The best of Reading Cocktail Week
The Reading bars our customers rate most: voted into the top three for their bar or their signature cocktail, praised most in our customer survey, or with the most hearts in our vote. 7 stops, about 18 minutes on foot from first to last.
PentaHotel
About 4 min walk to The Rising Sun
The Cocktail Club
2Second most popular bar 20263Third favourite cocktail 2026About 2 min walk to Cosy Club
Cosy Club
3Third most popular bar 20262Second favourite cocktail 2026About 6 min walk to McCafferty's Irish Bar
Flight Club
Praised in our customer survey.
More routes
Short walks of 3 to 5 stops for different nights out, put together from what we know about each venue. Open one to see the map and stops, print it with walking directions, or load it into your own trail and change it.
An evening around Friar Street and the station4 stops · about 3 min walk · 4 partner bars around Friar Street and the station, all a short walk apart.
An evening around Gun Street and the Oracle4 stops · about 8 min walk · 4 partner bars around Gun Street and the Oracle, all a short walk apart.
An evening around the Forbury and Castle Street4 stops · about 18 min walk · 4 partner bars around the Forbury and Castle Street, all a short walk apart.
Date night route3 stops · about 7 min walk · 3 stops that suit a night for two, close enough to walk between.
The Gun Street, King Street and the Oracle route5 stops · about 6 min walk · The heart of town and the Oracle riverside, with cocktail bars, steak and Italian by the River Kennet.
Drinks outside route5 stops · about 10 min walk · 5 stops with terraces or outdoor seating for the drier nights.
Make your own trail
My Reading cocktail trail
Pick how many stops you want and where to start, and we'll line up the nearest bars in walking order. Drag the boxes to change the order, add any stop from the list below, and the map and walking times update as you go. When it's ready, print it or send it to your group on WhatsApp.
Your trail map shows here.
Every stop on the map
Every one of the 22 venues on the trail, so you can see what's near you. The numbers match the list below. Zoom in to explore, tap a number for the venue, or print the lot.
Choose from 22 of Reading's best venues
Every venue with its address, opening times, website and what our customers said. The numbers match the map. Add any of them to your own trail.
Stop 1: PentaHotel
The lobby bar at the pentahotel on the Oxford Road.
Opening times (Google Maps): Every day open 24 hours
Stop 2: The Rising Sun
A pub and restaurant on Castle Street.
“Great cocktail & vibe”Reading Cocktail Week customer, 2026
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Fri noon to 11pm, Sat 11:30am to 11pm, Sun 11:30am to 10pm
Stop 3: Be At One
A lively cocktail bar on Gun Street with sweet, sour and spicy cocktails, and masterclasses for groups.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed 6pm to 1:30am, Thu 6pm to 2am, Fri 4pm to 3am, Sat 2pm to 3am, Sun 5pm to 1:30am
Stop 4: ZeroDegrees
A microbrewery on Bridge Street with craft beer fresh from the tanks and pizza.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed noon to 10pm, Thu noon to 11pm, Fri and Sat noon to midnight, Sun noon to 10pm
Stop 5: The Cocktail Club
2Second most popular bar 20263Third favourite cocktail 2026A playful cocktail bar on Gun Street.
“Cocktail club first time there brilliant staff and atmosphere”Reading Cocktail Week customer, 2026
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed 4pm to 1am, Thu 4pm to 2am, Fri 4pm to 2:30am, Sat 2pm to 2:30am, Sun 4pm to 12:30am
Stop 6: Cosy Club
3Third most popular bar 20262Second favourite cocktail 2026The Cosy Club at the Oracle, with an all-day menu and cocktails.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed 9am to 11pm, Thu 9am to midnight, Fri and Sat 9am to 1am, Sun 9am to 11pm
Photo: Zizzi Italian Restaurant Reading Oracle on Google MapsStop 7: Zizzi
Zizzi at the Oracle Riverside, with outdoor seating by the River Kennet.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11:30am to 10pm, Fri and Sat 11:30am to 11pm, Sun 11:30am to 10pm
Stop 8: Miller & Carter
A steakhouse at the Oracle, with British beef, burgers and cocktails.
