People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Karen Johnson
Karen Johnson is the Editor of EatDrink24/7, Bristol’s only truly independent food and drink guide whose 2026 edition will be published in July.
Karen grew up in Vadodara in the west Indian state of Gujarat and then lived in Mumbai for seven years before moving to the UK in 2024 to complete a Masters at UWE.
When not working as a Multimedia Journalist for Bristol24/7, Karen can usually be found buried in a book, either at home in Bedminster or at one of her favourite places below.
These are Karen’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Bristol Marina
Bristol Marina opened in 1980 and is our city’s only fully serviced marina – photo: Karen Johnson
“The boats at Bristol Marina are a visual treat when walking towards the SS Great Britain. I read each boat’s name out loud and take a mental photograph of the beautiful colourful view every time I’m heere. My favourite boat name has to be Baldhu because I like the way it sounds. I recently realised it is actually named after a village in Cornwall and translates to ‘black mine’ in Cornish.”
Second Page
Second Page is one of the few reasons still to visit the Galleries shopping centre – photo: Karen Johnson
“It’s a maze inside Second Page in the Galleries. I try to go here whenever I’m looking for a book that I know is old and I won’t be able to find elsewhere. Nine out of ten times I’ve found the exact title, even if it means craning my neck to see up to the top of the ceiling-high shelves.”
Burra
If you’re ever looking for Karen, a good place to find her is at Burra for brunch and a bit of reading – photo: Karen Johnson
“I am loyal to Burra for many reasons. For their coffee, brunch and cakes; but also for the true warmth of the staff. I can walk in feeling tired and gloomy, only to walk out with a big smile on my face because of a chat I’ve had with somebody here. People-watching on North Street while sitting on one of Burra’s bar stools is also a cherished hobby of mine.”
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
“Some of my best memories with those closest to me have been at the Balloon Fiesta. We’ve seen balloons take off early in the morning from Ashton Court and then marvelled at the dancing shapes during the night glow. Never in a million years did I imagine living in a city where seeing hot air balloons was completely normal. I still pinch myself when I think of how lucky I am to call Bristol home.”
Kal Dosa
Kal Dosa promises the “tropical taste of southern India” – photo: Karen Johnson
“It is a task to pick just one of this restaurant group’s businesses (shout-out to Bombil, Nadu and Nutmeg) but Kal Dosa on Gloucester Road takes the prize for me thanks to its wallet-friendly and generously portioned dishes. A lot of the food on their menu is what I grew up eating in India. Getting my fellow diners to pronounce the names of dishes correctly is always fun!”
Main photo: Alston D’souza
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