Everyone says that “Brighton is London by the sea”. People who say this don’t live in Brighton…

Brighton comes into its own during the hot summer months when it’s heaving with locals and visitors alike; people flocking to the seaside for quintessentially-British fish and chips, booze and music with a view, and to bat off more bolshy seagulls than they can imagine.

If you’re looking for a place to date with a difference, try London but I can’t write a comprehensive dating guide about a city where I’ve never lived. And so (and I say this with conviction) Brighton really is one of the best places to date in England (particularly during the summer).

Here’s where to go for good food, snazzy drinks and hopefully scintillating conversation.

First up, if you’re looking for casual first-date eating vibes, Brighton has countless places to offer.

The Joker on Preston Circus was voted the “Best Pub in East Sussex” in 2022 and has won numerous awards in the local Brighton restaurants awards (the BRAVOs). Don’t go expecting traditional pub food, though. Their kitchen is run by Lost Boys Chicken – think sticky wings, saucy burgers and curly, loaded fries. Not one for a delicate, clean first date but certainly the perfect place for a fun, easy evening. (Check out this poem I wrote about The Joker to get a better idea of the vibe.)

Not sure what your date likes to eat? Try Shelter Hall – a market-hall concept with food ranging from artisan pizza through Mexican nibbles to Egyptian street food. Like The Joker, Shelter Hall is another favourite amongst locals and visitors. Slap-bang in the centre of the seafront strip, Shelter Hall regularly hosts local DJs to serenade you and your date as you devour food from any of the market vendors. From time to time, the kitchens change hands so keep returning to try the local offering. A word of caution: go with a fully-charged phone to scroll through menus and order via the app – not ideal for getting to know your date but having an excuse to stare at your phone might be a welcome relief to some.

No food please, just booze and sexy glances.

Hidden away in a backstreet by the pier is The Plotting Parlour – a prohibition-themed cocktail bar serving delicious cocktails in a seductive cove. So popular they’ve recently opened up a new branch in Hove (though I’m yet to go). Try the chilli and ginger margarita for a cocktail that will send a tingle through your pants.

Plateau is nestled in the South Laines, serving up local, seasonal small plates and natural wines. Don’t know your Gewurztraminer from your Muscat Ottonel? Don’t sweat it, the team will be able to suggest a natural wine to match your preference for more well-known wines. Enjoy learning about natural, organic wines with your date.

Similar to Plateau is L’Atelier du Vin – just be sure to go to the one in Seven Dials because the one in North Laine has the most lethal set of stairs. (Many women have fallen down them in high heels and I recently fell down the last few steps, wearing trainers, sober but pregnant and twisted my ankle for a long 8 weeks of healing time. Fortunately, I was meeting a friend.) Avoid stacking it on a date by avoiding the tiny staircase, so I repeat: go to the one in Seven Dials. With a mismatch of comfy armchairs and antique-style end tables, you’ll be impressed with how much the waiters know about wine and your date will be impressed with your choice of location.

Seeking good food for those all-important second and third dates? Try these restaurants.

If the thought of going for food on your first date terrifies you and you’d prefer to save eating together for subsequent dates, there are several restaurants with open kitchens I’d recommend for when you’re a little more comfortable with each other. Sit at the bar to watch your food being prepared but be cautious of not salivating more at the food than at your date! Try Cin Cin in Hove for award-winning Italian tapas or Flint House in the heart of the famous Brighton Lanes for tasty small plates and delicious wine. Japanese-inspired Bincho Yakitori on Brighton’s culinary-diverse Preston Street, is always busy but for good reason. And while Kusaki near Preston Circus doesn’t have an open kitchen, it does have gorgeous interiors, plant-based sushi and yummy cocktails.

It’s official: you like each other. Here’s where to go to pull out all the stops.

You’ll need to book some time in advance, yet Burnt Orange is one of the best places to eat in Brighton. Offering an impressive a la carte menu as well as an impeccable tasting menu, go here with an empty stomach, a bountiful wallet and high expectations. (Just bear in mind you may not fancy shagging on a full stomach afterwards.)

Would a “pull out all the stops” list be complete without mentioning Ivy Asia?! The marble floor and cherry blossom decor alone are enough to impress your date before you dive into prawn dumplings, sushi platters and chilli-glazed mushrooms.

Just around the corner from The Joker is The Set (situated in Cafe Rust). This is experiential eating at its best. Serving between 14 to 20 courses during the evening to just 12 to 16 customers, The Set’s menu is ever-changing, forever delicious and will set (oops) you back around £85 per person, without paired wines.

And for a real treat, try etch. Currently holding a Michelin Plate, 3 AA Rosettes and featured in the Good Food Guide, etch. offers an exceptional tasting menu established on the outskirts of Hove. Each week, the menu changes but it is always centred around local, seasonal produce.

Intimate, local restaurants for when you’re feeling comfortable with each other.

On the edge of the North Laines is Manju’s, an incredible Indian kitchen that got its name from the mum who creates elevated home-cooked Indian food from the kitchen. The guys who run the front of house and manage the small number of covers are her sons. Manju has always wanted to open a restaurant, so her sons bought her the place near Brighton’s St Peter’s Church and she’s been feeding eager mouths ever since. Book a table and make sure you turn up as it’s a small restaurant and missed bookings heavily impact the team.

Looking around Brighton and Hove for delicious brunches, lunches and roasts? Try Jo & Co and Oeuf for delicious brunches. Oeuf fills up quickly; you’ll want to book a while in advance if you want to brunch at the weekend and Jo & Co is always a popular destination. The Better Half Pub on the edge of Hove serves arguably one of the best Sunday roasts in Brighton and Hove and it’s near the seafront so you can take a romantic stroll along the seafront afterwards to walk off those potatoes.

So if you’re looking for great places to date in Brighton or restaurants to impress a date, take it from me with my insider’s guide. After all, I’ve been dating in Brighton for the best part of 10 years.

Photo by Evgeny Klimenchenko on Unsplash