Five Bristol establishments have been included in the SquareMeal Top 100 UK restaurants list.

Paco Tapas came in 8th place on the list, placing higher than the other Bristol restaurants that feature.

SquareMeal is the UK’s leading independent restaurant guide and deliberately excludes London restaurants to allow venues from around the UK to be recognised.

The full Top 100 list can be viewed over at the SquareMeal website.

What did SquareMeal say about Paco Tapas?

SquareMeal describes Paco Tapas as “an absolutely cracking restaurant”.

Sharing: “Michelin-starred though it is, Paco Tapas doesn't have an ounce of stiffness about it. Tabletops on the expansive terrace are propped up on old sherry casks, and friendly staff dodge nimbly between them with plates of honey-drizzled Manchego, gossamer-thin Bellota ham and piles of Jamon croquetas.

“The terrace is the place to be on Bristol’s warmer days, where the view of boats in Bathurst Basin could almost be a Mediterranean postcard. There’s more seating inside too, and lots of counter stools up at the tiled bar, where you get a great view of Paco’s chefs doing their thing.”

It has also been well-reviewed on Tripadvisor, earning a 4.5 rating from 423 reviews.

SquareMeal added: “The menu keeps plates authentic, but it’s the quality and precision of the cooking that astounds. Simple nibbles - smoked almonds, olives and cold meats - are expertly sourced, and lovely with a chilly glass of manzanilla.

“There’s no messing with classics like tortilla Espanola, which arrives as a plump UFO of egg and potato, and oozes with custardy yolks as soon as you cut it open.”

Bristol restaurants named in Squaremeal’s UK Top 100 Restaurants list

Here’s a list of all the Bristol restaurants that feature in the list along with their location and rank.

  • Paco Tapas – 8
  • Casa – 29
  • Wilsons – 64
  • COR Bristol – 69
  • Bulrush Restaurant – 77

Speaking about the list SquareMeal said: “Each of the top 100 results are a unique combination of our own in-house critic-led opinions and thousands of diner votes.

“It’s this dual approach that makes our list incomparable, representing not only our professional opinion but thousands of real-life experiences that help to reinforce and bolster our final decisions.”