Discover Newcastle restaurants with excellent cocktail lists
Newcastle is becoming known for its growing collection of small bars serving up excellent cocktails. But what if you're after a delicious meal and a quality cocktail?
We’ve got you well and truly sorted with our guide to the Newcastle restaurants with the best cocktails. Cheers!
Âpé Chilean Nikkei Restaurant
Brought to you by the experienced team behind Nagisa and Susuru, Âpé’s Japanese-inspired cocktail menu has been curated by Chris Wilson from The Koutetsu, so you know it’s going to be a smashing one! There's even a whole section dedicated to different Negroni flavours – say no more.
Where: 16 The Boardwalk, 1 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle
Bartholomew's
Sitting within the old Methodist Mission building, this 1920s-inspired bar boasts an impressive collection of whisky and a sophisticated cocktail menu. While you might think of Bartholomew's as a place to pop in for a drink, make sure you peruse the restaurant's food menu (featuring bar snacks, approachable mains, and $20 lunch specials) so you can dine and drink.
Where: 145 King St, Newcastle
Bistro Penny
Joel Humphrey’s long-awaited French-inspired restaurant is brimming with character (and flavour) and comes complete with four signature cocktail creations; Penny’s paper plane, tomato margarita, pistachio sour, and chilcano.
Where: 8/10 Bolton St, Newcastle
Blanca
The first of its kind for Newcastle, Blanca invites you in for a European summer dining experience at the harbourside Honeysuckle precinct. The white-washed space with plenty of timber accents features share plates like burek and grilled octopus, and summery cocktails. It’s about sharing multiple courses, drinking, celebrating, and lingering with your loved ones.
Where: 2/11 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle
Earp Distilling Co.
Run by one of Newcastle's oldest family businesses, Earp Distilling Co. produces gin, rum and limoncello onsite at its Carrington distillery. Naturally, the cocktail offering shows off their premium spirits, with plenty of twists on your favourites, but the food menu isn't to be missed – think share plates like gruyère croquettes, cured ocean trout, and crocodile bites.
Where: 41 Darling St, Carrington
Flotilla
Slightly hidden away in Wickham, Flotilla is a foodie's dream. Flotilla updates its menu every six weeks, and focuses on using Australian produce to craft its exquisite dishes whenever possible. Not only is Flotilla a hotspot for the food-obsessed, but a mecca for cocktail lovers – think expertly-crafted seasonal concoctions that are a lovely companion to the food menu. The bar staff know their way around a good martini too!
Where: 9 Albert St, Wickham
Ginger Megs
Concealed down an unexpected alley on King Street, wandering into Ginger Meg’s feels like you’ve stumbled into a Melbourne laneway bar but with a distinctly Novocastrian identity. Dining at Ginger Meg's is an adventure for the senses, from the decor to the tasty Pan-Asian menu, to the cocktail list designed to match the restaurant's flavours perfectly.
Where: 212 King St, Newcastle
The Happy Wombat
Whilst the name might sound more like a cute kids' TV show, The Happy Wombat on Hunter Street is much better suited to the big kids. Known for its quality craft beer and tasty bites, the restaurant and bar also offers a great selection of signature cocktails, plus all the classics.
Where: 575 Hunter St, Newcastle West
In Forno
In Forno's menu is staggering in size, but don't let that deter you – it just means more Italian goodness to choose from. The cocktail list is similarly comprehensive, with a huge selection of classics and signature creations. There's a cocktail to suit any mood – right now, we're in the mood for a lavender gin lemonade.
Where: 79-81 Beaumont St, Hamilton | 36 Pearson St, Charlestown
Jana Restaurant & Bar
It’s no surprise to hear that QT Newcastle’s restaurant, Jana Restaurant and Bar, is not only serving up some of the most top-tier dishes in the city, but also a selection of fine cocktails. There's even an extensive list of non-alcoholic cocktails made with Lyre's Spirit Co alcohol-free spirits. Need a hand deciding which drink to go for? Ask the friendly staff for a hand and they'll be happy to help you out.
Where: 185 Hunter St, Newcastle
Light Years Asian Diner
Created from a desire to bring a fun, modern Asian dining experience to the east coast of Australia, Light Years Asian Diner boasts a menu full of bold, colourful, and punchy flavours. We recommend ordering the share option so you can experience as much of the menu, and cocktails, as possible – then sit back and soak up the tropical party vibes.
Where: 5-7 Darby St, Newcastle
Lock’s Paddock
The menu at Lock's Paddock is all about food that's meant to be shared. However, when it comes to the cocktails, we reckon you can keep them all to yourself. This atmospheric Watt Street restaurant is a lovely spot to really settle in for the night over a delicious meal and good conversation, plus an excellent margarita.
