The restaurants Brighton Guide to

Kemptown Village

Nick Harvey

Nick, Founder and Local Food Writer at Restaurants Brighton, has been part of Brighton's hospitality scene since 1999. Based in Hanover, he loves celebrating the city's dynamic food and drink scene, from new openings to the people behind them.

Kemptown Village, Brighton

Tucked along the eastern flank of the city, Kemptown Village is one of Brighton’s most characterful neighbourhoods, a stretch of independent charm that begins at The Vine House, in the building once known as the Old Bank, and continues along St George’s Road and beyond to The Kemptown Club.

Within that short walk sits a concentration of cafes, bars, charity shops and small independent traders that gives this part of the city its distinct, unhurried personality. It is a place locals return to again and again, and a neighbourhood that continues to draw newcomers keen to experience an authentic slice of Brighton life.

A Village by the Sea

Kemptown Village sits just a short stroll from Brighton seafront, close enough that salt air drifts up through the side streets on a summer evening. The Royal Sussex County Hospital anchors the area to the north, giving the village a genuine, lived in feel rather than the polish of the city centre.

Wander the length of St George’s Road and you find a patchwork of vintage shops, florists, bakeries and family run businesses sitting comfortably alongside newer openings, a mix that keeps the area feeling grounded even as its reputation grows.

The Deep Dive Bar

The Open Bakery

Few smells define a neighbourhood quite like fresh bread, and The Open Bakery has become something of a fixture for those living in and visiting Kemptown Village.

Expect proper sourdough, seasonal pastries and a counter that changes through the week depending on what has come out of the oven that morning. It is the kind of bakery that locals build their weekend routines around, a coffee and a pastry before a wander down toward the seafront. Highlights for team RB include their legendary Chewy Brown or if you have a sweet tooth you must try their almond and chocolate croissant.

The team take real pride in their craft, and it shows in the texture of the crust and the care taken with each bake. Sitting comfortably among the other independents along this stretch, The Open Bakery captures exactly the sort of quality and community spirit that makes Kemptown Village worth seeking out.

Pictured – a warm welcome at The Open Bakery

The Kemptown Klub

Toward the far end of the village, The Kemptown Klub brings a different energy after dark. Known for its live music, DJ sets and a crowd that spans generations, it has become a genuine hub for Brighton’s growing nightlife scene.

The venue manages to feel both intimate and lively, with a programme that changes regularly enough to keep locals coming back to see what is on. It sits comfortably within a neighbourhood that has, in recent years, become known for more than just its daytime charm, and The Kemptown Klub is very much part of that shift.

For a night out that feels distinctly Kemptown rather than city centre, this is where to head.

More to Discover Along the Way

Beyond these three, Kemptown Village is dotted with venues that reward a slow wander rather than a quick pass through.

The Vine House sits in the building formerly known as the Old Bank at the start of the village, while opposite on the corner, The Pickle is one of the newer additions to the area.

Egg and Spoon draws a steady breakfast crowd, and further along, The Kemp offers a relaxed pub setting, with Barley Mow long a dependable local for a pint, a quiz night and a chat.

Cafe Rust has carved out its own following for coffee and brunch, Pizza Face keeps things casual with proper Neapolitan style slices, and Butlers Wine rounds things out nicely for anyone after a bottle to take home or a glass to enjoy on the spot, a Brighton institution for over a decade.

Together, these venues form the backbone of a neighbourhood that rewards those willing to explore beyond the obvious.

Pictured – Bread at The Open Bakery

St George’s Church and the Irori Pop Up

One of the more distinctive features of Kemptown Village is St George’s Church, which periodically opens its doors for markets and seasonal community events. Irori has become a familiar face at these gatherings, bringing its Japanese inspired pop up to the church on a regular basis and adding yet another layer to the neighbourhood’s food and drink identity. T

hese events capture something of what makes Kemptown Village special, a community that gathers, supports its independents and keeps things feeling personal.

A Neighbourhood on the Rise

Quainter and more relaxed than much of central Brighton, Kemptown Village retains a genuine, unpolished charm, from its charity shops to its small independent traders. Yet it is also a part of the city clearly on the up, with new openings and a growing nightlife scene sitting comfortably alongside long standing local favourites.

For anyone wanting to experience a true Brighton neighbourhood, Kemptown Village offers exactly that.