Il Bistro Restaurant

Italian, Modern European·
££££
·

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Italian, Modern European
Ambience
Cool, Fun, Lively, Romantic, Themed, Widely spaced tables
Food Occasions
All day dining, Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Alfresco And Views
Outside seating, Terrace
Special Features
Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions

About

Il Bistro is a charming bistro in Brighton, inspired by the food and culture of Provence and the west coast of Italy. The restaurant was founded by Michael Garman in 1976, who returned to England’s south coast with the goal of founding Brighton’s first Mediterranean steakhouse, after travelling extensively around the south of France and Italy’s Mediterranean coastline.

Now half a century old, Il Bistro has become a fixture of Brighton’s dining scene - a reliable little bistro serving fresh pasta, bruschetta, seafood risotto and aperitivo cocktails, right in the heart of Brighton’s city centre. The fetching sage green front is easy to spot on Market Street, and an array of tables outside on the pavement make Il Bistro a great choice for sunny summer afternoons.

Interiors are cosy, with hardwood floors, white tablecloths and old wooden ceiling beams giving Il Bistro an old-school charm that makes it ideal for casual catch-ups and celebrations alike. Tables are snug but not cramped, which gives the dining room a fantastic, buzzy atmosphere, especially as it is often full.

Kick things off with a classic aperitivo - a Negroni Sbagliato or an Aperol Spritz, for example - before getting stuck into antipasti dishes like ragu arancini, burrata salad, grilled butterflied sardines and a selection of Italian salumi. Il Bistro’s pasta dishes are a must order, particularly classic Roman dishes like penne Amatriciana, and tagliatelle cacio e pepe. We’d recommend saving room for a steak, or one of the excellent fish dishes, like sea bass in garlic butter, or seafood risotto.

Desserts are similarly classic, ranging from tiramisu and affogato to banoffee pie and profiteroles, whilst the drinks menu also includes a compact selection of wines from Italy and the rest of the world.

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Events

£35Sicilian Night
Dining Experience
Sicilian Night

17 Jul 2025

Join us for a special evening a Sicilian inspired 4 course set menu.

 

£35 per person including organic wine pairing for the first three courses.

Begin your journey with a Sicilian Negroni. all wines are from terraced vineyards found on the steep slopes of the Etna volcano.

More Details

Location

6/7 Market Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1HH

01273 324 584 01273 324 584

Website

Opening Times

Breakfast
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat 10:00-12:30
Sun 10:00-12:30
Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri 12:00-17:00
Sat 13:00-17:00
Sun 13:00-17:00
Dinner
Mon 17:00-22:00
Tue 17:00-22:00
Wed 17:00-22:00
Thu 17:00-22:00
Fri 17:00-22:00
Sat 17:00-22:00
Sun 17:00-22:00

Reviews

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1 Review 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

David L

27 March 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 3
Service 4
Atmosphere 3
Value 3

Service was fine but starter was just warm not hot and mussels in seafood risotto were not soft and tender but rubbery. Disappointed.

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