Best Cocktail Bars in Canterbury
The best cocktail bars in Canterbury range from a speakeasy in old underground toilets to a hotel bar with themed menus and a market counter mixing drinks with garden herbs. This list is all about what is in the glass: signature serves, house twists on the classics and masterclasses where you shake your own. Places are ranked using their Google rating weighted by how many reviews they have. Student tip: several bars publish two-for-one cocktail deals or student offers on their own websites, and a couple list proper alcohol-free cocktails too.
- 8 places, ranked by Google rating
- Open places only, checked every month
- Website and Google Maps for each
- 1
Boom Battle Bar
Boom Battle Bar at The Riverside pairs its games with signature cocktails, from the G.O.A.T Punch (served with a transfer tattoo) to Pretty in Patrón and Life's a Peach. Book a cocktail masterclass for six or more and you shake two drinks yourself. Students who sign up get two-for-one cocktails on selected days, so bring your ID.
- 2
The John
Head underground in Burgate to a speakeasy built in Canterbury's former public toilets. The John does the classics properly, then plays with them: think a salted butter fat-washed Old Fashioned, a peanut butter version and a tiramisu Espresso Martini. There is a 0% cocktail list too, plus group masterclasses where you make three drinks of your choice from the menu.
- 3
The Fig
The Fig is a small, French-inspired wine and cocktail bar on Orange Street, close to the Marlowe Theatre. The cocktail list changes regularly and leans on quality ingredients, with Southern European small plates, cheeses and cured meats on the side. Handy for a pre-theatre drink or a slower, more grown-up evening with friends.
- 4
Wild Box
Wild Box began as a converted horsebox bar and now runs a cocktail bar inside Fenwick. Every cocktail is made with spirits produced in Kent, the menu changes with the seasons and some drinks can be made as mocktails with Lyre's alcohol-free spirits. Fancy learning? Masterclasses have you shaking three cocktails with local spirits, guided by a mixologist.
- 5
Cosy Club
Cosy Club fills a historic four-storey building on St Margaret's Street, with Roman ruins underneath. The cocktail list mixes house signatures with seasonal specials that change through the year. Its Teatime Tipple deal pairs two signature or seasonal cocktails for a set price on most days, and you can book a masterclass to learn its favourites yourself.
- 6
Wild Goose
Tucked inside The Goods Shed farmers' market by Canterbury West station, Wild Goose builds its cocktail menu around the English garden, using herb-infused spirits and flower syrups that shift with the seasons. Take a seat at the 15-seat bar and watch the chefs cook little sharing dishes in the open kitchen while your drink is mixed.
- 7
The Falstaff Cocktail Bar and Lounge
The cocktail bar at The Falstaff hotel, by Westgate Towers, is open to everyone, not just guests. Its mixology team pairs classics with in-house creations such as The Falstaff Martini and regularly launches themed menus (past ones have honoured Dirty Dancing and Lionel Richie). Book a 90-minute masterclass, or take your drink out to the large terrace.
- 8
Citi Terrace
Citi Terrace sits up the steps off Longmarket on a big first-floor terrace with a retractable roof and heaters, so it works in all weathers. Cocktails are a headline act here, led by signatures like the Spicy Blue Margarita. Shisha and global small plates complete the picture.
Ranked by Google rating, weighted by the number of reviews so a place with a handful of five-star reviews does not jump the queue. We check the list every month and drop anywhere that has closed.
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