Brighton’s one of Britain’s most popular hen do destinations. The combination of beaches, sunshine and lots of entertainment options is nearly irresistible. One of the best ways to work up a little hunger is to take a hen party bike tour of the city and then visit one of Brighton’s best restaurants with the girls to talk about it afterwards.
Our 20 lush restaurants that are perfect for Brighton Hen Dos are Gingerman, The Little Fish Market, The Restaurant at Drakes, Isaac at Gloucester Street, English’s of Brighton, GB1 Seafood Restaurant and Bar, etch, The Ivy in the Lanes, Amarillo, Deccan Tiffan, Baqueano, Thewitchez Photo Design Café Bar, Mediterraneo, Constantinople, Chamuyo, Manju’s, Halisco, Tookta’s, Tinto Taperia, and Riddle and Finns The Lanes. Check them out below.
10 “Money’s No Object” Restaurant Choices For Your Brighton Hen Do
If you don’t mind how much you spend on a night out, Brighton has you covered with some of the best fine dinings there. We’ve got the ten best places for a hen do line up for you when money’s no object.
Gingerman (British and European Influences)
Address: 21 A Norfolk Square, Brighton BN1 2PD
Call: +44 1273 32 66 88
The Gingerman offers you a truly classic appeal for your hen do. It’s the sort of place you go when you want food that reminds you of home while it also blows you away with its quality and inventiveness. Yes, it’s possible to do both if you have serious culinary skills, and at The Gingerman, they do.
The menus are all fixed price (and divided into 1,2,3 course and “tasting”). The wine list is strong, and the interior is inviting. It’s one of Brighton’s best and deservedly so. And yes, they’re happy to cater to vegans and vegetarians.
The Little Fish Market (Fish, as you might expect)
Address: 10 Upper Market Street, Hove BN3 1AS
Call: +44 1273 722 213
You don’t go to The Little Fish Market for anything but fish, and you don’t turn up on night expecting a table. This is Brighton’s best seafood restaurant, and you’ll want to make reservations well in advance if you want to bring your hen party here.
It’s worth it. The 5-course menus are among the finest in the land, and the ingredients are of superb quality and, of course, locally sourced. The service is exceptional, and you’ll remember this meal for a long time afterwards.
The Restaurant At Drakes (English and Vegetarian)
Address: 44 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1PE
Call: +44 1273 696 934
Sure, it’s set in a hotel, but that doesn’t mean The Restaurant At Drakes is your usual hotel horror show. In fact, far from it – this is one of the finest places you can dine in the city. We’d note that vegetarians are very well-catered to here with a 5-course menu specifically designed for those who don’t eat meat.
We really like the desserts and the chocolate fondant we tried last time we were there to die for. You can’t go wrong for your hen does with The Restaurant At Drakes.
Isaac At [Gloucester Street] (British)
Address: 2 Gloucester Street, Brighton, BN1 4EW
Call: +44 7765 934 740
If you’re looking for something a little less traditional and a lot more contemporary, then Isaac At is probably the restaurant you’ve been looking for. This is the first restaurant in the world to offer an entirely British wine list (and the biggest surprise is that it’s really good).
The food here is always designed around seasonal and local products, and their 7-course tasting menu is one of the city’s greatest creations. You’re sure to be impressed with Isaac At, even if everyone keeps asking you “at what?” when you tell them about it later.
English’s Of Brighton (British, Seafood, Vegetarian)
Address: 29-31 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HL
Call: +44 1273 327980
English’s is definitely a great venue for a hen do. It’s a wonderful addition to Brighton’s dining scene, which greatly rewards dining in the company. We can recommend a seafood platter if you want to try a little bit of everything great about British fish dishes though if you’re not into meat, their vegetarian options are superb too.
We like the traditional seaside file of English’s Of Brighton, it’s a restaurant that absolutely knows what it’s about and why. The service is immaculate, and you’ll be pushed to find a better oyster anywhere in the country, let alone in the city.
GB1 Seafood Restaurant and Bar (British, Seafood)
Address: The Grand, 97-99 King’s Road, Brighton, BN1 2FW
There may be no restaurant that embodies “Brighton” more than the GB1 Seafood Restaurant and Bar. It’s beautifully presented but also an unashamedly English seafood experience. The haddock is one of the finest moments in fine dining, and the staff are going to treat you like royalty for your hen do.
