Brighton's Best Brunch Bunch
- Nick Mosley
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
With brunch being the new lunch, Nick Mosley shares some of his favourite independents in Brighton and Hove.
The Canopy Café
Having opened in summer 2025, The Canopy in Seven Dials is relatively new addition to the city’s brunch scene, but there’s no doubting that owner Carla Grassy is Brighton hospitality royalty having run the nationally acclaimed 64 Degrees and Murmur restaurants with business partner chef Michael Bremner.
Serving up a daily breakfast-into-lunch menu from 9am including classic dishes alongside signature ‘Canopy hash’ plates featuring spicy nduja sausage, salmon or a veg option, prices are in the £15-17 range and – trust me – you most definitely won’t leave hungry. There’s also a very well-priced kids menu plus activity packs to keep younger diners engaged.
Chef Michael is also running a small plates menu with his usual panache on Friday and Saturday evenings, alongside occasional workshop events.
The three times I’ve swung by for bite to eat or a Bloody Mary, the venue is packed – in fact one morning in late autumn there were people queuing out of the door – so I’d recommend booking ahead via the website.
The Canopy Café, 87-93 Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 3JE
01273 000 216 • www.thecanopycafe.co.uk
Embers
Located in the heart of the Lanes, Embers is a true Brighton success story. The brainchild of seasoned local hospitality pros Dave Marrow and Isaac Bartlett-Copeland – supported by their impeccable team of chef and front-of-house talent – the concept is cooking over fire so has one of the most theatrical – in every sense of the word – open kitchens in the city.
I’ve enjoyed some amazing suppers and Sunday lunches since the doors of the restaurant swung open in early 2023 – I still dream of last Christmas’ roast pheasant – but their weekend breakfast offering is sheer unadulterated gastronomic glory to behold.
Morning dishes include a full English breakfast, steak and eggs, chicken and waffles, and toasted muffins plus there are plenty of individually priced add-ons if you want to build your own breakie. For hot dishes, prices range from £14-22 with their rather decadent bavette steak with eggs, mushrooms, eggs and bacon jam being my personal go-to.
Buy a coffee and have unlimited refills, check out their weekly specials on the blackboard and don’t be afraid to indulge in something a little more boozy as Ember’s clarified Bloody Mary’s are legendary in the local hospitality industry. A family-friendly morning menu is also available to ensure little food-lovers are kept happy.
Breakfast is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am until 11.30am. Based on recent experiences then definitely book ahead to secure you seat at the pass.
Embers, 42 Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB
01273 869 222 • www.embersbrighton.co.uk
Lost in the Lanes
I’ve watched how over the years Lost in the Lanes has grown from a daytime café into a full restaurant and I can hand-on-heart say its not ‘lost’ any of the heart that the fledgling business exuded in buckets. Owner Natalie is still very much as the helm and her true passion for local and seasonal produce – and faultless cooking and creativity – shines through.
Breakfast runs Monday to Saturday 9am until 12 noon, followed by a gentle change to a lunch then dinner service.
There’s a lighter sourdough toast options starting at £5 but for those after a more hearty, tip-top quality full English then choose from the meaty Butcher’s breakfast with bacon and sausage from a local butcher, vegetarian with halloumi or vegan with spicy butternut squash. All are priced at £16 come with the likes of potato hash, poached egg, mushrooms and tomatoes with non-gluten options available.
For those looking to kick-start their day with some bubbles then Lost’s bottomless brunch option is £40 and includes a choice of dish from the menu alongside unlimited mimosas, bellinis or Prosecco.
Lost in the Lanes, 10 Nile Street, Brighton BN1 1HW
01273 525 444 • www.lostinthelanes.com
Redroaster
Redroaster in St James Street has been a stalwart of Kemp Town’s dining scene for close to three decades and remains one of the most consistently good venues in that part of the city, with delicious coffee to match produced by their very own ethical roastery.
Their sister restaurant, Redroaster at Brighton Dome, has become a conveniently located and bustling go-to for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a casual brunch, lunch or supper in either their elegant dining room or – on a sunny day – their expansive New Road terrace. It’s the perfect place to watch the rich tapestry of Brighton life go by as you munch and quaff.
Both venues serve similar brunch menus – although with signature twists – with dishes that tick everyone’s boxes. Brunch dishes – including crab and avocado benedict, American pancakes, waffles or a classic bacon butty range from £7-14.
You can also pre-book a bottomless brunch with a choice of a main dish and unlimited mimosas or spritz for £36 a head.
Redroaster Kemp Town, 1d St James Street, Brighton BN2 1RE • 01273 000 202
Redroaster at Brighton Dome, 29a New Road, Brighton BN1 1UG • 01273 621 991
Youjuice
Youjuice is one of my all-time favourite cafés in the city, tucked away on Brunswick Street East off Western Road, it may have missed your radar. I have to hold my hands up and say I’ve been friends with owner Anita for many years as she’s been working in the local food scene for more years than I guess either of us would care to recall but – if you visit – then I can guarantee that you’ll be converted.
Open Wednesday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm and situated in a former garage unit, the café is bijou to say the least. The kitchen and bar take up half of the space leaving space for a handful of stools and high tables but this doesn’t put off the constant bustling stream of locals in-the-know who even in the depths of winter are more than happy to wrap up and enjoy Anita’s fresh creations on the outdoor terrace.
As the name suggests, Youjuice very much started as a cold-press juice business and that wholesome, healthy goodness remains at the core of everything Anita and her team do.
The menu is predominantly plant-based so vegans and vegetarians will not be disappointed. There’s also poached eggs and a bone broth on offer. Avocado toast starts at £7.50 but the starts of the show are undoubtably the stacked plates of salad, vegetables, pickles, ferments and sourdough that are veritable explosions of flavours and colours.
Whenever I’m walking into Brighton from Hove, I pop by for a apple, carrot, ginger, turmeric and citrus pick-me up juice that has me wide-eyed and bushy tailed for the rest of the day. Its £4.50 for a glass or you can take home a litre bottle for £15.95… I must say it does also go rather well with a gin too.
Youjuice, 48 Brunswick Street East, Hove BN3 1AU
01273 204 003 • www.youjuice.co.uk
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