The best new restaurants in Brighton

The Set's inaugural bricks-and-mortar location, supported via crowdfunding, carries on what made this small-team pop-up a success in the first place. With juts 12 covers, the snug space focuses primarily on tasting menus, but leaves the fine dining faff at the door. The kitchen team draws on nostalgic memories of childhood, travel, and even takeaway meals to serve dishes that are interesting to them and their guests alike.

Jack's Pizza delivers Detroit-style pizzas to the heart of the North Laine. What began as a home-based project has transitioned into a permanent residence above a Chinese supermarket in Sydney Street, serving up the iconic four-cornered slices with a varied array of toppings. The menu is rounded out by small plates and sides, and takeaway is available as well.

Crazy Goose comes from Black Rock Restaurants, the team behind Brighton favourites like Burnt Orange and The Coal Shed. This cosy city-centre gastropub is split across two levels, with an easy-going bar downstairs for drinks and mingling, and a proper dining room upstairs. The kitchen focuses on comforting, seasonal British cooking, including pies, seafood, and classic Sunday roasts.

Stem opened in Hove in early 2026 as a chef-led British bistro and wine bar from the team behind Dilsk. The menu centres on seasonal British cooking, with an emphasis on straightforward plates done properly rather than showy techniques. The drinks list mixes classic and low-intervention wines with cocktails and craft beer. The room is relaxed and design-led, with vinyl soundtracks and rotating artwork adding to the neighbourhood feel.

The North Star feels like a classic neighbourhood pub, only with a bit more purpose behind it. The menu sticks to the familiar side of things, with fish and chips, burgers and a classic Sunday roast, while drinks stay simple with pints, wine and the usual pub choices. What makes the place stand out is its partnership with Team Domenica, a local charity that helps young people with learning disabilities or autism into work. Trainees are part of the daily running of the pub, and all profits help fund the charity's programmes.

Pommy's Pizza brings a New York-style slice shop to Brighton with big foldable slices, house-made sauces and proper Italian tomatoes. The menu sticks to the basics with tried-and-tested topping combinations and a few square pies for anyone who prefers a thicker base. The space has a tiled, slightly retro feel that still looks modern, and there's outdoor seating if you want to keep things al fresco. It's a simple setup built around good slices and fast service.

Happy Maki started out as a festival stall and now runs a North Laine restaurant serving fully plant-based sushi rolls and poke bowls. Fillings range from sweet potato and roasted coconut to crispy faux duck with hoisin, and everything is made to be filling, quick and easy to take away. The space is casual and bright, and the charity work behind the brand gives it a sense of purpose without making a big fuss about it.

Flat Iron has arrived in The Lanes with its familiar setup of solid steaks at prices that stay accessible. The menu includes its signature flat iron cut along with premium options like a daily Wagyu special. Sides cover the classics like creamed spinach and mac and cheese, and the drinks list sticks to wine, cocktails and beer. The Brighton space feels a little fancy without being too formal and fits neatly into this busy part of town.

Patio sits close to Brighton station with a bright blue exterior and a relaxed, candlelit interior. Luke Williams and Nathan Moseby have put together a neighbourhood bar built around local wines, simple cocktails and a monthly rotating kitchen residency. The wine list mixes Sussex bottles with small-batch imports, and the food changes depending on which chef is in the kitchen. It's intimate, busy in a friendly way and the kind of place people drop into for a drink before ordering whatever food is on that month.

Original Tony's has built a loyal following for its pizzas, which slot in somewhere between Neapolitan and New York style, including margherita, pepperoni and Tony's Favourite, which comes loaded with sausage, stracciatella, hot honey and chillies. The crust is nicely charred, and the flavours stay bold without being over the top. You can eat in the simple candlelit space or take your pizza away. Portions are generous, and the quality tends to stay reliably high, which explains why locals keep going back.

Taro has opened its first coastal branch in Brighton with the same wide-ranging Japanese menu it's known for in London. Ramen, teriyaki, sushi, sashimi and tempura all feature alongside bento boxes and location-specific specials. The Brighton site also serves a rainbow sushi roll made with salmon, prawn, tuna and yellowtail, filled with asparagus and avocado, then topped with spicy mayo. It's affordable, easygoing and works for a quick meal or takeaway.

