Restaurant Brighton's guide to
Places to Eat in Brighton
Our top picks
Places to Eat in Brighton and Hove
Looking for the best place to eat in Brighton and Hove?
Brighton is known for its hedonistic, bohemian and creative spirit, all of which is reflected in the independent Brighton restaurants scene. From award-winning fine dining to international eats, from sensational street food to down to earth sustainably-led dining Brighton has it all.
To help you go exploring we’ve divided Brighton restaurants into Casual, Modern, Fine Dining, International and European, some fit into more than one category so we’ve tried to organise them by what they are best known for. You may also like our feature on the best restaurants in Brighton.
Listed here are just Brighton restaurants, you can find Hove restaurants here, Brighton Food pubs here and Brighton cafes here.
RECOMMENDED:
Special Offers
Brighton Coffee Shops
Best Restaurants in Brighton
Casual Places to Eat in Brighton
Fatto a Mano is renowned for its genuine Neapolitan pizzas and affordable Italian cuisine in a casual setting. Located in Hove on Church Road, Preston Circus on London Road, and North Laine on Gloucester Road, this pizzeria brings a taste of Naples to Brighton. Enjoy the laid-back vibe at their venues across the city, each offering a unique dining experience. Whether you seek wood-fired pizza ovens, south-facing alfresco areas, home delivery, or their signature marble-topped counters where you can watch talented pizzaiolos in action, Fatto a Mano has it all. For delicious and authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, Fatto a Mano is the go-to spot.
Kindling is a new place to eat in Brighton in 2024. Step into the heart of Brighton’s Lanes and discover the new and great value Kindling steakhouse, where charcoal dining meets sensory dining. Experience their signature chargrilled steaks, expertly prepared to perfection. Don’t miss their House Burger, a masterpiece of flavour featuring double beef patties, tomato & basil sauce, gem lettuce, smoked streaky bacon, and Emmental, all served in a fluffy brioche bun. At Kindling, transparency meets taste with their open kitchen concept, inviting guests to witness the art of cooking unfold. Immerse yourself in an atmosphere where every meal is a celebration of quality and passion. Open daily from midday until 10pm.
Embers is a new hotspot in Brighton’s Lanes, offering a unique dining experience with its open-fire cooking method. Located in the heart of Brighton, this Brighton restaurant specialises in wood-fired dishes that bring out deep, smoky flavours. The menu boasts a variety of expertly grilled meats, fresh seafood, and vibrant vegetables, all cooked to perfection over an open flame. The rustic yet modern ambiance, combined with the theatre of live-fire cooking, creates an inviting atmosphere. Perfect for food enthusiasts, Embers Brighton promises an unforgettable meal that tantalises the taste buds with their variety of small and sharing plates.
Apiary, an exciting all-day café and bar in Brighton, is a must-visit for food lovers. Inspired by bees, honey, and everything from the hive, this unique venue is owned by passionate beekeepers whose love for honey is evident in the decor, menu, and ambiance. Centrally located opposite Norfolk Square on the Brighton & Hove border, Apiary is the go-to spot for quality cocktails, wine, mead, and local honey. Their imaginative honey-infused food menu, available throughout the day, offers a delicious and unique dining experience.
Lost in the Lanes is an oasis tucked away in the busy shopping area. A grand place to punctuate your day, be it for morning coffee, brunch, lunch and evenings (open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night). Lost focuses on fresh ingredients sourced locally. The menu focuses on seasonal dishes that really showcase the talent of Head Chef Jes James. Pair your meal with expertly mixed Brighton cocktails or from their carefully created wine list and you could easily lose an afternoon soaking up the luxurious experience of Lost in the Lanes in the Brighton Lanes.
Brighton beachfront all-day dining for the whole family. If you’re looking for a quintessential day out in Brighton then OhSo can keep you fueled from breakfast to sundown with a menu of seaside classics. Located next to the Palace Pier and right on the beach, you’re perfectly located to punctuate your day’s activity with reasonably priced, good quality food. Or park yourself on one of the benches for a whole day of sun, drinks and food all in one place.
