Brixton, London, is the city’s creative hub with many vibrant and diverse cultures. The best bars in Brixton serve as cultural and diversity hubs, from Caribbean-centric bars to venues that promote female-made drinks.
If you are looking for the best rooftop bars in Brixton, then Lost in Brixton is a great place to start. For a great wine bar experience, the Wine Parlour is a great choice, while Barrio Brixton is the place to be for thematic brunches.
Read on to know our top picks in the bar scene of Brixton that make for great nightlife and laid-back after-work sessions.
12 Best Brixton Bars
Barrio Brixton
- Address: 30 Acre Lane, London, SW2 5SG
- Phone: 020 7749 3940
- Atmosphere: an airy open-air venue with a colourful décor and vibrant scene
- Known for: bottomless thematic brunch and other specials
Barrio in Brixton brings a Latin-American fusion affair to the neighbourhood with its colourful décor adorned in lots of yellows, pinks, greens, turquoise, and flowery art.
There is an indoor bar as well as an outdoor patio that is right on the street for people-watching. Getting inside introduces you to some warm lighting and cute seating areas decorated with overhanging warm light fixtures.
The food menu has the usual bells and whistles, from buffalo fried chicken tacos to slow braised chilli beef burritos and Mexican fried wings & things. Happy Hour is available till 9 pm on Wednesday and Thursday, offering a two-for-one deal on house cocktails.
Apart from the Mexican foods and signature drinks, Barrio Brixton is famous for its one-of-a-kind Notorious B.I.N.G.O. bottomless brunch. The weekend brunch features lots of 90s hip hop music blasts the venue with legendary singles from artists like Notorious BIG, Tupac, Nas, and Ice Cube.
Bottomless drinks on the brunch included house gin, Prosecco, and bottled beer. Have a taste of their brunch specials, from the beef burgers to the vegan burger and Big Poppa’s chicken burger with a fried chicken thigh topped with lettuce and tomato served with fries.
Beast of Brixton
- Address: 89 Acre Lane, Brixton, London SW2 5TN
- Phone: 07514 753063
- Atmosphere: warm, laid back, soulful, and welcoming
- Known for: workspaces for remote workers
The Beast of Brixton is a unique bar known mostly by the locals. The locally owned bar serves as a regular bar, café bar, private events area, and a workspace for remote jobs. It is a versatile venue that aims to serve the locals’ needs.
The hidden gem has a blue-painted exterior that ushers you into a wooden-crafted bar area with limited seating. Plants and other natural décor bring warmth and nature into the bar over two floors filled with live music and a welcoming ambience.
Cocktail happy days are from Thursday to Sunday, where you get to buy two cocktails for just £12 till 7 pm. Another offer is the Chimaek Weekends, where you get a free funk chunk with each four-pint pitcher you buy. You can get any burger and pint for £13 or £10 for wings + funk chunks + pint.
Shrub & Shutter
- Address: 336 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8QH
- Phone: N/A
- Atmosphere: small but cute, airy, and lively
- Known for: high quality a la carte portions with insightful graffiti and art, unique cocktails
Shrub & Shutter is an upscale venue that is comparable to world-class establishments like Gordon Ramsay’s London and Hisa Franko. The contemporary cocktail bar and British-style restaurant serve experimental cocktails that outshine most bars in London.
The wine list and beer collection are also extensive, making for a great pregame venue on your way to the London nightlife.
Chefs adorn the food menu with British classics and a mix of vegetarian options, fine dining dishes, and vegan-friendly cuisines. The six-course European menu is set at £36; it is great for group dining and celebrations.
Do not let the limited seating fool you; Shrub & Shutter is a popular bar & restaurant, and you may want to get in early to save yourself a spot. The cocktail selections are a must-try, and you will find the bar turns to be your mates’ clobbering venue in no time.
Three Eight Four
- Address: 384 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8LF
- Phone: 020 3417 7309
- Atmosphere: small, close, intimate, with friendly service and quality food
- Known for: small plates and cocktails with fun-filled brunch on weekends
Three Eight Four is close to Shrub & Shutter and offers something similar to its competitor. It is a small venue that serves as a bar and restaurant specializing in small plates and cocktails.
It is an N.Y.C. hipster-style bar with a few weekly offers like the £5 wine glass/£20 bottle on Monday to Wednesday nights. Cocktails are in plenty, with special drinks like the Ruby Sours made of Kwai Feh lychee liquor and Tramari rose wine.
Canova Hall
- Address: 250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BQ
- Phone: 020 7733 8356
- Atmosphere: eclectic ambience all day and night
- Known for: bottomless brunch and wood oven pizzas
Canova Hall is a taproom bar and pizzeria that serves bottomless brunch on weekends and is beloved for its late-night ambience. Wood oven pizzas and sharable plates are the order of the day on the Canova Hall menu.
The bar also offers masterclasses where you get to make and shake your cocktail concoction. You may also choose to sample some of Canva Hall’s gin. Bottomless brunch happens every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Join us to feast on bottomless drinks and meals for two hours at just £30.
