Southsea has quietly turned into one of the best places on the south coast for a proper cocktail, with a cluster of bars within a few minutes of each other on and around Albert Road. These are the six we would send anyone to, from a hidden speakeasy to drinks with a sea view.
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Here are our favourites, ranked, with what each one does well and where it falls short. We have kept prices general because they change, and focused on the places worth planning a night around.
1. Broken and Repaired
The most talked-about bar on this list hides in plain sight on Albert Road, behind the front of an appliance shop. Ring the buzzer at Broken and Repaired and you step into a prohibition-style world of novelty cocktails, a photo booth and even a secret disco room. Drinks such as the Art Attack arrive with a bit of theatre, and you will need to book a table with a small deposit to get in.
The draws
- a hidden speakeasy with a real sense of occasion;
- genuinely inventive, theatrical cocktails;
- a photo booth and secret disco room for groups;
- a proper story to tell the next day;
- right on Albert Road for the rest of the night.
The snags
- you have to book ahead with a deposit;
- the experience can hinge on how into it your server is;
- not the place for a quiet, classic martini.
Our number one for anyone who wants a night out, not just a drink.
2. The Alchemist
Over at Gunwharf Quays, The Alchemist turns cocktail-making into a chemistry lesson, with drinks that change colour, smoke and bubble at the table. It is a slick, buzzy room with plenty of space for groups, and the theatre is the whole point. If you want your photos to do some work, this is the bar.
The draws
- genuinely theatrical, colour-changing cocktails;
- a big space that suits groups and celebrations;
- a prime Gunwharf Quays spot by the water;
- food served alongside the drinks.
The snags
- a polished chain rather than a one-off local;
- it gets loud and busy at weekends;
- prices reflect the theatre.
The crowd-pleaser, and still good fun however many times you go.
3. Gin and Olive
Back on Albert Road, Gin and Olive pairs a long, well-made cocktail list with a serious range of gins and a proper kitchen. It leans a little more grown-up than its neighbours, with champagne on the list and a menu that works whether you are there for one drink or the whole evening.
The draws
- a big, well-judged cocktail and gin list;
- champagne and a proper food menu;
- a more grown-up, relaxed atmosphere;
- a reliable Albert Road location.
The snags
- less of a novelty hook than its rivals;
- busier at weekends;
- the sheer breadth can make choosing hard.
The pick when you want quality drinks without the gimmicks.
4. Southsea Spirit Bar
One of Albert Road’s newer arrivals, Southsea Spirit Bar spreads across two rooms with space for around 40, and it has quickly built a following for fresh, well-made drinks. It even has its own gin, and the spicy margaritas get a particular shout from regulars. The mood is relaxed and welcoming rather than showy.
The draws
- fresh, carefully made cocktails;
- its own house gin;
- a relaxed, welcoming two-room space;
- those well-liked spicy margaritas.
The snags
- still building its name against established rivals;
- limited seating when it is busy;
- less of a draw for big groups.
A likeable local that rewards a second visit.
5. The Briny
For a drink with a view, The Briny sits right on the Southsea seafront, where a wide cocktail list comes with the sea on your doorstep. It is the obvious choice for sundowners after a walk along the front, and on a clear evening the setting does plenty of the work.
The draws
- a hard-to-beat seafront setting;
- a broad cocktail list;
- ideal for sundowners and warm evenings;
- a natural stop after a seafront walk.
The snags
- the view matters more than the mixology;
- it is busiest in good weather;
- a little way from the Albert Road cluster.
Go for the sunset and stay for a second round.
6. The Courtyard at Southsea Castle
Tucked beside Southsea Castle, The Courtyard turns one of the city’s most historic spots into a relaxed outdoor cocktail bar, open late on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is a lovely place to be on a warm evening, with the castle walls and the sea close at hand.
The draws
- a genuinely unusual setting beside the castle;
- late opening at weekends;
- outdoor space that shines in summer;
- close to the seafront attractions.
The snags
- very weather-dependent;
- late nights limited to Thursday through Saturday;
- more about the setting than a deep cocktail menu.
A summer favourite with a setting the others cannot match.
The results table
| Position | Name | Score (out of 10) | % (out of 100) |
| 1 | Broken and Repaired | 9.1 | 91% |
| 2 | The Alchemist | 8.5 | 85% |
| 3 | Gin and Olive | 8.0 | 80% |
| 4 | Southsea Spirit Bar | 7.5 | 75% |
| 5 | The Briny | 7.0 | 70% |
| 6 | The Courtyard | 6.5 | 65% |
How they compare, point by point (out of 10)
What stands out
Albert Road is the engine of Southsea’s cocktail scene, with Broken and Repaired, Gin and Olive and Southsea Spirit Bar all within a few doors of one another. The seafront and Gunwharf offer something different, trading that proximity for a view or a spectacle.
How we judged them
We weighed the quality and creativity of the cocktails first, then the atmosphere and sense of occasion, the setting and value for money. We drew on local favourites and our own nights out rather than one listings site, and we kept prices general because they change, so check before you go.
Portsmouth makes a strong case for a cocktail crawl. Start with the theatre of Broken and Repaired, work along Albert Road through Gin and Olive and Southsea Spirit Bar, then finish with a seafront nightcap at The Briny when the weather plays along.
