I moved to Brighton in 2007, an absolute lifetime ago, while I have watched restaurants come and go, as others have stayed strong through the test of time, trying as many as possible along the way. I have split this out into different origins, as I know if you’re in the mood for a curry, then the last thing you want to hear about is the best Italian restaurant, or vice versa.
Italian
We recently spent a week in Italy and it really did remind me how much I love Italian food. There are so many options, including the traditional pizza and pasta dishes, but also the beautiful seafood and risotto dishes.
Rudy’s Pizza
If you’re specifically craving pizza, then this is the place to visit! I’d definitely recommend ordering the cheesy garlic bread as a starter, but be aware it’s a sharing dish, it was more like a pizza, but wow it was tasty!
The large building (in place of the old Chilli Pickle) means that there is plenty of spacing regardless of which day you visit.
The pizza dips are also really nice here, including garlic aioli, nduja aioli and chilli honey. We couldn’t pick so we ordered all three and I ended up bringing them home as they were so nice.
Bella Italia
Bella Italia is a staple in Brighton, I remember first visiting the Brighton restaurant soon after graduating, while I remember going with my great aunt to Bella Italia in Ealing about 20 years ago.
The food has always remained a really high quality, I personally love the lasagne, while they also do some unbelievable desserts (for me it’s the sticky toffee pudding, but I always pinch a bit of the cookie dough or chocolate fudge cake off Raquel).
If you visit during the summer months, you should also check out their Spritz selection, having recently gone to Italy I have come around to Aperol and now love it in the summer.
Asian
Easily my favourite food type, whether it’s Indian, Thai, Japanese or Vietnamese, I could live off Asian food for the rest of my life and be very happy. Brighton also has a very diverse range to pick from.
Ivy Asia
This restaurant impressed me from the moment I stepped through the doors, it’s absolutely beautiful, from the green marble floor to the bar area and the cherry blossom trees, it’s visually a masterpiece.
The food was also really nice, from spicy skewers to pork belly, we were captivated by it all. The Ivy Asia does run a number of lunch time deals, so if you’re locally based, you should definitely look into these, as it makes for a much cheaper option. They also run deals 4-6pm, in that ‘quiet period’, where you can get a set menu for cheaper.
Mr Wang Hot Pot
This was such a creative idea that I wasn’t used to, where you pick your ramen ingredients like you used to pick the pick’n’mix sweets when you were younger. They then price it up at the till and make it all for you.
There are also a number of dips and sauces at the side for free that you can add. This restaurant is located very close to Brighton station, making it ideal if you’re heading in and hungry straight away.
As you’re in complete control over what is included, I love that you don’t have to sacrifice on what you do or don’t want, no being forced to have an ingredient you’d rather avoid. I went a bit crazy with my combo, but I loved the end result.
British & Steak
Whether it’s a small independent locally launched restaurant, a great steak house or a traditional British offering, we love to try it all.
Kindling
If you’re looking for a good steak then you’ve found it, as we were stunned with how nice it was at Kindling.
They also make an incredibly cheesy mac n cheese coated in crispy breadcrumbs. The brisket and jalapeno croquettes caught our attention from the menu straight away and they lived up to the hype.
Easily one of the best restaurants in Brighton, this one is a must-visit if you’ve never been before, ideal for a date night or a special occasion.
Burger & Lobster
We went to the launch of Burger & Lobster and then followed it up with a full review about a month later, where I was captivated by their truffle mac n cheese.
They run a number of cocktail deals on certain days, so keep your eyes out for that, while you should also check out their brunch menu.
The Wagyu beef croquettes were gorgeous, with cheddar cheese inside, however many people visit with the aim to eat the lobster, so you could go for the lobster croquettes, with prawns and mozzarella.
The Ivy In The Lanes
We first went to the launch of the Ivy in Brighton a number of years back, which allowed us to try a selection of their dishes, albeit slightly tipsy on prosecco. I was therefore delighted to return again to have a proper dive into their culinary options.
