The best restaurants in Brighton

With a prime spot on Marlborough Place, Tutto's welcoming seafoam green awnings give way to a beautiful art deco restaurant inside. Great cocktails emerge from the central bar, and the menu is full of innovative, Med-inspired sharers, from comforting pasta and risotto dishes to fresh, dainty crudos. The outside terrace is lovely in the summer too. 

This sleek, minimal Japanese sushi counter in Hove knocks out tremendous maki and nigiri for the price, and a seat at the counter gives you unrestricted views of all the prep work. Splash out and go for some of the more exciting nigiri, like Wagyu and eel. 

It may be chic inside, but Nostos has the heart and soul of a proper rustic taverna, with food to match. From Cretan pastries and bowls of deep-fried crispy squid to gigantes humming with rich tomato and herbs, Nostos is a knockout - it's no wonder it gets so busy. 

This is the original restaurant by Brighton chef legend Ben McKellar. A recent refurbishment now allows plenty of natural light to flood the dining room, where French-leaning food is served. Top-drawer ingredients are used and combined in simple pairings, resulting in ace dishes. A starter of asparagus soup with poached quail’s egg, toasted ciabatta, Old Sussex Cheddar and home-cured lardo virtually sings on the plate, while desserts such as lemon parfait with buttermilk and Gingerman honey sorbet are a triumph.

Sister restaurant to Brighton’s The Salt Room, this barbecue-leaning restaurant is mostly known for to-die-for beef – locally sourced fillet, rib-eye and rump is sizzled on the restaurant’s Josper grill and served with a choice of sauces – the green peppercorn is a knock-out – alongside indulgent sides such as truffle mac ‘n’ cheese and beef-dripping chips. The interiors are as macho and masculine as the fare, and if you’re visiting on a Sunday, opt for the sharing Sunday roast, where half a kg of black Aberdeen Angus sirloin is served with all the trimmings.  

Kindling has a lovely location just a minute’s walk from Brighton’s seafront, and an enviable team in place too, with nutritional therapist Holly Taylor and ex-St John chef Toby Geneen manning the stoves. Ethical, sustainable cooking is the order of the day here - much of the menu shines a light on Sussex produce, with small and large sharing plates including dishes like smoked fish pate with fermented rhubarb, and grilled mallard with fermented plum, salsify and rainbow chard.

Overlooking Brighton’s seafront, this is a real special-occasion place with a menu to match. It majors in locally-sourced seafood and grilled meats cooked over a coal fire. Dishes not to miss include lemon sole with spiced potted crab butter, cucumber and seaweed-roasted potatoes; the ‘Surfboard’ stuffed with grilled shellfish from the south coast of Scotland; and the ‘Taste of the Pier’ dessert, featuring doughnuts, fudge and chocolate ‘pebbles’. For warmer days, head to the ocean-front terrace for that ultimate seaside experience.   

Encapsulating the edgy, hip, leftfield and idiosyncratic identity of Brighton itself, this rock n’ roll restaurant offers excellent British food with a thrillingly theatrical concept. From the open kitchen, dishes such as flat iron misozuko with Bovril and shallot; Gorgonzola, kimchi and hazelnut in a boisterous veggie constellation; or brill with grapefruit and chilli impress. Dishes come out as and when they are ready, which adds to the constantly buzzy atmosphere – you can soak all of this up directly at the pass perched on top of yellow-topped bar stools.  

Bringing a slice of Japan to the streets of Brighton, this smoky barbecue restaurant evokes the indulgent spirit of izakaya bars in Tokyo with its grilled small-plates. Chef Dave Miney cooks behind the open kitchen on the binchotan coal grill in this industrial looking site just off Brighton beach. The result? Skewers of chicken hearts, pork belly and Korean chicken wings, all oozing with umami, spice and smokiness. Sweetcorn with miso butter also gets our vote, and we recommend you wash it all down with one of the Japanese craft beers on offer.  

This is Indian with a deft, complex and creative interpretation, which goes down well with the hip foodies of Brighton. Chef Alun Sperring has taken his experience at the Cinnamon Club in London to the southern shores to create signature dishes such as red tandoori sea bream, rose water-infused mutton biryani and oxtail Madras. All is delivered with freshness and attention to detail, lifting the experience to fine-dining levels. The colourful dining room, scattered with atmospheric fairy lights and shelves stacked with provisions bring things back to earth again.

A follow-up from the team behind the brilliant Gingerman (which is also on this list, by the way), The Flint House is a calming little oasis amid the buzz of the Brighton Lanes. Stop in for snacking plates like sweetcorn fritters with jalapeno mayonnaise, lardo on toast with truffle and honey, and crispy ox cheek with chilli miso emulsion and tenderstem broccoli, all washed down with a masterful list of wines by the glass.

Another success story from restaurateur Razak Helalat (the man behind The Salt Room and The Coal Shed), Burnt Orange is a little more relaxed and buzzy, promising signature cocktails and music late into the night. The food is good too - think spiced calamari fritti, grilled halloumi with spiced fig honey, barbecue chicken thighs with celeriac remoulade, and wood-fired cod with green coconut curry.

There is more than meets the eye with this family-run neighbourhood bistro. The exceptionally well-priced French food is always solid and always delivered with a friendly smile. Through the open kitchen, head chef David Roy can be spotted conjuring up the likes of escargot, frog’s legs and duck rillettes as starters, while pan-fried sea bream fillets with bouillabaisse sauce from the mains section will transport diners from the south of England to the south of France in no time.

As you might have guessed, locally-sourced seafood is at the forefront of this bijou, beachfront restaurant. If the weather allows, sit outside for some epic views of the beach and the ocean, which will fill your nostrils with that salty sea air that will undoubtedly add to your experience. Gulp down ceviche dressed with a chilli, red onion and lime salsa, or fresh oysters. If you’re feeling brave, why not opt for the whole crab or lobster?