Also Read: Best Restaurants in Brixton, London
Rum Kitchen
- Address: 437 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8LN
- Phone: 020 3668 2539
- Atmosphere: lively, party, reggae vibes
- Known for: Caribbean spirits and afro-funk tunes
The Rum Kitchen cocktail bar is also a Caribbean restaurant tucked in the booming Caribbean culture region of London. Rum Kitchen is owned by Jonny Boud, who started the venture with Alex Potter.
The duo is known for other upscale endeavours like the Love Brunch and PING. In Brixton, you are introduced to the biggest Rum Kitchen venue to date, designed to pay tribute to the best of reggae music and rum culture.
The jerk chicken on the menu is well paired with Caribbean spirit classics. Afro-funk live music pours through the venue all day to add to the lively and vibrant party atmosphere.
Courtesan
- Address: 69 Atlantic Road, Brixton, London SW9 8PU
- Phone: 020 8127 8677
- Atmosphere: speakeasy, lively, and inclusive
- Known for: female-centric drinks, live music, hand-made dim sum
Did you know that the Courtesan cocktail bar is one of the few bars with exclusively female wines & spirits listings? The female-centric listing only includes drinks made by women and companies owned by women. It is a progressive affair that aims to advance the female contribution to the drinks industry.
Courtesan is also a dim sum restaurant with live music and a speakeasy ambience that makes for a lively venue. The bar serves as a stage for live performances from time to time, where you can see cabaret and burlesque shows.
Lost in Brixton
- Address: Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PS
- Phone: N/A
- Atmosphere: airy rooftop venue with lively crowds and live music
- Known for: its upbeat ambience and great signature cocktails
If you need a place to get lost in Brixton, then Lost in Brixton is the place to be. This Brixton rooftop bar serves Latin American-inspired drinks alongside live music, beloved local craft beers, and D.J. performances.
Food in Lost in Brixton comes from various restaurants like the Jalisco Brixton, with Venezuelan and Central American foods. Three Uncles serves traditional Hong Kong dishes, while Baz & Fred serve classic pizzas from their revolutionary Chadwick pizza oven.
Champagne + Fromage Pop Brixton
- Address: Unit 10-11 Brixton Market, London SW9 8PS
- Phone: 020 7095 8504
- Atmosphere: open air in a cute small venue
- Known for: extensive champagne collection in a French-style wine bar
Champagne + Fromage is home to French imports on the culinary side and fizz industry. You get to feel the French authenticity from the mismatched décor to the champagne bottles displayed throughout the bar area.
It is an open-air venue where you can sit, relax, and sip your wine on the champagne bar as you watch people pass by. Try the 50-plus choices of champagne by the glass or bottle, or opt for the international artisan beers.
Ghost Whale
- Address: 70 Atlantic Road, London SW9 8PX
- Phone: 020 7207 1641
- Atmosphere: cute and surrounded by many beer collections
- Known for: the best craft beer collection in London
Located within walking distance of the tube station, Ghost Whale is a local hidden gem that offers indoor and outdoor seating on its patio. The cute bar is also a craft beer bottle shop with limited seating at the centre, surrounded by beer fridges.
Rate Beer Awards ranked Ghost Whale among the top two best places to get craft beer based on its extensive 500 + collection. If you are not ready to visit the shop, feel free to order some of the best London beers through its online store.
Pop Brixton
- Address: 49 Brixton Station Road, London SW9 8PQ
- Phone: 020 3879 8410
- Atmosphere: crowded, colourful, lively, and upbeat
- Known for: entertainment hub with lots of options in terms of food & drinks startups
Pop Brixton is a relatively new establishment in Brixton that opened in 2015 as a temporary venue but ended up stamping its name as a London staple. Pop Brixton is a combination of startups in various industries, including the food and drinks space.
The venue hosts three bars: A.B.V. Brixton, Beers of the World, and Specialist Cellars. If you are a wine connoisseur, then visit Beers of the World, but Specialist Cellars is the place for wine enthusiasts A.B.V. Brixton on the other hand, is known as a cosy place for a cocktail and rum lovers.
The Wine Parlour
- Address: 1 & 3 Vining Street, London SW9 8QA
- Phone: 020 3302 1617
- Atmosphere: small but quirky and locally beloved with lots of fans
- Known for: many of London’s beloved wine collection
The Wine Parlour is one of the few wine bars in London. The company has two venues, one on 1 Vining Street off Atlantic Road and another on Brixton Village opposite the Tap Room and The Joint.
Both small venues fill up pretty quickly, regardless of the day. The indoor seating and patio offer a great ambience for catching up with friends over a wine glass or two. The dishes are small with plenty of cheese and olives.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Brixton Have Good Nightlife?
Brixton is a cultural hub in London, a great ingredient for the most vibrant nightlife. Great places to visit for a good night are Barrio Brixton, Lost in Brixton, and Rum Kitchen, just to mention a few.
What Is the Most Popular Bar in London?
London has a huge and diverse bar scene filled with many popular options. The most popular bar regions are Shoreditch, Brixton, Clapham, and Covent Garden. Popular bars in these areas range from Happiness Forgets to Nikki’s Bar, The Gibson, The Book Club, American Bar, The Lost Alpaca, Covent Garden cocktail club, and Blame Gloria.