Indian Restaurants Brighton, the Best Curry Houses and Modern Dining
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Indian Restaurants Brighton: Curry Houses, Street Food and Modern Dining
If you are searching for the best Indian restaurants Brighton has to offer, you have come to the right place. From the historic Lanes to the vibrant streets of Hove and Kemptown, the city’s Indian dining scene has evolved far beyond the traditional curry house. Today, Indian restaurants Brighton has on offer span everything from South Indian dosas and Gujarati vegetarian thalis to award-winning street food and Bombay-style cafe dining, all created by genuinely independent, owner-led venues.
Whether you are looking for halal-friendly dining, gluten-free curries, or the best vegan Indian restaurant Brighton has on offer, this guide brings together the venues that define the city’s flavour, area by area.
Celebrating 25 years as a Brighton institution, Indian Summer remains the city’s premier destination for award-winning modern Indian dining. Located in Brighton’s historic Lanes, this independent, owner-led restaurant offers refined regional flavours and artistic flair. Whether you are enjoying their signature thalis, a curated tasting menu, or bespoke cocktails at a famous graffiti-art table, the experience is immersive and vibrant. Expect a perfect blend of authentic heritage and contemporary innovation, all set to a rhythmic, curated reggae soundtrack.
Mowgli Brighton serves Indian street food in a vibrant setting on Dukes Lane. With vegan, allergen-friendly, and children’s menus available, there’s something for everyone. Dishes arrive in tiffin containers as they’re ready, creating a casual, homely atmosphere. Enjoy spiced dishes made with fresh herbs, like the popular Mowgli Chat Bombs—crispy bread puffs filled with chickpeas, spiced yoghurt, tamarind, and coriander. Can’t decide? Try the Tiffin Roulette, where the chef selects a delightful curry potluck for you!
Chilli Pickle is a multi-award-winning Indian restaurant now proudly back in Brighton’s historic Lanes on Meeting House Lane. Renowned for its bold, creative take on Indian cuisine, the menu celebrates vibrant flavours through dishes like butter chicken, lamb keema, aubergine curries, and inventive street-food-inspired plates. With vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, it caters for all tastes. Chilli Pickle’s lively atmosphere, colourful presentation, and modern flair make it one of Brighton’s most celebrated and beloved Indian dining destinations.
Great food is not hard to find in this city. Pure veg and home-made Indian food is a different story. Majahma has brought something quite unique to Brighton and their flavourful, nutritious, homemade thalis are available by delivery only. By subscribing to their tiffin service, you’ll be able to indulge in their finish at home meals on a weekly or fortnightly basis. You can skip weeks or cancel at any time, however we doubt you’ll want to! Each tiffin tin typically contains a curry, dahl, salad or soup, rice and two freshly made chapatis. Once you’ve finished, simply clean and start the countdown to the next tahli day, when Nish (the friendly face of the company) will swap your empty with full fresh tiffin.
Kolkati serves up a colourful taste of Kolkata right in the heart of Brighton’s Shelter Hall. Inspired by India’s famous kati rolls, founders Kate and Jack fill egg-fried parathas with spiced meats, chickpeas, and vibrant homemade chutneys. The result is a handheld feast bursting with flavour, warmth, and nostalgia. Combining Kolkata street food traditions with London market flair, Kolkati’s kati rolls bring spice, comfort, and crave-worthy energy.
Sri Lankan food is a unique blend of Dutch, Portuguese, English, Arab, Malay, and Indian influences, so we couldn’t leave The Coconut Island off our Indian page round-up. Located on the Brighton and Hove border, this vibrant restaurant brings relaxed island vibes and bold, exciting flavours. Expect fragrant rice dishes, rich coconut-based curries, and spiced sambols bursting with colour and freshness. With its focus on sharing or small plates, The Coconut Island offers a modern take on Sri Lankan cuisine, where aromatic spices and fresh ingredients create a joyful, tropical dining experience.
You’ll find Dishoom Permit Room in The Lanes. Its warm and inviting atmosphere, coupled with the gentle smell of incense and the best chai in town, will transport you to India. Explore small plates inspired by different regions, including chaats, savouries, snacks, curries, salads, and more! Don’t forget their breakfast to kickstart your day with one of their Naan Rolls. Their award winning cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to a few nibbles. Whether you’re looking for a feast, a quick bite, or just a drink or two, you’re always welcome at Dishoom Permit Room Brighton a wonderful addition to our indian restaurant Brighton guide.
