The 6 Best Cocktail Bars in Brighton

The Plotting Parlour on Steine Street in Kemptown is Brighton's most awarded cocktail room, a tiny speakeasy-style bar open from 3pm. It seats few, so the worst seat is still elbow-to-elbow with the bartender. Order a bespoke build off the seasonal list and let them lead. Go Tuesday or Wednesday early before the regulars claim the stools. Friday and Saturday it packs out fast, so book or arrive at opening.

L'Atelier du Vin in Hove runs one of Sussex's longest natural-wine lists, with cocktails as the second act, not the headline. The room is small and the staff actually talk you through the glass. Come for a low-key date or a slow pour before dinner. Order a natural wine and ask for a cocktail riff if you must. Go any weeknight between 7 and 9; Friday from 8 it fills and the worst seat is the high table by the door.

The Mesmerist in The Lanes is a three-floor cocktail-and-music bar that swings from after-work drinks to a late dance crowd. The cocktails are solid rather than cult, and the draw is the room and the band. Come for a group night, not a quiet one. Order a classic and find a booth early. Go Sunday from 6 for the calmest premium night; avoid post-match evenings when the local team plays and the upstairs turns loud.

The Hand In Hand in Kemptown is a heritage corner pub from the 1850s, one of the smallest in Brighton, that brews its own beer and keeps a short cocktail list. This is a tight, characterful room where the worst seat is basically the street. Come for a pint-then-cocktail crawl, not a sit-down evening. Order a house ale and a simple classic. Go Thursday late or Friday early; First-Friday crowds can mean a wait at the door.

Bar Valentino in Seven Dials is an Italian-leaning cocktail bar with a serious aperitivo hour and a Negroni list worth the trip. The room is small and dim, built for a date or a slow pre-dinner round. Come for an aperitivo and stay for a second. Order a Negroni and a plate of snacks. Go Tuesday or Wednesday before 9 when the regulars have not filled the stools; weekend nights get crowded, so book ahead.

Patterns on Marine Parade is a seafront cocktail-and-music venue that runs drinks upstairs and a club below, with live acts most weeks. The cocktails are decent and the view over the beach is the real order at sunset. Come for an early drink before the gig, not a refined nightcap. Order a house cocktail and take a terrace seat. Go for the sea view at golden hour; late nights the worst seat is the dark corner away from the windows.