Top 13 Bars in NewcastleGateshead

It is a well-known fact that NewcastleGateshead has a lively and vibrant nightlife. Whatever your preference, there is a bar to suit you. With new and exciting hotspots popping up all the time in Newcastle, you are never short of a new place to sip your cocktail, nurse a cold craft beer or pop open a bottle of prosecco. 

Whittling all the Newcastle and Gateshead bars down to a pithy top list is a challenge – but we have given it a go. We’ve created a list of 13 Bars in Newcastle that we think you really must check out when you next visit Newcastle.

If you think you know better – that’s alright with us! Email your recommendations to info@ngi.org.uk and we will add a “Your Choice” top bar or two to the best bevvy of bars already listed.

You can find a guide to our top 13 pubs in Newcastle and Gateshead here too.  

Located right in the heart of the city, Banyan is perfectly positioned right next to Grey's Monument and it is hard to pass by without being tempted to go into the bar. The unique and eye catching interior draws you in and the great deals and delicious cocktails mean you are bound to stay in the bar for maybe one too many! The bar oozes personality and captures the spirit of Newcastle perfectly. 

The Hudson is the stylish hotel bar at The County. Complete with an intimate pavement cafe as well as sophisticated indoor bar, The Hudson is a great spot for post-work cocktails or starting your long-awaited city break in Newcastle.

97 & Social is a Newcastle bar on leafy Osbourne Road on the edge of the city centre. It is one of the many popular bars situated on the go-to social hub in nearby suburb, Jesmond. 97 & Social has a creative cocktail menu, a friendly vibe and, if you feeling like spicing up an traditional Afternoon Tea – you can even indulge in a signature Tipsy Tea and sip your exotic cocktail from the finest of china! Choose from indoor or outdoor spaces and make sure to pop along for a Sunday Lunch one weekend as they are excellent! 

Step into a whimsical world; a tavern, a botanical garden, a rhum bar just up from the iconic Quayside. Colonel Porter’s decor can only be described as eclectic… when you have a vintage cocktail firmly in your hand or a tipple of rum on your lips, the menagerie of stuffed animal heads and assortment of colour, fabrics, lights and ornaments will whirl into a maelstrom of good vibes! Colonel Porter’s is a delight for all the senses. Enjoy regular live music and DJ events throughout the year at Colonel Porter’s which is a great stopping point in the middle of the well-trodden path between the bustling Quayside bar and restaurant offering and the many city centre bars. If you're planning on hiking up Dean Street, you'll deserve a well-earned stop off at Colonel Porter's along the way!

This swanky and sophisticated gin bar has transformed one of Newcastle’s most historic Grade II listed buildings into a contemporary bar with a difference. Pleased To Meet You is a popular choice situated on High Bridge; the cobbled street linking Grey Street with the Bigg Market is gaining momentum as a stylish food and drink hub.

Whatever you do, don’t just ask for a G 'N' T… at a time when Gin is THE go-to drink, revellers will still be blown away by the countless options of gin, tonic and complementary foliage. Fear not, with over 50 types of gin available, helpful staff are on hand to help you make the right choice. Gin not your thing? The bar also has a wide range of local and international craft beers, cocktails and cask ales.

Stunning décor, high-quality food, quieter booths and nooks for having a good catch up well as somewhere to get you ready for a night of dancing, Pleased To Meet You’s inviting atmosphere will see you return again and again

Alvino’s manages to be uber-trendy without being pretentious. Revellers can rock up in jeans and t-shirt or full on glad rags ready to go “out-out.” Offering a great range of craft beers as well as cocktails – Alvino’s caters for all tastes. Punters can enjoy their drinks across a number of floors, inside or out and stop off to play a game on the football table. Alvino’s promise the best music from local DJs to play you through your visit; lose yourself to every type of music genre from funk and soul to “minimal twinkling techno.” Intriguing!

For a quieter vibe, touch of class, a great conversation and a fish bowl of gin - pop into The Continental. A short walk from Newcastle Central Station, the gin bar's stylish yet relaxed atmosphere also lends itself to a post-work debrief or a pitstop for thirsty shoppers wanting to share some tasty bar snacks and catch up over a “fish bowl” of gin. The Continental is an upmarket option for a sophisticated night out in Newcastle and the staff are always on hand to top up your drink or talk you through their favourites on the menu.

A recent addition to Newcastle's buzzing nightlife and found just around the corner from the famous Bigg Market, Mother Mercy is an intimate and friendly bar beneath the city's most historic pub - the Old George. Descend the steps into this trendy, cellar bar and enjoy at seat service from knowledgeable staff who are passionate about their impressive wine list and upmarket cocktails.

By day, Ernest is a must-visit cafe for brunch and coffee catch ups but by night, the cafe bar takes it up a notch to set the mood for a night of music and cocktails. Ernest is found in Ouseburn which is often referred to as the creative quarter of Newcastle. Informal and inclusive, head down to Ernest for a cocktail, glass of wine or your pick of the bottled and draught beers. DJ sets create the atmosphere and there is space both inside and outside to while away the evening catching up with friends.  

Leila Lily's is a floral paradise at the bottom of Grey Street in the heart of Newcastle. The bar is an Instagrammer's dream and serves up a creative menu of cocktails against a slick backdrop of mid-century modern style and accompanied by live music.

Fancy a cocktail in a toilet? Hear us out... WC Newcastle is one of the city's hidden gems and certainly a quirky venue for a night out. WC is quite literally a bar in the historic site of Victorian public toilets underneath Newcastle's Bigg Market; one of the most bustling areas of Newcastle nightlife. Despite a rather 'functional' past, WC Newcastle has been transformed into a sophisticated wine and cocktail bar oozing class with dedicated evenings including Wine Wednesdays, live music events and more to add style to the intimate setting. Sip cocktails, survey an array of wines and enjoy live music with a select crowd.

For a lively slice of something different, head to Blues Cafe beside Newcastle's Bigg Market. The bar recently opened in Newcastle and describes itself as a 'rough and ready Mississippi blues bar'. Situated over two floors, soak up the heat of Southern Soul, sip cold beer and cocktails while vibing to live Rhythm and Blues. Sports fans are invited to Blues Cafe to share the big matches with other supporters too.  

Tucked away along a side street on the edge of Newcastle city centre is Horticulture - an excellent restaurant and bar that sparkles with fairy lights and disco balls. An informal space overflowing with plants and greenery, Horticulture is a great choice for anyone looking to have a chat after work or needs an intimate meeting point for a date. The small plates are fresh, flavour-filled and perfect accompaniments to the impressive cocktail menu. If Espresso Martinis are your thing then your mind will be a buzzing when you see their extensive choice of variations on the popular cocktail. As anyone in the know - Horticulture is a trendy, chilled and must-visit independent bar.