Cocktail Bars in Birmingham
Birmingham's thriving drinking dens know all about adding a little bit of exotic bang to their fizz, boasting some of the best tailor-made cocktail delights in the Midlands. From quaint concoctions in cool and quirky bars to the freshest mojitos in town, the city has everything from the upmarket to the experimental waiting to be discovered. Here's our recommendations for the best cocktail bars in Birmingham, check them out and let us know your thoughts.
Last updated on 9th January 2017
A restaurant and bar that plays up its history, The Button Factory shits on Frederick Street and serves its guests a selection of imaginative cocktail creations. Using a range of fresh fruits, vibrant liqueurs and strong spirits, the bar staff have really pulled out all the stops, serving delicately crafted, eye-pleasing cocktails.
This is one cocktail bar in Birmingham that needs no introduction. Coming to the Piccadilly Arcade and new to Brum's nightlife scene, Be At One brings its notorious happy hour, cocktail-centred expertise and fun atmosphere to make one hell of a party. Open until 3am as well means this bar is a top late-night destination for the city's party-mad audience.
The Harvey Nichols cocktail bar offers a plush experience for the city’s discerning drinkers. Located in the heart of the Mailbox shopping complex, follow a sweeping staircase up from the restaurant to settle into one of the city's most high-end wateringholes; where an apothecary-styled bar oozes with style and opulence.
Two sides to the infamous Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde? You'll find it's the same in Birmingham's playful cocktail bar version. While downstairs boasts flambee'd creations and tasty tailored treats galore, upstairs is a Victorian themed gin parlour with a twist. Working the gin and other such spirits to the best of their abilities, these mixologists conjure up unique and mind-boggling cocktails that we'd bet (quite a fair bit) you've never heard of before.
With low light fixture, exposed brick walls and wooden furniture, Buffalo & Rye really is one of the more rustic cocktails bars in Birmingham. Transporting it's guests to the rural land of America's Deep South, the team behind this venue serve up some of the best wheat, rye and barley-based whisky cocktails available in town.
Based in a Grade II listed building, the Rose Villa Tavern in Birmingham is a quaint pub with plenty of charm and character. Beautifully decorated with vintage furniture and colourful knick knacks, the venue serves all the things you'd expect to find in an urban pub, alongside a great line-up of craft cocktails.
Hold your seahorses, there's a Tiki bar in town?! Birmingham's premium Polynesian-themed bar, Island Bar, is an exciting, exotic hidden gem. Boasting cocktails that'll have your taste-buds tingling, these guys conjure up their very own in bar creations tailored to both taste and style. With their upstairs beach retreat hailed as Birmingham's Saturday night destination, these unusual and adventurous drinks are sure to make your experience at this quirky Birmingham bar unforgettable.
Fun-loving by nature, Sobar is a sleek and stylish cocktail bar and club in the middle of town. With both classic and signature cocktails on offer, the venue's resident DJs keep the good vibes going long into the early hours. Grab a drink, grab a booth and relax in this opulent spot.
With a Teppanyaki and Yakitori serving platform, as well as a signature menu of drinks inspired by Wu Xing - the five elements of Asian philosophy - expect plenty of theatrical drama from the drinks at The Sky Bar. We won’t lie - the venue is a fair journey from the city centre - but with a sophisticated vibe and stunning views of the Pendigo Lake accessible via the terrace, it’s a must-visit for any Brum cocktail lover.
Located on Birmingham's buzzing Broad Street, Pushkar is your more tailored and stylish alternative for weekend drinks. Whilst catering to the lovers of those cocktail classics, it's Birmingham's next big advocate for custom drinks. From a 'Monaco Fizz' to a 'Lemon Calm', Pushkar are PUSH-KAR-ING the boundaries when it comes to the art of mixology. It's offers a night out in Birmingham that won't be easily forgotten.
If you're looking to dazzle a date in Birmingham with cocktails and finesse, then Fumo is the venue for you. Whether you're sitting down for Italian tapas in amongst stylish surroundings or poised at their curved marble bar for a creative little tipple, Fumo is the Birmingham-based cocktail bar that really shines.
Who doesn't love a horticulture-themed night out in Birmingham? Decked out with walls covered in ivy and a smattering of huge plants, The Botanist is one of the quirkier venues. Alongside cocktail masterclasses perfect for birthdays and small groups, their bartenders use an arsenal of fruits, spices and spirits to serve up an excellent array of cocktail concoctions.
