diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c14ba5ebdd5..5cd820d1c6a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@
     "@opentelemetry/exporter-collector": "0.23.0",
     "@opentelemetry/semantic-conventions": "1.0.0",
     "@popperjs/core": "2.5.4",
+    "@react-aria/focus": "3.5.0",
+    "@react-aria/overlays": "3.7.2",
     "@reduxjs/toolkit": "1.6.1",
     "@sentry/browser": "5.25.0",
     "@sentry/types": "5.24.2",
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/DropdownChild.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/DropdownChild.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index abd9c95d6f2..00000000000
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/DropdownChild.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-import React from 'react';
-import { css } from '@emotion/css';
-import { GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
-import { Icon, IconName, Link, useTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
-
-export interface Props {
-  isDivider?: boolean;
-  icon?: IconName;
-  onClick?: () => void;
-  target?: HTMLAnchorElement['target'];
-  text: string;
-  url?: string;
-}
-
-const DropdownChild = ({ isDivider = false, icon, onClick, target, text, url }: Props) => {
-  const theme = useTheme2();
-  const styles = getStyles(theme);
-
-  const linkContent = (
-    <div className={styles.linkContent}>
-      <div>
-        {icon && <Icon data-testid="dropdown-child-icon" name={icon} className={styles.icon} />}
-        {text}
-      </div>
-      {target === '_blank' && (
-        <Icon data-testid="external-link-icon" name="external-link-alt" className={styles.externalLinkIcon} />
-      )}
-    </div>
-  );
-
-  let element = (
-    <button className={styles.element} onClick={onClick}>
-      {linkContent}
-    </button>
-  );
-  if (url) {
-    element =
-      !target && url.startsWith('/') ? (
-        <Link className={styles.element} onClick={onClick} href={url}>
-          {linkContent}
-        </Link>
-      ) : (
-        <a className={styles.element} href={url} target={target} rel="noopener" onClick={onClick}>
-          {linkContent}
-        </a>
-      );
-  }
-
-  return isDivider ? <li data-testid="dropdown-child-divider" className="divider" /> : <li>{element}</li>;
-};
-
-export default DropdownChild;
-
-const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
-  element: css`
-    background-color: transparent;
-    border: none;
-    display: flex;
-    width: 100%;
-  `,
-  externalLinkIcon: css`
-    color: ${theme.colors.text.secondary};
-    margin-left: ${theme.spacing(1)};
-  `,
-  icon: css`
-    margin-right: ${theme.spacing(1)};
-  `,
-  linkContent: css`
-    display: flex;
-    flex: 1;
-    flex-direction: row;
-    justify-content: space-between;
-  `,
-});
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBar.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBar.tsx
index 4dbfd54cf54..c23ab43fa55 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBar.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBar.tsx
@@ -1,20 +1,31 @@
-import React, { FC, useCallback, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { FC, useState } from 'react';
 import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { css, cx } from '@emotion/css';
 import { cloneDeep } from 'lodash';
 import { GrafanaTheme2, NavModelItem, NavSection } from '@grafana/data';
 import { Icon, IconName, useTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
 import { locationService } from '@grafana/runtime';
-import appEvents from '../../app_events';
 import { Branding } from 'app/core/components/Branding/Branding';
 import config from 'app/core/config';
-import { CoreEvents, KioskMode } from 'app/types';
-import { enrichConfigItems, isLinkActive, isSearchActive } from './utils';
+import { KioskMode } from 'app/types';
+import { enrichConfigItems, getActiveItem, isMatchOrChildMatch, isSearchActive, SEARCH_ITEM_ID } from './utils';
 import { OrgSwitcher } from '../OrgSwitcher';
 import NavBarItem from './NavBarItem';
+import { NavBarSection } from './NavBarSection';
+import { NavBarMenu } from './NavBarMenu';
 
 const homeUrl = config.appSubUrl || '/';
 
+const onOpenSearch = () => {
+  locationService.partial({ search: 'open' });
+};
+
+const searchItem: NavModelItem = {
+  id: SEARCH_ITEM_ID,
+  onClick: onOpenSearch,
+  text: 'Search dashboards',
+};
+
 export const NavBar: FC = React.memo(() => {
   const theme = useTheme2();
   const styles = getStyles(theme);
@@ -32,78 +43,79 @@ export const NavBar: FC = React.memo(() => {
     location,
     toggleSwitcherModal
   );
-  const activeItemId = isSearchActive(location)
-    ? 'search'
-    : navTree.find((item) => isLinkActive(location.pathname, item))?.id;
+  const activeItem = isSearchActive(location) ? searchItem : getActiveItem(navTree, location.pathname);
 
-  const toggleNavBarSmallBreakpoint = useCallback(() => {
-    appEvents.emit(CoreEvents.toggleSidemenuMobile);
-  }, []);
+  const [mobileMenuOpen, setMobileMenuOpen] = useState(false);
 
   if (kiosk !== null) {
     return null;
   }
 
-  const onOpenSearch = () => {
-    locationService.partial({ search: 'open' });
-  };
-
   return (
     <nav className={cx(styles.sidemenu, 'sidemenu')} data-testid="sidemenu" aria-label="Main menu">
-      <div className={styles.mobileSidemenuLogo} onClick={toggleNavBarSmallBreakpoint} key="hamburger">
+      <div className={styles.mobileSidemenuLogo} onClick={() => setMobileMenuOpen(!mobileMenuOpen)} key="hamburger">
         <Icon name="bars" size="xl" />
-        <span className={styles.closeButton}>
-          <Icon name="times" />
-          Close
-        </span>
       </div>
 