Planet India on Richmond Parade has earned a near-cult following in Brighton as a standout authentic Indian restaurant, cherished by locals who love discovering incredibly genuine spots. Specialising in home-cooked, vegetarian Gujarati-inspired dishes, around half of which are vegan, Nilesh and his team offer a truly memorable dining experience. Recipes passed down from mother to son and daughter-in-law are brought to life in dishes brimming with immense flavours. With generous portions, affordable prices, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, this venue guarantees a good time and embodies the charm of a local hidden gem that’s a must-visit for food lovers and an essential inclusion in our Indian restaurant Brighton guide.
A true institution in Hove, this legendary restaurant—founded by the iconic TC—has been delighting locals for 40 years. Nestled on beautiful First Avenue near Hove’s seafront, this unique underground venue offers a memorable experience with its ‘Tropical Bar’ for pre-dinner drinks. The menu is distinct and bursting with flavour, featuring Indonesian-Malaysian influences alongside Indian-inspired dishes, so it’s far from your typical Brighton Indian curry house. Regular live Brighton events, including Elvis nights and a Brighton karaoke bar, add to the vibrant atmosphere, making it a must-visit spot for a truly unique dining experience.
Jamun, located on West Street in central Brighton, offers a vibrant casual dining experience with a focus on Southern Indian street food. Known for its flavourful curries and aromatic biryanis, this spot brings the authentic taste of India to the city. Guests can expect a laid-back atmosphere with dishes inspired by the rich culinary traditions of South India, featuring bold spices and fresh ingredients. Jamun is ideal for those seeking a relaxed yet flavourful meal on one of the busiest streets in the city.
Pavel is a popular Indian restaurant in Brighton’s lively Kemptown, known for its authentic Indian flavours and welcoming atmosphere. Serving the Kemptown area as well as nearby Bevendean, Coldean, Hangleton, and Hove, Pavel has earned a reputation as one of the best Indian restaurants and takeaways in Brighton. Diners can expect a wide selection of traditional dishes, from aromatic curries to perfectly spiced biryanis, making it a go-to spot for anyone craving authentic Indian cuisine in Brighton.
Types of Indian Food in Brighton: A Guide by Region and Style
Indian restaurants Brighton has on offer cover an extraordinary range of regional cuisines, and knowing what you are in the mood for makes choosing the right venue much easier.
For Bombay-style Indian dining in Brighton, Dishoom Permit Room in the Lanes brings cafe culture, chai, breakfast naan rolls and award-winning cocktails together in one of the city’s most atmospheric Indian restaurants.
For modern Indian street food in Brighton, Mowgli on Dukes Lane serves tiffin-style sharing dishes including the popular Chat Bombs, while The Chilli Pickle brings an award-winning regional approach to Pan-Indian street food to its Lanes home.
For vegan Indian food in Brighton, Majahma offers a genuinely unique home-cooked tiffin delivery service with Gujarati roots, while Planet India, Dishoom Permit Room and The Coconut Island all carry strong plant-based menus alongside their core offering.
For Sri Lankan and Indian fusion dining, The Coconut Island on the Brighton and Hove border brings coconut-based curries and spiced sambols that draw on Dutch, Portuguese, Arab, Malay and Indian influences.
For South Indian restaurants in Brighton, Jamun on West Street focuses on Southern Indian street food, with flavourful curries and aromatic biryanis that bring real authenticity to the city centre.
For Gujarati and vegetarian Indian restaurants in Brighton, Planet India on Richmond Parade specialises in home-cooked, vegetarian Gujarati-inspired dishes with recipes passed down through generations, around half of which are fully vegan.
For traditional Indian curry houses in Brighton, The Bali Brasserie in Hove blends Indian-inspired dishes with Indonesian and Malaysian influences, while Pavel in Kemptown serves a classic, dependable range of curries and biryanis that has earned a loyal local reputation.
Brighton’s Indian Food Scene: A City That Eats Well
What stands out most about Indian restaurants Brighton has built up over the years is just how far the city has moved beyond the traditional curry house format, without ever losing sight of what made those dishes so beloved in the first place.
This is a city where a twenty-five-year-old Lanes institution can reintroduce a classic Madras to celebrate its anniversary in the very same year that a tiffin delivery service is reinventing how people eat Gujarati food at home.
That range, from nostalgic comfort food to genuinely inventive regional cooking, is exactly what makes Brighton one of the most exciting places in the south of England to eat Indian food. Independent, owner-led and proudly diverse, the city’s Indian restaurants reflect everything that makes Brighton itself such a distinctive place to eat.
