When most people think about Harrogate, they picture a quiet town for the old generation, which couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, what you get is a thriving high street with plenty of independent and quirky bars that can easily compete with major nearby cities.
We’re based in Harrogate, so we know the area better than anyone, and can see new places opening up almost monthly. Now is the best time to plan a trip and explore, so we’ve curated our list of the best bars to visit in Harrogate in 2026.
The Drunken Piglet
One of Harrogate’s newest bars, The Drunken Piglet opened its doors at the start of November in 2025. Ever since then, the cosy little venue has been filled to the brim, serving dishes made from locally sourced products and an extensive wine list.
Order from their cocktail menu with aptly named drinks like the Giggly Gin Piglet and The Tipsy Tail while tucking into small plates like their slow-braised pork shoulder in red wine or their creamy chicken stroganoff.
While you can stand in the bar area, if you’d prefer a seat or also wish to stay for food, a booking is essential, especially on weekends or during bank holidays.
Opening Times
Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday-Thursday: 5 pm – 11 pm
Friday: 3 pm – 11 pm
Saturday: 1 pm – 11 pm
Sunday: 1 pm – 7 pm
MOJO
MOJO is the best place to spend your weekend in Harrogate, offering mixologist-made cocktails and plenty of activities for group entertainment. Over the years, their list of offerings has only continued to increase, now including beer pong, shuffleboard, AR darts, table tennis, and, now, interactive mini golf.
The cocktail menu has also been refined, now including classics like the zombie and cosmopolitan, as well as new creations such as the Mediterranean strawberry sling and the violet assassin. If you’re visiting Harrogate for a special occasion, consider booking one of their karaoke rooms or the roof terrace.
Opening Times
Monday-Thursday: 5 pm – 4 am
Friday: 4 pm – 4 am
Saturday: 12 pm – 4 am
Sunday: 12 pm – 4 am
Major Tom’s Social
Major Tom’s is somewhat of a hidden gem found in The Ginnel in the corner of town, up a flight of stairs. The atmosphere is much more relaxed compared to other bars in the area, featuring retro-chic furniture and artwork and occasionally live performances.
Grab yourself one of their cask ales or beers, which rotate and change regularly, often including brands like North Brewing and Verdant. They also offer an extensive list of craft cans and sours, like hazy session IPAs and Whiplash, to satisfy any taste. You’ll even find plenty of games located at the side for a group game of Boggle or Exploding Kittens – that’s if someone didn’t already get there first.
Should you get peckish, the kitchen is usually open from the afternoon until around 9 pm, serving a range of Roman-style pizzas and dough balls. Our go-to is usually the ‘Nduja or portobello and truffle pizza. Dogs are also allowed, so you’re free to bring your furry friend, with treats available at the bar.
Opening Times
Monday-Thursday: 4 pm – 11 pm
Friday-Saturday: 12 pm – 1 am
Sunday: 12 pm – 11 pm
The Fat Badger
In the Montpellier Quarter, you’ll find a traditional, upscale British gastropub that is one of Harrogate’s most famous places to have a drink. It’s connected to the award-winning White Hart Hotel and is recognisable for its leather booths and oak detailing.
The Fat Badger is where the locals go for traditional real ales like Black Sheep and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, along with an extensive gin list, including those from local distilleries such as Spirit of Harrogate and Slingsby.
While there’s sufficient seating inside, it can get busy during the evenings and weekends, so you can also sit outside under parasols with the heaters turned on, should it be chilly. It’s the perfect spot for those summer days where all you crave is a cold pint under the sun.
Opening Times
Sunday-Thursday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Friday-Saturday: 12 pm – 12 am
Cold Bath Brewing Co
With a Google rating of 4.7/5 stars, Cold Bath Brewing Co is one of the town’s highest-rated bars. It’s both modern and rustic, with both indoor and outdoor seating along King’s Road. As a working microbrewery, you can expect their own beverages poured directly from the tanks, including the ever-popular Cold Bath Lager and Pilsner, brewed using bread from Bettys.
