18 Fun & Unique Brighton Restaurants in 2024

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Brighton isn’t just about beaches and vibrant art scenes—it’s also a foodie paradise with some seriously unique dining experiences. Whether you’re into locally-sourced seafood, vegan comfort food, or dining in a spot with live jazz, this city has something for everyone. From cozy cafes serving freshly baked scones to international eateries dishing up flavors from around the globe, Brighton’s restaurants are as diverse as its people.

You can feast on fresh oysters at The Salt Room, indulge in plant-based delights at Purezza, or enjoy an epic Sunday roast at The Lion & Lobster. Each spot offers not just amazing food but also a slice of Brighton’s eclectic vibe.

If you’re looking for the perfect blend of quirky eats and fun things to do in Brighton, this guide has got you covered!

👉 Pro Tip: On the Walking Food tour in Brighton, savor seafood at English’s of Brighton and handmade pizza at Fatto a Mano. Guides share insider tips on the city’s best eats. Wrap up with a sweet treat at Gelato Gusto or explore the Lanes!

Unusual places to eat in Brighton, UK

Ready to explore Brighton’s best eateries? We’ve got everything from vegetarian food with a twist to fresh seafood overlooking the sea. Join me on a tour of the quirkiest places to eat in Brighton.

Ever thought about enjoying Vietnamese pho or eating authentic Neapolitan pizza on the Old Steine? Brighton’s dining scene has it all, ready for you to discover. Let’s dive into the most unique restaurants in Brighton.

1. ThewitchEZ Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Central Lanes
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Polish / Eastern European / Themed
• 🔥 Standout Features: Witch-themed decor, Polish cuisine.
• 🎯 Perfect For: A themed dining experience for Polish food lovers with fairytale magic.

Abracadabra, alakazam, get ready for a bewitching meal at ThewitchEZ Restaurant! Tucked away in Brighton’s Lanes, this place is a full-on magical experience, with whimsical witchy decor that’s more enchanting than spooky. The air smells of hearty Polish cooking.

Trying their incredible pierogi (dumplings) with various fillings like cheese and potato or meat is a must. The rich and savory bigos (hunter’s stew) or their crispy pork schnitzel are also fantastic choices. It’s a wonderfully quirky and charming spot.

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2. etch. by Steven Edwards

If you’ve ever wondered what Brighton fine dining looks like when a “MasterChef: The Professionals” winner runs the show, etch. is your answer. Steven Edwards creates tasting menus that make classic British ingredients genuinely exciting. The signature “smoked eel doughnut” is not only delicious but Instagram gold. Their beef wellington is outstanding too – perfect pink center and a flaky crust. The vibe is elegant but unstuffy, with deep blue accents, big windows, and a feeling like you’re in on one of the city’s best secrets. Pro tip: come hungry for the eight-course tasting menu. I loved how the servers chat you through every dish with such passion. Fiveways is walkable if you fancy exploring this charming part of town before dinner.

3. Constantinople Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Kemptown
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Turkish / Mediterranean
• 🔥 Standout Features: Turkish meze, grilled meats, Ottoman decor.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Sharing flavorful meze and a cultural dining experience.

Take a culinary voyage to Turkey at Constantinople Restaurant in Kemptown! This vibrant spot is a feast for the senses, with colorful Ottoman-inspired decor and the irresistible aroma of grilling meats and exotic spices.

Starting with a selection of their delicious meze is a great plan – the creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, and crispy sigara boregi (cheese pastries) are divine. For the main course, the mixed grill kebab or the tender lamb shish are carnivore’s dreams.

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4. SHELTER HALL

Perched right on the seafront, Shelter Hall is Brighton’s answer to a buzzing European food market, with seven independent kitchens and multiple bars all under one super-stylish glass roof. It’s perfect for groups or the undecided, since everyone can try something different. Don’t skip on the Ox Block’s coal-roasted meats or Amalfi’s pillowy pizza. The sea views from the upstairs terrace are unbeatable, especially at sunset with a Negroni in hand. It’s casual and lively, with a festival vibe and often live music. Stroll five minutes along the prom and you’re at the Brighton Palace Pier. I always leave wishing I had extra stomach space.

5. Bincho Yakitori

• 📍 Location: Preston Street
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese Yakitori / Izakaya
• 🔥 Standout Features: Charcoal-grilled yakitori skewers, intimate izakaya vibe, quality ingredients.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Japanese grilled skewers, casual meals, and experiencing a taste of Tokyo.

Get ready for serious skewer action at Bincho Yakitori! This buzzing spot on Preston Street brings the authentic flavors of a Japanese izakaya to Brighton, specializing in charcoal-grilled yakitori. The air is filled with the delicious smoky scent of grilling.

Trying a variety of their yakitori skewers is essential – the chicken thigh with spring onion is a classic. The melt-in-your-mouth pork belly skewers, or the flavorful shiitake mushroom skewers, are also fantastic. Wash it all down with some sake.

