Bath boasts an impressive variety of bars catering to every taste: from student haunts to tourist hotspots, gin and whisky bars to exclusive underground hideaways. With such fierce competition, what makes one bar truly stand out?
Surprisingly, my favourite bar in Bath—Kingsmead Street Bottle—shines not through gimmicks, but by offering a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for a laidback evening.
The crowd here tends to be young and lively, with many undergraduates and twenty-somethings choosing the Bottle as their go-to spot. The vibe is whimsical yet comfortable: drinks come in glasses adorned with the bar’s charming Street Bottle bear, there’s a Nintendo Wii tucked away downstairs, and during our visit, patrons were gearing up for a lively pub quiz.
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One handy tip: Kingsmead Street Bottle is card-only, so come prepared.
While locally famed for its quirky selection of IPAs, the bar’s menu is diverse, featuring wines, ciders, and an impressive range of liquors.
I kicked off my evening with a shot of amaretto mixed with cola (£6.50). The sweetness of the marzipan and almond notes was nicely balanced by the cola, making for a smooth start. Craving something stronger, I later ordered a double shot of amaretto with cola (£8.50), which packed a notable punch.
This sparked a fun debate among my companions: my partner warned against drinking amaretto neat, fearing it might be too strong, but our Italian friend revealed that in Italy, sipping amaretto straight is quite common.
Out of cultural respect, I took a straight shot of amaretto (£4.50). As a longtime cider fan from Somerset, drinking neat liquor was a new adventure for me—usually saved for festive times like Christmas with Advocaat.
It was a revelation: an initial wave of sweet almond and marzipan gave way to a strong, bitter aftertaste. Amaretto perfectly captures life’s bittersweet duality in a single sip.
Recently, Kingsmead Street Bottle has expanded its offerings to include food, focusing on perfect pub snacks like toasties, nachos, and cheesy garlic bread (£5.50).
The sourdough toastie arrived crisp with a generous mountain of melted cheddar cheese, and the garlic bread was equally indulgent. We shared the food and laughter as the hours slipped by until closing time.
A minor downside: there’s currently no takeaway option for food, so be prepared to finish your order on-site. Introducing takeaway boxes could be a smart next step for such an already exceptional bar.
In all, Kingsmead Street Bottle offers a chilled, friendly, and genuinely fun experience, earning its well-deserved spot among Bath’s best bars.
Opening hours are seven days a week: 2pm–10pm Monday to Wednesday, 2pm–11pm Thursday, and noon–11pm Friday to Saturday.