Leonardo Hotels Guide to… Brighton’s Charming Cocktail Bars

Brighton’s vibrant atmosphere thrives throughout the day and night, making it the ideal place for a drink with a twist in one of its many stylish cocktail bars. Whether you’re looking to sip something sweet and refreshing, or enjoy a beverage with more of a kick, there are plenty of cocktails to choose from as you kick back and relax by the sea. Taking this into account, Leonardo Hotel have carefully selected a few of our favourite Brighton cocktail bars to indulge a drink or two…

The Cocktail Shack

The self-stated ‘purveyors of rum, cocktails and good times’, The Cocktail Shack is a charming bar situated on Regency Street, close to the Brighton seafront. The bar’s wooden shack décor (made with salvaged wood from the old Western Pier) provides the perfect setting for a refreshing drink as the in-house mixing team bravely spin and toss spirit bottles to serve up a fine selection of classic and speciality cocktails. The reggae and dub soundtrack rounds off the Caribbean theme of the Cocktail Shack, making you wish that island life was always this easy to reach and taste. If you get peckish, their unique food menu, serving up a range of delicious burgers and fresh seafood, is well worth a try.

The Twisted Lemon

A local favourite, the Twisted Lemon is a Brighton hidden gem. Found in the South Lanes, the cosy little bar serves up some of the tastiest and most original cocktails in town. You can satisfy a sweet tooth with a black forest gateaux or a banoffee pie martini, or indulge in something stronger and order an Applejack sour with a potent-rum kick - the fifty plus drinks menu offers plenty of choices!

Happy hour runs Sunday to Friday 12 until 9 for a welcome discount on a variety of cocktails, and with a buzzing downstairs, a laid-back upstairs and a great garden in the back, The Twisted Lemon is the ideal venue.

Be At One

If you’re looking for a modern and chic cocktail bar, Be At One is the place for you. Found at the bottom of North Street, a stone’s throw from the Pier, Be At One offers around 120 cocktails ranging from the classics to their own tasty creations. The highly recommended passion-fruit and rum packed Cuban Zombie is bursting with fruit flavours while the Irish Disco Biscuit is ideal for anyone that wants a sweet dessert-style creation.

Having undergone a comprehensive cocktail training programme, the bar staff are knowledgeable and quick, as well as incredibly friendly. 2 for 1 happy hour cocktails run every day from 4.30pm and all day Sunday. Anyone keen to learn how to mix their own cocktails, Be At One also offers Cocktail Mixing Masterclasses.

Bohemia

Also found in the South Lanes, a fifteen minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Brighton, Bohemia is a larger bar and restaurant with a lot on offer. Set over three floors, the bar offers ‘showstopping and molecular mixology’ giving a theatrical twist to as well as concocting their own original flavours. The ‘Smoked Coffee Old Fashioned’ is as tasty as it is unique, presented with a dry-ice and smoking percolator, while the ‘Hidden Depths’ cocktail is a flame-topped mix of bold and distinctive flavours. Bohemia’s cocktails are slightly pricier, starting at £8.50, however, the varied menu, consistently delicious cocktails, fantastic atmosphere, and stylish décor, is more than justify the cost.

The restaurant serves up-market variations on traditional all day and the roof garden is ideal for making the most of nice weather. Bohemia also offers a Cocktail Mixing Masterclasses(£35 per person) and a live ‘Jazz Lounge’ night every Thursday.

BYOC

For those looking for a one of a kind experience in cocktail mixing and drinking, look no further than B.Y.O.C. As the abbreviated name suggests, drinkers are instructed to bring a bottle of their favourite alcohol which the ‘on-site mixologists’ then use to mix up delicious cocktails in front of you whilst explaining the process. The décor is low-lit and elegant making it perfect for a special occasion. B.Y.O.C is recommended for cocktail lovers who are also interested in the mixing process rather than regular bar seekers.

This is the priciest option on the list at £25 per person for a booked 2 hour session but the experience is well worth the value. The bar is situated in the South Lanes, however the outdoor sign, like the décor, is understated so keep a sharp eye out for the entrance.

Whether you’re thinking about visiting Brighton for business or pleasure, our Brighton hotel is perfectly situated in the centre of the city for easy access to bars, restaurants and the seafront. If you’re heading to the North rather than south this summer, why not read our Leonardo Hotels Guide to… Rooftop Bars in Manchester.


Main image: Didriks – Cocktails in Didriks Glassware / CCBY (image size has been modified)