-      <NavBarItem url={homeUrl} label="Home" className={styles.grafanaLogo} showMenu={false}>
-        <Branding.MenuLogo />
-      </NavBarItem>
-      <NavBarItem
-        className={styles.search}
-        isActive={activeItemId === 'search'}
-        label="Search dashboards"
-        onClick={onOpenSearch}
-      >
-        <Icon name="search" size="xl" />
-      </NavBarItem>
-
-      {topItems.map((link, index) => (
-        <NavBarItem
-          key={`${link.id}-${index}`}
-          isActive={activeItemId === link.id}
-          label={link.text}
-          menuItems={link.children}
-          target={link.target}
-          url={link.url}
-        >
-          {link.icon && <Icon name={link.icon as IconName} size="xl" />}
-          {link.img && <img src={link.img} alt={`${link.text} logo`} />}
+      <NavBarSection>
+        <NavBarItem url={homeUrl} label="Home" className={styles.grafanaLogo} showMenu={false}>
+          <Branding.MenuLogo />
         </NavBarItem>
-      ))}
+        <NavBarItem
+          className={styles.search}
+          isActive={activeItem === searchItem}
+          label={searchItem.text}
+          onClick={searchItem.onClick}
+        >
+          <Icon name="search" size="xl" />
+        </NavBarItem>
+      </NavBarSection>
+
+      <NavBarSection>
+        {topItems.map((link, index) => (
+          <NavBarItem
+            key={`${link.id}-${index}`}
+            isActive={isMatchOrChildMatch(link, activeItem)}
+            label={link.text}
+            menuItems={link.children}
+            target={link.target}
+            url={link.url}
+          >
+            {link.icon && <Icon name={link.icon as IconName} size="xl" />}
+            {link.img && <img src={link.img} alt={`${link.text} logo`} />}
+          </NavBarItem>
+        ))}
+      </NavBarSection>
 
       <div className={styles.spacer} />
 
-      {bottomItems.map((link, index) => (
-        <NavBarItem
-          key={`${link.id}-${index}`}
-          isActive={activeItemId === link.id}
-          label={link.text}
-          menuItems={link.children}
-          menuSubTitle={link.subTitle}
-          onClick={link.onClick}
-          reverseMenuDirection
-          target={link.target}
-          url={link.url}
-        >
-          {link.icon && <Icon name={link.icon as IconName} size="xl" />}
-          {link.img && <img src={link.img} alt={`${link.text} logo`} />}
-        </NavBarItem>
-      ))}
+      <NavBarSection>
+        {bottomItems.map((link, index) => (
+          <NavBarItem
+            key={`${link.id}-${index}`}
+            isActive={isMatchOrChildMatch(link, activeItem)}
+            label={link.text}
+            menuItems={link.children}
+            menuSubTitle={link.subTitle}
+            onClick={link.onClick}
+            reverseMenuDirection
+            target={link.target}
+            url={link.url}
+          >
+            {link.icon && <Icon name={link.icon as IconName} size="xl" />}
+            {link.img && <img src={link.img} alt={`${link.text} logo`} />}
+          </NavBarItem>
+        ))}
+      </NavBarSection>
 
       {showSwitcherModal && <OrgSwitcher onDismiss={toggleSwitcherModal} />}
+      {mobileMenuOpen && (
+        <NavBarMenu
+          activeItem={activeItem}
+          navItems={[searchItem, ...topItems, ...bottomItems]}
+          onClose={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
+        />
+      )}
     </nav>
   );
 });
@@ -118,11 +130,6 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
     ${theme.breakpoints.up('md')} {
       display: block;
     }
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: block;
-      margin-top: 0;
-    }
   `,
   sidemenu: css`
     display: flex;
@@ -141,16 +148,6 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
     .sidemenu-hidden & {
       display: none;
     }
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      background-color: ${theme.colors.background.primary};
-      box-shadow: ${theme.shadows.z1};
-      gap: ${theme.spacing(1)};
-      height: auto;
-      margin-left: 0;
-      position: absolute;
-      width: 100%;
-    }
   `,
   grafanaLogo: css`
     display: none;
@@ -165,14 +162,6 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
       justify-content: center;
     }
   `,
-  closeButton: css`
-    display: none;
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: block;
-      font-size: ${theme.typography.fontSize}px;
-    }
-  `,
   mobileSidemenuLogo: css`
     align-items: center;
     cursor: pointer;
@@ -187,9 +176,5 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
   `,
   spacer: css`
     flex: 1;
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: none;
-    }
   `,
 });
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.test.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.test.tsx
index 8083daed70a..b220cb4362e 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.test.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ describe('NavBarDropdown', () => {
   it('attaches the header url to the header text if provided', () => {
     render(
       <BrowserRouter>
-        <NavBarDropdown headerText={mockHeaderText} headerUrl={mockHeaderUrl} />
+        <NavBarDropdown headerText={mockHeaderText} headerUrl={mockHeaderUrl} isVisible />
       </BrowserRouter>
     );
     const link = screen.getByRole('link', { name: mockHeaderText });
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.tsx
index 3da5e6e063d..24f88c04e57 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarDropdown.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { css } from '@emotion/css';
 import { GrafanaTheme2, NavModelItem } from '@grafana/data';
-import { IconName, Link, useTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
-import DropdownChild from './DropdownChild';
+import { IconName, useTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
+import { NavBarMenuItem } from './NavBarMenuItem';
 
 interface Props {
   headerTarget?: HTMLAnchorElement['target'];
   headerText: string;
   headerUrl?: string;
+  isVisible?: boolean;
   items?: NavModelItem[];
   onHeaderClick?: () => void;
   reverseDirection?: boolean;
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ const NavBarDropdown = ({
   headerTarget,
   headerText,
   headerUrl,
+  isVisible,
   items = [],
   onHeaderClick,
   reverseDirection = false,
@@ -25,32 +27,20 @@ const NavBarDropdown = ({
 }: Props) => {
   const filteredItems = items.filter((item) => !item.hideFromMenu);
   const theme = useTheme2();
-  const styles = getStyles(theme, reverseDirection, filteredItems);
-
-  let header = (
-    <button onClick={onHeaderClick} className={styles.header}>
-      {headerText}
-    </button>
-  );
-  if (headerUrl) {
-    header =
-      !headerTarget && headerUrl.startsWith('/') ? (
-        <Link href={headerUrl} onClick={onHeaderClick} className={styles.header}>
-          {headerText}
-        </Link>
-      ) : (
-        <a href={headerUrl} target={headerTarget} onClick={onHeaderClick} className={styles.header}>
-          {headerText}
-        </a>
-      );
-  }
+  const styles = getStyles(theme, reverseDirection, filteredItems, isVisible);
 
