With Argentine, Italian, Thai, Brazilian, Indian and Persian just some of the cuisines dotted along Church Street alone, Hove has an absolute embarrassment of wealth when it comes to dining out. Almost every other building is a restaurant, and these outlets stretch up towards Hove station and also closer to the sea, with some great seafood restaurants as you would expect from the location.
There’s a cuisine and a budget available for everyone, and one of the fab things about Hove restaurants is how much attention to detail is put into the décor and customer experience. Although there are a few chains in the mix, there’s an impressive selection of independently owned restaurants where you can meet the owners who are so passionate about their food havens.
The main problem that bubbles up when you are on the hunt for a meal in Hove, is where to even begin? It certainly is a challenge choosing from so many restaurants with such high online ratings, so hopefully our list will provide a good starting point.
The Urchin Brewery & Shellfish Pub
A traditional inn resurrected as a seafood gastropub is already the quirky sort of establishment that belongs in Brighton and ticks all the right boxes when it comes to an original experience. The lights hanging from ropes creates a maritime theme that isn’t over the top or too distracting from the main focus of the pub – its brilliant, fresh seafood.
Jersey rock oysters, potted crab, whole lobsters, Malaysian king prawns are not your typical pub fare, and this makes The Urchin a special experience which provides that touch of luxury. Another joy to this restaurant is the simplicity of its menu which doesn’t bamboozle you with too many options and sticks mainly to its seafood USP, with an ever-changing and well thought out specials board. A micro-brewery has been installed in the basement which means the restaurant features a wide range of continually updated craft beers, alongside a selection of wines matching its shellfish.
Sleeky designed inside whilst remaining true to its pub roots, The Urchin was named the best gastropub in Sussex in 2022, as well as being placed in the top 100 across the UK. If we haven’t sold it to you by now, we probably never will.
Address: 15-17 Belfast St, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 3YS
Website: https://www.urchinpub.co.uk
Moonstone
With Bad Seeds singer Nick Cave and former Sussex cricketer Mahela Jayawardene fans of this Sri Lankan restaurant, Moonstone already has celebrity endorsements backing its Sri Lankan fare. The colourful and succulent array of dishes on offer does little to contradict that opinion, with Moonstone one of Hove’s secret gems and a place you will want to keep returning to.
The menu is not just for chilli fans either, with a range of milder, aromatic curries available. There is even the option to have dishes made to your specification depending on how hot you like them. Regardless of what type of chilli tolerance you have, all dishes are freshly cooked with spices from Sri Lanka and have a combination of flavours to tickle the tastebuds.
Get those tastebuds going with one of their starters, such as mango salad, vegetable samosas or warm sardine salad, before diving into a vegetable, seafood or meat curry – or why not order a few? Moonstone is a brilliant place for vegetarians with curries featuring lentils, sweet potato, chickpea, okra, beetroot, jackfruit, spinach and many other options.
If you have room, there’s a small selection of Sri Lankan desserts on offer such as Wattalapan (a traditional Sri Lankan pudding made with egg, treacle, and coconut mixed with cardamon) and a Sri Lankan pancake (caramelised coconut with aniseed). A sweet ending to a sweet restaurant.
Address: 208 Church Rd, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2DJ
Website: https://moonstonesrilankanrestaurant.co.uk
LatinoAmerica Argentine Grill
If you fancy a succulent steak accompanied by wine from across South America, then look no further than LatinoAmerica – the first Argentine steak restaurant in Brighton & Hove. With extensive knowledge of Argentine cooking, the owner and their native team work with only the finest quality beef and ingredients.
The secret to tip top beef, they say, lies in the remote lands of Las Pampas, where the ideal climate results in pastures perfect for breeding cattle. Alongside the South American cuisine, Mediterranean influences are also found dotted through this menu due to the Italian and Spanish immigrants that arrived in the country. The grill section of the menu features rump, sirloin, rib-eye and fillet steaks served with a choice of skinny chips, house salad or rice.
