Date Night in Brighton: 8 Small, Cosy, Romantic Restaurants

Generally speaking, when it comes to date-night dinners, small, cosy, candlelit restaurants have the most romantic charm. Obviously, the food must be spot on, too.

Brighton is the spiritual home of the ‘romantic weekend-away’ and packed with restaurants – but some set the tone for date night far better than others.

Cheesy places handing out single red roses to the ladies must be avoided at all costs! You want to make sure you have one of those fantastic, giddy, date-night meals you’ll remember for years to come.

So to help with your planning, I’ve rounded up my favourite small, cosy and romantic restaurants in Brighton – places the Ellie & Co team of two has tried time and again, and would happily recommend for your next date night.

1 Palmito, Hove

Tiny Palmito is made for date night. Somehow, an impossible number of tables for two cram into the warm-toned, low-ceiling dining room – which makes focusing on your partner easy.

The menu of inventive small plates encourages connection; each exciting dish a conversation starter. This is thanks to the unique mix of Ecuadorean, southern Indian and Mexican dishes – the owners’ favourite foods – which work well together. Sharing a few is half the fun here along with a punchy homemade hibiscus margarita.

Find Palmito at 16 Western Road, Hove BN3 1AE

2 Bincho Yakitori, Central Brighton

To me, there’s no place better for a romantic date night than sat at the counter of this tiny, perma-packed Japanese tapas restaurant that transports you to the backstreets of Toyko. Especially if you get the two seats tucked in the corner to the right.

It’s the perfect spot for huddling, sipping sake, and watching the chefs cook up the delicious, inexpensive small plates for sharing, a talking point boon for any date night.

They do the world’s best kara age – Japanese fried chicken – IMO which admittedly I have trouble sharing. The vibe is cosy yet buzzy and fun, and it’s a great place for date night or dinner with friends.

Insider tip: Since it won a couple of awards, getting a table here is tricky so book ahead.

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

3 Solera de Tapas, North Laine

Being in this little tapas bar makes you feel like you’ve left the North Laine for Spain for the night with its authentic dishes and local wines.

The atmosphere is dark, cosy and rustic, and all the food is hearty and not expensive at all. Try the meatballs in tomato sauce, chorizo in wine stew and patatas bravas. 

Insider tip: most people don’t know there’s a quiet, cosy patio out back.

Find Solera at 42 Sydney Street, Brighton BN1 4EP

4 Curio, London Road

Curio is one of my favourite neighbourhood spots in Brighton, and after dark it also happens to make a brilliant low-key date-night restaurant.

Dressed in fairy lights, with little candles on every table, it feels especially intimate on a winter evening. Sit at the bar or grab a table for two and share some Mediterranean-inspired small plates – the crispy artichokes are delicious – over a glass of wine or a spicy margarita.

In summer, it has its own kind of romance, with tables spilling onto the pavement outside and, better still, a couple of cosy booths, away from the bustle of central Brighton.

Find Curio at 1 Clyde Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4NN

5 Plateau, The Lanes

Grab a seat at the counter, or a table for two in the main dining room, order a French 75 and settle in for a tete-a-tete French style at Plateau, a sophisticated cafe-bistro-wine bar in The Lanes. 

Natural wines and modern French small plates set the tone, here, with plenty designed to share. Start with a plate of shishito peppers, then move on to something bigger, like the seared bavette steak with pommes frites and rocket, which I recommend.

Downstairs gets buzzy, but I quite like losing myself in the high-energy atmosphere. If you prefer something quieter, head upstairs to the peaceful, rustic dining room with a lovely table by the window to feel more tucked away.

Find Plateau at 1 Bartholomews, Brighton, BN1 1HB

6 Riddle and Finns in the Lanes

Riddle and Finns in the Lanes is a champagne and oyster bar tucked away up a little alley not far from the North Laine. The decor is ‘New York’ elegant – white subway tiles, marble table tops, flickering candlelight which makes for a romantic atmosphere come evening when the light dims.

The menu is filled with superb seafood dishes, like homemade fishcakes with tartare sauce, fish pie, and crab linguine.

They also serve delicious fresh salads and, obviously, plenty of oysters and champagne to get your romantic evening off to a giddy start.

Find Riddle and Finns at 12b Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB

7 Wild Flor, Hove

This Hove spot is one of my favourite restaurants in Brighton for the exceptional food and service. It’s also my pick if I’m in the mood for a classic date night.

By this I mean, you don’t come here expecting small plates, unusual combinations or a DJ. Here you get to rebel by ordering your own plate of food and a bottle of wine to share.

I like sitting at a table for two tucked up against an exposed-brick wall in the smart, simply decorated dining room. Or if I’m feeling quiet, I’ll ask for the window table upstairs, overlooking the main drag – it’s a great spot for people-watching.

Everything comes beautifully presented, especially the little starters served with sourdough bread, like the salad of beetroot, walnut and poppy seed with fennel rosquilletas.

Whatever I eat, I always save room for a plate of their famous brown butter Madeleines, served warm with cream.

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

8 The Little Fish Market, Hove

It’s fun to find acclaimed chef Duncan Ray’s award-winning fish restaurant tucked away in the backstreets of the historic central Hove.

It opened in 2013 and is Brighton’s most-awarded restaurant. It’s as much loved for its impeccable, refined, and simple fish-focused dishes as it is for its friendly and elegant service, for which it has become well known.

The five-course tasting menus make for the perfect long, laid-back date night. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxed, and the surroundings are contemporary and understated.

You can pay extra to have a different wine served with each course. Only the main ingredient of each dish is listed on the menu, so each plate is a fun surprise. We came to celebrate Dan’s birthday, and it was perfect. One to bookmark for a romantic splurge.

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

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

You might also like...

Brighton’s Hidden Thai Restaurant My Brighton Date-Night Hideaway 9 No-Frills Restaurants in Brighton 5 Instagrammable Cafes and Restaurants in Brighton Brighton’s Accidentally Twin Peaks Chip Shop 8 Secret Restaurants in Brighton