My 17 Favourite Places to Eat in Brighton

 

Brighton and Hove’s food scene has transformed beyond recognition in the past decade into one of the best in the UK — and keeping up with it is one of my favourite things about living here.

It’ll always been seen as the spiritual home of the vegan and vegetarian café – and that’s still true in a sense. Longstanding institutions like Terre à Terre and Infinity Foods alongside newer arrivals like Ideya fly the flag. But there’s so much more to Brighton’s food scene than its earthy 1990s reputation suggests.

Believe it or not, when I moved here 15 years ago, a genuinely great meal often meant a trip to London. Now we’re spoiled for choice – menus fizzing with fresh Sussex produce and wines, old and new chefs doing exciting things.

Brighton and Hove’s food scene that punches well above its weight for a city this size – and nowadays I actually look forward to being asked for tips.

Brighton’s Best Areas for Food

The Lanes will always draw the crowds, but it’s increasingly dominated by chains, and to me, Brighton’s most interesting eating isn’t where the tourists look first.

The North Laine buzzes with independent cafes and creative restaurants. Hove tends to be the place for a grown-up night out, home to the city’s most coveted restaurants worth crossing town for.

Meanwhile London Road – my neck of the woods – is quietly becoming the most exciting food destination in the city, home to the newly transformed Open Market, Curio (Brighton’s first all-day Parisian-style cafe bar), Tony’s Pizza and Bardsley’s (fish and chips since 1926), all within easy walking distance.

How I Choose the Best Places to Eat in Brighton

Every restaurant on this list has been personally tried-and-tested by me, some many times over. I only include places I’d genuinely recommend to a friend and update the list regularly as Brighton’s restaurant scene evolves, places close, new ones open, and my favourites shift. If something’s no longer up to scratch, it comes off. If something brilliant opens, it goes on.

Independent Brighton Restaurants for All Occasions

These are my all-time favourite places to eat in Brighton: independent neighbourhood restaurants – including cafés and food markets – I go back to again and again, from a quick weekday bite to a proper splurge. Not a chain in sight.

Organised from casual to splurgy, I’ve also marked all recommendations on a handy map at the end of the post.

1 Curio

Best for: all-day coffee, pastries, small plates, wine and cocktails solo or in company

Location: London Road

If I could only take you to one place in Brighton, it would be Curio. Brighton’s first European-style all-day cafe bar sits on a corner opposite my favourite cinema, the Duke of York’s picture house at Preston Circus near London Road. Once you’ve found it, like me, I’m sure you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

Come in the morning for excellent coffee and honey bread, at lunch for doorstopper-sized sandwiches, or from late afternoon, a couple of small plates – the crispy artichokes alone are worth the trip. They specialise in wine, with plenty on tap and bottles to take away, excellent beers and excellent spicy margaritas.

The vibe is French cafe bar – unhurried, relaxed, you’ll never feel rushed – with a DJ on Friday evenings and happy hour from Thursday. It’s the only chic place in this neighbourhood open late for margaritas and small plates, and it feels like a little corner of Paris landed in Brighton.

Find Curio at 1 Clyde Road, Brighton BN1 4NN

2 Café Rust

 Best for: coffee, cakes and beautifully presented brunch dishes 

Where: Multiple locations across Brighton and Hove

With its rustic French farmhouse style decor, excellent coffee and beautifully presented brunch dishes, Café Rust has become one of my most visited Brighton spots.

There are five locations across Brighton and Hove – two near my house, including one in the lovely grounds of Preston Manor – which makes it dangerously easy to justify a visit.

My favourite is the Preston Road branch, where a sunny back patio is perfect for lingering over coffee. I’ll often pop in after yoga for a much-needed flat white – the all-day breakfast menu is full of beautifully presented classics with a twist – rustic vegan full English breakfasts, herby beans on sourdough – and counters crammed with homemade cakes that are very hard to walk past. Hugely popular for weekend brunch, so arrive early or go on a weekday for a table without a wait.

 Find Café Rust at multiple locations across Brighton and Hove 

3 Marmalade

Best for: bacon sarnies, showstopping salads, gourmet gifts 

Where: Kemptown

I live in Fiveways but will happily make the trip across town to this beautiful longstanding cafe-come-gourmet-deli on the fringes of Regency Kemptown. Open since 2013 as a café, its current chic French bistro-style décor is a nod to its brief stint as a restaurant just after the pandemic.

