Bristol's 5 best secret bars

Gloria was (and still is) known for throwing the wildest parties and crafting the best drinks – including her famous Flaming Zombie cocktail which David Bowie claimed was like drinking rock in a glass.

Located in Bristol City Centre, Blame Gloria’s striking floral exterior gives you just a taste of what to expect inside. This secret, underground bar, illuminated by neon lights, offers a carefully curated cocktail menu and a playlist guaranteed to get you dancing and singing along by the end of the night.

The bar hosts a number of cool events, including ABBA and Power Ballads-themed bottomless brunches, perfect for all celebrations and get-togethers.

With a reputation for some of the best drinks in Bristol, The Milk Thistle is a prohibition-style bar perfect for any occasion - including casual drinks, decadent dinner parties, or cocktail and spirit masterclasses.

Hidden in plain sight, this secret speakeasy bar is spread across four floors in one of the most spectacular historic buildings in Bristol’s city centre. The Milk Thistle is a haven of stunning architecture, eclectic décor, and award-winning cocktails.

The relaxed atmosphere and exceptional drinks, combined with top-notch service from some of Bristol’s best bartenders, make The Milk Thistle a great bar if you’re searching for a secret hideaway.

Bristol is full of hidden gems, but this bar may just be the most mysterious and secret of them all. From the outside, this bar looks like an antique bookshop, but The Library is a secret 1920s-inspired cocktail bar. Think dark academia – oozing sophistication with dark wood-panelled walls, brass features, and low-lit lamps.

To enter the bar, visitors must ring a bell to be let in and then find the secret entrance behind a bookcase brimming with hardback books.

The Library is an exciting bar to visit for some pre/post-dinner cocktails, or for a quiet few drinks with friends.

On Portland Square, head downstairs to find one of Bristol’s livelier secret bars: Cosies!

Set in former wine cellars, Cosies! is a top choice if you’re looking to dance the night away under neon lights to DJ tracks that are amplified by the brick-vaulted underground setting.

Favouring reggae and dub tunes, the bar has become a huge name on the Bristol nightlife scene with its knack for hosting huge DJ names, particularly among students and fans of Bristol’s underground music scene, despite its secret location.

Entry is usually under a fiver and the busy bar goes late, it’s never a quiet night at Cosies!

Hidden behind what might look like a plain black door tucked away down a lane towards Clifton Down train station, lies a secret, James Bond-inspired cocktail bar.

Decked with Union Jack pillows, leather sofas, an old-fashioned piano, and low-lit lamps, Her Majesty’s Secret Service offers a cosy yet sophisticated vibe in an old-school speakeasy style setting.

As well as celebrating all things James Bond, the bar also loves to celebrate cocktails. Serving up a carefully curated selection of delicious cocktails with occasional outrageous – but unpretentious – twist, with all the classics available too, of course.