The 13 best lounges in Reading

It's such an amazing cocktail bar! The atmosphere was so good with great music for everybody's liking. The cocktails were tasty, and with a high volume of alcohol I must say. I really enjoyed the paloma and the Last flight(this was my favourite), but who doesn't love a margarita too 😊. Prices were reasonable & affordable and the staff was very friendly & attentive. Thank you for a nice experience!

Would absolutely recommend this Be At One. Had a great evening, the atmosphere was great, drinks were amazing. But most importantly the staff were incredible. Didn’t catch the name of our bartender but he was so friendly and chatty, made sure we were happy with our table and looked after us all night. We also had a lovely encounter with the security woman and the bartender with the big beard (again names are unsure), both excellent and made sure we were all okay. After my friend fell ill, all there were supportive and caring for her. Would absolutely be back again in the near future. Thanks so much!!

Absolutely love coming here, always have! Big shout out to Ryan behind the bar, Made us a fantastic Chilli mango margarita that's to die for! Fantastic service and great atmosphere as usual!

Nice atmosphere, lovely leds made that place so cosy and warm, blond girl with piercing was on her training day and she was so lovely and tried her best, asking people around if everything is okay and she was so cute doing that. She recomended nice app to get cheaper drinks. Very nice place!

JAY was very accommodating! Lovely sparkling wine served perfectly thank you for the extra peach 🍑 Bougie Atmosphere, a little quiet but nice vibes

I'm sorry that my phototaking skills are poor, but it tastes really good! My friend and I tried two kinds of cocktails (Sakura Sakura/Whisky sour) in succession. What a wonderful bartender!

I walked into Be At One Reading expecting a quick drink. Four hours later, I was dancing to Justin Timberlake with a Coconut Batanga in hand, genuinely considering that maybe, just maybe, everything’s going to be okay. Edan behind the bar was a triple threat: mixing perfect drinks, making everyone feel like regulars, and curating a playlist straight from the early 2000s golden era.

Visited with 2 colleagues for after work drinks and a bite on a Tuesday night. No reservation but they seated us immediately. Very attentive staff and food served pretty quickly, which is great. The food was ok but didn’t have soya sauce or chilli flakes on the table which I thought was a given for a Thai restaurant. We liked the atmosphere and it was reasonably priced. If you want a quick bite in the middle of the week then go for it. I think some of the 5 star ratings are from those who haven’t been out much.

Been coming for years, always incredible service and amazing food and cocktails! The whole team make you feel special on every visit! The Szechuan Duck is amazing and white chocolate martinis are very drinkable and moreish!

This place is awesome! The vibes are beautiful, the staff's nice, and Safalta was super helpful with the vegetarian dishes. The food is really good, and the cocktails are really nice. Gotta try the Pattaya picante!

The Thai food here is nice, though fairly basic it covers the classics without many surprises. Where the place really shines is the drinks: both the cocktails and mocktails are well-crafted and flavorful. A good spot if you're looking for a casual meal with some great beverages.

Went for Sunday lunch, wow!!! What amazing food and delicious cocktails for a Sunday lunch and great prices to be fair, Staff were brilliant, very attentive and welcoming. I would definitely recommend this place...

A Perfect Hangout for friends. You'll be greeted by a warm welcome. The drink menu is impressive, from expertly crafted cocktails to an extensive selection of soju and beer, there’s something for everyone. The food menu offers a fantastic selection of authentic korean dishes.

Went to dinner with my cousin , we have never been before but the menu looked amazing the restaurant was very busy and the customer service was excellent we ordered and drinks and food were served very fast. But the food was a let down lacked flavour mostly deep fried with excessive amount of batter wouldn’t recommend the salt a pepper crab as there was hardly no crab but a lot of batter with no spice. Very disappointing

We had a really good lunch at The Botanist. The calamari was amazing—perfectly cooked, very soft, and full of flavor. The sea bass was also excellent, cooked just right and tasty. Also tried the Botanist Lemonade, which was super refreshing. Chocolate s’mores cookie dough was delicious. The staff was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Probably need more waiters during the week as we struggled at times to get the waiters. Overall, a great experience, and we’d definitely come back!

Visited The Botanist for friends birthday treat. Glad we did as never been before. Service good and food delishand cooked to order. Had a fab cocktail to wash it all down. We went at lunchtime and were surprised as only a few people in there but I guess we were lucky as went early in time and week. Would recommend and will return.

I had an amazing experience at The Botanist Reading as part of a team-building event! The food was outstanding - I started with the Hanging Kebabs with Halloumi Cheese, which was grilled to perfection, and the Hummus was creamy and delicious. For dessert, the Cookie Dough was rich and indulgent. The atmosphere was lively and relaxed, with great service. Highly recommend The Botanist Reading for a fun and memorable team-building event or dinner with friends!

