The Barge

You'll find yourself drawn to the Brayford as the sun starts dropping, and The Barge is exactly where you want to be. It's positioned right on the water, so you're getting that rare Lincoln pleasure of sitting outdoors with a decent drink in hand, watching the light hit the cathedral in the distance. The bar does cocktails properly—not fussed about Instagram theatrics, just technically sound drinks made by people who actually know what they're doing. The atmosphere is pitched perfectly between lively and easy-going; it's somewhere you can have a genuine conversation without shouting over thudding bass, but it's never quiet enough to feel awkward.