Bristol’s best bars for the end of Dry January

Native Vine is a new wine bar and bottle shop in Redfield. It stocks over 250 different wines, served in bottles or by the glass. The wines are natural and biodynamic, and all handpicked by the knowledgeable team. The bar area is cosy and welcoming, and the staff are always happy to help recommend different options if you’re not sure what to go for. If you get peckish, there’s cheese, charcuterie boards and small plates to compliment the drinks menu. The chefs are passionate about sustainability, fermentation and preservation, with the ingredients all sourced locally. This place utilises foraged food wherever possible and reduces waste as much as possible. It champions food and drink that tells a story but above all, prioritises a simply delicious menu. The bar area is small and gets very bust at weekends, so we definitely recommend booking a table if you’re planning to visit.

If your preferred drink of choice is craft beer, then why not head over to The Strawberry Thief. This award-winning bar usually has around 50 local and international beers to choose from. It’s located in the heart of Bristol’s old town and the décor is cosy and inviting with small tables and intimate table service. The menu specialises in Belgian beer and changes depending on the seasons. From local brewers like Wiper and True, Deya and Good Chemistry, to rare and unusual international picks, the extensive menu has something for everyone. This unique little bar is definitely worthy of your first post-Dry Jan pint. 

Hyde and Co is one of Bristol’s first prohibition bars. Hidden in plain sight just off Clifton’s triangle, this cocktail bar is an experience from start to finish. The décor is inspired by the great New York cocktail bars and is dark, glamorous and intimate. The menu celebrates the weird, the wild and the unusual, specialising in extraordinary cocktails and encouraging customers to try something new. The menu is full of abstract imagery and interesting quotes, leaving you enthralled and wanting to try more. Also, if whisky is your drink of choice, it has a huge range behind the bar and even has a whisky tasting experience on offer. Described as Bristol’s best kept secret, this bar won’t leave you disappointed. 

If you like cider, then you have to try The Apple. This is Bristol’s most renowned cider bar. It’s a two-floor pub on a beautifully converted Dutch barge, moored at the end of King Street. Below deck there’s a cosy area with a bar surrounded by comfy sofas. There’s also a second bar upstairs and an outside area with huge umbrellas and heaters. It supports local cider farmers from all over Somerset by bringing a range of traditional farmhouse ciders to the heart of Bristol, with a huge range of dry to sweet to choose from. The strongest on the menu is the Old Bristolian, which comes in at a whopping 8.4 per cent and has become famous in the Bristol cider world; it’s only served in halves due to its strength. 

For the best gin in Bristol then definitely head to Bristol Distilling Company. Located in Bedminster, this brewery and taproom serves its own gin, distilled right here in Bristol. Gin 77 was given its name due to the fact that the old Bristol Distilling Company was destroyed during the blitz so for 77 years Bristol was without its own gin distiller. The brewery now focuses on taking the vital elements from traditional distilling but bringing a contemporary twist to the rest, not being scared to go off the beaten track and try something new. The taproom is walk-ins only and serves all of the different flavours of gin, from traditional London dry, to dark fruit. Bertha’s pizza is also here serving delicious pizzas too, in case you get hungry.