The Best Cocktail Bars In Birmingham

There’s nothing better than unwinding at the weekend by having a cocktail, and in Birmingham, you will be spoilt for choice for places to go. There are so many different bars around the second city that have an excellent selection of cocktails on their menu, and you shouldn’t be alarmed to see Tom Cruise sneaking in a drink while he’s in the city filming for Mission Impossible. But, which bars are the best places for a cocktail around Birmingham?

The Botanist

Located near New Street station, you will be able to find The Botanist. It is one of the best cocktail bars in the city, with something for every taste available. The cocktail menu is steeped with different alcoholic flavours, with something for everyone. The fruit and floral selections are the perfect selection for the summer, with the Pink Poppy Punch and Rhubarb Rose Martini among the best selections available.

Those looking for something more refreshing shouldn’t look past the Lily Pad Sour or Raspberry Beet Colada. Meanwhile, there are excellent spicy alternatives, including the Smoky Pineapple Negroni. All the cocktails could make visitors slightly peckish, and there are no shortage of dishes available. Our personal favourite to wash down a cocktail would be the kebabs.

House 14, Cheltenham, 16 Temple Street

The Alchemist

There aren’t many more sophisticated bars in Birmingham than The Alchemist. There are two different locations to dive into the extensive selection of drinks available, with one at Colmore Row and another at Brindley Place. No matter the bar that you go to, the experience will be similar. You will be attended to by very skillful bartenders, as they can mix together magic that will be divine to drink. The list of available drinks that you can order at this bar is exceptional, with something available for everyone.

Most uniquely, they will be served in a very special way depending on the drink that you order. Some of the drinks that you can expect to enjoy include the Colour Changing One, which is made up of Grey Goose vodka, apple and soda. Other options that must be tried to enjoy, include Cherry Poppins, Bubblebath and The Legal One. There are also a number of drinks on the menu that are perfect for two, making it an ideal place for a date. The Biblical One is one of the newest available, which includes Briottet Maraschino and Cointreau. Every visit to this bar is unique, so head down there this weekend.

The Grand, Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2DE

The Pineapple Club

One of the swankiest cocktail bars in the city can be found in the Great Western Arcade. The Pineapple Club offers an experience unlike anything else in the city, as visitors can relax and watch the day go by. The bar is open between noon and 11:30 PM in the week, and later on the weekend. Like all good cocktail bars, there is something for everyone, with every taste catered for The signature cocktails are a fine place to start, with the Flamingo Spritz and El Poco Baya certainly among the standout drinks.

Meanwhile, the Vice By Night and C.R.E.A.M & C.O.O.K.I.E.S are also excellent choices. Those with a sweet tooth should also try out the Candy Club Punch, which is pink gin, fruit wine, cranberry and candy cordial. Classic cocktails can also be found in the menu, with an Old Fashioned, Pornstar Martini and Espresso Martini all available. There really is something for everyone at one of the city’s best kept hidden secrets.

Unit 16 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham, B2 5HU

Lost & Found

Lost & Found has been a popular cocktail bar in the city ever since it opened its doors for the very first time. It is in a perfect location in the middle of the city, as visitors can find it on Bennetts Hill. No matter the time of day, it is always a perfect spot for a quick bite to eat and a cocktail. The lunch time menu makes it a popular spot for those that work in the city, but it is always safer to visit after hours to fully explore the wide selection of drinks that are available at this stunning bar.

The Professors’ Cocktails are among the most popular, as they can’t be found anywhere else in the city. The three options available in this section include The Bubble Popper, Mythical Garden Martini and The Tangled Teapot. There are also some exceptional cocktails that can be found in the Lost Cocktails section, including Blueberry Sour, Popcorn Old Fashioned and the Pina Caledonia. Meanwhile, Found Cocktails are two for £10 between selected hours. Here, customers can order Mortianna’s Garden, Peaches & Cream and Black River Crush at a discounted price. However, the offer is only available for two of the same drinks.

8 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5RS

Aluna

Few cocktail bars can offer the experience of Aluna in the second city, as it is the perfect way to start or end the night, as well as spend the night. It is located in the best spot, as visitors can sit outside the Mail Box and watch the world go by with the iconic Birmingham canals in the backdrop. Brunch offers are available on the weekends too, but these will need to be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.

However, it is the signature Aluna cocktails that will really get visitors excited. All of them come with their own twist, and are served to customers in the most magically way. Cocktails that customers can expect to try include the Lychee Martini, Zombie and Salted Caramel Sensation. Old favourites such as Mojitos, Daiquiris and sours can also be ordered, as well as Margaritas. The service at this bar is second to none, which makes it one of the best cocktail bars in Birmingham.

128-130, The Mailbox, Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RQ

Shibuya Underground

If you think you’ve seen everything Birmingham has to offer then you are very mistaken, because Shibuya is an experience unlike any other. This is the first and only premier Japanese cocktail and sake bar in the city, with cocktails inspired by Japan and its drinking culture. It is an incredibly intimate bar, small and dark, with the location only being revealed to you via email the day before your booking (although, being run by the same people as the Pineapple Club, it’s more than likely in the Great Western Arcade, not to spoil the mystery).

As a tasting bar rather than a socialising one, they have four menus to choose from: beginners sake experience, connoisseurs sake experience, cocktail experience, and tea experience. As you can imagine, the cocktails aren’t your regular gin and tonics, and you’d be surprised by the ingredients. For example, the Hara-Kiri cocktail contains buckwheat shochu, chocolate, and banana! Your 2 hour seating will be worth every minute.

Great Western Arcade, Birmingham B2 5HU

Atelier

There are cocktails, and there are experiences – this is the latter. Labelled a “drinks studio” by owner and awarding-winning mixologist Robert Wood, Atelier is one of the most unique and upmarket cocktail bars you can find. Upon entering, you will feel more like you’re at a yoga retreat or than a cocktail bar, but this is all by design. The open and empty space, with wood and fabric everywhere being bathed in tonnes of natural light demonstrates the simplicity of the space contrasting with the complexity of the drinks.

That’s a very fancy way of saying that the room is simple because the drinks are the one and only focus here. The bar is only open Thursday through Saturday, and they serve only a few guests each night, so the space is never busy or distracting. The menu changes regularly too, since experimentation is the name of the game, which means we can’t tell you what to expect – you’ll just have to see for yourself.

Newhall Square, Birmingham B3 1RU

40 St Pauls

I hope you like gin because this place sells gin. A lot of gin. 140 different types of gin. And a load of gin cocktails too! 40 St Pauls is one of those out of the way and hard to find bars with a very small, intimate interior. With only 24 seats, you’re essentially just in a room with a group of fellow gin lovers, and considering the building is basically just a house, it gives off major prohibition speakeasy vibes! Don’t worry though, it’s still really relaxed and a great place to just hang out with a few friends.

However, they also have gin tastings available, including the gin, cheese, and chocolate tasting. This experience pairs 5 gins with some amazing cheeses and handmade chocolate truffles to create the perfect blend of 3 of the best things in life – booze, cheese, and chocolate. If you just want a simple drink though, you’ve got a host of cocktails to choose from, including some sophisticated classics like espresso martinis and strawberry daquiris. Oh, and did we mention that it won World’s Best Gin Bar in 2019?

40 Cox St, Birmingham B3 1RD