The Botanist garden in Reading is a must-visit for steak lovers. The steak was cooked to perfection and was bursting with flavor. Service was good too. The pub/restaurant has a lovely atmosphere and we highly recommend trying their steak when you visit.

Staff here were swift and welcoming. The food was delicious and the cocktails were amazing. Will deffo be visiting again.

The staff were lovely, very helpful & friendly. The food & cocktails were different from usual fare so that made a nice change. My friend & I both had the chicken skewers which were fab & shared the cookie dough dessert.

we came here for a late cocktail and there was live music... very lively atmosphere really good vibe!! Such lovely staff that work here 🥂💗

Myself and my boyfriend came here on a Wednesday night for the student brunch and we couldn’t recommend it highly enough. We were served as soon as our glasses were empty- the staff(specifically Tom) was very attentive and the food was delicious. I had the fajita pasta and my boyfriend had the double cheese bacon burger it was very filling which is lovely as normally for a bottomless brunch food is not the priority. I would definitely recommend this place for brunch as the whole staff was attentive- I diddn’t get the names of the other staff members that quickly cleared our tables of empty glassware and plates but they did to swiftly and discreetly which allowed myself myself and my boyfriend to engage in a lovely date night. The music was apt for the environment, up beat and classy, especially as it’s a Wednesday it’s still a very nice amount of busy and not completely empty. Will definitely be returning with my other half as well as with friends, and be recommending to others. I really can’t wait to come back. Thanks so much to S&L on Friar street for giving us the best night!

Went there with a few friends. Received a pint of asahi which taste absolutely disgusting due to the filthy glasses. We asked for another and received glasses just as bad. Had to leave and find somewhere else. The photos attached are empty glasses we was given for bottles.

We came to S&L for a lunch time bottomless brunch birthday celebration midweek and were not disappointed. We had originally booked for an outside table but Toby suggested as it was due to rain, to sit inside and it was the best decision. Both he and Alisha were really attentive, kept the drinks flowing and were super friendly. The chicken and waffle main wasn’t to our taste but the Quesadilla (with beef) and fries were so tasty. Will definitely come back due to friendly service, great drinks and lovely food!

We went for a bottomless brunch and it was such a lovely experience! Really good service, Tom the server always made sure we had a drink in our hand and we never went thirsty. They have a daytime and evening brunch menu with a wide selection of food and drinks. The drinks were delicious! The food was really tasty and you got a really good portion size. Would definitely recommend and will definitely be returning.!

Lucy and Tom were particularly fabulous. We had so much fun! And they made our BB extra special!

Don’t know what happened but bottomless was shocking. 45 minutes plus to get a drink. Could of just ordered from the bar and got better value. Expected more from S&L as they are usually good. Don’t go to this one.

Best service, done bottomless brunch and wasn’t disappointed x

Hard to find as it's down an alley on the main street but well worth a visit. It now has 2 pool tables, outside seating with heating, and a brand new menu. Drinks are reasonably priced and staff are great plus has all sports at request

Anima and Tia were amazing and made sure we felt safe and were served with efficiency and were extremely fast given our big group order

Had a great time at Walkabout. There was a lot of security before going inside, the karaoke was fun, and the pool tables were good quality (though there are only two). There are plenty of screens for sports, and the staff were friendly. Overall, it was a decent.

The drinks are great and well priced. Really like the service and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. They really do their jobs well and the DJ is really great. He carries his crowd along and plays all types of music. As a lady, I also feel very safe here because there’s literally security everywhere so I’m sure no one is going to move funny.

Don’t bother going for karaoke unless you know the dJ. Went and put my song in, waited 3 hours while his friends went over and over, for the bar to close without me having a go. Waste of a night to be honest

We did a Bottomless Brunch and the drinks did not stop coming - loved it! The food was great to - definitely going back as value for money was next level!

Great place for a drink with mates while watching the sport. The food menu has lots of burgers and nachos on there, we ordered some burgers which were ok but the chips could have done with a few more minutes in the fryer.

An awesome independent cocktail bar in Reading, with lots of outdoor space and seating perfect for summer. Nicole always goes above and beyond remembering personal drinks preferences and catering to every request! High Spirits also regular host great events, live music and hospitality industry events. Can’t recommend highly enough!

Love it here! Amazing cocktails, friendly staff! Always a vibe! Love the atmosphere and the music. Deffo the best cocktails in Reading!

Fabulous cocktails. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Experts in cocktails! Best for whiskey cocktails in Reading!

