The best French restaurants in Brighton

Petit Pois is one of the most charming French restaurants in Brighton and it's conveniently located right in the bustling heart of the city – The Lanes. It's a timeless operation, dialling up the cosy, romantic ambience with rustic trim to set the stage for classic French cuisine like escargots, bouillabaisse, garlic mash, and macarons to round it all off. As you might expect, the wine list holds up as well, featuring fine bottles from Burgundy, Alsace, and Bordeaux, to name a few.

You'll have to make your way to Rottingdean for a taste of chef-owner Franck Thomeret's widely praised home cooking. The picture-perfect Bistro Gourmand, complete with red-and-white chequered tablecloths and a blackboard menu, brings Parisian joie de vivre and Provencal flavours to the village. Menu highlights include dishes like coq au vin, bouillabaisse, and lamb cassoulet, accompanied by quality French wines.

The accommodating Mange Tout in the North Laine is a favourite of the local brunch crowds, serving a menu of typical French choices like croque monsieur, omelettes, and croissants, always with an eye towards sustainability. It's not just a brunch hotspot, however – later on it pivots toward authentic French lunch and dinner cooking, with a regularly changing menu scrawled up on the blackboard. Their selection of low-intervention wines is available throughout the day, too.

The Côte French restaurants are a familiar sight around the UK, and they have a branch in Brighton as well. These modern brasseries offer an overview of authentic French cooking that's accessible in terms of price as well as taste. Diners can start the day with French omelettes, try dishes like confit duck l'orange or beef cheek bourguignon over a leisurely lunch, or pop in for a satisfying pre-theatre meal.

Part of the Brighton branch of Hotel du Vin, Bistro du Vin combines traditional French hospitality with an updated setting featuring a bright dining room with marble tabletops, mirrors, and a fireplace. Serving food throughout the day, this French restaurant offers classic dishes like fish pie, turkey ballotine, and baked scallops, with afternoon tea and tasting menus available as well. First and foremost, however, the emphasis is on quality French wines.