The Milk Thistle
Bristol
At a glance
Located at Quay Head House on Colston Avenue, The Milk Thistle is a distinctive cocktail bar offering a unique atmosphere and an array of expertly crafted drinks. This Bristol venue is the sister establishment to the city's renowned Prohibition-inspired bar, and it spans four floors of carefully styled spaces. Each level of this intriguing venue offers its own allure, including a speakeasy-style lounge, a secluded attic, and a sophisticated parlour bar.
The décor fuses historic architectural elements with eclectic modern accents, making it an engaging location for any occasion. At its core, The Milk Thistle is known for its exceptional cocktails. Here, guests can enjoy a repertoire of creative concoctions expertly prepared by some of the best bartenders in town. The regularly updated menu features innovative twists on classic drinks alongside fresh original creations.
For those seeking a more private experience, The Milk Thistle provides a range of options for exclusive events. Whether for corporate functions, private dinners, or elaborate parties, the venue's varied spaces can accommodate diverse needs. The Whisky Vault, tucked away below street level, houses an extensive selection of whiskies from across the globe, available for private tastings in a discreet setting.
With an engaging selection of events ranging from gin tastings to themed nights, The Milk Thistle thrives on creating memorable experiences for its patrons. Its blend of elegant surroundings, exceptional cocktails, and dedicated service invite discerning drinkers to discover a speakeasy unlike any other in Bristol.
Reviews
WARNING: this is not the Milk Thistle you remember. It is now under new ownership. It still presents itself with the same positioning: a hidden speakeasy known for creative cocktails. The experience no longer matches that reputation. We’ve been to Milk Thistle a couple times before and it used to be one of my top cocktail bars in Bristol. We specifically chose to come back for my partner’s birthday because of that reputation, so this was genuinely disappointing. The difference was clear as soon as we arrived. The old speakeasy experience of ringing the bell and being welcomed through the closed door was gone. The door was open, the lighting was brighter, the music and atmosphere felt less classy, and the service was very direct. The biggest surprise was the cocktail menu. We were given a short list drinks of standard classics like Margaritas, Negronis, Old Fashioneds and an Elderflower Collins. For somewhere known for skilled bartenders, I’d expect the main menu to have interesting house creations, with classics available if you want them. We also overheard that some drinks couldn’t be made because ingredients were unavailable. Unfortunately, the cocktails themselves weren’t particularly good either. My partner’s Elderflower Collins was far too sweet and heavy on the elderflower, and my Old Fashioned was also unusually sweet. At around £14 each, neither felt remotely worth the price. Service was also disappointing. We weren’t initially offered water or given much introduction to the menu, had to get someone’s attention to order, and after finishing our drinks the empty glasses sat in front of us for around 25 minutes without anyone checking in on us. I’d also mentioned my partner’s birthday in the booking’s special-occasion section and it wasn’t acknowledged at all. We also watched a vacated table being wiped down with what appeared to be just water and blue roll, with no visible cleaning or sanitising product being used, which didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Eventually we managed to get someone’s attention, paid and left. What makes it particularly disappointing is that I’d happily have paid £16 a cocktail for the old Milk Thistle experience. This time it felt very average and overpriced for what we received. For now, I wouldn’t recommend visiting based on the reputation Milk Thistle built in the past.
Great place! We had delicious non-alcoholic drinks – it’s rare to find them so well-crafted. The biggest highlight was our waitress, Jaga – she's super positive and creates an amazing atmosphere. We’ll definitely be back!
My partner and I have been regular customers to the milk thistle and we loved it a lot. Booking: easy and convenient on website Drinks: amazing for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks Service: passionate, friendly and professional Atmosphere: quiet and nice, unique decoration style and comfortable lights Price: very reasonable Simone served us drinks and she has been super lovely and friendly, she really made our day. Overall, highly recommended!
This place is amazing. I've been coming here for years. If you haven't been, just try it! Book ahead though. The service has literally always been fantastic. They're friendly, charming and helpful. Most recently Simone was taking care of us and really went above and beyond. It's a cozy, intimate venue, that's visually interesting with a lovely relaxed vibe. Perfect for small groups, but I normally just come with my partner. Oh, also the drinks! They mix up the menu with imaginative and tasty creations, but they nail the classics too. I've ordered off menu too and they've done an amazing job, don't know if that's a normal thing though!
This is my second time visiting this bar. It’s hidden spot with chill vibes. Definitely will come back again for the atmosphere. When entering the bar, find for a door bell and wait for someone come and welcome you. I love the decoration, music and sofas of the bar. It’s a shame that the chess has the queens and kings missing, maybe it’s for decoration not for playing. We ordered one cocktail the pink lotus and two mocktails, the jade pond and lady of the lake. The cocktails of this bar is quite strong, but both cocktails and mocktails are brilliant. Personally I like the fruity taste of Jade pond and lady of the lake, definitely will come back for that. The waiter and bartender are very friendly, they always come and make sure we are happy about everything It is a great place for a drink after dinner and a place to relax and chat.
