Though most known as a destination spot for weekends by the sea and the boldness of the local seagulls, Brighton & Hove is also packed with some of the best spots to eat in the area. From Chinese, Thai, Italian, and Turkish, and with every restaurant offering something different, the streets of Brighton buzz with excitement as guests enter their favourite restaurants or a spot completely new to them.
Brighton Offers An Array Of Restaurants
Though this article sets out to be a definitive list of the best of Brighton, the area is constantly in flux with the breadth of cuisine offered continuing to grow so by the time this list is published, there will no doubt be more that could be included.
1. Market Tapas
Located on Western Road in Hove, Market was established in 2015 and has been going strong ever since. With its warm and relaxed atmosphere, Market is described by owner Neil Mannifield as “an expression of this love affair for all things Iberian”. Selling some of the finest imported cheeses cures meat and wines, Market utilises Iberian tradition with contemporary culture and style, there is modernism that lies in each meal which adds to its charm, complete with knowledgeable and helpful staff making it one of the best places to visit in the city.
Address: 42 Western Rd, Brighton and Hove, BN3 1JD
2. Oowee
For Vegans, Vegetarians, and anyone with allergens or intolerances, ordering fast food can be a tricky, if not tiring experience. Fret no more, Oowee thought about you when they first began. A UK chain, this restaurant began to revolutionise fast food. Serving delicious burgers, flavour-packed loaded fries, and all the mac and cheese your heart desires, Oowee has proven that serving Vegan and Vegetarian dishes doesn’t have to break the bank and, in all honesty, tastes better than the meat alternatives.
Address: 23 Market St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1HH
3. ARTBOX Cafe
Love all things Japanese pop culture? Obsessed with cute stationery? Artbox Cafe provides visitors with everything their Kawai hearts could desire. The U.K.’s first character-themed café provides a number of themes for visitors to enjoy. Tailoring the food served to each theme, the attention to detail is unparalleled and the staff embraces each theme to its fullest. Past themes include Gudetama and Friends, currently Artbox Café is in the world of Hello Kitty. Make a reservation and dig into a Hello Kitty Waffle.
Address: 5-6 East St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1HP
4. Etch
Etch’s mission is to celebrate local and British produce. Created by MasterChef: The Professionals winner Steven Edwards, his flagship restaurant does this by creating tasting menus that change weekly and include ingredients when they’re in peak season. Housed in a former bank, Etch’s interior décor utilises the structure’s ornate high ceilings to bring in ample amounts of natural light, creating a fresh and welcoming atmosphere. Currently providing tasting menus for August and up to November, you won’t be disappointed with what’s on offer, with each meal tasting as great as the next.
Address: 214-216 Church Rd, Brighton and Hove, BN3 2DJ
5. No Catch
When visiting the seaside, fish & chips are a must. However, No Catch provides a vegan twist to this English classic by providing visitors with a meat-free alternative that doesn’t cost the earth. Serving haddock, cod, scampi, and all your other fish bar classics, No Catch’s alternatives are protein-high, non-GMO soy substitutes that will leave you wanting more. Situated on King’s Road, Brighton, the restaurant was set up in 2021 after the success of their food truck; ‘Off the Hook’. Since then No Catch has gone from strength to strength showing the world that you don’t need animal products in order to have incredible food and they’re right.
Address: 127a Kings Rd, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2FA
6. Pompoko
If you love Japanese food, you’ll love Pompoko. Not to be confused with the Studio Ghibli film of the same name, Pompoko serves generous portions at an affordable price, it’ll be hard to get out of your seat when the meal is done. Located on Church Street, this small restaurant oozes character that is a fusion of the regency architecture it sits in with Japanese culture. Serving dishes like Chille Ebi Don and starters like the Tempura Prawns, you’ll be sure to return.
