Bored of drinking beer and wine every night? Luckily, we’re spoilt for choice with the coolest cocktail bars in Birmingham that guarantee a good time. Whether you’re after something fun and fruity or something a touch more complex (you know, the type of drink a barman describes as ‘woody’ or ‘smokey’), there’s something for everyone. Serving up everything from unique concoctions to classic cocktails, Birmingham is home to some of the very best bars and bartenders in the UK!
1. Passing Fancies
It might be one of the newest cocktail bars in Birmingham, but Passing Fancies has quickly established itself as one of the UK’s best. Described as “approachable luxury” in Digbeth, the cocktail bar is relaxed and modern with a range of refreshing, well-balanced drinks on the menu. While the light-bites food menu is equally delicious. The bar’s name is a nod to the owners’ desire to keep evolving with their ever-changing interests. So there’s always something new and exciting on offer.
Passing Fancies, 30 Gibb St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4BF
2. Couch
In one of Birmingham’s coolest neighbourhoods, you’ll find Couch. With an exclusive menu that changes regularly, previous cocktails have matched with iconic women in music, such as Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox, and their favourite TV shows, like Twin Peaks and The Sopranos. It is this innovation that’s seen Couch named among Top 50 Cocktail Bars.
Couch, 1466 Pershore Rd, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2NT
3. Fox & Chance
At Fox & Chance you’ll find a drinks menu that is both modern and paying homage to the colourful history of cocktails. The cosy, wooden interior nods to Birmingham’s past, but the cocktails are full of unusual twists on classics. You’ll also find plenty of original creations too. Meaning you’ll find something to suit every taste at this cool and sophisticated Birmingham cocktail bar.
Fox & Chance, 45 Pinfold Street, B2 4AY
4. Gas Street Social
At Gas Street Social, you’ll find the ultimate post-work bar with none of the pretension that often comes with cocktail bars. Monday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm, grab two classic cocktails for £12. Meanwhile, many of its own concoctions are nods to Brum’s iconic locations – like ‘Bull In A China Shop’, which is a bourbon and corn liqueur-based cocktail served in a teacup. Other inspirations include the bubbly Floozie’s Fizz; a balti spice rum cocktail; and a range of Cadbury-inspired drinks. It’s also home (or so it claims) to Birmingham’s first bottomless brunch.
Gas Street Social, The Mailbox, 166-168 Wharfside Street, B1 1RL
5. The Cuban Embassy
You might have guessed already that this Birmingham bar has a Cuban theme, and they claim to have ‘120 of the finest rums from around the world’. On weekends they have a Latin band providing the backing track to the cocktail-drinking. From 5pm-10pm, Sunday to Thursday, they offer 2-for-1 cocktails and their menu includes a variety of classic cocktails.
Find The Cuban Embassy at 23 St Mary’s Row, Moseley, B13 8HW
6. 40 St Paul’s
One for gin lovers! Home to 140 gins, 40 St Paul’s has won countless awards – including World’s Best Gin Bar in 2019. Offering an intimate and relaxed atmosphere (there are only 24 seats), you won’t quickly forget your next visit. Sign up for a three-hour gin tasting (from £40pp to £250pp) for a whirlwind tour of gin history and discovery. Or tuck into a trifecta of gin, cheese and chocolate for the ultimate parings. You can learn more here.
40 St Paul’s, 40 Cox St, Birmingham B3 1RD
7. Ikigai
Inspired by Izakaya culture (a post-work informal bar with drinks and snacks), Ikigai is a niche yet incredible experience in Birmingham. Offering an array of Japanese spirits, flavourful cocktails and speciality sake, you’ll find a world of flavours you’ve never tried before. The most recent menu is inspired by Japan’s greatest export, anime – like One Piece, Naruto and Attack on Titan.
Ikigai, 1266 Pershore Rd, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2XU
8. Kilo Ziro
Coming from Birmingham’s zero waste shop, The Clean Kilo, is the UK’s first zero waste café/bar. With a focus on reducing waste and carbon footprint, Kilo Ziro serves a range of spirits locally distilled in the West Midlands, as well as certified carbon-negative rums, gins and whiskeys. It’s mindfully-crafted cocktails also use innovative ways of waste reduction – from using rice paper-printed passion fruits as a garnish to creating homemade flavoured syrups with leftover fruit rinds.
Kilo Ziro Café Bar & Refillery, 1 Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 4AA
9. Grain & Glass
With a “library” of over 300 open whiskies, Grain & Glass is the height of sophistication when it comes to cocktail bars in Birmingham. You can, of course, sample any of them neat – but make them truly shine in a range of classic cocktails, from a Whisky Sour to a Japanese Highball, and the legendary Old Fashioned. There’s a range of non-whisky alternatives too, including daiquiris, espresso martinis and white negronis.
Grain & Glass, 75-80 Vyse St, Birmingham B18 6HA
10. Dirty Martini
According to their website, ‘spirited sophistication starts at Dirty Martini‘ and it is pretty fancy. There are currently six different varieties of espresso martinis on the menu, so if that’s your thing then you know where to go! Also, there are some pretty innovative cocktails, like the dragonfruit and pomegranate cocktail, which features gin, Aperol, prickly pear liqueur, dragon fruit and pomegranate. With so much variety on offer here, you’re almost guaranteed to find something you want to drink.
Dirty Martini, 7 Bennetts Hill, B2 5ST
11. The Botanist
The Botanist has locations across the country and they are known for serving drinks in unusual vessels, such as flower pots. They’re not the easiest things to drink out of but they’re pretty tasty! You can enjoy it all in vintage-style surroundings too.
The Botanist, 14-16 Temple Street, B2 5BG
12. The Alchemist
When it comes to creative cocktails, The Alchemist has the rest of Birmingham beat. Every drink is like something out of Willy Wonka’s factory. The Birmingham cocktail bar is famous for its strange yet sensational concoctions. You never know what or how you’ll end up drinking!
The Alchemist, The Grand, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2BS