A beautiful cafe-deli in Regency Kemptown that feels like it belongs in a Paris side street. Open from 7am to 7pm, it’s the kind of place that works for any time of day – come early for coffee and a bacon or sausage sandwich on Real Patisserie’s famous chewy brown bread, or mid-morning when the counter bursts with heaped salads, quiches and sandwiches, all made by a small team of chefs in the kitchen behind. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

The fridges are stocked with Sussex produce – Charmer cheese, house-made dishes to take home – and they serve wine too. I love to sit up on the little mezzanine and watch the world go by below – perfect for a solo visit or a long catch-up with a friend.

 Find Marmalade at 237 Eastern Road, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 5JJ

Other great places in Brighton I love for coffee, breakfast and brunch dishes include Oeuf in Hove, Starfish and Coffee at Queen’s Park and Moksha near London Road.

4 Brighton Open Market

Best for: a global feast at any time of day

Where: London Road

Brighton’s Open Market has been here since the 1920s – but the past few months have transformed it into something genuinely exciting. Low rents attract independent food producers who couldn’t afford a high street location, which means you eat brilliantly for very little.

It’s not just a food market – it’s where locals come to do their weekly shop, which gives it a proper community feel that tourist-facing food halls rarely have. At weekends it buzzes with shoppers, and regular events like the recent Japanese food festival bring extra stalls and an even livelier atmosphere.

My regulars: Little Loaf for buttery croissants that rival anything in Paris, Kouzina for homemade Greek moussaka, This Little Piggy for incredible sausage rolls and vegan ‘hasbeens,’ Casa Azul for the best tacos in Brighton. When you need a drink, The Drop wine bar has you covered. A global feast under one roof.

Find Brighton Open Market on Marshall’s Row, Brighton BN1 4JU

5 Shelter Hall

Best for: groups, seafront dining, grazing

Where: Brighton seafront

A beautifully reimagined Victorian shelter hall right on Brighton seafront, Shelter Hall is one of those places that solves the “where shall we eat?” problem beautifully if you’ve guests to entertain.

It brings together some of Brighton’s best independent food vendors under one roof,  in a big, airy space across two levels – inside and out – with lovely sea views from almost every table.

Current favourites include Lost Boys Chicken for generous chicken burgers, VIP Pizza, Tamaki for rice bowls, puffy bao buns and gooey gyoza dumplings, and White Cloud Coffee for an excellent flat white. Vendors rotate so there’s always something new to discover.

I’ve been known to come for lunch, and stay for a drink as the sun goes down over the sea.

Find Shelter Hall on King’s Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB

6 Bardsley’s

Best for: excellent fish and chips with the option to dine in

Where: London Road

Tucked up a quiet side street just off London Road, Bardsley’s has been serving fish and chips since 1926 – and although it changed hands a few years ago, nothing has changed. The recipes and friendly service remain, enticing hungry locals back.

The fish and chips are excellent – deliciously flaky, moist fish in crisp golden batter, chips cooked to perfection. The little dining room is decorated with memorabilia relating to an old Brighton music hall star, giving it a nostalgic atmosphere.

If you’re feeling fancy, order a glass of prosecco to go with your platter. If you’re feeling virtuous, ask for half chips half salad. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. Open for lunch from 12-3pm and again in the evening.

Find Bardsley’s at 23A Baker Street, Brighton, BN1 4JN 

7 Busby & Wilds

Best for: burgers, family Sunday lunch, sipping wine in the courtyard garden

Where: Kemptown

A family-run gastro pub in eclectic, historic Kemptown that I’ll happily bike across the city for. The food is traditional English with a modern, confident edge – think potted Sussex crab with fennel and apple purée, steak and chunky chips, sticky toffee pudding that arrives looking dangerously good. I love coming on Thursdays when burgers are only £10.

Particularly good if you’ve family to entertain – the menu has something for everyone and the relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere means nobody feels out of place. But the real secret is the hidden courtyard garden – one of Brighton’s loveliest spots for a long lunch or rosé wine on a warm summer evening. In winter, the pub is cosy and welcoming.

Find Busby and Wilds at 9 Rock Street, Brighton BN2 1NF

8 Original Tony’s

Best for: thin and crisy pizza in vibey surroundings

Where: North Laine

Brighton’s most exciting new pizza spot has found a permanent home on Trafalgar Street. Inside, candlelit tables and a New York vibe make it feel like a little slice of Manhattan landed in the North Laine – very exciting for an NYC fan like me.