6. Lost in the Lanes

This quirky little spot tucked into the Lanes is a must for brunch obsessives and lovers of all things independent. The menu changes seasonally, but the “Green Eggs & Ham” with salsa verde and smoked ham hock is always a standout, and their raspberry & white chocolate French toast is pure brunch magic. Inside, it’s bright, plant-filled, and artsy without trying too hard. A mix of locals hunched over laptops and friends catching up over Bloody Marys sets the vibe. Perfect for a late morning fuel-up before hitting the indie shops of North Laine. I once spent half an hour just admiring their wall art and people-watching.

7. Terre à Terre

• 📍 Location: The Lanes
• 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Vegetarian / Vegan / Global Fusion
• 🔥 Standout Features: Innovative vegetarian/vegan cuisine with artistic presentation.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Vegetarians, vegans, adventurous foodies, and a memorable meal.

Prepare to have your mind expanded at Terre à Terre, a legendary Brighton institution proving vegetarian and vegan food can be art! They craft incredibly inventive, globally inspired dishes with playful names and stunning presentations.

Their Rosti Revisited (a crispy potato cake with toppings) is a masterpiece. The “Better Batter” (halloumi or tofu in a crispy batter, a take on fish and chips), or their “KFC” (Korean Fried Cauliflower), will make you a believer. The vibrant colors are a feast.

8. Wild Flor

If impeccable food in a chilled-out setting is your thing, Wild Flor in Hove hits the sweet spot every time. The seasonal menu leans British-European, with showstoppers like the slow-cooked pork collar and beautifully simple lemon tart. Wild Flor’s wine list is seriously impressive, especially for fans of lesser-known French bottles. The setting is relaxed, with soft lighting and vintage-y brasserie vibes – white tablecloths, classic wooden chairs, the works. It’s a date night dream, or bring your parents to impress them. Church Road is packed with bars and indie shops, so stick around afterward. I fell for their gnocchi with wild garlic – easily my dish of the month.

9. Archipelagos

• 📍 Location: Kemptown
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Greek / Cypriot / Mediterranean
• 🔥 Standout Features: Authentic Greek and Cypriot dishes, warm atmosphere, generous portions.
• 🎯 Perfect For: A taste of the Greek islands and hearty Mediterranean cuisine.

Escape to the sunny shores of Greece at Archipelagos in Kemptown! This charming, family-run restaurant serves authentic Greek and Cypriot cuisine packed with flavor and made with love. The air is filled with oregano, lemon, and grilling meats.

Trying their incredible meze platter to sample a bit of everything, including tzatziki, hummus, and dolmades, is highly recommended. Diving into a classic moussaka, or their tender kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb), are also fantastic choices. Opa!

10. Nanninella Pizzeria Napoletana

Nanninella nails the classic Neapolitan pizza game – think chewy, charred crusts and simple toppings that sing. Their “Nanninella” with spicy salami and creamy ricotta hits all the right notes. Try the limoncello spritz for a Brighton-meets-Naples experience. The vibe is homey and super hospitable, with a small dining room full of Italian chatter and colourful murals. If you score a window seat, it’s prime people-watching. Seven Dials is nearby if you want a pre-pizza pint. My first bite of their margherita instantly transported me to a backstreet in Naples.

11. The Little Fish Market

• 📍 Location: Hove
• 💲 Price range: $70 – $120+ per person (Set tasting menu)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seafood / Fine Dining / Modern British
• 🔥 Standout Features: Exclusive tasting menu emphasizing fresh local seafood.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Serious seafood lovers and special occasion splurges.

For an unforgettable seafood experience, book a table at The Little Fish Market in Hove! This tiny, intimate restaurant showcases the absolute freshest, locally sourced seafood in an exquisite tasting menu format. Chef Duncan Ray is a master of his craft.

The menu changes daily based on the catch, but expect perfectly cooked scallops with creative accompaniments. Delicate turbot with seasonal vegetables, or a unique preparation of local crab or lobster, are also highlights. It’s a true celebration of the sea.

12. Unithai Oriental Market Ltd

If you know, you know. Unithai started as an Asian supermarket but has a secret canteen-style Thai cafe in the back that’s beloved by locals. Pad Kra Pao (holy basil stir-fry) and their perfectly creamy Massaman curry are local legends. Don’t expect fancy decor – it’s all about the food, plastic chairs, and mixing with the city’s Thai community. The fridge has some wild drinks to grab with your meal (try the lychee juice). It’s close to Brighton station and right across from Preston Park – perfect for a takeaway picnic. It’s my go-to for authentic flavours and zero fuss.

13. Riddle & Finns

• 📍 Location: The Lanes & The Beach
• 💲 Price range: $40 – $70+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seafood / Oyster Bar / Champagne
• 🔥 Standout Features: Classic oyster bar, fresh seafood platters.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Oyster lovers, champagne, seafood pairings, and stylish meals.

Get ready to shuck yeah at Riddle & Finns! With locations in the historic Lanes and right on the beach, this place is a Brighton institution for oysters and seafood. The vibe is buzzy and sophisticated, with marble-topped bars and gleaming displays of fresh catches.

Indulging in a platter of their freshly shucked oysters (try a mixed selection!) and a glass of champagne is a must. Their fruits de mer platters, piled high with crab, lobster, and prawns, or their classic fish and chips, are also showstoppers.

