Nightlife in Bournemouth – The Best Of
Planning your night out in Bournemouth? Take a look at our favourite places to go for a night out. Here we list our suggestions for the best nightlife in Bournemouth.
Bournemouth has some of the best restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the UK. With top national and international entertainment.
The great thing about Bournemouth is there is something for everyone.
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Cocktail Bars Bournemouth
Bournemouth has some of the best cocktail bars in the UK. Packed full of award-winning bars and bartenders to boot, with the best of live music, DJs and events. Bournemouth is the place to go for the best cocktail bars anywhere.
Here we give you our favourites.
1. Smokin Aces Cocktail Bar and Whiskey Lounge
Opened in 2010 and situated on Commercial Road in the Triangle of Bournemouth. Smokin’ Aces Cocktail Bar is one of the most popular cocktail bars in Bournemouth. With award-winning bartenders, this place only hires the best.
Smokin’ Aces is famous for its party atmosphere, with its live music and DJ sets. Its exclusive ‘come one, come all’ policy and warm atmosphere means this bar receives national as well as international recognition.
Unlike other cocktail bars, there is nothing pretentious about this cocktail bar. There is no dress code, no entrance fee and no VIP lists, which is very refreshing. You’ll only receive the warmest of welcomes at Smokin’ Aces.
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The atmosphere upstairs in Smokin Aces is different from one night to the next. One night might be a calm ambient experience another night might be live music with people dancing on the bars and tables. No two nights are the same, so you’ll never get bored coming back over and over again.
If you head downstairs you’ll be in ‘The Rogues Gallery’. A more relaxed bar with relaxing music and a more experimental cocktail and Irish whiskey feel. The Rogues Gallery has a cocktail menu and whiskey list, something you won’t find upstairs. This is where you’ll get to sample unique cocktails and Whiskeys you won’t find anywhere else.
Find out more on Smokin Aces Cocktail bar at their website.
2. Peachy Queen Cocktail Bar
Looking for an Instagram worthy cocktail bar? Then you’ve come to the right place. Peachy Queen Cocktail Bar has that, and then some.
Inspired by the Victorian ‘It girl’ Lilly Langtry. Peachy Queen is a relaxed, riviera style haunt.
Lilly Langtry was the Kim Kardashian of her day. She is well known in Bournemouth as it was once her home. The Langtry Hotel is her old home.
She was good friends with Oscar Wilde and they attended society parties here in Bournemouth together. She dressed decidedly different from the stuffy dress code of her day. Always in the society gossip columns, she had many fans following her escapades.
Lilly was so well known that she became the ‘face’ of Pears Soap. This made her the first woman ever to commercially model for, and endorse a product. She was the first-ever beauty influencer.
The cocktails here at Peachy Queens are simply divine. They cover all the favourites and throw in some more unique cocktails to boot. And to top it off, they also sell the yummiest cakes.
Find out more on Peachy Queen Cocktail Bar at their website.
3. Be At One Cocktail Bar
On Richmond Hill, central Bournemouth is Be At One Cocktail Bar. One of a chain of cocktail bars that can be found throughout the UK. Their menu covers a huge range of cocktails including 150 drinks to suit every occasion. They also have a 2 for 1 cocktail happy hour.
You’ll love the selection of sweet, dry and mixed cocktail drinks and they even offer cocktail making masterclasses.
The dress code is smart/elegant and no trainers or T-Shirts are allowed.
Find out more on 2 for 1 Cocktails at the Be At One Cocktail Bar website.
4. Aruba
Aruba is a beach club cocktail bar overlooking Bournemouth Pier. You can find Aruba on Bournemouth Pier approach up a flight of stairs. With a balcony overlooking the pier and beach, it’s a lovely place to sit in the evening and sample a cocktail or two.
With an open plan central bar area, this place gets quite busy in the day, and at night is known for its party atmosphere.
Aruba is a mix between a nightclub, cabaret and bar. So there is always something different going on each night.
Find out more on Aruba at their website.
5. Level 8 Sky Bar Hilton Hotel
Level 8 Sky Bar called locally ‘The Sky Bar’ can be found in the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth town centre. On the 8th floor of the Hilton Hotel, this bar really has some fantastic views.
Dubbed the highest bar in the South West, you can see right over Bournemouth and down to the sea from the glass balcony.
With a large selection of cocktails and the quality, you can expect from the Hilton Hotel this bar is a great addition to a luxury night out.
Find out more on the Level 8 Sky Bar at their website.
To find out more about the Hilton Hotel, go to our Best Hotels in Bournemouth page.
2 for 1 Cocktails Bournemouth
If you’re looking for 2 for 1 Cocktails, you won’t be disappointed. There are plenty of bars offering them in Bournemouth and Happy hours too.
