Last Updated on 14 May 2026 by Dave King
Brighton has enough cocktail bars to fill a week of evenings without repeating yourself. The problem with most guides is they list 30 venues without telling you which ones are actually worth booking. This guide covers seven cocktail bars in Brighton that do different things well, from a tequila and mezcal specialist hidden in The Lanes to a New Orleans-themed whiskey bar in Kemptown, a BRAVO-recognised bar on Duke Street and a Japanese-inspired spot in the Circus Quarter. Each one is independently run, each one does cocktails as the main event rather than a side note, and each one is worth making a plan around.
Quick Reference Table
| Bar | Area | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clementine and Co | Duke Street (near seafront) | Creative seasonal cocktails, small plates | Date nights, happy hour, relaxed evenings |
| Golden Pineapple | Ship Street (The Lanes) | Tequila and mezcal specialist | Agave spirits, intimate atmosphere |
| Plotting Parlour | Steine Street (Kemptown) and Church Road (Hove) | Speakeasy-style, seasonal infusions | Craft cocktails, cosy date spot |
| Brighton Rocks | Rock Place (Kemptown) | New Orleans themed, whiskey specialist | Whiskey lovers, Kemptown nights |
| Bar Valentino | New Road (North Laine/Theatre Royal) | First-floor speakeasy, Art Deco | Hidden bars, pre-theatre drinks |
| FUMI | Circus Quarter | Japanese-inspired cocktails and dining | Something different, elegant drinks |
| No. 32 | Duke Street (The Lanes) | Bar, restaurant, late-night DJ | Groups, all-day into late night |
The Picks
Clementine and Co
Clementine and Co at 16 Duke Street finished third for Best Cocktails at the 2026 BRAVO Awards and was also named a Sustainability Champion in the top 10. It has been featured in Condé Nast Traveller and The Argus, and its OpenTable rating sits at 4.8 stars. For a bar that opened relatively recently, that is a lot of recognition in a short time.
The cocktail menu is organised by base spirit and changes seasonally. The team uses house infusions and premium ingredients, and the non-alcoholic options are made with the same level of care using zero-proof spirits rather than treated as an afterthought. Small plates and sharing boards are available if you want to eat, and the brunch menu runs Wednesday to Sunday.
Happy hour is generous: all day Sunday to Thursday (12pm to midnight) and 12pm to 7pm on Fridays. The ground floor is step-free, dogs are welcome, and there is a small outdoor terrace. The upstairs area can be booked for private events. Walk-ins are fine but booking is recommended for evenings and weekends.
Address: 16 Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AH
Golden Pineapple
Golden Pineapple on Ship Street in The Lanes is Brighton’s dedicated tequila and mezcal bar, with the city’s largest selection at over 65 bottles. If you have only ever had tequila as a shot or in a margarita, this is the place that will change your mind about the spirit entirely.
The cocktail list is short and carefully built, mixing house creations with classic twists using fresh, seasonal ingredients. The team are happy to go off-menu if you want something specific. Golden Pineapple has hosted Papa Dumpling as a kitchen residency, serving handmade dumplings with global flavours, but food residencies can change, so check the current food details before planning around it.
The atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, with table service throughout. It is the kind of bar where you sit down, trust the staff, and end up staying longer than planned. Midweek is quieter. Weekends fill up.
Address: Ship Street, Brighton (The Lanes)
Plotting Parlour
Plotting Parlour at 6 Steine Street in Kemptown is a Brighton cocktail bar staple that has been doing things properly for years. The interior is speakeasy-styled with distressed furniture, leather armchairs and 1920s swing music. The cocktails use seasonal, sustainable ingredients and house-made infusions, with signatures like the Peanut Butter and Maple Old Fashioned, the Ginger and Chilli Margarita and the House Limoncello.
There is now a second location on Church Road in Hove, which is useful if you are on that side of the city. The original Kemptown bar opens Monday to Friday from 3pm, Saturdays from 1pm and Sundays from 1pm. It closes at 11pm on weeknights and midnight on Saturdays.
This is the bar to book if you want cocktails in Brighton that feel considered and personal without being pretentious. The staff know the menu inside out and will guide you if you are not sure what to order.
Address: 6 Steine Street, Brighton BN2 1TE (also at 34 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FN)
Brighton Rocks
Brighton Rocks on Rock Place in Kemptown is themed around New Orleans and specialises in whiskey, with over 120 bottles from 22 countries. The majority are bourbon, making this the strongest whiskey bar in Brighton by a considerable margin.
Beyond the whiskey, the cocktail menu covers classics and house creations, and there is a good selection of craft beers and organic wines. The atmosphere is intimate and eclectic, the kind of place that regulars come back to because it never tries too hard. Free party hire is available for groups of up to 25 to 30 people, though full venue hire is not available on Fridays or Saturdays.
If you are exploring Kemptown’s cocktail bars in Brighton, Brighton Rocks and the Plotting Parlour are close enough to do both in one evening.
