Table of Contents
- Best Cafes in Brighton at a glance
- What is the best overall cafe in Brighton?
- Where should serious coffee drinkers go?
- Which Brighton cafes have the most character?
- Where is best for a neighbourhood morning?
- What is the best coffee roastery in Brighton and Hove?
- Which area is best for cafes in Brighton?
- Which Brighton cafes are best for working from a laptop?
- FAQs
- Final thoughts
- Useful reads
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Last Updated on 29 April 2026 by Dave King
Brighton has more coffee shops per person than almost anywhere in the UK, with a cafe culture that feels genuinely local rather than chain-led. The independent cafe scene here is strong, the standard for coffee is high, and the competition between small roasters and neighbourhood cafes keeps quality up. This guide covers the best cafes in Brighton by what you are actually looking for.
Best Cafes in Brighton at a glance
| Cafe | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Starfish and Coffee | Queens Park | Best all-rounder, BRAVO Award winner, dog-friendly |
| Trading Post Coffee Roasters | 40 Kensington Gardens, North Laine | Roof garden, on-site roasting, opens 7:30am |
| Redroaster | 1D St James’s Street, Kemptown | Original roastery cafe, organic, brunch and coffee |
| 17Grams | 12d Meeting House Lane, The Lanes | In-house roasting, strong brunch, vegan options |
| Cafe Coho | Queens Road and Ship Street | Near station, opens 7am, excellent coffee |
| Pink Moon | 52 Ship Street, The Lanes | Vinyl, dumplings, coffee, Brighton character |
| Pelicano | Multiple locations including Lewes Road | Roasts own beans, dog-friendly, laptop-friendly |
| Presuming Ed’s | 114 to 115 London Road | Coffee house and bar, affordable, good for working |
| Mange Tout | Between station and The Lanes | Opens 9am, French-inspired, all-day brunch |
| Small Batch Coffee | 70 Goldstone Villas, Hove, and others | Local roastery chain, multiple locations |
What is the best overall cafe in Brighton?
Starfish and Coffee
Starfish and Coffee, Queens Park area. Multiple BRAVO Award winner and consistently voted one of Brighton’s best cafes by local residents. Seasonal brunch menu, excellent coffee, family-friendly and dog-friendly.
It is the kind of place locals go back to every week rather than just recommending to visitors. It gets busy at weekends from around 10am, so arriving early or booking ahead for groups is worthwhile.
Where should serious coffee drinkers go?
Trading Post Coffee Roasters
Trading Post Coffee Roasters, 40 Kensington Gardens, North Laine. Roasts on-site, opens at 7:30am daily and runs until 7pm. The Kensington Gardens branch is the flagship, set across three floors with a roof garden looking out over North Laine.
Brunch is served until 3:30pm on weekdays and 4pm at weekends. On Thursday to Saturday evenings it becomes a cocktail bar with DJs, which is worth knowing if you want to come back later in the day.
Trading Post also has branches at Ship Street, Brighton station, Churchill Square and Western Road.
Redroaster
Redroaster, 1D St James’s Street, Kemptown. Brighton’s original roastery cafe and still a strong choice for proper coffee in a stylish setting. It opens at 8am daily and serves brunch through to mid-afternoon.
By evening, the same space becomes Lucky Khao, serving northern Thai food and cocktails. It is a completely different offering in the same room. Redroaster also has a location at Brighton Dome and a beach outpost called Lucky Beach, but the St James’s Street branch is the one to go to for coffee.
17Grams
17Grams, 12d Meeting House Lane, The Lanes. In-house roasting, brunch served from opening until late afternoon, and a plant-filled interior that suits a slower breakfast or lunch.
There are good vegan options alongside everything else, and it is one of the most consistently recommended brunch spots in The Lanes. Walk-ins are welcome for smaller groups, but larger groups should check ahead.
Cafe Coho
Cafe Coho, Queens Road and Ship Street. The Queens Road branch opens at 7am, which is useful because much of Brighton wakes up later than that.
It is a short walk from Brighton station, making it one of the most practical options if you are arriving by train and want a good coffee before doing anything else. The brunch menu runs alongside the coffee offer, and the Ship Street branch also works well if you are already closer to The Lanes.
Which Brighton cafes have the most character?
Pink Moon
Pink Moon, 52 Ship Street, The Lanes. Vinyl records, dumplings, good coffee and a suntrap patio at the back. Coffee in the daytime, drinks and live music in the evening.
There are vegan pastries and plant-based dim sum alongside the usual cafe offer. It is one of those places that feels distinctly Brighton rather than something that could be anywhere.