Opening times (Google Maps): Every day noon to 11pm
Stop 9: Calico Bar & Eatery
An Indian restaurant and bar on London Street.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon closed, Tue to Thu 5pm to 10pm, Fri 4pm to midnight, Sat noon to midnight, Sun noon to 9pm
Stop 10: Celeste Bar
A cocktail bar on King Street.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed closed, Thu 5pm to midnight, Fri 5pm to 2:30am, Sat 2pm to 2:30am, Sun 4pm to 10pm
Stop 11: Rosa's Thai
Rosa's Thai on Kings Road.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11:30am to 9:30pm, Fri and Sat 11:30am to 10pm, Sun 11:30am to 9pm
Stop 12: The Botanist
The Botanist on King Street, with a botanical look, cocktails and live music.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11am to 10pm, Fri and Sat 10am to midnight, Sun 11am to 10pm
Stop 13: The Reading Room Restaurant & Bar
A smart restaurant and bar on the Forbury, with modern European food made with local ingredients.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Fri 7am to 11pm, Sat and Sun 8am to 11pm
Stop 14: The Crown
A pub on Bridge Street in Caversham, by the river, with music and sport.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu noon to 11pm, Fri noon to midnight, Sat 11:30am to midnight, Sun noon to 11pm
Photo: McCafferty's Bar Reading on Google MapsStop 15: McCafferty's Irish Bar
An Irish bar on Friar Street with music and sport.
“Was welcoming and lively.”Reading Cocktail Week customer, 2026
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed 11am to midnight, Thu 11am to 1am, Fri and Sat 11am to 2am, Sun 11am to midnight
Photo: Boom Battle Bar Reading on Google MapsStop 16: Boom Battle Bar
A games bar on Station Road with crazy golf, darts and other games.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon and Tue noon to 11pm, Wed and Thu noon to 1am, Fri and Sat noon to 2am, Sun noon to 11pm
Stop 17: Novotel
The bar at the Novotel on Friar Street.
Stop 18: Lola Lo
A Pacific island-themed cocktail bar and club on Friar Street, with bamboo shacks and Easter Island-style heads.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Wed closed, Thu to Sat 9pm to 3am, Sun closed
Stop 19: Milk Bar
1Most popular bar 20261Favourite cocktail 2026A cocktail bar on Merchants Place, with music.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Sat 5pm to midnight, Sun 5pm to 11pm
Photo: Flight Club Reading on Google MapsStop 20: Flight Club
Social darts at Station Hill, with automatic scoring and games built for groups.
“Good vibe and the games were fun.”Reading Cocktail Week customer, 2026
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon to Thu 11am to midnight, Fri and Sat 11am to 1am, Sun 11am to midnight
Further out
Stop 21: Spill Bar
A bar in Caversham, with music.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon 9am to 9pm, Tue to Sat 9am to 11pm, Sun 10am to 9pm
Stop 22: Angel Bar
A bar on Prospect Street in Caversham, with food and music.
Opening times (Google Maps): Mon closed, Tue 4pm to 10am, Wed and Thu 4pm to 11pm, Fri and Sat 2pm to 11pm, Sun closed
Built from the venues that have taken part in Reading Cocktail Week, updated every night. Venues Google lists as closed are left off until they reopen. Opening times, phone numbers and ratings are from Google Maps.
More of Reading after dark
Good to know
What are the best cocktail bars in Reading?
On our trail, the best of Reading Cocktail Week is PentaHotel, The Rising Sun, The Cocktail Club, Cosy Club, McCafferty's Irish Bar, Milk Bar and Flight Club. They're the venues our customers rate most, from survey votes for the best bar and best cocktail, comments and hearts in our vote. Every one has taken part in Reading Cocktail Week.
How long does the best of Reading Cocktail Week take to walk?
About 18 minutes on foot across 7 stops, not counting time at the bar. Most people pick four or five stops for a night, so make it your own and drop any you want to skip.
What other routes are there on the Reading cocktail trail?
An evening around Friar Street and the station (4 stops, about 3 minutes), An evening around Gun Street and the Oracle (4 stops, about 8 minutes), An evening around the Forbury and Castle Street (4 stops, about 18 minutes), Date night route (3 stops, about 7 minutes), The Gun Street, King Street and the Oracle route (5 stops, about 6 minutes) and Drinks outside route (5 stops, about 10 minutes). Open one to see its map, print it with walking directions or make it your own trail.
Can I make my own Reading cocktail trail?
Yes. Choose how many stops you want and where to start, and we'll line up the nearest venues in walking order. Add or remove stops, drag them into a different order, then print it with walking directions or send it to your group on WhatsApp.
Is the Reading cocktail trail free?
Yes. The trail, the routes and the printable maps are free. You pay for drinks at each venue. During Reading Cocktail Week a wristband unlocks a signature cocktail at every venue taking part.
Is there a printable Reading cocktail trail map with walking directions?
Yes. Every route, and any trail you make yourself, has a Print with directions button. You get a page with the map and street names, each stop's address and opening times, and turn-by-turn walking directions with the time between stops.
Which bars are on the Reading cocktail trail?
22 venues that have taken part in Reading Cocktail Week, including PentaHotel, The Rising Sun, Be At One, ZeroDegrees, The Cocktail Club and Cosy Club. The trail updates itself every night as venues join or close.
Reading Cocktail Week
The next Reading Cocktail Week runs 2 to 11 July 2027. One wristband unlocks signature cocktails from £6.