Discover the ultimate vegan dining experience at Bonsai Plant Kitchen, situated near Brighton Open Market on Baker Street. With a focus on South-East Asian-inspired cuisine, each dish is meticulously prepared on a Binchotan grill, ensuring unparalleled flavour and quality. Recognised as the winner of THE BRAVO for Best Vegan Food in 2024 and praised by food critic Grace Dent, Bonsai promises not only delicious food but also innovative cocktails and a vibrant atmosphere.
Has a cool alfresco area which is new in 2024 and serves a great value ramen and set menu 12-2pm from Wednesday to Saturday.
Set close to London Road and The Level, The Roundhill is an award-winning vegan pub serving lunch, dinner, and Sunday roasts. They’ve got a lot to choose from on their drinks offering, including weekly rotating beers, handcrafted seasonal cocktails, low and no-alcohol options including 0% spirits, and a sustainable wine list. The Roundhill is a community hub for catching up over a drink, date nights, family gatherings, and their open mic and quiz nights on Thursdays are always good fun.
Jump on a foodie adventure at Shelter Hall, Brighton’s vibrant seafront food hall, where seven exciting kitchens serve up bold flavours and creative menus. From Yeastie Boys Pizza Club’s New York-style slices to the mouthwatering Greek-Australian fusion of The 3 Little Pigs Souvlaki, there’s something for every palate. Indulge in Rudi’s Burgers’ deep-filled creations, savour Coqfighter’s East-meets-West fried chicken, or enjoy premium, sustainably sourced steak and fries from STAKEHAUS. Spice things up with Saltio’s Mexican street food, or dive into KOLKATI’s vibrant Kati Rolls, packed with bold Indian flavours. The lineup is rounded out with The Milk Bar, featuring indulgent desserts from Happy Endings.
Brighton Cookery School is a fun way to mix up your normal food-based get-together where you can learn professional cookery skills, socialise and feat on the results of your labours. Meet up, skill up and cook up at Brighton Cookery School with either a private group or by joining one of their regular classes. Party packages include everything you need, including drinks, for a restaurant experience from both sides of the kitchen.
Modern Places to Eat in Brighton
Annexed on to The Hilton Hotel on the seafront, The Salt Room offers stylish modern dining and spectacular sea views that attract local foodie residents as well as holidaying visitors. The grill restaurant is seafood led, but not exclusively so, with sustainable, locally sourced top-quality produce at its heart. The Salt Room offers an exceptional quality dining experience with an a la carte menu and award-winning Sunday Lunch sharing platters.
From September 2024, The Coal Shed will unveil a more elevated dining experience under Executive Chef Lee Murdoch at their new North Street location. Known as one of Brighton’s top steak restaurants, The Coal Shed continues its signature over-fire beef cooking while expanding to include a variety of meats, hearty vegetables, and vegan options. The menu is complemented by robata oven-cooked fermented breads, snacks, and small plates. Embracing its coastal location, the restaurant also offers an extensive selection of raw and flame-cooked seafood and fish. As Brighton’s largest restaurant, it will be open from 12 pm to midnight most days.
An award-winning neighbourhood restaurant in Hove, perfect for any occasion and accommodating for the entire family. Cin Cin serves authentic Italian small plates, pasta, and antipasti, paired perfectly with a selection of wines and aperitifs. Whether you’re seeking a spot for lunch, a mid-week dinner, or a place to celebrate a special occasion, the friendly team at Cin Cin will warmly welcome you.
Cyan is a fresh new look for the iconic old lady, The Grand. This all-day eatery takes its inspiration from the bounty of the sea and the Sussex countryside (the colour cyan is a mix of blue, the sea, and green, the land). Cyan offers an all-day dining menu, a two and three-course set menu, has a special kids menu and serves up roasts on Sunday. All delivered with the standard and quality you would expect from The Grand Hotel.
