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Marmo Restaurant & Wine Bar

Michelin-recognized Italian cooking with organic wines in Bristol's vibrant restaurant quarter.

4.6

Marmo is an acclaimed Italian-inspired restaurant and wine bar located on Baldwin Street in Bristol's vibrant restaurant quarter. Led by chef Cosmo Sterck (formerly of London's Brawn and St John) and his wife Lily, who curates an exceptional organic and biodynamic wine list, the restaurant serves beautifully executed seasonal dishes in a relaxed, characterful setting. The compact menu emphasizes quality ingredients and bold flavours, from signature gnocco fritto to perfectly hung meats and imaginative vegetable preparations. Recognized as a Michelin Bib Gourmand establishment, Marmo offers excellent value, particularly through its weekday lunch menu.

A brief summary to Marmo Restaurant & Wine Bar

  • 31 Baldwin St, Bristol, BS1 1RG, GB
  • +441173164987
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • Mid ranged
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
  • Monday 5:30 pm-9 pm
  • Tuesday 12 pm-2 pm
  • Wednesday 12 pm-2 pm
  • Thursday 12 pm-2 pm
  • Friday 12 pm-2 pm
  • Saturday 12 pm-2 pm

Local tips

  • Book the gnocco fritto and order it without hesitation—it is the signature dish and worth the visit alone. The fried parcels filled with cheese and topped with lardo are simple, perfect, and unforgettable.
  • Visit for weekday lunch to experience exceptional value: two courses from £17–£24 or three courses from £21–£27. Saturday lunch (12:30–2:45 pm) also offers the same pricing, making it an excellent option for weekend visitors.
  • Arrive with dietary requirements or allergies in mind and email in advance if you have concerns. The kitchen is attentive to safety and will work with you to create suitable dishes, as demonstrated by their careful handling of coeliac requirements.
  • Trust the wine staff's recommendations rather than selecting independently. Lily's list emphasizes organic and biodynamic producers, and the team is genuinely knowledgeable and generous with guidance toward unexpected pairings.
  • Sit at the bar if possible to watch the kitchen work and enjoy the energy of Baldwin Street. The tall windows and bar seating create an engaging atmosphere and provide entertainment while you wait for your food.
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A Kitchen Built on Simplicity and Sourcing

Marmo operates from a small but high-ceilinged room on Baldwin Street, just metres from one of Bristol's river crossings. The kitchen, essentially an extension of the bar, is visible to diners—a transparent approach that reflects the restaurant's philosophy of honest, ingredient-driven cooking. Chef Cosmo Sterck, who trained at London institutions Brawn and St John, has built a menu that takes Italy as its foundation but ventures confidently beyond it. The approach is deceptively simple: source exceptional raw materials, cook them with precision, and let flavour do the talking rather than elaborate presentation. This foundation has earned Marmo recognition as a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, a designation reserved for establishments offering good quality and good value cooking.

The Menu: Brevity as Strength

The single-section menu begins with appetisers and progresses to mains without obvious divisions, a structure that encourages exploration and sharing. Dishes change seasonally, but signature items have become legendary among Bristol diners. The gnocco fritto—fried parcels of dough filled with cheese and topped with delicate lardo—has achieved near-mythical status; a single bite reveals why. Starters showcase unexpected combinations: roasted artichoke, radicchio and clementine unified by hazelnut butter; smoked eel on crisp polenta with beetroot and blackberries; salads dressed with exceptional olive oils. Main courses demonstrate equal ambition: properly hung venison with celeriac purée and pickled quince; conchiglie in a pork ragù built from braised shoulder meat and wild garlic; expertly cooked skate wing with radicchio, capers and black butter. Desserts are equally considered—the chocolate mousse, topped with cocoa-powdered Chantilly, has been described as among the best ever tasted. The kitchen's willingness to accommodate dietary requirements with advance notice, including vegan adaptations, reflects genuine hospitality.

Wine and Aperitivi: Lily's Domain

Lily Sterck oversees a wine programme that has become as celebrated as the food. The list emphasizes organic and biodynamic producers, with selections that range from accessible to adventurous. Bottles begin around £27, with most offerings in the £35–£50 range, reflecting quality rather than pretension. The wine staff are knowledgeable and generous with recommendations, guiding diners toward pairings that enhance rather than overwhelm. The bar also serves excellent Negronis and vermouths, prepared with care and proper technique—details that signal the restaurant's attention to every element of the experience.

Atmosphere and Service

The room itself is characterful and uncluttered, with shared tables and window perches that create an engaging, communal energy. The light from Baldwin Street floods in during lunch service, creating an inviting, relaxed atmosphere that feels both trendy and genuinely welcoming. Service is unobtrusive yet attentive, delivered by staff who are genuinely enthusiastic about the food and wine. The team moves with calm efficiency, appearing exactly when needed and handling special requests—whether dietary accommodations or timing adjustments—without fuss. This warmth extends to communication; the restaurant responds promptly to advance enquiries, demonstrating real care for guest experience.

Value and Accessibility

Marmo's weekday lunch menu represents exceptional value: two courses for £17–£24 and three courses for £21–£27, depending on the current offering. This pricing for cooking of this calibre—described by critics as the cost of a main course in many less impressive establishments—has made the restaurant accessible to a broader audience. Saturday lunch service (12:30–2:45 pm) extends this opportunity to weekend visitors. Dinner pricing is higher but remains reasonable for the quality and portion sizes delivered. Bread is charged separately at £3 per basket, a detail worth noting for budget planning.

Recognition and Reputation

Marmo has attracted attention from major food critics and guides. It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation in the 2025 guide, appears in The Good Food Guide with strong ratings across deliciousness, warmth and recommendation strength, and has been featured in publications including The Financial Times and The Mail. The restaurant was included in a BBC list of top 10 restaurants in Bristol, cementing its status as one of the city's most significant dining destinations. Yet despite this acclaim, the atmosphere remains relaxed and unpretentious—a place where serious cooking meets genuine hospitality.

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