The Alchemist Oxford

You'll spot the smoke billowing from drinks tables before you've even stepped off the Westgate lift. Perched above the shopping centre chaos, this cocktail lab serves up Instagram-worthy concoctions that bubble, fizz, and change colour right before your eyes. The dry ice theatrics might feel a bit much for some, but there's genuine skill behind the spectacle – bartenders know their way around proper spirits and the drinks actually taste as good as they look. The crowd skews young and excitable, especially at weekends when hen dos descend for the full molecular mixology experience. Prices reflect the prime Westgate location and all that theatrical flair, but if you're after cocktails that double as entertainment, this is your spot.