Liverpool's Best Hidden Bars for a Memorable Night Out

Liverpool nightlife is famous for its energy, but beyond the usual hotspots lies a world of hidden gems that offer something a bit more personal, a bit more surprising, and often, a lot more memorable. Whether you’re new to the city, returning for another term, or just looking to break from the usual routine, exploring Liverpool’s best hidden bars could be your new favourite thing.

These tucked-away venues offer more than just drinks. They create moments: the joy of discovery, the buzz of great conversation, and a sense of knowing something not everyone does. This guide has you covered if you’re after great cocktails, chill vibes, or clever conversation starters.

Liverpool's Best Hidden Bars

Ex-Directory: The Bar You Need to Call to Get Into

This bar doesn’t even have a sign. It’s hidden behind a classic red telephone box on Vernon Street. And no, you can’t just walk in. You need the code.

Ex-Directory gives you the full-on speakeasy experience. You step into the booth, dial a number, and if you’ve got it right, a door opens into one of the most stylish, mysterious bars in the city. Fully equipped with dim lighting, velvet seats, and cocktails that look like they belong in a theatre show. The drinks are creative, theatrical, and occasionally borderline magical.

It’s the kind of place that turns a casual night out into something of a mini adventure. If you’re the friend who loves to impress your group with the phrase “I know a place,” this is your moment in the spotlight.

Check out their Instagram page to get an even better look at the wonders that await inside!

Look out for the red phone box

Berry & Rye: A Slice of Jazz-Age Cool on Berry Street

You’ll probably walk past Berry & Rye the first time. Everyone does. There’s no sign—just a blacked-out window and a heavy door that looks like it hasn’t been used in years. But behind it? A moody, candlelit bar that feels like it’s straight out of a 1920s New York jazz club.

The playlist is smooth, the seating is cosy, and the drinks? Let’s just say they don’t hand you a menu. Instead, you tell the bartenders what you like—fruity, smoky, sour, whatever—and they whip up something that somehow feels like something that was made especially for you.

If you’re a group that’s not into loud, hectic nights but still want to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of a Liverpool night out, this is the kind of place you’ll find yourselves on a regular basis.

The Oracle: Cocktails and Magic Behind a Barber Shop

Yes, you read that right. A hidden cocktail bar behind a working barber shop on Duke Street. It’s called The Oracle, and stepping inside feels like entering a secret society.

Once you’re in, it’s all about the vintage décor, plush booths, and something you won’t find anywhere else: close-up magic. While you sip a smoky mezcal or a gin-based something-you-can’t-pronounce, a magician tours the premises wowing visitors with some slight of hand that is sure to blow your mind.

It’s a bar built for storytelling—and you’ll leave with plenty after each visit. If you’re looking for a place to wow your mates or impress that one person who’s seen it all, The Oracle delivers every time.

NQ64: Boozy Nostalgia in Neon

Okay, technically NQ64 isn’t a total secret. But the graffiti-covered stairwell on Colquitt Street still makes it feel like you’re entering some kind of underground rave-meets-gaming den. And honestly, it kind of is.

Downstairs, you’ll find a neon-lit world of retro arcade games, classic consoles, and cocktails that taste like your childhood—if your childhood involved vodka slushies and pun-laced drink names. From Pac-Man and Mario Kart to a wall of old-school PlayStations, it’s part nostalgia trip, part pre-drinks perfection.

Bring your most competitive mate and battle it out over a game of Street Fighter, or rally the crew for a night that’s as much about the laughs as it is the drinks. It’s rowdy, colourful, and completely addictive.

Liverpool's neon nights rarely let you down

There’s something extra satisfying about finding a place most people don’t know about—especially when the drinks are next-level and the atmosphere is dripping in character. Liverpool’s hidden bars aren’t about about exclusivity or spending loads of money. It’s about adventure, discovery, and sharing moments you’ll be talking about all week.

So whether you’re planning a big uni night out, impressing visiting friends, or just want to mix things up, check out some of Liverpool’s best hidden bars to give you and your pals a truly unique night out.

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