The best bars in Brighton

The raffish Prince Regent (later King George IV) set a precedent when he built the exotic Brighton Pavilion – the ultimate party palace in the seaside city. Thrill-seeking Regency types followed hot on his Royal heels, with drinking parlours popping up all over the once sedate fishing village to quench their thirst and predilections. Today, as home to one of the UK’s largest and most vibrant LBGTQ+ communities, a booming student population and an enclave of creative professionals, Brighton’s liberal spirit is still very much alive and kicking. And with a pub-to-resident ratio of one drinking establishment per 250 residents across the city (which includes the neighbouring resort of Hove), there’s something to sate every taste, from elegant cocktail bars to independent small-batch brewers and traditional historic taverns with colourful tales to modern concept-style spaces. Here’s our guide to the best bars in Brighton.

The Plotting Parlour

Best bar in Brighton for: grown-up cocktails

This cocktail bar’s seductive décor – all muted walls, gleaming glass and lighting dimmed just so – invites you to gossip and conspire. Opened in 2023 following the success of its sister in the Old Steine, this Hove incarnation attracts a well-dressed pre-dinner crowd. Enthusiastic bartenders distil their extensive mixology knowledge to create delightfully surprising concoctions for the +20-strong cocktail menu, divided into signature, legacy and non-alcoholic. The ongoing magic alchemy is exacting, with just 30 per cent of new inventions deemed worthy of passing clients’ lips. The divine signature cocktail, Meringue Tang, is pure wizardry. Blindfolded, you would swear you’re tasting a lemon meringue pie, save for the Absolut vodka and homemade limoncello hidden within. The cheekily named Fear & Loathing more than deserves its place as a legacy cocktail, with its blend of bitter-tasing mezcal and Amaro Montenegro perfectly offset by the sweetness of roasted pineapple and plantation rum. You’ll leave plotting your next visit.

Address: 34 Church Road, Brighton and Hove, BN3 2FN
Website: theplottingparlour.uk

Bison Beach Bar @ Sea Lanes

Best bar in Brighton for: sundowners

Brighton’s Madeira Drive, which stretches from the Palace Pier to the marina, is currently in its long-overdue Renaissance era. A buzzy new scene is emerging organically, kick-started by the launch of open-air swimming centre Sea Lanes. Award-winning Bison Beach Bar opened its doors in 2023 and is catnip for hipster types devoted to craft beer, offering a range of both draught and bottle ales, including See Side APA, Beast Street IPA and Holy Calamity Session Pale. If beer isn’t your thing, there’s an extensive wine list to choose from before bagging a spot on the picnic-style benches on the terrace for one of the best places to watch the sun slip down towards the sea. After dark, the venue is also popular with party people warming up for a night’s clubbing at Concorde 2, just a stone’s throw away, and there’s an onsite old-school Otomatic photo booth for the obligatory face-pulling black and white photographs.

Address: 300 Madeira Drive, Brighton and Hove, BN2 1BX
Website: bisonbeer.co.uk

The Basketmakers Arms

Best bar in Brighton for: Drinking like a local

Ask any local for directions to The Basketmakers (drop the ‘Arms’) and they will wind up telling you an alcohol-fuelled story (or several) about this traditional, down-to-earth pub located on the corner of Gloucester Road in the renowned North Laines area of the city. Originally a 19th-century basket-making business selling beer on the side, it is now a firm Brighton institution. Inside, find quirky details such as a wall covered in vintage tobacco tins which open to reveal notes stashed inside, scribbled with declarations of love and tipsy wisdom, adding to its charm. In the summer, drinkers spill out onto the neighbouring streets and in the winter, the cosy interior is the perfect spot for a Sunday roast with friends. It has twice been crowned Brighton’s best pub, and this proper boozer might be the place to order a Tuaca, the Italian brandy-based liqueur adopted as Brighton’s late-night tipple of choice – some 95 per cent of pubs in the city stock it – and the pub also sporadically stocks Tuaca ice-cream. But be warned: it’s devilishly moreish.

Address: 12 Gloucester Road, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4AD
Website: thebasketmakers.pub

Drifter

Best bar in Brighton for: Curated vinyl music and people-watching

This box-fresh concept restaurant-bar (it opened in April 2024) takes its inspiration from Japan’s analogue listening bars, where people go to actively listen to music. Drifter’s location on Brighton seafront’s King’s Road arches ramps its coolness up a notch, and co-owner Rob Shenton, who brought three highly successful Riddle & Finn’s seafood restaurants to the city, brings considerable hospitality kudos to proceedings. An impressive vinyl collection is housed in the rear of the downstairs bar area, with DJs spinning ear-pleasing low-key jazz, soul and some novel African disco. In sharp contrast to its neighbours that cater to day-trippers and the party crowd, Drifter has a refreshing "less is more" approach. Here, you’ll find a carefully chosen selection of natural wines produced by small Sussex estates and wood-fired small plates featuring seasonal seafood creations like crab with fennel, radish salad and roasted seeds. Is people-watching your guilty pleasure? Head to the dining area upstairs for a fabulous bird’s-eye view of the promenade and beach.

