The 10 Best Bars in Newcastle upon Tyne

Proudly independent, The Cluny is a bar and kitchen by day and a small music venue by night. The Cluny’s bar is home to one of the city’s finest selections of world lagers and ales, and its venues have played host to the likes of Mumford & Sons, The Futureheads and Arctic Monkeys. Finding its home in a former flax spinning factory, The Cluny is the only Newcastle bar to regularly feature in World’s Best Bars Top 100.

One of the most popular bars in Newcastle, Alvinos is an award-winning cocktail and craft beer joint. This quirky haunt houses a stellar beer list, perfect for sipping while challenging your mates on their pinball machines and foosball tables.

Music fans, listen up. Almost hidden away aside redbrick arches of Glasshouse Bridge, The Tyne Bar is one of Newcastle’s best kept secrets. Proudly serving a range of locally brewed craft ales and international lagers, The Tyne has also been providing free live music to the city for more than 30 years and houses a free jukebox.

Crown Posada is the second oldest pub in Newcastle. Its charming Victorian décor and original stained glass windows complement its regularly rotating real ale selection perfectly, so head here and kick back while listening to their 1941 record player.

Nestled in the up-and-coming area of Jesmond, As You Like It is a bar and restaurant set across three floors and a garden terrace. This eclectic bar is one of the quirkiest in the city, with stripped-back walls, odd furniture and random trinkets all over. As You Like It’s versatility means you can head here whether you’re looking for a private meal or to sip cocktails and party in to the early hours.

From the same team behind As You Like It, Florita’s is a cocktail bar with a distinct tropical theme. Their cocktail list – with quirks aplenty – offers Mojitos inspired by Cuba, sharing cocktails in treasure troves and one of our favourites, the Cheeky Tiki Punch.

One of the more elegant cocktail bars in the city, Lola Jeans combines sophistication and quirkiness effortlessly. Parquet flooring, commissioned walls and dazzling chandeliers make their latest opening so aesthetically enticing, with their contemporary food menu just the cherry on the top.

The Bridge Tavern is unique in the sense that it offers ales from its on-site micro-brewery. This pub’s history dates back almost two centuries, with the original building demolished in 1925 and rebuilt to make way for the Tyne Bridge. The Tavern also boasts a food menu consisting of British classics.

Is it gin o’clock yet? Housed within a former printworks, Bealim House is a gin distillery and bar. This industrial-feel bar and eatery is the city’s only working gin still, with The Newcastle Gin Company operating in-house. Bealim House also offers a seasonal food menu and is famous for its tapas.

Another of the city’s popular cocktail bars, Livello is a late-night venue perfect for dancing the night away. Amongst other things, Livello offer seasonal cocktail menus, masterclasses, regular events and resident DJs.