The 14 best pubs and bars in Exeter

Something of a local legend, you’ll struggle to find a better respected Exeter institution than this one. Firehouse strikes the perfect balance between cosy and cool. It’s open until the early hours almost every night, it’s got reasonably priced wine and a hefty cider selection, fabulous 14 inch square pizzas, a weekly open mic night and the now-legendary Monday night pub quiz. Just be prepared: the winning team is decided with a dance off. Wallflowers beware! 

Topsham Brewery has become something of an Exeter cult classic. Located right on the waterfront of Exeter’s picturesque Quayside, this relaxed pub boasts a dazzling array of local beer and ale. The pints may not be cheap but you can guarantee they are all brewed mega locally. The pub garden pulls in a mixed crowd of students and young professionals and is dog and family friendly too. Get down early to guarantee a table – this place packs out. 

Exonians were up in arms back in 2021 when ‘closing time’ was announced for this iconic venue. So much so, they launched a campaign to save it. Now under new managment, this eccentric gastropub has lost nothing of its original charm. Tucked away on an unassuming residential street just off Exeter’s historic Quay, the dark panelled, candlelit boozer feels delightfully old school, with taxidermied animals, whacky artwork and even a pub cat. But it’s also known for doing really, really good food. The menu includes things like Ribeye and chips, crab pappardelle and salted caramel affogato.

If you fancy a little sojourn outside of the city centre, this charming microbrewery is well worth a visit. As the name suggests, The Beer Engine is located just off a historic train track in Newton St Cyres, just a fifteen-minute train ride from the centre of Exeter. If you are prepared to invest a whole £2.50 on the journey, you’ll be rewarded with a charming tiered garden, roaring hearth and a range of in-house brewed beers and ales. 

A few feet from Exeter’s central station, Tabac has become a well-loved spot for locals since it opened in 2015. Hosting a cracking array of local draft beers and spirits, this small pub still feels neighbourhoody even in the centre of town. Yes, indoors is very cute, but the quintessential Tabac experience is reserved for those who take a pew streetside. Sitting al fresco on a warm evening feels kind of like you've been transported from the streets of Devon to continental europe (but also kind of not).

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a cocktail connoisseur, then look no further than The Mermaid. A welcome addition to Exeter’s independent-shop mecca, Gandy Street, The Mermaid is a candle lit basement serving up boozy cocktails long into the night. Try classics like their killer negroni or get experimental with a Mermaid Sour or a Sea Nymph, featuring smoked rum and falernum. Plus it’s on Gandy street, with a load of nearby spots for a bar crawl. When you’ve drunk your fill here, nip next door to Coolings for their famous Krakatoa shots. 

The carpets are loud, the pitchers are cheap. That’s right - it's The Imperial. And yes, we know what you’re thinking. How has a Wetherspoons made the list? But this ain’t just any Wetherspoons: formerly The Imperial Hotel, the pub sits in an impressive Victorian Orangery, originally designed by none other than Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Still not convinced? This gargantuan structure is matched with a mammoth beer garden and even hosts its own beer festival. Whilst you’re at it, visit Exeter’s second best spoons, George’s Meeting House, just up the road. Built in a converted Methodist church, they’ve even kept the pews!

Brought to you by the same people behind well-loved The Fat Pig, The Pig and Pickle is a cosy micropub located on Heavitree highstreet. Formerly an old post office, The Pig and Pickle retains all the charm of its bigger sister but with a smaller, neighbourhood feel. The food menu is pared down, serving bar snacks and ‘English tapas’. Think artisan pork pies, scotch eggs and pickled onions - all done very, very well. 

Located in a wonderfully intimate basement, this charming wine bar boasts a discerning wine list and an impressive a la carte menu to boot. Located right next to Exeter’s Barnfield Theatre, this atmospheric bar is perfect for a pre-show tipple or a candle-lit date -expect full bodied reds, crisp whites and some very nice sparkly wines. Showcasing the best in local food and drink, Rendezvous is the perfect spot for, well…rendezvousing.

Henry’s bar does what is says on the tin. It's a bar, just a bar, but it’s a bloody good one. This no-frills spot in the heart of student country is a firm favourite for freshers, with cheap drinks, friendly staff and a pool table and dart board for when awkward first-year small talk inevitably dries up. Compared to the set of ‘Cheers’ by its patrons, this unpretentious boozer is the kind of place where the staff know your name and your order. Maybe don’t visit if you’re over, like, 25.