14. Abyssinia

• 📍 Location: Central
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Ethiopian
• 🔥 Standout Features: Ethiopian stews (wots), communal dining with injera, vegetarian and meat dishes.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Exploring African flavors, communal meals, and a hands-on dining experience.

Dive hands-first into a world of flavor at Abyssinia! This central Brighton gem serves up authentic Ethiopian cuisine, where you use soft, spongy injera bread to scoop up incredibly flavorful stews called wots. The air is fragrant with berbere spice.

Trying their doro wat (a rich, spicy chicken stew) is essential. The vegetarian beyaynetu, a colorful platter of various lentil and vegetable dishes like misir wot and gomen, or the savory beef tibs, are also fantastic. Sharing is encouraged!

15. The Big Bowl

• 📍 Location: Preston Street
• 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Chinese / Noodle Soups / Dumplings
• 🔥 Standout Features: Hearty noodle soup, hand-pulled noodles, Chinese comfort food.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Noodle soup lovers, fast, cheap meals.

When you need a hug in a bowl, head to The Big Bowl on Preston Street! This place lives up to its name, serving massive, steaming bowls of authentic Chinese noodle soup that will warm you from the inside out. The smell of rich broth fills the air.

Ordering their hand-pulled beef noodle soup is a great plan. A comforting bowl of wonton soup with plump dumplings, or their flavorful char siu pork noodle soup, are also highly recommended. Their dumplings are also fantastic. It’s no-frills and satisfying.

16. The Coal Shed Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Boyce’s Street, near The Lanes
• 💲 Price range: $50 – $90+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Steakhouse / Seafood / Open Fire Cooking
• 🔥 Standout Features: High-quality steaks and fresh seafood cooked over charcoal, stylish industrial-chic decor.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Steak connoisseurs, seafood lovers, fans of open-fire cooking, and special occasions.

Get ready for a fiery feast at The Coal Shed Restaurant! This stylish Brighton eatery specializes in incredible steaks and fresh seafood, with a strong emphasis on cooking over live charcoal. The aroma of grilling meat and a hint of smoke fills the air. It’s where prime cuts meet primal fire.

You should definitely consider their sharing steaks, like a Chateaubriand or Porterhouse, expertly cooked over coals. Their freshly grilled seafood, perhaps whole plaice or monkfish, or a classic Sunday roast with all the trimmings, are also fantastic choices. The Coal Shed delivers a sophisticated yet elemental dining experience.

17. Bom-Bane’s

• 📍 Location: Kemp Town
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Eclectic European / Quirky Cafe
• 🔥 Standout Features: Quirky decor (musical instruments, oddities), live music/events, European cooking.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Bizarre theme lovers and intimate dining experiences.

Prepare for a dining experience as wonderfully eccentric as Brighton itself at Bom-Bane’s! This Kemp Town institution is a fantastical, intimate space filled with an incredible collection of musical instruments, puppets, and quirky treasures. Jane Bom-Bane often hosts musical evenings.

The food is home-style European. Consider their popular Belgian mussels steamed in white wine and garlic. Hearty stews, like a beef bourguignon, or their comforting fish pie, are also excellent choices. It’s a truly unique and charming place.

18. VIP Pizza (Very Italian Pizza)

• 📍 Location: Old Steine
• 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Authentic Italian / Neapolitan Pizza
• 🔥 Standout Features: Neapolitan pizzas in a wood-fired oven, quality imported ingredients.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Pizza purists, authentic Italian food, and family-friendly meals.

Mamma mia, get ready for seriously good pizza at VIP Pizza (Very Italian Pizza)! This bustling spot near Old Steine serves authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, cooked to perfection in a fiery wood-fired oven. The aroma of baking dough and San Marzano tomatoes is irresistible.

Trying their classic Margherita pizza, with its beautiful charred crust, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, is essential. The spicy Diavola with salami, or a simple Marinara (no cheese), are also fantastic. It’s loud, lively, and packed with Italian families.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Fun Places to Eat in Brighton

Are you searching for more information about where to eat in Brighton? Here are some common questions (and answers) I get asked a lot about Brighton’s most unique restaurants.

What food is Brighton known for?

Brighton’s famous for its fish and chips by the beach, unbeatable vegan spots, and cozy cafes. Make sure to try fresh seafood during your stay in England.

Is Brighton worth visiting?

Absolutely, Brighton’s worth visiting! It’s got beaches, vibrant street art, and food that’ll have you planning your next trip back before you’ve even left, perfect for capturing Instagram-worthy pictures in the UK.

What is the nicest part of Brighton?

The nicest part of Brighton has to be the Lanes. This historic quarter is a maze of narrow alleyways, brimming with boutique shops, cozy cafes, and unique restaurants, making it a must-visit destination once you fly to England.

Is Brighton a walkable city?

Yep, Brighton is super walkable, making it one of the top places to live and visit in England. Strolling from the beach to the city center is easy, and you’ll stumble upon hidden gems along the way, experiencing the South of England charm.