On summer weekends, yes, it's worth it since many smaller independent spots don't take walk-ins easily at peak times. Tuesday to Thursday is generally easier for spontaneous dining.
Discover Authentic Brighton: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Brighton, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Royal Pavilion, The Lanes and the i360.
Top 5 Things to Do in Brighton
The Lanes
A tangle of narrow alleyways and hidden squares between North Laine and the seafront, packed with independent jewellers, vintage shops and restaurants. The real eating happens down the side streets rather than on the main thoroughfare, Ship Street in particular holds some of the city's better tables within a few minutes of each other.
Shelter Hall
A seafront food hall built into converted Victorian arches, gathering several kitchens under one roof so you can mix and match dishes without committing to a single restaurant. It's a solid option if your group can't agree on what to eat.
Brighton Palace Pier
The city's Victorian pier is still the classic Brighton outing, arcade games, fairground rides and fish and chips eaten out of paper while the gulls circle. It's about a 15-minute walk from the seafront hotels.
North Laine
Sitting just inland from The Lanes, this is Brighton's bohemian shopping quarter, record shops, vintage clothing and independent cafés lining streets that feel a world away from the seafront crowds. It rewards slow wandering more than a checklist visit.
The Salt Room
Floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the West Pier ruins at this seafront spot known for some of the city's most accomplished fish cookery. It's a step up from a casual seafront lunch if you want to make an evening of it.
Explore Brighton's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Brighton
We've mapped local spots on Brighton's seafront and beyond.
Seafront
Brighton i360
Built as a 'vertical pier' in memory of the West Pier, the 162-metre i360 gives you the city's best views. At street level: a café and an open-air roller rink; up top, the Nyetimber Sky Bar.
Seafront · Observation tower · Perfect for views
Brighton Palace Pier
Opened in 1899 and stretching 525 metres into the Channel: rides, arcades, candy floss and fish and chips. A classic British seaside day.
Seafront · Pier · Great for families
Upside Down House
Between the i360 and the beach, a turquoise beach house with every room built upside down. Strike a pose.
Seafront · Attraction · Made for fun photos
Heritage & shopping
Royal Pavilion & Garden
Transformed for the Prince Regent between 1815 and 1823, a seaside palace of Regency grandeur, Indian-style domes and Chinese-inspired interiors. Nothing else in Britain looks like it.
City centre · Palace · Perfect for history and architecture
The Lanes
Brighton's oldest quarter, a maze of twittens lined with independent boutiques, jewellers and eateries. The Cricketers on Black Lion Street dates from around 1545 – stop for a pint.
City centre · Historic shopping quarter · Ideal for browsing
Snoopers Paradise
On Kensington Gardens in North Laine, a vintage emporium selling clothes, records, antiques and curiosities since the 1970s. Allow longer than you think.
North Laine · Vintage shop · Great for treasure hunters
Food & drink
Shelter Hall
A restored 1880s seafront hall turned food hall. Grab a seat with a sea view.
Seafront · Food hall · Perfect for groups
Med.
Seasonal European sharing plates and cocktails in The Lanes.
The Lanes · Restaurant · Made for small plates
Burnt Orange
Wood-fired sharing plates and cocktails at one of Brighton's hippest tables.
Restaurant · Great for a night out
FAQ
About a mile, roughly a 20-25 minute walk or a short taxi ride, with regular train services from the station to London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.
Yes, despite the similar name. The Lanes sits between North Laine and the seafront and is known for jewellers and restaurants, while North Laine, just inland, has a more bohemian mix of vintage shops and independent cafés.
162 metres. It offers the city's best views and has a sky bar and café.
A seaside palace built for the Prince Regent between 1815 and 1823, with Indian-style domes and Chinese-inspired interiors.
Snoopers Paradise in North Laine and the boutiques of The Lanes.
Where to Sleep in Brighton
See Mercure hotels in Brighton, all within reach of these picks.