Clementine & Co
Independent cocktail bar
An independent bar on Duke Street with creative seasonal cocktails, well-made classics and a proper alcohol-free list. Walk-ins welcome.
📍 16 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AH
Our top 10 Brighton bars
If you only have one night, start here.
- Clementine & Co
Seasonal cocktails and a great alcohol-free list on Duke Street.
The Lanes - Twisted Lemon
A cosy late-night favourite on Middle Street.
The Lanes - Cut Your Wolf Loose
Hundreds of whiskies by the glass in North Laine.
North Laine - Bar50ml
Italian aperitivo and a 50ml Martini.
North Laine - Brighton Rocks
New Orleans spirit and more than 120 whiskies in Kemptown.
Kemptown - The Golden Pineapple
Table-service cocktails and dumplings in the Lanes.
The Lanes - Plateau
Natural wine, cocktails and vinyl.
The Lanes - Permit Room
Bombay-style bar snacks and award-winning cocktails.
The Lanes - The Plotting Parlour
Cocktails and drag shows on Steine Street.
Kemptown - Bohemia
Three floors, two terraces and late nights in the Lanes.
The Lanes
Map of Brighton bars
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Bars in and around the Lanes
The old town's narrow streets and the roads around them, from Duke Street and Ship Street to Middle Street and East Street, with the city's biggest cluster of bars.
Swipe to see all 17 bars →
Twisted Lemon
Late-night cocktail bar
A cosy late-night bar on Middle Street with classics and its own house cocktails.
📍 41 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL
🕒 Mon to Sat noon to midnight; Sun noon to 11.30pm (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
The Golden Pineapple
Table-service cocktail bar
An intimate table-service bar on Ship Street in the Lanes, with Papa Dumpling serving food inside.
📍 14 Ship St, Brighton BN1 1AD
Plateau
Natural wine and cocktail bar
A natural wine bar on Bartholomews with sharing plates, cocktails and vinyl.
📍 1 Bartholomews, Brighton BN1 1HG
Bohemia
Cocktail bar and restaurant
Three floors and two terraces on Meeting House Lane in the Lanes, with a private cocktail bar upstairs. Open until 3am at the weekend.
📍 54-55 Meeting House Ln, Brighton BN1 1HB
Twisted Lime
Late-night cocktail bar
The sister bar to Twisted Lemon at the seafront end of Middle Street, a short walk from the beach.
📍 1 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL
Rumour Has It
Aperitivo bar
An aperitivo bar and cafe on Dukes Lane, opened in December 2025, with cocktails and wine.
📍 10 Dukes Ln, Brighton BN1 1BG
The Mesmerist
Lounge bar
A dapper lounge bar on Prince Albert Street in the Lanes, open until 1am or later.
📍 1-3 Prince Albert St, Brighton BN1 1HE
The Bootlegger
Speakeasy-style bar
A speakeasy-inspired bar on Middle Street near the seafront, with classic cocktails and live jazz, swing, blues and rock 'n' roll.
📍 78 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL
Oculist
Cocktail bar with a roof terrace
A cocktail bar and late-night DJ venue on Boyce's Street with a two-tier roof terrace.
📍 2 Boyce's St, Brighton BN1 1AN
Alcotraz
Immersive prison cocktail bar
An immersive night in a mock prison on Kings Road. You bring a spirit and the bartenders make you three cocktails from it.
📍 13 Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 1NE
Permit Room
All-day bar and cafe
Best Cocktail, BRAVO Awards 2024
Dishoom's Bombay-style bar and cafe on East Street, with cocktails, bar snacks and curries.
📍 32 East St, Brighton BN1 1HL
Burnt Orange
Restaurant and late bar
A neighbourhood restaurant and late-night bar on Middle Street with wood-fired small plates and well-made drinks.
📍 59 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL
The Cricketers
Historic pub
Said to be the oldest pub in Brighton, pouring since 1547.
📍 15 Black Lion Street, Brighton
The Pump House
Historic pub
A Lanes pub dating from 1766, with a stone fireplace carved with the original owner's initials.
📍 The Lanes, Brighton
Bath Arms
Historic pub
Built in 1868, with exposed fireplaces. Dogs are welcome.
📍 The Lanes, Brighton
East Street Tap
Craft beer bar
A craft beer bar focused on American beers such as Trillium, Alchemist and Brooklyn.
📍 East Street, Brighton
Bars in North Laine
Independent shops by day and small bars by night, around Trafalgar Street, North Road, Queens Road and New Road.
Swipe to see all 9 bars →
Cut Your Wolf Loose
Whisky bar and bottle shop
A modern whisky bar on Trafalgar Street with hundreds of whiskies by the glass and single-cask bottles to take home.
📍 23 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4EQ
Bar50ml
Italian aperitivo bar
Italian aperitivo from Emilia Romagna on St George's Place, with classic cocktails, a signature 50ml Martini and Lambrusco. Opened in 2025.
📍 10 St George's Pl, Brighton BN1 4GB
Shuffle Bar & Jukebox
Jukebox cocktail bar
A cocktail bar on York Place where you choose the music on the jukebox.
