Fez
Margate Old Town, Margate
Bar in Margate, United Kingdom
Book with PearlWhy go
Fez on Margate's High Street is a solid evening bar that comes into its own later in the night. Arrive early for a more relaxed experience, or lean into the energy after 10 PM when the crowd builds. Walk-ins appear to be the norm. For comparison options nearby, see our full Margate bars guide at joinpearl.co.
About Fez
Should You Go to Fez?
If you've already been to Fez once, the question isn't whether it's worth a return; it's whether your second visit lands better than your first. On the High Street in Margate's increasingly busy bar scene, Fez holds its ground as an evening option that deepens as the night progresses. The energy shifts after 9 PM, when the crowd thickens and the ambient noise climbs from background chatter to something closer to a proper night out. That transition is either the point or the problem, depending on what you want from a Tuesday or a Saturday.
For regulars, the move on a return visit is to arrive earlier than you did last time. The room is more manageable before 10 PM; better for conversation, easier to get served, you get a clearer read on what Fez actually does well before the volume takes over. Late-night viability here is real, but it's a particular kind of late night: not a cocktail-bar-with-low-lighting situation, more the end of an evening where the bar becomes the plan rather than the prelude to one.
Margate's bar options have evolved alongside the town's broader regeneration, Fez sits in a different register to the seafront-facing spots like Buoy and Oyster or the more pub-coded The Lifeboat. Whether the recent changes at Fez, which locals have noted over the past year or so, represent a refinement or just drift is worth testing on your second visit. Come in with lower expectations on service speed when it's busy and you'll likely leave satisfied.
For a fuller picture of what else is open in town, see our full Margate bars guide, our full Margate restaurants guide, and our full Margate experiences guide. If you're making a night of it, our Margate hotels guide covers the accommodation side.
Practical Details
Address: 40 High St, Margate CT9 1DS. Reservations: Walk-in only based on available information, no booking link or phone number confirmed. Dress: Casual. Leading timing: Arrive before 9 PM if you want a quieter experience; expect a louder, more crowded room from 10 PM onward. Budget: No price data confirmed, expect standard Margate bar pricing. Getting there: Margate train station is a short walk from the High Street.
Planning details
- Location
- 40 High St, Margate CT9 1DS, United Kingdom
- Phone
- +44 7743 567006
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Fez reads like a measured, city-calibre cocktail bar planted on Margate’s High Street. It leans into a spirit-led approach that treats the back bar as the venue’s central argument, attracting both gallery-goers and weekend visitors from London. The tone is less seaside volume and more curated selection: operators have moved beyond casual-bohemian formats to a more purposeful, polished offering. Expect an atmosphere that privileges the craft of drinks and thoughtful service over loud socials — a focused evening spot that feels contemporary without losing the town’s creative edge.
Best For
Fez is best for evenings when you want a considered cocktail rather than a noisy pub session. Its location within easy reach of Margate’s Old Town and the Turner Contemporary makes it a natural stop after gallery visits or for a planned night out with friends or a date. The bar caters to visitors who are leaning toward spirit-led tasting and conversation, so it suits after-work drinks, cultured weekend nights and anyone looking for a more intentional cocktail experience than the typical seaside stop.
Ordering Tips
The bar’s emphasis is clearly on spirit curation, so let the back bar guide your choices: ask the bartender which spirits anchor the current programme and request spirit-forward cocktails if you want to taste that depth. Because the venue sits between casual drinking and a dedicated cocktail sit-down, expect well-crafted signatures rather than high-volume draughts; rely on staff recommendations to navigate the selection and to point out standout bottles or house twists.
Planning details
Location
40 High St, Margate CT9 1DS, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Bar Termini; Notable alternative
- Callooh Callay; Notable alternative
- Happiness Forgets; Notable alternative
- Mojo Leeds; Notable alternative
- Nightjar; Notable alternative
Bar context
How Fez Compares
Fez is a Margate-specific option and doesn't map directly onto the kind of destination cocktail bars you'd travel for. If you're after a London-standard cocktail program, Nightjar and Happiness Forgets both operate at a level of technical precision that Fez, as a High Street bar in a seaside town, isn't competing. The trade-off is that those venues require advance booking and carry London pricing. Fez is walk-in, local, priced accordingly; a different category entirely.
