Cocktail Bars in Brighton

Those of you with a hankering for something a little different in Brighton will find your mecca in The Mesmerist. From cocktail bar and burlesque space to circus showroom and music venue, this 1930s inspired bar make no bones about the top notch entertainment and tipples they provide. From ginger biscuit based treats to cherry flavoured wonders reminiscent of your childhood, you'll be swooning all the way back to the 21st Century.

A huge hit with the after work crowd, Be At One delivers a show-stopping menu to Brighton's cocktail aficionados. Our favourites are the Candy Pants, Irish Disco Biscuit and the Cuban Zombie, but there really is a drink for all tastes and preferences here. Come between 4.30pm and 8pm to make use of the happy hour discounts and finish with a dance; the venue opens until 3am at weekends.

If you're keen to ditch the bog-standard pina colada and sip on some quirkier concoctions instead, head to Brighton's newest secret basement bar, Alcotraz Cell Block One Three. Set in a prison, you'll be made to don orange boilersuits before smuggling in contraband and enjoying a night of debauchery with the crooked prison guards.

No 32 is an ambient hangout nestled in Brighton's The Lanes where you can find delicious eats by day and masterful mixology come nightfall. Ultimately stylish and oozing late night comfort, No 32 is the ideal place to lounge with a cocktail or two as the night begins to unfold before you. DJs play behind the decks on the weekends and the dance floor gets pretty heated. 

There's only two words you need to know to fall in love with MEATliquor, and they are: burgers and cocktails. Already famous for their dripping American-style patties and hearty flavours (we urge you to gorge on the BBQ wings), MEATliquor also harbour a sweet little selection of cocktails, from their own original list to classics such as a Mojito. Even better, they go down a storm with the grub. 

It's not only Victorian wares and Twentieth Century flair that The Black Dove boasts, you're likely to find a wonderment of cocktails in here too. While you are swanning around taking in the galleon-inspired basement snug and vintage knick knacks dotted about the place, This quirky Brighton bar's master mixologists will whip up a selection of cleverly crafted cocktails and home made concoctions, try the Sazerac if you dare. 

Opened up in The Brighton Harbour Hotel, HarBAR is a swanky spot for sipping by the sea. Head to the modern and stylish lounge to sit by the bar or take up a leather booth and sip on a fruity and fresh range of concoctions.

Inspired by the artist Parisian cafes of the 1930s, Metrodeco is a fantastic place to unwind with friends. Originally created as a boutique cafe, the team at Metrodeco have taken their enthusiasm for tea and wonderfully applied it to cocktail making. Keep an eye out for the Metrodeco Devil, a cocktail that infuses gin with their special The Devil is a Women green tea. 

Replete with eye-wateringly beautiful interiors, the Ivy in the Lanes also serves up some stunningly good drinks. The bar like to keep thinks seasonal and bright, with cocktails designed to complement the decor. Head over for the chance to sample blood orange margaritas, salted caramel espresso martinis and a peach liqueur-laced Negroni.

With a menu that updates with the seasons, The Fix is a pretty little spot offers up some very cool drinks. Adjoined to the Artist Residence, the crowd here are laid back and creative, and looking to dive into some of the best cocktails in Brighton to a chilled out soundtrack of reggae.

Named for an 18th Century Brightonian who captured the heart of a king, Fitzherberts is a little slice of historical glamour in the heart of the lanes. With a little rooftop bar perfect for sunning yourself when the season's right, they've got it all, from secret garden-inspired sharing cocktails, to vegan hot dogs.

Nestled near the seafront, Drake's bar wonderfully combines classic cocktail recipes with the style and opulence of metropolitan life. This dimly lit den boasts a wide range of cocktails, incorporating a number of different spirits and ingredients. A popular mixture served here is the Boulevardier, which perfectly balances the bitter taste of Campari with smokey Bourbon and Antic Formula Sweet Vermouth. 

Housed in a traditional Edwardian building in the heart of The Lanes, Bohemia might not be the first place you'd look for a cocktail in Brighton, but give us a chance will you! Take your place in this historical building, sink into the grand furniture, heck, go up on to the rooftop terrace if you fancy; all as you discover some of Bohemia's molecular cocktails, brimming with dry ice, pieces of Brighton rock and so much more.

Never mind about following the yellow brick road, it's time to follow the yellow brick alleyway. Tucked away in The Lanes, one of Brighton's best cocktail bars, The Twisted Lemon, is churning out a fun selection of flavours and concoctions all week long, even boasting a nine-hour happy hour between the hours of 12-9pm every Sunday to Friday.  

Adding more than a little classic to your cocktails, this prohibition-themed bar in St George's Place uses nothing but the finest vintage spirits to craft some astounding drinks. From a traditional Champagne Cocktail to a syrupy Mary Pickford, they're all about serving up some class in your glass.

Prohibition may have ended, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a little roaring twenties flair to be found in the city, especially when it comes to cocktails. Found above The Wick Inn, The Speakeasy is a retro retreat from the hubbub of Brighton and something of a secret. From tantalising whisky flavours to 'get in and grab 'em' gin-based cocktails, The Speakeasy is whipping up a vintage treat.