Best places in Bristol for an after-work cocktail

We’re back in the office and there’s never been a better time to grab your colleagues and soak up the festive atmosphere at one of Bristol’s cocktail bars.

There’s something for everyone; from majestic buildings and Instagrammable settings, to darkened speakeasies and bars worthy of a Bond appearance.

Here’s a roundup of a few of our favourites, collected with the team from Bristol City Centre BID.

Cosy Club

Cosy Club, 31 Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1HT – photo: Cosy Club

If you haven’t ventured inside Cosy Club, a Grade II listed Neo-Palladian style former bank, then prepare to be wowed by the marble flooring, stunning stonework and an awe-inspiring domed roof. The grandeur of the building is matched with an extensive cocktail list with mid-week happy hours. If you’re feeling especially festive, then try the Coconut Eclair cocktail which definitely tastes like it belongs in a selection box.

The Cocktail Club

The Cocktail Club, 37-39 Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1HT – photo: The Cocktail Club

Right next door to Cosy Club, a brand new haunt is opening on Corn Street on Friday, just in time for Christmas celebrations. This is the second outpost of The Cocktail Club in the city. Expect expertly made and beautifully served cocktails with a Christmas Twist. Current favourites are the legendary British classic the gin Bramble, and Truffletini – espresso martinis topped with a chocolate truffle.

Klosterhaus

Klosterhaus, The Friary Building, Quakers Friars, Bristol, BS1 3DF – photo: Klosterhaus

If you’re looking for glamour, Klosterhaus has it in spades. Sit at the central bar of this Grade I listed building with a champagne cocktail and feel ever so slightly like you’re in a Bond film. Located in the heart of Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus, you can catch the beautiful Christmas lights en route to put you in the festive mood. After drinks at the bar, move onto a dinner of Mittel-European cuisine, with attentive service, white starched tablecloths, and dishes served up and flambéed at your table.

The Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery

Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery, 87-89 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5PJ – photo: Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery

A great spot for bigger groups – Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery is an industrial styled space has privately bookable rooms. Explore 150 different flavours of its signature rum Dead Man’s Fingers, and let the talented bartenders recreate every imaginable flavour with rum, creating sensational drinks that would please even the most fussy colleagues. Pre-booking is definitely recommended.

The Clockwork Rose

The Clockwork Rose, 16 St Stephen’s Street, Bristol, BS1 1JR – photo: The Clockwork Rose

The Clockwork Rose is Bristol’s first and only steampunk cocktail bar! This great spot on St Stephen’s Street was an Imbibe Awards Finalist for post-lockdown menu of the year 2020 and they serve up some exceptional drinks that you can’t find anywhere else. The name hails from a fictional watering hole of the adventurer Captain Sebastian Commodore. When he returned to England he and the crew of his airship, The Nautimore, would gather at The Clockwork Rose to tell the tales of their travels.

Browns

Browns, 38 Queen’s Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1RE – photo: Browns

What screams glamour better than a bar styled on a mirror ball? This Bristol institution is the perfect place for a champagne cocktail to toast the year. Head up the stone stairs at Browns, located within one of Park Street’s most iconic buildings, and order from one of the dicky-bowed barmen. For a taste of pure holiday in a glass, try the non-alcoholic Peach Melba.

The Lost & Found

The Lost & Found, 85 Queen’s Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1QS – photo: The Lost & Found

Head inside this unassuming door of The Lost & Found and prepare to be thrilled by a stunning interior that tells the story of Elizabeth E. Lightfoot – a Professor of Astronomy who conducted her research in a hidden room in Clifton. Cocktails not to miss include the Tangled Teapot, The Bubble Popper and the Rose and Lychee Martini, served beneath hanging foliage in stunning glasses. After work happy hour lasts until 8pm on selected cocktails and booking is a must at this popular spot.

Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District is a not-for-profit organisation working to make Bristol an even better place for those who work, study, live and spend leisure time in the city. For more information, visit www.bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk 

Main photo: The Lost & Found

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