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    Clifton Observatory

    4.0 (21 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Clifton Observatory Photos

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    James G.

    Well this was random! I was up in Bristol to see my little sis and asked to see the real Bristol, little did i know what was in store for me. After a nice walk through Clifton and up some very steep hills (not used to the incline living in Manchester) we came upon the Clifton Observatory which boasts great views of the Clifton Suspension bridge although we only got to see half due to the maintenance works. The Clifton observatory has the feel of the apprentice loser's cafe when you walk in. There's some printed out price list stuck above a counter with blutack that's housing the most unenthusiastic ticket women I've ever seen. Not sure what to expect we handed over our £2.50 and she replied "Hold the rail". We carried on past and came upon a tunnel with a rusty handrail. Down the tunnel we went, it was all quite exciting, I had no idea what was at the end and the complete lack of safety was all kind of refreshing, a cramped cave without even a mind your head sign in sight. After around 3-5 minutes, pretty sure cave time travels slower, we came out of the cave into some kind of cliff face clearing. Here you have a view of the of Clifton bridge but from around half way down the cliff. There is a large railing to stop anyone falling off and the railing extends out on the floor. Like a glass floor you can see down through the metal floor. This was all quite exciting for around 5 minutes, we took some pictures, did a quick jump to see just how safe it was then I guess it was time to head back. All I can say is random; there isn't even a sign at any point explaining why the cave / tunnel is there? Was it worth £2.50 - Flat out Yes! Is the tunnel two-way friendly? - No :D

    Looks a bit like a mini fort, I think...
    Will P.

    Up on the downs (that's a good Bristol phrase) you'll find these two tourist attractions. Priced very reasonably they offer a quick family friendly distraction. 'What's a camera obscura?' I hear you ask. Well, imagine a tower with a perescope type object projecting an image of the surrounding area on to a large metal dish, and you have something of an idea. 'What's the point of that?' I now hear you ask. I'm not sure to be honest, but it's a lot of fun to twist the perescope (I'm sure that not what it's supposed to be called) and see if you can find someone scratching their bum. Not as stalkerish as it sounds. If that doesn't sound like fun to you then you can down instead of up into a small cave beneath the tower. After a few flights of steps and squeezing through gaps you will come out at an opening about half way down Avon Gorge cliff face. The view is breathtaking, and you can watch climbers work their way past you on their way to the top.

    Chloé Y.

    A nice little tourist thing to do for less than a fiver! We chose to go down the cave. After getting a brief introduction to the rules by the ticket office lady (no jumping on platform, max 8 persons on platform, no graffiti and hold on to hand rails and mind heads when going down), we wandered through the underground path to the opening of the cave on the cliff side and a view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It was all over pretty quickly as there's not much to see but well worth going!

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    Review Highlights - Clifton Observatory

    There's great views of the bridge at the top of the observatory, and the camera obscura was a neat form of innovation to see.

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    Coffee Beach

    Coffee Beach

    4.3(8 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    £

    The Coffee Beach cafe is located right on the Harbour-side in the centre of Bristol. Inside there…read moreis lots of sofas and tables which means I was instantly able to find a seat. Additionally they have free wi-fi and you don't have to purchase a card like in Starbucks. There is a huge selection of paninis, coffees and smoothies, far more than the likes of Costas and Starbucks. However, they do not sell any filter coffee, just an Americano which I find quite irritating! The entire place is very nicely designed, with lots of drift wood and beach like decor. Additionally on the back wall there is a huge picture of a tropical beach which is nice to look at! I didn't, however, like the uni sex toilets, although they were clean. The prices are reasonable considering the location. Breakfast is only £1.75 for some beans on toast, and a full English is £4.50. Smoothies are roughly £2.90 and they also do a very nice frozen yogurt for £1.50

    Their decor and theme of this cafe carries through all the way to the outside. I find many cafes…read morepay attention to the interior decor, but the outside never quite matches. Here, I found the colourful backed beach type outdoor chairs made the vibe of this cafe trail out onto the street in front of it, which is a good thing. Walking in, it feels light and airy, with light coloured furniture, and a great Palm Beach type mural at the back of the cafe. A glance at the food, made me surprised that a cafe in the busy center caters alot for a gluten free diet. Every category of food here has a gluten free option. They do sandwiches, paninis, ciabattas and big salads. Their fillings are generous, and one's that I found interesting were brie & pear, roast chicken with vegetables, and a chunky meat feast! Cakes served here are brownies, lemon polenta cake, honeybuns (all these three are gluten free), and more traditional deserts like apple pie and cheesecakes. If you want something sweet after your food that's not a cake, they do freshly made smoothies, frozen yoghurt and ice cream too, where you can choose your toppings. A very breezy relaxing cafe, accentuated by its location right next to the river and that beach mural behind you.

