Whether you’re looking for a quick drink or a place to settle in for the evening, the bars and pubs of Poole are guaranteed to give you what you want. With award-winning cocktail joints, waterside bars and traditional pubs, there is something for everyone in this town.
Nightlife in Poole
Bars
There are a plethora of bars to choose from in Poole, mostly located in the town centre or Parkstone area of the town. Each one has a unique vibe, but they all share some common features — great drinks, great atmospheres and great experiences.
Kicking off our list of the best town centre bars is Drift Micro Bar placed right on The Quay, around the corner from Poole Museum. With a friendly atmosphere and wide selection of interesting drinks, this is a great place to take or make friends. The staff are knowledgeable and their evident passion adds to the charm of the bar. There is often live music going on downstairs, and a gin bar upstairs for G&T lovers.
Next up is Banana Wharf. If you are looking for somewhere to sip cocktails on the waterfront, this is the place for you. It’s located in the Dolphin Quays development on The Quay, with beautiful views of the yachts that enter and leave the town. As well as the drinks, the food here is brilliant, with seafood classics such as whitebait and calamari on the menu. If the sun is shining, there are few better places to be than Banana Wharf.
Heading east to Parkstone, you’ll find yet more fantastic watering holes just a couple of miles from our Poole North hotel. Camden Bar & Kitchen on Bournemouth Road was set up by its current owners with a clear vision – to be a cool café bar with a friendly vibe, good music, decent coffee, food and beer – and they have definitely achieved their goal. This place is positively buzzing, with live music on Mondays and Thursdays and a quiz night on Sundays.
Just a short stroll – or stagger – away from Camden is La Bateau Wood Fired Restaurant & Bar on Commercial Road. Here you can enjoy wood fired pizzas and a wide range of beers, spirits and cocktails. They often have 2-for-1 deals on, and if you are looking to stay out a bit later, it’s open until midnight Wednesday to Saturday.
The last recommendation in our guide to Poole’s best bars is Mai Tai, an award-winning cocktail bar just a stone's throw from Camden and La Bateau. Their skilled mixologists offer some amazing cocktails, as well as spirits and beers. If you fancy learning a thing or two about the art of cocktail making during your stay in Poole, then you could take one of Mai Tai’s cocktail masterclasses.
Pubs
You will be spoiled for choice when looking for a pub in Poole. Luckily, we have picked out the best ones for you.
Read our guide to pubs in Poole and discover the vast array of traditional watering holes in this coastal town.