There’s great pleasure in swapping a regular weekday meal at home for a memorable experience eating out. Perhaps you’re looking for a new spot to try out this weekend.
You can’t go past Church Street in Brighton for flavour and variety – choose from exotic international cuisine, fresh seasonal dishes, family favourites and sweet treats.
The bustling shopping precinct also offers plenty of styles of dining to cater to different needs, including options for relaxed solo dining, welcoming eateries to accommodate large grounds and environments ideal for catching up with friends and family over a meal.
Here are some of our favourite restaurants in Church Street, Brighton:
Pantry
Pantry has become a Church Street establishment. Popular among locals and visitors from outside the region, the restaurant is often busy and lively. The venue is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea (only on weekends) and dinner, catering to a range of appetites and tastes.
Pantry’s all-day menu offers a generous spread of options – expect everything from muffins to fruit, eggs cooked to your liking, porridge, pancakes, muesli, toasted sandwiches, soups and pastas. There’s also a selection of ice cream expertly made by their Belgian head pastry chef.
Imaginative dinner options are on offer, too. Choose from a set menu, dinner pizzas, or a curated dinner menu highlighted by South Australian oysters and entrees from their in-house food store and Japanese restaurant.
White Rabbit Restaurant
We’ve raved about this family owned and operated establishment before, known best for its wood fired pizzas and Mediterranean menu.
One of the few venues in Brighton where you can order an Irish breakfast or blueberry pancakes until 4pm, White Rabbit also offers an extensive pizza menu and share plates.
Falafel wraps, pastas and risottos are also available for those looking for a flavoursome lunchtime treat.
Sushi from Tokyo Kitchen Sakae.
Toyko Kitchen Sakae
Owner Michael Mi, who trained as a sushi chef in Japan, has previously spoken to us about how he set up this Brighton-based traditional Izakaya-style restaurant.
Tokyo Kitchen Sakae is a great spot for anyone looking for classic Japanese food in the heart of Brighton.
The menu includes a selection of homemade gyoza, kushi (skewers), salads, freshly made sushi, sashimi as well as mains like Japanese curries, katsu don, udon soup, and sizzling plates of pan-fried protein or tofu.
Half Moon
A pub in the heart of Brighton with a history to it, Half Moon offers more than six drinking and dining spaces in one building.
The public bar menu offers a distinctive twist on the usual pub favourites: come in for Bloody Mary specials on Sunday, try their classic burger with smoky bacon or consider making Champizza (pizza with a side of Moet) a regular tradition.
If you’re looking for elegant lunch and dinner options in a more private setting, try their other main area: The Dining Room. If you’ve got a special occasion or function coming up, rooms at Half Moon are available to book on request.
The classic burger with heritage bacon from Half Moon.
Botticelli of Brighton
The taste of Italy is right here, on Church Street. Headed by chef Salvatore Gargiulo, Botticelli offers a lunch and dinner menu of irresistible options including seasonal minestrone soups, a fish and chips special, as well as pastas and fresh fish of the day.
Botticelli’s recent partnership with St Kilda’s Woodfrog Bakery means that all the restaurant’s sandwiches, focaccias and baguettes will feature the signature handmade breads and flavours of the bakery. Their homemade dessert menu includes Italian disaster cake and a selection of liqueur coffees.
Indian Palace
Established in 2003, Indian Palace promises the vibrant flavours of Indian cuisine fuse with modern touches – think succulent lamb cutlets, fragrant multi-layered biryanis, Kashmiri tikkas infused with saffron and Seekh kebabs from Punjab.
As well as crispy doas (South Indian pancakes) and an admirable range of vegetarian mains, there’s also plenty to satisfy your sweet tooth at the end of the night. For a sweet treat, try the rose kulfi (homemade ice cream) with rose petals, and gulab jamun (sweet dumplings).
