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    The Blue Lagoon Cafe & Bar

    3.4 (32 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    The Blue Lagoon Cafe & Bar Photos

    THE BLUE LAGOON CAFE & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Live music
    Loud
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Blue Lagoon Cafe & Bar

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    From their website
    Henry N.

    Sitting on Gloucester Road just down the road from The Prom, this newer establishment is almost a carbon copy. Indeed, the first time I saw it, I mistakenly thought The Prom had been taken over and refurbished, so similar are they. It's a similar size, has the same cordoned off seating out the front, has a bar down one side, and acts as a cafe during the day and bar/live music venue at night (with a leaning towards acoustic artists). Where it scores higher over The Prom is the decor, which is a bit more up-to-date, including an impressive mural of Bristol which covers one wall. A relaxed place, customers are just as likely to order a coffee here as one of the tasty ciders they have on tap, and there is also a range of grub (which I believe is cheaper on weekdays), though I can't comment on the quality as I haven't eaten here.

    Rachel W.

    I've just read the plethora of reviews for Blue Lagoon that have found their way to Yelp. I only intended to scan one or two to see how other people feel about one of my favourite places in Bristol. Expecting glowing reports I was a little surprised to find that people have found niggly annoyances to gripe about, so I ended up reading the whole lot, and realised that a pattern was emerging. The main bone of contention is the food, and to some extent I agree that its not exactly perfect. When Ali, the owner, took on the Blue Lagoon a few years back, he inherited a legacy that presumably he felt was difficult to move away from. The previous owners ran the place as a greasy spoon, and I guess that Ali didn't want to offend the existing customers by offering something entirely different. A few years down the line, and they are still doing fry ups, which I find a little curious... I had expected them to be phased out a long time ago. But, I guess, if the regulars want them, then they'll continue to make them. I don't feel too impelled to defend Blue Lagoon. With eleven reviews, mine making twelve, I wouldn't be surprised if Blue Lagoon isn't the most widely covered bar in town thus far on Yelp. The fact that so many people have written about it is indicative of how important this café bar is on Gloucester Road. I love the place because of the ethos it espouses. Ali is one of the kindest, caring people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Having worked with quite a few venues in Bristol, staging gigs that showcased emerging talent, I have endured a belly full of bad practice, and professional indifference. It's both mystifying and incredible that the owners of many music venues don't care about the musicians that they invite to play at their nights, quite often without payment. They refuse to invest in decent sound equipment, which would even make Hendrix sound like your kid brother, locked in his bedroom, aged thirteen, wrestling with an unwieldy instrument that refuses to be mastered. Ali is different. Not only has he bought a decent PA, he's also invested in a decent light rig as well. He has my respect. Every time I go to Blue Lagoon, whether it's to take advantage of the Panini deals during the day, or to watch a band, I see the same faces, time and again, dotted about the place. This is the best recommendation a bar can have. It shows that they're getting things right.

    Jon B.

    Another coffee shop on the cafe culture stretch of Gloucester Road, the Blue Lagoon quite a nice cafe/bar, and quite similar in style to the other places, primarily the Prom, along this part of the road. I've had lunch a couple of tiems here, which was un-obejctionable experience - the paninis are always good, but I'd usually opt for one of the baguettes, which gives you a bit more for your money. In the evenings they have mainly local acoustic acts on the bill, and it's quite a good, chilled out venue for the type of music they orientate themselves towards. It gets full marks for ethical community spirit - it sources most of its ingredients from the local shops on Gloucester Road where possible, helping to keep alive the independent spirit of the region.

    from their website
    Lisa B.

    The Blue Lagoon is a cafe by day and a bar by night. I visited in the day, with a friend visiting Bristol. The glaring sunlight, concrete walls and metal tables and chairs made the place feel like it should be at the edge of a beach in Spain rather than Gloucester road. My friend and I made use of the panini and drink deal, which was pretty good value. The panini was well presented, but the cheese inside hadn't quite melted enough. The staff were courteous and accommodating, but seemed to not know the place very well. I'd like to come back at night and see the place transform into a music bar, I think it might have a better vibe.

    Rachel H.

