It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the Arnolfini Café has the best brownies this side of the pearly gates. Aside from that, the ’fini is a Bristol institution, with three floors dedicated to contemporary art in all its forms – from the calmly experimental to the downright bizarre.
It’s an enormous old building that used to be a tea warehouse, in an unbeatable location, smack bang on the harbourside. There are live events throughout the year, from performances and one-off workshops to festivals. (The mind-scrambling live art fest In Between Time springs to mind.) There’s a cosy reading room where you can broaden your knowledge or just watch the water, and there’s also a bloody good bookshop.
In the summer it’s also the unofficial lounging spot for a post-work pint of cider. Take a seat on the pavement, lean back against the wall and don’t forget the brownies.