#89Global
provisional 2026 rating
★ Currently qualifies as Kinda Decent in the Kinda Decent Index 2026.
A standout in Cardiff, judged against the size of its scene, not just the size of the city. See the full class →
This live rating may change until the incorporated world’s 50 best bars 2026 results and remaining accepted 2026 inputs are locked in a reviewed, committed snapshot and the edition is frozen.
Lab 22 is a Cardiff cocktail bar whose current ACT drinks menu highlights collaborations with independent South Wales producers.
Description source 1 · Description source 2 · Checked 2026-10-07
Owner homepage and ACT introduction checked 7 October 2026. The introduction describes collaborations with independent South Wales businesses. Publication date is not stated; this is concept-level support, not a complete menu review.
Plan Your Visit
22 Caroline Street, Cardiff CF10 1FG, United Kingdom
- Style
- Boundary-pushing Cardiff cocktail barChecked 2026-09-20 · Source
- Hours
- Sunday–Friday 17:00–02:00; Saturday 14:00–02:30.Checked 2026-09-30 · Source
- Booking
- The bar accepts an online enquiry or phone reservation and confirms each booking personally; walk-ins are welcome.Checked 2026-09-26 · Source
- Menu
- The owner publishes its ACT drinks menu with cocktail descriptions and ingredients.Checked 2026-09-26 · Source
Hours and menus can change. Check the venue’s latest details before visiting.
The score & its evidence
Seven signals. One score.
50.9 / 100
The composite combines the seven weighted signals and the published adjustments. The chart shows each signal before weighting.
Read the full calculation- Guest ratings
- 79.2
- World's 50 Best
- —None found · Checked; no qualifying signal found; contributes zero
- Top 500 Bars
- 32.0
- Spirited Awards
- —None found · Checked; no qualifying signal found; contributes zero
- Regional Recognition
- 90.7
- Serious press
- —Outside window · Evidence exists, but falls outside the scoring window; contributes zero
- Social Vibes
- 88.0
Weights: Guest ratings 23% · World's 50 Best 12% · Top 500 Bars 10% · Spirited 12% · Regional Recognition 18% · Press 10% · Social Vibes 15%
Missing evidence, confirmed none and evidence outside a scoring window each contribute zero. We do not redistribute their fixed weight to other signals.
Social Vibes
Score read updated:
Sentiment score
88/ 100
Score context
Recent Cardiff guests praise Lab 22’s distinctive cocktails, menu and friendly, knowledgeable staff. A February 2026 guest criticized the drinks’ strength and the cramped seating, so the positive read is qualified. The sample comes from one Tripadvisor listing.
Review & discussion links
How They Treat Staff
Score read updated:
Staff score
88/ 100
The existing 88/100 is a historical proprietary staff read; this source-role and date check did not independently validate it.
Score context
In a July 2024 Top 50 Cocktail Bars interview, Ewan Grieve said he had worked at Lab 22 for about two and a half years and described a team whose members motivated and supported each other. This is one named team member’s historical account, not an independent employee-review sample or confirmation of current workplace conditions.
Staff sources checked:
Sources cited for this score
- top50cocktailbars.comtop50-cocktail-bars
Top 50 Cocktail Bars interview by Charli Tomney, published 21 July 2024; Ewan Grieve’s venue-associated account. Readable public-reader capture on 8 October 2026; visit date unknown.
Crowd signal
Google 4.7★ across 924 reviews.
View on Google · Checked . Ratings and review counts can change.
Awards
Results from the three global systems scored separately in our formula.
Top 500 Bars
Regional Recognition
Regional and national lists, local awards and bartender peer picks considered for this room's Regional Recognition score. The strongest result from each program and year scores; assessed guides use the latest accepted dated status once.