Restaurant Brighton's guide to
Wine bars in Brighton
Our top picks
Wine Bar Brighton Guide
Where is the best wine bar in Brighton?
Ever gone to a pub, asked for the wine list and felt your heart sink a little? Perhaps this sounds a little dramatic, but in our opinion, there are some venues in Brighton and Hove that just get wine, and we want to shout about it!
Hurrah for a beautiful wine glass, a red served at just the right temperature, and staff who not only know their Pinotage from their Syrah but who love to share that knowledge and recommend something that could well knock your socks off. Here’s a round-up of our favourite wine bars and venues serving great grapes in Brighton… salute!
You may also like our guide to Sussex vineyards which includes where to find Sussex wines, wine tasting tours and a good round-up of wine gifts.
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Brighton Wine Shops
Wine Bar Brighton Recommendations
Hotel Du Vin, meaning “Hotel of Wine,” is more than a well-stocked cellar. Housed in a Gothic building near Brighton’s seafront, it was a wine merchant’s store in the turn of last century. With 49 rooms named after wine producers and wine themes running through the elegant decor, it’s the city’s most authentic wine destination. The extensive list of over 600 bottles, including local English sparkling, is served to you by a passionate and unpretentious team. They make choosing wine enjoyable, matching it to food, mood, and budget. For wine connoisseurs, the Wine Locker service lets you buy and store exclusive vintages at near cost price until your next visit. A true haven for wine lovers!
Standing proudly at the corner of Jubilee Street and North Road, right in the heart of Brighton’s cultural quarter, is Helm Gallery. This distinguished gallery features a world-class art collection and a hybrid bar offering a selection of renowned brands. The bar stocks the world’s first champagne house, founded in 1729, and Roebuck Sparkling Wine, established in 2013 by two friends passionate about crafting exceptional vintage Sussex sparkling wines. The compact wine list, curated by Enotria, is designed to please every palate, and there’s also an excellent cocktail menu. Open six days a week, Helm Gallery invites you to come in for a drink and stay for the art (or vice versa).
Apiary on Norfolk Square is a relatively new addition to Brighton known for its extensive wine list, a unique selection of mead drinks, and a fantastic range of cocktails. Complementing their impressive drink offerings is a delectable small plates menu infused with honey, adding a touch of sweetness to every bite. This delightful combination of innovative beverages and flavourful dishes makes Apiary a must-visit spot. Top tip: try their Taste of Honey sharing menu which comes with an incredible wine pairing option.
For wine lovers and the wine curious, Curio Café Bar is a treat. Owner Paul runs Curio Wine, a champion of kegged wine in the UK, so bringing these wines on tap into the cafe was a natural step. Thoughtfully sourced, Curio have a range on tap from whites, orange, pink and red that can be bought by the glass or carafe. Bottles and sparkling are available too, but by tap it gives the drinker a great chance to taste something that may not be their regular tipple. With a quarterly rotation to introduce new wines, Paul hosts laid-back tastings on the first Thursday of each month, where you can dive into what’s on tap or simply enjoy a taste. You can even fill a reusable container with your favourite wine to take home anytime.
Situated at the top of the North Laine, Mange Tout is a small French bistro in Brighton with big windows and an open, social feel. The menu is ingredient-led and the same is very much true of the wine list, which is organic and low intervention. Focussing on the quality of the grape and traditional techniques rather than the yield. Mange Tout is the casual, social sort of space where you will finish off your day in the North Laine, with wine, nibbles and people watching.
Burnt Orange mixes excellent quality food and drink with seamless service and stylish design. It’s a hangout for grownups serving seasonal small plates cooked on fire. You can book a late night table exclusively for drinks form Thursday – Saturday although booking for that is highly recommended. The rest of the week, late night walk-ins for drinks only is fine. Like everything else at Burnt Orange the wine list is created with attention to detail and quality. In the summer, a seat in the jasmine strewn courtyard with a crisp cool bottle of white is bliss. Voted the best restaurant in Brighton in the 2022 Brighton Restaurant Awards.