Maré won one Michelin star a mere half year after opening – it's the only restaurant in Brighton to hold one at the time of writing. The secret to its success lies in Chef Rafael Cagali (of Da Terra in London) and his heritage-rooted approach that champions seasonal, produce-led dishes with global inspirations. Balanced between the elegance of fine dining and the relaxed attitude of everyday meals, both the food and the venue lean towards simplicity while retaining depth and a sense of polished style.

Temple sits inside the restored Black Rock folly on Madeira Drive, a small circular building with huge arched windows that look straight out to sea. You can settle in with a Red Roaster coffee or a Real Patisserie pastry while watching the waves, and the interior keeps things simple with clean lines and plenty of light. There's also a paved terrace that gets the sun when the weather behaves. It's a calm place for a break from the seafront crowds.

Carne has moved to Hove and continues to focus on high-welfare British steaks cooked simply and well. The menu includes starters, sides and some hefty desserts, and there's an outdoor terrace on Church Road that's great for people-watching. Sunday roasts and bottomless brunch are served too. Downstairs there's a separate bar that can be hired for events, making it a useful spot for groups as well as dinners.

Namo Eat has been serving Thai food in Brighton since 2020 and has grown a loyal following. Founder Bookie grew up in Lampang learning from his grandmother, and that background shows in the way every dish is prepared. You can get it delivered, sit in at the Ship Street restaurant or visit their kitchen at The Eagle Pub. Everything is cooked with plenty of attention, and even the packaging stays compostable or recyclable.

La Tapa Loca sits between Brighton and Hove in Brunswick Town, running from brunch in the morning to wine and small plates later on. The menu focuses on Mediterranean dishes, organic coffee and matcha, and the room is filled with warm wood, soft lighting and an exceptionally curated look. It feels part neighbourhood café and part low-key wine bar, and there's a relaxed energy throughout the day.

 Table is a small café-bistro in Kemptown that feels calm compared with the rush of St James's Street. Breakfast is a big deal here with pancakes, homemade granola and proper cooked plates. Later on, it shifts to Mediterranean comfort food, with salads, mezze-style dishes and a few simple grilled options. Cakes are baked in-house, and the coffee is taken seriously. There's also a quiet garden out back that works well if you want to sit somewhere that feels separate from the noise outside.

Aberdeen Seafood brings Hong Kong's harbour-style cooking to Brighton with wok-fried dishes, chilli-driven seafood plates and a menu built for sharing. The name nods to the neighbourhood many Hongkongers grew up in, where late-night meals and seafood stalls were part of daily life. The Brighton space is bright and sociable, and the food comes out fast with plenty of heat and flavour. It's a great choice if you want a table full of dishes in a lively setting.

Pommy's Pizza has opened in the Imperial Arcade with its Italian American slice shop setup. Slices come from a stainless-steel counter with house-made sauces and Italian tomatoes, and toppings stick to the tried-and-tested classics. Square pies are available too and the space has a tiled look that feels both modern and slightly retro. You can also book the venue for events if you want something low-key and pizza-focused.

Clementine and Co. sits on Duke Street with warm lighting and a relaxed vibe. You can take a seat at the bar and watch the team shake citrus-heavy cocktails or settle at a table if you want something slower. Drinks cover familiar classics and some more playful ideas, including a thoughtful non-alcoholic section. A short menu of small plates and boards makes it easy to turn a drink into a longer stop, and there are often happy hour deals that draw people in.

Rudy's has brought its Manchester-born Neapolitan pizza to Brighton with a stylish, laidback dining room. The dough is made fresh each day, left to rise for 24 hours and cooked quickly for a soft, airy base. Toppings stick to Italian ingredients and the menu keeps things simple without feeling limited. Cocktails and wine round things out and the whole place has an easy pace that fits well with the neighbourhood.

Having successfully transitioned from a mobile food truck to a permanent restaurant, this vibrant casual dining spot crafts a menu inspired by iconic street-food burgers from New York to Berlin. The signature offering revolves around indulgent bacon butter burgers paired with decadent sides like fries drenched in bone marrow gravy. To finish the meal, diners can tuck into rich brownies alongside thick boozeshakes.