11 Best Bars in Sheffield for a Great Night Out [2024]

If you’re looking for a fun night out, Sheffield is the place to go.

With its mix of more well-known spots and indie venues, the steel city has something to delight everyone.

Feeling fancy, free and easy – or even festive?

Well then, read on because here’s a list of all the 11 best bars in Sheffield for a great night out.

Your only challenge with be picking where to dance the night away.

Luckily, many of the bars are within walking distance of each other, so you don’t have to make just one choice.

These best bars in Sheffield have been arranged geographically in case you fancy a bar crawl, but whichever you favour, you’re guaranteed a good time.

This article is written by Faraway Lucy writer, Amber O’Connor.

The City Centre

This central location is full of some of the best bars in Sheffield, making it perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a night of bar hopping.

Most importantly, you’ll find quality as well as quantity here.

Whether your fancy a bar crawl or want to spend the evening in one great venue, many a memorable night out begins here.

1. Public Bar

Address: 23-55 Surrey St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2LG

Public Bar is a hidden gem, quite literally. Found below the Victorian town hall, it’s easy to walk past the concealed entrance without knowing what you’re missing.

But it’s definitely worth looking out for, because once you head down the steps, and under the grade-1 listed building, you’ll find that what used to be a gent’s toilet has been completely transformed.

In the heart of the city, Public is the perfect place to spend an evening.

You get to be surrounded by the buzz of town but then escape away from it, slinking away into this one-of-a-kind bar.

Pick this venue if you are looking for a fun venue with an indie edge.

There’s nowhere quite like Public, and you don’t have to take my word for it as Public was named the Best Place to Drink in the UK by the Observer Food Monthly Awards in 2019.

2. Kuckoo

Address: Leopold Square, 7a Leopold St, Sheffield S1 2GY

If you love rock’n’roll Kuckoo is one of the best bars in Sheffield for you.

So get down to Kuckoo to party the night away. Don’t know the way? Just look for the infamous red glow.

With its speakeasy-inspired interior, it’ll be easy to know when you’ve arrived at this glamorous bar. (The chandeliers also give it away!)

Kuckoo isn’t casual, and it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead, it revels in glamour.

And why not? After all, who doesn’t want to party in style?

I wish you good luck choosing which drink to order first.

You’ll need it as there are 65 cocktails and counting on the menu.

I’d recommend the Ten Dollar Milk Shake which, in perhaps the most exciting pairing ever to exist, they serve alongside a Krispy Kreme doughnut.

3. The Botanist

Address: Leopold Square, Unit 5A and 5B, Sheffield S1 2JG

Phone number: 0114 273 7855

Like many cities across the country, Sheffield is not immune to The Botanist’s charm, and how can you blame it?

As soon as you step inside the bar you’ll be transported somewhere far away from the streets of Sheffield.

Any evening spent in The Botanist will be as dreamy as the name suggests.

You can expect to sip on enchanting drinks surrounded by twinkling lights, nestled among the bar’s famed rustic interior.

The Botanist is rightly known for its spectacular cocktails, but there are drinks for everyone, cocktail lovers and non-cocktail lovers alike.

Whether you opt for fruit and floral options, something fresh and herbaceous, prefer citrus and spice, or pick gin, wine, or beer, you can’t go wrong.

If you visit with a group, I recommend the watering can – a large drink, with four to five servings, presented in, you guessed it, a watering can.

No matter what you order though, you’re certain to receive something whimsical and delightful at The Botanist. 

4. K-MAX Karaoke Bar

Address: 51 Scotland St, Sheffield S3 7BS

Phone number: 07591 552616

Pop prince or princess? Then you’ll love K-MAX Karaoke Bar.

Yes, that’s right, it’s not just a bar with karaoke but a whole venue devoted to karaoke.

With twelve private karaoke rooms, complete with leather seating, flatscreen TVs and surround sound, this is your chance to feel like music royalty.

Most importantly, K-MAX’s wireless microphones and selection of over 20,000 songs mean you can sing and dance your heart out all night long.

The themed booths vary in size, catering for groups of four to parties of 35, so whether you’re feeling a small jam or full-scale performance, K-MAX has you sorted.

West Street and Division Street

Still located in the city centre, but slightly further out from the above bars, these next picks still make for great choices if you fancy a bar crawl, since they are all within walking distance of each other and the central bars.

But as great locations themselves, West Street and Division Street, which sit next to each other, and are both packed with fun venues, deserve their own listing.

5. The Wick at Both Ends

Address: 149-151 West St, Sheffield, South Yorks S1 4EW

Phone number: 0114 221 1611

Any list of the best bars in Sheffield would be incomplete without The Wick at Both Ends

. In particular, you should pick this venue if you’re looking for an exciting yet laid-back evening.

It’s the place to go for good music, a relaxed atmosphere, and refreshing drinks served by friendly faces.

With a unique vibe, it’s the type of bar that you can’t properly describe.

You just have to experience it for yourself!

If that sounds mysterious, rest assured, you’ll be able to tell you’re set for a good night just by looking at the drinks list.

I dare you to not have fun in a bar that serves ‘zombie skullcrusher’ and ‘drumstick’ cocktails.

6. West Street Live

Address: 128 West St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4ES

Phone number: 0114 249 2785

Head on down to West Street Live if you want to boogie the night away.

This long-time local favourite is known for its good vibes, good music, and good drinks.

Although, I’m probably underselling the drinks by calling them ‘good’.

West Street Live’s drinks are famous Sheffield-wide, with so many favourites in the mix everyone you ask will favour a different flavour.

