Eating in Brighton 

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Brighton is a haven for jaded Londoners, seeking a less frenetic existence, but who don’t want to sacrifice quality of living. For this reason they are a host of top-notch eateries ready to extend you a very warm welcome.

• Special Occasion Dining
• 1 Paston Place (1 Paston Place) has been a major player on the Brighton dining scene since 2002 and specialises in modern European haute cuisine. Chef/proprietor Francesco Furriello offers three menus: a la carte, set lunch and dessert, and a wine list to match. A three course meal from the a la carte costs £39 per person and wine ranges from £16.50 for a very potable house wine to £104 (Barbera d’Asti Ai Suma Piedmonte). A trip to 1 Paston Place does not have to break the bank, but feels like a very decadent treat.Blanch House (17 Atlingworth Street) is brought to you by the very successful team who established the famous, place-to-be-seen Atlantic Bar & Grill just off Piccadilly Circus in London. It is a luxury boutique hotel, but the restaurant is open to non-residents. Three courses will set you back an eminently reasonable £30. Wine ranges from £12.95 for the house white to £100 for Krug NV.Gingerman Restaurant (Norfolk Square) opened in 1998 and has been wowing locals ever since. This is a very small 32-seater restaurant, which means you may have to book a long time in advance. However, don’t let that deter you because David Keats’ menu is well worth the wait. A three-course meal comes in at £25, and wine is equally reasonably priced. You can now enjoy the Gingerman experience at drakes, a recently opened luxury hotel on the front in Kemptown.
• The Best of the Rest
• Quentins (42 Western Road) is a relaxed, which has recently undergone a bit of a makeover. The proprietor/ chef serves up delicious fare on a short menu that really delivers the goods. What's cooking? Modern British fare. Signature dishes include fresh crab and spring onion souffle, leek and butterbean gratin, tarragon mash, spicy lentils, and mouthwatering apple pie with lavender ice cream.Terre a Terre (71 East Street) is widely regarded as the UK’s best dedicated vegetarian restaurant and counts a good number of committed carnivores among its client base. The most expensive main course on the dinner menu is £13.50, so you can scoff without fear for your wallet or your conscience. Browns (3 & 4 Duke Street) this 110-seater restaurant makes it onto our list as it was the original Brown’s in a chain that now has 10 restaurants nationwide. The food is consistent, if not the last word in innovative cuisine and the wine list doesn’t disappoint either. If you have left it too late to book anywhere else you could do a lot worse than come here and enjoy a decent meal, in pleasant surroundings, with friendly and attentive staff.
• Snacks and Cheap Eats
• Maroccos (Kingsway, Hove) makes it onto our list as it is an all-too-rare beachside eaterie. Overlooking the front at Hove this Italian café-cum-trattatoria serves all meals from breakfast through to dinner. With both English and Italian fare on offer, there is something to for everyone; and like all good Italian restaurants, they offer a mean selection of ice-creams.Bona Foodie (St James Street, Kemptown and Palmeira Square, Hove) has two outlets across the city. Both of these deli/ cafes offer organic produce, home made cakes and made to order sandwiches and are the places to head for if you are wondering, ‘what should I have for lunch’. They also do wonderful hampers, which make great pressies and start at £20 and average out at about £40.Presse (12a Queens Road) offer made to order take-away salads and healthy baguettes, bagels, wraps and hot paninis along with freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. The emphasis here is on fresh and healthy produce, combined to the customer’s exact specification. Why not grab a healthy salad for lunch and save up some room for a feast at one of the restaurants mentioned above?

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Brighton & Hove Travel Guide