The best rooftop bars in Brighton

A visit to Rockwater is akin to staying at a beach house, soaking up the sun and prime views of the sea over tasty food and refreshing drinks. The venue encompasses various indoor and outdoor areas, including one of the best rooftop terraces in Brighton. Fitted with a retractable roof and French doors, it's weatherproof and open all year long. Sit back with a platter of the finest South Coast shellfish and enjoy.

Previously voted one of the best pubs in the region, The Joker features a classic bar area on the ground floor, complete with a curved bar and outdoor seating. If you head upstairs, however, you'll find a lovely rooftop terrace with views of the surrounding streets. The rooftop garden can be hired for private events, and there's a sleek cocktail lounge serving award-winning cocktails on the same level as well.

The family-run Donatello is a long-standing Italian restaurant right in the heart of The Lanes. It's been around for decades, serving all the classics – pastas, pizzas, and so on – and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The latter isn't just the bustling pavement area you'll see when first walking up. If you head upstairs, you'll find a sunny terrace where you can enjoy drinks while looking out at the surrounding rooftops.

The Oculist is an inclusive pub in Brighton with a lively rooftop terrace that's open all year round and boasts views of the city centre. The venue champions electronic music, particularly genres like house, techno, and UK garage, so live DJ sessions on the rooftop are a regular feature of the programme. Hit the rooftop at the right time on a sunny day and you'll feel like you're on Ibiza.

Launched in The Lanes in 2012, Bohemia is a grand leisure palace that's worth a stop throughout the day, whether it's for a meal, a drink, or to enjoy some live music. Spread across three floors, the venue features different areas, including a glass-walled rooftop terrace. Covered by parasols and fitted with heaters, it's a comfortable, welcoming spot all year long.

Highly popular with Brighton's music-loving crowds, The Mesmerist pub is furnished with vintage gin palace-style decor in black-and-white colour tones and regularly hosts live music and DJ sessions. It also has its very own rooftop bar. Open all year long, the rooftop hideaway is covered and heated in winter. Fitted with its own bar, it can also be booked for private events for up to 60 people.

Dishoom spin-off Permit Room is a more casual, breezy affair than its parent, with live DJs and other events bringing fun vibes to the Bombay-inspired dining and drinking. The all-day Indian restaurant has its own rooftop terrace, the Aunty Bar, which is available for private hire. You can book it for all sorts of gatherings, from birthday parties to work-dos, to enjoy set feasts right above the bustling Lanes.

A familiar sight around Sussex, Trading Post is a sustainable coffee roasting company with several cafés in Brighton. They're all modern spots with outdoor seating, but the Kensington Gardens branch goes a step further, offering a pleasant rooftop terrace that's perfect for brunch in the sun. Though the emphasis here is naturally on coffee, they serve alcohol as well – the espresso martini is a particular favourite.

The Flint house is an acclaimed small-plates restaurant on the edge of The Lanes. Part glamour cocktail bar, part open-kitchen eatery, it turns out modern dishes, accompanied by a well-curated wine list and expertly mixed cocktails. Before or after your meal in the dining room, you can head to the rooftop terrace for drinks and views of the area.

Right beside the station, The Grand Central is a contemporary chain pub that's become a go-to for a final drink before hopping on a train. Run by Fuller's, it pairs a solid range of beers with familiar pub favourites and shows live sport throughout the week. In addition to the main bar area and function room, the pub also has a tucked-away rooftop terrace, where splashes of colourful wall art give the place a bit of extra character.

Mrs Fitzherbert's is a high-spirited North Laine bar with tables spilling out onto the ever-busy streets below and a tucked-away roof terrace waiting upstairs. As an independent venue, it keeps things fresh with a lively mix of live gigs, drag performances, and DJ nights, while a rotating roster of street-food vendors ensures there's always something good to snack on.