Some of the most popular choices include Mangotastic, Chuck Norris shots, the Beast Bomb, and Coco-Milko.

And before you ask, yes, coco-milko is alcoholic chocolate milk.

7. Gatsby

Address: 73-75 Division Street, Sheffield S1 4GE

Phone number: 0114 216 9378

How can you go wrong with anywhere called Gatsby?

This aptly named cocktail bar is the place to go for a dazzlingly fun evening.

If you really want to make the most of this retro-themed heaven, you can book also out the upstairs function room, DAISYS, and in the summer, you can’t miss the cosy beer garden.

Gatsby is well-known and well-loved by locals and visitors alike, and for good reason: it’s roaring good fun

. You don’t want to miss out on this classic Sheffield venue.

If you’re around in the day you ought to check out their hip hop brunch too.

Gatsby’s is great for a drink but it’s also great for grabbing a bite to eat.

8. Revolución de Cuba

Address: 1 Mappin St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4DT

Phone number: 0114 279 9250

Within a stone’s throw of West Street, this bar is another that you can’t miss.

After all, why choose any old party, when you can choose a Cuban-themed party?

If you’re looking for a fiesta, look no further than this authentic cocktail bar, where you’ll find live music, Latin-inspired snacks, and plenty of rum.

The team at Revolución de Cuba transformed what used to be an old tram shed into Sheffield’s very own little corner of Cuba.

My personal favourites here include the shots to share because whether you order strawberry Margarita or El Jimador Reposado, these will get your night off to a cracking start.

Kelham Island

Kelham Island is one of Sheffield’s most popular neighbourhoods, and arguably the coolest. So, of course, it had to feature on this list of the best bars in Sheffield. Anyone going on a night out in Sheffield should consider venturing to Kelham, and the below pick, found in the Kelham Island and Neepsend community, is one of the best of the best bars in Sheffield.

9. Factory Floor

Address: 92 Burton Rd, Neepsend, Sheffield S3 8DA

Pick Factory Floor if you’re looking for an experience.

Located in a former spring factory, this bar combines Sheffield’s industrial history with modern nightlife.

When you’re choosing a drink, be sure to glance up at the walls and you’ll be able to see the drip-infused spirits prepared.

You might be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped into an atmospheric laboratory as you watch the fruit, herb and spice mixtures drip into beakers.

If you visit Factory Floor, you can also try out beer brewed on-site by Neepsend Brew Co. With zero carbon footprint, you’ll leave feeling golden, just like your drink.

Now you know the drinks are taken care of, what about the music? Well, it’s worth shouting about.

The bar’s Danley Audio loudspeaker, imported from Florida, transports crisp sound around the entirety of this unique space.

Victoria Quays

One of Sheffield’s historical landmarks, Victoria Quays is a lovely spot for a stroll along the canal.

Luckily, if you get thirsty from your walk, you can find great bars along the waterfront. Here’s one of them:

10. True Loves

Address: Arches, 18 & 19 Victoria Quays, Sheffield S2 5SY

Renowned for its refreshing, sustainable, locally sourced drinks, True Loves doesn’t need anything else to pull you in, but the unique history of the riverside bar makes it doubly worth a visit.

The bar is named in homage to True Love’s, a family of butchers in the 1800s who supposedly used the River Sheaf to dispose of offal.

They were later memorialised in the poem True Love’s Gutter, which featured in a Richard Hawley song, so it’s safe to say that True Loves is an iconic part of Sheffield’s history.

Thankfully, you’ll find much nicer options than offal if you get peckish since the site also serves as a Delicatessan.

Great drinks? Check. Great food? Check. And a great location? Check, check, check.

If the homage to Sheffield’s literary and actual history isn’t enough to impress you, the romantic view of the Victoria Quays, which are lit at night, should.

Abbeydale Road

Abbeydale Road, the city’s antique quarter, is always brilliant to visit, but never more so than on a night out.

At night, this vibrant street buzzes as excited Sheffielders visit the popular watering holes and food spots.

If you pick the below venue, you can even enjoy one of the jewels of the city’s past, which has been transformed into the perfect spot for a night out.

11. Picture House Social

Address: 383 Abbeydale Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1FS

Phone number: 0114 258 1690

Picture this: you’re entering what was once the ballroom and billiard hall at the Abbeydale Theatre, you can hear the DJ playing, and you don’t think the evening can get any cooler, and then you see the ping pong table.

Yes, you read that correctly: ping pong table.

An evening at Picture House Social is not to be missed.

This bar represents what Sheffield does best: mixing the old with the new and celebrating the journey along the way.

It’s one of the city’s independent gems.

With a great selection of cocktails, local beers and a weekly-changing selection of wines, you could enjoy yourself if this bar was set in a field, but then you wouldn’t get the added joy of seeing this quirky location.

After all, it’s impossible not to find a brilliant atmosphere in such an atmospheric setting.

Plus, Picture House Social is one of the best rooftop bars in Sheffield and one of the best places to go for bottomless brunch in Sheffield, so that’s reason enough to visit! Pizza, anyone?

 

So there you have it: 11 of the best bars in Sheffield.

The steel city is full of great spots for a night out, far too many to fit on one list, but if you pick any of these venues you’re sure to have an unforgettable time.

No matter what is important to you, a historic location, a good dance floor, or a fun theme, Sheffield has something for everyone, and most importantly, great drinks aplenty.

Good luck deciding what you want first: maybe a coco-milk, watering can, or perhaps an infusion you have watched drip into your drink?

Whatever you might fancy, Sheffield is ready and waiting for you.