La Ruca is a family run business of a Health Food Shop and Cafe bar in one of the most vibrant Bristol Roads - the Gloucester Road. Voted one of the best shop roads in England. La Ruca started in April, ten years ago and has a good reputation and is welcomed by the community.
The Health Food Shop stocks a wide selection of products - Suma, Tree of Life, Health Store, Pukka herbal teas, Twinings, Clipper, Dr. Stuarts, Che mate, Cafe / tea direct, Equal exchange, Yogi tea and more.The complete brand of Weleda homeopathic remedies, Body care, hair care, and all the range for children and men.
The Health Food Shop stocks a wide selection of products - Suma, Tree of Life, Health Store, Pukka herbal teas, Twinings, Clipper, Dr. Stuarts, Che mate, Cafe / tea direct, Equal exchange, Yogi tea and more.The complete brand of Weleda homeopathic remedies, Body care, hair care, and all the range for children and men.
Reviews (22)
Claire Garlick
Dec 07, 2021
Report
Richard Silsby
Aug 21, 2020
Report
I love La Ruca good coffee and lovely homemade foods. The cafe is upstairs and this adds an private feel to the experience. News papers are available for a leisurely drink or to read after delicious food. There are also some interesting foods drinks in the shop downstairs. Well worth a regular visit.
Giorgio Zampaglione
Dec 30, 2019
Report
Simon Wilkin
Nov 26, 2019
Report
Katie Curran
Jul 24, 2019
Report
This is such a lovely family run cafe just in the middle of Gloucester road with a free from organic shop down stairs I had a lovely meal in the cafe upstairs and the coffee was just perfect very friendly staff with toys for children to play with lovely windows looking at glouster road. Nice and airy highly recommend
Keri Sheppard
May 09, 2018
Report
Rachel H.
Jun 03, 2010
Report
Run by Chileans, La Ruca is an independent coffee shop slash organic food store which also hosts occasional Latin American themed evenings. Not a tall order at all then.
Which is why the panache with which this interesting combination is executed is all the more impressive. There's an excellent range of quality food stuffs for sale at prices that while elevated beat many other delis out there.
There's also some excellent Latin American food on offer, a cuisine generally relatively hard to come by in Bristol. I've yet to try out the themed evenings but a night of Colombian music
Which is why the panache with which this interesting combination is executed is all the more impressive. There's an excellent range of quality food stuffs for sale at prices that while elevated beat many other delis out there.
There's also some excellent Latin American food on offer, a cuisine generally relatively hard to come by in Bristol. I've yet to try out the themed evenings but a night of Colombian music
Maddie Y.
Jun 02, 2010
Report
Why are there always really unstylish mugs for sale in front of this shop? It's always baffled me. They're always there: boxes of terrible, twee, old lady cups for £1 each, bearing no relation to what's inside La Ruca, which is a very cool organic foodstore and a rustic cafe upstairs. The shop is really nicely laid out, with wooden shelving that makes it all feel quite homely. It sells all the standard things: organic teas, pastas, biscuits, coffee, Ecover cleaning products, dried fruits and nuts. But it is bigger and more enjoyable to browse than nearby Scoopaway which sells all
Sj P.
May 21, 2010
Report
Despite walking past this place many, many times, I only actually went in here for the first time this afternoon, looking for a place to grab a bite to eat.
As you enter La Ruca you may be a little confused as to where the café is, simply go around the left side of the central aisle and up the stars and you'll be transported to a bright green room full of Latin flavour. Whether you just want a coffee and slice of cake - organic of course - or a huge salad or chimichanga, there should be something to suit your budget.
There is a ridiculously large range of herbal and fruit teas on offer
As you enter La Ruca you may be a little confused as to where the café is, simply go around the left side of the central aisle and up the stars and you'll be transported to a bright green room full of Latin flavour. Whether you just want a coffee and slice of cake - organic of course - or a huge salad or chimichanga, there should be something to suit your budget.