High Spirits Cocktail Company is a quirky cocktail place for sure. Inside the decor is sparse with an industrial feel. Some interesting lighting effects on the go though which creates an edgy atmosphere. Drinks list is pretty expansive so you should be able to find what you want. Note the menu is online and you scan a QR code when you are there - there are no paper menus to hand. Might be worth downloading the menu before you go … The bar staff were friendly and efficient. One thing that didn’t vibe is when you pay you get an option to select the tip you want to give. That doesn’t feel right for me and doesn’t work for me - but that’s just me and shouldn’t detract from the venue or staff. Some great tunes to be heard as well. The clientele are certainly on the more interesting part of the scale from my experience but that’s a good thing. Yep. Recommended.

Great cocktails and atmosphere. Came for ‘the office’ quiz and had a good night thanks to quiz host Michael and barman Jensen 😊 Will deffo visit again, plus free cocktail for members sign up

We went during happy hour. There were loads of cocktails to choose from and the service was great. The cocktails were strong so great value for money!

I just wanted to say a huge thankyou to the high spirits team. Over the years it has been a safe haven for hospitality workers. And it wasn't about the bricks. It was certainly the team that made it that way! Take care my loves❤️

Nice place for cocktails. The cream cocktails were really good and worth trying. Just be aware there’s no food available, so eat beforehand. Shots were a bit on the expensive side. Overall, a good spot for drinks.

Once again the management, bar staff and door staff out do themselves night after night. Brilliant atmosphere and really care about the venue and customers. Well worth a night out in here if you get the chance. One of Readings gems. Special mention needs to go to Lina! What a super star! This venue is a proud supporter of the Blue light community! Keep up the good work guys.

We were met by Niamh, who gave us the warmest, friendly, helpful greeting. She was attentive and extremely knowledgeable on all the drinks the establishment serve. She understood Diabetes and was immediately on the case of sugar free options. I loved the decor and atmosphere also. The manager came over, we had a really friendly chat with him too. Can’t recommend this place enough. Being in our 40s we find some bars can be more directed to the younger generation but this was not the case here. Fantastic experience, we will be back.

In the past I recommend this place to friends and work mates. Unfortunately on the 30th August , while I received great service in the up stairs bar, I got scammed in the down stairs bar when I ordered two half Apple juice/half soda water drinks and got charged £10.40! I paid £4.00 for the same drinks about 3 weeks ago. I mentioned it to the black girl who served me but she shrugged her shoulders.

Super cool place! Great staff I went there on Sunday for the first time just for some drinks and Ollie who works there was kind enough to explain us all the menu and also he mentioned that any drink is 2 for 1. The guys made the drinks which were absolutely great and got also 2 beers and honestly when I received the bill i was like….sooooo cheap!!! Cool place, nice music, lovely staff….all together! Big up to Ollie to being such a nice guy!! Thank you

Went for bottomless brunch - the drag queens were hilarious, cocktails were very lovely! There was quick service too :)

Delicious cocktails, so pretty (the Posh Paloma is beautiful!) and really kind staff. Felt very welcome and comfortable, we had table service at cocktail bar?! Unheard of and so lovely. Aaron makes the yummiest drinks. Happy hour is great (we could afford nice cocktails as backpackers!) and would recommend to anyone I know.

Busy bar/restaurant with good vegan options. We ordered the January deal where a £60 bottle wine came served with a free charcuterie board. The staff were kind to make a vegan alternative for us, and it was a great selection of food. The only issue was we were not given the chance to try the wine before it was poured. I’m not usually fussed but for a £60 bottle in a wine bar I was a little surprised. We also ordered the pumpkin gnocchi which was a beautiful dish.

We've been here a few times now and have always had an exceptional experience, with fantastic food and drink and wonderful service. They cook some superb Italian food exactly as it would be made in Italy, with a great wine and drink selection to go with it. I would particularly recommend the burrata with hot honey and the salmon bruschette. Thanks for giving us so many enjoyable memories!

⸻ Vino Vito – A Truly Special Italian Gem We came to Vino Vito for a wedding celebration, and what a beautiful experience it was from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and genuine hospitality, setting the tone for a truly memorable day. The setting was elegant yet relaxed, and the transition into the restaurant was seamless. The food was absolutely delicious – every dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and bursting with authentic Italian flavours. You could really taste the care and passion that went into each course. The service throughout was exceptional – attentive, friendly, and perfectly timed. The team at Vino Vito made the whole event feel special and effortless. A perfect setting, wonderful food, and outstanding hospitality – Vino Vito is a place we’ll remember fondly and can’t wait to return to. Highly recommended!

