Affordable food for students studying at the University of Bristol

Bristol has a flourishing street food scene and lots of independent cafés offering budget dishes from around the world. If you’re a student studying abroad in Bristol, eating out is a fantastic way to get to explore your new city and meet up with friends. But dining on the cheap doesn’t mean compromising on flavor. Stick to a budget and dine in style at these Bristol restaurants recommended by our SAF Alum.

Eat A Pitta

With locations in Clifton Village and just across the road from the University of Bristol on Park Street, Eat A Pitta is a hidden gem serving handmade falafels following the owner’s grandmother’s recipe. This lunchtime favorite is popular with students and locals who come back repeatedly for their fix of flavorsome falafels stuffed pitta or salad box. Made with 90% raw ingredients, this is a healthy option at a cheap price.

St. Nicholas Market

Also known as St. Nicks, this historic covered market in the city center has food stalls galore. It’s an ideal spot for a quick lunch, and there are little seating areas so you don’t have to eat on the go. Slow and Low Barbecue does wonderful meaty burgers, Pieminster is famous for meaty and no-meat pies, and Pippin doughnut is a great way to finish, licking sugar off your fingers.

Just outside St. Nicholas Market on Wine Street every Tuesday to Friday, there are outdoor food stalls with plenty to tempt you – not least the price.

The Watershed

This creative hub at the bottom of Park Street overlooking the harbor is both a large café bar and an art-house cinema. The Watershed menu is full of locally sourced ingredients with plenty of wallet-friendly sharing plates and mains for under £10. You can get food seven days a week, and on Nacho Mondays, nachos are under £5.

Every Wednesday – student night! – you get 30% off your meal when you buy a cinema ticket, (also with a student discount). There’s a small balcony where you can dine in the sunshine and watch the ferry taxi come and go.

Sandwich Sandwich

This award-winning sandwich spot has two locations close to the University of Bristol, on Queens Road and Park Row. Sandwich Sandwich does not skimp on filling -- there's more than enough to keep you full till dinner. Although the name suggests it’s only about sandwiches, the large scotch eggs are very popular. It’s a soft-boiled egg surrounded by pork and covered in breadcrumb then fried. You get a lot of food for your money here, so it’s a popular student spot. It's open for breakfast in case you need a bite to eat before class.