Address: 6 Rock Place, Brighton BN2 1PF
Bar Valentino
Bar Valentino sits above Tinto Taperia on New Road, near the Theatre Royal, accessed through a door with a buzzer that you could easily walk past without noticing. It is a first-floor speakeasy with Art Deco styling, red leather sofas, chrome-framed mirrors and fringed table lamps. The tiny balcony overlooks the street and is worth grabbing if you can.
The cocktail list covers classics and signatures, and the intimate setting means the bartenders have time to talk you through what they are making. It does not take reservations and it is small, so be prepared to wait if it is full. It is walk-in only, and current details are listed on its website and social media.
This is the pick if you want cocktail bars in Brighton that feel hidden and worth discovering. The location near the Theatre Royal also makes it a natural pre or post-show stop.
Address: Above Tinto Taperia, 7 New Road, Brighton BN1 1UF
FUMI
FUMI at 1 Circus Street in the Circus Quarter is a Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar where the drinks are given as much attention as the food. The concept is built around ichi-go ichi-e, the Japanese principle of treasuring the moment, and it shows in the presentation and care that goes into each drink. The Roku Negroni and Japanese-inspired whisky sour are the ones to start with.
FUMI was listed in the BRAVO 2026 Top 20 for Best Cocktails and also placed 15th for Best Wine List. The interior is striking and the atmosphere leans elegant rather than casual. It is a different kind of cocktail bar from anything else in Brighton, and if you want something that feels like a considered experience rather than just a drink, this is where to go.
Address: 1 Circus Street, Brighton BN2 9QF
No. 32
No. 32 at 32 Duke Street in The Lanes works as a restaurant during the day and transitions into a cocktail bar and late-night venue in the evening, with a resident DJ on weekends. The upstairs has a balcony and the whole space has a polished but relaxed feel.
The cocktail menu covers the expected range alongside house signatures, and the all-day food menu means you can eat and drink without moving venues. It is one of the better cocktail bars in Brighton for groups because of the space and the atmosphere, and the Duke Street location puts you right in the middle of The Lanes.
Address: 32 Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AG
Practical Tips
Book for weekends. Clementine and Co, Plotting Parlour and FUMI all take bookings and all fill up on Friday and Saturday evenings. Bar Valentino is walk-in only. Golden Pineapple keeps space for walk-ins but also takes reservations, with bookings recommended for busy Friday and Saturday evening slots.
Happy hour. Clementine and Co has the most generous happy hour in this guide: all day Sunday to Thursday. Check each venue’s social media for current deals as they change seasonally. Brighton’s midweek nightlife is strong enough that you do not need to wait until the weekend to go out.
Date nights. Golden Pineapple for something intimate. Clementine and Co for something relaxed and central. Plotting Parlour for something with character. Bar Valentino for something hidden.
Groups. No. 32 has the most space and flexibility. Brighton Rocks offers free party hire for groups up to 30.
Kemptown crawl. Start at Plotting Parlour on Steine Street, walk to Brighton Rocks on Rock Place. Two very different bars, ten minutes apart, and a proper Kemptown evening.
FAQs
What are the best cocktail bars in Brighton?
Clementine and Co on Duke Street won third place at the 2026 BRAVO Awards and is the strongest all-rounder. Golden Pineapple in The Lanes is the pick for tequila and mezcal. Plotting Parlour in Kemptown is the most established craft cocktail bar. The best cocktail bars in Brighton depend on what kind of evening you want.
Where can I find happy hour cocktails in Brighton?
Clementine and Co runs happy hour all day Sunday to Thursday and until 7pm on Fridays. Most cocktail bars in Brighton run some form of weekday deal, so check social media for current offers before heading out.
Are there speakeasy bars in Brighton?
Yes. Bar Valentino above Tinto Taperia on New Road is a proper hidden speakeasy with a buzzer entrance. Plotting Parlour has a speakeasy feel with its distressed interior and 1920s styling. Golden Pineapple is tucked away enough in The Lanes to feel like a discovery.
Which cocktail bars in Brighton are good for dates?
Golden Pineapple for intimacy and quality. Clementine and Co for a relaxed, central evening with good food. Plotting Parlour for character and craft. Bar Valentino for something secretive.
Do I need to book cocktail bars in Brighton?
For weekday evenings, most places are walk-in. For Friday and Saturday nights, booking is recommended at Clementine and Co, Plotting Parlour, FUMI and No. 32. Bar Valentino is walk-in only. Golden Pineapple accepts reservations as well as walk-ins, so book ahead at busy times if you want to be safe.
Final Thoughts
The cocktail bars in Brighton worth visiting are the ones where the drinks are the reason you go, not an add-on to a meal or a warm-up before a club. Golden Pineapple for the tequila education. Clementine and Co for the BRAVO-recognised consistency. Plotting Parlour for the craft. Brighton Rocks for the whiskey. Bar Valentino for the discovery. FUMI for the elegance. And No. 32 for the flexibility of a bar that does everything from lunch to late night. Seven bars, seven different evenings.
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