📍 27 York Pl, Brighton BN1 4GU
Bar Valentino
Upstairs cocktail bar
An upstairs cocktail bar on New Road, billed as cocktails with a view.
📍 7A New Rd, Brighton BN1 1UF
VOYA
Bar and listening venue
A bar, restaurant and audio venue on North Road with cocktails, small plates and curated music.
📍 34 North Rd, Brighton BN1 1YB
The Rossi Bar
Live music bar
A live music bar on Queens Road with cocktails and late events.
📍 8 Queens Rd, Brighton BN1 3WA
The Basketmakers
Traditional pub
An award-winning, family- and dog-friendly North Laine pub.
📍 12 Gloucester Road, Brighton
The Dorset
Pub
A North Laine pub that has been open for over 200 years, with an outdoor terrace and an open fire.
📍 28 North Road, Brighton
North Laine Brewhouse
Brewpub
A pub with its own microbrewery, Sunday roasts, quiz nights and live music.
📍 27 Gloucester Place, Brighton
Bars in Kemptown
East of the Palace Pier: St James's Street, Steine Street and Marine Parade, with cabaret, drag and late-night bars.
Swipe to see all 10 bars →
The Plotting Parlour
Cocktail bar
A cocktail bar on Steine Street with food, cocktails and drag shows. Closed on Mondays.
📍 6 Steine St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TE
The Birdcage
Cocktail and entertainment bar
A cocktail bar on Marine Parade with live entertainment.
📍 11-12 Marine Parade, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TL
Nautilus Lounge
Cocktail lounge
A low-lit cocktail lounge on St James's Street in Kemptown.
📍 129-130 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TH
The Black Dove
Cocktail bar and pub
A cocktail bar and craft beer pub on St James's Street.
📍 74 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PA
Madam Lola's
Cabaret bar
An artist-run cabaret and vaudeville venue in a Grade II listed building with a copper dome on St George's Road.
📍 83 St George's Rd, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1EF
Brighton Rocks
New Orleans-style bar
An intimate Kemptown bar on Rock Place with cocktails, organic wine and more than 120 whiskies, with a focus on bourbon.
📍 6 Rock Pl, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PF
Fallen Angel
Quirky bar
A relaxed, quirky bar on Grafton Street with cocktails, gin, beer and wine.
📍 24 Grafton St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1AQ
Stargazer
Bar with a garden
A bar on High Street with an all-weather garden, sofas and a gallery, open daily from 3pm.
📍 2-3 High St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1RP
Patterns
Seafront bar and club
A seafront bar, club and gig venue on Marine Parade since 2015, with a south-facing terrace. Open until 4am on Friday and Saturday.
📍 10 Marine Parade, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TL
St George's Inn
Pub
A Kemptown pub with a south-facing beer garden.
📍 33 Sudeley Street, Brighton
Bars on the seafront
Bars in the Kings Road Arches, right on the beach.
Swipe to see all 3 bars →
Shelter Hall
Food and drinks hall
A seafront food hall in the Kings Road Arches with seven kitchens, two bars, a sea-view terrace and balconies.
📍 152-154 Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB
Fortune of War
Seafront pub
A seafront pub built in 1882, fitted out with parts made from boats and with a terrace on the beach.
📍 King's Road, Brighton
Star & Garter
Historic pub
A seafront pub dating from the 1750s, with a pan-Asian menu.
📍 16-17 Little East Street, Brighton
Bars in Hove
Relaxed neighbourhood bars along Church Road, Portland Road and Victoria Grove, plus Preston Street and Hove seafront.
Swipe to see all 6 bars →
Bar Medusa
Cocktail bar
A Preston Street bar focused on service and beautifully presented cocktails.
📍 20 Preston St, Brighton BN1 2HN
Tipsy Mares
Wine and cocktail bar
A Church Road wine bar with self-pour wine machines and cocktails made with Sussex spirits.
📍 34 Church Rd, Hove BN3 2FN
before... the devil knows you're dead
Cocktail bar
A low-lit cocktail bar on Portland Road in Hove for relaxed evenings and catch-ups. Open late at the weekend.
📍 173 Portland Rd, Hove BN3 5QJ
Babble
Beach bar and restaurant
A bar and restaurant at Hove Beach Park on the seafront, from brunch to drinks. Cashless.
📍 The Beach, Kingsway, Hove BN3 4GP
Tapestry
Neighbourhood bar
Hove's neighbourhood bar on Victoria Grove, with food, drinks and live music.
📍 10 Victoria Grove, Hove BN3 2LJ
Old Albion
Pub and gin palace
A Hove drinking den and gin palace with more than 40 gins and a good craft beer selection.
📍 110 Church Road, Hove
Brighton cocktail trails
Four routes in walking order, with the time between each bar. See them all on a map.
