![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide pirrip press illustration design shop printing studio art best](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4370/36984756871_99e05641c4_b.jpg)
This is an area that I never spent much time in before we started doing shoots at The Forge at the end of last year. It was then I realised how lovely the old, coloured buildings were, as well as the independent shops within them.
People are often asking me for recommendations for Bristol, so I thought I better create a few mini guides for various areas! I'm hoping to do lots more - I've already got a few other areas in mind, as well as some showcases for individual restaurants and shops.
COLSTON STREET
..is bang in the centre, although a little walk from the main shopping area. It's right near Harbourside, the Hippodrome, and all that stuff. I don't know about you, but I always expect it to be hard to find anything other chain restaurants and shops when that close to the centre.
Let's start from the bottom.
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide bambalan cocktails middle eastern food best](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4407/37126741105_751d094330_b.jpg)
This super colourful, plant-filled oasis is one of the more recent additions to The Ox/Milk Thistle etc family, so naturally, they do really good cocktails and really good food. The latter has a fresh and healthy feel, with a middle eastern vibe.
They also have a huge outside terrace (partly covered) complete with ping pong tables and table football. It's a very fun place.
![Christmas Steps, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide christmas steps premium candle store osmology](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4431/36290563624_019ecc5d71_c.jpg)
![Christmas Steps, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide christmas steps premium candle store osmology](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4340/36984757451_4981f59a54_b.jpg)
Technically just off Colston Street, but I thought I'd include it as it's so close. Hop halfway down the Christmas Steps to find this new candle shop. Yup, it's just a candle shop, but if you're into candles, this is a must. They stock all the best brands, and those are ever-expanding. The shop itself is super cute too, with the black walls and tantalising "treat yourself" neon sign! I can imagine they'll get very busy come Christmas time..
I've only had a quick browse in here, but it felt like such a novelty to be in a video store. They have a tiny cinema which seats 11 people, and would be such a cool place to go for a birthday or a special date.
![Christmas Steps, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide christmas steps cinema dvd video rental store](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4345/36984756051_9b05c3c85f_b.jpg)
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide pirrip press illustration design shop printing studio art best](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4377/36984756751_bce675a0b6_c.jpg)
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide pirrip press illustration design shop printing studio art best](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4340/36290562574_3c880ce842_b.jpg)
Back onto Colston Street and up the hill a little, you'll find this super cute pink shop. Pirrip is a small design & print studio, and this is their shop which is open Thursday-Saturday. They sell their gorgeous totes, cards, zines & more, and you can commission them for things too. Also, they do a card loyalty card - which is great if you're always buying cute cards like I am!
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide bloom curll bookshop books best](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4367/36955710942_d39d51e804_c.jpg)
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide bloom curll bookshop books best](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4341/36984760231_b1bd65154f_z.jpg)
BLOOM & CURLL
Probably the best bookshop you'll ever go to. There are loads of hilariously grumpy signs by the door saying that they don't like browsers etc, but I always pop in anyway. Their displays are brilliant, and they'll definitely have that obscure book you've been searching for!
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide les fleurs french flower floral plant shop](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4442/36984758621_0f6e27a527_b.jpg)
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide les fleurs french flower floral plant shop](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4436/36984758191_9e7e905a1e_b.jpg)
If you're looking for a gorgeous plant, bunch of flowers, or just a nice chat with the friendliest French lady in the world, pop in here. There's a shelf of "rescued" plants, all with their own interesting backstory - make sure you ask about them. I finally picked up a lovely little string of hearts last time I was there.
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide blaze art shop gallery gift best ceramics](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4406/36290565614_4917ed1104_b.jpg)
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide blaze art shop gallery gift best](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4410/36955710232_11bf8aa4f9_b.jpg)
Kind of like visiting a gallery where absolutely everything is for sale, Blaze is jam packed full of loads of artists' work. It's a great place to pick up a gift or card for someone, or just to waste a bit of time browsing all the beautiful and wonderful things people make.
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide asado burger peanut butter brownie best burgers](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4374/36937860116_b5f904b513_c.jpg)
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide asado burger peanut butter brownie best burgers](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4376/36313515143_0e7339803b_b.jpg)
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide asado burger peanut butter brownie best burgers](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4331/36955713132_0290c22ef3_c.jpg)
This only opened a few months ago, and quickly became many foodies' number 1 burger in Bristol - which is no mean feat, considering how many burger joints there are in the city now (and more set to open soon!) When Sam and I got around to visiting, it became my favourite too.
Since then I've been back a couple of times, and always get the namesake burger - it's so good that I can't bring myself to have anything else! Although, I'll happily have a bite of someone else's... The chips are AMAZING, and the slaw is nice and spicy. The pud was a little of a letdown for us, as we were expecting the brownie to be warm and gooey, but I'm sure we could request that if we fancied having it again.
![Workhouse Kitchen, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide workhouse kitchen cafe vegan skeleton poster](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4385/37126735265_6a70978011_b.jpg)
![Workhouse Kitchen, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide workhouse cafe kitchen vegan latte](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4379/37126733995_3fbc0f2116_b.jpg)
Ok, sorry, another one off Colston Street, but it's riiiiight by it, and I try to stop in if I'm in the area, so I had to include it. Their food is amazing (once I had a salad and was trying to recreate it for weeks afterwards, it was that good. A salad.) and so are their coffees - if they still have the maple syrup iced almond latte on, get it. Last time I was there I had an epiphany of how happy I was too. Great place.
Hope you found this useful! I always use my #beinglittlebristol hashtag for my favourite places, so have a look at that if you're after more places to visit in Bristol!
![Colston Street, Bristol : Being Little. colston street bristol city centre independent shops restaurants old buildings guide](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4377/36984756521_d5a2b36660_b.jpg)
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I've lived in Bristol since March and the first time I strolled down Colston Street was this weekend just gone. It was lovely! And now I've just came across your blog... coincidence I think not!
ReplyDeleteMeowandme.co.uk xxx