Tutto has brought an impressive offering to Brighton’s wine scene and the elegant restaurant offers the perfect chic backdrop for enjoying a tipple or two with friends. Not only is the hand-picked selection of Italian wines extensive, its regional breakdown is informative, so if you’re not an expert lover of wine, but more of an enthusiastic wine drinker, you’ll have the guidance you need to pick the perfect bottle for pairing and sharing. Food at Tutto comes as simply prepared small plates, which lend themselves exquisitely well to grazing or feasting on alongside a well-paired bottle of vino.
Whether you’re seeking a cosy spot for catching up over a drink and some Japanese small plates or looking for the perfect destination for those much-anticipated Friday night after-work drinks, Blossoms Brighton has you covered. Indulge in their fantastic wine and sake list, featuring carefully curated selections from around the world. From crisp whites to robust reds, their wine offerings complement their Japanese-inspired dishes perfectly. For sake enthusiasts, they also provide a sake flight, allowing you to sample a variety of flavours and send your taste buds on an adventure.
Vios Cafe goes beyond being just a cafe by taking their wine selection seriously. Hand-picked Greek wines beautifully complement their freshly made meze. Indulge in specialty spirits like ouzo or tsipouro, to be sipped and savoured. All their wines and spirits are available for purchase by the bottle, allowing you to extend your Vios experience at home or gift it to someone special. Discover a taste of Greece with Vios Cafe’s curated selection of wine and spirits.
Dishoom Permit Room‘s wine list prioritises the environment. Choose from a 175ml glass or 750ml carafe of organic, natural, or minimally intervened wines. Pair a glass with their fantastic Indian small plates for a perfect afternoon escape or a celebratory moment with friends. On Thursdays, a live DJ sets the perfect soundtrack for your evening at Dishoom Permit Room.
The team at Restaurants Brighton recommends the Coppa Club if you are in the market for a relaxing glass of expertly chosen wine in comfort. Ample seating areas make this the perfect place for a quiet catch up with friends, an evening work session made better by a glass of Italian Sauvignon Blanc or a work meeting over a bottle of New Zeland Pinot Noir. Their all-season Brighton igloos are the perfect accessory to wine, friends and good-times.
Wine Bars in Hove
Fourth and Church is a Hove restaurant, wine bar and off-license. You’re welcome to stop by at the bar and sample your way through some carefully selected low-yield and non-certified organic wines with a few carefully prepared bar snacks. Stay for a meal and some expertly paired wine choices. Or simply stop by for advice on what bottle will match your mood. Wine tastings and educational evenings are a frequent part of the Fourth and Church calendar and are always worth keeping an eye on.
The Pourhouse is a stylish wine bar and late lounge in Hove, offering expertly curated wines and inventive Asian fusion small plates. With award-winning sommelier Alex Preston on hand, you’ll find the perfect wine to match your taste – or let him pair each dish to elevate your experience. Enjoy tasting menus, and live music on select nights. Whether you’re after a leisurely afternoon in their terrace with wine or an evening of great food and atmosphere, The Pourhouse delivers.
Wild Flor’s wine list mirrors its menu in quality and value. They have selected the finest examples from the most renowned regions so you can enjoy an extensive section of wine from around the world. Among the mix, you’ll find some more unusual wines, but allow the expert team of Wild Flor to guide you on a journey of discovery and you won’t be disappointed. The accompanying menu is simple but expertly prepared. This Hove restaurant is really about a leisurely experience of fine things.
Cases Club on Western Road, Hove, is an exceedingly well-stocked wine bar and bottle shop from the locally famed L’Atelier du Vin. Here you’ll find a wine selection that’s possibly the largest in the city, covering every price point, occasion and taste. The bottle-lined walls aren’t just for display, there’s genuinely a lot of choice here, and experts are on hand to guide you to your perfect bottle. Make a meal of your visit by sampling some of the artisan British made cheese and charcuterie available in the deli half of the shop from Curds and Whey.
Tapestry is Hove’s neighbourhood bar, extending a warm welcome to local residents and visitors alike. The progressive wine list at Tapestry starts with lighter styles and progresses to more full-bodied wines, making it easier to decide if you’re unsure what to order. You’ll find wines from around the world, including the Mediterranean, South America, and, of course, English Sparkling. If you’re seeking a sophisticated bar with inviting interiors and a terrace, Tapestry is the perfect choice.