Address: 110 Church St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1UD
7. The Regency
If you’re new to Brighton, the first place you have to visit is The Regency Restaurant. One of the finest restaurants in the city, Regency offers visitors the right way to have fish and chips, with high-quality ingredients and a calm, jovial atmosphere it’s definitely somewhere you should book first. Having received rave reviews in The Observer, the Evening Standard, and Rick Stein who stated “It’s a really good all-things-to-everybody restaurant” in his book Rick Stein’s Seafood Lover’s Guide, the simple fact is you have to go.
Address: 131 Kings Rd, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2HH
8. Pesca Trattoria
Situated in the heart of Hove this stylish, independent Italian restaurant boasts delicious handmade pasta and sumptuous cocktails. Created by the team behind Mele e Pere and Gotto Trattoria in London, Pesca Trattoria was borne from a need to recreate the beauty of Trattorias in northern Italy but this time, by the sea! This mission is tangible when you enter, with a range of delicious authentic Italian dishes to choose from, not a single detail is missed in this spot. Guests can even enjoy a free homemade limoncello at the end of their meal, just remember it’s not a shot.
Address: 60 Church Rd, Brighton and Hove, BN3 2FP
9. Giggling Squid
A chain created by husband and wife co-founders, Giggling Squid was created out of a determination to bring authentic Thai food to the U.K. With multiple locations throughout the country, their bold menu offers a variety of delectable dishes bursting with personality and flavour. From mouth-watering curries to fresh spring rolls it’s hard to make a decision on what to eat but that just means you have to go back!
Address: 11 Market St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1HH
10. Petit Pois
For some of the best authentic French food, Petit Pois is the place to go. Located in the Lanes, this restaurant’s menu is filled with French classics with a modern twist with dishes such as mains like the Charcuterie or Grilled Spiced Aubergine with Ratatouille. As you might expect from an authentic French restaurant Petit Pois’ wine list is one of the best with their wines sourced from the regions of Burgandy, Alsace, Languedoc, and Bordeaux.
Address: 70 Ship St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1AE
11. Wai Kika Moo Kau
Situated in the heart of the Lanes, Wai Kika Moo Kau is not to be skipped as you navigate the waves of shoppers that fill the petit streets of the Lanes. This café has been providing Brighton with some of the best vegan and vegetarian breakfasts and brunches for over 30 years. Guaranteed to be served without fuss, tuck into their signature brunch dishes such as the Grilled Haloumi Bagel, and the Vegan Pancake Stack, or grab a table at lunchtime and order the Bad Boy Burrito.
Address: 11A Kensington Gardens, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4AL
12. Wild Flor
An award-winning restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide, Good Food Guide, and Timeout’s Best Restaurants in Brighton & Hove, Wild Flor was founded by James & Faye Thomson and Rob Maynard after building their careers in the catering industry. Located on Church Road, this spot serves a sample menu that is full of some of the best meals to have in Brighton, all made from vegetables grown on the chef’s own allotment. Stand dishes are the Sussex Lamb and rosemary skewer and the Summer vegetable salad.
Address: 42 Church Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2FN
13. Gars
Located in the Lanes, Gars has been serving some of the finest authentic Chinese cuisine in Brighton since 1983. With its relaxed, calm ambiance, this restaurant provides one of the best dining experiences in the area, and by combining traditional and contemporary elements and influences Gars has created a unique distinctive brand. Serving some of the best Dim Sum, Hot Pots, and Deep Fried dishes in the city. Gars is a stand-out restaurant and one that should not be missed.
Address: 19 Prince Albert St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1HF
14. Bincho Yakitori
Bincho Yakitori provides Brighton with an authentic Izakaya experience. A combination of the words “i” meaning to stay and “sakaya” which means sake shop, an Izakaya is basically a Japanese tavern. Utilising the less is more approach with both their interior design and plates, Bincho Yakitori believes in simplicity and balance. The result of this is unembellished meals that are bursting with flavour that guests can enjoy in a quiet and calm atmosphere.
