Food & Drink in Brighton

Brighton is known for its seafood — fish and chips on the beach is practically a rite of passage. The city also has one of the biggest vegan and vegetarian scenes in the UK, a thriving independent cafe culture, and a stretch of Indian restaurants along Preston Street that locals swear by. Street food markets like Open Market and various pop-ups keep things interesting too.

The Lanes is where you'll find most of the fine dining and special-occasion restaurants. North Laine is better for casual, vegetarian, and globally-inspired food. Kemptown has a strong independent restaurant scene with neighbourhood bistros and brunch spots. Western Road and Church Road in Hove offer good variety for everyday eating out.

Brighton is one of the best cities in the UK for vegans — it's regularly rated as the vegan capital of Britain. You'll find dedicated vegan restaurants, bakeries, and cafes across the city, and almost every restaurant offers substantial vegan options. It's one of the few places where being vegan actually makes choosing where to eat harder, not easier, because there's so much choice.

Brighton covers the full range. A cafe brunch runs £8–12. A solid pub lunch is £12–18. Mid-range restaurant mains sit around £14–22. Fine dining tasting menus go from £60 upwards. Fish and chips from a seafront takeaway is about £8–10. You can eat well on most budgets — the independent scene means there's always somewhere doing good food at fair prices.

Kemptown and North Laine are the two brunch hotspots. Kemptown's St James's Street has a concentration of excellent brunch cafes. North Laine has more of the quirky, independent options. Hove has some strong contenders too, especially along Church Road. Weekend brunch is a big part of Brighton culture, so expect queues at the popular spots — arriving before 10am helps.

Brighton has one of the best pub scenes on the south coast. You'll find everything from historic coaching inns and real-ale pubs to craft beer taprooms and rooftop bars. The Lanes and North Laine have the highest concentration. Kemptown is good for local, characterful boozers. Brighton also hosts several beer festivals throughout the year and has a growing number of independent breweries.