Part of the stretch of bars that line Cowley Road, Bar Aroma knocks out some decent cocktails for student-friendly prices.

The Venue
This long and narrow Independently owned.. cocktail bar on Cowley Road has dark floorboards, exposed brickwork and dark red walls. The bar is on the right and sports a shiny black counter. There are spotlights over the bar whose mirrored shelves are stacked to the brim with bottles of spirits just primed for much the shaking and stirring of a string of multi-coloured cocktails.

There are plasma screens at the back and down the right hand side beyond the bar are rustic tables with big chunky candles on them and whicker chairs to sit on. The white ceiling is studded with spotlights and the walls sport flowery violet canvases.

The People
Quite a young crowd finds its way here, including students as the drink prices aren’t extortionate—in particular on a Wednesday, which is designated student night. It’s pretty quiet in the week and then ramps up a notch at the weekend when the DJ blasts out chart and dance music.

The Food and Drink
While there’s nothing on tap, you’ve got San Miguel, Fosters, Stella and Budweiser in bottles. There’s no cider for some unknown reason, but they will surely have to start stocking it in the summer.

House cocktails start at £3.20 each and include Caribbean Woo Woo, which is also the most popular (Caribbean rum, vodka, cranberry juice and pinepapple juice), alongside Sex On The Beach and Mojito and Cosmopolitan (which range between £4.20 and £5.50). They are about to add sangria to the list. Wines start at £11.50 a bottle for an Argentinian Chenin Chardonnay. Happy hour is every day from 7pm-10pm, when a glass of house wine is £2 as is a bottle of house beer.

The Last Word
Although there’s nothing that really differentiate it from any other bar around here, Bar Aroma is a decent spot to imbibe an affordable cocktail.

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