    Similar to The Prom down the road, Blue Lagoon aspires to a continental cafe vibe. Personally, I still feel there's something very British about this place. For one, the British menu of stodgy food (I don't recommend). The decor as well leaves a lot to be desired - it's quite tacky and looks out of date. The coffee is weak, and for somewhere so down at heel the prices aren't as low as they really should be. One thing I do appreciate however is lounging on the terrace of a sunny afternoon. The Blue Lagoon is a fine place to stop off if you're marching up Gloucester Road, but give the food a miss and only stay for one.

    Foood mmmm
    Lucy G.

    I really like this place, so nice sitting outside watching the world go by. There's always a really good atmosphere and even sitting outside is never to chilly being out of the wind tunnel. The food isn't half bad i had a baked potato with chicken and bacon and my friend a toasted sandwich. Both were really tasty and reasonably ish priced. I do wish they had a larger more varied menu it's kind of a bit more expensive cafe food, bit limiting for choice. I think most people come here for the music, location and vibe to the place. Defo worth a visit for a bevvie or two, i'd say better places to eat on glouc road but if you just want the tummy rumbles to stop it's ok :)

    Qype User (rossan…)

    THe Blue Lagoon is an excellent cafe/bar that by day serves a very fine fry-up (although sometimes you have to be a little patient for it to arrive), as well as a surprising variety of other tasty treats. The freshly squeezed orange juice is a delicious accompaniment to it all. By night, it transforms in to a music/entertainment venue, with an eclectic programme of events. Tuesday has an open mic evening, for all budding musicians out there. The service is always welcoming and friendly.

    taken from website

    This isn't the greatest establishment in the world in virtually all respects. The food is distinctly below average. The service is slow and mildly incompetent, and the décor leaves a lot to be desired. I have never been here during the evening, but I hear it turns into a bar with some live music occasionally. I can imagine it would be a fairly decent as a bar, but the size of the place would (I imagine) make it a little cramped, as it isn't the biggest. Not having to concern themselves with food would definitely help them as they clearly haven't got their heads around how to take orders, make food, then bring that food to your table in a reasonable time frame. I ordered some cheesy chips here last time I was in and had to wait 40 minutes for it.

    Blue Lagoon
    Laura W.

    This is my new favourite place to have a bevy outdoors in the sunshine on the whole of Gloucester Road. It is probably one of the more obvious bars with outdoor seating in that you know its the kind of establishment where you can get a decent beer or a cider. The staff are friendly and chatty and they serve a good selection of booze on tap, including Star lager and Bounders Bath Cider (the cider arm of the amazing Bath Ales company). They also serve a decent selection of food, which looks delicious, though I am yet to try it. What's more, this place really comes alive at night and it is open refreshingly late. It's the kind of place where wonderfully random stuff happens, think hearing a random barbershop quartet practicing California Dreaming or an up and coming R'n'B star treating you to some mesmerizing beat-boxing. A great place for day and night.

    photo from website
    Eleanor S.

    I really wasn't impressed with the Blue Lagoon cafe and am always suprised to see it cramped full of people dining and drinking every day. I came here with great expectations of enjoying a brunch in the sunshine but was extremely disappointed with the atmosphere, service and quality of the food. My order came half an hour later and was the wrong order. When they brought the food back after i told them what i had actually ordered, it was wrong again. I won't be coming here again.

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    1 year ago

    inch's pint - sub par at best. atmosphere was meady, service was meh, overall mid experience.

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    14 years ago

    Solid outdoor ambiance. Good smoothies. Nothing mind-blowing, but hits the spot when you've been out for a long walk.

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    11 years ago

    Very nice breakfast and friendly service. Watching football to Roberta Flack was a bonus.

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    Review Highlights - The Blue Lagoon Cafe & Bar

    This is my new favourite place to have a bevy outdoors in the sunshine on the whole of Gloucester Road.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    The Penny - The bar at The Penny

    The Penny

    4.1(11 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    ££

    There's loads (I'd say too many) bars the part of Whiteladies road where this pub is. The sort of…read moreplaces you drink standing up and have to shout to get yourself heard. It's a relief, then, to find the Penny Farthing which resolutely is not one of these bars. It's not massively attractive from the outside, the sign in particular looking tired. Things get a bit better on entry. The long bar sweeps through the room elegantly, bringing up the character of the place. Although it could easily be dark and dingy, given the shape the room, they've lit it up well and succeeded in making it feel cosy. A good place to sit out a cold evening. They've made an effort with the selection of beers on offer. Prices hover around three pounds for a pint, which is a bit steep but fair considering what they're offering and the surroundings. Probably in virtue of not being like the rest of the drinking establishments along the road, this place doesn't get too many students (make what you want of that comment - personally I like a place with a studenty feel, but others disagree strongly). The Penny Farthing is a likeable pub and a welcome contrast to its neighbours.

