La Ruca, Bristol

Another nice little wholefoods shop on the Gloucester road. Has some delicious fresh deli style food downstairs (afraid to say I never made it upstairs but have heard wonderful things!) and plenty of organic dried food incluing fantastic breads pasta and cereals. It also stocks a wide range of exotic foods - some of the best things to make a curry, stir fry or perfect pasta dish. However, the best thing (for me) about the shop is the variety of vegan friendly produce. Just two doors down from scoopaway its a vegan must to pop into la ruca.

Great stock of wholefoods and toiletries in the downstairs shop are the first things that may pull you in this amazing place. But once inside it would be criminal not to try some of the food that is on offer from the small deli counter and upstairs restaurant.
The range downstairs is limited to a few choice items including chicken and vegetarian chimichangas (for the uninitiated these are fried filled tortillas), falafel, spinach and couscous tortillas. I would highly recommend all of these items.
Upstairs there is a small cafe that is run by some of the loveliest people in town. Actually that can be said for the whole place. The choices upstairs are more extensive but focus on freshly cooked, Latin American flavoured offerings. The portions are a good size and very good value for money. I think the worst thing about this place is that it is often full.

What a great find this is! I first heard of it when a leaflet appeared on my mail box and left me curious about it. I just though that it was a bit far from the city centre and I still do, but there is something about the location that adds to the experience of visiting.

When you enter you will get the feeling that this is one of those antique furniture shops, because that is what you will see right away. But I suggest you explore a bit further, specially downstairs, you will be amazed with all the novelty and antiques that you will find. It seems like you are stepping back in time. Inside of this enormous warehouse you can even find a small Victorian arcade with tiny little shops filled with great collector’s items. I was tempted to buy some stuff there, but as “skintness” prevails I couldn’t… And I felt that it was more like a visit to the old ages than a shop till you drop experience!

Go there and you won’t regret it!

A rather nice place to eat and grab a quick drink. Its not as spacious as other places, but its has more of a quaint feel to it. Great staff.

really nice food and friendly staff

This is a really special little place. Comfort food, delcious! You have to walk through the health food shop to get to it…don’t let that put you off! When you get there, you’ll find that a whole lot of people have found their way too. and when you get your meal-eventually!- you’ll know why. It’s the place to go for juicy enchiladas and milk-shakes. Yum!

One of the best little places in Bristol is La Ruca. The health food shop sells a variety of products; herbal teas, groceries, eco friendly cleaning products and re-fill service and beauty products. It has the feel of an old fashioned grocery store with a giddying number of products on its shelves. Upstairs the café cooks up some of the best burritos in town. Spicy chicken or veggie, they are stuffed full of ingredients and are as excellent value for money as they are tasty. I think they do other meals as well but to be honest, I'm addicted to their spicy chicken enchilada and have to have it every time I'm there. I know, I'm a creature of habit. I do know however, they do fantastic fresh juices, milkshakes, fair trade coffees and home made cakes all served up with a smile. La Ruca also has a Spanish speakers club on a Monday night. It welcomes all levels in an informal, chatty style of environment and is great fun to practise your language skills.

La Ruca is a lovely warm little cafe above a wholefood shop. It serves up no-nonsense delicious chilean food, perfect for veggies! Its easily affordable and it has a wide range of drinks choices.

The atmosphere is lovely, and everyone is welcome. If you havn't got time to sit down and eat you can pick up fab homemade treats from the deli downstairs.

Lovely food, very friendly staff, and not too damaging on the wallet either. Great tortilla-based food, and the breakfast (veggie or otherwise) is the best value on Gloucester Rd.

Downstairs, if you're in a hurry, you can get a very tasty spinach and pine nut omelette for about a pound, and other lovely treats too.

A warm welcome awaits the whole family in La Ruca, a cafe on the Gloucester Road run by a Chilian family, situated above their shop which sells wholefoods, organic fairtraded brands and home-made tortillas and stuffed vineleaves to take away.
the cafe is very reasonably priced offering all day breakfasts - meat and vegetrarian, hummus filled pitta breads, felafel and delicious milkshakes - dairy or soya. For a sweet treat at the end of the meal try the sugar wheat and dairy free fruit topped flapjack with soya creme - fantastic!