Tabula Rasa bar

You'll find this tucked away on Eastgate, where the focus is entirely on what's happening behind the bar. The bartenders here treat cocktail-making like the serious craft it should be, and you can tell they actually care about what goes into your glass. The drinks menu reads like poetry, but thankfully the execution backs up the ambition. The space feels intimate without being cramped, and there's something refreshing about a bar that opens at lunchtime on weekdays – perfect for those civilised afternoon drinks that somehow turn into evening sessions. The crowd skews towards people who appreciate good drinks over cheap ones, which means conversations flow as smoothly as the cocktails.