Sharon’s guidebook

Sharon
Sharon’s guidebook

Brighton Recommendations

Polpo is a bàcaro. This is a Venetian word to describe a humble restaurant serving simple food and good, young Italian wines. Located on a pretty pedestrianised street in the centre of Brighton, the restaurant is near the famous Brighton Dome, numerous shops and the Theatre Royal. Signatures on the menu include cicheti such as fried stuffed olives, arancini, fritto misto and sliced flank steak. Polpo would not be complete without a spritz, and served with both Aperol and Campari, alongside Negronis and Bellinis.
100 locals recommend
Polpo Brighton
20 New Rd
100 locals recommend
Polpo is a bàcaro. This is a Venetian word to describe a humble restaurant serving simple food and good, young Italian wines. Located on a pretty pedestrianised street in the centre of Brighton, the restaurant is near the famous Brighton Dome, numerous shops and the Theatre Royal. Signatures on the menu include cicheti such as fried stuffed olives, arancini, fritto misto and sliced flank steak. Polpo would not be complete without a spritz, and served with both Aperol and Campari, alongside Negronis and Bellinis.
Ten Green Bottles has become the go to destination for those who love a great quality glass (or two) or wine served by the most knowledgeable team in town. Located centrally (off the North Laine) and offering a chilled, comfortable atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a pre-dinner drink or after work tipple.
83 locals recommend
Ten Green Bottles
9 Jubilee St
83 locals recommend
Ten Green Bottles has become the go to destination for those who love a great quality glass (or two) or wine served by the most knowledgeable team in town. Located centrally (off the North Laine) and offering a chilled, comfortable atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a pre-dinner drink or after work tipple.
Starfish & Coffee is an independent neighbourhood cafe, and winner of the Brighton Restaurant Awards ‘Best Brunch’ 2018. The space inside is light, bright and airy. And just like the food, the décor has a local theme, with all the fixtures and fittings installed by tradespeople from the area. As for the food itself, the focus on local Sussex produce in no way detracts from the choice or the quality. The menu offers amazing brunch options for meat eaters and vegans alike - definitely worth a visit!
84 locals recommend
Starfish & Coffee
32 Egremont Pl
84 locals recommend
Starfish & Coffee is an independent neighbourhood cafe, and winner of the Brighton Restaurant Awards ‘Best Brunch’ 2018. The space inside is light, bright and airy. And just like the food, the décor has a local theme, with all the fixtures and fittings installed by tradespeople from the area. As for the food itself, the focus on local Sussex produce in no way detracts from the choice or the quality. The menu offers amazing brunch options for meat eaters and vegans alike - definitely worth a visit!
Purezza Brighton (purity) was formed by Stefania Evangelisti and Tim Barclay in 2015, setting out with the aim of providing a range of exciting Italian plant based, vegan options to the UK. The restaurant has a wooden and rustic feel to it, with bar stools at the counter where you can take in all the drama of the large wood fired pizza oven. Their delicious pizzas are made with gluten free, hemp or sough-dough bases - so perfect for intolerances! They also offer a selection of raw food dishes and gluten free pasta dishes. It is not all about savoury dishes either with a full dessert menu featuring a chocolate calzone and Oreo pizza.
105 locals recommend
Purezza Brighton
12 St James's St
105 locals recommend
Purezza Brighton (purity) was formed by Stefania Evangelisti and Tim Barclay in 2015, setting out with the aim of providing a range of exciting Italian plant based, vegan options to the UK. The restaurant has a wooden and rustic feel to it, with bar stools at the counter where you can take in all the drama of the large wood fired pizza oven. Their delicious pizzas are made with gluten free, hemp or sough-dough bases - so perfect for intolerances! They also offer a selection of raw food dishes and gluten free pasta dishes. It is not all about savoury dishes either with a full dessert menu featuring a chocolate calzone and Oreo pizza.
Centrally located in the North Laine, this popular independent restaurant boasts a number of awards, an excellent reviews. The menu is inspired from different regions of India and changes seasonally. Typical sample dishes include a selection of tandoori, roasts and kebabs, curries, dosas and biryanis, along with a selection of sides, nibbles and changing specials. Offering a little bit of something for everyone, the Chilli Pickle is a great dining option for meat eaters, vegetarian and gluten free diners alike.
