Restaurant Brighton's guide to
Sussex Restaurants
Our top picks
The best restaurants in Sussex
We have put together a list of magnificent restaurants in Sussex – from stunning settings to Michelin starred. Here are our chosen Sussex favourite restaurants. Use this list if you are looking for a lovely Sussex pub instead of restaurant.
Due to COVID-19, business operations and service may be disrupted, please consult individual websites for updates.
Restaurant Interlude earned a Michelin star within the first year of opening quickly establishing itself as one of the premium fine-dining Sussex restaurants. The restaurant is located in the historic mansion house, set within the picturesque Leonardslee gardens and estate from whence Chef Jean Delport and his team source much of the menu. Restaurant Interlude serves two tasting menus, The Garden Experience and The Estate Experience, with 14 to 19 courses that change through the seasons. Guests are advised to set aside three to four hours in which to immerse themselves in the epicurean journey. You can watch our interview with Jean Delport here.
Rathfinny Wine estate was established in 2010 by entrepreneurial couple Sarah and Mark Driver with the express intention of producing world-class sparkling wine. Reopening after the enforced Coronavirus lockdown The Tasting Rooms now offers two delightful options from their Michelin Plate awarded kitchen. A luxury three course Vineyard Estate Picnic Hamper is available to be enjoyed in the 200 acre grounds. The Tasting Rooms now serves as the “Seafood and Wine Kitchen” with a menu of locally caught seafood available to eat al fresco on the restaurant deck or picnic style in the grounds. Both are available Wednesday to Sunday 11.45 am – 6 pm and both can of course be enjoyed with their award winning sparkling wines.
Morleys Bistro is a comfortable, relaxed and inclusive restaurant that is nestled in the heart of the historic village of Hurstpierpoint. They’re dedicated to providing their costumers with the best in local and sustainably sourced ingredients. Their menu is sophisticated and offers a diverse array of dishes, from lavish brunches to sumptuous seafood platters. They even boast a spacious sun-trap of a garden where you can sip on cocktails into the night.
The Vineyard Kitchen at Mannings Heath is open for guest diners from breakfast to late lunch every day. Terrace views over the estate and an open fire make this a perennial place to visit for some quality food and wine direct from their own vineyard. The menu includes a good mix of lighter and larger meals, as well as a kid’s menu of trusted favourites. All food is made fresh and with quality ingredients. Afternoon teas are also available as well as wine tasting and private dining.
Set inside the historic Lewesian landmark, The Needlemakers, Kokedama brings to Lewes a culinary experience like no other in the town. Championing an exclusively vegan menu of exquisite plant-based ingredients, that are prepared in the open kitchen. The wine list at Kokedama showcases some of the best natural wines from around the UK and a bespoke cocktail list that can be enjoyed with sharing plates. Guests should set aside a few hours and fully immerse themselves in the Kokedama experience – for this destination restaurant’s offering should not be rushed.
Situated within the stunning South Lodge Hotel, The Pass is a modern restaurant that focusses on providing diners with a culinary experience to remember. The Pass aims to take diners through an exploration of food, flavours and textures through a variety of tasting menus. The Pass was one of the first restaurants in the area to provide diners with an immersive open kitchen and chef’s table experience. Previous Chefs of note to have led The Pass include Matt Gillan, where he achieved a Michelin Star, then Ian Swainson. The mantle has since passed to Tom Kemble whose ingredient and seasonal led menu wows patrons old and new who have come to know The Pass as one not to miss.
In the historic village of Alfriston you will find Wingrove House. This gorgeous 19th Century hotel and restaurant offers a relaxed sense of luxury, with its informal restaurant and stylish terrace and veranda. The spacious restaurant is bright and airy giving views over the terrace and village church on the Tye. Head chef Mathew Comben serves modern British fare with a focus on seasonality and sources from local Sussex producers wherever possible. Offering Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner there are plenty of ways to enjoy Wingrove House. It is the perfect spot for a delicious refuel whist enjoying the beautiful village of Alfriston and the surrounding Sussex countryside.
This fine Elizabethan manor house has been transformed into a luxury hotel and spa with a fabulous fine dining restaurant. The beautiful dining room is awash with the style and elegance that you would expect from this historic building, and offers a unique setting for diners. Offering a full service from breakfast through to evening meals this is a restaurant for all occasions. The evening menu offers diners a taste of the best Sussex has to offer with a la carte and tasting menu options. Ockenden Manor is a destination venue that you can spend a whole day, and night enjoying.
The Glass House Restaurant is located within the beautiful Wickwoods Country Club, Hotel and Spa. The first class experience begins as you walk through the door the with stunning interiors of the modern orangery filled with natural light. Open for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner there is something for everyone. The restaurant currently holds an AA Rosette. Sunday Lunch served 12-6pm, makes for a stylish out of town take on the classic family get together.
This is one of Sussex’s two Michelin Star restaurants. Horsham’s Restaurant Tristan is housed within a 16th Century building in the historic town. The restaurant prides themselves on their seasonal menus that make the most of the wonderful produce available, creating simple yet original dishes and flavour combinations. With a la carte and tasting menu options available, restaurant Tristan is a modern and innovative dining experience that is refreshingly relaxed.
Another one of sussex’s Michelin star venues is Gravetye Manor, a beautiful country hotel set in 35 acres of stunning gardens. It is these gardens that influence the cookery on offer, with head chef George Blogg taking full advantage of the kitchen garden and produce from the estate. There are many dining options from the full seven-course tasting menu through to relaxed garden dining and superb afternoon tea. There is always a sense of occasion when dining at Gravetye Manor, so be prepared for something exceptional.
Jeremy’s restaurant is set within the beautiful grounds of Borde Hill on the outskirts of Haywards Heath. Head chef, Jeremy Ashpool, has set about creating wonderful dishes that are creative and modern. The light and airy dining room is a fabulous space to dine in, but Jeremy’s comes into its own with the terrace overlooking their walled Victorian garden. Jeremy has been long established on the Sussex food scene with consistent local and national recognition marking his excellence.
This former coaching inn for travellers between London and Hastings has been transformed into a modern British. Within a stone’s throw from the fabulous Bodiam castle, The Curlew has twice been named Sussex dining experience of the year. Despite the historic backdrop to the restaurant there is a distinctly modern feel to it. From the quirky décor to the organic and biodynamic wine list, The Curlew leads the way in contemporary culinary trends. The Curlew is a place where formal food meets informal dining, where the city and country brush shoulders, where style meets stile.
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