Please check before visiting any of these eateries - many have found creative ways to continue serving despite COVID19 restrictions, but some are still closed.
Stay safe!
Brighton is to veggies what Florence is to art historians, and Paris to lovers: something close to paradise.From great-value takeaways, to a pioneering wholefoods store, and high-end gourmet cuisine, plant-focused eaters never need to go hungry down here on the south coast. Here are my vegetarian and vegan must-visits...
1. Iydea 17 Kensington Gardens, BN1 4AL (Summer 2020: being refurbished, can’t wait for their return!) Possibly the best value takeaway you’ll ever have: huge, robust flavours, no skimping on ingredients, exciting variety. £6 or so buys you a main course, two unusual salads or side vegetables good enough to be a main in themselves, plus two toppings like hummus, sour cream or - my favourite - garlic and coriander dressing.
Like this? Then try Helm Ston, Pelham St (off Trafalgar St) BN14FA - tiny cafe nearby doing lovely vegan and veggie takeaways, juices and amazing cakes.
2. Infinity Foods 25 North Rd, BN1 1YA This amazing wholefoods store was one of the first of its kind in the UK. Now it houses pretty much every wholefood or exotic ingredient you can think of, plus a bakery, some great magazines and a fab beauty/household selection. Bonus points for being a vital source of healthy foods during the Covid19 lockdown - with a queuing system to keep staff and customers safe.
Like this? Then try Taj: incredible selection of fruit and vegetables, herbs, Middle Eastern, Indian and other ingredients. 95 Western Rd, Brighton BN1 2LB
3. Street Diner - rear of Brighthelm Centre, North Road
On Fridays, the small green space behind the Brighthelm Centre turns into an amazing street food market. The selection varies, but you can sample from up to 15 different stalls, with burritos, Indian dishes, many vegan and veggie. Oh, and the cakes from Becky at Honeycomb Cakes cater for all dietary needs.
Like this? Then try The Pond pub - This is my local, and home to Baby Bao which has some great veggie options among the fillings for their steamed buns. 49, Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AQ
4. Manjus - 6 Trafalgar St, BN1 4EQ Opened in spring 2017, this Indian veggie place was serving authentic Indian dishes, in a really beautifully decorated room: the food is cooked as Manju, the owners' mother, does, and she’'s regularly in the kitchen keeping tabs on them! I recommend the bhel and pani puri - so good.
Like this? Then try Curry Leaf Cafe - two branches, one near the seafront, one in Kemptown, for tasty, unusual dishes (no tikka masala here) and great beers. They’ve been lockdown legends, too, supplying fab heat-at-home dishes and free meals to NHS staff. The Paneer is amazing. 60 Ship St, Brighton BN1 1AE
5. La Choza 36 Gloucester Rd, BN1 4AQ
La choza means ‘the hut’ and this corner venue is small and always packed. The Mexican street-food is delicious ‚Äì the service is mixed and sometimes hurried, not a place for an intimate dinner for two. But the food and the margaritas make up for it, with some tasty veggie options and great sauces.
Like this? Try Carlito Burrito, 12 York Pl, Brighton BN1 4GU - their tacos and burritos are delicious and fun.
6. Sunbirds 108 London Rd, BN1 4JG
Amazing eat-in & takeaway mezze and to-die-for baklava (the orange and cardamom may be my favourite, but much more research is needed) in this venue near the Open Market, about ten minutes walk from the station.
Like this? Then try Smorl’s inside the market itself for amazing hummus and great vegan/veggie salads. Open Market, Marshall's Row, Brighton BN1 6JU
7. Bincho Yakitori 63 Preston St, BN1 2HEA Japanese/Korean grill doesn’t sound like the best option for vegans and veggies but the way they treat vegetables intensifies the flavours and makes them irresistible. Grilled cauli, miso aubergine, and much more to tempt the palate, along with amazing sake.
Like this? Then try Oshio a busy, vibrant restaurant with a mix of Japanese and Korean dishes, including Bibimbap. 87-88 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4ER
8. Terre a Terre 71 East St, BN1 1HQ This place shows chefs how to turn veggies into a gourmet experience. If they didn’t actually invent deep-fried halloumi (and I think they have a strong case), they do the best version of it. Expensive, but worth it.
Like this? Then try Food for Friends: a bit mixed in terms of food, some great dishes, some not so much, but cheaper. 17-18 Prince Albert St, Brighton BN1 1HF
9. 64 Degrees 53 Meeting House Ln, BN1 1HB Small plates in an intimate setting, with a great view of the chefs at work if you choose the tables next to the pass. Always at least 4 seasonable vegetable dishes, prepared in amazing ways. Plus good wine by the glass and fab desserts.
Like this? Then try Isaac at Gloucester Street: a set menu but with veggie choices, changing week-by-week and always delicious. 2 Gloucester St, Brighton BN1 4EW
10. The Set 33 Regency Square, BN1 2GG My favourite place for special occasions with an entire vegetarian menu of its own. The chefs use cutting edge ideas and techniques with the best ingredients, and the service is fun and informative.The matched wines add even more theatre to what is a brilliant evening (aperitifs in the cocktail bar are also recommended).
Like this? Then try Kindling Restaurant - these guys specialise in innovative seasonal dishes with an ethical twist. I had some of their food at a pre-opening pop-up and it was so good. They opened their doors JUST before lockdown - terrible timing for a great venue. Now they’re re-opening and deserve our full support for trying something new and amazing.
Have I missed anywhere? Let me know, or share your tips. My new book, 5:2 Veggie & Vegan, has been inspired by my veggie experiences in Brighton and Hove including a salad from Ahimsa at Street Diner, and the grilled cauli at Bincho. You can buy it now in ebook and paperback.