241 locals recommend
The Chilli Pickle
17 Jubilee St
241 locals recommend
Centrally located in the North Laine, this popular independent restaurant boasts a number of awards, an excellent reviews. The menu is inspired from different regions of India and changes seasonally. Typical sample dishes include a selection of tandoori, roasts and kebabs, curries, dosas and biryanis, along with a selection of sides, nibbles and changing specials. Offering a little bit of something for everyone, the Chilli Pickle is a great dining option for meat eaters, vegetarian and gluten free diners alike.
Situated on the corner of St James’ Street & Kemptown Village, Curry Leaf Cafe’s Kemptown Kitchen offers an open kitchen & dining experience. This way you get to see your food being prepared from start to finish whilst enjoying the bustling atmosphere. Take a look at their drinks menu and try one of the spiced cocktails! Expect tapas-style ‘small plates’, an exciting range of spiced cocktails and, of course, and a menu of craft beers that puts most bars to shame!
46 locals recommend
Curry Leaf Cafe – Kemptown Kitchen
40-42 Upper St James's St
46 locals recommend
Situated on the corner of St James’ Street & Kemptown Village, Curry Leaf Cafe’s Kemptown Kitchen offers an open kitchen & dining experience. This way you get to see your food being prepared from start to finish whilst enjoying the bustling atmosphere. Take a look at their drinks menu and try one of the spiced cocktails! Expect tapas-style ‘small plates’, an exciting range of spiced cocktails and, of course, and a menu of craft beers that puts most bars to shame!
This new, independent coffee shop is definitely worth a visit. Grab a pick-me-up at this postage stamp-sized corner cafe, where you’ll find a few tables and chairs scattered out the front and a marvellous selection of freshly baked goods to go with your barista-brewed coffee. The cakes and sandwiches are amazing, with some tasty vegan options too!
21 locals recommend
Blend & Brew Brighton
44 Trafalgar St
21 locals recommend
This new, independent coffee shop is definitely worth a visit. Grab a pick-me-up at this postage stamp-sized corner cafe, where you’ll find a few tables and chairs scattered out the front and a marvellous selection of freshly baked goods to go with your barista-brewed coffee. The cakes and sandwiches are amazing, with some tasty vegan options too!
Not far from Brighton’s famous (and always slightly bizarre) Dome, you’ll find this cobalt-blue coffee shop selling perfectly crafted brews. Their single origin coffee comes from Horsham Roaster, just up the coast. Their menu changes constantly, always offering up fresh flavours, while the stylishly scuffed interior – all chipped-wooden floors, squeaky leather armchairs and record players – is the kind of place you can settle down in for the long haul.
10 locals recommend
Bond St Coffee
15 Bond St
10 locals recommend
Not far from Brighton’s famous (and always slightly bizarre) Dome, you’ll find this cobalt-blue coffee shop selling perfectly crafted brews. Their single origin coffee comes from Horsham Roaster, just up the coast. Their menu changes constantly, always offering up fresh flavours, while the stylishly scuffed interior – all chipped-wooden floors, squeaky leather armchairs and record players – is the kind of place you can settle down in for the long haul.
Specialist coffee is king at this botanical café in Kemptown. As well as being one of Brighton’s coffee standard-bearers, the food is overseen by chef Matt Gillan, winner of the Great British Menu who held a Michelin star for five years. Unsurprisingly, their brunches are a thing of beauty, offering up roasted butternut squash, avocado mousse and poached egg on rye bread, or herb waffles with bacon jam, black pudding, fried eggs and apple. Come lunchtime, locals go to town on sharing plates of crab and green-chilli brioche buns, burrata, ceviche with grapefruit rub of beef with caramel onions.
48 locals recommend
Redroaster Cafe
1D St James's St
48 locals recommend
Specialist coffee is king at this botanical café in Kemptown. As well as being one of Brighton’s coffee standard-bearers, the food is overseen by chef Matt Gillan, winner of the Great British Menu who held a Michelin star for five years. Unsurprisingly, their brunches are a thing of beauty, offering up roasted butternut squash, avocado mousse and poached egg on rye bread, or herb waffles with bacon jam, black pudding, fried eggs and apple. Come lunchtime, locals go to town on sharing plates of crab and green-chilli brioche buns, burrata, ceviche with grapefruit rub of beef with caramel onions.
Nestled in the heart of the Brighton Laines, Casa Don Carlos offers such an authentic Tapas experience, you will feel as if you have arrived in Spain! The staff are fantastic, the food is delicious and there is space both inside and out for dining. Well worth a visit!
