Restaurant Brighton's guide to

Burgers in Brighton

Our top picks

Burger city | The Best Burgers in Brighton

The cult burger joint, MEATliquor, is serving uncompromisingly tasty burgers on York Place every day and night seven days a week. Their burgers range from naughty, saucy to devilishly delicious and are available in beef, chicken or veggie and plant-based varieties. There’s no shortage of sides to pair your burger with and you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to drinks to wash it down with. Liquor by name liquor by nature, the Brighton cocktails served here go from boozy to super boozy! Super popular  concept, is this the best burger in Brighton?

Discover a burst of flavours at Arcobaleno, a cafe-bar and restaurant located in the heart of Kemptown. Indulge in their mouth-watering Arco Burgers, served with a vibrant Rainbow Slaw and refreshing pint of draft beer for £15.

They offer vegan options too – ensuring everyone can enjoy an Arco burger! Don’t miss out on this fantastic daily offer available from 5pm-9pm.  Arcobaleno is a GBTQ+ Café, Gay Bar and events space and is the talk of the town in what used to be a bank building. 

Burgers at Rum Kitchen are all freshly made with quality produce and come in three flavours, each celebrating the feel-good flavours of the Caribbean. Choose from jerk chicken with barbecue sauce and scotch bonnet mayo. Rum-glazed pulled pork with pickled slaw, crispy chillies and scotch bonnet and spring onion aioli. Or for the plant-only burger eaters there’s Appleton rum-glazed jackfruit with slaw, ackee and spring onion aioli. All come with skinny chips and are best washed down with one of their fabulous specialist rum cocktails.

Lost Boys Land on London Road is the stand-alone chicken shop from the locally acclaimed, multi-BRAVO winning Lost Boys. Chicken is given the full works, made super succulent with buttermilk and breaded with their secret Southern spice mix.

Top that off with their finger-licking good homemade sauces for a chicken shop burger that’s a cut above the rest. This place has to be on your list as possibly the best burger in Brighton. 

The Dorset, in the heart of the North Laine, is a Brighton institution that has been serving locals since 1819. It’s no surprise then that in that time they’ve learnt what makes for a good burger to match with your pint. They opt for burgers of a dirty variety, saucy and satisfying with strong options for plant and meat lovers. All burgers come served with chunky chips and coleslaw as standard. During the summer weekends the streetside seating is perfect for feasting, meeting and taking in the colourful sights and sounds of city. 

The Mesmerist offers burgers with a twist, featuring a range of tantalising options. Sink your teeth into classics like the Classic Burger with two 3oz beef patties, or try adventurous creations like the Birria Burger with infused beef patty and blue cheese. Chicken lovers can enjoy the Buffalo Burger, while pork enthusiasts can savour the Pulled Pork Burger. Vegans are catered too with options like the Classic Vegan Burger and Chorizo Burger. Each burger is served on a toasted brioche bun with fries or tortilla chips, promising a flavourful experience with every bite.

Try a burger with a difference at Curry Leaf Cafe. Their burger buns, or ‘Pavs’ – the Indian word for stuffed roll – come filled with either Chicken 65 (crisp-fried boneless chicken thigh coated in spiced batter), or Mushroom Manchurian, deep-fried mushrooms glazed in a sticky, sweet & sour IndoChinese sauce. The brioche buns are sourced fresh from The Flour Pot Bakery, and heat seekers have the option of adding Kolkata kimchi to their Pav for an extra kick. Want fries with that? At Curry Leaf Cafe, they come dusted with chaat masala & chilli powder. Be warned: they’re seriously moreish!”

This historic Brighton Lanes pub serves up a selection of burgers from the locally renowned kitchen of Phil Bartley. Phil is the man behind The Great British Charcuterie, so you know these burgers are going to be stuffed with the finest quality meats, cheese and extras sourced from artisan producers. Choose from a beef, chicken, vegan or halloumi burger – all served in a brioche bun with chunky chips. This place is a burger haven and Phil makes some of the best burgers in Brighton. 

If quality is your top concern when it comes to your burger, you can be sure that Brighton’s premier steak restaurant is going to deliver. The Coal Shed may feature a mouth-watering array of sensational steaks, but their burger offering is a serious option for any meal. The Coal Shed is regularly named in the top restaurants in Brighton, and as one of the best in the UK, making this a high-end burger experience. Do they make the best burger in Brighton, you will have to pay them a visit and find out. Burgers are often a special on the Coal Shed express menu for lunch

Burger-by-sea | The Best Burgers by-the-sea

DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole is a fantastic destination for enjoying a delicious burger by the sea. Their menu features an array of mouthwatering burger options, including the classic Metropole Burger made with prime beef and served with all the traditional burger accessories. For those seeking unique flavours, the menu also offers specialty burgers like the Spicy BBQ Bacon Burger or the Vegan Beyond Burger. With its picturesque seafront restaurant location and delectable burger offerings, the Metropole Bar provides a delightful dining experience for burger enthusiasts looking to savour their meal with a view.

