Best Cocktail Bars in Newcastle

Our group of three had an enjoyable Christmas Eve brunch. It’s a great vibe with the high ceilings, but never seems to get uncomfortably loud. Food and cocktails were tasty, and thanks for bringing back the hush puppies!

The food, service and ambience were fine. Being a John Howie restaurant, we weren’t surprised by the high prices. Two cocktails, two starters, two steaks with no sides, and two glasses of wine were almost $300. We were surprised, however, at the 20% service charge on the bill that goes entirely to John Howie. Their explanation was that they pay their staff well and give them benefits. There was a typical place for a tip on the check. Had we added a typical 20% tip, we would have paid over $100 in add-ons plus $35 tax which included tax on the service charge. This certainly put a damper on our enthusiasm for this restaurant. $400+ for the above listed food is certainly not worth it.

Wonderful spot for a rainy evening cocktail and bite. Superb staff relaxed w time to tell us of their wonderful offerings.

I was pleased with my soup/sandwich/salad lunch today. All three were delicious. I am still trying to adjust to restaurant prices post covid and post inflation. In the context of these changes, the price seemed reasonable. Service was GREAT. I LOVE that they offer seltzer water as an option to still water. I confess that I cannot hear well any restaurant, so I struggled to hear there as well. I would love to find a restaurant that understood the pleasure of quiet dining and would install fabric baffles from the ceiling or carpet to mitigate all the deafening impact of hard surfaces. If I do go out again though, I would consider coming back here.

Drinks were great, atmosphere fantastic , service a little dry