   return (
-    <ul className={`${styles.menu} dropdown-menu dropdown-menu--sidemenu`} role="menu">
-      <li>{header}</li>
+    <ul className={`${styles.menu} navbar-dropdown`} role="menu">
+      <NavBarMenuItem
+        onClick={onHeaderClick}
+        styleOverrides={styles.header}
+        target={headerTarget}
+        text={headerText}
+        url={headerUrl}
+      />
       {filteredItems.map((child, index) => (
-        <DropdownChild
-          key={`${child.url}-${index}`}
+        <NavBarMenuItem
+          key={index}
           isDivider={child.divider}
           icon={child.icon as IconName}
           onClick={child.onClick}
@@ -69,45 +59,37 @@ export default NavBarDropdown;
 const getStyles = (
   theme: GrafanaTheme2,
   reverseDirection: Props['reverseDirection'],
-  filteredItems: Props['items']
+  filteredItems: Props['items'],
+  isVisible: Props['isVisible']
 ) => {
   const adjustHeightForBorder = filteredItems!.length === 0;
 
   return {
     header: css`
-      align-items: center;
       background-color: ${theme.colors.background.secondary};
-      border: none;
-      color: ${theme.colors.text.primary};
       height: ${theme.components.sidemenu.width - (adjustHeightForBorder ? 2 : 1)}px;
       font-size: ${theme.typography.h4.fontSize};
       font-weight: ${theme.typography.h4.fontWeight};
-      padding: ${theme.spacing(1)} ${theme.spacing(1)} ${theme.spacing(1)} ${theme.spacing(2)} !important;
+      padding: ${theme.spacing(1)} ${theme.spacing(2)};
       white-space: nowrap;
       width: 100%;
-
-      &:hover {
-        background-color: ${theme.colors.action.hover};
-      }
-
-      .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-        display: flex;
-        font-size: ${theme.typography.body.fontSize};
-        font-weight: ${theme.typography.body.fontWeight};
-        padding-left: ${theme.spacing(1)} !important;
-      }
     `,
     menu: css`
+      background-color: ${theme.colors.background.primary};
       border: 1px solid ${theme.components.panel.borderColor};
+      bottom: ${reverseDirection ? 0 : 'auto'};
+      box-shadow: ${theme.shadows.z3};
+      display: flex;
       flex-direction: ${reverseDirection ? 'column-reverse' : 'column'};
-
-      .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-        display: flex;
-        flex-direction: column;
-        float: none;
-        position: unset;
-        width: 100%;
-      }
+      left: 100%;
+      list-style: none;
+      min-width: 140px;
+      opacity: ${isVisible ? 1 : 0};
+      position: absolute;
+      top: ${reverseDirection ? 'auto' : 0};
+      transition: ${theme.transitions.create('opacity')};
+      visibility: ${isVisible ? 'visible' : 'hidden'};
+      z-index: ${theme.zIndex.sidemenu};
     `,
     subtitle: css`
       border-${reverseDirection ? 'bottom' : 'top'}: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border.weak};
@@ -116,10 +98,6 @@ const getStyles = (
       font-weight: ${theme.typography.bodySmall.fontWeight};
       padding: ${theme.spacing(1)} ${theme.spacing(2)} ${theme.spacing(1)};
       white-space: nowrap;
-
-      .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-        border-${reverseDirection ? 'bottom' : 'top'}: none;
-      }
     `,
   };
 };
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarItem.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarItem.tsx
index d9ebd84b2f5..b12a34346a5 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarItem.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarItem.tsx
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ const NavBarItem = ({
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className={cx(styles.container, 'dropdown', className, { dropup: reverseMenuDirection })}>
+    <div className={cx(styles.container, className)}>
       {element}
       {showMenu && (
         <NavBarDropdown
@@ -82,38 +82,16 @@ export default NavBarItem;
 const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2, isActive: Props['isActive']) => ({
   container: css`
     position: relative;
+    color: ${isActive ? theme.colors.text.primary : theme.colors.text.secondary};
 