For a closer peer comparison within the UK bar scene, Mojo Leeds offers a useful reference point: a high-energy bar with a strong late-night following, casual dress, a crowd that arrives with the intention of staying late. Fez reads similarly. If that format appeals, Fez delivers it in a Margate context. If you want the precise, intimate cocktail-bar experience, Callooh Callay or Bar Termini are the better calls; but you'll need to be in London and you'll need to plan ahead.
Within Margate itself, Buoy and Oyster is the stronger choice if food is part of your evening. The Lifeboat suits a more pub-casual crowd. Fez is the pick if you want a bar-first evening that runs late, in a central High Street location with no booking hassle.
Explore Margate
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Fez guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Fez
| Venue | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Fez | No published awards | Easy |
| Bar Termini | Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2026 · #8Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1302018 World's 50 Best Bars · #62017 World's 50 Best Bars · #92016 World's 50 Best Bars · #30 | Unknown |
| Callooh Callay | No published awards | Unknown |
| Happiness Forgets | Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2026 · #44Top 500 Bars 2026 · #3102019 World's 50 Best Bars · #402018 World's 50 Best Bars · #352017 World's 50 Best Bars · #122016 World's 50 Best Bars · #102015 World's 50 Best Bars · #82014 World's 50 Best Bars · #122013 World's 50 Best Bars · #6 | Unknown |
| Mojo Leeds | 2009 World's 50 Best Bars · #24 | Unknown |
| Nightjar | Top 500 Bars 2026 · #712026 Pinnacle Guide2017 World's 50 Best Bars · #432016 World's 50 Best Bars · #192015 World's 50 Best Bars · #32014 World's 50 Best Bars · #32013 World's 50 Best Bars · #22012 World's 50 Best Bars · #32011 World's 50 Best Bars · #18 | Unknown |
How Fez stacks up against the competition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the signature drink at Fez?
Specific menu details aren't confirmed for Fez at 40 High St, so pinning down a house signature isn't possible here. Given the casual, walk-in format and Margate's independent bar scene, expect a straightforward drinks list rather than an elaborate cocktail programme. If a particular drink is the draw, it's worth checking in person; this is not a place where the menu is the headline.
Is Fez good for groups?
Fez works for small to mid-sized groups looking for a low-key night on Margate's High Street. Walk-in only means you can't pre-secure space, so larger groups should arrive early to avoid being split up. If you need a guaranteed private area or reserved tables, somewhere with a bookings system would serve you better.
Does Fez have happy hour deals?
No confirmed happy hour information is available for Fez. At a casual walk-in bar on Margate High Street, promotional pricing is plausible but not documented. Ask at the bar when you arrive; if deals exist, staff will know.
Is the food good at Fez?
Cuisine type isn't confirmed in available data for Fez, so food isn't reliably part of the pitch here. Treat this as a drinks venue first. If food is a priority for your visit, plan around a Margate restaurant and use Fez as a before or after stop.
Is Fez good for a date?
A casual bar on Margate's High Street can work for a low-pressure first date; no dress code fuss, no booking stress. That said, if the goal is atmosphere and intention, Margate has options with more considered settings. Fez suits dates where the plan is relaxed drinks rather than a full evening-length experience.
What's the crowd like at Fez?
Fez sits on Margate High Street, which draws a mix of locals, day-trippers, the creative crowd that has moved into the town over the past decade. Expect a casual, unpretentious room rather than a destination bar pulling a specific scene. It's not a filtered crowd; which is either a plus or a minus depending on what you're after.
Do I need a reservation at Fez?
No reservation system is confirmed for Fez; walk-in appears to be the only option based on available information. That removes booking friction, but it also means there's no guarantee of space on a busy weekend. Arrive early if you're going on a Friday or Saturday night.
