Nestled among the popular drinking joints of St Nicholas Street is a non-descript shopfront; its only defining feature a row of antique books. But the mysterious display is in fact the secret entrance to one of Bristol’s many speakeasy bars, that you’d have no idea was there unless, well, you knew.
The Library is the latest venture by steakhouse Mugshot, dubbed an “exclusive and private secret cocktail lounge.” It serves a range of high end cocktails alongside canape dishes, but the decor is by far its main selling point.
When you reach the secret venue on St Nicholas Street you are asked to ‘ring the brass bell under the copper lamp’ to say you have a reservation or, on weekends, to try and get a table. You are then buzzed in, and are immediately met with a huge wooden bookcase filled with antique books, a table and a vintage desk lamp.
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After a few moments, as predicted, the huge bookcase edges open. You are met by a member of staff and walked to your table. The bar is cosy and intimate, with aesthetic 1920s interior like something out of Peaky Blinders, red ambient lighting and leather sofas instead of chairs.
We are sat in the corner on two sofas with ‘The Library’ branded cushions, and our own vintage desk lamp to put our drinks. Straight away we are poured glasses of water, handed a small bowl of pretzels and told about the menu, including the “high-end style canape dishes,” champagne and caviar.
We order two cocktails from a hardback called ‘The Library,’ which has its own bookmark detailing what snacks are on offer. There is an eclectic mix of cocktails on the list of ‘specials’ and ‘classics’. We opt for a Mary Pickford (£10), made up of Plantation 3 Star rum, pineapple and grenadine, and Rosa Lux (£9), made up of No.3 gin, rosemary, lemon and seasonal fruit jam.
After a few moments two exquisitely presented drinks are brought to us in elegant glasses to match. I must admit I felt like James Bond sipping my cocktail in an exclusive bar with jazz playing in the background.
My drink is sweet, resembling a much posher piña colada, whilst the Rosa Lux is slightly bitter with a fruity foam and rosemary on top. The drinks match the venue in their refinement and fanciness, and are the perfect tipple before a meal at Mugshot.
We opt for the Kiwi Nation (£10) and Don Quixote (£12) next. The waiter warns us that the Don Quixote is not sweet and fruity like its picture may suggest. And he is right. Served in a tall glass with lots of ice, you feel the sharp hit of tequila immediately. The Kiwi Nation, on the other hand, is gloriously fruity with kiwi, lemon and grapefruit bitters, balanced with Rumbullion (a spiced rum) and Umeshu (a Japanese fruit liquor.)
The staff are very attentive - keen to find out whether we like the drinks and ask if we’d like any more. The bill arrives in its own leather case and we are buzzed out, back into ‘the library’ and out onto St Nicholas Street, as passers-by look confused as to where we just came from.
The Library is an ideal venue for those keen for an experience alongside their drink. The bar is one of Bristol’s most Instagrammable, and is definitely worth a visit if you are looking for something new to try. You can book a table on its website.
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