The impressive multi-venue Rockwater is enviably located on Hove’s stunning seafront. There is no shortage of options to choose from here, and all of them serve an impressive selection of quality wines. In The Lodge, you’ll find a comfortable, cafe-style atmosphere, which is perfect for enjoying wines with friends. The Bar and Kitchen, Rockwater’s nod to a pub, features cosy and stylish interiors. We’re sure you and your friends will feel at home here with a bottle of red. And finally, right up at the top you’ll find The Roof Terrace restaurant, a beautiful and chic space with its epic sea facing terrace that lends itself impeccably to a glass of fizz while you watch the sunset.
Cin Cin offers an excellent wine list to complement your authentic Italian dining experience at the award-winning Hove restaurant. Take a seat at one of the stools around the counter in the main dining room and don’t hesitate to ask one of the Cin Cin staff for wine recommendations or pairings with your food – they’ll be more than happy to assist. Keep an eye out for their wine tasting evenings at the restaurant along with their guided wine tasting events, hosted by Cin Cin founder David Toscano, with tasting notes and artisan Italian nibbles – these can be hosted at your offices or another venue of your choice. £25pp with a minimum of 15 guests.
Paris Wine Bar in Hove, is what its name suggests. The extensive wine menu features plenty of European wines with English and New World wines also making an appearance. The menu is accessible, being divided into tasting notes, so you can explore grapes you don’t know based on your preferences. Many are available by the glass and the price range will suit all budgets. Wine tasting events, hosted by a professional sommelier, are available for groups of 5-30 and include tapas and nibbles.
Market is a popular and lively Spanish restaurant on Western Road. The open kitchen provides an element of theatre and is perfect for an informal spot of socialising, with or without some excellent sharing plates. The wine list is almost entirely Iberian with a few Sussex sparkling wines thrown in. Cava, which is made using the same method as Champagne, predominates over prosecco and they’ve got a bit of a thing about sherry.
Further afield
Poco in Alfriston is a haven for wine lovers, offering some of the most exclusive bottles you’ll find. Sit back and enjoy their Italian-inspired sharing plates while exploring a curated selection of exceptional wines, many sourced globally by Jamie, the “wine hunter.” Located in a historic 700-year-old building, Poco also hosts after-hours wine talks in their atmospheric cellar, where Jamie shares rare finds unavailable in the UK. With exclusive subscription boxes and bottles available to take home, this Sussex restaurant offers a truly unique wine experience in the heart of Sussex.
The wine list at Terra Restaurant proudly features the finest local Sussex wines, of which 25% make up the menu, alongside international favourites. Each wine is available by the glass, allowing you to sample to your heart’s content. Local wines are prominently featured at the top of each section for easy browsing. Choose from crisp whites, refreshing rosés, bold reds, and a fantastic selection of English and wines from around the globe. Additionally, enjoy Champagne, orange wine, and dessert wine to complete your dining experience.
Le Flamant in charming Lindfield is a true destination for wine lovers. Its carefully curated list, crafted by Brighton’s Butler’s Wine Cellar, offers a fabulous international selection, most available by the glass. Contemporary French-inspired small plates provide perfect pairings for every pour. Whether discovering something new or savouring a favourite bottle, the knowledgeable team and warm atmosphere make Le Flamant the ideal spot for your next night out.
There’s a host on offer at the Rathfinny Wine Estate. Dine at their Michelin starred Tasting Rooms or enjoy the rustic charms of a night’s stay at The Flint Barns. Take a guided or self-guided tour or the beautiful Cradle Valley vineyard. Or pop in for an impromptu wine tasting at the Cellar Door wine shop. A summer evening sipping Sussex sparkling in the grounds or on the Sussex restaurant balcony with its spectacular views is the stuff dreams are made of.
Experience the charm of Leonardslee Wine Estate with a tour of the vineyard, home to 70,000 vines producing exquisite English Sparkling wines. Enjoy a tasting session of their newly launched sparkling wines, including Leonardslee Blanc de Blancs 2020, Leonardslee Brut Reserve 2021, and Leonardslee Brut Rosé 2021. Numerous tastings and experiences are available, including guided vineyard tours, tutored wine tastings, and Sabrage demonstrations (opening sparkling wine with a sabre, a method favoured by Napoleon)
