During the recent May Bank Holiday, we visited Bristol for a mini-staycation. We had a lovely stay at the newly opened Your Apartment in Clifton Village.

Your Apartment is a collection of serviced apartments, short term lets and co-working spaces in and around Bristol.

Our apartment was a short cab ride away from Bristol Temple Meads station. Prior to our booking, we had already checked in online. We also had to download the Dormakaba Digital Access app, which enabled us to access the apartment using our mobile phones. It meant we had minimal human contact, which made it more safe and reassuring for COVID times. For those driving, there is complimentary parking available if you have booked directly from their website. Another advantage of booking directly is that you get complimentary early check-in/late check-out.

The interior decor of the apartments is fairly contemporary. Everything is newly built so the apartment feels and looks fresh. Our apartment had a king size bed and a fully functioning kitchen with all the mod cons suitable for a self-catered stay.

I really liked the minimalistic touch with splashes of green and pink, making it very calming and soothing.

The bathroom came with in-built soap and shampoo dispensers and towels were provided. The wardrobe had an ironing board and hair dryer. They even have a laundry room on the ground floor and a clothing airer provided in the room if you are thinking along those lines.

With our room facing the street, it got a lot of traffic noise and it could have done with an extra layer of noise buffering. If you are not a night owl, I recommend you ask for a room on the quieter side. They are new so there were still some areas that need to be ironed out, which we fed back to the team.

Our apartment was very close to several popular cafes, bakeries, bars and restaurants so it was the perfect base from which to explore the boutique village of Clifton. Below are some recommendations of where to eat and drink if you are planning a stay here for a couple of days.

CAFES

Clifton has loads of independent cafes and bakeries, which is refreshing to see. Primrose Cafe and Saffron are both cozy cafes next to each other, with indoor and outdoor seating available. Both cafes do the usual cooked English breakfasts and brunchy items. Saffron is a Mediterranean cafe so if you are in the mood for something different, try one of their Middle Eastern or Turkish breakfasts. If you fancy something lighter, Anna do amazing cakes and sweet delights and on a good day, they have seating outside where you can perch with a cupcake and a coffee.

RESTAURANTS

If you are a pescatarian and/or seafood lover, look no further than Fishers. This charming, traditional restaurant does fresh, sustainable day boat-caught South Coast fish and they also have a fish counter and deli. Staff are chatty and affable. We were instantly seduced by the Hot Shellfish Platter and highly recommend if you see it on the menu. It was all beautifully cooked and lots of it. We really wished we had an extra day in our itinerary so we could return to try some of their main dishes; their kedgeree and sea bass looked particularly inviting!

A short cab ride away from Clifton is Cotham and on Chandos Road we discovered some real gastronomical gems. One of them was Chandos Social, an Argentinian Tapas and Cocktail bar. They do a seven course sharing tapas menu for £40 per couple, which is amazing value and a great way to try a spectrum of dishes. Staff are very friendly and chatty. It’s also a great place for a glass of wine and a bite from their snacks menu.

For a more upscale experience, you can visit Wilsons, literally a few doors down on the same street. They are a small and independent business where all ingredients for the menu are sourced from their own farm and surrounding area. The calming, minimalistic interiors complement the food perfectly. They have a Tasting Menu at £50pp, which is a great way to experience the masterful cooking coming from the kitchen.

PUBS/BARS

The Dirty Bird – For gin cocktails, lounge vibes and outside seating that gets primo sunshine.

The Clifton – Charming gastro pub where the interiors and food vie for your attention.

The Bristol Fringe – Quirky, eclectic pub that is great for a night cap. They are also a live music and arts venue.

The Mall – Excellent beer garden to fuel up either before or after your walk across the magnificent Clifton Suspension Bridge.

White Lion – Part of the Avon Gorge Hotel, their huge terrace offers the best panoramic views of Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The Albion – A charming gastropub where the food looked top notch. We didn’t get to eat here but hope to return someday. Here’s a tip – they do prosecco for £3.50 every day from 12- 5 pm. You are welcome!

Overall, we had a positive experience staying in Your Apartment. The rates are fairly reasonable so if you are looking to visit or stay in Bristol and surrounding areas, they could be an affordable and convenient option! Currently they are in multiple locations in Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool and Clifton Village.

For some additional ideas on where to eat and drink in Bristol, check out my other blog here.

N.B. Our stay at the Your Apartment was gifted but all opinions are mine.