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Bar -OH (Cambridge)

Intimate Cambridge cocktail bar with crafted drinks, live-music nights and an attentive, late-evening atmosphere.

4.8

Bar -OH is a lively cocktail and live-music bar tucked on 20 Downing Place in central Cambridge, known for attentive service, late-evening opening hours and a compact, convivial interior that suits after-work drinks and weekend nights out. Expect crafted cocktails, a varied drinks list, occasional live acts and a buzzy ambience in a compact city-centre setting that attracts locals and students alike.

A brief summary to Bar -OH

  • 20 Downing Pl, Cambridge, CB2 3DT, GB
  • +441223319420
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1 to 3 hours
  • Mid ranged
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
  • Monday 4 pm-1 am
  • Tuesday 4 pm-1 am
  • Wednesday 4 pm-1 am
  • Thursday 4 pm-1 am
  • Friday 4 pm-1 am
  • Saturday 4 pm-1 am
  • Sunday 4 pm-1 am

Local tips

  • Arrive early on busy evenings to secure bar seating; the interior is compact and fills quickly.
  • Check the evening’s programme if you want live music—sets are often scheduled and change the mood markedly.
  • If you prefer quieter conversation, plan a midweek visit or the earlier part of the evening before peak hours.
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Bar -OH location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
  • Weather icon Clear Skies
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures

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Discover more about Bar -OH

A compact, buzzy drinking den

Bar -OH occupies a narrow town-centre footprint that feels intentionally close and sociable: low ceilings, clustered tables and a long service bar give the interior a cozy, slightly clandestine energy ideal for conversation and cocktail tasting. Lighting is warm and low; on busy nights the room fills with chatter and music, while quieter evenings let the bottles and glassware take centre stage.

Drinks and musical character

The bar’s core personality rests on cocktails and a steady, carefully rotated drinks list paired with scheduled live-music evenings; the result is a venue equally comfortable for crafted tipples and amplified small-scale performances. Cocktails are presented with an emphasis on balance and seasonal touches, and the wine and spirits selection supports both classic and contemporary mixed drinks.

Service, staff and pace

Service is a deliberate element of the experience here—staff aim to be attentive and efficient, particularly during the evening shift when the room moves quickly. Because the space is compact, service rhythms shape the overall mood: rapid turnover at the bar during peak hours, more leisurely interactions at tables when the venue is quieter.

Atmosphere through the week

Bar -OH opens late-afternoon and runs well into the small hours each day, creating a gentle weekday hum that escalates into livelier weekend energy. The interior responds to programming and crowd size: the same room can feel intimate and reflective on a midweek evening or convivial and loud when a live set draws a crowd.

Who it suits

This bar suits small groups, couples and solo drinkers who enjoy well-made cocktails and short live sets. The compact interior and evening-focused hours make it a natural choice for after-work drinks, pre-dinner cocktails and weekend nights; it’s less suited to large groups needing lots of space or daytime meal-focused visits.

Local note and setting

Set on 20 Downing Place in Cambridge, Bar -OH sits among other central-city venues and benefits from the dense urban context: nearby nightlife, university energy and a steady stream of evening footfall. The city-centre location means the bar feels part of a broader late-evening circuit, sharing the neighbourhood buzz without sprawling beyond its intimate footprint.

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