Brighton's Best Cafes
Favourite sweet spots for coffee, cake, and a proper sit-down
Brighton does cafes like few other cities. Not chains on every corner, but proper independent spots with personality, brilliant coffee, and cakes that make you rearrange your afternoon. We have spent years working our way through the city's café scene, and these seven are the ones we keep coming back to, from a Hove brunch institution to a Kemptown café where you can share your table with a rescue cat.
Starfish & Coffee
Tucked beside Queens Park in the hilly streets of Hanover, Starfish & Coffee has been winning brunch awards for good reason. The menu is creative without being fussy, the pastries are freshly baked, and the coffee is consistently excellent. Grab a table by the window on a sunny morning and you will understand why locals queue for this place at weekends. It is one of the highest-rated cafes in the city. We think it is the perfect way to start a day exploring Brighton's east side.
Oeuf
If you have scrolled through Brighton & Hove café photos on Instagram, you have almost certainly seen Oeuf's pastel-pink interiors. This award-winning Hove brunch spot on Third Avenue is famous for its Frumpets, think crumpet meets French toast, and does eggs every way you can imagine. The cocktail menu is worth a look too, especially the brunch cocktails at the weekend. It is comfortably one of the most popular cafes in the city. Book ahead, especially on Saturdays.
Moksha
Moksha on York Place has been consistently voted one of Brighton's best cafes. The coffee is award-winning, the homemade cakes are dangerously good, and the meals are hearty without being heavy. It is family-friendly, with a relaxed atmosphere that works just as well for a solo coffee and a book as it does for brunch with the whole crew. If you are near London Road and need a proper sit-down, this is your spot.
Lost in The Lanes
On a quiet side street off the main Lanes, Lost in The Lanes does that rare thing: it works brilliantly at every time of day. Morning means Pharmacie Coffee and wholesome breakfasts; lunch brings seasonal dishes from a creative head chef; and by evening, there is wine and cocktails. The vegan options are genuinely good rather than an afterthought, and the setting feels refined without being stuffy. This is a café that rewards repeat visits.
Marmalade
Tucked away on Eastern Road in the heart of Kemptown, Marmalade has the kind of dreamy, Parisian-style interiors that make you want to stay all afternoon. The menu covers fresh salads, quiche, and homemade cakes, but it is the breakfasts that have built its reputation, with locals calling them some of the best in Brighton. Do not leave without trying the Guinness chocolate cake. It is dog friendly, the staff are lovely, and it has quickly become one of our favourite spots on this side of town.
Munchies' Craft Cat Cafe
Brighton's first cat cafe and tapas bar sits on Market Street in the North Laine, spread over two floors with gorgeous mood lighting and a crew of resident rescue cats including Oreo, Phobos, and Ziggy. Sessions are £10 for one hour and you do need to book, but it is well worth planning ahead. The food is proper tapas rather than an afterthought, and they run regular events including cats and tarot reading evenings on the last Friday of each month. There is also a cat-themed gift shop on the way out, which is dangerous for your wallet. If you love cats and coffee, this is your dream afternoon.
17 Grams
17 Grams roast their own coffee locally in small batches, and you can taste the difference the moment your flat white arrives. Tucked down Meeting House Lane in The Lanes, it doubles as one of Brighton's best brunch spots, with breakfast burritos, pancakes with rhubarb compote, and plenty of excellent veggie options. The garden out back is a lovely sun trap, and the staff are the kind who remember your order. We came for the coffee but were genuinely blown away by the food.
Kenny's Rock & Soul Cafe
A proper old-school cafe with real character, Kenny's sits right on Kensington Gardens in the heart of the North Laine. Grab one of the wooden booths inside or bag a spot on the sunny balcony for prime people-watching over a classic full English. They cater well for vegans and vegetarians too, with a full plant-based breakfast that holds its own. The music is always spot on, the staff are genuinely friendly, and the portions are generous without breaking the bank. It gets busy at weekends for good reason, so aim for a weekday if you want a table without a wait.
Granny's Café
If you are after the best matcha in Brighton, Granny's is where you need to be. This small café on Ship Street in The Lanes serves up an impressive range of signature drinks, from strawberry matcha to red bean matcha, alongside genuinely great Thai tea that you simply will not find elsewhere in the city. The pastries are well worth pairing with your drink, and the staff are some of the friendliest you will encounter. A lovely little spot that proves a café does not need to be big to make a lasting impression.
Loam Brighton
Loam is a beautifully put together Scandi-style cafe on Gloucester Road, run by the husband-and-wife team Francesco and Dela. The coffee is served in handmade ceramic cups, and their cinnamon rolls and almond croissants are worth a special trip. Locals rave about the hot chocolate, and we can confirm it is up there with the best in Brighton. The space has a warm, considered feel, with an ever-changing selection of single-origin coffees that keeps things interesting for regulars. A proper neighbourhood cafe that feels like a genuine discovery.
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