Did not know this place existed. Just happened to come across it for lunch. The menu of the day is great value, typical of the UK the wine is around £30 a bottle but that is what you have to pay. We were served by Cristian who was very polite, informative, courteous and helpful; a rarity nowadays. It was not warm weather when we visited but they have a garden which looks like it would be pleasant in warmer climes. Worth a visit and we have recommended it to friends and family.

Booked for a friends reunion, we were sat down for our booking at 7pm for food. We didn’t have much acknowledgement or welcome, our food and drink order didn’t get taken until around 8pm! Then it got to 8:45pm and we hadn’t had our food delivered yet! When we asked about if our starters were going to be ready soon, the waitress said the ticket hadn’t gone through!! Our starters finally got brought to the table at around 9pm (2 hours after being seated)!!. The mains didn’t come out until around 9:35pm and to top it off, the pizza dough was raw! On a positive note the food was recooked but it was almost 10pm by the time we ate! We didn’t get much of an acknowledgement for the delays or inconvenience of the evening service and only got a half hearted apology during the meal that didn’t feel very serious. It was only at the end we had a more personal apology and a big discount off the bill which we were grateful for. A real shame as I have eaten here before and had a wonderful experience and was excited to return for another meal. But sadly on this occasion I felt the service was abysmal and the food not up to scratch at all. Will sadly not be coming back again and wouldn’t recommend at all.

We came here for my birthday and everyone had a great time! Rita was our server, she was so sweet and the service was great. Amazing food and wine selection

Visited for an event and the person at the front was friendly and welcoming. Really good food too, a few people commented on how I'd enjoy which I always take with a pinch of salt, but well worth a visit. Antipasto was impeccable, and the pizzas were full of flavour and not at all stodgy.

I came in on a busy Saturday night and asked for two ‘niche’ cocktails and both of the drinks were exquisite. I ordered a rum sour and a margarita with a twist using mezcal instead of tequila. Great after work drink and very attentive staff.

Absolutely lovely place with super friendly staff and a really warm atmosphere! The bartender Tom is a top bloke, and is really happy to help you order, or create your own cocktail with him. Apparently the Milk Bar is under new management following some dodgy owners, and can confirm that theyre doing a brilliant job

Great service from knowledgeable bartenders. We must protect this independent bar at all costs Thankyou for JT for advising me on what to drink

Hands down best bar in reading. Always a good night. Great vibes, nice mix of ages, good choons from djs! Approachable team who always adapt things to my access needs including if dj is playing our too loud cos they lost their top end (one of my room 101 as a sound sensitive nurodivergent daddy) P.s if your drink isn’t on the menu anymore ask for it they will make it if they have all the ingredients // offer an alternative based on your preference. Keep things independent and poppin lads

Went on a Friday night and they had a great vinyl DJ playing! Cocktails were out of this world, and the atmosphere was amazing! Would recommend the Milk Bottle!

We are huge supporters of Milk! It's an independent space with enthusiastic and experienced staff with amazing DJs and events every week - it has a totally unique atmosphere. (Tim the owner is a bit of a legend)

We came here excited to try somewhere new as an after-work drink. Having decided on cocktails, my partner went up to the bar and waited for 17 minutes without being talked to before leaving. They were serving regulars beers ahead of anyone who was waiting for a cocktail. We’d heard good things about this place, but were very disappointed. It kinda killed our fun so we just decided to go home instead of finding somewhere else for a drink. Wouldn’t recommend if you’re looking for good service

We hired the Face Bar Red Room for an adult birthday party with live music. I can't recommend this place more highly - the manager, Sharon, is incredibly helpful and the bar and security staff were great too. If you are looking for somewhere to hire for a celebration, do check them out - they are amazing!

Good venue. Great live acts. Go to it if you can.

Make Sure You Personally Put The Address In Google Maps As Skiddle Sent Me Round The Houses! It's Actually Really Easy To Find, Decent Sized Venue, Helpful Staff, Fair Priced J2O's Mini Stage Area For Band Acts, Reasonable PA System, Definitely Loud Enough FOR Venue Size, 2nd Area Partitioned So Can Easily Hear Music From There Over The Bar! I Went FOR Particular Event As Aaron Liberator Was Playing, Banging 90s Acid Techno, But The Live DnB Act Was Good As Was The DNB Jungle DJ

Great venue, Friendly staff. Saw Dom Martin here, 11 July 2024. Great sound and performance.

Sham 69 . We all had a great evening. Staff happy and chatty . Very accomadating when a slightly anebriated 59 year old lost count over how many Hobgblins were purchased 😳. Plenty of space to sit stand or let yourself go on the dance floor. We'll be back !!!