    Photos
    Coffee Beach
    Coffee Beach
    Coffee Beach

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    Playground Coffee House

    Playground Coffee House

    4.6(7 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    £

    Love this place. Small but cozy, swing seats are the best. Plenty of games to play although not all…read morewith all the parts, but thats to be expected. Drinks are nice and staff friendly. Only downside is no decaf coffee as i cant drink caffeine.

    I've walked passed Playground Coffee House a couple of times, always favouring Bagel Boy as it's…read morenext door and I'm normally after a decent feed. But today I just wanted coffee so I thought I'd give it a go. What an awesome little place to hang out! From the outside Playground looks more like a hipster arts and craft shop. But in a good way. It looks intriguing and different from a lot of coffee shops that try and be hipster - theres an irony to Playgrounds hint of hipsterness! Get inside and the first thing you see are two wooden swings (yes swings) with a really nice chill-out windowsill with cushions to sit on. I'm actually sat on the windowsill as a type this and it's a really nice place to be! Much like the outside, the decor inside Playground is different to many other coffee shops close by; refreshingly different. There's lots of colour, swings and a few board games. It feels much more relaxing than your average chip board heavy coffee shop. The coffee itself is really good. I went for the house flat white which was quite sweet and really moreish. It was delicious. All in all a really nice experience and refreshing to see someone breaking the mould. Accepts Bristol Pounds & text to pay

    Photos
    Playground Coffee House
    Playground Coffee House - Flat white and mocha, with brownie and Apple crumble(:

    Flat white and mocha, with brownie and Apple crumble(:

    Playground Coffee House

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    Boston Tea Party - Ham and bacon muffin

    Boston Tea Party

    4.1(63 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    ££

    perfect american brunch To face the long day ahead of me, on…read moreSunday I absolutely had to try the Boston Tea Party breakfast. If you love powerful American brunches, BTP is a must! At BTP, you will find the most sandwich and full-bodied semi-sweet pancakes you will ever eat in your life. Flavoured with a cascade of maple syrup, they will be the perfect match for the fried bacon with which they are served. Tired of avocado toast - let's face it, I can do it myself at home, without spending nine effing pounds - I wanted to try the famous eggs Benedict. Accompanied by two slices of sourdough toast bread and hollandaise sauce they were fire! I also wanted to add some bacon just to keep it light... because why not?! I was expecting classic American bacon in thin, crunchy and super scorched strips, but I think this is the English version: thick and almost rounded slices, more like a slice of meat, but still delicious af. The meat was tender and cooked evenly, nicely browned at the edges.

    I had an incredible experience at the BTP. The staff all great you with a smile as soon as you walk…read morein. And also their initiative to single use is clear, which is impressive! The menu includes a vegan dish in every category. Along with veggie options, and meat too! I ordered the vegan veggie breakfast for under £7. My partner ordered the vegan banh mi. After we ordered we headed outside to their beautiful outdoor garden. They claim to have the largest on park street. There was a lot of seating in the sun and the shade. Our food came out in a timely matter and was absolutely delicious. They veggie breakfast was so tasty! The only thing I'd change would be to add a vegan sausage or avocado in place of the missing egg from the standard veggie breakfast. The banh mi was perfect as is! We finished our food and soaked up some son. Everything about our experience was enjoyable and we will definitely be returning!