    This is a proper pub, one for watching the rugby and drinking a warm pint of Guinness in, ideal. It…read moredoes have a great little seating area outside, perfectly positioned on Whiteladies road, so you can sit and people watch, smoke, and laugh at anyone who isn't sat outside a pub doing those things. But don't expect any natural light inside. This is a traditional pub, with local regulars and lovely bar staff. They do a Sunday roast, but I really would advise against it, there are much better options nearby. But defiantly come here with a group of mates, sit around one of the high old oak tables, grab a pint (well one for each of you) and soak up the atmosphere. The Farthing is the only pub left in a sea of Tea Rooms and Falafel shops (or hippy nonsense as my unenlightened friends would say). Literally it's hilarious; it looks so out of place sat there by the road amongst the plethora of glass fronted, double glazed, chain restaurants and hair dressers. Let's just hope it stays there!

    Photos
    The Penny
    The Penny - Penny Farthing Bristol

    Penny Farthing Bristol

    The Penny

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    The Cowshed - First floor

    The Cowshed

    3.9(29 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    £££

    As a vegetarian, whenever anybody suggests a meal in a steak joint a rush of panic floods over me…read more What will I eat? What if I'm left with a salad!? (I may be a veggie but it doesn't mean I love lettuce leaves!) So when my friends planned Sunday lunch in The Cowshed I sighed a heavy sigh. But I had nothing to fear - with two vegetarian options on the lunch time menu, at least I had something to choose from (Albeit a standard veggie burger or a goats cheese tart - two 'classics') and since this was a restaurant for meat eaters I could hardly complain! My burger was delicious, served with tasty chunky chips and washed down with hearty cider. My friend's roast dinners looked fabulous too. The service was very welcoming and the atmosphere was just what you want on a Sunday - full of fun and laughter.

    I don't know about you but I'm always a little amused when a carnivorous restaurant advertises…read moreusing a smiling pig or cow. While The Cowshed's poster mammal isn't smiling it still tickles me so I agreed to dinner here with my steak loving other half. The focus here is all about good old-fashioned British dishes, particularly steak and it's many guises. My partner ordered a steak cooked on a hot stone tablet right in front of him - similar to the way you can get hot plates in Indian restaurants, except this actually allowed him to partially cook the steak himself. As an occasional vegetarian there wasn't a great amount of choice for me to pick a main course but the starters and desserts were divine! It is quite pricey but I would come back for the chocolate mouse alone and my partner can whole-heartedly vote for the sirloin steak!

    Photos
    The Cowshed - Ground Floor

    Ground Floor

    The Cowshed - Ground floor

    Ground floor

    The Cowshed - Food

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    Food

    Alma Tavern - From their website

    Alma Tavern

    3.0(9 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    ££

    The Alma Tavern is a large, slightly non-descript pub which sits, funnily enough, on Alma Vale Road…read morein Clifton. The front bar is possibly the best spot, as you can watch the footie on Sky Sports in a smaller area with a little more atmosphere. The back room is a little too big and lacking in character, though they do have a big screen. There's plenty of pub grub options, a garden and even a theatre upstairs (which I'm slightly surprised to realise I've never been to), but despite all this, there's not much here to really fire the imagination.

    Located on Alma Vale rd Clifton. The Alma Tavern is a gastropub with a Theatre located above. Its a…read morevery welcoming pub with a pleasant decor. They have decent drinks selection and the choice of wine was excellent. Food wise. I had the Scallops to start which were excellent served with a sweet onion chutney and cavier "oh la la". The combined tastes were lovely. The roast beef was well cooked and served with an overcooked dry yorkshire and cold vegetables. Basically everything following the starter was just not good enough ! And I belive that this was down to the shoddy service we recieved ! It was like they couldnt cope with our order. We were a group of 8 plus 2 kids. The rest of the restaurant was empty. Which I suppose says it all really. I opted for the cheese board to finish which was good! But I suppose its quite hard to f*ck up chucking some cheese on a board. And even that took about a half hour to bring out. And one last thing I dont mind paying a compulsary service charge when ive received good service. But when ive received substandard service it gets on my tits a little ! I shall not be returning here in a hurry !

