7 Best Restaurants in The Southeast, England

No seaside town would be complete without an ice-cream store, and the delicious, house-made, artisanal gelato here is a real treat. Everything is made fresh daily; try the cherry cheesecake flavor or maybe a scoop of the delicious chocolate and sea salt. There are also dairy-free options available, as well as a full menu of desserts, including the "gelato burger" (sandwiched between brioche with chocolate sauce) and the old-school British concoction known as the knickerbocker glory (a tall glass filled with a mixture of ice cream, whipped cream, fruit, and nuts). Alternatively, if you have high levels of self-control, you could just have coffee.

Tucked away off St. James's Street, this tiny Kemptown tea room is one of Brighton's gems. Impossibly cute decor, traditional British crockery, and faultlessly friendly service make it a timeless haven in the heart of the city; even better, the toasties, cakes, and scones are to die for. It's so small and so popular, you may need to book in advance.

White tiles, bare metal tables, and sparkling chandeliers set the tone as soon as you walk through the door of this casually elegant restaurant. The house specialty is oysters, fresh and sustainably sourced, served with or without a foaming tankard of black velvet (champagne and Guinness) on the side. Other options include squid and shellfish risotto and Sri Lankan monkfish and prawn curry. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, so come early or be prepared to wait. However, you can reserve a table at their sister restaurant, Riddle & Finns The Beach, which overlooks the sea and has the same menu.

This popular restaurant and café is a must for visiting vegetarians, though even the most ardent carnivores are likely to leave satisfied. The food is laid out cafeteria style (or "canteen" style in British English), so you choose your meal based on choices of main dishes, sides, and toppings. You could go for a chile bean enchilada or pea-and-goat cheese arancini (breaded and fried rice balls), maybe with some Cajun spiced potato wedges or sugar snap slaw. The restaurant also does a very popular vegetarian breakfast.

Relaunched in 2024 as an upscale steak house, this sleek, plant-filled restaurant offers a pared-back menu of prime-cut, grass-fed bavette, sirloin, and rib-eye steaks cooked over charcoal. The meat, which you can watch cooking in the open kitchen, comes medium-rare unless otherwise specified. To accompany your steak, choose from a selection of tasty sauces (from peppercorn to chimichurri) and sides (from sweet potato fries to macaroni cheese). There's a good choice of desserts too (try the lemon posset), along with a tempting wine and cocktail menu.

This inspiring vegetarian restaurant is incredibly popular, so come early for a light lunch or later for a more sophisticated evening meal. The food here has a pan-Asian influence, with dishes such as Korean fried cauliflower with kicking kimchi and steamed buns stuffed with ginger-braised halloumi. There's also an excellent collection of wines from around the globe.

Owned by talented graphic designers and photo artists, ThewitchEZ is certainly a unique concept: delicious German- and Polish-influenced comfort food served in the middle of a design studio (which means you can have your passport photo taken while you wait). Never mind the weirdness of the concept; this place is a whole lot of fun, and the food is good to boot—schnitzel, pierogi, German sausage, pizzas, and more.