Wales


<p>This beautiful weather is the perfect excuse to raise a glass somewhere special — and Wales more than delivers. Think bars with knockout atmospheres, creative menus and interiors worth dressing up for. From sultry hideouts to flower-drenched hotspots, there’s a setting (and a serve) for every mood. So whether you&#8217;re out enjoying the sunshine or just counting down to that first sip of the evening, here are the bars to know, and the Welsh cocktails you absolutely shouldn&#8217;t miss.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dead-canary-cardiff"><a href="https://thedeadcanary.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dead Canary</a>, Cardiff</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Dead-Canary-1.png" alt="The Dead Canary, Cardiff" class="wp-image-6870" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Dead-Canary-1.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Dead-Canary-1-300x200.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Dead-Canary-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Dead-Canary-1-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>A hush-hush speakeasy steeped in sultry 1920s allure, this intimate hideout pairs moody candlelight and Art Deco flourishes with a cocktail menu that playfully riffs on the classics. Settle in and let the jazz-age vibes wash over you as each drink arrives with a touch of theatrical flair — every sip part of the show. The bar&#8217;s third instalment in its Welsh Storyteller cocktail series focuses solely on stories of water and coastlines –&nbsp;named <em>What We Do In The Shallows</em>.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Fishguard Iced Tea –&nbsp;strong and punchy, with Rémy Martin VSOP, Belle de Brillet pear, armagnac, calvados, yellow Chartreuse, sparkling Normandy apple wine.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-penny-cocktails-cardiff"><a href="https://pennycocktails.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penny Cocktails</a>, Cardiff</h2>



<p>A multi award-winning neighbourhood cocktail bar in the heart of Cardiff, Penny pairs Victorian emporium charm with a slick hip-hop edge. Behind its dark façade and swish of red velvet curtains lies a warmly lit space of flickering candles, where more than 300 bottles line the shelves and an extensive menu tempts at every turn. The team really know their stuff — but the magic happens when you hand over the reins. Tell them what you like (or don’t), and let them mix something bespoke that’ll likely outshine anything you had in mind.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Miss Cigarette –&nbsp;rich and smoky, with QuiQuiRiQui mezcal, Sipello, miso Disaronno, chocolate and coffee.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forbidden-florist-haverfordwest"><a href="https://forbiddenflorist.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forbidden Florist</a>, Haverfordwest</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Forbidden-Florist.png" alt="Forbidden Florist, Haverfordwest" class="wp-image-6873" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Forbidden-Florist.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Forbidden-Florist-300x200.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Forbidden-Florist-1024x683.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Forbidden-Florist-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Forbidden Florist is a luxe, artisan bar and restaurant made for levelling up your next Saturday night out with the girls. Best known for its decadent (and bottomless) weekend brunches, it also serves up an imaginative cocktail list and a refined dining experience built around exotic, seasonal flavours — each dish and drink designed to surprise and delight. The setting is just as much of a draw: sweeping floral arches, birdcage-style booths and endless Instagram worthy corners. It’s maximalist, mood-lifting and just the right amount of extra.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Violet Bramble –&nbsp;sweet and floral, with gin, lemon, honey and violet liqueur.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vault-33-wrexham"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/vault33wrexham/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vault 33</a>, Wrexham</h2>



<p>Tucked inside a former bank, Vault 33 is an intimate little hideaway serving seriously good craft cocktails in a cool, modern-meets-industrial setting. It’s very much a word-of-mouth favourite, but we&#8217;re feeling generous. There&#8217;s always live music on the cards, so it’s worth checking socials before you go to see who’s playing. Time it right, and you’ve got the perfect recipe: great drinks, great tunes and a spot that still feels like a bit of a find.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Banoffee Martini –&nbsp;indulgent and creamy, with vodka, banana and toffee liqueurs, cream and chocolate dusting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-sorting-room-bar-amp-lounge-parkgate-hotel-cardiff"><a href="https://www.theparkgatehotel.wales/home/restaurant-bar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sorting Room Bar &amp; Lounge</a>, Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/The-Sorting-Room-Bar-Lounge-Parkgate-Hotel-Cardiff.png" alt="The Sorting Room Bar &amp; Lounge, Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff" class="wp-image-6875" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/The-Sorting-Room-Bar-Lounge-Parkgate-Hotel-Cardiff.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/The-Sorting-Room-Bar-Lounge-Parkgate-Hotel-Cardiff-300x200.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/The-Sorting-Room-Bar-Lounge-Parkgate-Hotel-Cardiff-1024x683.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/The-Sorting-Room-Bar-Lounge-Parkgate-Hotel-Cardiff-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Inside one of the capital&#8217;s most coveted hotel lies a masterclass in quiet luxury: a handsome bar with elegant bench seating, gleaming marble finishes and a cocktail menu that gently whispers “just one more” until you inevitably cave (we certainly did).</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Dragon&#8217;s Fire (Tân y Ddraig) – sweet and strong, with Dutch Barn raspberry vodka, Dutch Barn dark cherry vodka, Penderyn peated whisky, lime and bitters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tipsy-owl-pontypridd"><a href="https://sites.google.com/tipsyowl.uk/tipsyowl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tipsy Owl</a>, Pontypridd</h2>