Brighton’s little slice of New York, The New Club, is a burger lover’s heaven. With stunning views of the promenade and i360, great food and tasty cocktails this place has got it all. They’ve been recommended in Shortlist Magazine, Waitrose Magazine and both The Times and Sunday Times as one of Brighton’s best spots. Quality, locally sourced and freshly prepared food is the order of the day. The New Club is one of Brighton’s best loved burger spots, all served with a little bit of New York swagger, with a sidewalk overlooking some magnificent Brighton seafront views. 

Ohso Social is in a prime location on the beach and next to the pier. They serve up a choice of burgers. From the classic, to a plant burger, or beef and pork patty.. Find a seat at Ohso Social, order your favourite drink and enjoy your burger with the view of the sea, soaking up the beach atmosphere.

Ohso is also super child friendly. It falls onto the shores of Brighton beach and they host a number of Brighton live events in the summer so keep an eye out for these. Check their website too and look out for the Brighton igloos for the colder months.

Shelter Hall is the place to try delicious and indulgent Rudi’s Burgers from seasoned south coast chef Danny Staples. Aged beef with all the sides and loaded fries. Enjoy your burger with a sea view from their terrace!  Shelter Hall is an amazing place to visit in Brighton with seven different kitchens, so you must go if you haven’t been; please be aware their food offerings rotate so check in advance which food offering is available each month

From Hamburg to Hove | Best Burgers in Hove

Featuring a locally sourced and seasonal menu, The Better Half is a Hove pub that likes to stick to its traditions but with a contemporary twist. This characterful pub is a hidden gem. The quirky, yet comfortable, interior and warm welcome entice you in. On the menu, you will find The Better Half Burger Menu with a choice of five burgers including a vegan choice and optional extras. Everything is 100% homemade, from the buns through to the relish, and you can tell. They all come with coleslaw and fries. Choose from the classic, pulled pork, chicken or vegan patty. You can add extra toppings such as bacon, blue cheese and onion rings to make a real showstopper of a burger.

Hove Place is a popular gem of a Hove gastro-pub with a menu that mixes pub classics with finessed bistro dining, so burger wise you can set your expectations high. These are burgers pushed to the edge of classic where they bump nicely against contemporary. Try local Trenchmore Wagyu beef with chipotle relish and beer braised onions or free range chicken thigh with Xo mayonnaise, coconut and Asian sesame slaw. Hove Place also boats one of the best beer gardens in Hove in addition to their incredible burgers. Dog friendly, child friendly and if someone else wants to enjoy a different menu item then it has all the pub classics like fish and chips, charcuterie platters. 

Burgers in the 'burbs

The Ladies Mile pub in Patcham is a place that combines a warm family atmosphere and excellent quality pub grub. The menu contains a dedicated section for burgers with five options available.  Classics are available such as the 6oz steak burger or chicken burger, there’s also a vegan Moving Mountains burger – all served in a brioche bun with skinny chips and salad.

The Ladies Mile is a 1930’s neighbourhood pub located a couple of minutes off London road in Patcham. It has all the live sports, it’s a great place to watch the football in Brighton and has a lovely beer garden

Q
&
A

Meatliquor is a cult burger joint off York Place in Brighton, they serve amazing burgers in a neon enthused setting. Try their Dead Hippie or the Plain Jane, or there is a dirty chicken cheese.

Other ‘Best burger in Brighton’ contenders in Brighton include the legendary Lost Boys Land who have been smashing out chicken burgers to the masses and have plenty of local awards to boot. Try the Buffalo chicken burger or the House.

If you want something completely different why not try the ‘Pavs’ at the Curry Leaf Cafe. They come loaded with either chicken or deep friend mushrooms.  

Choosing the best burger in Brighton is a very personal thing. Let us know what you think and which ones you would recommend?. 

Here is our guide to the best vegan burgers in Brighton.

Our favourites include:

Burgers can be rated in many different areas and defining the best burger in Brighton or Hove, or the best burger restaurant in the city is a personal taste. This is what the team at Restaurants Brighton look for when grading a burger:

  • The composition of the burger. Can the burger cope with being picked up is everything sliding around and falling apart, or is the composition intact and the bottom layers not sodden with too many sauces and juices.
  • The grind of the burger. What is the quality and size of the grind? Does it compliment the style of bun, what are the flavours like, where is the meat sourced, is it free range, what are the animals fed?
  • The quality of the burger bun. Which bun has been chosen to showcase the burger? Is it brioche, is it freshly baked, does it compliment the stature of the burger, is it out of a packet) we hope not!), is it toasted?
  • The burger accompaniments. Which sauces and side dishes are available to add to the experience?

The Coal Shed in Brighton offers you a stunning lunch time burger. It is a smoked bacon cheeseburger with aged prime beef and is available on their Express lunch menu.