The Botanist Bar & Restaurant Coventry

Unit 4, Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre, Broadgate, Coventry CV1 1LL, United Kingdom
+44 24 7710 3505
$$$ Restaurant , Bar , Cocktail bar , Coffee shop , Dessert restaurant , Gastropub , Modern European restaurant , Pub , Wine bar
(2463 Reviews)
Price Range £20–40

The Botanist Bar & Restaurant Coventry offers a lively and thoughtfully designed dining and drinking experience right in the heart of Coventry’s Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre. This spot blends the casual pub vibe with a modern European gastropub menu, making it an adaptable destination whether you’re after dinner with friends, an evening cocktail, or just a relaxing coffee and dessert.

The interior atmosphere stands out immediately thanks to the impressive glass skylight, which floods the upper-level seating area with natural light and provides a view across the Coventry skyline. The décor leans heavily into a botanical theme with an abundance of plants, both real and artificial, creating a fresh and somewhat tranquil backdrop juxtaposed with the buzz of a busy bar. Water features add a gentle, natural flow through the space, contributing to a distinct ambiance that feels both contemporary and comforting.

The Botanist suits visitors who appreciate a social setting with room to spread out—whether gathered around at the bar or seated upstairs. It’s a lively venue especially on Friday evenings when live music fills the space, often inviting music requests from the audience. This makes it a good choice for those wanting an energetic yet welcoming evening out in Coventry’s city centre.

When it comes to the menu, there is a good balance of options catering well to various diets, including some solid vegan choices. Sides like buffalo loaded fries and grilled flatbread work well for sharing, and starters such as camembert to share or crispy mushrooms offer hearty, approachable flavors. The cocktail list is a highlight, with creative twists on classics such as the Pornstar Martini and an espresso martini that complements the bar’s botanical vibe.

Visitors should note that the bar area can get quite busy, so ordering a couple of drinks at once can help keep the flow going without waiting. The staff are consistently friendly and helpful, even during peak times like major sporting events, making the service feel attentive despite the crowd. It’s a spot that balances casual drinking and dining with moments of refined attention to aesthetic and comfort.

Overall, The Botanist feels best suited for groups of friends or colleagues looking for an upbeat city centre venue that doesn’t shy away from style or substance. Early evenings or Friday night live music sessions are ideal times to experience the venue’s energy, while daytime visits benefit from the natural light and spacious layout. Whether stopping by for a cocktail, sitting down to a full meal, or finishing off with dessert, The Botanist offers a distinct blend of local conviviality and modern gastropub charm.

2463 Reviews
Claire Dragon

17 Nov 2025

It feels magical inside! Awesome atmosphere & the drinks are lovely. I only had dessert here which was amazing. Very busy at the bar so I found it a good idea to get two drinks at a time friendly & helpful staff & there was live music the night I went in & they sounded fantastic. Definitely recommended & will go back again

Pud

05 Nov 2025

A very unique place. The skylight is a feature which will amaze any person who will enter the premises. Friendly staff and good drinks with a lot to offer. We did not eat there this time but will certainly try something in the future. Decor is very unique, hence the name. Plenty of plants dotted around and a water feature!

Tom Mason

26 Oct 2025

A great place to visit with friends. We went with some good friends of ours and were seated in the upstairs seating area. The great open space was amazing with glass roof above us seeing out across the coventry skyline. The decor is traditional to the botanist brand with plants and artificial plants all around. There are a couple of stream like water features as you walk around too. Each friday and saturday they have live music and band equipment in one of the seating areas. The quality of the food was great, my favourite was the hanging kebab, I upgraded my fries to the buffalo loaded fries, and again really nice, (just maybe a bit too much hot sauce left in the bottom of the bowl when finished). I would recomend the Camenbert starter to share, absolutely amaizing with the camenbert baked in the bread. You also get extra bread to dunk. They offer a wide range of drinks including IPA's and a full cocktail list. The service was OK, but difficult to get the attention of a waiter/waitress for the bill. We also had a meal brought out wrong, it was brought back out freshly made correctly whilst we were still eating our mains (withing around 7-8 minutes) all in all A great evening with friends.

Neil T

14 Oct 2025

A lovely charming place with great atmosphere. I had dinner here on Friday night, lots of good vegan options and service was amazing. It's really beautiful inside and they have seating on 2 levels. Live music was playing Friday evening and the band took music requests. Will certainly be back for more, when I'm back in Coventry.

Simon Matome

10 Oct 2025

We came during an off peak period so the restaurant was understaffed, I guess they couldn’t predict the turnout for the Euro games. Taken in context, the service was really good. With the menu they cover most diets, so you would hardly have nothing to eat. I got their hanging chicken kebab which was really good, meat had a hint of a much better Nando’s peri-peri flavour. The lighting inside the restaurant was adequate, with warm coloured lights and wood to avoid the cold feeling aesthetics. There are ample spots either good lighting to take photos if you are of those types. As for accessibility, there is elevator access to the restaurant and staff approach you by the door to help if you need any. From my experience there seems to no online ordering and payment system implemented at the restaurant like the types you would see at Wetherspoons. Overall I had a great time at the restaurant.

Rob Cassey

08 Oct 2025

Was here last night for a works team meal. We had been to one of the sister restaurants in Birmingham so we're hoping for more of the same. We were not disappointed. The location is fantastic being so central, and the decor is so relaxing and unusual. Food was great, the team mainly enjoying the great hanging kebabs that they do. Not too expensive and enjoyed by all.

Dave Hurr

04 Oct 2025

What a delightful ambiance and friendly and efficient staff. Our server Rachel was exceptionally helpful and patient during our slow ordering process. As to the food we were there with family celebrating a birthday we all enjoyed the food, including the children in our group. The drinks are the usual restraunt prices. We loved our first visit, we will be going back there. Thank you.

Blecyn

28 Sep 2025

It looked really nice here. Beautiful atmosphere. The meals we had were good. Service was a bit sloppy though (maybe they need more staff). I will visit again and I recommend.

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