71 locals recommend
Casa Don Carlos
5 Union St
71 locals recommend
Nestled in the heart of the Brighton Laines, Casa Don Carlos offers such an authentic Tapas experience, you will feel as if you have arrived in Spain! The staff are fantastic, the food is delicious and there is space both inside and out for dining. Well worth a visit!
The Coal Shed Brighton has positioned itself as one of the leading steak and seafood venues in the city and is situated in the heart of The Lanes. The concept is quite unique, take a real charcoal Josper oven, use the freshest and best quality ingredients you can find then cook the ingredients to perfection! The Coal Shed produces great quality signature dishes such as 500g of 35 day dry-aged roast beef available on Sunday’s 12-4pm. Also, at the Coal Shed Brighton they have rotating daily specials and they offer different cuts of meat to suit different tastes, plus they have vegetarian dishes and a children’s menu.
145 locals recommend
The Coal Shed Restaurant Brighton
8 Boyce's Street
145 locals recommend
The Coal Shed Brighton has positioned itself as one of the leading steak and seafood venues in the city and is situated in the heart of The Lanes. The concept is quite unique, take a real charcoal Josper oven, use the freshest and best quality ingredients you can find then cook the ingredients to perfection! The Coal Shed produces great quality signature dishes such as 500g of 35 day dry-aged roast beef available on Sunday’s 12-4pm. Also, at the Coal Shed Brighton they have rotating daily specials and they offer different cuts of meat to suit different tastes, plus they have vegetarian dishes and a children’s menu.
This trendy Bond Street hangout is a tribute to Brighton’s famed record shop and music industry. The vinyl theme runs deep, with walls splattered with vintage records and a playlist dedicated to traditional records. The booze front is heavily focused on craft beer, and Dead Wax Social serves a fusion of rare pints from local breweries. There’s a choice of top quality pizza offerings to make this a comfortable-but-cool hangout that captures the spirit of Brighton’s unique music scene.
38 locals recommend
Dead Wax Social
18A Bond St
38 locals recommend
This trendy Bond Street hangout is a tribute to Brighton’s famed record shop and music industry. The vinyl theme runs deep, with walls splattered with vintage records and a playlist dedicated to traditional records. The booze front is heavily focused on craft beer, and Dead Wax Social serves a fusion of rare pints from local breweries. There’s a choice of top quality pizza offerings to make this a comfortable-but-cool hangout that captures the spirit of Brighton’s unique music scene.
A dapper looking lounge bar in The Lanes that boasts some of the most raucous shindigs in town, The Mesmerist is a bar in Brighton inspired by all things unconventional. Sourcing vintage decor and wares in abundance, it's doused in indulgent prohibition tones, bottled trinkets and antiquarian flair offering an extensive cocktail and wine menu. Enjoy live music and entertainment!
127 locals recommend
The Mesmerist
1-3 Prince Albert St
127 locals recommend
A dapper looking lounge bar in The Lanes that boasts some of the most raucous shindigs in town, The Mesmerist is a bar in Brighton inspired by all things unconventional. Sourcing vintage decor and wares in abundance, it's doused in indulgent prohibition tones, bottled trinkets and antiquarian flair offering an extensive cocktail and wine menu. Enjoy live music and entertainment!
Luxurious and layered in tradition to say the least, Bohemia is a creative cocktail bar in Brighton with a few hidden spaces and charms up its sleeve. Found in one of the traditional Edwardian buildings of The Brighton Lanes and retaining period features, Bohemia can be noticed by the glowing red lights and chuckle of drinkers potted around its street side terrace tables. It is perfect for any occasion, with a restaurant serving indulgent British classics, a scandi-chic late lounge brimming with dark black chesterfield sofa and mirrored walls, a Jazz bar boasting New York vibes and a sun trap of a rooftop terrace!
97 locals recommend
Bohemia Brighton
54-55 Meeting House Ln
97 locals recommend
Luxurious and layered in tradition to say the least, Bohemia is a creative cocktail bar in Brighton with a few hidden spaces and charms up its sleeve. Found in one of the traditional Edwardian buildings of The Brighton Lanes and retaining period features, Bohemia can be noticed by the glowing red lights and chuckle of drinkers potted around its street side terrace tables. It is perfect for any occasion, with a restaurant serving indulgent British classics, a scandi-chic late lounge brimming with dark black chesterfield sofa and mirrored walls, a Jazz bar boasting New York vibes and a sun trap of a rooftop terrace!