The dipping sauces are taken extremely seriously here, as they should be, with a range including Chimichurri, Provenzal, Peppercorn and Malbec wine reduction sauce. There’s also a selection of salads on the menu, as well as fish and poultry dishes. The restaurant prides itself on being Malbec specialists, as this grape is considered the country’s true flavour.
Address: 36 Church Rd, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2FN
Website: https://www.latinoamerica.co.uk
Giggling Squid
Husband and wife co-founders Pranee and Andy actually set up their successful chain in a tiny fisherman’s cottage which is now the Brighton restaurant, before expanding into Hove. This small restaurant on Church Street is charming in many ways, with colourful and enchanting décor and menus full of fun and innovation.
There are plenty of options available for vegan and vegetarians, and menus that give you a chance to escape the calorie count and enjoy an indulgent meal without the guilt. Perhaps start your meal with some Golden Money Bags – crispy pastry parcels of Thai-spiced chicken, herbs and vegetables and move on to one of their curries or noodle dishes.
There’s also a wide selection of Thai salads and signature dishes, that include Thai Melting Beef, Chubby Cheek Pork and Honey Crisp Seafood. If you think the names of the dishes are great, just wait until you try them! It is highly unlikely you will leave this restaurant anything other than satisfied and there is even a Giggling Squid Cookbook for those wanting to recreate some of these delicious delicacies from home.
Address: 129 Church Rd, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2AE
Website: https://www.gigglingsquid.com
The Ginger Pig
Another well-respected gastropub in Hove, The Ginger Pig is part of the Gingerman Restaurant Group. Doubling itself up as a guesthouse, the informal Ginger Pig has the sort of cosy, environment that makes you feel at home as soon as you enter and that’s before you even get your mitts on its top-notch food and drink. The Ginger Pig’s menu is full of hearty and filling fare, and isn’t for those after a lighter meal.
While there are vegan and vegetarian dishes on offer, meat is a huge part of the menu (as the name of the establishment would suggest!) with dishes including chargrilled veal rump, Sussex lamb pie, Sugar Pitt bacon chop and Himalayan salt-aged sirloin steak. Waistbands permitting, this is definitely the kind of restaurant where you should save some room for dessert with apple tart tatin, chocolate mousse, strawberry Pavlova and crème brulee all competing for your attention.
Love and attention has also been put into the drinks, with a fabulous range of traditional cocktails as well as the Pig’s own classics that include Ginger’s Lost Island (Rhubarb gin, Aperol, house Ginger & Lemongrass Syrup, soda) and Ginger Fig (vodka, lime, fig conserve, ginger & lemon grass syrup, bitters, soda). There is also a wide list of sparkling and champagne on offer. Another big bonus of The Ginger Pig is it’s a one-minute’s stroll to the sea, so after dinner you can take your swollen bellies for some fresh air and enjoy the spectacular views of the Sussex coastline.
Address: 3 Hove St, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2TR
Website: https://gingerpigbrighton.co.uk
Rockwater
When it comes to views of the ocean, there are very few better than from the restaurants located inside Rockwater – one of the swankiest destinations in the whole of Brighton. Similar in style to the Soho House members clubs, this is the sort of place where the go-getters of Brighton network in the day and where celebrities and glamourous crowds spend their evenings.
However, this doesn’t mean that these restaurants are unaffordable with prices that match many other establishments in the area. On the top floor, the Roof Terrace centres around seafood with a selection that includes potted white crab, tofu salmon, oysters and seafood platters. The menu of the Bar & Kitchen is more of a mixed affair with an arrangement of small plates, bowls, grilled options and pizza.
We can thoroughly recommend the tofu rice bowl that comes with sticky rice, edamame beans, coriander and coconut broth. The pizzas are priced between £12.50 and £15 with more expensive dishes including their sirloin, ribeye and dry aged fillet steaks. If you’re looking for a more casual way to dine, there are several shacks outside the main building that serve salmon poke bowls, lobster and prawn king rolls and a host of other delights which can be enjoyed by or on the beach.
Address: Western Esplanade, Hove, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 4FA
Website: http://www.rockwater.uk
