Best Beer Gardens In Bristol

Just moments from Bristol University and the hospital, the Highbury Vaults is everyone's favourite local, from students, lecturers and academics to doctors and nurses. Dating all the way back to the early 1840's, it's retained its character with leather bench seating and its original snug bar.

But when the sun is shining, you'll want to be outside in the beer garden. Pull up on pew surrounded by glorious greenery and you can sip on cracking guest and regular ales and tuck into tasty pub grub.

What makes a drinking terrace even better? Keg-fresh pints and stone-baked pizza, obviously. And that's exactly what's on offer at Zerodegrees, a seriously cool microbrewery, bar and kitchen that's popular with pint fanatics. If you're on the hunt for the best beer gardens in Bristol city centre, you should certainly swing by this swish seating area, decked out with palm trees and benches to give a tropical feel while your feet stay firmly on Bristolian soil.

With an award-winning restaurant, regular live music acts and a great cocktail bar, The Square Club has got it all. Add in the gorgeous sun-drenched summer terrace and this is one beer spot worth adding to the bucket list if you're looking to get comfy among fairy lights over a refreshing tipple. On the menu you can expect to devour moreish plates like braised lamb shoulder or three-cornered leek gnocchi, followed by banana tarte fine alongside rosemary ice cream for dessert. 

The Hole in the Wall doesn't disappoint as one of the fab beer gardens in Bristol with a menu that's on par with its wholesome exterior. Think gastro delights such as pan-roasted lamb rump and freshly battered banana blossom. The traditional boozer has several areas to choose from, fronting everything from picnic benches to swish sofas; add in their selection of real ales and you've got a perfect Sunday afternoon. 

If you haven't yet been to No.4 Clifton Village, then what are you waiting for? Not only is it home to several secret walled outdoor areas, and one of the most luscious-looking beer gardens in Bristol with a restaurant boasting an AA Rosette, but it also has an intimate wine bar. This gem is available for private hire, but if you're inclined to spend a casual day basking in the sun with friends, it's the perfect place to do so with elegance. Cast your eyes on the stunning Georgian mansion from the confines of its green space, with a margarita in hand. 

If you're searching for somewhere to have a drink outside then we have the ideal destination for you. With a three-tiered patio space covered in swaying plants and fairy lights, The Mall has got to be your first port of call. Nab yourself a table and settle in for an afternoon of spirits and craft brews. Catch them on a sunny day and wolf down the likes of juicy burgers topped with smoked cheddar and pan-fried hake, served alongside gunpowder potatoes. 

While it might be more of a patio than a garden, The Flyer's courtyard is a beauty. Who needs greenery when you've got cosy booths to shelter in and plenty of character thanks to graffiti-adorned walls? Hit them up for cauliflower wings, fried chicken tenders, or a leisurely brew as you soak in the sunshine. Get your lips around a cracking cocktail menu too, boasting the likes of their signature Wray's rum punch, made with Fever-Tree ginger ale. 

Racks Bar & Kitchen are serving up alfresco sips on their outdoor terrace, decked with floral fixtures dangling over wooden beams and wrapped around elegant light fixtures. Along with heaters to keep you toasty on the cooler days, the joint also has £7 lunch deals, indulgent Sunday roasts and a brunch menu featuring Belgian waffles with berry compote. 

With a waterside outdoor terrace and a second-floor balcony overlooking the multicoloured houses on the edge of the river, Riverstation is in the running for the most picturesque place to drink in this city. But it's not just the views. This beauty also cooks up delicious food for brunch, lunch and dinner using seasonal British ingredients, whipped together by head chef Garreth Ball. Tuck into the likes of Devon crab and crayfish cocktails, plus heritage mushroom and truffle risottos.

One of the best pub gardens in Bristol, The Lock Keeper is a gorgeous green gem, boasting craft beer and seasonal wines. You can make yourself at home in its expansive outside area and enjoy the tranquillity of being removed from the hustle and bustle of it all, as the sound of the water from the weir trickles into your ears. In addition, the venue has delicious grub on offer - think gooey camembert for sharing and a 'butcher's board' featuring scotch eggs and fennel crackling.

Steam Bristol is home to a humungous alfresco terrace that's perfect for drinking and dining outside with your mates. It's full of charm thanks to its ribbons of bunting, large windows and exposed brick walls. Ideal come rain or shine, this covered space will see you digging into cocktail bottomless brunches packed with cheesy slices of pizza and jugs of Steam's pilsner and cider.

The Royal Oak is a cosy Bishopston pub that boasts a gorgeous beer garden, complete with pale blue picnic tables and plenty of space to soak up the sun. Enjoy locally brewed ales at this location, alongside three sharing plates for £13.40 or five for £18.4. Tuck into the likes of cheesy button mushrooms, Southern-fried chicken goujons and Doritos topped with garlic and herb sauce.

For a tropical and eclectic escape, head to The Cocktail Club Corn Street for its pretty beer garden and soak up the sun surrounded by oasis-inspired painted walls and foliage. Nab two for £12 tipples during happy hour seven days a week and enjoy the likes of a creamy Lychee Colada, made with Takakma Extra Nior rum and pineapple juice, or a Bramley Apple Smash. 

