Last Updated on 13 May 2026 by Dave King
Brighton has a huge independent cafe scene, and the breakfast options reflect that. The problem is not finding somewhere to eat. It is finding the right place for the kind of morning you want. A quick coffee near the station before exploring is a different need from a proper sit-down weekend brunch with a view, and both are different from a no-frills fry-up in a cafe that has been doing the same thing well for years. This guide covers the best breakfast in Brighton by occasion, so you can match the cafe to your morning rather than the other way around.
Table of Contents
Quick Reference Table
| Cafe | Area | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starfish and Coffee | Queens Park | Best all-rounder, award-winning, dog friendly |
| Oeuf Cafe | Hove (Third Avenue) | Weekend brunch, Frumpets, vegan options |
| Moksha Caffe | North Laine (near London Road) | Hash browns, family friendly, generous portions |
| Cafe Coho | Queens Road (near station) | Opens 7am, great coffee, quick stop |
| North Laine Cafe | Trafalgar Street | Dog friendly, outdoor seating, dependable |
| Breakfast at Tiffany’s | North Laine | No-frills classic fry-up |
| Billie’s Cafe | Hampton Place | Hearty hashes, generous portions |
| Bill’s | North Road, North Laine | The original Brighton Bill’s, reliable |
| Egg and Spoon | Kemptown (St George’s Road) | Eggs done every way, waffles, Kemptown local |
| Lucky Beach Cafe | Seafront (Kings Road Arches) | Breakfast with a sea view, organic ingredients |
The Picks
Starfish and Coffee
Starfish and Coffee at 32 Egremont Place, next to Queens Park, is Brighton’s most consistently awarded breakfast cafe. It has won multiple local awards, including Brighton Restaurant Awards Best Cafe in 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025 and 2026, and Time Out named it the number one brunch spot in Brighton and Hove.
The menu runs from buttermilk pancakes and eggs florentine to chorizo hash, avocado smash and seasonal specials. Eggs are organic free-range from Mac’s Farm in Ditchling. Sourdough and pastries arrive daily from The Flour Pot Bakery and Fika Bakery, two of Brighton’s best bakeries. The cafe is family friendly and dog friendly, with a cosy downstairs area that works for larger groups.
It gets busy at weekends from around 10am, so arriving early or booking is worth considering. Open 9am to 3pm daily, with last orders at 2pm Monday to Thursday and 2:30pm Friday to Sunday.
This is the best breakfast in Brighton for anyone who wants one recommendation and no further research.
Oeuf Cafe
Oeuf on Third Avenue in Hove is the pick for a slower, more occasion-friendly weekend brunch. The Parisian-chic interior has marble pillars, duck-egg tones and a secret garden for outdoor dining. It won Best Brunch at the 2025 BRAVO Awards.
The signature dish is the Frumpet, a cross between a crumpet and French toast that you can have sweet or savoury. The rest of the menu covers eggs benedict, a plant-based full English with vegan black pudding and scrambled tofu, and seasonal specials. Cacklebean Farm eggs are used throughout.
Oeuf is popular enough that booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially on Saturdays. It is a short walk from the seafront and worth the trip from central Brighton if you want brunch that feels like an event rather than just a meal.
Moksha Caffe
Moksha Caffe sits near St Peter’s Church on the edge of North Laine, and it has been one of Brighton’s most recommended breakfast spots since it opened in 2007. The hash browns have their own reputation. The chorizo hash with Sussex chorizo, fried eggs, chickpeas, fried potatoes, kale and pickled onions is the dish that keeps regulars coming back.
The menu also covers American-style pancakes, eggs benedict, huevos rancheros, a plant-based breakfast and a vegan tofu benedict. There is a kids menu. The interior is spacious with outdoor seating, and the atmosphere is lively without being rushed.
Moksha is walk-in only, so there is no booking. Weekend mornings from 10am can have a queue. If you want the best breakfast in Brighton without fuss, arrive early.
Cafe Coho
Cafe Coho on Queens Road opens at 7am, which matters because most of Brighton is still closed at that time. It is a short walk from Brighton station, making it the most practical option if you are arriving by train and want a good coffee and something to eat before doing anything else.
The brunch menu runs until mid-afternoon and includes eggs, pancakes, sandwiches and lighter options. Cafe Coho also runs an invisible toast scheme where a £2.50 donation buys a hot lunch for a young person through the Clock Tower Sanctuary, a Brighton homeless charity.
There are two current Cafe Coho locations in Brighton: Queens Road near the station and Ship Street in The Lanes. The station branch is the one for early mornings.
North Laine Cafe
North Laine Cafe at 31 Trafalgar Street is the dependable neighbourhood breakfast spot that does not try to be anything other than what it is. The menu covers eggs, pancakes, full English breakfasts and lighter options. The outdoor pavement seating works well on a sunny morning. It is dog friendly.