It’s run by chef Toby Cackett and known for its unique hybrid New York-Neapolitan style pizza, with a signature crispy yet airy crust made from 72-hour fermented dough. Order the Tony’s Favourite if you can’t decide: hot honey and stracciatella cheese is a combination that makes complete sense the moment it arrives.

Don’t skip the Padron peppers to start, the tiramisu to finish or the spicy margaritas throughout. If you want a more casual fix, their stall in the Brighton Open Market serves pizza by the slice.

Find Original Tony’s at 15 Trafalgar Street, Brighton BN1 4EQ

9 Bincho Yakitori

Best for: feeling like you’re in Tokyo, small plates over fire, sake flights

Where: Central Brighton

My favourite restaurant in Brighton – and it’s been on that list for years. Bincho is an izakaya – a Japanese tavern – and walking in feels like being whisked to Tokyo after dark: the smoke from the charcoal grill, the counter seats overlooking the chefs at work, even the menu with chicken hearts for the adventurous.

Dishes arrive as they’re ready rather than in a set order, which makes the whole experience feel like a fun, slightly unpredictable journey. I’d come for the satisfying crispy kara age fried chicken alone.

Order a glass of plum wine or go all in on the sake flight, which showcases an incredible array of varieties. Nothing is too expensive either. Sadly for us but good for them, since winning several awards it’s harder to get a table spontaneously – book ahead.

Find Bincho Yakitori at 63 Preston Street, Brighton BN1 2HE 

10 Embers

Best for: fire-cooked steak and smoky cocktails

When the team behind the long-running Isaac At decided it was time to move on, they opened Embers shortly after, tucked into a characterful building on a cobbled street in The Lanes.

It’s all about food cooked over fire here – the steak is excellent – alongside a cocktail list worth sticking around for. Even confirmed non-tequila drinkers rave about the Cadillac Jo’ Margarita, made with smoky mezcal, chilli and citrus.

If you’re only having two dishes, make it the crispy sprouts and the smoked spatchcocked chicken with honey and mustard mayo – that way you’ll still have room for cheese on toast to finish.

Find Embers at 42 Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB.

11 Plateau

Best for: Brighton’s original natural wine and small plates spot with a French twist

Where: The Lanes

This sophisticated French cafe-bistro-wine bar, near this chic vintage boutique, is one of the first places in Brighton to serve natural wines and small plates. It has a sleek informal dining room with an industrial look, and a quieter one upstairs.

It’s a great option for a number of occasions – power lunches, laid-back lunches, mid-shopping-spree pitstops, cocktails before a night out, dinner with friends, date night…

The food is modern French. They do little dishes to share, like shishito peppers which pair well with one of their heady cocktails. I love their zippy hibiscus margaritas: tapatio tequila, lime, hibiscus, sumac. They do bigger dishes to share as well, like seared bavette steak with pomme frites and rocket, which I recommend.

Find Plateau at 1 Bartholomews, Brighton, BN1 1HB

12 Terre à Terre 

Best for: vegans, vegetarians, creative sharing plates

Where: The Lanes

A Brighton institution that harks back to the city’s original bohemian spirit – Terre à Terre has been serving creative vegetarian food since 1993 and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. In a city that now has no shortage of vegetarian options, it remains the benchmark.

It stands out for its creative menu descriptions, so you never quite sure what you’re getting — which is half the fun. Think: sneaky peeking steamers (rice buns), better batter (buttermilk soaked halloumi), how’s yer vada (pink lentil fritter).

Must-order dishes: the Terre a Terre tapas sharing plate for a bit of everything (pictured), and the crunchy scrunch chips – so good they should come with a warning. Open for lunch and dinner most days, and booking ahead is wise – it’s been a Brighton favourite for over 30 years for good reason.

Find Terre à Terre at 71 East Street, Brighton BN1 1HQ

13 Stem

Best for: natural wine, small plates, art and vinyl 

Where: Hove

One of Brighton’s newest openings and already one of my favourites. From the team behind Dilsk at Drakes, Stem is a neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar with beautiful bones – high ceilings, stripped floors, vinyl soundtracks and rotating art exhibitions giving it an east London energy you wouldn’t expect in Hove.