    Photos
    Boston Tea Party - Home made hashbrowns

    Home made hashbrowns

    Boston Tea Party - Pancakes

    Pancakes

    Boston Tea Party - Salmon toast

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    Salmon toast

    Watershed Cafe Bar - Burger before movie

    Watershed Cafe Bar

    3.9(14 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    ££

    I love the Watershed! First off, this is a movie theater, with both foreign and independent cinema…read morethat is arty and thoughtful, and the Watershed is also inclusive, creative space. It's a Haven! Then to top it off the cafe and bar serves excellent fine craft beers and support and arts and salads. I've had the fish and chips, the beetroot soup, and a butternut squash salad with arugula, sauteed red onions topped with hazelnuts. Delicious. Everytime I get the Goose IPA but they also have hand pours and lagers. You can take the food and drink into the theaters. But you can just stay at the bar, the staff is friendly, the music is good, and stare out at the river

    I met a friend for lunch at the watershed cafe today, I have been to the watershed many times but…read moremainly either just for a drink or to go to the cinema - their cinebabies weekly showings of films for parents with children under 1 are excellent but more about that another day! I arrived before my friend and decided to change my babies nappy before we ate, the baby changing facilities were in the ladies toilet (great for me as I am indeed a lady, not sure if they had any facilities that a man could use to change a nappy) the changing table was clean and there was plenty of room for my 13 month old. I then found a table and managed to move the furniture round a little bit and grabbed a high chair, the high chair was perfect for my child but may not have been so great a few months ago when she was smaller as it didn't have a tray and didn't have a back but as I say great for us right now. My friend arrived and we ordered food. There was a good selection of lighter meals but also bigger meals too. I ordered a jacket pot with cheese and tuna and my friend had falafel, the food arrived pretty quickly which was good as my friend was on his lunch break so only had an hour, unfortunately they forgot my cheese but quickly and without question brought out a big pot of grated cheese. The jacket potato was fluffy on the inside and nice and crispy on the outside, it came with a delicious side salad and the cheese was really tasty mature cheddar cheese, the tuna had just the right amount of mayo with it. I washed it down with a pint if draft cider (I think it was bounders) which was a bit of a treat on a school day lunch time ! They did have a good choice of children's food but my little one likes to share mine so we didn't get her anything separate. The cafe was busy but not too busy so there was a nice buzz about the place and not so quiet that I couldn't have a good old gossip with my friend. So a cheap and cheerful lunch for under £6 in a nice airy cafe was a great way to spend a Thursday lunch time !

    Photos
    Watershed Cafe Bar - Pint and popcorn ready for a movie

    Pint and popcorn ready for a movie

    Watershed Cafe Bar - Food with a view

    Food with a view

    Watershed Cafe Bar - From the balcony

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    From the balcony

    Boulangerie

    Boulangerie

    3.9(7 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    £

    This sweet little cafe-cum-bakery at the top of Park Street is sometimes lost among the better…read moreknown names like Cafe Nero, Pret a Manger and Starbucks. But even though it looks quite humble from the outside, it's worth a visit if you're looking for a simple tea or coffee and a massive sweet treat. With a cup of tea for around £1, this no frills cafe is a welcome change to the ridiculously huge selection its chained counterparts offer. And the staff are happy, helpful and look like they like their jobs, which is a welcome change from most Bristol coffee houses!

    Boulangerie is the knight and shining armour for all penny-pinching library-bound Bristol…read moreUniversity students. Just round the corner from the main university precinct, it is the most affordable place to grab a snack when the conflict between hunger and concentration proves too much to bear. At lunchtime there's invariably a fairly long queue outside Boulangerie. It's tucked away in between the louder and more lurid chains such as a Nero or Greggs but far better value than any of them. Boulangerie doesn't need to shout, anyone who's been knows how great it is. In fairness, most of the sandwiches taste pretty similar (there about four varieties of chicken and to me they all just taste like chicken salad despite whatever pretensions to Thai or Mexican flavours). It doesn't really matter though when the ingredients are fresh and the prices are this low.

    Photos
    Boulangerie - Croissant and cappuccino

    Croissant and cappuccino

    Boulangerie
    Boulangerie

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    Twoday Coffee Roasters

    Twoday Coffee Roasters

    4.8(9 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    ££

    For the coffee connoisseur, Twoday Coffee Roasters must be like some sort of Eden. It is not just…read morean extraordinary range of beans, cultivated from all over the world that are on offer but you can also purchase a wide range of coffee paraphernalia. Mugs come in such abundance that you are guaranteed to find one to suit even the most idiosyncratic person and their cafetieres cater for lonely one-cup coffee drinkers to coffee families (or perhaps just very tired people)! Expect to pay a lot of money but expect to come out with the perfect gift for anyone who has strong views on the magic bean!