Opened in June 2021, Burnt Orange is the newest member of The Coal Shed and The Salt Room family of local fame. Expect a little more fun from this younger sibling, but the same exemplary quality. Seasonal small plates are creative and perfect for sharing. The cocktails are expertly mixed and the wine list well-curated. Add a seductively comfortable and relaxed setting and a carefully pitched playlist for afternoons that melt into evenings and evenings that meander into nights.
Back in the days when vegetarianism and veganism were nowhere near as popular as they are today, Terre a Terre set out to bring modern creative plant-based dining to a foodie crowd. Nearly 30 years on and despite rise in competition they’re still one of the best Brighton vegetarian restaurants and perhaps the best place to eat in Brighton for vegan food. Just reading their menu sets the taste buds afire with a sense of adventure.You can expect Innovative, vibrant and contemporary flavours, texture and ingredients paired with a stunning list of organic wines, excellent atmosphere and impeccable service. Terre a Terre continues to teach the newbies what plants can do and by God we’re grateful for the education!
Coppa Club is located in the Lanes taking up one entire side of Brighton square and the courtyard, where, during the winter its igloos provide a popular alternative dining experience. Inside there is a spacious dining area and lounge making it an ideal venue for drinks and nibbles or a full family meal. The all-day menu is extensive, giving something for everyone. Brunch is an extra feature added to weekends and bank holidays.
Fine Dining | Places to Eat in Brighton
Experience contemporary and stylish fine dining at Dilsk, Brighton. Set in Drakes Hotel with a sea-facing view of Brighton Seafront, Dilsk offers an intimate and accessible dining experience with a five-course menu at £55 and a full 10-course menu for £95. The restaurant champions sustainable practices and seasonal produce, using ingredients that are largely sourced from within Sussex. Enjoy an exceptional tasting menu, crafted cocktails, and an impressive wine list featuring handpicked producers from Sussex, Kent, and other international vineyards. With an impeccable attention to detail, Dilsk promises a gastronomic adventure that should not be rushed.
Steven Edward’s Hove restaurant Etch is the MasterChef winners first restaurant and voted Brighton’s Best Restaurant in the 2018 and 19 BRAVO awards, as well as being featured in the National Restaurant Association top 100 for the past two years. Steven’s style is unique, each plate in the tasting menu has only two primary ingredients and no spices, not even pepper are used in their preparation. Instead, cheffing skill and sensitivity are used to finesses ingredients for a dining experience that is practically flawless.
While Furna Brighton is chef-patron Dave Mothersill’s first solo venture, he is one of the best known and respected chefs in the city. He spent many years working with the Blackrock Group, running the kitchen at The Salt Room, then setting up The Coal Shed London. On his return to Brighton, he became head chef at The Gingerman. Now Dave has used his vast experience to realise his restaurant dream and created the perfect environment to showcase his uncompromisingly exquisite menus.
Duncan Ray runs a tight ship at the multi-award-winning Little Fish Market restaurant in Hove. The intimate 20 cover restaurant has a predominantly seafood based tasting menu, with a small passionate team at the Front of House and Duncan and one sous chef in the kitchen. Precision is everything here and pays off with The Little Fish Market making waves nationally as well as locally. Notably, the restaurant only does one serving a night with diners being encouraged to take their time, lingering over wine even after the last perfect morsel is devoured. A standout Brighton fish restaurant and arguably the best place to eat in Brighton this year.
There are few restaurants in the city that could claim to be more iconic than English’s of Brighton. Local seafood has been served on this site in The Lanes for over a century and the current incarnation has been in the family since the 1940s. The restaurant has attracted its fair share of glamorous guests through the years and continues to attract visitors from far and wide with its irresistible combination of style and substance. Expect classic seafood dishes and an excellent wine list.
