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.
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Kemptown restaurants | Our top picks
Dilsk is a modern British restaurant in Kemptown, Brighton, set in the intimate basement of Drakes Hotel. It offers a refined tasting menu (five or ten courses) with wine pairings or exceptional non-alcoholic options. Focused on sustainability and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, Dilsk combines culinary innovation with ethical dining. Expect a high-end experience with elegant service, creative cooking, and wines from Sussex, Kent, and beyond.
Tucked away in the heart of Kemptown, The Gothic Crab Brighton is a seafood spot like no other. From dramatic seafood boils to lobster burgers and creamy crab linguine, it brings big flavour to this vibrant neighbourhood. The gothic-chic interiors, fun playlist and friendly staff create a laid-back vibe perfect for dinner, lunch or date night. It’s a unique addition to Kemptown’s buzzing food scene – a little bold, a little different, and totally delicious.
The Bell Tower is an exciting addition to Kemptown’s lively pub scene, located on Arundel Road. Combining modern style with traditional charm, it offers a welcoming space for everything from casual drinks to leisurely meals. The drinks menu highlights local craft beers and ales, including options from Harvey’s, along with a well-curated wine list and creative cocktails. With a spacious beer garden and a calendar of live music and DJ nights, it’s a vibrant destination in Kemptown.
Kemptown is the Bohemian heart of Brighton, itself a rather non-conformist city. So it’s no surprise that this should be the birthplace of the UK’s first entirely vegan pizzeria. Here you’ll find authentic toppings on real-deal sourdough pizzas. Replicating classics such as margaritas and marinara meatballs but 100% plant-based. Pizzas at Purezza are so good they’ve picked up awards in world championships and locally in the BRAVOs. Purezza has gone on to become a national dining group with restaurants in major UK cities (and Hove 😱), and it all started here in quirky Kemptown.
Nanima Asian cafe and kitchen is nestled on a corner in Kemptown Village. Charming and intimate the venue is perfect for providing a friendly boost to your day. They serve pan-Asian cuisine, which changes daily and is made fresh. Expect home-cooked meals that instil warmth and good feeling. Deeply sustainable in its ethos, Nanima works to a minimal waste policy, they are entirely plastic-free and sell reusable vessels for takeaway purposes. There are also brunch options available on Saturdays, sandwiches for midday grab-and-go meals and a good selection of sweet treats, which they’d recommend pairing with their famous Vietnamese coffee.
Hidden away in the heart of Kemptown Village is a door – blink and you miss it – behind which lies the wonderfully unique world of The Kemptown Klub. A LGBTQ+ private members venue for over-25s, Kemptown Klub is part cocktail lounge, part neighbourhood bar, part night club which welcomes everyone. The bar serves hand-mixed cocktails plus a selection of wines, continental beers and ciders. There are plenty of fun events including quiz nights and singalongs. Downstairs offers a great spot for a private party. Owners Peter and Rachel offer a personal touch and new members are welcome at no charge.
Located on St. James’ Street, Social Board Brighton is renowned for its top-notch sandwiches crafted with the freshest local ingredients by skilled chefs. Their irresistible sandwiches keep customers coming back for more. Whether dining in, grabbing on the go, or opting for delivery, they cater to your needs anywhere in Brighton. From signature sandwiches and brilliant baps to full breakfasts and tasty sides, Social Board in Kemptown is the go-to spot for satisfying your brunch and lunch cravings.
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
Busby and Wilds
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
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.
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.
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.
Proud Cabaret in Kemptown, Brighton, is a glamorous 1920s-inspired venue known for its dazzling burlesque, cabaret, and circus events and performances. Offering an immersive experience with top-tier entertainment, it also serves a three-course dinner alongside cocktails and fine wines. After the show, the venue transforms into a lively party spot with DJs and dancing. Open Thursday to Saturday, Proud Cabaret has been a staple of Brighton’s nightlife for over a decade, making it a must-visit for a night of vintage-style decadence and fun.
