Riki Tik

Riki Tik’s is the place to go if you look for relaxing reggae music, amazing food and cocktails! Best place to go on Brighton beach!

Guys — Riki Tik’s has totes redeemed itself! It’s changed hands and is now a Reggae bar. Still got the same layout but a much nicer vibe now, I actually had a really good night there on Saturday (and this is coming from me — I hate going out — out! Ba humbug and all that…). Even threw a few shapes.
Drinks are reasonably priced in here too, compared with most bars round town. Fully recommend this place for a chilled out giggle.

Mired somewhere between dive, dance hall and bar, Riki Tik’s is famously one of Brighton’s best late-​night drinking holes. However, looks and rumours can be deceiving: Riki Tik’s is pretty shocking, and most only ever go there because they can’t think of anywhere else that’ll give them a drink past 2am in the area. Go to the FIshbowl instead, which is similarly poor but not quite as bad as this dive.
The atmosphere in Riki Tik’s is simply awful. The walls are coated in garish tosh, so called ‘artwork’ that it just the most awkward, derivative, we-​have-​no-​idea-​how-​to-​decorate-​this-​place kind of rubbish. This combines with a weird collection of lamps, tables and chairs that look cobbled together from various 99p bins at Ikea and the like. I suppose the overall dim lighting does hide these imperfections pretty well, but on closer scrutiny this place looks like it was designed by an infant: not exactly classy!
Add the horrible atmosphere to the rubbish music pumped out ad infinitum, the so called dancing are (otherwise known as the spaces between the tables), the overpriced, watered-​down drinks… It’s just poor here. Still, past 2am, few other places will be open to give you a drink, so you might have no choice. Just consider yourself forewarned!

Riki Tiks is a tardis of a bar — the small street entrance that leads past one bar, through a corridor like area, and then back to a larger bar and seating area at the back. Everything is painted black, with some artwork on the walls to break the monotony.
At weekends, it is generally packed, with local DJs and a little room to dance, meaning that it’s often a popular choice with those looking to move on to a club afterwards. It is most definitely a bar and not a pub though, so don’t come here expecting a quiet drink — although in the afternoons it is often quite quiet and feels rather studenty, with little groups huddled round laptops using their wifi. Generally though, it is dark and chaotic, in a good way. I particularly like the two static swings which serve as seats!

For those of you looking for Riki Tiki’s, you’ll have to keep searching for your hula-​inspired paradise. Skip the extra «i» — this place is just Riki TIKs.
…intriguing.
Speaking of intriguing, while I should be going on about the fact that our jug of mojito tasted more like soda water with mint sprigs, or that our brand-​new bartender told me she had never made a margarita (although it was on the menu,) all I can think to Unilocal about are the toilets!
Seriously. Decidedly inspired by teen angst such that I haven’t seen since Seattle circa 1991. All black, with that «I don’t give a s**t» paint job. It was fantastic, and terrifying.
It smells like teen spirit, but unfortunately, we didn’t taste any in our cocktails.