You’ll often find me at a bar in Cardiff. Sipping on 2 for 1 cocktails Cardiff or even a cocktail bottomless brunch. It is one of my favourite things to do. There are neon dens, Instagram worthy décor and even elusive speakeasies. Here are all of the cocktail bars in Cardiff.
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Whether you’re on a dinner date and want to grab a drink before or after, on a girl’s day out or a special occasion, there are plenty of places to drink in Cardiff, Wales. Here are the details for the best places to go in Cardiff for cocktails. If you want to guarantee a table, don’t forget to book in advance.
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Bars in Cardiff City Centre
There are many nice bars in Cardiff where you can grab a cocktail, glass of wine, craft beer and other drinks. However, this list is dedicated to the best cocktails in Cardiff and the best cocktail bars Cardiff. So, if you’re having a night out and want to party, here’s where to head. Check out my Cardiff nightlife guide.
Cardiff Cocktail Bars
The Dead Canary
In my opinion, it’s one of the best bars in Cardiff. It’s a little different as it is a hidden bar. On Barrack Lane, you can access The Dead Canary by finding the doorbell. The door will be thrown open, and you’ll be ushered inside. The vibe is 1920s speakeasy, and the cocktails are eclectic. Interestingly, the menu is Welsh themed, using local ingredients and is inspired by dragons.
Lab 22 Cardiff
Lab 22 is one of Cardiff’s best-known cocktail bars. You can expect an elite experience here, with an incredible menu, flare drinks, and elite standard bar staff. The drinks come in various novelty ways, from smoking glasses to their custom-made Einstein ice cubes; the attention to detail is remarkable. One drink even comes with a fake banknote to burn.
Ten Mill Lane
Exquisite cocktails. Banging beats. Swinging lights. Party until 6am. And, if you make it until this time, there’s free toast. The underground clubs’ focus is for customers to have the best night possible. It’s a bunker full of great drinks, dancing and socialising – the place to be in Cardiff at the weekend. Ten Mill Lane also offers cocktail making classes, where you can make whichever one you want to.
Las Iguanas
There are two Las Iguanas to choose from in Cardiff. The first restaurant is on Mill Lane, which has a Latin American vibe. You can indulge on food and cocktails Cardiff, including the daily happy hour – 2 for 1 on cocktails all day, every day. On weekends you can have a bottomless brunch with a starter, main and drinks.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a stylish cocktail bar at the top of Mill Lane. Even in winter, you can sit outside in the heated outdoor area. On the weekends, there’s a DJ on both floors, with booth seating, where you can take your time and choose from the extensive cocktail list. It’s where I usually head with the girls on Beaujolais Day.
Be At One
The never-ending cocktail list at Be At One is fun to work your way through. There’s always a new one to try. It quickly established itself as a Cardiff late-night hotspot. The neon lights stand out on the exposed brick walls, and the vibrant atmosphere is kept alive by the top tunes. Happy hour, or should I say hours, are daily and last for five on weekends.
NQ64
The arcade bar invites gamers to relive their childhood. With neon signs, glow in the dark paint and quality cocktails, NQ64 Cardiff is fun. Think Back to the Future and Stranger Things vibes. Children of the 80s and 90s would definitely get a sense of déjà vu.
Dirty Martini Cardiff
UPDATE – Dirty Martini has closed and reopened as Piano Works
The sleek and sophisticated cocktail bar can be found on St Mary Street. Dirty Martini has an extensive martini menu, wine, Prosecco, bottled beer, and cider. It’s their first bar outside of London. Late-night tipples and dancing into the night can be expected. Their bottomless brunch is served in birdcages on weekends alongside happy hour half-price martinis and selected cocktails.
Piano Works Cardiff
Piano Works Cardiff is a lively, late-night bar where the crowd chooses the playlist and a live band brings the party to life – think non-stop music, audience requests, and serious sing-along vibes. The cocktail list isn’t extensive, but you’ll find your favourite there.
Tonight Josephine
If you’re feeling sassy, head to Tonight Josephine. Initially, when I heard that it was opening on Caroline Street, I thought, do we really need another pink bar? However, after stepping through the doors, I very quickly changed my mind. There’s bold décor, a vast cocktail list and weekly bottomless brunch events led by the resident drag queens.
Everything you need to know about Tonight Josephine
Slug and Lettuce Cardiff
There’s always something going on at Slug and Lettuce on St Mary Street. It is an excellent spot for brunch, afternoon tea, or lunch deals during daylight hours. It transforms into a meet-up venue with partying, dancing, and cocktails at night. There are even four levels; the ground floor holds the cocktail masterclass area, a VIP or private area on the first floor, and other bars on the upper levels.
The other Slug and Lettuce can be found on The Friary, opposite the Hilton Hotel. It is the smaller of the two but offers the same food, drinks, and service levels. It is across one level. Gift vouchers can also be purchased.
The Botanist
The Botanist is a floral-focused restaurant on Church Street, serving food and cocktails. The cocktails are delicious and served in plant pots with billows of dry ice. They also host live music and one-off events in the abundance of plant life and wooden tables and chairs. It’s even one of the rooftop bars Cardiff, where dogs are welcome.