Address: 63 Preston St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2HE
15. Burnt Orange
The 2022 Winner of Brighton’s Best Restaurant for the second time in a row, Burnt Orange can be found on Middle Street in Brighton. Taking inspiration from the flavours of the Mediterranean basin, this restaurant serves wood-fired dishes of the tastiest kind, from Apricot Tandoori Cauliflower to Slow Braised Octopus. The warm, cosy atmosphere gives diners more than enough reasons to stay, you’ll find it hard to fully pick a meal without being tempted to steal from your partner’s plate.
Address: 59 Middle St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1AL
16. Kindling
Centring its theme on the elements of Land, Sea, and Fire, the restaurant Kindling fulfils its promise to entice, surprise, and stimulate guests. Included in the 2023 Michelin Guide, Kindling was created by chefs and best friends Holly and Toby who wanted to make dishes that people engaged with and enjoyed. Believing that food is more then a means of sustenance this spot creates its menu based on local ingredients used when in peak season. Make a reservation as soon as you can.
Address: 69 East St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1HQ
17. FIKA
Born and bred in Hove, FIKA is one of the best spots for a good, no-nonsense coffee and sandwich. Serving generously sized portions at a great price, FIKA can be found in its original Hove premises on Norton Road and at the newly unveiled Sea Lanes site. Serving an array of sandwiches, pastries, and burgers catering to vegetarian and vegan diets, FIKA is a great place to go for brunch and can’t be recommended enough. They also serve a side of hash browns and what’s not to love about that?
Address: 1 Norton Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 3BE or 300 Madeira Dr, Brighton BN2 1BX
18. The Salt Room
A modern British seafood restaurant coupled with gorgeous sea views, The Salt Room sits right on the coastline, not far from the West Pier ruins. A bustling restaurant, this place consistently provides guests with great food and an excellent atmosphere. A sister to the Burnt Orange and the Coal Shed, they cook all seafood and meat over charcoal, giving dishes a distinctive taste that you’ll come back for. The cocktails are really good too!
Address: 106 Kings Rd, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2FU
19. Curry Leaf Cafe
One of the best places for home-style South Indian food the Curry Leaf Café is a hidden gem in Brighton. With its bright and colourful interiors and jovial atmosphere, this spot brings Indian café culture to Brighton. Included in BBC Good Food Magazine’s Britain’s 12 Best Indian Restaurants’ and included in the ‘UK’s Best Craft Beer Restaurant’ for both 2019 and 2020, Curry Leaf Café serves street food, curries, stews, and grilled dishes that will have your mouth watering. Not much more can be said other than you need to go.
Address: 60 Ship St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1AE
20. V.I.P
Very Italian Pizza also known as V.I.P is one of the best pizza restaurants Brighton has to offer. Located on the edge of Kemptown, V.I.P’s story began in 1845 in Naples and spans five generations. Shipping ingredients from the family’s farm in Naples to make these delicious pizzas, V.I.P’s relaxed, warm atmosphere, and charismatic staff make it a great experience overall. They even sell their own merchandise!
Address:19 Old Steine, Kemptown, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1EL
21. The Lion & Lobster
The Lion & Lobster can’t be recommended enough. A cozy, unpretentious pub located on Sillwood Street, every square inch of its interiors is covered in pictures, books, and any kind of curio you could imagine. This historic building oozes charm, with new sitting spots, found on every visit, their award-winning food is prepared freshly on-site using locally sourced ingredients. Stand-out meals would be their selection of Sunday roasts, paired with a glass of red wine it is the only way to end the week.
Address: 24 Sillwood St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2PS
22. ETCI Kitchen
Winner of the British Kebab Awards in 2021, ETCI Kitchen delivers authentic Turkish food to Brighton. Serving meals packed with flavour, ETCI began as a family business in Turkey in 1997 and has been going strong ever since. Providing a relaxed environment, stand-out meals are the array of sharing platters suitable for anywhere between 2-4 people. Based on Preston Street, it’s a gem of a restaurant that will quickly become your go to spot.
Address: 47 Preston St, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2HP
