It’s time to get ready for a Christmas filled with festive fun and friendly faces, especially since we’ve got a bit of making up to do after last year. And how better to get into the Christmas spirit than by grabbing your nearest and dearest and heading over to one of Liverpool’s cosy bars for a drink or two? We’ve rounded up the best spots in the city serving up a healthy dose of seasonal cheer and an abundance of festive cocktails. All you need to do is round up all your friends and family and throw yourself into that party spirit.
If we can’t afford to hit the slopes during the cold months, then we can at least put our feet up at Backyard and sip on their ski-inspired cocktails, including one named ‘Get Piste’ and one dedicated to stupid sexy Flanders off of ‘The Simpsons’. The ‘Hidey-ho-ho-ho-neighbourino’ cocktail has become the talk of the town and features the likes of gin, apricot, Crème de Mure, blackberry, lemon, pomegranate and bitters. Plus, you can tuck into slices of Detroit-style pizzas whilst cosying up in one of Backyard’s three winter-clad huts with a drink in hand, or why not add some extra ski style to your night by ordering a shot ski?
Titanic Hotel has set the bar high for festive tipples this year with a dedicated Christmas cocktail menu comprising of five classic cocktails that have been given a Christmas glow-up. From the Mrs Claus which has core ingredients of orange gin, Grand Marnier and cranberry juice, to the Festive Old Fashioned which packs a punch with Rumbullion, Christmas Spices, orange, bitters and Goslings 151. The Rum Bar at the Titantic Hotel is the perfect spot to pull up a chair, sip on a festive tipple and get into the holiday spirit.
Titanic Hotel Liverpool, Stanley Dock, Regent Road, L3 0AN
Royal Albert Dock’s resident Italian restaurant, Gusto, knows how to do things in style, and their Christmas twist on the espresso martini makes it the perfect Instagram-worthy tipple. Their Gingerbread Espresso Martini is made with Tia Maria, gingerbread syrup, Absolut vanilla vodka, espresso, a sprinkle of cinnamon dust and garnished with a gingerbread man. Better still, you can enjoy those chocolate gold coins before Christmas Day as one of Gusto’s festive cocktails gives a nod to that stocking staple by creating the ‘Chocolate Gold Fashioned’.
Bringing ski village vibes to Liverpool ONE, guests can book out their very own private hut at Bar Hütte for drinks and karaoke fun. Not only that, but it’s the perfect excuse to escape the chill, too, with some fantastic festive-themed drinks including hot gin, mulled wine and Irish hot chocolates on offer. Soak up the Christmassy atmosphere and try one of the bar’s famous festival cocktails that is the ‘Bombardino’, which is provided complimentary for all hutte bookings. A combination of hot rum and eggnog topped with whipped cream and cinnamon, this creation is essentially Christmas in a cup.
You can’t deny that Christmas means chocolate and surely a chocolatey cocktail is no exception. Maray’s festive cocktail creation known as ‘Barefoot to Dundee’ is a must try for chocolate lovers and centred around the beloved Christmas treat that is the Toblerone. Made with Baileys, gold rum, cacao, honey, almond milk and double cream; it’s a delicious digestif that provides quite the post meal sweet fix. Sip on one of these delectable drinks whilst in Maray’s wooden both looking out at the docks and you’ve got yourself a dreamy and festive set-up.
Maray, Unit 4, Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock, L3 4AD
Home to the largest rooftop bar in Liverpool, the popular Duke Street venue is pulling out all the stops to make this festive season one to remember. Serving Yuletide cheer during December, PINS Social Club is channelling Alpine Village vibes, with their huge programme of day-to-night themed events, décor and of course, festive cocktails. Choose from the likes of ‘Pick Me Up’- a blend of Absolut Vanilla vodka, Kahlua, Mozart white chocolate liqueur, espresso and salted caramel syrup- also described as a luxurious take on the classic espresso martini. For those in search of the feeling of being sat by the fire, PINS has also created the ‘S’mold Fashioned’ consisting of Havana 7yr, Licor 43, salted caramel syrup then topped with a toasted marshmallow. Sit back up on the roof terrace, sip one of these naughty but nice drinks and if you’re not feeling festive after we don’t know what will.
The Gun are going all out for their first Christmas at Albert Dock, with beautiful festive interiors including a Christmas tree and presents, and of course festive cocktails you won’t want to miss out on. Sip on the likes of ‘The Gunslinger’, a winter tiki style punch with dark rum, amaretto, pineapple, citrus and cream soda, or perhaps the ‘Lotus Russian’ is more your tipple of choice as it is a boozy Biscoff concoction blended with Absolut vanilla vodka, Biscoff, coffee and cream.
The One O’Clock Gun, Unit 3A, Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock, L3 4AD
Revolución de Cuba’s festive cocktail menu offers something to cure every resting Grinch face. Select from their rum drenched Cuban Christmas Colada with coco real pineapple juice and oatmeal milk, or their fruity Love Daiq-tually with Havana club three-year old rum, pineapple, raspberry and passion fruit served with a shot of prosecco. Or feel like you’re on holiday with a cocktail where Christmas meets Cuba with their Spiced Pineapple Mojito, a blend of Havana club Cuban spiced rum, pineapple juice, gingerbread syrup, lime, and fresh mint, topped with ginger beer, garnished with a pineapple wedge.