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    Alma Tavern

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    Highbury Vaults

    Highbury Vaults

    4.2(33 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    ££

    After a long, cold, wet day of walking the center of Bristol, I was in the hunt for a hearty, hot…read moremeal. I stopped in to the pub Highbury Vaults which boasted a surprising menu that included my favorite food, nachos. I ordered a drink and sat in the outdoor heated patio awaiting the order. The pub was exactly as you'd expect inside, stuffy and tight with a welcome mix of white haired older men mumbling and gripping to each other over a pint, Bristol Uni students laughing raucously, and gatherings of post grads deep in discussion with their advisers. True everyman pub fashion. The bowl of nachos was good! The slow braised beef was tender and flavorful, the salsa, sour cream, and cheese sauce all mixed well with the sturdy chips. And the portion was perfect for dinner. My only request would have been a separate bowl of chips so that an optimal ratio of toppings could have been achieved. Decent price, quick service, and charming atmosphere coming with good food to ensure if definitely come back and maybe try the pie next time.

    The default drinking hole for students from the university, the Vaults are rather grotty, rather…read moredark and loud, but rather fun. I've never quite understood why it's so dark inside; perhaps it's to accommodate the flinching hangovers of students hiding out here after lectures. It's quite cramped and uncomfortable inside, but has the most brilliant covered back garden which more than makes up for the dingy interior. With loads of comfortable seating, it's a really great place for drinking outside in the warmer months. Large groups of students do tend to assemble out here for smokes and loud chats of the "oh my God, I was so drunk last night" variety, so steer clear if you don't like that kind of thing. On offer at the bar are some very cheap sandwiches which are friendly to the student wallet. All in all, it's pandering to the student clientele, but that's not surprising, and doesn't seem to have put off the older locals who still come here for a cheap pint in what is essentially a traditional pub.

    Photos
    Highbury Vaults - At about 10 one of the bar staff came round selling freshly made sausage rolls for £1.50 each - it was perfect!

    At about 10 one of the bar staff came round selling freshly made sausage rolls for £1.50 each - it was perfect!

    Highbury Vaults
    Highbury Vaults - Bowl of nachos showing meat, salsa, sour cream, and chips.

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    Bowl of nachos showing meat, salsa, sour cream, and chips.

    Coach & Horses - Sunday social with the family at the coach and horses

    Coach & Horses

    3.7(10 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    ££

    We squeezed in here just before they rang time after a Christmas meal. They were welcoming, even at…read morethat late hour, and despite serving a rather warm glass of orange juice (how does OJ even get warm in December?) It's small inside and the locals are very local - in that they look as though they would fight for their pub if they needed to (wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing I suppose). It is unremarkable and so like every other pub, but atleast it isn't a soulless trendy wine bar (as so many place on nearby Whiteladies road seem to be). The front garden is packed with tables and all very well if you're a smoker or it's summer (or both). The beer and larger, including locally brewed Cheddar Gorge Best - a fave with my ale drinking buddies.

    The trendy bars of Whiteladies can be a bit underwhelming at times (not least because they're not…read moreall that trendy) and the Coach and Horses is a welcome contrast to them. It doesn't try to be anything in particular and because of that is more or less your average traditional pub. Don't let the grand building in which it's housed in lead you to think this place is particularly posh - whilst is in Clifton everything here is plenty down to earth. There's sports shown sometimes but it's certainly not a sports put, too sedate and localish for that. The staff are friendly enough without being too obsequious. The lack of any strong character means you get a nice mix of students and locals that rub along together well. Range and price are all right, with the usual pub grub on offer. Well placed for a post stroll round the downs pint.

    Photos
    Coach & Horses
    Coach & Horses
    Coach & Horses

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    The Blue Lagoon Cafe & Bar - pubs - Updated May 2026

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