Despite being known for hosting stunning live music gigs and serving exquisite dishes of flavoursome food, it's the cocktail menu at The Chameleon that's really grabbed out attention. Alongside all the classic mixes, the team of bartenders have created a number of bespoke cocktails, just for their guests to enjoy. We'd recommend the Dragon On The Beach, made from exotic Dragon Fruit mixed with malibu, midori, Lime, coconut Syrup and pineapple.
Drop anchor in one of Gas Street Social’s cosy booths and prepare to sample some curious concoctions. Drinks like the Fig As Thieves and Cox’s Grave Spinner are as quirky as their names might suggest, and the venue’s Bloody Mix takes no less than 14 days to marinade. A pain-staking process, but totally worth it when the results are this delicious. This is truly one of the more creative cocktail bars in Birimingham.
Upmarket cocktails and swanky club nights are the name of the game at Birmingham's Nuvo cocktail bar. Not only offering all your favourite classic cocktails made to the highest of standards, they've also developed an array of signature concoctions all of their own. Don your dancing shoes and grab your favourite tipple come the weekend, as their DJ nights douse the entire venue in glamour and VIP charm.
Taking its name from the historic elevated public park that winds through Manhattan, the High Line bar is one sophisticated spot to enjoy a few cocktails. Indulge in a Brooklyn Mojito or a Hudson Manhattan, each expertly mixed up with plenty of NYC-inspired twists on show throughout. There’s a sleek and elegant feel to the venue, which attracts a crowd that’s dressed to the nines, and a lovely outdoor terrace to experience when the sun’s out.
A dapper, vintage, luxurious joint where the likes of Don Draper certainly wouldn't look out of place, this Colmore District retreat knows how to whip up one hell of a divine cocktail frenzy. From their elusive 'Elixir No.6' down to their somewhat daring 'Chocolate Egg', The Bureau boast cocktails for the more mature and discerning palate with a feisty edge, all in a relaxed and humble environment.
The expert team of mixologists at Bourne & Co offer Birmingham's cocktail-craving crowds a selection of carefully crafted drinks, made using fresh fruits, potent spirits and flavoursome liqueurs. The venue regularly hosts Prohibition-themed parties and hopes to recreate some of the magic of the golden days of cocktail making.
Perched in the Mailbox district comes this parlour of ticks, treats and the curiously concocted. Aluna are the alchemists of Birmingham with a stylishly, velvet clad bar that twinkles with vintage essence. Expect bespoke service and some skilled mixologists knocking up all manner of luxurious drinks at this Birmingham cocktail bar.
There’s class and sophistication in everything that The Edgbaston does. From the stunning fusion of jet black and gold interiors to the highly innovative cocktails on show, these guys confess to a “passion for perfection” and it’s something they achieve with flying colours. Twelve varieties of bubbly add a dash of sparkle at this stunning Birmingham-based cocktail bar.
Home to cocktail masterclasses and South American treats alike, Bodega is a restaurant bar in Birmingham at the top of their Mixology game. Brandishing cocktails that suit the spices and variety of their menu, the team pride themselves on being an adventure. You can even grab a tasty little cocktail tipple for just £4 between 4-7pm every day.
There's no sight of novelty party umbrellas or twizzly straws at this dapper establishment! Dealing in the very best in 1920's style classic cocktails, traditional mixes and fancy thirst quenchers, this is a marvelous place to get tipsy. Decked out in mahogany and plush red velvet, settle in for an evening of sophisticated imbibing.
If kooky custom cocktails are what you're looking for, pull in those reins and hold your horses for Ginger's Bar. Wowing visitors with their unique and downright bizarre cocktails, Ginger's specialises in serving "re-mastered, timeless classics". With award-winning bar staff and mixologists, this is an absolute must on your tour of Birmingham's premier cocktail jaunts.
A stylish hideaway sprinkled with Victorian and botanical charm, Lost & Found is a characterful Birmingham cocktail bar that never fails to serve its guests a number of jaw-dropping surprises. Talented bartenders muddle a complex range of cocktails split into ‘Lost’ and ‘Found’ sub-sections, and there may or may not be a further secret bar tucked behind a bookcase.
