Cocktail barMicropub£FishpondsMon-Fri 17:00-22:00; Sat 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-16:30
Snuffy Jack's pours gravity-served casks in a Fishponds micropub named after a snuff-mill ghost, east Bristol's destination for proper quiet ale drinking.
Signature drink: A gravity-served stout from the cool room
Food: Cheese boards and pork pies
Tip: It is a bus ride from the centre and worth it; card behind the bar, cheese board on the counter, no screens anywhere.
Cocktail barDive bar£Old CityEvenings until late, gigs most weekends
The Mothers' Ruin is Bristol's beloved St Nicholas Street dive, a gin-named grotto of band stickers, late pints and impromptu gigs upstairs.
Signature drink: A gin in the sticker-covered back room
Food: None
Tip: Seamus O'Donnell's next door swaps folk sessions for the Ruin's indie noise; crawl both in one night.
IrishIrish pub£Old CityDaily from afternoon until late; folk sessions weekly
Seamus O'Donnell's keeps trad sessions and slow-poured Guinness alive on St Nicholas Street, the Irish snug of Bristol's Old City bar crawl.
Signature drink: A properly settled Guinness during the session
Food: None
Tip: Squeeze in for the weekly folk session and mind the low beams; it is cash-friendly and conversation-first.
Cocktail barCocktail bar££MontpelierEvenings Tue-Sun; cocktails until late
Filthy XIII shakes award-listed cocktails behind a scruffy Cheltenham Road front, the Montpelier bar Bristol's bartenders drink at after shifts.
Signature drink: A bartender's-choice twist from the award-listed menu
Food: None
Tip: Trust the bartender's choice over the printed list; the room is small so weekend groups should come early.
Cocktail barCider taproom££St PhilipsFri 16:30-22:30; Sat 13:00-22:30
The Cider Box ferments and pours craft cider under a railway arch on Silverthorne Lane in Bristol, the weekend-only taproom for the orchard-curious.
Signature drink: A tasting flight of craft and traditional ciders
Food: Cheese pairings and events
Tip: It only opens Friday and Saturday; book a tasting flight or cheese pairing session rather than just turning up thirsty.
Cocktail barCider pub£HarboursideDaily lunchtime until 23:00; ciders chalked on the board
The Orchard Inn pours a wall of boxed farmhouse ciders in a Spike Island backstreet local, a few minutes from Bristol's SS Great Britain and its crowds.
Signature drink: One of about 20 boxed farmhouse ciders
Food: Rolls and simple lunches
Tip: Order a filled roll and a cloudy half, then drink it on the pavement bench with the shipyard crowd.