International Places to Eat in Brighton
Situated on Bohemian St James’ Street is the original Purezza pizzeria. It’s a small welcoming Brighton restaurant serving a 100% plant-based menu. The success of this now national group and retail brand are with its secret recipe mozzarella style cheese, which is as close to the original thing as you’ll get without touching a cow. Toppings include meat alternatives to recreate Italian classics and creative concoctions of their own devising. Add superb plant-based desserts and cocktails for all tastes and it’s easy to see how this unassuming restaurant that dreamed big made that dream a reality. One of the best places to eat in Brighton for Brighton pizza and vegan food.
Moshimo Brighton is a stylish sushi restaurant with an iconic Shoji style building in the Brighton Lanes. They serve authentically prepared sushi using only fish that are sustainable. Moshimo’s commitment to sustainable fishing led to their incredibly successful Fish Love campaign and Brighton’s Vegan Challenge. The menu is suitable for all dietary types, with excellent vegan sushi options.
The fourth restaurant from the acclaimed restaurateur Razak Helalat and team, Tutto Brighton boasts an impressive lineage. Set in a reclaimed 1930s bank building on Marlborough Place which faces the recently revamped Victoria Gardens – it’s an impressive setting to match the restaurant’s grandeur. Tutto champions Italian dining culture by providing a premium experience of a la carte Italian cuisine. The team delivers Italian wines and cocktails and proudly upholds open-armed hospitality. The overall atmosphere gently ripples with a social buzz and it’s a wonderful space to enjoy any time of day or night. Tutto also has an intimate courtyard to the rear and a large street terrace if you prefer to dine al fresco.
Wabi Sabi in Hove is a captivating culinary destination that brings the art of Japanese cuisine to this part of the city. This charming restaurant offers an intimate and welcoming atmosphere, ideal for immersing yourself in the flavours of Japan. The menu showcases a range of traditional and contemporary dishes, including exquisite sushi, sashimi, and flavourful ramen bowls. With an emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients, every bite at Wabi Sabi is a delightful journey of taste and texture.
Visit Dishoom Permit Room any time, indulging in breakfast Naan Rolls, work lunches, and evenings alive with a DJ’s soundtrack. Friendly faces welcome you, catering to all, whether you seek a warm post-shopping drink, cocktails with friends, or a family celebration. The diverse menu of Indian small plates offers options for every palate, allowing you to choose as much or as little as you like. The kitchen is open until 10.30pm, satisfying late-night cravings.
Tinto Taperia in the North Laine is a contemporary restaurant serving traditional Spanish cuisine. Next door to the Theatre Royal and with views of the Pavillion Dome, it’s well situated for pre and post theatre dining, as well as an attractive setting for family get-togethers or romantic rendezvous. You can expect authentic Spanish tapas, paella made to order and weekly specials that champion seasonal ingredients. The drinks list has an impressive Spanish offering, with many of the wines, liquors and gins hailing from the same origin. If you’re after pre or post dining drinks, you can visit their sister venue Bar Valentino, which is upstairs from the restaurant.
Lavash Brighton, on North Street, serves authentic, quality Middle Eastern street food. They’re perfectly placed for your visits to central Brighton, positioned squarely between pretty much every major destination. They’re open from 11am daily for a delicious Redroaster coffee and maybe a slice of baklava before hitting the Lanes and North Lane. Refuel for lunch with a falafel bowl that will leave you satisfied but not sleepy. In the evenings the lights dim and the upstairs restaurant becomes a secret romantic gem in the city centre, ready for your night to lead you anywhere.
You can enjoy delicious, freshly prepared, pan-Asian cuisine at Nanima in Kemptown Village. The intimate cafe/restaurant is family-run and bursting with personable charm – you’ll most likely find the owner Lonnie at the helm, with advice on the daily spread of tasty food. The menu at Nanima changes daily, with a fantastic selection of choices for both meat and plant-based, which typically includes a meat or veggie main, noodles or rice and then a mix and match of delicious sides. You’ll also be able to enjoy a well-considered selection of alcoholic beverages, homemade teas and other delicious homemade and impressive sustainable treats.