-    @keyframes dropdown-anim {
-      0% {
-        opacity: 0;
-      }
-      100% {
+    &:hover {
+      background-color: ${theme.colors.action.hover};
+      color: ${theme.colors.text.primary};
+
+      // TODO don't use a hardcoded class here, use isVisible in NavBarDropdown
+      .navbar-dropdown {
         opacity: 1;
-      }
-    }
-
-    ${theme.breakpoints.up('md')} {
-      color: ${isActive ? theme.colors.text.primary : theme.colors.text.secondary};
-
-      &:hover {
-        background-color: ${theme.colors.action.hover};
-        color: ${theme.colors.text.primary};
-
-        .dropdown-menu {
-          animation: dropdown-anim 150ms ease-in-out 100ms forwards;
-          display: flex;
-          // important to overlap it otherwise it can be hidden
-          // again by the mouse getting outside the hover space
-          left: ${theme.components.sidemenu.width - 1}px;
-          margin: 0;
-          opacity: 0;
-          top: 0;
-          z-index: ${theme.zIndex.sidemenu};
-        }
-
-        &.dropup .dropdown-menu {
-          top: auto;
-        }
+        visibility: visible;
       }
     }
   `,
@@ -147,10 +125,6 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2, isActive: Props['isActive']) => ({
       outline-offset: -2px;
       transition: none;
     }
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: none;
-    }
   `,
   icon: css`
     height: 100%;
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenu.test.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenu.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..08f1acd6c39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenu.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { NavModelItem } from '@grafana/data';
+import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
+import { NavBarMenu } from './NavBarMenu';
+
+describe('NavBarMenu', () => {
+  const mockOnClose = jest.fn();
+  const mockNavItems: NavModelItem[] = [];
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    render(<NavBarMenu onClose={mockOnClose} navItems={mockNavItems} />);
+  });
+
+  it('should render the component', () => {
+    const sidemenu = screen.getByTestId('navbarmenu');
+    expect(sidemenu).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('has a close button', () => {
+    const closeButton = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Close navigation menu' });
+    expect(closeButton).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('clicking the close button calls the onClose callback', () => {
+    const closeButton = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Close navigation menu' });
+    expect(closeButton).toBeInTheDocument();
+    userEvent.click(closeButton);
+    expect(mockOnClose).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenu.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenu.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a8124e6d6af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenu.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+import React, { useRef } from 'react';
+import { GrafanaTheme2, NavModelItem } from '@grafana/data';
+import { CustomScrollbar, Icon, IconButton, IconName, useTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
+import { FocusScope } from '@react-aria/focus';
+import { useOverlay } from '@react-aria/overlays';
+import { css } from '@emotion/css';
+import { NavBarMenuItem } from './NavBarMenuItem';
+
+export interface Props {
+  activeItem?: NavModelItem;
+  navItems: NavModelItem[];
+  onClose: () => void;
+}
+
+export function NavBarMenu({ activeItem, navItems, onClose }: Props) {
+  const theme = useTheme2();
+  const styles = getStyles(theme);
+  const ref = useRef(null);
+  const { overlayProps } = useOverlay(
+    {
+      isDismissable: true,
+      isOpen: true,
+      onClose,
+    },
+    ref
+  );
+
+  return (
+    <FocusScope contain restoreFocus autoFocus>
+      <div data-testid="navbarmenu" className={styles.container} ref={ref} {...overlayProps}>
+        <div className={styles.header}>
+          <Icon name="bars" size="xl" />
+          <IconButton aria-label="Close navigation menu" name="times" onClick={onClose} size="xl" variant="secondary" />
+        </div>
+        <nav className={styles.content}>
+          <CustomScrollbar>
+            <ul>
+              {navItems.map((link, index) => (
+                <div className={styles.section} key={index}>
+                  <NavBarMenuItem
+                    isActive={activeItem === link}
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      link.onClick?.();
+                      onClose();
+                    }}
+                    styleOverrides={styles.sectionHeader}
+                    target={link.target}
+                    text={link.text}
+                    url={link.url}
+                  />
+                  {link.children?.map(
+                    (childLink, childIndex) =>
+                      !childLink.divider && (
+                        <NavBarMenuItem
+                          key={childIndex}
+                          icon={childLink.icon as IconName}
+                          isActive={activeItem === childLink}
+                          isDivider={childLink.divider}
+                          onClick={() => {
+                            childLink.onClick?.();
+                            onClose();
+                          }}
+                          styleOverrides={styles.item}
+                          target={childLink.target}
+                          text={childLink.text}
+                          url={childLink.url}
+                        />
+                      )
+                  )}
+                </div>
+              ))}
+            </ul>
+          </CustomScrollbar>
+        </nav>
+      </div>
+    </FocusScope>
+  );
+}
+
+NavBarMenu.displayName = 'NavBarMenu';
+
+const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
+  container: css`
+    background-color: ${theme.colors.background.canvas};
+    bottom: 0;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    left: 0;
+    min-width: 300px;
+    position: fixed;
+    right: 0;
+    top: 0;
+
+    ${theme.breakpoints.up('md')} {
+      border-right: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border.weak};
+      right: unset;
+    }
+  `,
+  content: css`
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    overflow: auto;
+  `,
+  header: css`
+    border-bottom: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border.weak};
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    padding: ${theme.spacing(2)};
+  `,
+  item: css`
+    padding: ${theme.spacing(1)} ${theme.spacing(2)};
+  `,
+  section: css`
+    border-bottom: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border.weak};
+  `,
+  sectionHeader: css`
+    color: ${theme.colors.text.primary};
+    font-size: ${theme.typography.h5.fontSize};
+    padding: ${theme.spacing(1)} ${theme.spacing(2)};
+  `,
+});
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/DropdownChild.test.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenuItem.test.tsx
similarity index 77%
rename from public/app/core/components/NavBar/DropdownChild.test.tsx
rename to public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenuItem.test.tsx
index adfd0762e21..64fa8e530dd 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/DropdownChild.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenuItem.test.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
 import { BrowserRouter } from 'react-router-dom';
-import DropdownChild from './DropdownChild';
+import { NavBarMenuItem } from './NavBarMenuItem';
 
-describe('DropdownChild', () => {
+describe('NavBarMenuItem', () => {
   const mockText = 'MyChildItem';
   const mockUrl = '/route';
   const mockIcon = 'home-alt';
 
   it('displays the text', () => {
-    render(<DropdownChild text={mockText} />);
+    render(<NavBarMenuItem text={mockText} />);
     const text = screen.getByText(mockText);
     expect(text).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ describe('DropdownChild', () => {
   it('attaches the url to the text if provided', () => {
     render(
       <BrowserRouter>
-        <DropdownChild text={mockText} url={mockUrl} />
+        <NavBarMenuItem text={mockText} url={mockUrl} />
       </BrowserRouter>
     );
     const link = screen.getByRole('link', { name: mockText });
@@ -26,19 +26,19 @@ describe('DropdownChild', () => {
   });
 
   it('displays an icon if a valid icon is provided', () => {
-    render(<DropdownChild text={mockText} icon={mockIcon} />);
+    render(<NavBarMenuItem text={mockText} icon={mockIcon} />);
     const icon = screen.getByTestId('dropdown-child-icon');
     expect(icon).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it('displays an external link icon if the target is _blank', () => {
-    render(<DropdownChild text={mockText} icon={mockIcon} url={mockUrl} target="_blank" />);
+    render(<NavBarMenuItem text={mockText} icon={mockIcon} url={mockUrl} target="_blank" />);
     const icon = screen.getByTestId('external-link-icon');
     expect(icon).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it('displays a divider instead when isDivider is true', () => {
-    render(<DropdownChild text={mockText} icon={mockIcon} url={mockUrl} isDivider />);
+    render(<NavBarMenuItem text={mockText} icon={mockIcon} url={mockUrl} isDivider />);
 
