The Best Places to Eat, Drink, and Wander
Brighton & Hove is one of those places that people think they already know before they arrive. Thereâs the obvious side to it: the beach, the pier, fish and chips, amusement arcades, and afternoons in the sun with an ice cream. But spend a bit more time here and the city begins to feel a bit broader than that. You’ll find independent coffee shops hidden down side streets. Great restaurants tucked behind old fishermanâs lanes. Craft breweries, gigs in little record shops, Olympic-sized swimming pools, beachside saunas, and quieter pockets of coastline just beyond the centre.
You can spend an entire weekend here doing very little at all, or fill every hour with great food, shopping, galleries, walks, and late evenings by the sea. Whether youâre visiting for a short break or planning a longer stay on the Sussex coast, these are some of the best things to do in Brighton & Hove.
Visit the Royal Pavilion
Brightonâs Royal Pavilion is one of the cityâs most recognisable landmarks, and still one of the most interesting places to visit â and completely unexpected in the middle of the city. Originally built as a seaside retreat for King George IV â the Prince Regent â the palace mixes Indian and Chinese-inspired design with huge chandeliers, dramatic interiors, and some genuinely over-the-top rooms. Inside, you can walk through the old royal apartments, dining rooms, and kitchens while learning more about the buildingâs unusual history and its connection to Brightonâs growth as a seaside destination.
Right next door, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is worth adding on to the same visit. The museum covers everything from fashion and fine art to local history and touring exhibitions â including Wildlife Photographer of the Year â and is an easy way to spend a quieter morning in the city centre. The adjoining Brighton Dome â formerly the palace’s stables and corn exchange â is also a fantastic venue, hosting comedy, theatre and music events come nightfall.
Walk Along Brighton Palace Pier
For a dose of old-school seaside nostalgia, Brighton Palace Pier still captures that sense of British seaside that feels increasingly rare elsewhere. The smell of pier doughnuts (a seaside specialty) and salty air drifts between arcade machines, fairground rides, and fish & chip counters. But watch out for the seagulls circling overhead â they’re truly fearless and will have your arm off for the chance of a chip.
If rides and arcade games arenât your thing, the views back towards the city are still worth it, especially later in the afternoon when the sun falls below the horizon and the lights starts to twinkle over the beach.
Afterwards, walk west along the promenade towards the old Victorian bandstand. Sunset is one of the best times to be here, as locals gather on the beach with takeaway pizza (likely from Fatto a Mano or VIP Pizza) and drinks while the iconic remains of the West Pier sit silhouetted offshore.
See Brighton From Above on the i360
Offering some of the best views across the city and coastline, the i360 is a popular excursion for visitors seeking a towering view of Brighton and its surrounds. The doughnut-shaped observation pod slowly rises above the seafront, giving you a clear view over the famous beach, nearby Hove, the South Downs, and the long stretch of coastline heading east and west. While in the air, guests can also enjoy the view with a glass of something from the on-board bar, adding a premium experience to moving up and down the tower.
What makes the i360 particularly interesting is how it stays true to Brightonâs seafront history. Standing above the remains of the old West Pier, it even features the restored Victorian ticket office buildings â an homage to the original pier entrance.
Explore the North Laine
Brighton’s creative heart has long been located in the North Laine, where you’ll find the city’s independent spirit through its trail of shops, cafes and eateries. Sandwiched between North Street and Trafalgar Street, this part of the city feels entirely different to the grand Regency seafront just minutes away: vintage clothing rails sit outside flower shops, bric-a-brac appears beside culinary shops and bakeries, and there are bookshops and stationery shops aplenty. Some of the best spots are Triple Point Coffee, Black Mocha and Dandy for coffee and pastries, Dowse and Utility for homewares, and Papersmiths for all your paper-based goods. Meanwhile, many hours can be spent perusing the wares at Snoopers’ Paradise â a real Brighton institution where you’ll find all the treasures of yesteryear.
Music still runs deeply through Brighton, and the North Laine remains one of the best places in the city to browse records properly. Resident Music is one of the UKâs best-known independent record shops, with weekly favourites and the occasional gig to enjoy in-store, while the Bella Union Vinyl Shop brings together carefully selected records, books, and merchandise from the cult Brighton label. Komedia remains the city’s best spot for local and national comedy, with a packed events calendar and shows almost seven days a week.
Wander Through The Lanes
A winding labyrinth of some of Brightonâs oldest streets, The Lanes were originally built as part of the old fishing village long before the city became a major seaside resort. Now, the area’s narrow alleyways are filled with jewellery shops, wine bars, independent boutiques, pubs, and restaurants â all tucked inside historic buildings. Among them, you’ll find premium steakhouse Kindling â one of the standout restaurants of The Lanes, with a heavy focus on open fire cooking and seasonal Sussex produce. Then there’s Plateau, easily one of the best wine bars in the city, with a great selection of global wines and small plates to match. If you’re staying for the night, pay a visit to The Mesmerist, where live funk DJs and bands set the playlist for an evening of dancing and cocktails.
Eat Your Way Around Shelter Hall
Brighton certainly has no shortage of places to eat, but if your group is struggling to decide on a cuisine or restaurant, there’s a great place to try them all. Set directly on the seafront inside a restored Victorian building, Shelter Hall is a great option for indecisive groups, combining multiple rotating independent kitchens under one roof. Here, you may order tacos or a burrito bowl, while someone else goes for fried chicken, seafood, a burger, or fresh sushi.
Discover Brighton & Hoveâs Beer Scene
Brighton has a strong independent brewery scene, which makes it easy to find something new and local wherever you are in the city. In Kemptown, the Hand in Hand helped pioneer much of the cityâs modern craft beer culture. The brewery famously began life crammed into an old four-storey pub and, though it’s since expanded, still retains that independent, slightly DIY energy Brighton does so well today. Meanwhile, at the other end of the city â tucked behind Preston Circus â lies the lively UnBarred Brewery. Favoured for its outdoor space and partnership with local pizza stalwarts Fatto a Mano, this is where you’ll find classic brews (like its popular Joosy hazy pale) alongside more experimental options like its barrel-aged Bueno Shake Imperial Milk Stout.
Outside of this, youâll also spot beers from local breweries like Loud Shirt Brewing Co, Lost Pier Brewing, Beak Brewery, Abyss Brewing, and Burning Sky Brewery â all located in Brighton or nearby Lewes â stocked across pubs and taprooms across Brighton & Hove and the surrounding area.