The Coconut Island, new to Brighton, brings a taste of Sri Lanka to the city with its vibrant dishes and laid-back island vibes. Located on the Brighton and Hove border, this exciting new spot offers a menu packed with Sri Lankan favourites like fragrant coconut curries, crispy hoppers, and spiced sambols. Fresh, wholesome ingredients and aromatic spices create bold, nourishing flavours, with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Whether you’re sharing plates with friends or sipping tropical cocktails, The Coconut Island is your new go-to for a relaxed, flavourful dining experience.
European Places to Eat in Brighton
Al Duomo is Brighton’s longest-running Italian restaurant, having first introduced the city to wood-fired pizzas back in 1979. They still wood-fire their sourdough pizzas, as well as make all their pasta and gelato in-house for delicious, authentic Italian cuisine. There’s an extensive children’s menu and lots of room, including an outdoor terrace next to the Royal Pavilion gardens, making this an ideal spot for dining Italian style, alfresco and con la famiglia.
An institution in Brighton and a key contributor to the city, Donatello’s and it’s sister restaurants have been family run since Pietro Addis opened Pinocchio in 1987. Donatello’s is a 400 seater restaurant that serves affordable freshly made Italian food. Everything is freshly made on site from pizza dough to pasta and sauces for affordable quality and freshness you can’t beat.
Located at the northern most head of the North Laine, Mange Tout is a relaxed, friendly modern French Bistro with street-side seating and large windows, perfect for observing the busy Laine life. Open for brunch, lunch light bites and evening meals at the latter half of the week, Mange Tout is all about ingredient led, seasonal cooking and low intervention wines. They’re serious about sustainability and quality, but very relaxed about everything else!
Nostos in Hove is a modern Greek restaurant (forget the Taverna clichés), serving a mix of traditional and contemporary Greek cuisine. Plates are vibrant with Mediterranean vegetables, lots of seafood, skewers and slow cooked meats as well as plenty of vegan options. Close your eyes and you could almost be on the Aegean. Nostos is open for lunch and dinner throughout the week and for breakfast Friday to Sunday.
Novellino in Hove is a stylish and modern cafe-restaurant offering a delightful mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, Jewish staples, and Sephardic-inspired dishes, alongside bistro classics. As the only Kosher restaurant south of London, Novellino is a fantastic addition to the local Hove hospitality scene, catering to the Jewish community and Kosher lifestyle followers. Everyone is invited to visit and ‘connect through food’ at this charming Hove establishment.
Looking for a Mediterranean culinary escape in Brighton? Look no further than Vios Cafe! This charming spot offers a delightful breakfast and lunch experience with mouthwatering options like their loaded sourdough and refreshing yoghurt bowls. The aroma of great coffee fills the air as you relax on their outside terrace, taking in the world around you. Don’t miss out on their homemade meze, perfectly paired with a glass of Greek wine. Vios Cafe is the perfect spot to indulge in Mediterranean flavours while enjoying the lively atmosphere.
Market Restaurant on the border lands of Brighton and Hove serves Spanish inspired small plates in a lively congenial setting. The market theme runs throughout with a menu divided into butcher, fishmonger, baker and greengrocer from which you can build a sharing menu. Weekly offers such as Tapas Tuesdays and Oyster and Cava Thursdays, means every day can be a Market day.
This intimate French bistro in The Lanes seems capable of adapting to whatever your occasion; from romantic dinner for two to a family meal out or friends get together. The menu is unmistakably French but ingredients are sources largely locally for freshness and seasonality. Two major diversions from the traditional French bistro also take place in the Petit Pois menu, a thoughtful range of vegan options (not just “vegan the way French fries are vegan”) and a Sunday lunch menu.