     // Check the divider is shown
     const divider = screen.getByTestId('dropdown-child-divider');
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenuItem.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenuItem.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..79c9997a6df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarMenuItem.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
+import { Icon, IconName, Link, useTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
+import { css } from '@emotion/css';
+
+export interface Props {
+  icon?: IconName;
+  isActive?: boolean;
+  isDivider?: boolean;
+  onClick?: () => void;
+  styleOverrides?: string;
+  target?: HTMLAnchorElement['target'];
+  text: string;
+  url?: string;
+}
+
+export function NavBarMenuItem({ icon, isActive, isDivider, onClick, styleOverrides, target, text, url }: Props) {
+  const theme = useTheme2();
+  const styles = getStyles(theme, isActive, styleOverrides);
+
+  const linkContent = (
+    <div className={styles.linkContent}>
+      <div>
+        {icon && <Icon data-testid="dropdown-child-icon" name={icon} className={styles.icon} />}
+        {text}
+      </div>
+      {target === '_blank' && (
+        <Icon data-testid="external-link-icon" name="external-link-alt" className={styles.externalLinkIcon} />
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+
+  let element = (
+    <button className={styles.element} onClick={onClick}>
+      {linkContent}
+    </button>
+  );
+
+  if (url) {
+    element =
+      !target && url.startsWith('/') ? (
+        <Link className={styles.element} href={url} target={target} onClick={onClick}>
+          {linkContent}
+        </Link>
+      ) : (
+        <a href={url} target={target} className={styles.element} onClick={onClick}>
+          {linkContent}
+        </a>
+      );
+  }
+
+  return isDivider ? <li data-testid="dropdown-child-divider" className={styles.divider} /> : <li>{element}</li>;
+}
+
+NavBarMenuItem.displayName = 'NavBarMenuItem';
+
+const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2, isActive: Props['isActive'], styleOverrides: Props['styleOverrides']) => ({
+  divider: css`
+    border-bottom: 1px solid ${theme.colors.border.weak};
+    height: 1px;
+    margin: ${theme.spacing(1)} 0;
+    overflow: hidden;
+  `,
+  element: css`
+    align-items: center;
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+    color: ${isActive ? theme.colors.text.primary : theme.colors.text.secondary};
+    display: flex;
+    font-size: inherit;
+    height: 100%;
+    padding: 5px 12px 5px 10px;
+    position: relative;
+    text-align: left;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    width: 100%;
+
+    &:hover,
+    &:focus-visible {
+      background-color: ${theme.colors.action.hover};
+      color: ${theme.colors.text.primary};
+    }
+
+    &:focus-visible {
+      box-shadow: none;
+      outline: 2px solid ${theme.colors.primary.main};
+      outline-offset: -2px;
+      transition: none;
+    }
+
+    &::before {
+      display: ${isActive ? 'block' : 'none'};
+      content: ' ';
+      position: absolute;
+      left: 0;
+      top: 0;
+      bottom: 0;
+      width: 4px;
+      border-radius: 2px;
+      background-image: ${theme.colors.gradients.brandVertical};
+    }
+    ${styleOverrides};
+  `,
+  externalLinkIcon: css`
+    color: ${theme.colors.text.secondary};
+    margin-left: ${theme.spacing(1)};
+  `,
+  icon: css`
+    margin-right: ${theme.spacing(1)};
+  `,
+  linkContent: css`
+    display: flex;
+    flex: 1;
+    flex-direction: row;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+  `,
+});
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarNext.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarNext.tsx
index 1d9997da006..73bb74788f4 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarNext.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarNext.tsx
@@ -1,20 +1,28 @@
-import React, { FC, useCallback, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { FC, useState } from 'react';
 import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { css, cx } from '@emotion/css';
 import { cloneDeep } from 'lodash';
 import { GrafanaTheme2, NavModelItem, NavSection } from '@grafana/data';
 import { Icon, IconName, useTheme2 } from '@grafana/ui';
 import { locationService } from '@grafana/runtime';
-import appEvents from '../../app_events';
 import { Branding } from 'app/core/components/Branding/Branding';
 import config from 'app/core/config';
-import { CoreEvents, KioskMode } from 'app/types';
-import { enrichConfigItems, isLinkActive, isSearchActive } from './utils';
+import { KioskMode } from 'app/types';
+import { enrichConfigItems, getActiveItem, isMatchOrChildMatch, isSearchActive, SEARCH_ITEM_ID } from './utils';
 import { OrgSwitcher } from '../OrgSwitcher';
 import { NavBarSection } from './NavBarSection';
 import NavBarItem from './NavBarItem';
+import { NavBarMenu } from './NavBarMenu';
 
-const homeUrl = config.appSubUrl || '/';
+const onOpenSearch = () => {
+  locationService.partial({ search: 'open' });
+};
+
+const searchItem: NavModelItem = {
+  id: SEARCH_ITEM_ID,
+  onClick: onOpenSearch,
+  text: 'Search dashboards',
+};
 
 export const NavBarNext: FC = React.memo(() => {
   const theme = useTheme2();
@@ -34,41 +42,33 @@ export const NavBarNext: FC = React.memo(() => {
     location,
     toggleSwitcherModal
   );
-  const activeItemId = isSearchActive(location)
-    ? 'search'
-    : navTree.find((item) => isLinkActive(location.pathname, item))?.id;
-
-  const toggleNavBarSmallBreakpoint = useCallback(() => {
-    appEvents.emit(CoreEvents.toggleSidemenuMobile);
-  }, []);
+  const activeItem = isSearchActive(location) ? searchItem : getActiveItem(navTree, location.pathname);
+  const [menuOpen, setMenuOpen] = useState(false);
 
   if (kiosk !== null) {
     return null;
   }
 
-  const onOpenSearch = () => {
-    locationService.partial({ search: 'open' });
-  };
-
   return (
     <nav className={cx(styles.sidemenu, 'sidemenu')} data-testid="sidemenu" aria-label="Main menu">
-      <div className={styles.mobileSidemenuLogo} onClick={toggleNavBarSmallBreakpoint} key="hamburger">
+      <div className={styles.mobileSidemenuLogo} onClick={() => setMenuOpen(!menuOpen)} key="hamburger">
         <Icon name="bars" size="xl" />
-        <span className={styles.closeButton}>
-          <Icon name="times" />
-          Close
-        </span>
       </div>
 
