Restaurant Brighton's guide to
French restaurants in Brighton
Restaurants français à Brighton French Restaurants Brighton - The Best French Bistro Style Dining
Brighton and Hove are home to some of the finest French restaurants on the South Coast, offering everything from elegant fine dining to relaxed bistro-style meals. In Brighton’s historic Lanes, Petit Pois serves authentic classics like duck confit and crème brûlée, while nearby Il Bistro on Market Street delivers hearty French grills in a lively brasserie setting. The North Laine is home to Mange Tout, a friendly French café-bistro known for its seasonal dishes and excellent brunches, and the seafront hosts Bistro du Vin, part of one of Brighton’s original boutique hotels, with menus that celebrate timeless French cooking. Beyond the city, Le Flamant in Lindfield brings contemporary French flair to Sussex. Whether you’re craving boeuf bourguignon, steak frites, or tarte Tatin, dining at un restaurant français in Brighton promises a delicious taste of France by the sea.
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Bistro du Vin at Hotel du Vin in Brighton’s historic Lanes offers a French-inspired menu that celebrates classic cuisine with a modern twist.
The venue is known for having one of the biggest and best wine lists in the city, making it a must-visit for wine enthusiasts.
Enjoy the whole experience, from a casual yet sophisticated wine and cocktail bar perfect for pre-dinner drinks, to alfresco dining in the summer. This French restaurant and boutique hotel also offers private dining, wine tasting events, and much more for an unforgettable journey through French cuisine.
IL Bistro has been proudly serving Brighton & Hove since 1976, offering a menu filled with French influence in the heart of the historic Lanes. Set in an 18th-century fisherman’s cottage, this intimate spot is a long-standing favourite for those seeking a French restaurant in Brighton with a relaxed yet refined atmosphere.
Diners can enjoy French-inspired dishes like poulet basquaise, a rich and hearty chicken dish with tomatoes, garlic, olives, peppers, and rosemary potatoes, or gambas pil pil, king prawns cooked with garlic, olive oil, chilli, and dry sherry. Combining Mediterranean flavours with classic French and Italian cooking, IL Bistro continues to be a go-to French inspired restaurant in Brighton for nearly 50 years.
Possibly the highest regarded French restaurant Brighton has to offer. Petit Pois is tucked away in the Lanes, just a short distance from the seafront (where on a clear day you still can’t see France).
The bistro serves classic French cuisine with a modern, stylish edge and is a firm favourite among the Brighton foodies. Their wine selection is entirely French, showcasing the various French wine regions. The decor is that perfectly French balance between effortlessly chic and casual. Regarded as one of our top 20 or best restaurants in Brighton.
Heading up the northernmost entrance to the famous North Laine is Mange Tout, a daytime Brighton café and evening bistro.
The menu changes frequently and is chalked up on a large blackboard inside this Brighton restaurant. Mange Tout focusses on local, organic and sustainable produce to create gorgeous French-inspired dishes, their wines, too, are low intervention.
Open for a Brighton breakfast, through to the evening, with street-side seating and expansive windows; Mange Tout is a social and joyful place to start or end your day in the Laines. Love this place for its relaxed yet buzzy vibe, a standout reputable French restaurant Brighton has had around for years.
Messa Ben of Brighton Cookery School was a former chef at a Parisian, Michelin Stared, restaurant, so if you want to learn the art of French cooking you can forget Julia Child!
At the Brighton Cookery School, you can learn professional cooking techniques either in open, scheduled classes or private groups and enjoy the fruits of your labour afterwards.
They teach all styles of cooking, not just French. Just to make it clear, Brighton Cookery School is not a French restaurant in Brighton, it is owned by a French native.
Sussex
Modern French meets Mid Sussex charm at Lindfield’s inviting bistro, Le Flamant. This welcoming spot excels in seasonal sharing plates, think whipped cod’s roe or peach-glazed pork. With a relaxed vibe, thoughtfully curated wines by Butler’s Wine Cellar, and genuinely warm service, this is French-inspired dining at its best. Elegant yet unpretentious, packed with flavour and culinary flair from a seriously talented chef.
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Brighton has a number of highly rated French restaurants. Petit Pois in The Lanes is well-loved for its authentic French dining and charming atmosphere. Bistro du Vin, part of one of Brighton’s original boutique hotels, offers classic dishes with an elegant twist, while Mange Tout in the North Laine specialises in relaxed French bistro food with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Yes. Petit Pois is tucked away in Brighton’s historic Lanes, serving traditional dishes such as duck confit, coq au vin, and crème brûlée. Nearby, Il Bistro on Market Street offers hearty French classics and grills in a lively brasserie setting. Il Bistro is an award winning restaurant, having won back to back BRAVO Awards in 2024-2025
Close to the seafront, Bistro du Vin is a standout, offering diners beautiful views alongside French classics like steak frites, bouillabaisse, and tarte Tatin. Bistro Du Vin is one of the city’s most stylish boutique hotels in Brighton. Petit Pois is also similar distance from Brighton’s seafront, located in Brighton’s historic Lanes.
Expect to find many much-loved French classics on Brighton menus. Dishes include escargots (snails with garlic butter), soupe à l’oignon (French onion soup), steak tartare, duck confit, boeuf bourguignon, and desserts like crème brûlée, profiteroles, and tarte Tatin. Dining at un restaurant français in Brighton is a chance to enjoy true Gallic flavour.
Mange Tout is a relaxed French bistro in Brighton’s North Laine, known for its simple but delicious food, brunches, and wine list. It’s a perfect spot for casual dining with authentic flavours.
Yes. Le Flamant in Lindfield is a French restaurant in Sussex offering seasonal menus inspired by classic and contemporary French cuisine. It’s an ideal option if you’re exploring outside Brighton and looking for a reputable Sussex restaurant.
Yes you can. Brighton Cookery School runs hands-on classes where you can learn to make French favourites such as soufflés, coq au vin, or tarte Tatin, giving you the chance to recreate a taste of France at home. Located on London Road just 5 to 10 minutes from Brighton Centre.
While most of the French dining scene is centred in Brighton, Hove has brasseries and bistros where French-inspired dishes appear on the menu. For a full list, browse our French Restaurants Brighton guide
