Casa Agave in Brighton
On our tours around England I had to of course go to Brighton. This was my first ever visit there and I’m sure it’s not the last! Unfortunately, being on a tight schedule I couldn’t stay as long at these places as I wanted to. Here are some of the absolute favourites I went to see:
Brighton Rocks made me feel rather homesick, as it reminded me so much of our own bar ‘400 Rabbits’. Truly a ‘bartenders bar’, making everyone and anyone feel welcome. With quirky décor and banging drinks they know what they’re doing!! Without having the pleasure of staying long enough to see the bar in full swing late at night I am positive how fantastic the vibe there must be! With lovely and chatty bartenders, I was so comfortable I almost forgot why I even was in Brighton in the first place!
Just gorgeous! At The Plotting Parlour you will find such talent and skill behind each cocktail, all of which have been created in house. The setting is so comfortable, a very, very, very nice public house feel! There is character within every nook and cranny in this beautiful bar. Showing their dedication to helping the environment, they make sure everything is utilised and nothing is thrown away, so for example after juicing the fruit for their drinks they boil up the skin to then make into a chewy sweet as a garnish. Everything about this place is just fab!
When you find a bar recommended by other bars: GO!
With a backbar crammed with Agave goodness you can’t go wrong! The staff were so lovely and keen to find out more about us at Casa Agave. The lady working the bar that day gave a fantastic description of one of our Mezcals: La Medida Tepeztate. It reminded her of her favourite aunts house, who is a collector of antiques and the spirit gave her a sense of walking through the hallway and breathing in the history. I promised her I’d quote her on this as it’s one of the best descriptions I’ve heard! They even serve Sangrita and Verdita and dissuade people from the dreaded salt and lime, so for that alone I will love them forever!!
It’s lively, cosy and right in the heart of Brighton centre, a must see for any Tequila & Mezcal fan!
Wherever you look in The Black Dove you will detect something new and fantastic that you weren’t expecting! I dread to think what was in the cage!! Although I arrived early and before their opening times the bartender was so kind to let me inside and sit at the bar while he opened up shop, such friendliness and openness is rather rare these days. This is, in my opinion, why we should be supporting the locals and the independents as they are out for making people happy, it’s just beautiful! I stayed far longer than anticipated but this was simply because I felt so at home, so comfortable and just didn’t want to leave my seat at the bar, chatting the poor bartenders ears off (He seemed to enjoy it!!)
There are few places these days where an entire team is bursting with energy and passion for their work! Carlito Burritos is certainly one of those rare few. Such a pleasure to see such an exciting vibe and so much love for what I brought in with me… Just fab! The venue burst with the energy that was so visible in each of its staff, creativity pouring out of its walls, colours celebrating each corner and the music to match. Hugely recommend to anyone, whether old or young, classy or casual, its energy will flow through you!!
Another absolute favourite would have to be Twisted Lemon!! Finding it was challenging but when you find the little alleyway you skip through it knowing you’ve found your destination and want to grab a drink to reward yourself! Twisted Lemon is one of those places you might plan to go for one or two but you stay all night! There is no escape and you will love every second as time flies by! With a backbar crammed with goodies and a passionate and bubbly team you will certainly feel spoilt!
In conclusion: What I found in Brighton was completely unexpected!
There is so much more to Brighton than a beautiful sea side. When you go down the hidden roads, talk to the locals you will find gems that you otherwise wouldn’t have known of.
With Tequila and Mezcal on the rise I am positive that Brighton will easily push it to its limits in her fair streets, through her fantastic bartenders and creatives.
Brighton is without a doubt one of the most fabulous cities I’ve come across with a great buzz.
See you soon Brighton, my new found love!
Salud, Jen