The consistency is the main selling point. It is the kind of place where the food is good every time, the service is relaxed and nobody is trying to reinvent breakfast. If you want somewhere reliable in the middle of North Laine without a queue or a booking system, this is it.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Breakfast at Tiffany’s in the North Laine area is the honest answer when someone asks where to get a proper fry-up in Brighton. No-frills, generous portions, fair prices and pavement seating. The full English is the reason to come and it is done well.
This is not a brunch destination. It is a breakfast cafe in the traditional sense. If you want a plate of bacon, sausages, eggs, beans and toast without paying brunch restaurant prices or waiting for a table that has been styled for a photograph, this is the place.
Billie’s Cafe
Billie’s Cafe on Hampton Place is known for its hashes. The portions are hearty and the reputation among locals is strong. It is a small space, so weekend mornings can have a queue, but it moves quickly.
This is another place where the appeal is substance over style. If you want something more filling than a standard fry-up and you do not mind a slightly more out-of-the-way location, Billie’s rewards the effort.
Bill’s
Bill’s on North Road in North Laine is the original Brighton branch of what became a national chain. Before it became a national chain, Bill’s started as a greengrocer in Lewes before the Brighton North Road restaurant opened in 2005. The North Laine location still has some of the original character that the other branches cannot replicate.
The breakfast menu covers eggs, traditional cooked breakfasts, pancakes and an all-day menu. It is a reliable all-rounder in a central location. Knowing it is the original adds something, even if the food itself is similar to other Bill’s restaurants.
Egg and Spoon
Egg and Spoon at 107-108 St George’s Road in Kemptown is a neighbourhood cafe that has built a loyal following among locals and hospital staff from the nearby Sussex County. The menu covers eggs done every way, full English breakfasts, waffles, sandwiches and a strong brunch selection.
If you are exploring Kemptown and want breakfast away from the central Brighton crowds, this is the pick. It is quieter and less touristy than the Lanes or North Laine, and the quality is high enough that people come from across the city for it.
Lucky Beach Cafe
Lucky Beach Cafe at 183 Kings Road Arches sits between the two piers on Brighton Beach. It is the best breakfast in Brighton if what you want is a view of the sea while you eat. The cafe is inside a 200-year-old fisherman’s arch with covered tables outside on the beach.
Breakfast runs until 11:45am and covers eggs, cooked plates and lighter options. All ingredients are locally sourced where possible, with organic free-range eggs, Sussex beef and fish landed daily. Lucky Beach is a certified B Corp and one of the UK’s most sustainable cafes.
It does not take bookings, so just turn up. Opens 9am on weekdays and 8:30am at weekends.
Which Area Is Best for Breakfast?
North Laine has the highest concentration. Moksha, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, North Laine Cafe and Bill’s are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other.
Kemptown is quieter and less touristy. Egg and Spoon is the standout. If you are already visiting Kemptown for the shops and restaurants, it fits naturally into the morning.
Hove means Oeuf, which is worth the trip for a weekend brunch.
The seafront means Lucky Beach, which is the only breakfast spot where you eat on the actual beach.
Near the station means Cafe Coho, the earliest-opening option at 7am.
FAQs
What is the best breakfast cafe in Brighton?
Starfish and Coffee near Queens Park is the most consistently awarded cafe in Brighton, with multiple Brighton Restaurant Awards wins and a Time Out number one ranking. For a proper fry-up, Breakfast at Tiffany’s in North Laine. For weekend brunch, Oeuf in Hove. The best breakfast in Brighton depends on what kind of morning you want.
Where can I get breakfast near Brighton station?
Cafe Coho on Queens Road opens at 7am and is a short walk from the station. It is the best early option in the city.
What is the best vegan breakfast in Brighton?
Moksha Caffe has strong plant-based options including a vegan tofu benedict. Oeuf has a plant-based full English with vegan black pudding and scrambled tofu. Brighton’s independent cafes generally cater well for vegan breakfasts.
Which Brighton breakfast cafes are dog friendly?
Starfish and Coffee and North Laine Cafe are both dog friendly. Brighton generally has a relaxed attitude to dogs in cafes with outdoor seating, but check when you arrive.
Do I need to book for breakfast in Brighton?
For weekday mornings, most places are walk-in. For weekend brunch at Starfish and Coffee or Oeuf, booking or arriving early is recommended. Moksha is walk-in only. Lucky Beach does not take bookings. The most popular spots can have queues from around 10am on Saturdays and Sundays.
What time do Brighton cafes open for breakfast?
Cafe Coho opens at 7am. Lucky Beach opens at 8:30am on weekends and 9am on weekdays. Most independent cafes open between 8am and 9am. Starfish and Coffee opens at 9am.
Final Thoughts
The best breakfast in Brighton comes down to what you want from the morning. Starfish and Coffee is the safe recommendation that rarely disappoints. Oeuf is the one for a weekend occasion. Moksha is where you go for hash browns and generous portions without booking. Cafe Coho is the practical choice near the station. Lucky Beach is the one with the sea view. And Breakfast at Tiffany’s is the honest fry-up that does not pretend to be anything else. Brighton’s breakfast scene is strong enough that you could eat at a different cafe every weekend for months and not run out of good options.
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