Presuming Ed’s
Presuming Ed’s, 114 to 115 London Road. A coffee house and bar rather than a pure cafe. It serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches and light food during the day, then becomes more of a bar and venue later on.
The decor is maximalist and characterful, the garden is good in summer, and there is even an escape room connected to the space. It is one of the most distinctive independent spots on London Road and worth knowing about if you want somewhere that works during the day and gives you a reason to come back later.
Where is best for a neighbourhood morning?
Mange Tout
Mange Tout, between Brighton station and The Lanes. Opens at 9am and serves breakfast and brunch through until the afternoon, with French-inspired dishes such as Croque Monsieur, pastries and its own take on breakfast classics.
It is a good option if you are heading into the centre from the station and want somewhere to settle in before the day starts properly.
Pelicano
Pelicano, multiple locations including Lewes Road. Roasts its own beans, has a rustic independent feel, and is dog-friendly across its Brighton sites.
The Lewes Road branch is spacious and works well for laptop working. Pavement seating in warmer months makes it a reliable neighbourhood option when you want decent coffee without heading right into the busiest part of town.
What is the best coffee roastery in Brighton and Hove?
Small Batch Coffee
Small Batch Coffee, 70 Goldstone Villas, Hove, and multiple locations across Brighton and Hove. One of the city’s most established local roastery operations, with a roastery cafe at Wellington House in Portslade.
The Goldstone Villas cafe in Hove is the original and remains a strong choice if you are on that side of the city. It is dog-friendly, has free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating and welcomes laptops, which makes it useful for a longer coffee stop.
Which area is best for cafes in Brighton?
North Laine has the highest concentration of good independent cafes, with Trading Post Kensington Gardens, 17Grams and Cafe Coho all within easy walking distance of each other.
The Lanes is better for a more atmospheric sit-down. Kemptown has Redroaster at St James’s Street and is noticeably quieter than the centre. Hove has Small Batch and is generally calmer for a longer working session.
Which Brighton cafes are best for working from a laptop?
Trading Post Kensington Gardens is one of the most popular options because it has reliable space across several floors and nobody usually rushes you during quieter periods.
Pelicano on Lewes Road is another solid choice. Presuming Ed’s on London Road has a loyal laptop-working crowd and affordable prices. Most independent cafes in Brighton are tolerant of laptops during off-peak hours, but avoid busy weekend brunch service if you need to settle in for a long session.
FAQs
What is the best cafe in Brighton?
Starfish and Coffee near Queens Park is one of Brighton’s most awarded cafes and one of the most widely recommended by local residents. For the best coffee specifically, Trading Post Coffee Roasters at Kensington Gardens and 17Grams in The Lanes are strong options among coffee enthusiasts.
Where can I get good coffee near Brighton station?
Cafe Coho on Queens Road opens at 7am and is a short walk from Brighton station. Trading Post also has a branch at Brighton station. Mange Tout is between the station and The Lanes and opens at 9am.
Which Brighton cafes are dog-friendly?
Starfish and Coffee, Trading Post Coffee Roasters, Pelicano and Presuming Ed’s are all dog-friendly or dog-welcoming in some form. Brighton generally has a relaxed attitude to dogs in cafes with outdoor seating, but it is always worth checking with staff when you arrive.
Which Brighton cafes are good for working from a laptop?
Trading Post Kensington Gardens, Pelicano on Lewes Road and Presuming Ed’s on London Road are the most reliable options. Small Batch Coffee in Hove is also laptop-friendly. Avoid trying to work during busy weekend brunch service at popular spots.
Does Brighton have its own coffee roasters?
Yes, several. Trading Post, Redroaster, 17Grams, Small Batch and Pelicano all roast their own beans either on-site or at nearby facilities. Brighton’s coffee culture is built around small independent roasters rather than chains.
What time do Brighton cafes open?
Cafe Coho opens at 7am and Trading Post opens at 7:30am, making them two of the earliest good coffee options in Brighton. Redroaster opens at 8am. Most independent cafes open between 8am and 9am. Always check before going as weekend times can differ from weekday times.
Final thoughts
The easiest way to pick a cafe in Brighton is to decide what matters most. For the best all-round experience, Starfish and Coffee. For the best coffee, Trading Post or 17Grams. For somewhere near the station from 7am, Cafe Coho. For atmosphere, Pink Moon or Redroaster. For affordable and independent, Presuming Ed’s.
Brighton’s cafe scene is one of the most genuinely strong things about the city. The roastery culture here is serious, the independents are well run, and there is almost no reason to go to a chain when something better is around every corner.
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