Address: 139, King’s Arches, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2FN
Website: drifterbrighton.com

The Well

Best bar in Brighton for: Brushing up on your wine-tasting

The Kemptown area of Brighton is known for its lively LGBTQ+ bar and club scene in and around St James’s Street, but a five-minute walk takes you to the village-like St George’s Road, where you’ll find The Well. This neighbourhood bottle shop and bar has a loyal local following and the five-minute taxi ride from central Brighton is worth the extra effort if you’re an out-of-towner. The small, pared-back space is reminiscent of someone’s living room, lending it an intimate, hidden gem feel. Natural wines are a focus, with detailed hand-written labels to help you make your selection. You can also sample a range of sparkling wines produced by some of the 140 vineyards across Sussex – the county has built a reputation in recent years to rival France’s champagne region – and there’s a select range of IPAs, ciders and draught beer to keep the non-wine drinkers in the group happy. The Fried-Egg crisps are a must-try for everyone, however. If you’re sticking around a little longer, The Well has a pop-up event programme, from ring-making workshops to wines of Georgia tasting sessions.

Address: 102 St George’s Road, Kemptown, Brighton and Hove, BN2 1EA
Website: @the_well_brighton

L’Atelier Du Vin

Best bar in Brighton for: Serious wine buffs and jazz lovers

This Great Gatsby-esque wine and cocktail bar, reminiscent of a secret prohibition drinking spot, is the perfect place to drit into after a retail therapy session in the independent boutiques and eclectic stores that line the North Laine shopping quarter. The ‘L’Atelier’, or artist’s studio, aspect is reflected in the stylish yet relaxed aesthetic, curated personally by founder Steve Pineau since he opened it in 2018. Think velvet armchairs you can sink deliciously deep into, glittering chandeliers and a tinkling jazz soundtrack. Pineau has an excellent pedigree, gleaning his knowledge from the late master sommelier Gerard Basset, who founded the Hotel Du Vin chain. There are some 300 wine references to choose from, plus a spirit collection featuring rare vintage finds like Marcel Trepout, an Armagnac dating back to 1929. The cocktail menu offers classic 1920s creations such as the Mary Pickford, a syrupy delight of rum, grenadine and pineapple juice topped with a maraschino cherry. The handpicked delicately etched glassware and the bar counter made entirely from 2p pieces add a further touch of class.

Address: 10 St George’s Place, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4GB
Website: latelierduvin.co.uk

The Better Half

Best bar in Brighton for: Drinking in the décor and vibe

Tucked away in a quiet street not far from Hove’s promenade, The Better Half is the kind of pub you dream about accidentally stumbling upon. It brims with eccentric personality, with touches such as framed vintage-style portraits featuring playful slogans on the ceiling and walls, and rich tapestry-style covered banquettes. The neighbourhood has claimed this tavern as its own, due to the pub’s chilled, unpretentious vibe and drink offering, featuring classic bar staples such as locally brewed ales and beers, a thoughtfully selected wine menu and imaginative craft cocktails. Mental Vacation, with its ingredients of pineapple-infused rum, falernum, lime and banana will get any party started, and for the morning after, we recommend The Breakfast Shot, a whiskey and butterscotch schnapps paired with orange juice and blueberry vodka, served with a side of bacon to banish any fuzziness. You may want to linger to eat here, too – the extensive menu has something for every mood, from Saffron Cream Scallops to Smash Burgers Top tip: book ahead and ask for one of the kitsch booths.

Address: 1 Hove Place, Brighton
Website: thebetterhalfpub.com

The Paris House

Best bar in Brighton for: Dancing and hazy conversation

Straddling the Brighton-Hove border on Western Road, The Paris House is a doppelganger of an authentic French brasserie and bar, serving mainly Belgian beers and wine, mais oui. It has something of a raucous reputation due to it hosting live music six days a week, with bands, covering every genre from Gypsy Jazz to Swing and Blues, crammed rather comically into a tight corner nook. This is where city dwellers from every walk of life come to kick up their heels and the atmosphere is contagious. Brightonians are a friendly bunch, so expect to have more than a few alcohol-enhanced random chats, and don’t be surprised if you pop in "for just one" and find yourself dancing to the resident DJ into the wee hours of Friday or Saturday – it is licensed until 2am. But although pretty much anything goes in this bar, which perfectly embodies Brighton’s liberal, free-spirited character, remember it’s on you if you topple off a table while getting your groove on.

Address: 21 Western Road, Brighton and Hove, BN3 1AF
Website: the-paris-house.co.uk