The Tippling House
Belmont Street, Aberdeen
What is it? Back at the tail end of 2012 a new cocktail bar opened in what was previously The Belmont Bar: a rough and ready boozer. By contrast, The Tippling House promised “a subterranean late-night tavern serving boutique spirits, hand-crafted cocktails, fine Scottish ales and inspired casual dining”. The bar was the brainchild of local entrepreneur Adrian Gomes who had taken the profits from his successful events company, 10 Dollar Shake, to create a bar that you would not expect to find in Aberdeen, never mind Belmont Street. This labour of love paid off and the bar soon became hugely popular with people looking for a better experience when going out in the city. Now almost five years old, it has established itself as a shining light in the Scottish bar scene, winning several awards for its offering and bartenders.
Interesting fact: Adrian Gomes and his team are dedicated to putting Aberdeen on the map. Sensing a local market of people who are thirsty for learning about good drinks and brands, the team created Drink Aberdeen, a week-long drinks festival with a programme packed with tastings, masterclasses, parties and workshops for both consumers and bartenders.
Verdict: I don’t get up to this city as often as I'd like. It has a great night life, for which it doesn't get enough credit. The key to any great cocktail city is community, the bars working together to showcase what they are all about and getting exposure to show that you don't have to go to Edinburgh or Glasgow to receive great drinks. The Tippling House would not feel out of place in London or any other big city. There is great attention to detail here, from the attentive service, the innovative cocktail list to the sourcing of the best ingredients for their food offering. Next time you find yourself even close to Aberdeen make sure you get yourself down for a visit.
Drink: A varied and interesting selection of beers, wines and spirits, which the bar-tenders are happy to talk you through, but it's the cocktails that are the real stars of the show.
Food: They offer small plates here, which is ideal for sharing and picking at while you are enjoying the drinks. It is all tasty but you must try the Cajun spiced lobster mac and cheese bites.
Prices: Definitely not in line with the rest of Belmont Street but you get what you pay for here.
Children: Whether or not they have a licence for kids, this isn't really a place that you would want to bring them: it's for grown-ups who want to enjoy great drinks and food and get away from the wee ones for the night.
Alfresco: No outdoor space here.
Perfect for: A romantic evening or with a group of friends to enjoy some first-class service combined with great food and drink.
Avoid if: You must have natural light in your eating and drinking establishments. This cosy basement bar offers a more refined experience so I wouldn't recommend if you are through in Aberdeen for a stag do.
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