       <NavBarSection>
-        <NavBarItem url={homeUrl} label="Home" className={styles.grafanaLogo} showMenu={false}>
+        <NavBarItem
+          onClick={() => setMenuOpen(!menuOpen)}
+          label="Main menu"
+          className={styles.grafanaLogo}
+          showMenu={false}
+        >
           <Branding.MenuLogo />
         </NavBarItem>
         <NavBarItem
           className={styles.search}
-          isActive={activeItemId === 'search'}
-          label="Search dashboards"
-          onClick={onOpenSearch}
+          isActive={activeItem === searchItem}
+          label={searchItem.text}
+          onClick={searchItem.onClick}
         >
           <Icon name="search" size="xl" />
         </NavBarItem>
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export const NavBarNext: FC = React.memo(() => {
         {coreItems.map((link, index) => (
           <NavBarItem
             key={`${link.id}-${index}`}
-            isActive={activeItemId === link.id}
+            isActive={isMatchOrChildMatch(link, activeItem)}
             label={link.text}
             menuItems={link.children}
             target={link.target}
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export const NavBarNext: FC = React.memo(() => {
           {pluginItems.map((link, index) => (
             <NavBarItem
               key={`${link.id}-${index}`}
-              isActive={activeItemId === link.id}
+              isActive={isMatchOrChildMatch(link, activeItem)}
               label={link.text}
               menuItems={link.children}
               menuSubTitle={link.subTitle}
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ export const NavBarNext: FC = React.memo(() => {
         {configItems.map((link, index) => (
           <NavBarItem
             key={`${link.id}-${index}`}
-            isActive={activeItemId === link.id}
+            isActive={isMatchOrChildMatch(link, activeItem)}
             label={link.text}
             menuItems={link.children}
             menuSubTitle={link.subTitle}
@@ -132,6 +132,13 @@ export const NavBarNext: FC = React.memo(() => {
       </NavBarSection>
 
       {showSwitcherModal && <OrgSwitcher onDismiss={toggleSwitcherModal} />}
+      {menuOpen && (
+        <NavBarMenu
+          activeItem={activeItem}
+          navItems={[searchItem, ...coreItems, ...pluginItems, ...configItems]}
+          onClose={() => setMenuOpen(false)}
+        />
+      )}
     </nav>
   );
 });
@@ -146,11 +153,6 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
     ${theme.breakpoints.up('md')} {
       display: block;
     }
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: block;
-      margin-top: 0;
-    }
   `,
   sidemenu: css`
     display: flex;
@@ -159,8 +161,6 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
     z-index: ${theme.zIndex.sidemenu};
 
     ${theme.breakpoints.up('md')} {
-      background: none;
-      border-right: none;
       gap: ${theme.spacing(1)};
       margin-left: ${theme.spacing(1)};
       padding: ${theme.spacing(1)} 0;
@@ -171,37 +171,15 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
     .sidemenu-hidden & {
       display: none;
     }
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      background-color: ${theme.colors.background.primary};
-      box-shadow: ${theme.shadows.z1};
-      gap: ${theme.spacing(1)};
-      height: auto;
-      margin-left: 0;
-      position: absolute;
-      width: 100%;
-    }
   `,
   grafanaLogo: css`
-    display: none;
+    align-items: center;
+    display: flex;
     img {
       height: ${theme.spacing(3)};
       width: ${theme.spacing(3)};
     }
-
-    ${theme.breakpoints.up('md')} {
-      align-items: center;
-      display: flex;
-      justify-content: center;
-    }
-  `,
-  closeButton: css`
-    display: none;
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: block;
-      font-size: ${theme.typography.fontSize}px;
-    }
+    justify-content: center;
   `,
   mobileSidemenuLogo: css`
     align-items: center;
@@ -217,9 +195,5 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2) => ({
   `,
   spacer: css`
     flex: 1;
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: none;
-    }
   `,
 });
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarSection.tsx b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarSection.tsx
index fa0ffb4675c..9aa93207a73 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarSection.tsx
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/NavBarSection.tsx
@@ -32,11 +32,5 @@ const getStyles = (theme: GrafanaTheme2, newNavigationEnabled: boolean) => ({
       display: flex;
       flex-direction: inherit;
     }
-
-    .sidemenu-open--xs & {
-      display: flex;
-      flex-direction: column;
-      gap: ${theme.spacing(1)};
-    }
   `,
 });
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.test.ts b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.test.ts
index ae3f38d235e..8da0b6bc565 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { Location } from 'history';
 import { NavModelItem } from '@grafana/data';
 import { ContextSrv, setContextSrv } from 'app/core/services/context_srv';
 import { getConfig, updateConfig } from '../../config';
-import { enrichConfigItems, getForcedLoginUrl, isLinkActive, isSearchActive } from './utils';
+import { enrichConfigItems, getActiveItem, getForcedLoginUrl, isMatchOrChildMatch, isSearchActive } from './utils';
 
 jest.mock('../../app_events', () => ({
   publish: jest.fn(),
@@ -123,118 +123,104 @@ describe('enrichConfigItems', () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe('isLinkActive', () => {
-  it('returns true if the link url matches the pathname', () => {
-    const mockPathName = '/test';
-    const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-      text: 'Test',
-      url: '/test',
-    };
-    expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(true);
+describe('isMatchOrChildMatch', () => {
+  const mockChild: NavModelItem = {
+    text: 'Child',
+    url: '/dashboards/child',
+  };
+  const mockItemToCheck: NavModelItem = {
+    text: 'Dashboards',
+    url: '/dashboards',
+    children: [mockChild],
+  };
+
+  it('returns true if the itemToCheck is an exact match with the searchItem', () => {
+    const searchItem = mockItemToCheck;
+    expect(isMatchOrChildMatch(mockItemToCheck, searchItem)).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('returns true if the pathname starts with the link url', () => {
-    const mockPathName = '/test/edit';
-    const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-      text: 'Test',
-      url: '/test',
-    };
-    expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(true);
+  it('returns true if the itemToCheck has a child that matches the searchItem', () => {
+    const searchItem = mockChild;
+    expect(isMatchOrChildMatch(mockItemToCheck, searchItem)).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('returns true if a child link url matches the pathname', () => {
-    const mockPathName = '/testChild2';
-    const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-      text: 'Test',
-      url: '/test',
+  it('returns false otherwise', () => {
+    const searchItem: NavModelItem = {
+      text: 'No match',
+      url: '/noMatch',
+    };
+    expect(isMatchOrChildMatch(mockItemToCheck, searchItem)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('getActiveItem', () => {
+  const mockNavTree: NavModelItem[] = [
+    {
+      text: 'Item',
+      url: '/item',
+    },
+    {
+      text: 'Item with query param',
+      url: '/itemWithQueryParam?foo=bar',
+    },
+    {
+      text: 'Item with children',
+      url: '/itemWithChildren',
       children: [
         {
-          text: 'TestChild',
-          url: '/testChild',
-        },
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild2',
-          url: '/testChild2',
+          text: 'Child',
+          url: '/child',
         },
       ],
-    };
-    expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it('returns true if the pathname starts with a child link url', () => {
-    const mockPathName = '/testChild2/edit';
-    const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-      text: 'Test',
-      url: '/test',
-      children: [
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild',
-          url: '/testChild',
-        },
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild2',
-          url: '/testChild2',
-        },
-      ],
-    };
-    expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it('returns true for the alerting link if the pathname is an alert notification', () => {
-    const mockPathName = '/alerting/notification/foo';
-    const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-      text: 'Test',
+    },
+    {
+      text: 'Alerting item',
       url: '/alerting/list',
-      children: [
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild',
-          url: '/testChild',
-        },
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild2',
-          url: '/testChild2',
-        },
-      ],
-    };
-    expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it('returns false if none of the link urls match the pathname', () => {
-    const mockPathName = '/somethingWeird';
-    const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-      text: 'Test',
-      url: '/test',
-      children: [
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild',
-          url: '/testChild',
-        },
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild2',
-          url: '/testChild2',
-        },
-      ],
-    };
-    expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(false);
-  });
-
-  it('returns false for the base route if the pathname is not an exact match', () => {
-    const mockPathName = '/foo';
-    const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-      text: 'Test',
+    },
+    {
+      text: 'Base',
       url: '/',
-      children: [
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild',
-          url: '/',
-        },
-        {
-          text: 'TestChild2',
-          url: '/testChild2',
-        },
-      ],
-    };
-    expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(false);
+    },
+    {
+      text: 'Dashboards',
+      url: '/dashboards',
+    },
+    {
+      text: 'More specific dashboard',
+      url: '/d/moreSpecificDashboard',
+    },
+  ];
+
+  it('returns an exact match at the top level', () => {
+    const mockPathName = '/item';
+    expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+      text: 'Item',
+      url: '/item',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an exact match ignoring query params', () => {
+    const mockPathName = '/itemWithQueryParam?bar=baz';
+    expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+      text: 'Item with query param',
+      url: '/itemWithQueryParam?foo=bar',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns an exact child match', () => {
+    const mockPathName = '/child';
+    expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+      text: 'Child',
+      url: '/child',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns the alerting link if the pathname is an alert notification', () => {
+    const mockPathName = '/alerting/notification/foo';
+    expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+      text: 'Alerting item',
+      url: '/alerting/list',
+    });
   });
 