1. Key West Bournemouth Pier
Key West Restaurant and Bar on the end of Bournemouth Pier offers a Happy Hour every day! 2 for 1 Cocktails are the norm here.
The Happy Hour and 2 for 1 Cocktails start at 3 pm every day and go on till closing. The offer is for any cocktail on their menu.
There’s nothing like the experience of sitting outside at the end of Bournemouth Pier with a cocktail in your hand looking out to unobstructed sea views. Even better at sunset.
Find out more on the 2 for 1 Cocktails at Key West Restaurant and Bar.
To find out more on Bournemouth Pier go to our Bournemouth Pier page.
2. Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay is a Jamaican restaurant in the former Wintergardens on Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth.
They have an excellent Rum and Cocktail bar. Each night is 2 for 1 cocktail night, starts at 9:30 pm in the week and 10 pm at weekends.
Every night is DJ night and it’s party time till the early hours.
For more information on Turtle Bay go to their website.
For more information on Bournemouth Restaurants go to our Restaurants Bournemouth page.
For information on Bournemouth Hotels go to our Best Hotels in Bournemouth page or the Hotels and Accommodation section.
Restaurants Bournemouth
Looking for a bite to eat out in Bournemouth? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here we list the best restaurants Bournemouth has to offer.
1. Key West Bournemouth Pier
If you want a unique Bournemouth restaurant experience head to Bournemouth Pier. On the end of Bournemouth Pier, right out to see you will find Key West Restaurant and Grill.
Surrounded by ocean views and unrestricted views of the coastline, this is the perfect place to take in the sights of Bournemouth and a unique venue to visit on your holidays.
Key West has a relaxed vibe it also doubles as a coffee shop in the day. In the evening watching the sun go down while alfresco dining is magical.
Two for one cocktail every day!
To book your place at Key West please go to their website.
2. Ojo Rojo Mexican Restaurant
Award-winning and winning the spot in the Top 50 Cocktail bars in the UK, Ojo Rojo is a little bit special.
If you’re into Mexican street food or have yet to try street food, this is the place you should go.
Downstairs the dining area doubles up as a bar and upstairs has an open plan kitchen on to the restaurant so you can sit and watch your food cooked in front of you. The upstairs is quieter than the downstairs so if you were looking for that romantic night out, upstairs is the perfect place to be seated for a bit more privacy.
Outside there is the beautiful Hacienda garden which is now a venue in its own right due to its popularity.
With mind-blowing tacos, tasty mezcal cocktails, friendly staff, and an environment that will make you feel like you are on holiday Ojo Rojo is a place everyone must go.
To book your table at Ojo Rojo please go to their website.
3. Zorbas Greek Restaurant
This Greek restaurant is as traditional as you can get Family-run with gorgeous freshly cooked traditional Greek food and amazing Greek wine. This has to be our favourite restaurant in Bournemouth.
If you order the Meze be aware that the plates just keep on coming. Make sure you go to this place on an empty stomach, portion sizes are very generous.
Zorbas is a premium Greek restaurant, it’s an experience in itself. If you go there on a weekend night you’ll be able to experience the live Greek music and dancing.
Zorbas Greek Restaurant can be found on Old Christchurch Road at the top end, close to Landsdowne Roundabout.
To book your table at Zorbas Greek Restaurant please call: 01202 553353 or go to their website.
4. WestBeach Beachside Restaurant
WestBeach opened in 2000 and is an award-winning family-run beachside restaurant. Making dishes from the freshest of ingredients usually from daily catches straight from the sea and from local markets delivered daily. All dishes are created in the open plan kitchen in full view of guests.
WestBeach is right on the beach and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Named in The Times and The Sunday Times as the 4th Best Place to eat Seafood by the sea in Britain. They are also listed in the Good Food Guide 2019 as a little gem and voted by Waitrose as being one of the 10 Best Seaside Restaurants.
Each day they offer an a-la-carte menu, as well as catch of the day and local specials.
To book a table at WestBeach please go to their website.
5. Indi’s Westbourne
Indi’s isn’t a typical Indian restaurant. It’s more modern than that, it’s a contemporary take on an Indian restaurant.
It doesn’t look like your typical Indian restaurant either, its interior is pale wood, white furniture and modern art.
Situated in Westbourne which is a 10-minute drive from Bournemouth, in the boutique, fashion part of Bournemouth. This restaurant gives you an authentic Indian food experience brought up to the modern-day.
Indi’s is known for its original pastes for every dish making their Indian food truly unique. Established a decade ago, Indi’s is the Winner of Dorset’s Best Indian Restaurant.
To book a table at Indi’s please go to their website.
