The coolest bars in Newcastle

Newcastle is the undisputed night out capital of the North, with more pubs, clubs and bars than you can shake a stick at. Heading to the Toon for a weekend stay at our Roomzzz apartments? We’ve hunted down some of the coolest bars in Newcastle so you can get straight out and party. You’re welcome.

MADAME KOO

Although it’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays, Madame Koo is one of the most welcoming and fun bars in Newcastle. Cocktails are a speciality with The Original combining Mercier Brut bubbly with peach for a taste that’ll have you partying long into the night. Elsewhere on the drinks menu, look out for their long list of mojitos made with black raspberries, blueberries and pineapples. Frozen daiquiris and margaritas are also worth a try, all without being massively expensive. Madame Koo promises to be a ‘hidden bar and sneaky disco’ so you can guarantee there’ll be some dancing under the giant disco ball too.

LIVELLO

A favourite of none other than pop princess and Geordie icon Cheryl, Livello is a swanky bar where only the finest cocktails are served. Classics including the Manhattan and White Russian sit alongside Strawberry Smash, Call Me Maybe and their own twist on the Bloody Mary – the wine-infused Bloody Awesome! The venue is lined with plush leather seats, cosy booths and mirrors galore, plus moody ambient lighting. If your stiletto feet can’t quite make it through the night, you need to book a booth in advance to get somewhere to sit.

ALVINOS

Set over three sprawling floors, Alvinos is a real Tardis with all sorts to keep you entertained. Aside from a menu brimming with craft ale, gins and cocktails, there’s also table football, pinball, snacks and, on weekends, DJ sets to get you dancing. The drinks menu is one of the longest of any bar in Newcastle, containing six of each for gins, vodkas, liqueurs and wines, tequilas, rums and whiskeys. Try the Thai Hard, which is made with Stolichnaya vodka, lime juice, orgeat syrup and angostura bitters, for a taste sensation.

COLONEL PORTER’S EMPORIUM

Part Empire-era tavern, part botanical garden and full-on Instagrammer’s heaven, Colonel Porter’s Emporium is a real assault on the senses. With an eclectic interior bursting with vintage chairs, greenery and exotic animals accessories, this could easily be the poshest place you’d expect to sup Newkie Brown. The bar’s named after one of the iconic ale’s inventors, so it’d be rude not to toast him with his own brew. If beer’s not your thing, they’ve got a fine selection of fizz and ‘tipsy teas’ – gin and rum-based cocktails served in china tea pots. If you want a true Brit experience, pair them with an afternoon tea and sit back in you leather wing back chair for a brilliantly bonkers afternoon.

TIGER HORNSBY

You can’t have a night out in Newcastle without a stop at the iconic Quayside – the beating heart of the city’s bar scene. And if you fancy partying like a local, you’ve got to plan in a visit to Tiger Hornsby, packed with enough velvet, chandeliers and foliage to make a WAG jealous. Cocktails come with a sense of humour here – try Nan’s Nightcap, a boozy Nutella milkshake or The Punisher, a whiskey and passion fruit cocktail topped with half a flaming passion fruit, and food menu looks like something off a food blogger’s feed. Weekend DJs and weeknight soul sessions give this popular bar a really cool vibe and draws an eclectic crowd of locals and tourists alike.

LOLA JEANS

For a taste of true North East glamour, it has to be Lola Jeans. One of three venues in the area, the Newcastle bar comes with soft boudoir-inspired interiors, opulent chandeliers and murals hand-painted by local artists for a laid back vibe you’ll love. The extensive Prohibition era-inspired cocktails are just as pretty – topped with edible flowers, sugared fruits and botanical garnishes. The food is a bit of a contrast, with tacos, chilli and even a burger finished with pickled onion Monster Munch, but it’s all served with style. With live music in the week and occasional food and drink festivals on a weekend, it’s a treat for all the senses.

CROWN POSADA

If you’re up for a couple of afternoon drinks and like your ale accompanied by a gramophone serenade, head over to Crown Posada, the city’s second oldest pub. With its dark wood panelling, mirrors and stained glass partitions, this cosy pub is a real-ale lovers’ dream. Stocking a range of big names and small local breweries’ beers, it regularly features in the CAMRA best pub guide. Daytime drinks are a chilled out affair, with good pub grub like burgers and fish and chips to keep you going. It gets a lot busier in the evenings, with a diverse, lively crowd, so get in early to bag your seat.

OLD GEORGE INN

If you want to stick with a cosy pub vibe, you can’t go far wrong with the Old George Inn. Another of Newcastle’s oldest pubs, the Old George is in a relatively quiet part of the city centre. It may not be the cheapest, but it’s a good place to sit and chat, with plenty of comfortable places to sit back and enjoy a few cocktails with friends. Whether it’s a White Russian or one of their ‘seven deadly gins’, there’s plenty of choice, from traditional to off the wall. While you’re there, it’s worth looking around the walls of this 17th century bar to take in what it might have been like back when it first opened.

And when you’re finished dancing into the night, rest your head at Roomzzz Newcastle City and choose from 14 studios in our boutique hotel in Newcastle. Sore heads will love our complimentary Grab n Go breakfast in the morning and bean to cup coffee available 24/7.