Steam Bristol
Get on down to Steam Bristol to enjoy happy hour drinks (with pints from £3), bottomless cocktail brunches and lip-smacking Japanese food. But that's not all, as this quirky spot is home to party buses and a festival terrace too.
A haven for mischief, mixology and must-try boozers, this fair city is at the UK's peak when it comes to unique places to drink. Whether you like your cocktails in an elusive, secret lair or prefer sipping on fine wines at an unusual waterside haunt, you're sure to find something to suit your taste in our recommendations of cool and quirky bars in Bristol.
Last edited by Scarlett Welch
Last updated on 2nd October 2024
Get on down to Steam Bristol to enjoy happy hour drinks (with pints from £3), bottomless cocktail brunches and lip-smacking Japanese food. But that's not all, as this quirky spot is home to party buses and a festival terrace too.
Home to over 150 different bottles, a spirit school and an attention-grabbing 500-litre retort pot, Bristol and Bath Rum Distillery is seriously upping your drinking game. Not only is it a buzzy, late-night choice for tipples with mates but it also puts on cracking events and masterclasses throughout the year.
Not only does this cool bar front a whole host of colourful interiors, but Blame Gloria Bristol is also the place for drag events aplenty. Not only that, but 2 for 1 cocktails and an eclectic list of hits - think everything from Gaga to The Beatles - awaits here.
One of our top picks for cool and quirky bars in Bristol, The Bootlegger is well worth a visit. Not only is the 1920s-inspired space decked out with exposed brickwork and vintage lights, but it also has a fabulous live music offering alongside a top-notch selection of cocktails.
Want to check out more of the bar scene? Head to our brand new table search engine where you'll discover thousands of venues to choose from in the UK. Each DesignMyNight booking earns you rewards to spend on fun experiences and events.
For one of the best bars in Bristol Harbourside, Slug and Lettuce is always a fantastic shout. Along with neon signs and colourful interiors, the venue whips up kooky cocktails to match - we're talking pina coladas served in a golden pineapple.
Not many bars can boast a brewery, a pub, a kitchen and a bar; which is what makes Brewhouse & Kitchen Bristol all the more special. Stop by for masterclasses or hearty dinners filled with piled-high burgers and freshly pulled pints of beer.
Kongs of King Street is combining retro consoles with tasty tipples and craft brews, making it your one-stop shop for boozy gaming. Whether you're here for a midweek competition with friends or a late-night dance on the weekends to a live DJ set, you're guaranteed to have a great time.
A seriously stunning bar located on Corn Street, Dirty Martini is the place to be and it comes complete with neon angel wings, a sleek bar and chic bottomless brunches. Plus, you won't want to miss out on their daily happy hours and bottles of prosecco for £25.
Fronting exposed brick walls, an open kitchen and gorgeous hanging plants, this is hands down one of the best cocktail bars in Bristol Harbourside. They also sling out wood-fired pizzas with unique toppings, from pineapple to smoked salmon and burger sauce.
@ Alcotraz Penitentiary: Bristol on Various dates from Sunday 22nd December 2024
Alcotraz: Cell Block Two-Two-Six is Bristol's addition to the popular prison-themed bar group. Immerse yourself in this quirky experience, which sees you and your pals donning orange jumpsuits and being locked up with your fellow inmates.
You'll smuggle in your own bottle of spirits, being sure to avoid the warden. Once you get it through, their talented mixologists will whip up four delicious cocktails to suit your tastes.
One of the best rooftop bars in Bristol during the warmer months, Mall Clifton is a great shout for drinks. Sit outside in its secret garden while you bask in the sunshine, sink pints and tuck into a killer menu of British pub grub.
On the hunt for a cool bar in Bristol city centre? Pop over to Baldwin Street, where Tonight Josephine is absolutely killing it with pink-doused interiors, sassy neon signs and delish signature cocktails. Plus, it also hosts epic bottomless brunches.
For one of the best bars in Bristol, Lola Lo is a tiki-themed palace that'll transport you to sunnier shores. A go-to for carefree nights of dancing 'til the early hours, this party playground boasts stunning cocktails, banging tunes and plenty more.
Covered head-to-toe in neon graffiti and home to 36 cool arcade games, there's no quirkier bar than the Instagrammable NQ64 Bristol. Located on Baldwin Street, this den is open 'til 2.30am every night, seven days a week and offers the likes of Time Crisis III, Guitar Hero and Mortal Kombat to play, as well as themed cocktails like the Power Start Martini or Mad Max.
A venue that needs no introduction, BrewDog is hands down one of the best places for craft beer and kooky eats. Enjoy munching on wood-fired pizzas, sumptuous salads and much more, while sipping your favourite freshly pulled pint.
Situated on Park Street, Java is an excellent place for your watering hole needs. Whether you're here for a club night with friends or in need of a quick catch-up with your girls, it's supplying sublime drinks - think espresso martini cocktail trees.
If you fancy something a little different for your night out, head over to Flight Club Bristol. The Old City haunt is not your average bar, featuring their new version of social darts, as well as intriguing interiors, delicious bar snacks and plenty of boozy bevs.
The Lost & Found is a glorious Victorian-themed cocktail bar that'll take you to back in time with its antique interiors. Enjoy unusual alcohol combinations made using strange ingredients including banana chip-infused rum, jasmine tea syrup and the curiously named Ms. Better's Bitter Miraculous Foamer.
Oreo themed cocktails? Happy hours? Over 150 cocktails to choose from? It's hard not to love a bar like Be At One Bristol. Hailed for weird and wonderful concoctions alongside late nights and a buzzing party atmosphere, the venue is the gift that keeps on giving.
For wonderful watering holes, The Square Club is a great shout for those after zesty cocktails and the prettiest outdoor terrace. While sinking a few drinks, tuck into a menu of scrumptious nosh - think hanger steak, pork belly and crayfish avo salads.
With opulent decor, skilled bartenders and a mega menu of wacky tipples, The Cocktail Club has certainly made a name for itself. Spend an evening sampling jam jar daiquiris and you'll see why it's regarded as one of the best cool and quirky bars in Bristol - check out its Corn Street venue as well.
When it comes to quirky nights out in Bristol, Smoke & Mirrors are coming up trumps for entertainment. Get yourself a bottle of wine from the bar and settle in for an evening of live performances that range from cabaret and music to burlesque.
Looking for places to drink in Bristol? You could do a lot worse than Seven Lucky Gods, a stylish watering hole inspired by the izakaya bars of Tokyo. Along with sake, beers and spirits, their innovative cocktails will have you slurping on green tea-infused gin, kumquat liqueur and grapefruit sherbert.
Grab your vintage goggles and get ready for a memorable evening at Bristol's only steampunk-inspired haunt - how's that for quirky nights out? The fantasy-focused bar is dotted with various trinkets and shakes up a selection of theatrical cocktails, each with its own backstory.
Four storeys of stunning revelry await you at The Milk Thistle. One of the more secret bars in Bristol, it is a must-try in the cocktail department too with a selection of unconventional ingredients and signature serves. Not to mention decadent interiors that scream prohibition.
Lido has pipped the top spot for memorable watering holes - excuse the pun. Situated only a few metres from an outdoor pool, this gem is serving up the definition of drinks with a view, touting an extensive wine menu of whites, reds, rosés, sherries and Champagne.
Featuring beautiful concoctions, vibrant decor and a stunning outdoor terrace, it's no surprise that Bambalan is one of the coolest cocktail bars in Bristol. Hungry? Grab a few plates from the tapas-style menu and enjoy grilled tiger prawns, fried squid, artichoke hearts and focaccia.