The Lighthouse Bar in Thanet

The best vibe of any bar in margate

Lovely friendly place, dogs welcome, perfect location.

Cool seaside pub with a warm fire 🔥

The Lighthouse Bar in Margate is located at the far end of the Harbour Arm itself. There is usually parking available on the arm, or if you're like me and have a motorcycle, you are able to park directly outside the premises without too much fuss. I usually try and pop down here at least once a month, more if life allows me to. Sometimes I ride down solo, but usually I have someone with me. Every time I've visited, I've always loved the atmosphere. There is decent music playing which can be heard both inside and outside of the bar, however it isn't too loud so as to stop you having a conversation. WiFi is available for free which is great - especially to those of us who cannot get a data signal on our mobile devices. There is a decent selection of drinks available, with a bottle of cider currently costing £5.50. There is seating both inside the bar for the restaurant as well as outside along the seafront offering fantastic views of the sea and Margate seafront alike. You can even walk around the lighthouse itself and find yourself above the bar, looking down on everything below you. There is no toilet within the bar, however there are plenty available along the harbour arm. The staff have always been cheerful and efficient (have had a few good conversations about the motorcycle this year) and the area is always clean. It can get busy at times, but honestly, its a great experience. Highly recommended and I can't wait to visit again!

Lovely place to have a drink at the end pier and enjoy the views looking back over margate

My partner and I had drinks here very friendly service, (drinks given in plastic cups) lots of places to sit and watch the world go by very busy and popular. Well worth a visit.

Nice bar, friendly staff shame their opening times are a bit random

Lovely bar with a DJ to enjoy sitting on the water watching Margate go by.

A lovely, warm place to walk into, with friendly, helpful staff and an excellent selection of wines (including orange, that we'd never even heard of before) and spirits, with a small, bustling kitchen at one end, sending out tasty morsels 😀

Worth it for the view and cost experience. Reminds me of an alpine lodge rather than a bar in Margate. Mostly bottled drinks but still a great experience and unique setting.

Great location, dirty glass and flat drink though.

Love the Lighthouse Bar, fabulous staff, great atmosphere and always fun, thanks Simon

Great place to have a drink listening to really good music.

Great location and very quiet when we were there. Lovely place to sit at the end of the sea wall and watch the world go by

Lovely location on the Harbour Arm Slurping a large gin and tonic in the early evening sunshine Just a great time here 🍸🍸🍸

Had a lovely cup of cappuccino, even got a biscuit with our drink. Can highly recommend this bar.

Spent a Saturday afternoon by the log burner - Was lovely!

Lovely position overlooking the harbour with nice people serving, being January 5th too early in the year for food but the log burner kept us warm. Well worth a visit

We were beyond thirsty, but LHB took care of our thirst and fed us. We are now quenched, sated, and thankful for Simon and the LHB crew!

Popped into LHB for a drink. Simon was fantastic and went over and above for all of his customers. Will definitely be going back!

Wonderful place for a lovely date!

Visited the bar at lunchtime on a sunny day for a cider. The vibe was great, we felt as though we were on holiday with the DJ playing dance music.

Found this on one of our walks along the coast at the end of the harbour wall, what a great little find. Only spent one evening there (Sunday) but it was spent listening to some soulful house and funky, jazz soul looking out over the beach area. 👌🏻 Drinks are of an average price and staff are really friendly.

The Lighthouse Bar, great location to spend the afternoon drinking, eating and looking over Margate old town. Watch the sun go down .. one of Margates gems of a place .. when in Margate give it a visit.

Everythings perfect there, the views, the people, the music! X

Very basic bar with a great view. Would happily go back. Only issue was that we had to walk all the way to the market to go to the bathroom.

Went to the lighthouse bar no covid restitution at all no table service at all I wasquit conserned about just the general cleanliness of the place very poor and very over priced 2 bottles of beer 12 pounds daylight robbery whilst the owner is knocking Morgan spice in front of the customers. Says everything stay away this is not a covid friendly pub aviod

Hier sollte man (bei gutem Wetter) - trotz des widerlichen Geruchs den man an manchen Tagen auf dem Weg entlang des Hafenbeckens ertragen muss - während eines Margate-Aufenthalts unbedingt gewesen sein: Ein schöner Blick über das Wasser auf die gegenüber liegenden Waterfront-Fassaden, den Strand und das Meer, coole Musik, ein netter Barmann und natürlich die Lage am Leuchtturm.