Great little venue. Definitely visit again

The rock and live music scene is alive and well in Reading thanks to venues like The Face Bar. From regular club nights to frequent gig nights for bands from all over the country, there is definitely a night for the discerning music lover. Whilst it isn't a huge place, it doesn't need to be - it's an intimate venue with a great vibe. The drinks aren't over-priced either!

Waited in the queue for ages just to be told we couldn’t get in. We bought tickets as well and still didn’t get in. Some security were rude and pushed us alot even though we were calmly waiting. A disappointing thing to happen on my first night in reading. Avoid!

Went to an ‘Beyond 30’ daytime clubbing event here. Advert said 2 rooms. Got there and they said the only event was on the outside balcony where it was drizzling. Also, the flier said clubbing and showed a picture where it was actually dark, we were at an outside bar in broad daylight and all the flashing glow in the dark stuff they’d left us was funnily enough completely redundant. Oh and we’d looked up beforehand whether or not they have a cloakroom and the site said free cloakroom. When we got there they said cloakroom closed. So I guess for the numbers they couldn’t be bothered to run a cloakroom which was very inconvenient. Eventually they opened the inside room and funnily enough everyone went in! Cocktails were nice enough but toilets were dire. No soap, even though they’d only just opened, and only one hand dryer was working. Staff in the toilets were moaning about their shifts. Music was boring. Only good point was DJ did at least respond to song requests.

Our hen party of 12 came here for a cocktail masterclass which was £30 each. Initially they confused our booking for karaoke but soon sorted that out and apologised with a free soft drink each, so we were mixing and shaking in no time. Our host Matt was knowledgeable and friendly and turned our class into a fun competition and we each made pornstar martinis and zombies. Three of our group were happily accommodated and made mocktails as they didn’t want alcohol. We didn’t eat so I can’t really rate that but I think they missed an opportunity by not offering a small bites menu. There was a small DnB event in the rear garden which sounded good and we could’ve joined after our event. TIP: in the booking email they advise you MUST bring ID and are really strict about this even if you look 93 (local license laws). I would recommend for a fun group activity.

The music was decent and the atmosphere was good but the people there are rubbish, got kicked out with no knowledge on what I’d done, because two young girls accused me of being violent with them. I wasn’t even angry I was just confused, never been kicked out before No recollection, no chance to look at CCTV to prove my point or to know who they were. Guilty until proven innocent as always and to the young men out there watch out and stay to yourselves. Borderline racist but fair enough apparently “I’m too violent?” because I was street dancing in the corner with my friends not even paying attention to girls whatsoever. Yeah thank you so much for your inconvenience and lack of support or knowledge.

Security was horrible, kicked us out after we’d been queuing like half an hour. Very aggressive, swore at us for absolutely no reason. Must of had a bad day but still what a waste of my time! Don’t bother coming looked terrible anyway lol

unpopular opinion but i loved this clubb. £5 entry before 11 but honestly don't bother entry until 12/1am (£7) we got there around 1 and it was super full, people from around 18-25 (im 18 and didn't feel like i was surrounded by old people) lots of student ish people, very diverse. good mainstream music, very easy to dance to. Toilets really clean and all the girls super friendly, fun smoking area with nice places to sit away from the music. Not sure how much drinks are (but plenty of guys to buy them for you) overall had a good time, stayed out until 3ish and club didn't empty much. Really near to station and spoons and ubers around too. Probs would say this is the best club in reading.

Went here for the first time and the music was good, definitely a fun vibe. Amelia and Sophia were great and gave us quick service all night, super friendly and made our experi nice so much better!

It's a nice bar in which turns into a club with a dance floor as soon as you enter. A smoking area is upstairs. It can get crowded quite easily since it's a small place. Overall I thought it was nice but would prefer a bigger place.

Really small, music is sometimes questionable but that only taste, attracts a good crowd but nothing special. Okay for a night out but there's definitely better.

London luxury without the ridiculous price-tag, extensive and varied cocktail menu ticks all the boxes and the staff were always ready to help with a smile.

Music from the 90s. Quiet would be generous. Don't come before midnight on a Friday. Friendly staff. Too empty. Drinks Menu confusing

Nathan and zi are some of the most professional bouncers I have met.turned a really fun night into something memberable, 9/10.

Can't beat it, always a first choice for a night out, Excellent, clean environment, up to date, money has gone into design, best DJs in Reading.

Not cheap and not an amazing busy upbeat atmosphere but ideal when it's the end of the night and you still want to have a drink and chat

Good range of music and friendly atmosphere. Not too expensive