Eva Stuetzenberger is retail sector development manager for Destination Bristol. Eva works with traders and businesses in Stokes Croft, Old Market, the Old City, Park Street and the Christmas Steps Arts Quarter, chairing traders’ forums and helping to improve the competitiveness of the areas and businesses. She also acts as a middleman between businesses and local authorities.

Here are Eva’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Poco
“Eating at Poco just makes me feel good. A table full of friends, ordering a multitude of tasty Bristol-inspired tapas, never knowing exactly what to expect but never being disappointed, pinching from each other’s plates and asking for some extra bread to mop up every last bit of tasty sauce. A glass of Cava with it and the evening is perfect. This could be the end of the story – but what makes the evening even more rewarding is that rather than feeling guilty of over-indulging you can go home with a supreme feeling of superiority knowing that you have just eaten in the Best Ethical Restaurant 2013 voted for by the Observer Food Monthly.”

Clifton Cathedral
“Normally I’m a lover of ancient rather than modern churches, but Clifton Cathedral is the exception. A gigantic hexagonal building that allows the light to penetrate its walls in certain angles, focusing the eye and the mind on one central space. No ornaments to distract, just sheer concrete interspersed with the dazzling colours of the stained glass windows. I often listen to the cathedral choir echoing its beautiful voices from every wall – one of the few places and occasions where I can get completely lost in thoughts and sounds.”

Old Market Street
“There are more than 60 listed buildings in Old Market – many in Old Market Street. Yet, not many Bristolians or visitors seem to be aware of this historic treasure chest. Only after having worked in Old Market for years and talking to many of the local residents can I fully appreciate the splendour of this area, sometimes hidden behind derelict facades. I tend to walk Old Market Street with vivid stories in my mind of the Pie Poudre Court, of wealthy merchants, famous painters, poets and riots; and every building comes to life with its own tale. The Palace Hotel has to be my absolute favourite – built in anticipation of a new railway terminus that never came! Many of the shops in the area are run by specialist independent retailers. I just bought some new crampons at Dick’s climbing shop, ready for my next trip home to the snowy Alps.”

Stanfords
“I love travelling, but the student gap years are over and rather than packing my backpack and heading off to South America I am taking my hand bag and heading off to Stanfords. I search the shelves for books and maps of the most exotic places and my mental escapism to Lake Baikal, Zanzibar or along the Silk Road can begin, followed by a stroll through Bristol’s medieval Old City and the bustling St Nick’s Market, for a Moorish lunch at the Moroccan in the Glass Arcade to complete my ‘In 45 minutes around the world’ adventure.”

Brandon Hill
“After a long day at work, a stroll up Park Street, some window shopping (which much too often ends up with a new skirt from one of the unique shops), buying a pretzel at Gusto, before climbing the zigzag path to Brandon Hill. Sitting on the bench, waiting for the sun to set and the city lights to glitter – and thinking what an amazing city to be in.”