There is also a host of guest beers that change occasionally, as well as gluten-free and alcohol-free pale ales (such as 1571). Cold Bath Brewery also shares its space with Yuzu Street Food, meaning you can grab some bao buns or Korean fried chicken to go with your cold, crisp pint. And if you love the beers that much, you can order them online directly to your house.
Opening Times
Monday-Saturday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Sunday: 12 pm – 10 pm
Montey’s
Montey’s is an award-winning independent bar also found in The Ginnel, and one of the longest-standing venues in the town. It’s among the top places for late-night ventures and those who love live music, particularly rock and indie.
They have comfortable seating both inside and outside, and it can get pretty busy during the weekends. First-timers need to order from their signature cocktail menu, in particular a lemon drop shooter or the Rattlesnake, which comes with a gummy snake. You can also scan the QR codes you see around the bar area to save a digital rewards card, where you can then save up for a free drink or other discounts.
Opening Times
Monday-Wednesday: 5 pm – 2 am
Thursday-Friday: 5 pm – 2 am
Friday: 5 pm – 3 am
Saturday: 4 pm – 3 am
Sunday: 4 pm – 2 am
Starling Independent Bar Café Kitchen
Spread over several floors on Oxford Street, ‘The Starling’ is the perfect venue for both a quick morning brew and a late-night pint of craft beer. With more than 16 draught lines of craft kegs and cask ales, you’re spoilt for choice really, featuring local indie names like Kirkstall Brewery.
It’s a great spot for brunch and dinner in Harrogate, thanks to dishes such as their Starling Fry Up, Haggis Benedict, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and Yorkshire Poutines. You’ll also usually find a pub quiz on a Sunday night and the occasional live music performance. It’s also a family-friendly and dog-friendly space, where everyone is welcome.
Opening Times
Monday-Thursday: 10 am – 10 pm
Friday-Saturday: 10 am – 11 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 10 pm
District Bar
District Bar is an intimate micro-bar located along Cold Bath Road. It leans towards the modern and upscale aesthetic, where you can grab a cocktail while cosying up to your partner or chatting to friends without heavy background noise.
The cocktail menu is the star of the show here, particularly their Espresso Martini, Pink 61, and Spicy Mango Margarita. You can also order pints from Leeds-based brands like Faith and Eternal, and German brands like Ayinger and Erdinger, all on tap.
Seating is limited inside, but they also have an enclosed terrace space filled with comfortable seating with cushions and fairy lights.
Opening Times
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Wednesday: 5 pm – 10 pm
Thursday: 5 pm – 11 pm
Friday: 3 pm – 11 pm
Saturday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Sunday: 12:30 pm – 7 pm
Roland’s
You might recognise the name as one of the bars located along Call Lane in Leeds, and you’d be right. The Roland’s in Harrogate is a part of the franchise but with a much warmer and rustic-industrialist appeal, with leather booths and large glass windows that open in the summer months.
The venue specialises in cocktails, including a Spicy Margarita, Bloody Mary and Espresso Martini, as well as their in-house Wolde Bros Gin and draught beers (including Vocation Hilltop Lager and Veltins). You can even bag yourself a free cocktail on the first Monday of each month by signing up to their mailing list.
Opening Times
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Thursday: 4 pm – 12 am
Friday: 2 pm – 1 am
Saturday: 12 pm – 2 am
Sunday: 1 pm – 11 pm
The Tap On Tower Street
Located around a 10-minute walk from the centre on Tower Street, the aptly named Tap On Tower Street (formerly Tap & Spile) is a traditional country pub that is aimed at real ale lovers and dog walkers. You’d easily miss it if you didn’t know it existed, but it’s certainly well known by locals in the town.
The bar regularly features in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and serves pints from regional independent breweries like Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker and Left Handed Giant. Those who prefer something a little sweeter will also love their boxed ciders like Lilley’s.
As you walk in, you can choose from three rooms, with an array of booth-style seating and tables, as well as outdoor benches. Dogs are welcome inside, and there are more than 300 board games for some friendly rivalry on a Sunday afternoon. They also now serve pizzas along with a range of bar snacks – just note service may be slower during peak times or if you’re with a big group, as there are only two pizza ovens.
