On balmy summer evenings in Bristol, few restaurants can compete with Harbour House’s waterside location for post-work drinks and supper against a backdrop of paddleboarders and kayakers.

The Harbour House Bristol building makes for a very unusual and pleasing dining setting and is said to have been designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as his private boathouse. It was also the site of Banksy‘s first solo exhibition, in 2000.

In its current incarnation, it’s a pleasingly rustic restaurant with vaulted ceilings and verdant plants that create a relaxed and airy vibe.

The informality extends to the food offering, which is seasonal and sustainable and majors on all-day dining and freshly caught seafood. Feast on dishes like grilled South West mackerel with black olive tapenade, toasted focaccia and pickled cucumber, and linguine vongole with Porthilly mussels, palourde clams, cherry tomatoes, parsley and lemon.

The delectable dishes are bolstered by an equally impressive drinks list. A broad selection of beers share cellar space with an expansive selection of Britz English sparkling wines – to such an extent that there’s no longer Champagne on the menu.

Trencherman’s tip

Swing by Harbour House Bristol during the early evening to enjoy carefully crafted cocktails at a table on deck, and the harbour’s chilled vibe.