The Milk Thistle

Featured reviews

• S

  Samuel Austin

  ·3 weeks ago

  “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.”

• K

  Kyra Mcclung

  ·3 months ago

  “The atmosphere here is always impeccable. I've been here a few times but brought my mom here recently and the new cocktail menu is delicious. I always highly recommend this place to everyone looking for a good drink in Bristol.”

• N

  Newlyn Hui

  ·3 months ago

  “I've been to top 50 bars around the world like handshake and centifolia, and I can say without a doubt that milk thisle ranks in the top 10. Ben is a world class bartender and it was truly an honour to have him to make me these brilliant cocktails like poulet-vous and tokyo story. Amazing drinks, cant recommend this bar enough! I will be back!”

• A

  Alice

  ·4 months ago

  “Been here several times now and the cocktails are always perfect (worth the slightly higher price), my favourite was Mount Magdalena which was so refreshing on a hot day! Staff are really nice and the snacks are great too.”

• W

  Weronika Zygmunt

  ·4 months ago

  “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!”

• V

  Violet Fan

  ·6 months ago

  “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!”

• B

  Ben Michiels

  ·6 months ago

  “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!”

• A

  Audrey K

  ·8 months ago

  “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.”

• S

  Scotty B

  ·1 year ago

  “How anyone could rate this place anything less than 5 stars is beyond me! To start, I did feel a bit lost outside the venue and ended up calling to check if they were open. Stu kindly answered and explained I just needed to ring the doorbell (I did feel a little silly 😅), but he instantly put me at ease and made me feel welcome. Once inside, I was seated at the bar and looked after by Will – an absolute legend. I mentioned I was a whisky drinker and shared what I liked. That’s when the real journey began. They introduced me to whiskies I’d never even heard of, and I was given an exclusive tour of their collection – absolutely mind-blowing. The customer care and knowledge the team have is second to none. I was later introduced to Tom, who was just as friendly, passionate, and knowledgeable as Stu and Will. Honestly, this place is a hidden gem – the staff are incredibly welcoming, and the range of cocktails and whiskies is unbelievable. I can’t recommend this place highly enough to anyone visiting Bristol who loves whisky, cocktails, and great company. Wishing Will the best of luck on his upcoming adventures to Italy and Canada – you’ll definitely be missed by the team. Thank you all for making my very first trip to Bristol such a memorable one 🙏🏻”

• C

  chelsea louise

  ·1 year ago

  “Beautiful and intimate cocktail bar with a unique ambiance. Excellent service and the perfect bar for a high end alcohol tasting experience. Staff team were beyond friendly and made us feel welcome. Highly recommend for a quiet and relaxed drinking experience.”