Where to Drink in Cambridge, UK
Whether you’re seeking craft beers served up in a quirky concept bar or experimental cocktails in a seductive saloon, Cambridge is where to find (and do) both. Here’s where we’ll be making a beeline for at happy hour
05 September, 2022
Once
upon a time, heading out for a drink did what it said on
the tin, but that was before Cambridge’s bar scene underwent
something of a renaissance. With sophisticated drinking dens
serving cocktails laced with spices and petals, to gritty
backstreet bars decked out in bunting and fairy lights, the options
of where to enjoy a spirit are endless. So, we took it upon
ourselves to drink and dance through the city’s nightlife scene to
bring you the finest addresses for a top-notch tipple.
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Novi Cambridge
The moment we saw the words “never too early for cocktails”
etched onto Novi’s glass front, we were sold. The rooftop terrace
is where to find the Cambridge cool kids come 8pm on a Saturday
night. A space that changes with the seasons, in the warmer months
you can expect to find a leafy, sun-drenched space. By winter, the
hideout transforms into a cosy den decorated with furry blankets
and candlelit tables. It’s the botanical cocktails menu, however,
that is the real draw – the dill-infused vodka and vanilla rum
stole our hearts. Learn how to whip up your own sweet or spicy
concoction by booking onto one of the mixology masterclasses.
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196 Cocktail Bar
Mill Road’s teeny-tiny 196 Cocktail Bar has been kept under
wraps by locals for some time. A stripped-back set-up features
hand-drawn menus, walls adorned in prints and floor-to-ceiling
shelves stacked with local wines. Opt for a bar-facing seat, or
alternatively grab a pavement table. Indecisive? The friendly bar
staff will be happy to surprise you.
bar
Town and Gown
There’s not much this place doesn’t do. Flaunting a bar,
restaurant and theatre, Town and Gown ticks all our boxes. Inside,
you’ll find barrel booth seating, neon-red LED signs, brass pendant
lights and exposed pipework overhead. Drinks are treated like an
art form. With sections on the menu titled “Martini Club” and
“Ginstitution”, we can think of no better place to spend a night
out with our gang. Theatre lovers should keep their eyes peeled for
upcoming shows to make the most of the pre-show dining menu.
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Hidden Rooms
You’d be forgiven for not knowing of Hidden Rooms’ existence,
due to its location in the basement of a former Victorian
bathhouse. Sexy and sultry, the low-level space houses a
wood-panelled bar, leather banquettes, floor-to-ceiling curtains
and a drinks menu that makes an extra round always sound like a
great idea. Special occasion on the horizon? A handful of private
chambers are available to hire.