There is a ridiculously large range of herbal and fruit teas on offer
Jenni D.
Jan 30, 2010
Report
One of my favourite shops on Gloucester Road, La Ruca is filled with ethical and tasty treats. Among their stock they have a whole host of herbal teas, hundreds of aloe vera products and vegetarian friendly sweets.
But the best thing about La Ruca is it's range of fresh Mediterranean foods from stuffed vine leaves to garlic olives. The warm, friendly lady behind the till always has the energy to raise a smile and wish you a good day - which is one of the reasons I love La Ruca.
But the best thing about La Ruca is it's range of fresh Mediterranean foods from stuffed vine leaves to garlic olives. The warm, friendly lady behind the till always has the energy to raise a smile and wish you a good day - which is one of the reasons I love La Ruca.
Mark M.
Nov 28, 2009
Report
This place is one of the main reasons I would love to live in or around Gloucester Road. It's a sort of old school grocery shop with a baffling array of peculiar products on the shelves and a café upstairs serving chicken burritos. You can't say a shop has a lot of personality until you've been in here.
The food of the upstairs café area is delicious and certainly the highlight of this establishment. The cuisine is Mexican/Chilean I guess and they do some awesome chicken enchiladas I have sampled on more than one occasion.
You might think that this place is a hidden gem, well
The food of the upstairs café area is delicious and certainly the highlight of this establishment. The cuisine is Mexican/Chilean I guess and they do some awesome chicken enchiladas I have sampled on more than one occasion.
You might think that this place is a hidden gem, well
Will P.
Oct 27, 2009
Report
This family run place on Gloucester Road are a hippyish health food shop and café. The shop's pretty good with almost everything fair trade and organic. As well as having the usual things - tea, chocolate, weird breads, they've got a range of Ecover products. Got a good chunk of the necessaries for a weekly shop which makes it great for anyone concerned with things like fair trade.
The café downstairs is what makes La Ruca worth a visit. The hippy theme continues and is joined by a Latin American feel, with things being run by a family of Chileans. Don't just go for a coffee
The café downstairs is what makes La Ruca worth a visit. The hippy theme continues and is joined by a Latin American feel, with things being run by a family of Chileans. Don't just go for a coffee
Janine K.
Oct 17, 2009
Report
A good place to take your vegan/veggy friends for a light lunch or coffee and cake the cafe carries on the hippie feel of the shop downstairs using organic and fair trade ingredients plus lots of gluten free options. It has some nice Spanish original foodstuffs.
The shop is a surprisingly useful with a choice of the Ecover products and a ridiculous selection of tea of the flowery kind.
The shop is a surprisingly useful with a choice of the Ecover products and a ridiculous selection of tea of the flowery kind.
Melanie M.
Sep 12, 2009
Report
South America meets South Gloucestershire in this quaint little cafe. There's a hint of spice, a dash of chilli and a grating of cocoa to every dish and my soul sizzled when I tucked into the traditional south-of-the-border nosh. True home cooking from a Chilean family who natter away and bake some outstanding cakes (it's like being spoiled by your Granny) and you can pig out proper with churros and dark chocolate sauce. La Ruca is also host to a delightful monthly storytelling night with puppets, banjos and traditional verbal arts, plus they run a Spanish group. Nourishment for the brain
Qype User Bellev
Dec 10, 2008
Report
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.
Qype User Mellym
Nov 28, 2008
Report
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
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
Qype User Wendyw
Nov 23, 2008
Report
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
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
Qype User Rutche
Sep 09, 2008
Report
This is a really special little place. Comfort food, delcious! You have to walk through the health food shop to get to itdon'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!
Qype User Scarle
Nov 29, 2007
Report
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
Qype User Erin
Nov 15, 2007
Report
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.
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.
Qype User Rossan
Nov 14, 2007
Report
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.
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.
Qype User JenJe
Nov 12, 2007
Report
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!
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!
