Best Cafes & Brunch Spots in Brighton 2026 | Brighton Ins…

Brighton runs on coffee. The city has more independent cafes than most people can keep track of, and the brunch scene is genuinely competitive. North Laine is the epicentre — speciality roasters, sourdough bakeries, and queues outside the good spots every Saturday. Kemptown's cafe scene is quieter but just as good. You won't find a Starbucks on every corner here. You will find people who care about their beans.

Last updated October 2026

Tips for Cafes & Brunch

Weekend Brunch Gets Busy

Saturday brunch between 10am and noon is peak time. Arrive early or go slightly later. Most places don't take brunch reservations.

North Laine for Speciality Coffee

If you care about your flat white, North Laine has the highest concentration of speciality roasters. Pelicano, Small Batch, and Bond Street Coffee are all within five minutes of each other.

Dog-Friendly Cafes

Most Brighton cafes welcome dogs. Kemptown cafes are particularly relaxed about it. Look for the water bowl outside.

Cafes & Brunch Spots in Brighton

143 places

Inside Starfish & Coffee, a cafe in Brighton's Queens Park, showing seating, tables, and a colourful mural on the wall.

Starfish & Coffee

Multi-award winning brunch cafe by Queens Park

Komodo Coffee • Specialty Coffee

Specialty coffee on Brighton Square, near the seafront.

The colourful bright blue exterior of Ikigai Coffee in Brighton city-centre, featuring large display windows and a distinctive checkered entrance.

Ikigai Coffee

Independent cafe in central Brighton with quality coffee.

Brighton Station

Cranbourne Street in central Brighton on a sunny day with customers at pavement tables outside Ala's Cafe. The ornate iron bracket sign for Ala's Cafe hangs above, with Nord Pizza next door. Pedestrians walking past colourful shopfronts.

Ala's Cafe

Central Brighton cafe with no website and a loyal queue out the door.

Colorful purple and pink exterior of Leman Tea Room in Kemptown, Brighton, with white outdoor tables and a window display showing cakes and tea accessories.

Leman Tea Room

Independent tea room on Madeira Place, Kemptown.

Exterior view of Lily's Cafe in the Hanover area of Brighton, showing its organic deli cafe storefront with inviting lighting and unique tables.

Lily’s Cafe

All-day neighbourhood cafe on Lewes Road.

Inside 44 Poets cafe in Hove: modern counter area with herringbone oak panelling, blue pendant lights, trailing indoor plants, an espresso machine, and shelves lined with bags of house-roasted coffee beans.

44 Poets

Melbourne-style coffee shop in Poet's Corner, Hove.

Pho Brighton - Google Places photo

Cafe Coffeehouse

Pho Brighton

Vietnamese street food in The Lanes. Build-your-own pho, 130 seats, Coeliac UK accredited, outdoor seating with sea views.

Entrance to Oeuf - Café in Hove, featuring floral decorations, outdoor seating and a glimpse inside the cafe in this Hove location.

Oeuf - Café in Hove

Popular brunch cafe on Third Avenue, Hove.

Granny's Café

Small, cosy cafe on Ship Street, near the Lanes.

Black-fronted shopfront of 17GRAMS on Meeting House Lane in The Lanes, Brighton. Wooden bench seating outside the large window, bunting overhead, customers visible inside at the counter. A woman exits carrying a yellow backpack.

17GRAMS Brighton - Coffee & Brunch

In-house roasters on Meeting House Lane doing brunch with a strong vegan menu.

Still life of a croissant and coffee at Vios Café in the Lanes, Brighton. Focus is on the food and the café's ambience.

Vios Café

Central café with good coffee on Brighton Square.

Jo And Co - Google Places photo

Jo & Co

Family brunch restaurant on Church Road in Hove. BRAVO 2025 Best for Family award winner.

Exterior view of Coffee At 33 Brighton, located on Trafalgar Street, Brighton. The cafe's storefront and a colourful street art mural are visible.

Coffee At 33 Brighton.

Speciality coffee on Trafalgar Street, North Laine.

Inside Blend & Brew Brighton, a view through a brick archway into the cafe's seating area, featuring plants and unique decor in the Brighton Station area.

Blend & Brew Brighton

Independent coffee shop on Trafalgar Street, North Laine.

My Coffee Story in Kemptown, Brighton. An inviting cafe exterior with outdoor seating and a tempting display of breakfast, coffee, borek, cakes and soup.

My Coffee Story

Speciality coffee cafe on St James's Street, Kemptown.

Exterior of DANDY. cafe in the Brighton Station area, showing people inside and outside enjoying the cafe. Part of Sydney Street can be seen.

DANDY.

Coffee and natural wine bar on Sydney Street, North Laine.

Meo Cafe's inviting dark green storefront in Kemptown, Brighton. Warm interior lighting, baked goods, outdoor seating, and a lunch menu board are visible.

Meo Cafe

Independent cafe on St James's Street, Kemptown.

colourful pink and blue exterior of Kennys Rock & Soul Cafe with outdoor seating, a pink balcony, and pedestrians walking past in Brighton's North Laine area.

Kennys Rock & Soul Cafe

Rock-themed cafe on Kensington Gardens, North Laine.

Whittard of Chelsea Brighton store front, showing the entrance and window display with Christmas decorations in the Lanes.

Whittard of Chelsea Brighton

Tea, coffee and hot chocolate shop on East Street

Cosy, candlelit interior of Bom-Bane's in Kemptown, Brighton, with comfortable bench seating, colourful cushions, and wooden tables, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Bom-Bane's

Kemptown cafe with live music and spoken word on George Street.

Exterior view of Glazed - Next Level Donuts And Coffee in the Hanover area of Brighton, showing the entrance, sign, and outdoor seating.

Glazed - Next Level Donuts And Coffee

Doughnuts and coffee on Ditchling Road.

Inside Dharma Coffee Brighton, a cafe in the North Laine area. The decor includes light-pink walls, stylish lighting, and a large floral mural.

Dharma Coffee Brighton

Speciality coffee on North Road, North Laine.

Close-up of a colourful stained glass window at Salvage Cafe in Hove, Brighton, adding to the unique atmosphere of this local cafe.

Salvage Cafe

Scruffy-charming Hove cafe with proper coffee

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best brunch in Brighton?

Kemptown (Redroaster, Open Bakery) and North Laine (Lucky Beach, Moksha) are the strongest areas. Saturday queues outside a cafe usually mean you're at a good one.

Does Brighton have good coffee?

Excellent. Independent speciality roasters dominate the scene. Small Batch, Pelicano, Trading Post, and Bond Street Coffee are all locally roasted and well worth seeking out.

Are Brighton cafes dog-friendly?

Most are. Kemptown and North Laine cafes are especially welcoming. A few even have treats behind the counter. Check individual listings for details.

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