With venues in the city centre and on the Harbourside, Slug and lettuce is a fun, lively bar that also boasts beer gardens at both locations. Soak up the sun while sipping two-for-one cocktails, available all day, every day.

This Instagrammable pink venue also serves a cracking selection of food, ranging from Italian-style chicken burgers to steak and fries or cheesy nachos. There are outdoor bottomless brunches available too, promising two hours of free-flowing drinks in the sun while you devour tasty breakfast plates. 

The Ostrich is a pub with a Bristol Harbourside beer garden, thanks to the venue being perched right on the Bathurst Basin. This summer-only space has the Portside BBQ serving up delicious street food, as well as live music and sport by the river. Topping it off? The space is dog-friendly.

In Lower Langford and the furthest reaches of Bristol postcodes, yet only 10 minutes from the airport, The Langford Inn is a gorgeous, dog-friendly countryside pub dating back to the 17th century. The little sun trap of a beer garden brings the 'home from home' atmosphere of the inside to an outdoor space - perfect for those summer days.

North of the main city centre and in Almondsbury, The Bowl Inn is a great country pub with a beer garden near Bristol. The two-tiered terrace space outside lets you take in the character of the historical building while sipping award-winning ales, beers and ciders. It's dog-friendly, too.

In a prime spot overlooking the beautiful Bristol harbour, The Cottage Inn has been a mainstay of the community since 1868. Originally, a storage facility for Baltic timber, it's now one of the area's best-loved boozers. 

Settle into the garden with a view of the water to make your way through craft beers, traditional cask ales and impressive selection of wines and innovative cocktails. The menu is just as good, packing in all kids of pub grub with a twist.

Head to North Street where you'll find this fun boozer with a lush outdoor area, complete wooden tables and vibrant murals. When night comes? The Spotted Cow's fairy lights turn the space into an enchanting retreat. This cosy venue is one of the best pubs in Bristol for food too, with its Sunday roasts being a major draw. Tuck into Hereford Cross beef sirloin or Wye Valley lamb, served with potatoes, braised red cabbage and lashings of rich gravy.

Located inside a Grade II-listed building, this Clifton Village pub is a popular place to drink. And it's not hard to see why. Along with a courtyard and social outdoor seating, The Albion hosts regular sports fixtures and is dog-friendly, so you can bring your pooch for a sprinkling of sunshine while you kick back and enjoy the joint's tempting menu. Share a Ploughman's board with your friends or enjoy a veggie burger all to yourself.

The Christmas Steps comes alive when the warmer weather rolls into town. As well as playing host to a roster of DJs and day festivals, the historical pub dishes out refreshing pints and vino, as well as scrumptious grub from its menu like sausage and mash with seasonal greens, plus beer battered haddock alongside chips. Its outside seating area is full of character thanks to its exposed brick walls and the towering old houses peering over behind them. 

When it comes to locating a pub garden in Bristol city centre, The White Harte boasts an intimate offering, fab for any occasion with a few friends. It feels private thanks to its baby blue panelling and cosy seating arrangement. Situated along Park Row, the sports and gaming site also cooks up a menu of tasty American-inspired food such as chicken wings and serves real ales, wines and spirits.

White Lion isn't just a restaurant with a view of Clifton suspension bridge, it also fronts a lovely spot for an alfresco ale or two. In the swanky Hotel Du Vin Avon Gorge, the venue might not scream beer garden, but its outside terrace is a fab boozer for locally brewed pints, creative cocktails and yummy burgers.

Feeling peckish? Tuck into a selection of modern British dishes, from juicy burgers to hearty sausage and mash and gourmet scotch eggs.

Known for being a buzzing beer garden, The Canteen has it all. The outside area is bursting with leafy plants and communal tables, and entertainment-wise you'll be spoilt, as it has live music nights six times a week. Whether you're in the mood to tuck into a fresh, fluffy sandwich made with focaccia, a couple of sharing plates or wanna sink some pints with friends, it's a top-tier place for whiling away your weekends under the sun in Stokes Croft. 

For those well-deserved alfresco pours, venture to the Prince Of Wales. Located on Gloucester Road, this cool drinking den boasts a rustic outdoor area that's equipped with wooden benches and a fabulous mural. It's certainly a haunt that'll look fab on socials and as for the food? Think tasty tacos filled with grilled halloumi cheese and guacamole, hot honey buffalo wings and stone-baked pizzas. 

Looking for an alfresco spot for a couple of bevvies in Bristol? The Blaise Inn has just what you need. 

Settle in out the back to get to grips with changing guest ales, craft beers and a whole world of wine. Feeling peckish? With a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name, you're in safe hands whether you fancy scallops, roast pigeon breast or a twice baked cheese souffle. 

On Gloucester Road, The Gallimaufry is a champion of all things local. Having taken over the former spot of Prom Music Bar in 2012, it's now a buzzing little spot any day of the week. 

Behind the bar, you'll find Bristol ales and ciders along with plenty more well-known favourites. Whether you're settling in for live music or a pint and a bite, the streetside terrace is the perfect spot to soak up the rays.