Called in for a drink on a very windy day over the bank holiday weekend. Cozy and very good service. Works inside or outside. If you sit outside you may even hear a live band playing a few yards away

Beautiful views outside witnessing the fishman's fresh catch of the day. People enjoying the sun or having fun on jetskis/ boats. All while enjoying a nice cold one. Lovely design and atmosphere. Spectacular on top... sit upstairs and you'll find serenity, while starring out into the sea. Watch the sun rise or set, maybe even both. Beautiful people and amazing music. Live music when they take it up a level. Can't wait for your next DJ or live band. Thank you. You make the harbour special and a better place. Energy hotspot...

Cool little bar with a wood burner for that extra cosy factor. I've reluctantly knocked off one star since quite a few options were unavailable but wouldn't hesitate recommending a visit.

Cute place on the harbour. Limited drink selection and ran out of wine but might be time of year!

Nice location and wood burning stove but very quiet for a Saturday night would be good if they played music to lend some atmosphere

Terrible selection of beer. No atmosphere and poor service.

Cosy place and great location however the staff member that serviced me was very blunt and unwelcoming. Wouldn't recommend.

Has a really lovely wood burner, crackling and making a warm atmosphere. The art, design and beautiful view of Margate is the perfect place for a hot chocolate on a cold Saturday afternoon. The staff are friendly warm and welcoming.

Went in the summer for a relaxing drink on a hot sunny afternoon. Bought one drink, a bottle which was very expensive. Would have liked to enjoyed the harbour arm for longer but not at this bar. Interior is ok if a little worn but there really was no atmosphere and nothing about the service or quality of products that could warrant the high prices they charge. On the whole I would not bother visiting again as the old town has it all and over looks the harbour without having to make the extra walk along the harbour arm. My opinion is that the lighthouse bar is an overrated experience, an exercise in trying to trade of the current trend for continental style cafe bars. Some manage to achieve this while others, including the lighthouse bar are I'm afraid all fur coat and no knickers.

Great location, great music, but all the ale was bottled. Visiting the area and hoped to try some local kent ale from a hand pump and could only get a bottle. Little sad about that. But, the ale was good so not the end of the world.

They don't seem to realise that their music bounces back even louder onto the buildings on the parade (opposite the harbour arm). It's tolerable during the day, but after 10pm at night with kids trying to sleep it's really not on and very inconsiderate.

Visited lighthouse bar with friends on a works night out early on a sat eve - 6pm ish. When asked for a wine list we were told just red or white. Two very low grade gin and tonics (beefeater and koppaberg) were charged at £16.80 for the two - absolutely ridiculous price. Not even put in a nice glass with a garnish and when I enquired about possibility of a nicer glass than a 90’s pilsner style I was told that they could “wash me up a wine glass”. Saw the drinks being delivered whilst being served which was cases of cider from Aldi! They don’t even have their own toilet, it’s in an outhouse out the back. Have no idea how this bar can charge such outrageous prices with such poor quality of goods, facilities and service. Will never go back.

An oasis at the end of a longish walk. I think this bar is a gem.

Great tunes, great atmosphere, great drinks, great view. Worth the walk along the harbour and great even in cloudy weather. Something a little bit different from all the traditional bars and pubs along the seafront. Highly recommended. Has been awesome every time we’ve visited. Although it’s always been in the summer.

Be it a cold bleak winter, or a stunning summers day, the lighthouse bar brings you close to the sea so you can watch the stormy waters from inside, or lounge outside in the sun. Friendly staff and good beer. The only tiny flaw is that bathroom facilities are a few yards away... More of a problem in winter!

We went there on the first Saturday at 13:00 in July on a nice hot day. There was 12 of us 4 family's. They have a really small menu and by the time we got to the last family they only had burgers left. They had to go off and eat somewhere else. Food was nice but not a nice place to eat. Would not return and would not recommend

Really nice place and attentive staff!

