People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Yumiko Jones
Yumiko Jones is the owner of Asian hair specialist Yumiko Jones Boutique and founder of the Bristol Japanese Cultural Society.
Yumiko, who is originally from Fukuoka in Japan, moved to the UK in 2008 and has spent the last decade in Bristol.
The Bristol Japanese Cultural Showcase takes place on March 30 at the Mount Without. For tickets and more information, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol-japanese-cultural-showcase-2025-tickets
is needed now More than ever
These are Yumiko’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Kumomo
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“Kumono in Clifton Village is Bristol’s first Japanese-owned deli. It’s a great destination for unique treats you can’t find anywhere else! Its exquisite matcha lattes come highly recommended.”
Kansai Kitchen
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“Probably the closest thing to authentic Japanese street food I’ve experienced in Bristol. Kansai Kitchen at the Hillgrove pub in Kingsdown offer homely, filling grub – including okonomiyaki pancakes, and chicken and deep-fried kushikatsu morsels – in an unpretentious local boozer with a great selection of real ales. It’s disarmingly casual but never fails to delight Japanese friends who come to visit. A wonderful walk-in fusion of Bristolian and Japanese culture.”
The Elmer’s Arms
The Elmer’s Arms has swiftly become an integral part of Old Market – photo: Hannah Massoudi
“No Japanese food here but there is an abundance of ambiance on offer thanks to Elmer, the eponymous landlord and one of my oldest friends in Bristol. This pub on Old Market Street is the epicentre of Bristol’s 1960s garage / mod scene, and hosts free gigs and DJ nights throughout the week – with occasional diversions into Irish folk and experimental improv! The Elmer’s Arms is a quintessential grass-roots venue and a great place to listen to, talk about and dance to a kaleidoscope of vintage sounds.”
The Zig Zag
The vertiginous Zig Zag connects Hotwell Road and Sion Hill – photo: Martin Booth
“This strenuous, sinuous path winding upwards from the River Avon into Clifton reminds me of when I moved to Bristol 16 years ago, and first began to explore the riverside and environs. From my first Hotwells flat, I would regularly follow this quirky route from ground level, admiring the views of the Avon Gorge at sunset, before jealously peering through the windows of some of the sumptuous mansions in Clifton. After moving from London, little surprises like this made each day feel like a holiday to me. You’ll also inevitably feel wearied by the time you reach the top of the Zig Zag – justifying a trip into the warm nook of the nearby Portcullis pub before your descent!”
The Golden Crane
The Golden Crane is an East Asian-inspired cocktail bar – photo: The Golden Crane
“The Golden Crane has the best collection of Japanese whiskies in Bristol, without a doubt! This exciting bar on Unity Street just off College Green serves a creative and ever-changing array of cocktails using Japanese, Chinese and Korean spirits. Champagne and sake may sound like an unusual mix – but the Crane’s bartenders will soon have you convinced. An intimate and inventive basement spot that always seems to provide new discoveries on every visit – there’s nothing else quite like it in the city.”
Main photo: Yumiko Jones
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