Restaurant Brighton's guide to
Kemptown Restaurants
Our top picks
Kemptown restaurants - our top picks
Take a trip into Brighton’s bohemian heart and discover some of the Kemptown restaurants that locals would rather keep to themselves. Kemptown restaurants operate at a slower and more intimate pace than those of Brighton centre, while still providing a level of creativity and excellence for which the city is renowned.
Kemptown restaurants | Our top picks
Amarillo at Drakes is the coming together of one of Brighton’s finest boutique hotels and the star-studded career of Chef Ian Swainson. This is a gastronomic delight that’s drawing the foodie savvy to Kemptown. Amarillo serves a six-course set menu, with meat and a vegetarian option. Swainson’s love is for Spanish food, but you’ll find a mix of influences in his ingredient-led, flavoursome creations. It should be noted that Brighton’s last Michelin star was held by a Kemptown restaurant, is history destined to repeat itself?
The Bronze, Brighton is located at the top end of St James’ Street and ticks plenty of boxes for what is great about the area; fun, inclusive and progressive. It is a trailblazing venue and should be at the top of your venue hit list. Expect; a dazzling array of craft beer, an enviable selection of whisk(e)ys, superbly mixed botanical cocktails and a food menu fit for a king. Slow + Low provides the full flavours of the smokehouse, ingredients locally and conscience sourced. If you’re looking for some true Brighton vibes then head to The Bronze and look out for their impressive events listings, live music, lectures, exhibitions and much more
Escape the city centre at DaddyLonglegs. This Kemptown restaurant is set sea-facing, serves lunch to the dinner menu of seasonal small plates and offers a wine list to equal those of the cities wine bars. All that can be enjoyed inside the modern restaurant or outside on the lawned beer garden. From the food you can expect a weekly changing menu of internationally inspired dishes, a Fishy Friday a la carte offering and Sunday roast riches. Set aside some time to peruse the wine list, which is made up of natural and organic wines of both local and international origin. The restaurant come bar is both modern and packed with history – so, if you’re feeling inquisitive, ask Anya the general manager to set you up with some juicy anecdotes.
At night, Redroaster becomes Lucky Khao, Brighton’s only Northern Thai restaurant and barbecue. Northern Thai cuisine is more suited to the UK than the more popular southern-style dishes as the climate is closer to our own. The food here is big on barbecued meats over a charcoal fire with spicy sharing curries and zingy fresh salads. Their signature dish may well now be the barbecue corn spare ribs – often imitated, never matched. But the great thing about the small sharing plates here, is you get to try a lot of amazing, unforgettable flavours.
Redroaster at the bottom of St James’ Street is something of a city institution, ethically sourcing and hand roasting their coffee and serving it alongside top-quality brunch and lunches with flair and style. The venue itself has a cool Scandinavian look and even cooler sustainability policy as one of the UK’s highest-scoring restaurants in the Sustainable Restaurant Awards.
Starfish and Coffee Brighton is located right next to the beautiful Queens Park in Brighton and specialises in brunch, pastries, homemade cakes and excellent tea and coffee. From pancakes with bacon and maple syrup to a luxurious eggs Benedict or a big slice of fresh homemade cake baked by Brighton baker, Berkson Bakes. There are vegetarian and vegan options plus gluten-free bread and pastries available. Winner of the BRAVO 2020 best Cafe.
More Kemptown restaurants
Well known for its great locally sourced food and an impressive selection of drinks, Busby and Wilds is a homely neighbourhood gastropub. Here you have a modern menu geared to what their customers like eating, with a selection of bar snacks to match. Dishes range from traditional British, modern French and classic pub with plenty of sides and sharers to choose from – all served in a spacious light environment.
Cafe Marmalade is a secret people who live in Kemptown like to keep to themselves. This independent cafe is cosy and welcoming and is open daily delivering your coffee fix from 8 am – 6 pm. Serving fresh pastries and great coffee this venue is perfect for a low key weekend breakfast. If you pop in for lunch be sure to try one of their freshly prepared salads or homemade sandwiches, they are delicious!
Perfectly situated in the centre of Kemptown’s collection of antique and flea markets is the 1930s inspired Metro Deco tea rooms. Afternoon tea is made a meal for all occasions with Metro Deco opening from breakfast through to evening ‘tipsy teas’ served with cocktails and gin infusions.
Highly acclaimed, this locally-owned steakhouse restaurant serves delicious food, offers great service and is brought to you in a warm and comfortable family setting. Where steak and ribs are the stars of the show, The Old Bank offers nothing but the best and brings you a steak that has been hung for at least 28 days, with different types of cuts and with the option to share.
Purezza Brighton set out with the aim of providing a range of exciting Italian plant-based, vegan options to the UK. They have definitely succeeded and have created a destination where everyone can enjoy high-quality Italian food, cooked by top Italian chefs, in the comfort of a completely animal-free zone (and mostly gluten-free too). Winner of the BRAVO 2020 Plant Champions.
This pizza restaurant remains a family-run business five generations after the family first established a shop in Naples back in 1845. With over 150 years of experience under their belts, you can be sure that VIP know what they are doing! However as passionate as VIP Pizza Brighton are about their history they also know that they must move with the times. This is reflected in their menu which has plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available.