The Shepherd’s pie is arguably their most famous dish and for good reason, it’s unbelievable. The Ivy Chocolate Bombe was also a very naughty treat which we loved, with honeycomb and caramel sauce on top.
They have a Sunday roast, something I’m yet to tick off, but that sounds like it would be unbelievable! They’ve got some charcuterie sharing platters if you’d rather something small to nibble on while having drinks.
Social Board
Ideal if you’re craving a sandwich, therefore proving hugely popular with people on their lunch break from the office, the Social Board provides easily the best sandwich in town!
They even create unique options around the season, so we had a Christmas themed baguette, involving turkey and stuffing, with a gravy and cramberry dip.
The macaroni cheese bites and the beef brisket arancini balls were also amazing. I could certainly put on a fair amount of weight here!
Vegan
I might not personally be on a vegan diet, but I do love trying vegan restaurants, as I feel they’re more creative as they lose the fats and creams, therefore they look towards spices and herbs to enhance the flavour. Brighton is inevitably going to be a great city for vegan options, which I’ll aim to keep updating over time.
Bonsai Plant Kitchen
This restaurant is found just off London road, while it provides a blend of East Asian cuisine, all of which stunned us. The cauliflower bites were just incredible, we shared our video and quickly received comments from others who were addicted to them.
I also have to strongly recommend the dessert, which was a cherry ice cream and chocolate mousse, tasting similar to a black forest gateau.
They have a selection of unique cocktails, while they also have ‘specials’ to pick from, so you can enjoy some tasty tipples with your dinner.
Nutriveo
An absolutely ideal option if you’re on a health kick, they also make an amazing latte, so it’s worth getting one when heading into town.
I often look for healthier options at lunch when I’m in Brighton, but you’re surrounded by fast food joints, therefore a place like Nutriveo was really needed. The quality also matches the image, with some unbelievable food available.
This is another small independent company which is great to support, while I also spoke to the owner who seemed incredibly nice.
Greek
Using fresh ingredience, healthy fats and flavoursome herbs, Greek food is growing in popularity in the UK, with an increasing number of restaurants popping up around the place, as well as pop-up vans.
Whether you crave a moussaka, a gyros, baklava or even just a Greek salad, then I’ll try to highlight the best Greek restaurants in town.
Salt & Charcoal
Salt & Charcoal is found along London Road, one we had wanted to visit for a good while before finally getting the chance in February.
Prepare to fill up, as they’re not stingy with their portion sizes! They also had meat on a rotating spit, which looked mouth-wateringly good. All the meats were slow cooked and fell off the bone.
While some places give you a salad purely of lettuce and the occasional tomato or cucumber, I love how blended this salad was, plus the dips were nice to mix in.
Latin American
Whether it’s something naughty from Mexico or a trendy Peruvian dish, or maybe a steak from Argentina, the Latin American restaurants always offer something fun for the tastebuds.
Wahaca
We have visited Wahaca a few times, trying a number of different options, while I have to give a big shout out for the cauliflower bites. This might be a reoccuring highlight, as I do love cauliflower bites!
The beef burrito is also inbelievable, plus I really enjoy the black bean and three cheese quesadilla, both will be on my future order list.
They’re also known for their margaritas, the picante one offering a nice kick to it. If you’re after something healthier then the sunshine bowl provides 30 types of plants, not bad when you consider you’re meant to get that in a week!
Pub Grub
Pubs have a perception of delivering basic level food during the week and resurrecting their image on a Sunday with a roast dinner. But Brighton has always gone in a different direction, with the food being better than many restaurants. They often pinch the chef’s from famous restaurants in town, so it shouldn’t be surprising the food is always so good!
Boysterous Burgers
Housed at the Fountainhead pub in the Lanes, Boysterous Burgers is an amazing team creating unbelievable food, predominantly focused around burgers, hence their name.
The Korean cauliflower bites are unbelievable, while they also have the very naughty steak dirty fries, which is a meal in itself.
Don’t skip out on the dessert at the end, as they have their very own baker onhand with some unbelievable desserts.