Opening Times
Monday-Thursday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Friday-Saturday: 12 pm – 12 am
Sunday: 12 pm – 11 pm
The Barologist
Formerly the space for the Harrogate Arms, The Barologist opened its doors in July last year. A refreshing change to Parliament Street, it offers a range of creative drinks and cask ales and is also one of Harrogate’s best spots for bottomless brunch and afternoon tea. You can also grab yourself two cocktails for £12 Sunday to Friday, including classics like Tequila Sunrise and Mojito.
It’s a highly Instagrammable place with floral installations and steampunk sculptures, and there are large TVs that ensure you can watch live sports on a Saturday afternoon in all its glory. The choice of food is also a strong contender in Harrogate, with traditional dishes like steak and ale cottage pie and haddock and chips, as well as fusion small plates such as roasted red onion and ricotta bruschetta and honey and mustard glazed ham terrine.
Opening Times
Monday-Thursday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Friday-Saturday: 12 pm – 12 am
Sunday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Paradise Tap & Taco
Paradise is an independent Mexican street food and craft beer bar hidden away on Oxford Street, around the corner from Starling. If you’re after cool and trendy places in Harrogate, this is the place to be. There’s a range of seating downstairs, but we recommend heading upstairs, where you’ll find a variety of sofas, cosy lighting, and a pool table (although you may have to wait for your turn if you wish to play).
The bar is located directly by the entrance, where you can order both your food and drinks. They have Cold Bath Brewing Co beer on draught and a selection of margaritas, including frozen margaritas with a Tajin rim and a coriander margarita (which is an unusual yet tasty concoction).
It’s one of the only places in Harrogate that serves top-quality Mexican food, from their lime chipotle chicken burrito to their beef birria tacos and loaded nachos (also make sure to get some Pico de Gallo on the side). When ordering food, you’ll be given an electronic device so you can come back downstairs to collect it once it’s ready. The kitchen is usually open daily from 12 pm to 9 pm.
Opening Times
Sunday-Thursday: 12 pm – 11 pm
Saturday-Sunday: 12 pm – 12 am
Coach & Horses
The Coach & Horses pub on West Park is a local’s favourite, mostly for its gastro-pub menu and real cask ales on rotation. It was restored in July 2022 over the course of two years after being acquired by the Provenance Collection, now featuring a modernised ground floor and beautiful dining room, while still maintaining its traditional pub feel (as per request from regulars).
They hold a Cask Marque accreditation for their ales, with regular titles including Tetley’s, Daleside Blonde, and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord. The wine list is also nothing short of fantastic, and if you visit from 4 pm to 6 pm (sometimes 7 pm) during weekdays, you’ll catch their ‘Appy Hour, with discounts on selected drinks when ordering via their app.
Highlights from the menu are the Beer Battered Fish and triple Cooked Beef Dripping Chips, Tikka Masala, and Steak and Ale Pie. However, they also serve one of the best Sunday roasts in Harrogate, which always includes a monstrous Yorkshire pudding and good thick cuts of meat, with fresh vegetables from their gardens.
Opening Times
Sunday-Thursday: 12 pm – 10 pm
Friday-Saturday: 12 pm – 12 am
The Mayfair Pub & Kitchen
Harrogate was missing a proper sports bar that could house lots of people at any given time, which is why, when Mayfair opened early last year, it became a popular choice for weekends. It’s located on Parliament Street, one of Harrogate’s main streets in the middle of town, and covers several floors, including an outdoor terrace.
While it functions as a sports bar during the day, it doubles as a party venue at night. It’s one of Harrogate’s most affordable bars, with a £6.96 lunch deal and a two for £25 roast special on a Sunday. They even have a 2 for £12 cocktail deal and a 2 for £5 on selected bottles of beer and alcopops.
Opening Times
Monday: 4 pm – 11 pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday-Thursday: 11 am – 12 am
Friday-Saturday: 11 am – 2 am
Sunday: 11 am – 9 pm