:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-03:00; Sun 16:00-01:00; closed MonUntil 03:00 most nights

The Beer Emporium runs 32 keg and cask lines in vaulted cellars under King Street, the underground bar of Bristol's self-styled Beermuda Triangle.

Try: Late cellar pints and Pepenero pizza

Tip: It pours until very late for King Street; the in-house Italian kitchen means the last pizza lands well after midnight.

The Milk Thistle ★ 4.5

Cocktail bar£££Old CityTue-Thu 18:00-01:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-02:00; closed Sun-MonUntil 02:00 Fri-Sat

The Milk Thistle stacks four floors of hidden cocktail rooms behind an unmarked Colston Avenue door, Bristol's grand speakeasy with a whisky vault.

Try: Nightcap cocktails in the parlour

Tip: Ring the doorbell and book ahead for weekends; the vault below street level takes small groups for whisky tastings.

See every late-night eats pick in Bristol →

← Back to Late-Night Eats in Bristol ← Bristol food guide