The Lanes
6 bars · about 10 minutes on foot in total
- 1Clementine & Co16 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AH
- 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
- 2Rumour Has It10 Dukes Ln, Brighton BN1 1BG
- 🚶 about 2 min to the next bar
- 3The Golden Pineapple14 Ship St, Brighton BN1 1AD
- 🚶 about 3 min to the next bar
- 4Twisted Lemon41 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL
- 🚶 about 2 min to the next bar
- 5Burnt Orange59 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL
- 🚶 about 2 min to the next bar
- 6The Bootlegger78 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1AL
North Laine
5 bars · about 15 minutes on foot in total
- 1Bar50ml10 St George's Pl, Brighton BN1 4GB
- 🚶 about 3 min to the next bar
- 2Shuffle Bar & Jukebox27 York Pl, Brighton BN1 4GU
- 🚶 about 3 min to the next bar
- 3Cut Your Wolf Loose23 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4EQ
- 🚶 about 5 min to the next bar
- 4VOYA34 North Rd, Brighton BN1 1YB
- 🚶 about 4 min to the next bar
- 5The Rossi Bar8 Queens Rd, Brighton BN1 3WA
Kemptown
5 bars · about 10 minutes on foot in total
- 1The Plotting Parlour6 Steine St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TE
- 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
- 2The Birdcage11-12 Marine Parade, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TL
- 🚶 about 2 min to the next bar
- 3Nautilus Lounge129-130 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TH
- 🚶 about 6 min to the next bar
- 4Brighton Rocks6 Rock Pl, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PF
- 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
- 5The Black Dove74 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1PA
Hove
4 bars · about 46 minutes on foot in total
- 1Bar Medusa20 Preston St, Brighton BN1 2HN
- 🚶 about 19 min to the next bar
- 2Tapestry10 Victoria Grove, Hove BN3 2LJ
- 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
- 3Tipsy Mares34 Church Rd, Hove BN3 2FN
- 🚶 about 26 min to the next bar
- 4before... the devil knows you're dead173 Portland Rd, Hove BN3 5QJ
More Brighton bar guides
- Cocktail barsEvery cocktail bar in our Brighton guide in one place: speakeasies, hotel bars, award winn
- Date night and hidden barsRomantic and tucked-away cocktail bars in Brighton and Hove: candlelit lounges, table-serv
- Fun bars for groupsBrighton bars for birthdays, hen and stag dos and nights out: cabaret, drag shows, a jukeb
- Late nightBrighton cocktail bars that stay open late, from the Lanes and Middle Street to Kemptown a
- Seafront and terracesBrighton and Hove bars by the sea or with a terrace: beach bars, roof terraces and seafron
- Whisky and wineThe best Brighton bars for whisky and wine, from hundreds of whiskies on Trafalgar Street
- Pubs and beer barsThe best pubs in Brighton: historic boozers, real ale pubs and craft beer bars.
- The LanesCocktail bars in and around Brighton's Lanes: Middle Street, Ship Street, Duke Street, Duk
- North LaineBars in North Laine and around Queens Road and New Road, including a whisky bar and an Ita
- KemptownCocktail bars in Kemptown: St James's Street, Steine Street, Marine Parade and St George's
- Hove and the seafrontBars in Hove along Church Road and Portland Road, on Preston Street and by the sea.
- Cocktail trailsFour ready-made Brighton cocktail trails on foot, the Lanes, North Laine, Kemptown and Hov
Know before you go
- 🚶 It's a walking cityThe Lanes, North Laine and Kemptown are all within about 15 minutes' walk of each other.
- 🗓️ Weekends get busyBrighton fills up at the weekend and in summer. Book where you can, or go early.
- 🌊 Bring a layerIt can be windy on the seafront, even in summer.
- 🍹 Low and noClementine & Co has a proper alcohol-free list. Most good bars will make you something without alcohol.
- 🆔 Bring IDYou must be 18 to drink in England and many bars ask for ID if you look under 25.
- 🌙 Closing timesHours vary through the week. Check before you head out.
Your questions
What is the best cocktail bar in Brighton?
Start with Clementine & Co on Duke Street, Twisted Lemon on Middle Street and Cut Your Wolf Loose for whisky. Brighton Rocks in Kemptown and Bar50ml in North Laine are also worth the walk.
Where are the best areas for cocktails in Brighton?
The Lanes have the most bars close together. North Laine is good for independents and Kemptown for lively bars and cabaret. Hove is best for relaxed neighbourhood bars.
Where can I get a cocktail by the sea in Brighton?
Try Shelter Hall in the Kings Road Arches, Babble on Hove seafront or the terrace at Patterns on Marine Parade.
Which Brighton bars are open late?
Bohemia in the Lanes opens until 3am at the weekend and Patterns until 4am on Friday and Saturday. Twisted Lemon and Twisted Lime are known as late bars. Check before you go.
Is there a good whisky bar in Brighton?
Cut Your Wolf Loose on Trafalgar Street has hundreds of whiskies by the glass. Brighton Rocks in Kemptown has more than 120.
What is the oldest pub in Brighton?
The Cricketers in The Lanes dates from 1547. The Pump House (1766), the Star & Garter (1750s) and the Bath Arms (1868) are not far behind.
Who wrote this guide
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run cocktail events in more than 20 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland and have worked with hundreds of bars since 2022. We love Brighton's bars, so we put this guide together from our own research and trusted local press.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
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