10 of our favourite Bristol cocktail bars | Cocktails in Bristol

10 of our favourite Bristol cocktail bars | Cocktails in Bristol

Posted on: 13 May 2022

It's World Cocktail Day, it's Friday afternoon, and the sun's out (sort of) - be rude not to, wouldn't it?

 

Today (Friday 13 May) is World Cocktail Day, an excuse for all of us to take the edge off after a busy week with something fruity, something sharp, something dark or just something that's gonna blow your head clean off for less than a tenner.

 

Whether you fancy sipping at a classic Long Island Tea after being ushered into an underground bar or trying more of a leftfield alcoholic creation while staring down the jaws of a ticking crocodile, Bristol has something for everyone.

 

In honour of the big occasion, we've put together a quick rundown of some of our very favourite Bristol cocktail bars. We won't steer you wrong...

 

 

The Milk Thistle

Quay Head House, Colston Avenue, BS1 1EB

 

Hidden in plain view in the City Centre, The Milk Thistle is the sister venue of Bristol’s original Prohibition bar, Hyde & Co. With as many as four floors (including a clandestine hidden vault) and beautiful architecture and décor, the bar is a perfect inner city watering hole.

 

The award-winning cocktail menu includes a mix of classic cocktails and unique concoctions as well as a stunning selection of monthly specials.

Flipside

109 Whiteladies Road, Redland, BS8 2PT

 

Flipside offers a great selection of local craft beers and moreish cocktails, all to a booming soundtrack. The bar is perfectly located within the hustle and bustle of Whiteladies Road and possesses a spacious covered garden with private areas available to hire.

 

Most weekend Flipside offer cocktail making masterclasses, aiming to educate the British public on how to make the perfectly balanced drink.

Bristol and Bath Rum Distillery

87-89 Park Street, BS1 5PJ

 

Opening its doors in 2019, this three-floor venue at the very top of Park Street is a bar, distillery and rum school all in one. Two of these floors serve a range of sumptuous cocktails with 150 different rums and food on offer.

 

The multi-use space caters for group bookings, events, private hire and even runs a weekly Rum School where visitors can embark on a tasting and making journey – all the while enjoying a range of classic rums and rum-based cocktails.

BANK

107 Wells Road, Totterdown, BS4 2BS

 

There is a notable lack of cocktail bars to the south of the river so the opening of BANK in 2021 has proved incredibly popular. Offering speciality coffee, brunches, small plates, craft beer and wine as well as seasonal cocktails, the Totterdown venue has it all.

 

Located in an old bank, BANK’s mixologists aim to create drinks that maintain the character of the ingredients they’re using – keep a look out for the sharp and refreshing ‘Kiwi In The Name Of’.

Loose Cannon Cocktail Bar

Unit 1b, 8 Millenium Promenade, BS1 5SZ

 

Lying just off Millenium Square, right in the heart of the harbourside, this proudly independent bar serves up high quality cocktails in a stylish nautical setting.

 

Loose Cannon does not do things by halves, their drinks are decadent, delicious and inventive all at once. With a skilful, highly trained team well versed in the art of cocktail making, visitors can expect quality drinks made on request.

Stock Exchange Cocktail Club

34 St Nicholas Street, BS1 1TL

 

Boasting over 20 years in the hospitality industry, the Stock Exchange Cocktail Club founders joined forces to open their dream venue. Situated in one of the old city’s most impressive buildings to have survived the Blitz, the menu; ethos; and design of the bar aims to pay homage to its history and charming architecture.

 

A typical evening at the speakeasy-style venue transports visitors back to the 1900s, giving them the option to relax, sipping a cocktail or dance into the early hours, daiquiri in hand.

The Cocktail Club

37 Triangle West, Clifton, BS8 1ER

 

Part of a popular chain of themed bars but distinctly its own space, The Cocktail Club’s Bristol branch is designed with a unique Peter Pan’s Neverland theme. There are plenty of cosy corners in this establishment but keep an eye out for the ticking crocodile.

 

The bar’s long list of cocktails includes classics including Pina Coladas and Pornstar Martinis as well as alternative tipples such as ‘Confessions of a Cucumber Salesman’. There is also a new branch of Cocktail Club located on Corn Street.

Crying Wolf

37 Cotham Hill, Redland, BS6 6JY

 

A top-end cocktail venue through and through, Crying Wolf’s unique interior filled with dim lights and antiques is indicative of a venue that is known for its innovative and creative concoctions.

 

All food, cocktails and other drinks are sourced locally from West Country independents with juices, syrups, shrubs and cordials made on site. Reservation is not necessary but upstairs tables can be booked online and the downstairs bar is available for private hire.

The Rummer

All Saints Lane, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JH

 

The Rummer - another venue neatly nestled away in St Nicholas Market - is one of Bristol’s oldest bars, having been established in 1742. With an interior and illustrious drink making reputation to match its history, they take their drink craft seriously.

 

One of the godfathers of the city’s craft cocktail scene, The Rummer has the largest range of spirits in the region and offers a range of custom and classic cocktails as well as their popular ‘Bristol Twists’ menu.

Scarlet Lantern

Basement, 1 Unity Street, BS1 5HH

 

What better way to end this list than the Scarlet Lantern? Previously known as Red Light, this ‘top secret’ underground bar has garnered a cult clientele over the years. Entrance to the bar is still gained by calling a phone in front of a once heavily graffitied door.

 

The neon-lit, independent venue was rebranded after covid; however, it is still staffed by a talented team of mixologists with the ability to cater to your every need.

Have we missed one of your favourite Bristol watering holes? Do you run a local bar and feel like your venue should be included on the list?

 

Get in touch with us here and we’ll be happy to make amendments to the list.


Read more:

 

 


Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.