The Gryphon

Walk into The Gryphon and you'll understand why it's got nearly 950 people singing its praises—this is the kind of pub that feels like it's been looking after Bristol drinkers for decades. You're in the heart of the city centre, but the atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious: wood-panelled walls, a decent selection of ales that rotate regularly, and the kind of crowd that values conversation over Instagram opportunities. Whether you're popping in after work from one of the nearby offices or making it a proper session, there's a genuineness here that's increasingly rare in this part of town.