Where to eat on Brighton seafront, from arches to Shelter Hall
Nine places along Kings Road and the arches, from a seafood restaurant with coal cooking to a food hall with seven kitchens.
By Only Brighton Editorial
The seafront is not one neighbourhood, and Brighton's restaurants along it run from the Marina right through to Hove Lagoon. The busiest stretch sits between the Palace Pier and the West Pier, so this guide sticks to Kings Road and the Kings Road Arches. Opening days change as the season turns, so check hours before you set off, especially early in the week.
For a proper seafood lunch
The Salt Room, 106 Kings Road. A modern British seafood restaurant that cooks over coal, with uninterrupted views of the West Pier ruins. Monkfish, steamed shellfish and cod loin get picked out in a DesignMyNight roundup. On Sundays from 12 to 4pm there is a roast to share between two: a 500g salt-aged sirloin or a monkfish wellington. Prices vary a lot depending on the source, so expect a splurge. Book through its reservations page.
The Copper Clam, 143 to 144 Kings Road Arches. A family-run seafood, shellfish and steak place in the historic arches, with an upstairs dining room and a sheltered patio. Go for lobster, mussels, oysters or a Sussex steak. OpenTable puts it at £26 to £40 a head.
Riddle & Finns The Beach, 65 Kings Road. In the restored Victorian Rotunda between the piers, with a wrap-around terrace looking over both. It has been here since 2014, and the original sits on Meeting House Lane in the Lanes. Think local seafood and shellfish with a glass of champagne, as the list is a long one.
For a bit of everything
Shelter Hall, bottom of West Street on the Kings Road promenade. A food hall in a building that dates from the 1880s, originally built to give fishermen and beachgoers shelter and refreshments. Today it has seven independent kitchens, bars, a sea-view terrace and a secret cocktail bar called Skylark. Visit Brighton lists Saltio (Mexican), VIP Pizza, 3 Bros Burgers, Thai Angle, Churrasco, Lost Boys Chicken and Temaki Bros, plus White Cloud Coffee. Lines-ups rotate, so check who is in. Saltio's goat birria and the 3 Bros Sussex wagyu burger have both picked up praise from Restaurants Brighton. It is the easy answer when your group cannot agree.
Lucky Beach Café, 183 Kings Road Arches. Beachfront brunches, burgers and cocktails, with a shaded patio, beach tables and a mezzanine for watching the waves. Restaurants Brighton lists it as open year-round. Try the Brighton fish and chips, fish tacos or the avocado on toast, with brunch running until 11.45am. One reviewer thought the fish portion a bit small, so go hungry or add a side.
For something more relaxed
The Winkle, 139 Kings Road Arches. Run by a married couple, in the old Due South spot. It is unpretentious and dog and family friendly, with a mezzanine and a sunny front patio. Order crab mac and cheese bites, moules marinière, Spanish chorizo in red wine or wild mushrooms on toast. Drinks include Lost Pier Brewing beers and local wines, and Bite Sussex notes bottles at around the £30 mark.
The Seahorse, 26 Kings Road, Milkmaid Pavilion. A first-floor restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the West Pier ruins, with a bar downstairs and outdoor seating. The food is seasonal British. First Table marks it at ££. It makes sense for a roast with a view, or shellfish and a glass of wine.
For a dress-up night
Pearly Cow, 123 Kings Road. A steak and seafood grill cooking over open flame, in the basement of four Georgian and Regency townhouses opposite the West Pier. Executive chef Andrew MacKenzie grew up in Brighton. It opened in November 2024. The launch menu featured tacos and oysters, red mullet terrine and scallop cured in yuzu and cucumber, though steaks are the draw. Local sparkling wines from Ridgeview and Everflyht feature on the drinks list.
Cyan at The Grand Brighton, 97 to 99 Kings Road. Restaurants Brighton's 2026 local-vote list calls it elegant seafront dining, and the hotel also took Best Cocktails. Expect a circular bar, small plates, seasonal cocktails and Sunday roasts. Visit Brighton quotes £35 to £50 a head, and some diners found the seafood pricey, so small plates at the bar are the gentler route.
How to pick
- Big seafood occasion: The Salt Room or Riddle & Finns.
- Mixed group, no arguments: Shelter Hall.
- Brunch by the beach: Lucky Beach Café.
- Easy and friendly: The Winkle.
- Steak and a cocktail: Pearly Cow or Cyan.
More on the stretch is on Visit Brighton's seafront food page, and Restaurants Brighton's seafront guide covers the Marina and Hove end. Details on Shelter Hall are on its Visit Brighton page.