Rubbish...........went there saterday nite at 9pm they were turning music off...and toilets are the worst to the point i didnt bother.....might be better other nites but my 1st experience was pants

Most fabulous views and location in Margate

My husband & I had a lovely big bowl of mussels & a plate of spicy nachos - amazing! There was a large variety of drinks for this kind of bar which was brilliant. The staff were very friendly & the atmosphere was great!

Good service, pricey drinks but you get what you pay for and I love it there.

Love it here. Not much on tap though (try the Harbour Arm pub if you want ale or tap beers). Owner does a really good steak wrap for a great price - perfect for light lunch in the sun on one of the comfy sofas outside.

Brilliant bar with great service and awesome views

Nice location only stopped by for a drink very quiet today due to the weather so not much atmosphere. I BET it's a 5 star in summer.

Nice and down to earth place with some simple food. A good place to enjoy a drink. The place has a lovely fire place creating a nice ambiance. The service was friendly.

Nice cosy bar, with great views

Excellent venue and am looking forwards to eating a meal soon knockout, great staff and awesome 🌟 DJs like loop-E-lou

Snacks drinks and a log burner what more can I say lovely place.

Nice little Bar on the harbour wall, didn't have any milk at the time, wanted a coffee 🤗 so had a beer instead

It was closed when we got there although the website said they should be open

This small, quaint bar was hired for the whole evening for a private birthday party. Although it was a little fresh outside, the scenery is unique to Margate. As the tide drew ever near the beachfront, the boats slowly started to bob about, their bells tinkering as they rose, upright under the full moon. Inside there is an amazing wood burner which certainly made the place very cosy indeed.

Great location at the entrance to the harbour, end of the stone pier. The open fire was welcoming whilst having a coffee and looking over the beach and boats

One of the coolest spots in Margate esp. with the wonderful view on the Old Town and the Harbour, also helpful staff and good beer, what else could you ask for, worth a visit for your Margate stay.

Nice place to have a beer or glass of wine when the weather is nice

Located on the harbour arm right at the end, larger and cocktails and a cosy fireplace on them miserable rainy days.

Fantastic relaxed atmosphere lovely views great food and a good selection of drinks :-D

One of the best bars in Thanet. Great location,overlooking the harbour. Staff are always friendly and welcoming. The owner is very friendly too. If you are nearby,pop in. You won’t be disappointed.

Great place but toilets not ideal, Could do with a revamp

No food, only one draft lager - hofmeister and NO Toilets! ! Nice sea views and it was warm in there. I asked where the toilets were you have to use the public ones a few yards up. One of the worst I have been in! ! Would definately NOT return!

Friendly staff - nice place to stop for a quiet drink

Beautiful spot for a cold cider in the shining sun. The staff are friendly, the music is good and it's without a doubt the best spot to watch the sunset over the sea. There's a good selection of drinks, and also food, so all in all, the perfect place to happily spend an entire afternoon.

Small bar, but friendly staff, good selection of drinks

Yet another visit to this quaint place..friendly staff & that wonderful smell of burnt wood from the stove welcoming you. Great location in all seasons and views. Spring/Summer some great tunes on a lazy Sunday.

For the second time in recent months .. we walked all the way from the station in the rain expecting a warm fire and a cup of coffee .Yes there was a fire but once again NO MILK ... who opens for the day with NO milk ? We could of had a black coffee for the same price !!! No thanks Apparently the guy is often on his own and can’t go out for supplies .How ridiculous is that .. so we walked to the next coffee shop .. No wonder there was nobody in there .We won’t be going again ...

Great bar friendly staff make it a must on your visit to margate

This is a very nice scenic bar on the end of the pier near the lighthouse, very nice food and drinks all on the pier.

We always head for the Lighthouse bar for the Soul weekend. Perfect location great music, and when the sun shines who needs Ibiza.

Great good and great sounds on the soul weekend.

Very welcoming ..beautiful views across the harbour

Nice chilled out vibe. Lovely on a sunny day

Lovely views, friendly staff. Great watching the gulls..and the beach. Best views of margate

The bar needs to check for iD before serving kids and think about hiring security for parties and private functions as when there was a fight there was no one to break it up.

