A Night Out in Norwich

The Norwich nightlife is buzzing and these are some of my go-to spots

Coming from the tiny city of Geneva where the nightlife is lackluster Norwich felt like a whole new exciting world for me to explore. The drinking age in the UK is 18 first of all, so even though I was still underage in the US, in Norwich I had the freedom to go out to clubs and bars without the fear or anxiety of getting in trouble, not to mention the thriving club, pub, and bar scene.

Cecilia's

I've written about Cecilia's Cocktail Bar in three different blogs and I just can't seem to stress enough how fascinated I was with this bar. I felt like a kid in a candy shop surrounded by all the pink, flowers, lights, and sugary sweet cocktails. The drinks here are absolutely delicious, especially the fish bowls which are so fun to share with friends. This place is perfect for celebrating a birthday or a girls night out especially if you want to dress up and take cute pictures! The pop music fit right in with the fairy garden meets trendy pink club aesthetic. I even brought Julian here when he visited to get drinks with my new friends.

Mantra

Before Norwich, I had been to one club in my hometown for an 18+ night but it was a super weird vibe inside and I never felt the desire to go back. Going out to clubs in Norwich on the other hand was unlike any night-out experience I had had before in the best way possible. Mantra was one of the popular clubs in Norwich that my flatmates especially liked and invited me to go out with them one night. I could feel the music in my bones as we danced and sang out on the dance floor surrounded by purple and blue ambient lighting and fog from the fog machine. I don't think I had experienced such exuberance on a night out in college before. The drinks can add up quickly here so I recommend to drink before at your flat or stop at a local pub in town first. One thing I wish I had for my clubbing adventures was a fanny pack or a small purse to keep my essentials in because it gets too hot to keep a jacket on. I like to bring a few pounds with me so that I don't use my card too much when buying drinks but only bring what you need so you don't lose it and make sure to have a few pound coins to pay for the coat check so you can dance and move around freely. One thing I like about Mantra is that they have an outdoor patio where you can chill if you need a breather from dancing or want to chat with friends for a bit with drinks from the outdoor bar. Another fun club is The Waterfront, which is specifically catered to UEA students but its in the city centre as opposed to the LCR club on campus. Friday nights, most UEA students will at least go to The Waterfront which is where I won a free t-shirt with Keanu Reeves on it! There are many clubs in Norwich that I have yet to experience and cannot wait to check off my list but I couldn't write about a night out without mentioning Mantra and The Waterfront.

The Wallow

If you're in the mood for something a little more chill I 100% recommend going to The Wallow Wine Bar. The vibes inside this small wine bar are super cozy and relaxed with dim lighting and three floors with spread out tables, chairs, and couches for small groups of people to sit together as they enjoy wine and charcuterie boards. The technology here is unique from anything I've seen, the wines are hooked up to dispensers so you can taste various wines to find what you like. You are provided with a card that you insert into the machine, select the wine you would like, select the amount of wine (full pour, half pour, small tasting), and then it records what you drink throughout the night so when you are ready to check out they can scan the card to easily give you the bill. It's convenient because you can fill your glass whenever you want without needing to wait for a server or a bartender. They also have charcuterie boards and a plethora of cheeses, meats, and all the best accoutrements to snack on with a glass of wine. Because of the relaxed vibe I didn't feel the need to dress up like I would for the club or Cecilia's. I would go for a simplistic casual outfit consisting of a comfortable turtleneck, jeans, and my puffer jacket for example. I also visited the wine bar with my mom, aunt, and cousin and while I wasn't feeling in the mood to drink wine I still had a fun night chatting and savoring the charcuterie. For those not drinking there are other beverages to choose from, my cousin and I both had a fancy lemonade while my mom and aunt drank wine.

Rooftop Gardens

In preparation for traveling to Norwich I followed countless instagram accounts of Norwich local businesses, Norwich bloggers, and really anything Norwich related which ultimately helped me discover many of my favorite places including the Rooftop Gardens. I stumbled upon their instagram to learn that it was Norwich's first rooftop bar and that they had just recently opened up. This is a great place to go if you are looking for an upscale dining experience and delectable handcrafted cocktails, not to mention the trendy aesthetic of sitting on a rooftop overlooking the city with the breeze flowing through your hair as you drink. It was March and still too cold to sit outside on the rooftop when my sister and I went to Rooftop Gardens, but the inside had a contemporary modern luxe aesthetic with gold accents, light fixtures, and large grey velvet booths to sit in. We weren't super hungry so we opted the share the sampler platter containing fried halloumi sticks, fried camembert bites with dipping sauces and chutneys, salad, and bread which was just what we needed to feel satisfied. For drinks Sav kept it classic and ordered a mojito. I ordered something new to me, the English garden cocktail, a delicious blend of gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, apple juice, and simple syrup. It was a very classy evening but I can't wait until its warm so I can sit on the rooftop! They also serve afternoon tea.