Al Duomo Brighton, a City Institution
Al Duomo was opened in 1979 by Dino Azzaroni and holds the distinction of being the city’s longest serving Italian restaurant in Brighton. Named after the dome over the India Entrance to the Royal Pavilion Gardens at the head of the North Laine, it has, much like the Pavilion itself, become something of a Brighton icon over the past forty-plus years. Few restaurants in this city can claim that kind of history, and fewer still carry it as gracefully as Al Duomo does.
Al Duomo Brighton Offers
2 for 1 Aperitivi and Cocktails available Sunday to Friday from 3pm to 6pm.
Express Lunch available Sunday to Friday, 12pm to 2pm, offering a main course and soft drink or a main course and wine.
Pre-Theatre Menu available Sunday to Friday from 5.30pm to 7pm, with two or three course options. Ideal if you are heading to the Brighton Theatre Royal or Brighton Dome, making Al Duomo one of the most convenient and enjoyable pre-theatre restaurants in Brighton.
Spritz O’Clock, 2 for 1 Spritz with gourmet bar snacks, Sunday to Friday from 5pm to 6pm.
A Restaurant Reinvigorated
Having come under new ownership in 2021, Al Duomo has entered an exciting new chapter while staying true to everything that made it beloved in the first place. The kitchen has been significantly expanded, which is reflected clearly in the ambition and quality of the food now coming out of it. Leading the kitchen is chef Ercole Cappai, previously the owner of long-time local favourite The Latin in The Laine, bringing a wealth of experience and genuine passion for Italian cooking to Pavilion Buildings.
The restaurant now makes all pasta and gelato in-house, and the desserts are crafted on site too. These are the details that separate a truly committed Italian kitchen from one that merely goes through the motions, and at Al Duomo Brighton, the commitment is evident in every plate.
The original restaurant introduced Brighton’s first wood-fired pizza oven, and that tradition remains very much alive. Every pizza is still cooked using this method, producing the kind of charred, blistered, deeply flavoured base that simply cannot be replicated any other way. Al Duomo remains one of the destinations for the best pizza in Brighton.
Inside Al Duomo Brighton
Step inside and the space feels genuinely uplifting. Newly redecorated in Mediterranean blues and warm oranges, the interior instantly transports you somewhere sunnier. The main dining area is bright and spacious, with a large glass roof flooding the room with light. There is a mezzanine level for those who like to look down on proceedings, and private dining rooms available for more exclusive gatherings.
Outside, the terrace is a genuine treat, beautifully positioned in a sun trap with views across the Pavilion Gardens. It is one of the most enviable spots for alfresco dining in Brighton, and dogs are welcome out there too. Al Duomo is open seven days a week, accommodating everything from a quick and affordable weekday lunch to a celebratory dinner for a large group.
The Food at Al Duomo Brighton
The menu centres on the classics of Italian cuisine, executed with the kind of restraint and confidence that comes from genuinely understanding the food. A simple, quality sauce over freshly made pasta or a Margherita pizza with properly sourced ingredients is the true measure of any Italian kitchen, and Al Duomo passes that test with considerable ease. All seafood is landed locally and delivered fresh, and the pasta is made on site daily.
When it comes to drinks, start with an aperitif or a cocktail; the Hibiscus Margarita and the Limoncello spritz are both excellent. The wine list is well chosen and covers a thoughtful range of Italian regions and styles, with options to suit every budget.
Food for Everyone
Al Duomo Brighton is genuinely inclusive when it comes to dietary requirements. All stone-baked, wood-fired sourdough pizzas can be made with vegan mozzarella style cheese at no extra cost, and there are vegan and vegetarian options throughout the menu well beyond pizza. Gluten-free diners are well catered for across starters, pasta, risotto and sides, and a clearly labelled allergy guide is available for those with a nut allergy. The ground floor is fully wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair-accessible toilet.
There is also a dedicated bambini menu for younger diners, offering two courses and a soft drink with guaranteed crowd-pleasers including trofie Napoli and a selection of pizzas. Homemade gelato with vegan and dairy-free options rounds off the children’s experience beautifully; though in all honesty, the adults will be reaching for it too. Children also receive colouring in sheets during the meal, and sharing their creations on Instagram tagging @alduomo.btn gives them the chance to win a voucher and a free kids meal.
Al Duomo Brighton is located at 6-7 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE.
Reviews
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Getting There
Al Duomo is our favourite restaurant. We’ve been several times on our brief visits to Brighton, and the food never disappoints. The pizzas are particularly good. Just a great place to eat. However, to be served by Christian is a special delight. He’s very personable yet professional, unbelievable quick, and seemingly has eyes in the back of his head. Undoubtedly the best waiter I’ve ever known, and his service is an experience in itself.
Booked this as we were attending an event at the Royal Pavilion and it certainly didn’t disappoint! The Pizzas were amazing and the service was excellent and a big up for our waiter Marco😁 highly recommended
Went for a late lunch at Al Duomo today, having never been there before. What a pleasant surprise – had the Pollo Brandy and it was absolutely delicious. An ice cold glass of Inzolia was the perfect accompaniment. There was only one waiter on duty – Christian – but he was remarkably efficient, whizzing around all the tables ensuring everyone’s needs were met. Christian was charming, chatty and courteous. He made our meal all the more enjoyable.
Great environment, super friendly staff, good food, and clean toilet facilities. Not much more we could have asked for.
What a brilliant find in Brighton. Highly recommend. So accommodating with my many food allergies, last minute food choices and our pet cockerpoo. Such a relaxing, family friendly environment. All staff were amazing and the food was the best! Thank you so much.
Lovely food and lovely service !
Best carbonara I have had outside of Italy. Great service and great atmosphere! Highly recommended!
Super, zeer goed restaurant, zeker aan te raden.
Popped in for a quick bite to eat. The food and the service were both fantastic ! A really super restaurant which we will definitely come to again.
We had a great meal yesterday , Sunday 5th Feb . Food was marvellous , service was great , all in all a wonderful experience !
Ristorante confortevole, cibo di ottima qualità. Negli ultimi 6 anni solo ottime impressioni. Oggi giorno della pasquetta tutto perfetto, servizio eccellente da parte di una cameriera spagnola. Ritornerò molto presto.
Rough translation by RB
Comfortable restaurant, excellent quality food. In the last 6 years only excellent impressions. Today the Easter day is perfect, excellent service from a Spanish waitress. I’ll come back very soon.
Al Duomo have been around for so many years and the reason being is because they are very good at what they do.
Offering you Italian flair at their tables, quick service and incredible food you can see why it has been around for decades. Plus, it is sensibly priced!
On our recent visit just a couple of weeks ago I was so impressed at how fresh and tasty their food is.
In my opinion there are all these brands in the city that shout about how good their food is and it is often a bit of a marketing campaign versus good quality food which gets people talking.
What I am trying to say is wow! The pizza base, toppings, flavours and classic pizzas available at Al Duomo was impressive. Definitely up there with the best pizzas in the city!