Q
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The best Indian restaurant in Brighton depends on your taste. For bold street-food style flavours, Mowgli Brighton or Indian Summer is a popular choice with its vibrant small plates. If you’re looking for a relaxed drinking and dining spot, the Dishoom Permit Room serves Bombay-inspired dishes alongside cocktails. For more traditional flavours, Brighton also has long-standing curry restaurants offering all the classics.
Several Indian restaurants Brighton has on offer cater particularly well for groups and large bookings. Indian Summer offers tasting menus and a vibrant, sociable setting that suits celebrations and bigger tables. Dishoom Permit Room in the Lanes is well set up for groups thanks to its sharing-plate format, where chaats, curries and snacks are designed to be ordered across the table. Mowgli works particularly well too, since dishes arrive in tiffin containers as they are ready, creating a relaxed, communal style of eating that suits larger parties. For group bookings, it is always worth calling ahead to confirm availability and any set menu options for bigger tables.
Yes. Vegetarian Indian restaurants in Brighton often draw on Gujarat’s rich meat-free traditions. Majahma’s tiffin service is an excellent option for vegetarians, offering healthy, home-style curries, dals and breads. Many sit-down restaurants also feature dedicated vegetarian and vegan menus with vibrant plant-based dishes.
For a fresh, modern take, Mowgli Brighton serves small plates and street-food classics, while the Dishoom Permit Room brings a taste of Bombay’s café culture with cocktails and sharing plates. On the seafront, Kolkati at Shelter Hall is loved for its kati rolls packed with bold Indian flavours.
Majahma is a local tiffin delivery service in Brighton and Hove providing healthy plant-based home-cooked thalis and they deliver them to your door weekly or fortnightly. Each week the menu changes ensuring variety for customers.
Yes. In the historic Lanes, you’ll find popular Brighton Indian restaurants offering both traditional curry dishes and modern Indian small plates. The area is perfect for combining a meal with a stroll through Brighton’s most atmospheric streets.
Indian restaurants in Brighton reflect dishes from across India:
North India: butter chicken, tandoori grills, fluffy naan.
South India: dosas, coconut curries, sambar.
West India: Goan seafood curries and Gujarati vegetarian thalis (Majahma offers a homely tiffin service with Gujarati roots).
East India: fish curries and mustard-based dishes.
Street-food-inspired venues like Mowgli Brighton and Kolkati at Shelter Hall bring modern takes on regional recipes, perfect for casual dining.
Traditional Indian restaurants in Brighton focus on time-honoured recipes, breads from the tandoor, and richly spiced curries. For a modern twist on traditional flavours, try Dishoom Permit Room with its Bombay-style dishes, or explore long-established Brighton curry houses for that authentic feel.
Brighton boasts standout independent venues like The Chilli Pickle (award-winning regional Indian dishes) Indian Summer, Dishoom Permit Room, Mowgli Street Food, Majahma (tiffin-style dining), and Coconut Island for Sri Lankan-inspired meals.
You’ll find incredible curries throughout the city—many locals point to Indian Summer, The Chilli Pickle, Dishoom Permit Room, and Coconut Island as top destinations for flavourful, authentic curries.
Yes—Brighton has grown beyond classic curry houses, with modern Indian restaurants offering curated regional cuisine in stylish settings.
The Chilli Pickle is regularly lauded for its innovative regional menu, locally sourced ingredients, and status as a British Curry Awards and Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient.
Dishoom Permit Room, Majahma, and Coconut Island all cater to vegan, vegetarian, and halal diets, with several dishes specifically marked or adaptable for dietary needs.
While Brighton has a long history of traditional curry houses, Indian Summer is widely recognissed as one of the city’s most enduring and influential independent Indian restaurants. Since opening its doors in 2001, it has pioneered the move toward authentic regional cuisine and modern presentation. In June 2026, Indian Summer celebrates a remarkable milestone as it reaches 25 years in the heart of the Lanes, a testament to its status as a true Brighton institution.
Yes. To mark twenty-five years in the Lanes, Indian Summer has reintroduced a selection of classic, much-loved curry house favourites to its menu, including Madras, Korma and Vindaloo. It is a nostalgic nod to the dishes that first introduced so many people in Britain to Indian food, served alongside the restaurant’s more contemporary regional cooking. For anyone craving the familiar comfort of a proper Madras or Vindaloo alongside Brighton’s more modern Indian dining scene, this anniversary addition is well worth seeking out.