Went to the Lighthouse Bar on Sunday it was very busy but still room for us, we sat outside facing the harbour and watched the world go by, a great spot for people watching. Then we had some really good live music from a guy sat just behind us. We could have sat there for hours it was the perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Great time in beer garden with live music and great views of the bay.

Lovely atmospheric bar with fab views over the beach. Cosy sofa area at the end with huge glass windows. Wood burning stove that must be lovely in winter. Great place to spend and hour reading and drinking coffee.

Perfect place to get inside from the chill of a spring day, friendly staff served up lovely hot chocolates. Great to look out of the big picture windows and watch the world go by.

We stopped in the lighthouse bar to get out the wind. We took the big table in the middle. We enjoyed a large plate of nachos. They are amazing.

Good view across the beach and harbour, with decent beer tea and coffee

Nice and cosy atmosphere. Offers bar and coffee service, also food. Good to hide against wind on the Arm.

nice place for a long tea enjoying the views. Friendly staff.

Great place, perfect for a glass of Wine and chill. Summer or Winter.

Situado en el extremo de la pared del puerto, el faro apropiadamente "Bar" lleva en muchas apariencias de ser un lugar con la mejor música de vibración de la música contemporánea para tomar una copa tranquila por la tarde junto a una marea ebbing y algas exponer más arena como pasó el tiempo. El bar en sí es sencillo y los precios de las bebidas están en la parte superior de la media.Fuimos una tarde muy cálida jueves, así que el ambiente era tranquilo y relajado, con un montón de mesas tipo picnic, donde parejas y grupos familiares eran pasar media hora o así antes de seguir adelante. Estar fuera de las mesas de picnic bebiendo una sidra Koppaberg viendo el mundo pasar, este bar ofrecía el ambiente adecuado para una visita costa soleada. Incluso hay un sofá tapizado ubicado cerca de las mesas si prefiere mayor comodidad. Como se ha mencionado en otros comentarios, es una vista panorámica bastante se extiende desde la ofrecieron Turner Gallery, a lo largo de la pared del puerto, y el tramo completo de frente y las arenas de margate hasta el horizonte del mar abierto con muchos barcos transmitiendo los contenedores o los productos a granel y de Europa.Tuvimos la suerte de vivirlo en una cálida tarde de verano, pero en el clima fresco, si la gente que está lejos, me imagino que la mayoría de la gente estaría dentro.

Fantastic views from this bar. Does great food. Revommended for a Sunday afternoon in winter when the log burner is on.

Fuimos al bar del faro en Margate con nuestra hija y nieta en un sábado. El ambiente era genial gracias al personal genial y fantástico sistema de sonido. Tuvimos nuestra cena allí, carne de hamburguesa, pollo burger y el halloumi y remolachas burger, servido con patatas fritas y ensalada de col. Era de sobra en el plato, de hecho sólo uno de nuestro grupo terminado su comida. Recomiendo este lugar.

Nice and chilled, good views but no toilets

Poor soft drink selection, dubiously hygienic outdoor seating and doesn't serve food until late. No bathrooms, and the nearby public ones are ghastly.

We had few beers & snacks here and really enjoyed our time. Nice relaxed ambiance. Great staff, very cheerful. Good view of the beach. We heard they prepared good cocktails but were out of supply. Bad luck for us but next time. Good bar.

popped in for a quick drink and its a quirky little place with fantastic views.While everyone over the other side are fighting for a terrace view being all squished together there is lots of room outside and endless views looking back over the beach and town.I didnt get to experience the toilets but this may put me off for a evening out but during the day where there are toilets a plenty everywhere else i would defo say give this place a shot.The bar staff were really friendly too.

Staff were rude. Beers were hot. View/location was fantastic!

Nice views, good atmosphere away from the crowds. Will definitely go back (for longer next time)

Nice bar with outstanding views across to Margate seafront friendly staff and great decor the best coffee we had all week well worth the long walk only downside is the toilets are the public ones on the pier disgusting

Paramos para tomar un trago y un bocado de comida. Compartió algunas picante cursi nachos. Gran parte y muy picante. Encantador.