    As soon as you step within a quarter of a mile of this shop you can be sure to catch a whiff of…read moreburnt coffee. Not the nicest smell, but the job is really good. You may have to hold your nose to brave it inside but browsing the shop is definitely worth the smell. The shop is very cheerful- a bright red exterior and brightly patterned mugs in the interior. The mugs are fine bone china so prices are slightly more than you might expect. Some of the images and motifs on the mugs you can find in other shops but there is such a vast range that there are plenty of rarer images and patterns. If you, or somebody you know, is a coffee-lover then I would certainly pay this shop a visit because you are bound to find just the mug you want. The shop also sells a selection of coffee which you will not be able to resist adding to your shopping basket.

    Photos
    Twoday Coffee Roasters - Roasting green beans.

    Roasting green beans.

    Twoday Coffee Roasters

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    Small St Espresso - Vegan chocolate filled donut. £3.75.

    Small St Espresso

    4.8(9 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    £

    Best latte I've ever had! Fact!…read more I arrived yesterday about half an hour early for a meeting, so I threw my bag down and studied the pretty extensive menu. I'd not been here before, so went with my normal Latte order to see how it compared to my other favorites. It came in a glass without a handle and looked perfect, so I was really looking forward to trying it. I sat down on one of their small but surprisingly conformable wooden table and stools, had my first sip and - BOOM! Absolute taste sensation! Seriously, this is the best coffee I've ever had; and I've travelled South America! I'm not a coffee connoisseur, so I can't say if it was a dry, dark, sweet or had hints of mahogany to it. What I can say it that I almost wanted to down it, it was so good! While I was waiting for my meeting to arrive I was listening in to the guys behind the counter. They were taking about doing a 28day brew and were discussing other coffee stuff with customers; they really knew their stuff! On the counter were some lovely looking cakes and pastries. I didn't have any but I'll definitely try some when I go back. This is a fantastic little coffee shop ran by coffee enthusiast - and the results speak for themselves. Best coffee in Bristol? In my eyes, definitely!

    This specialty coffee shop in Bristol is not overrated; the hype is deserved. This brick-walled,…read moresmall space is tucked into Small Street near St Nicholas Market. My decaf latte was served in a glass and topped with foamy, yet smooth-looking, latte art. The taste of the espresso dominated the milk without being overly bitter. Small Street Espresso features coffee roasters from Bristol and the UK, which are listed on display on a chalkboard near the counter. The price was about what I would expect to pay for specialty, but the serving was a bit on the smaller side (my guess would be an 8-oz pour). Cheers, Small Street Espresso, for indulging my craving for specialty roasted coffee.

    Photos
    Small St Espresso - Interior.

    Interior.

    Small St Espresso - Vegan chocolate filled donut, £3.75, and house coffee, long black style, £3. Great combo of bitter and sweet.

    Vegan chocolate filled donut, £3.75, and house coffee, long black style, £3. Great combo of bitter and sweet.

    Small St Espresso - Interior.

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    Interior.

    Full Court Press - Coffee machine

    Full Court Press

    4.4(9 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    £

    This place goes in the A+ category. If you're into coffee that tastes locally roasted and is…read moreprepared in a manner that brings out all the flavors...this is it. I've been traveling across England and this is by far the best cup I've had to date. This is one of the rare places that does a pour over or "filter" as they say here. Top shelf coffee for those who are looking for it.

    It's simple, Full Court Press do coffee right and they definitely know what they are doing…read more Even if you don't have a deep understanding of coffee like they do, they will patiently explain the menu options and flavours. I've been in too many independent coffee shops who are impatient with customers and expect a certain level of knowledge. This place is the exact opposite, very welcoming. The menu is another indicator of how much they know. It's not your average coffee menu with each espresso drink listed. There are only four blends, two espresso and two filter, simple yet the flavour profiles are nicely detailed. Espresso can come with milk but the filter is served black. I get the impression adding anything to the coffee is not an option and have heard Full Court Press is insistent that milk not be added to the filter and sugar not in any of the drinks. Personally I agree with this but fair warning to those who take sugar in their coffee. I ordered a flat white and one of the filter options. Both were incredibly delicious and smooth, especially the flat white. Plus the latte art held it's shape all the way until the end of my cup, a sign of proper milk frothing and technique. The filter was actually very sweet despite not having anything added. I can definitely attest the quality of our drinks to the skill of the barista. If you're in Bristol searching for coffee, make this the first place you try. You won't regret it.

    Photos
    Full Court Press
    Full Court Press
    Full Court Press

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    Clifton Observatory - coffee - Updated May 2026

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