People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Janine Alexander
Janine Alexander is a marketing and content executive at Visit Bristol and Visit West.
She also shares plenty of food and drink recommendations via her own Instagram account, j9kitchen.
These are Janine’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Kayaking on the River Avon
It’s not a bad a view from Janine’s kayak – photo: Hallam Greene
“Kayaking on the River Avon from Shirehampton offers the most stunning views, whether heading under the Clifton Suspension Bridge or towards Clevedon. You can launch (for a fee) from the slipway at Shirehampton Sailing Club and let the tides do the work. Be cautious – this area has the second-highest tidal stream in the world, so it’s not for beginners. Kayaking or paddleboarding in the docks is equally good, and is a lot more beginner friendly.”
Kumomo
Janine loves the warm matcha rose from Kumomo – photo: Janine Alexander
“Kumomo is a charming little Japanese speciality shop in Clifton Village, perfect for sake, snacks, beauty products and more. As the weather cools, I love their matcha lattes, especially the rose and hojicha (roasted green tea) versions. In summer, I go for the iced yuzu matcha or strawberry matcha.”
The Saigon Kitchen
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“Being half Vietnamese, I 50 per cent run on noodle soups. Obviously this includes pho. The Saigon Kitchen on Zetland Road in Redland serves a delicious Northern-style pho on Sunday only. Paired with pork spring rolls, it is my ultimate weekend recovery food. It’s the best way to unwind after a busy week.”
Ruby Hue
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“Over winter, I became known for hunting down the best hot chocolates, and Ruby Hue in Finzels Reach is one of my top picks. They make bean-to-bar chocolate and let you customise everything from the chocolate percentage to the toppings. My favourite is their 70 per cent hot chocolate with oat milk, a dash of sea salt and a toasted marshmallow.”
Climbing
Janine loves to spend time bouldering – photo: Hallam Greene
“There are plenty of great climbing gyms in Bristol, but my go-to is Flashpoint near Temple Meads, a bouldering gym with a recently expanded gym area and cave perfect for winter sessions and hanging out with mates. Redpoint in Bedminster is where I learned to top rope and lead climb at university, and it’s always a fun challenge for my head game.”
Main photo: Janine Alexander
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