Foodie finds: My fave Brighton restaurants
It's no secret that Brighton has an amazing foodie scene – but given there's so many great restaurants, if you've only got a short amount of time then the choice can be overwhelmingggg.
I'm fortunate to spend a lot of time in Brighton, as my partner's family has a place there, so I've got a really solid roster of some tested faves. And I thought I would round them up!
This isn’t just your usual "best restaurants in Brighton" list from people who have never been to the suggested places; these are the places I truly love, return to again and again, and would urge anyone to visit.
So… here are my picks for the best restaurants in Brighton! (And Hove, ish!)
Something a bit nicer/date night
This is the one place I recommend to every single friend visiting Brighton – whatever the occasion, Burnt Orange fits the bill. It's not too casual, not too fancy, has a vibe (but you can still hear yourself think!), and the food is reliably excellent.
The restaurant is spacious but feels intimate, and if you grab a seat at the pass (like we often do) you can watch, a-gawp, while the most serene and organised kitchen I've ever seen assemble your plates. Great talking point for a date!
It’s a small-plates menu, and much of the food is wood-fired… read: delicious. If the lamb shoulder cigars and wood-fired flat bread are on the menu when you visit, do yourself a favour: ORDER THEM.
This is mine and my boyfriend's "fancy" / "celebration" spot while in Brighton – we went for his birthday last year, and did the set menu with wine pairing (it was spectacular).
It's on the pricier side, but very much worth it. Service is smooth and speedy, dishes are absolutely top notch, and there's a sommelier on hand (my dream job) to talk you through the wines, too.
Worthy of any "best restaurant in Brighton" award.
A great little Italian spot, with beautiful home made pasta, an innovative cocktail list and a really cosy, intimate vibe. Not the cheapest… but worth it!
A bit of an institution in Brighton, and rightly so. As you can probably glean from the name, the menu focuses on fresh fish and seafood – which I love, so am always happy to end up here!
The seafront location is lovely come summer – ask for a table on the veranda.
For drinks
This is our go-to spot for a few drinks in summer. We've SO many good memories here! Hove beach is much quieter than the Brighton side of the beachfront, and nearer to some of our fave eateries.
Rockwater is a multi-space site with several inside and outside options, but the rooftop in particular is really special – the view is amazing.
The only drawback is the food - there aren’t many ‘proper’ big plates to eat (and it’s quite expensive), so I wouldn't come hungry. But for a few drinks with a gorgeous view and great vibe, this is the spot!
I'm a wine bar gal through and through, and this is a fab one – the small plates are also really tasty. Perfectly situated in the Laines for wherever you decide to go next/beforehand.
Casual
Really great sourdough pizza. Not much more to say than that! The branch in Hove is my fave.
Bankers
THE best fish and chips in Brighton & Hove, and I will not be told otherwise!
Grab yourself a takeaway and some drinks from the Co-op just around the corner, make the short walk to the beach, and enjoy your spoils (preferably as the sun sets). The perfect Brighton evening.
I've lost count of how many times I've been here – it's pretty much the only place we go for brekkie in Brighton, now! The menu is varied and everything we've had has been excellent. The service is also fantastic, with the owners (the eponymous Jo and her husband) holding down the fort and as much as part of the experience, for us, as the food (they're SO lovely).
Always busy, and for good reason: this bar-meets-foodhall is stuffed to the brim of delicious food outlets (including some absolute institutions of the Brighton foodie scene), and the view overlooking the beach is hard to beat. One for the sunnier days!
This is an utterly 'no frills' kinda place, but they do excellent steak, always have a couple of tables for walk ins, and the wine list is fab. A great casual spot for the carnivores.