Open for lunch and dinner, the simple small plates menu runs from snacks to mains – think brioche with brown butter, oysters, Nutbourne tomatoes with ricotta and slow braised beef.

Sunday is BBQ day. Think: beer can roast chicken and smoked cheese macaroni – hard to resist. The excellent cocktail list features martinis, margaritas and negronis in a variety of guises.

Come early for a drink at the bar or terrace (first come first served) or book a table and settle in. The kind of place you go for one drink and stay for three.

Find Stem at 41 Church Road, Hove BN3 2BE

14 Voya

Best for: supper club vibes, small plates, a night that feels like a party

Where: North Laine

Set inside an old community cafe, postage stamp-sized, plant-filled Voya, oozes heart, soul and cool. It’s part of a new wave of restaurants that combine music and food for an immersive experience: you tuck into carefully considered cocktails and small plates while a DJ plays vinyl tunes; dining here feels like being at an intimate supper club and a house party with good friends at the same time.

The small menu’s a dream for indecisive folk like me. I died for the basho margarita – oolong tea tequila, lime, lemongrass agave and toasted rice salt; sweetcorn ribs in habanero butter and Szechuan pork belly yakitori. Tables are released a month ahead and fill fast.

Find Voya at 34 North Road, Brighton BN1 1YB

15 Palmito

Best for: adventurous eating, date night, a genuinely exciting dinner

Where: Central Hove

Teeny Palmito, with its neon sign, has had everyone in Brighton talking since it opened in 2022. So much so, nabbing one of the 20 tables for dinner – or lunch on Saturday – is tricky, but worth the wait. On your visit, leave expectations at the door. Creative risk-raking is their USP, the chefs daring to go where others don’t.

A menu of Ecuadorean, southern Indian and Mexican dishes might seem a baffling mix at first. They’re simply the owner’s favourite foods; a blend that works well and what makes a trip to Palmito exciting.

Every dish is a thrill and excellent conversation starter. Feel free to stay purist or mix it up with a dish from each country, as I did. I highly recommend combining grilled sweetcorn with chipotle mayo, parmesan, and lime salt (Mexico), slow braised beef short rib (Ecuador), and Kerala-style grilled mackerel, winter tomato, beetroot, and blood orange (South India).

Find Palmito at 16 Western Road, Hove BN3 1AE

16 Wild Flor

Best for: serious foodies, a fancy lunch, special family gathering

Where: Hove

A small neighbourhood gem that was the talk of Brighton when it opened in May 2019 – and with enthusiasm and creativity they’ve kept getting better ever since, earning a coveted Michelin Guide listing along the way.

There’s a smart, buzzy downstairs dining room and another more quieter one upstairs bathed in candlelight, where the window seat is the perfect spot for a date night.

Head chef Olly Pierrepont draws inspiration from the great dishes of France, made with modern sensibility – expect hyper-seasonal, classic European cooking with real depth of flavour.

The menu changes constantly so specific dishes are hard to pin down, but the cooking is consistently outstanding, and the wine list is genuinely impressive.

The £25 set lunch menu is one of Brighton’s best value meals – book a First Table slot for 50% off. Famous Madeleines to finish, warm with cherries, rum compote and mascarpone.

Find Wild Flor at 42 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FN

17 The Little Fish Market

Best for: the ultimate splurge, celebrations, tasting menus

Where: Hove

One of Brighton’s most longstanding and consistently outstanding restaurants — and one that has stayed completely true to its original ethos without ever chasing trends.

Set in a converted fishmonger’s opposite the old Victorian fish market, it’s been quietly earning accolades since chef-owner Duncan Ray opened it for just £100. He trained under Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck, which tells you everything about the level of cooking.

Hidden along a historic Hove mews, the setting feels like a discovery before you’ve even sat down. Inside, just 20 covers, impeccable service and Duncan’s ever-changing five-course tasting menu — chalked on a blackboard, still a delightful surprise when each course arrives.

Expect dishes like parmesan gougères stuffed with smoked mackerel pâté, or wild bass with roast cauliflower purée — simple in description, extraordinary on the plate. Add the wine pairing for each course if you can. Start the evening with a drink at the Paris House bar beforehand and wander down to the seafront afterwards. The perfect Brighton night out.

Find The Little Fish Market at 10 Upper Market Street, Hove BN3 1AS

Best Places to Eat in Brighton map

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed reading this post, would you consider buying me a coffee?