Psst. We’ve got some more secrets for you! We’ve already tracked down the secret bars of Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. So now – it’s Newcastle’s turn.
Sometimes the best bars aren’t always the most well-known ones, which is why we’ve picked out the toon’s best hidden drinking dens. From lively speakeasys to American-themed dive bars, you’ll discover the best secret bars in Newcastle.
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Viceroy
If you know Newcastle, you’ll probably have heard of the effortlessly cool Pleased To Meet You on Newcastle’s High Bridge. Well, hidden underneath this popular drinking hotspot is a luxurious basement cocktail and tonic bar, Viceroy.
Pleased to Meet You’s exotic little sister, Viceroy presents a menu of exquisite cocktails and tonics inspired by ingredients, recipes and techniques from colonial ports across the globe. Order a Tokyo Plum Sour (think whisky sour with an oriental fruity twist) or a pear and banana mojito.
The bar’s unique mixology, coupled with its extensive selection of gins, make it one of the best cocktail bars in Newcastle.
With weekend DJs playing the best in upbeat house and disco, the Viceroy is perfect for that late night, cocktail-fuelled candlelit affair - in other words, a date!
Where: 41-45 High Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1EW.
Billy Bootleggers
Graffiti-filled walls, dark cubbyhole corners and bourbon whiskey by the jar - Billy Bootleggers is a dive bar in its truest sense.
While Billy Bootleggers bartenders serve up all manner of drinks, bourbon is the speciality here. And boy are there an eclectic mix of flavours to sample – from chocolate to peanut, raspberry and vanilla. If you’re brave, order the famous pickleback - a bourbon shot chased by a shot of pickle brine (supposedly it neutralises the burn!).
If whiskey ain’t your thing, the bar boasts an extensive cocktail menu, as well as the usual wine and beer. Hungry? You can chow down on gourmet hot dogs, dripping fries and spicy chicken wings.
And the best bit about Billy Bootleggers? The free live music of course - there’s a live band every night of the week! So, sit back, order the homemade apple pie moonshine and enjoy some rhythm and blues.
Where: 27-29 Nelson Street, Newcastle City Centre, NE1 5AN
The Poison Cabinet
You have to knock on a secret prison door to get inside this swinging 1920s-style speakeasy bar. Hidden beneath Bierrex, a popular smokehouse restaurant, The Poison Cabinet is one of our favourite secret bars in Newcastle.
With a dark yet sophisticated vibe, it’s clear to see why this cocktail bar has proved so enticing. Open from Thursday to Saturday, this weekend night spot shakes up innovative and exciting cocktails without the high price tag.
The Poison Cabinet appeared in the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list (and was the highest positioned bar in the north east), where it was described as having a hipster vibe without the hipsters…sounds great to us!
Where: Poison Cabinet, 82 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 6JN
No. 28
This rustic looking hidden bar was winner of the Best Late Night Venue two years in a row. Located in central Newcastle, nestled above the iconic nineteenth century Grainger Market, you’d miss it if you didn’t know it was there.
This brick walled bar is decorated with fairy lights, plants and wall hangings, making it as ‘intagrammable’ as it is intimate. That, and the fact it’s open until 3am every single night, make it a great place to meet, eat and drink, whatever the occasion.
With an extensive list of cocktails – all £6.95 each – you’re bound to find your favourite. And if you don’t, the bartenders are happy to mix up something special for you!
Where: 28 Nelson St, Newcastle, NE1 5AN
All Seeing Eye
A ‘truly unique and out-of-sight’ venue with a stunning interior and innovative cocktail list, All Seeing Eye is a one of Newcastle’s best secret bars.
A grand venue with vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and gold foil walls, this is a bar like no other. All Seeing Eye sits above two of Newcastle’s nightlife hotspots – Blackie Boy and Perdu and is certainly worth a visit.
The cocktail menu, which begins like a storybook, is filled with magical references and boasts an array of spellbinding drinks. With original concoctions like the peppermint and pumpkin mojito and the squid ink margarita, you’ll want to sample more than one.
For something a little different, the bar also offers cocktail making masterclasses. You and your friends will have the bar to yourselves while being taught by some of the best bartenders in the city!
Where: 11 Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1UQ
Staying in Newcastle for the weekend? Find out more about the city by visiting our handy Newcastle guide. And remember to book an Advance ticket via our website or our Train Tickets app to enjoy zero booking fees.