<p>Tipsy Owl in Pontypridd has previously scooped the title of best cocktail bar in the country, which frankly tells you everything you need to know. This independent spot serves up inventive cocktails inspired by the myths, legends and landmarks of Rhondda Cynon Taf (cool, right?), giving every drink a proper sense of place. Behind the bar, skilled mixologists shake up a storm using locally sourced ingredients, for you to savour alongside sweet and savoury grazing boards from nearby Little Pickers Grazing Co.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: The Big Spender –&nbsp;sweet and refreshing, with green Chartreuse, Maraschino Originale, lime juice, sugar, prosecco and edible shimmer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lab-22-cardiff"><a href="https://www.lab22cardiff.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lab 22</a>, Cardiff</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Lab-22-1.png" alt="Lab 22, Cardiff" class="wp-image-6876" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Lab-22-1.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Lab-22-1-300x200.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Lab-22-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Lab-22-1-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Alchemists shake up wildly inventive cocktails in this sleek, low-lit den – and with a Best Cocktail Menu win at The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2021, they’re clearly doing something very, very right. The atmosphere’s just as strong: polished, buzzy and always in demand, making it a go-to for city-centre visitors and a firm favourite with locals in&nbsp;Cardiff.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Core Principle – bright and effervescent, with Chase rhubarb vodka, Lillet Blanc, Welsh apple soda and prosecco.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-twelve-tenby"><a href="https://twelvetenby.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twelve</a>, Tenby</h2>



<p>Twelve is a sleek, on-trend wine bar and restaurant set within Tenby’s lively food hub, The Mews on Upper Frog Street, pairing a carefully curated wine list with a crowd-pleasing menu and a concise cocktail selection of signature serves designed to suit every palate. Come summer, the terrace is where it&#8217;s at  effortlessly Mediterranean in feel, with cascading greenery and twinkling lights setting the scene for long, lingering evenings. </p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Limoncello Spritz –&nbsp;simple and irresistible, with Limoncello, Invino prosecco and soda.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-altitude-28-swansea"><a href="https://www.altitude28skybar.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Altitude 28</a>, Swansea</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Altitude-28.png" alt="Altitude 28, Swansea" class="wp-image-6877" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Altitude-28.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Altitude-28-300x200.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Altitude-28-1024x683.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wales/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/05/Altitude-28-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Bringing a touch of cosmopolitan glamour to the Maritime Quarter, Altitude 28 is perched high above Swansea Bay with some of the best views of the city. Floor-to-ceiling windows keep the coastline firmly in sight, while the interiors strike that sweet spot between sleek and sociable — ideal for everything from low-key post-work drinks to full-blown birthday celebrations.</p>



<p>It’s an all-day kind of destination, but come evening, the cocktails really come into their own. Expect a polished menu of crowd-pleasers and signature serves, all best enjoyed as the sun dips over the bay and the whole place takes on that golden-hour glow.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Aperol Sanrgia –&nbsp;citrussy and vibrant, with prosecco, Aperol, orange juice, fruit, mint and club soda.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nightshade-cardiff"><a href="https://pasturerestaurant.com/locations/nightshade-bar-cardiff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nightshade</a>, Cardiff</h2>



<p>Tucked beneath Cardiff’s much-loved steak spot,&nbsp;<a href="https://pasturerestaurant.com/locations/pasture-cardiff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pasture</a>, this speakeasy-style basement bar oozes old-school glamour. Take it from us, slip on your highest ‘taxi shoes’, head downstairs and prepare to settle in for the night in one of the super-plush and very lush leather booths, all under the glow of a glittering crystal chandelier. It’s all low lighting, velvet-draped corners and just enough mischief in the air — cocktails are rich, punchy and dangerously easy to keep ordering.</p>



<p><strong>What to order</strong>: Jude&#8217;s Beef – savoury and smooth, with beef fat-washed spiced rum, coffee liqueur and walnut bitters.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-for-another">TIME FOR ANOTHER?</h2>



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Shaken or stirred: Wales’ best bars and cocktails for the summer

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