   describe('when the newNavigation feature toggle is disabled', () => {
@@ -247,42 +233,20 @@ describe('isLinkActive', () => {
       });
     });
 
-    it('returns true for the base route link if the pathname starts with /d/', () => {
+    it('returns the base route link if the pathname starts with /d/', () => {
       const mockPathName = '/d/foo';
-      const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-        text: 'Test',
+      expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+        text: 'Base',
         url: '/',
-        children: [
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild',
-            url: '/testChild',
-          },
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild2',
-            url: '/testChild2',
-          },
-        ],
-      };
-      expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(true);
+      });
     });
 
-    it('returns false for the dashboards route if the pathname starts with /d/', () => {
-      const mockPathName = '/d/foo';
-      const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-        text: 'Test',
-        url: '/dashboards',
-        children: [
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild',
-            url: '/testChild1',
-          },
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild2',
-            url: '/testChild2',
-          },
-        ],
-      };
-      expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(false);
+    it('returns a more specific link if one exists', () => {
+      const mockPathName = '/d/moreSpecificDashboard';
+      expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+        text: 'More specific dashboard',
+        url: '/d/moreSpecificDashboard',
+      });
     });
   });
 
@@ -296,42 +260,20 @@ describe('isLinkActive', () => {
       });
     });
 
-    it('returns false for the base route if the pathname starts with /d/', () => {
+    it('returns the dashboards route link if the pathname starts with /d/', () => {
       const mockPathName = '/d/foo';
-      const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-        text: 'Test',
-        url: '/',
-        children: [
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild',
-            url: '/',
-          },
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild2',
-            url: '/testChild2',
-          },
-        ],
-      };
-      expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(false);
+      expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+        text: 'Dashboards',
+        url: '/dashboards',
+      });
     });
 
-    it('returns true for the dashboards route if the pathname starts with /d/', () => {
-      const mockPathName = '/d/foo';
-      const mockLink: NavModelItem = {
-        text: 'Test',
-        url: '/dashboards',
-        children: [
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild',
-            url: '/testChild1',
-          },
-          {
-            text: 'TestChild2',
-            url: '/testChild2',
-          },
-        ],
-      };
-      expect(isLinkActive(mockPathName, mockLink)).toBe(true);
+    it('returns a more specific link if one exists', () => {
+      const mockPathName = '/d/moreSpecificDashboard';
+      expect(getActiveItem(mockNavTree, mockPathName)).toEqual({
+        text: 'More specific dashboard',
+        url: '/d/moreSpecificDashboard',
+      });
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.ts b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.ts
index d78ca04ed3d..3b122872ffc 100644
--- a/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.ts
+++ b/public/app/core/components/NavBar/utils.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import appEvents from '../../app_events';
 import { getFooterLinks } from '../Footer/Footer';
 import { HelpModal } from '../help/HelpModal';
 
+export const SEARCH_ITEM_ID = 'search';
+
 export const getForcedLoginUrl = (url: string) => {
   const queryParams = new URLSearchParams(url.split('?')[1]);
   queryParams.append('forceLogin', 'true');
@@ -73,35 +75,61 @@ export const enrichConfigItems = (
   return items;
 };
 