Where: 16 Watt St, Newcastle
LOLAs
Located on the corner of Darby and Bull Streets in Cooks Hill, LOLAs is a cafe by day and bar and restaurant by night. The food focuses on native Australian ingredients and the signature cocktail menu has a whole bunch of unique offerings including the Thai spicy marg, red centre, and ooray spritz.
Where: 171 Darby St, Cooks Hill
Market St Basement
Market St Basement has long been an inner-city favourite for Italian fare. While we love dining here for the pizza and pasta, we can't go past the restaurant's fantastic cocktails to go with our Italian feast. Not too hungry? Simply head in for some antipasto and a cocktail pair with it. The limoncella sorbita and the Not So Charlie (with sloe gin and lychee liqueur) are fab.
Where: 2/2 Market St, Newcastle
Martha
Since its opening in November 2023, Martha continues to effortlessly blend sophistication with the laid-back charm of a waterfront locale. Whether it’s for casual lunches, celebratory dinners, or evening cocktails – Martha is worth a visit.
Where: The Parade, Belmont
7 Cutz Steakhouse
One of Honeysuckle’s newest additions, 7 Cutz Steakhouse, may be well known for their steaks, but their dessert cocktails are well and truly worth a mention on their own. Our pick? The grasshopper complete with white chocolate, creme de menthe, and cream.
Where: 33 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle
MEET
Located in the heart of the CBD, MEET offers a New York-style bar on one side and warehouse-style restaurant space on the other. When it comes to the menu, Brazilian and South American flavours are the primary influence, and the same goes across the cocktail list.
Where: 9 Darby St, Newcastle
Merewether Surfhouse
Eating at the restaurant on the top floor of Merewether Surfhouse is wow-inducing from every angle – the views, the food, the drinks, and the service. Take in those coastal vistas as you sip on a selection of spritzes, classics with a Surfhouse twist, or a cocktail from the dedicated martini, sour, and margarita sections of the menu.
Where: 5 Henderson Pde, Merewether
MIINE
The New York-inspired Italian fusion restaurant on Darby Street has quickly become known for their share-style menu and their signature cocktails. Standouts include the exclusion list, mister marmalade, and passions of the fruit.
Where: 13 Darby St, Newcastle
Nagisa
This contemporary Japanese restaurant in Honeysuckle doesn’t just offer divine flavours when it comes to the food menu. Make sure you order from the cocktail list, which features classics with a Japanese twist. Expect a Japanese smoking old fashioned, a passionfruit sour, and the cherry blossom.
Where: 2/1 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle
OH MY PAPA
OH MY PAPA is an exploration of all the flavours that make Asian cuisines fantastic, paired with cheeky cocktails and super friendly service. Both visually appealing and delicious on the palate, each cocktail has its own little Oh My Papa twist – whether it's the presentation or flavour combinations, each packs its own punch.
Where: East End Village, 169-185 Hunter St, Newcastle
Parry Street Garage
In the back streets of Newcastle West sits long-time local favourite Parry Street Garage. Housed in a former mechanic's garage, this industrial-chic restaurant is always warm and inviting. The cocktails are great for pairing with the Italian menu, spanning the classics to the signature Parry Street collection.
Where: 106 Parry St, Newcastle West
Peregrin
Perched atop The Beach Hotel sits Peregrin, a sophisticated restaurant offering modern Australian cuisine with global influences. While it's a great spot to dine any time of the day, the views over Newcastle's coastline as dusk descends are fantastic. The only thing that could make your meal better? A cocktail, of course.
Where: Level 1/99 Frederick St, Merewether
Roundhouse Restaurant
Situated atop Newcastle’s first five-star hotel, Crystalbrook Kingsley, Roundhouse Restaurant utilises the equally impressive space, Romberg’s, just across the way to offer some of Newcastle’s most unique cocktails. There are plenty of native ingredients and lots of interesting flavour combinations, so you can always expect the unexpected.
Where: Level 9/282 King St, Newcastle
Signal Box
Located in one of Newcastle’s most iconic buildings, Signal Box is an upmarket bistro-style dining experience by the harbour. With a focus on seafood, Signal Box offers up innovative, modern Australian cuisine. There's a quality drinks list to match, featuring cocktails that continue the summery, coastal vibe Signal Box is known for.
Where: 155 Wharf Rd, Newcastle
Urban Restaurant & Wine Bar
A boutique restaurant, and wine bar, Urban is your go-to for sophisticated European-inspired dining and quality drinks. While the wine list is excellent, the cocktails aren't to be missed either.
Where: 143 Darby St, Cooks Hill
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