What better combination than Indian street food and craft ale, eh? That’s exactly what you’re getting at Curry Leaf, which serves up snacks during the day (expect mini poppadums with homemade chutneys or open-faced naans with paneer), and rich curries at night (the chicken-based Shimla Mirch or vegetarian Ennai Kathirikai with aubergine and paper dosa should be on your list). From the long craft beer menu, give the Wild Beer ‘Bibble’ IPA a go – it goes so well with the food. Consistently one of the best Indian restaurants in Brighton.

Chef and owner Dan Kenny brings his experience cooking at the renowned Gingerman to this progressive, boundary-pushing restaurant. There is only one weekly-changing tasting menu of between 16-20 courses, focused around micro-seasonal British ingredients and sustainable produce. Dishes change all the time, but examples might include scallop tikka masala, parfait and port, and milk bread with cheese burger butter.

Don’t knock conveyor belt sushi – this is a step up from your usual sushi experience. Raw fish is served alongside Japanese tapas and the plates are as top-quality as the signature sake cocktails are. But the restaurant also has a huge focus on vegan and vegetarian food. Novel presentation vessels (such as small, wooden boats) keep things on theme and the specially-designed building is reminiscent of a huge, red lantern that evokes a 1960’s Tokyo feel.

Taking up residence in a beautiful Georgian townhouse near Royal Pavilion Gardens, Furna's luxurious tasting menus combine exceptional ingredients with pitch-perfect cooking. The interiors are beautifully done too, combining grand period details with contemporary touches, and wine pairings and cocktails - should you want such things - are expertly curated. Make no mistake, Furna is a true gem. 

This beach-front brasserie with its ideally-located terrace takes its name from the dark cloud of starlings that has a tendency to swirl above the adjacent West Pier at sunset. Take this in on the terrace while enjoying the likes of lobster croquettes with saffron and chorizo mayonnaise; fantastic locally-sourced oysters; or harrisa-baked marrow with red pepper tabbouleh and coconut yoghurt dressing. As you can tell, the cuisine spans the Mediterranean and so does the wine.  

If fusion is your thing, this Brighton restaurant will be right up your alley. It merges French food with Spanish tapas, with a few Asian twists thrown in for good measure. The result is sharing platters laden with homemade terrines, squid tempura or grilled steak skewers. Have you tried gnocchi with edamame beans before? Now’s the time. The dining room is small, with tightly-packed tables, but the intimate setting adds to its charm.

From the team behind the much-loved Gingerman restaurant (also in Brighton) comes this light and airy gastropub serving locally sourced dishes. The food is suitably trendy, but always tasty, with fans claiming they have never had a bad experience here. You might expect crispy pork neck with kimchi puree and grilled lettuce or roast monkfish with spiced potatoes, crispy squid, black garlic, spinach and curry velouté. Pickled mackerel with cherry tomatoes, grilled fennel and pickled cucumber makes for a light and summery dish, and if you’re visiting on a Sunday, the roasts are hugely popular.  

It might be hidden down a nondescript side street in Hove, but there is nothing nondescript about this tiny fish restaurant (we’re talking 20 covers). It serves up absolutely terrific seafood in a seriously refined way, in the shape of a fixed-price tasting menu, which changes every month or so. Although dedicated to showcasing the catch from the local boats, the menu delivers meat and vegetable dishes worthy of royalty. Reserve your table well in advance, though – this place books out quickly.

With an unassuming little front on the main road to Hove, Wild Flor is totally unpretentious, but there’s some brilliant cooking and wine selection happening behind the scenes. Interiors are spacious, comfortable and laid back, with a bright, airy bistro feel, and the menu takes that concept and modernises it a touch, with dishes like pea and lavender veloute with sheep's milk and spelt tortellino, and glazed short rib, asparagus and watercress with pomme puree. Wines are bang on too - arguably some of the best you’ll find in the city.

The talented restaurant team at Lucky Khao have worked at some of the best restaurants in Bangkok (including renowned Bo.Lan and 100 Mahaseth), before bringing a taste of authentic Thai barbecue back to Brighton. Get stuck into dishes like chicken larb, chilli lamb skewers, lucky crab fried rice and drunken noodles with lemongrass chicken, as well as sustainable cocktails. A thumping soundtrack of 90s hip hop and rock helps to keep the atmosphere buzzing.

This intimate restaurant in Hove is the result of Steven Edwards winning the coveted MasterChef: The Professionals competition in 2013, and the excellence he demonstrated in the MasterChef kitchen he has certainly transferred to Etch. His signature style of mixing technically accomplished cooking with explosions of flavour is demonstrated in tasting menus that only explore a handful of ingredients. Edwards has mastered the skill of keeping things simple, yet being able to blow your mind at the same time.  

A Brighton veteran, Due South has reopened on Brighton beach front and we couldn't be happier - where better to enjoy whole grilled fish, wafted over smoke and flame, than in front of Brighton's rolling waves? Tear yourself away from the fish and meat to share and you'll find an Asian thread running through dishes like smoked pork belly bao buns and flamed mussels XO with tom yum. 

This meat-free diamond has been serving vegetarian food since 1993 and is a popular spot for open-minded B-towners. The food is equally open-minded and always dazzles the crowds with unusual flavour combinations and intriguing ingredient pairings, leaning towards Asia. Korean fried cauliflower, say, comes with sweet and sour sesame sauce and onigiri rice, soused daikon, kohlrabi and pickled mirin ginger jelly. The restaurant’s Asian take on afternoon tea is also spectacular with twists such as steamed rice buns stuffed with Szechuan marinated halloumi.