-export const isLinkActive = (pathname: string, link: NavModelItem) => {
-  // strip out any query params
-  const linkPathname = link.url?.split('?')[0];
+export const isMatchOrChildMatch = (itemToCheck: NavModelItem, searchItem?: NavModelItem) => {
+  return Boolean(itemToCheck === searchItem || itemToCheck.children?.some((child) => child === searchItem));
+};
+
+const stripQueryParams = (url?: string) => {
+  return url?.split('?')[0] ?? '';
+};
+
+const isBetterMatch = (newMatch: NavModelItem, currentMatch?: NavModelItem) => {
+  const currentMatchUrl = stripQueryParams(currentMatch?.url);
+  const newMatchUrl = stripQueryParams(newMatch.url);
+  return newMatchUrl && newMatchUrl.length > currentMatchUrl?.length;
+};
+
+export const getActiveItem = (
+  navTree: NavModelItem[],
+  pathname: string,
+  currentBestMatch?: NavModelItem
+): NavModelItem | undefined => {
   const newNavigationEnabled = getConfig().featureToggles.newNavigation;
-  if (linkPathname) {
-    const dashboardLinkMatch = newNavigationEnabled ? '/dashboards' : '/';
-    if (linkPathname === pathname) {
-      // exact match
-      return true;
-    } else if (linkPathname !== '/' && pathname.startsWith(linkPathname)) {
-      // partial match
-      return true;
-    } else if (linkPathname === '/alerting/list' && pathname.startsWith('/alerting/notification/')) {
-      // alert channel match
-      // TODO refactor routes such that we don't need this custom logic
-      return true;
-    } else if (linkPathname === dashboardLinkMatch && pathname.startsWith('/d/')) {
-      // dashboard match
-      // TODO refactor routes such that we don't need this custom logic
-      return true;
+  const dashboardLinkMatch = newNavigationEnabled ? '/dashboards' : '/';
+
+  for (const link of navTree) {
+    const linkPathname = stripQueryParams(link.url);
+    if (linkPathname) {
+      if (linkPathname === pathname) {
+        // exact match
+        currentBestMatch = link;
+        break;
+      } else if (linkPathname !== '/' && pathname.startsWith(linkPathname)) {
+        // partial match
+        if (isBetterMatch(link, currentBestMatch)) {
+          currentBestMatch = link;
+        }
+      } else if (linkPathname === '/alerting/list' && pathname.startsWith('/alerting/notification/')) {
+        // alert channel match
+        // TODO refactor routes such that we don't need this custom logic
+        currentBestMatch = link;
+        break;
+      } else if (linkPathname === dashboardLinkMatch && pathname.startsWith('/d/')) {
+        // dashboard match
+        // TODO refactor routes such that we don't need this custom logic
+        if (isBetterMatch(link, currentBestMatch)) {
+          currentBestMatch = link;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    if (link.children) {
+      currentBestMatch = getActiveItem(link.children, pathname, currentBestMatch);
+    }
+    if (stripQueryParams(currentBestMatch?.url) === pathname) {
+      return currentBestMatch;
     }
   }
-
-  // child match
-  if (link.children?.some((childLink) => isLinkActive(pathname, childLink))) {
-    return true;
-  }
-
-  return false;
+  return currentBestMatch;
 };
 
 export const isSearchActive = (location: Location<unknown>) => {
diff --git a/public/app/routes/GrafanaCtrl.ts b/public/app/routes/GrafanaCtrl.ts
index 1d8effddf7c..a800a3a1e5d 100644
--- a/public/app/routes/GrafanaCtrl.ts
+++ b/public/app/routes/GrafanaCtrl.ts
@@ -118,10 +118,6 @@ export function grafanaAppDirective() {
 
       $('.preloader').remove();
 
-      appEvents.on(CoreEvents.toggleSidemenuMobile, () => {
-        body.toggleClass('sidemenu-open--xs');
-      });
-
       appEvents.on(CoreEvents.toggleSidemenuHidden, () => {
         body.toggleClass('sidemenu-hidden');
       });
diff --git a/public/app/types/events.ts b/public/app/types/events.ts
index 7311feb048f..049a36fc319 100644
--- a/public/app/types/events.ts
+++ b/public/app/types/events.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ export interface PanelChangeViewPayload {}
 
 export const dsRequestResponse = eventFactory<DataSourceResponsePayload>('ds-request-response');
 export const dsRequestError = eventFactory<any>('ds-request-error');
-export const toggleSidemenuMobile = eventFactory('toggle-sidemenu-mobile');
 export const toggleSidemenuHidden = eventFactory('toggle-sidemenu-hidden');
 export const templateVariableValueUpdated = eventFactory('template-variable-value-updated');
 export const graphClicked = eventFactory<GraphClickedPayload>('graph-click');
diff --git a/public/sass/components/_dropdown.scss b/public/sass/components/_dropdown.scss
index 6679b6050e1..f33e8d1a91c 100644
--- a/public/sass/components/_dropdown.scss
+++ b/public/sass/components/_dropdown.scss
@@ -100,14 +100,7 @@
     }
   }
 
-  &--navbar {
-    top: 100%;
-    min-width: 100%;
-  }
-
-  &--menu,
-  &--navbar,
-  &--sidemenu {
+  &--menu {
     background: $menu-dropdown-bg;
     box-shadow: $menu-dropdown-shadow;
     margin-top: 0px;
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index a09be0c0615..b829dd4502c 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -4840,6 +4840,21 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
+"@react-aria/focus@npm:3.5.0":
+  version: 3.5.0
+  resolution: "@react-aria/focus@npm:3.5.0"
+  dependencies:
+    "@babel/runtime": ^7.6.2
+    "@react-aria/interactions": ^3.6.0
+    "@react-aria/utils": ^3.9.0
+    "@react-types/shared": ^3.9.0
+    clsx: ^1.1.1
+  peerDependencies:
+    react: ^16.8.0 || ^17.0.0-rc.1
+  checksum: c03d4433bdb1c19d3119b88bec4d44857cc7efaf9205b1b855731f768dd13231e4e88adb1352fd1c64b5ec0454038b8535d30a07e43b605f41d519ae81dbeb6b
+  languageName: node
+  linkType: hard
+
 "@react-aria/i18n@npm:^3.3.2":
   version: 3.3.2
   resolution: "@react-aria/i18n@npm:3.3.2"
@@ -4856,7 +4871,7 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"@react-aria/interactions@npm:^3.5.1":
+"@react-aria/interactions@npm:^3.5.1, @react-aria/interactions@npm:^3.6.0":
   version: 3.6.0
   resolution: "@react-aria/interactions@npm:3.6.0"
   dependencies:
@@ -17723,6 +17738,8 @@ __metadata:
     "@opentelemetry/semantic-conventions": 1.0.0
     "@pmmmwh/react-refresh-webpack-plugin": ^0.5.0-rc.6
     "@popperjs/core": 2.5.4
+    "@react-aria/focus": 3.5.0
+    "@react-aria/overlays": 3.7.2
     "@reduxjs/toolkit": 1.6.1
     "@rtsao/plugin-proposal-class-properties": 7.0.1-patch.1
     "@sentry/browser": 5.25.0