If you like your drinks shaken, stirred and muddled with a cute garnish on top, I’ve rounded up the best independent cocktail bars you need to visit across Newcastle, whatever the occasion.
WC Newcastle
This subterranean bar is one of my personal favourites. True to its name, it used to be public toilets on the Bigg Market. Nowadays, it’s an intimate circular-shaped bar with a beautiful glass roof and it serves some of the most imaginative cocktails in the city. It makes the perfect date night spot, and pre-booking is almost always essential as it’s super popular.
Mother Mercy
Mother Mercy is a basement bar beneath the Cloth Market. It’s a dark, uber-cool space and the cocktails are sublime. It’s no surprise that Mother Mercy has repeatedly received national acclaim, most recently being named among the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars. A must-visit!
Vampire Rabbit
This revamped bar on Collingwood Street serves weird and wonderful creations, and its Rhubarb and Custard Martini – presented in a flamingo glass – has already become something of a signature drink for the bar on Insta. The menu looks like a whimsical storybook, pairing perfectly with the bar’s elegant decor (the basement, by contrast, is a bright funky space!). It’s table service only, with live music on selected nights.
No 28
Glitter balls, fairy lights and dainty foliage – No 28 is one of Newcastle’s prettiest bars and something of a hidden gem, nestled upstairs on Nelson Street. You’ll find a selection of classic cocktails on its menu, such as the French Martini and Moscow Mule, alongside sours, spritzes, and long and short drinks.
Cafe Mercy
This is Mother Mercy’s little sister on Grey Street, think brighter, chicer and a whole lot pinker! The bar serves creatively-crafted cocktails alongside Mediterranean spritzes and a few Mother Mercy favourites. You can also enjoy small plates on the side, including burrata, mixed charcuterie and seasonal pickles. And keep an eye on its social media for news of regular kitchen takeovers.
Grey Owl
A classy setting and enviable views along Grey Street make Grey Owl a great cocktail destination, especially before a trip to the theatre. In a former life, it used to be a jewellery shop, but was transformed into a stylish bar by the people who brought us Hibou Blanc. The bar’s cocktail menu is extensive, and its happy hour runs from 2-7pm Monday to Thursday and 12-4pm on Fridays, with two cocktails for £14.
Roof Thirty Nine
Fenwick department store opened its rooftop bar in 2021, adding to its stellar food and drink offering. This laid-back terrace is ideal for a post-shopping spree lull, serving up a range of cocktails, all set against panoramic views of Northumberland Street and the east of the city. The space has been transformed into a gorgeous Botanical Garden for the summer, as part of a collab with beloved North East drinks brand, Fentimans.
Barluga
Barluga on Grey Street is the place to go if you enjoy drinking al fresco, thanks to its all-year-round outdoor terrace. The cocktail list only features eight drinks, including the French Martini, Mojito and Amaretto Sour. BUT, the bartenders are trained on all the classics, so you just need to ask for your favourite and, voila, they’ll create it for you!
Pleased to Meet You
Located on High Bridge, a cobbled street filled with independent businesses, Pleased to Meet You is popular with gin lovers and boasts more than 100 different varieties of the stuff. Its cocktails are something else though, crammed with sweet and succulent ingredients such as lavender syrup, orange blossom flower water and plum sake. Cocktails are two for £12, 5-9pm, Sunday to Friday.
Central Oven and Shaker
This lively bar has a fun, inventive cocktail menu split into several mouthwatering categories: classic, sweet shop and fruity. And best of all, it’s two for £11.95 Sunday to Friday, excluding Saturday. The bar lies adjacent to Central Oven’s main restaurant, which serves Neapolitan pizza and pasta dishes. You can also book cocktail masterclasses and bottomless brunch.
Tickets
All aboard! Tickets is a stone’s throw from Central Station and pays homage to the bar’s days as an actual ticket office. There are nods to King’s Cross and Waverley in its elegant decor, and a train station style clock hangs above the former ticket booth (aka modern bar area). The railway theme continues on the cocktail menu, with tipples inspired by the 393-mile route of the famous Flying Scotsman.
Mad House
If you like your bars quirky and fun, then Mad House on Pink Lane has got you covered – and then some! Swings, a sandpit, rocking horse, and a bathtub-come-table make up the bar’s outlandish decor, which is inspired by different rooms inside a house. The cocktails are just as funky and unusual; expect rubber ducks and party hats for garnishes!
Lola Jeans
For cocktails with creative flair, you can’t go wrong with Lola Jeans, which is also known locally for its award-winning burgers. Inside, the bar boasts a vintage-inspired decor with pops of pink and floral furnishings. Its cocktails are divine, with a wide mix of exotic, delicate and gin-based blends to choose from.
Tiger Hornsby
This trendy bar is located on Newcastle’s iconic Quayside. Faux greenery drapes from the ceiling and you can sink into its plush sofas while soaking up its buzzy atmosphere and live beats from musicians and DJs. Look out for its Happy Hour Paradise, available all night Tuesday to Thursday, with 20% off cocktails.
3Sixty
For sky-high sips, try 3Sixty, a piano lounge and restaurant offering fantastic views across Newcastle’s cityscape. This upmarket bar is housed inside Hadrian’s Tower, a 27-storey apartment building close to St James’ Park. The cocktails are priced at £14 each, which is on the pricier end of the cocktail-ometer, but the views set this place apart from other local bars.
For more inspiration on the best bars to visit across Newcastle, follow my Instagram page at @nclsparkles.
*Prices and offers correct at time of publishing – please check with individual bars to confirm their current menus and deals.