🐾 Dog-friendly on the outdoor terrace
Cosy Club
The Cosy Club is in the heart of the city centre on The Hayes. It is behind Hugo Boss, opposite Miller and Carter and part of St David’s Shopping Centre. The first-floor restaurant and cocktail bar is ideal for people watching. Sink into a sofa and dig into the casual dining menu with sandwiches and tapas. Stay for the tipples, including daily 2-4-1 offers.
Turtle Bay
A great Cardiff bar for cocktails is Turtle Bay. The laid-back Caribbean themed restaurant serves fragrant jerk, slowly simmered curries and food popping with flavour. And just like a beach shack, the cocktails flow just as well as the reggae beats. Happy hour is every single day until 7pm. Then from 9.30pm until they close.
Kapu
Cardiff’s Hawaiian hideaway is Kapu Tiki Bar, found on St Mary Street. The colourful venue serves up delicious classics and exotic fresh fruit cocktails. You can even buy a cocktail tree. Think sitting back and sipping a cocktail on the beach in a bamboo hut, watching Cardiff life go by.
Bootlegger
I love the ethos of this place. Bootlegger encapsulates the energy felt on 5 December 1933, when Prohibition ended. There’s live music, good times and the best drinks. Over 90 cocktails are on offer, all freshly made, and the cocktail happy hours are 2 for £14 (every day until 7pm). My favourites include Dark N Stormy, Raspberry Mule and Mr Lover Lover.
Pennyroyal
To enter the speakeasy-style venue, look for the “Spirits and Remedies” sign in the window, ring the bell and enter. The atmosphere is spot on with awesome background music and flickering candlelight. There are over 300 bottles of booze which the Pennyroyal team get by climbing a ladder. They served the spirits with your favourite tonic or enjoy an expertly blended craft cocktail.
The Libertine
UPDATE – unfortuantely The Libertine has closed
Open daily from noon, The Libertine serves a vast range of cocktails. With quirky décor and ambient lighting, cocktail aficionados can look forward to trying the extensive menu and theatrical twists. There’s even a daily happy hour, between 3pm-7pm, where some cocktails cost £5.
The Alchemist
UPDATE – The Alchemist has closed
With four different rooms, all of which are dark, gothic and sexy. The creative cocktails at The Alchemist are served like a theatre show, with plumes of fragrant smoke, intriguing techniques and innovation. There are over 50 cocktails on the menu. There is a casual dining menu, and they offer a bottomless brunch. You can also get a free main course on your birthday.
Gin and Juice
Ok, these cocktails are niche, but there are over 450 gins to choose from at Gin and Juice. Each gin is expertly selected. You can serve them with your favourite mixer or try one of the gin cocktails. The bar is snug, with cosy seating and tables. As it is small, the Castle Arcade is utilised for extra seating in the evening.
Rum and Fizz
I prefer next door, Rum and Fizz. (I don’t get the fascination with gin, but give me a spiced or dark rum instead!) Here there are over 200 rums from around the world. Alongside the music and atmosphere, the bar has it all. You won’t be disappointed with a mixer or a rum cocktail.
Henry’s Cardiff
Henry’s has been a staple of the Cardiff bar scene for more than 30 years. Alongside food menus throughout the day, there’s also a huge range of cocktails. With various two for one offers throughout the week.
Getting around Cardiff has never been easier
With stops in Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, two in the city centre – Queen Street and Cardiff Central – plus Cardiff Bay. Getting around Cardiff has never been easier. Transport for Wales now offer Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. And, who doesn’t want to save money?
Best Bars Cardiff
Cocktail Bars Cardiff Bay
If you’re looking to enjoy alfresco drinks in the summer, The Bay is where you should head. There are plenty of bars in Cardiff Bay serving cocktails. However, they taste good throughout the year. There are daily offers, including 2-4-1 cocktails and even a bottomless brunch.
VIP Lounge
UPDATE – the VIP Lounge has closed
The VIP Lounge is one of Cardiff’s quirky bars with the wow factor. The piano lounge has deep red velvet drapes, dark wood, and 7-foot chandeliers. There’s even a 28-foot long ice bar, Swarovski crystal chesterfield and a grand piano. One of the offers is six cocktails of your choice for £50. Open Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm.
Las Iguanas
The second Las Iguanas is in Cardiff Bay, in a top spot overlooking the water. Step inside for some deliciously authentic Latin food. It also has one of the best cocktail bars Cardiff 2 for 1 offers, all day, every day. The bottomless brunch is also available here alongside other special offers.
Cosy Club
The second Cosy Club is in Cardiff Bay. The beautiful outdoor terrace is the perfect sun trap and overlooks the water on Mermaid Quay. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer 2-4-1 cocktails throughout the week.
🐾 Dog-friendly
The Botanist
Previously Club House, The Botanist in Cardiff Bay is a cocktail lover’s paradise, serving artfully crafted drinks in a lush, plant-filled setting that feels like a secret garden. Their menu features an impressive range of botanical-inspired creations – think elderflower spritzes, gin classics elevated with aromatic herbs, and vibrant, fresh-pressed elixirs.
🐾 Dog-friendly
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