The drinks list is among the city’s best, and we’ve found that every item is cooked with loving care and presented exquisitely. You’ll be happy to document your special day on Instagram from here because it looks great too.
etch. (French, European, British)
Address: 216 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2DJ
Call: +44 1273 22 74 85
By now, you might have been thinking that Brighton’s foodie destinations are all English and seafood specialists but no, etch and a couple of others are happy to buck the trend. Here French food is all the rage though they’re still happy to cater to vegans and vegetarians (which doesn’t feel very traditionally French, does it?).
We’d recommend that you get stuck in for your hen do and dazzle your palate with their 9-course tasting menu. It’s simply superb, and each course is better than the next. We very much appreciate the efforts of the chef to interact with his diners too. Just don’t eat before you go, a trip to etch is incredibly filling.
The Ivy in the Lanes (European, British, Vegetarian)
Address: 51A Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AF
Call: +44 1273 082 200
The emphasis for plant-eaters is on vegetarian rather than vegan at The Ivy in the Lanes, and we’ve known some vegans to be quite disappointed in the way things go. However, this is it if you want a very traditional British experience.
The Ivy in the Lanes provides the kind of service that feels like it’s from a bygone era where excellence was always effortless. Their fish and chips are a real treat, and something that we’re glad doesn’t come wrapped in newspaper.
Amarillo (French, Spanish, Asian)
Address: 10 Nile Street, Brighton, BN1 1HW
Call: +44 7307 622 076
Amarillo is ambitious and going places, it’s a new arrival on the scene, and it’s not afraid to experiment with something new and exciting. You go to Amarillo on a hen do because you want a night of culinary adventure and aren’t afraid to let your taste buds wander the planet.
You’ll need to reserve in advance because there’s a definite buzz around this place in Brighton, but it’s very much worth it. There are planned menu changes on a regular basis, and we can’t wait to try them all. Get there before everyone else does!
Deccan Tiffin (Indian)
Address: Westbourne Villas, Brighton, BN3 4GF
Call: +44 1273 749619
Last on our list of expensive places in Brighton is very much not least, Deccan Tiffin may be the best choice of them all for a hen do. What better cuisine to enjoy a few drinks and a good time with friends than authentic Indian? In fact, you can even incorporate a cookery class as part of the experience and then recreate your hen do at home whenever you want.
Priya Deshingkar is the head chef, and they’ve done North Indian food a huge service by bringing it to this discrete corner of the city. We recommend the Allo Methi, and it’s fine for vegetarians too.
10 Less Expensive But Absolutely Brilliant Restaurants In Brighton For A Hen Do
If you’re not feeling as flush, don’t worry, there are plenty of great places to eat in Brighton for your hen do that isn’t going to break the bank. You can enjoy amazing food, interesting décor and good wine without spending a fortune, and these are ten great places to do so!
Baqueano (Steakhouse, Grill)
Address: 125 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2AD
Call: +44 1273 911 991
You won’t be surprised to learn that vegans are a bit out of place at an Argentine steakhouse; however, they do offer some strong vegetarian options, and plant-based eaters won’t be left out entirely.
However, let’s be blunt: the star of the show at Bacqueano is the 45-day wet-aged Argentinian steak, and that’s exactly how it should be. If your hen do dream involves super tasty food and lots of excellent red wine, this is the perfect place for it. The couple that run it Adriana and Jorge are charming people too. Try the taster menu if you don’t know much about Argentinian food, it will delight you.
Thewitchez Photo Design Café Bar (European, Café)
Address: 16 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TL
Call: +44 1273 673 652
Let’s be blunt about this, in most cities, a café would be a terrible place for a hen do, in Brighton, it’s one of the best ideas you can have. There may be no more Instagrammable food anywhere on earth than that served at Thewitchez Photo Design Café Bar.
They love vegans and vegetarians and even do a shout-out to gluten-free eaters. The bar offers some exquisitely crafted cocktails too. Everything is homemade and locally sourced and they’re very creative about drawing on different schools of cookery too. It might sound odd, but this café is an incredible venue for an amazing hen do.
Mediterraneo Restaurant (Italian, Mediterranean)
Address: 2A Clyde Road, Brighton BN1 4NP
Call: +44 7729 929 524
If you want a little taste of Sicily before you get wed, then Mediterraneo has you covered. This kind of intimate dining venue is perfectly suited to a smaller hen do party looking to have great conversation over tasty food and a few glasses of great wine.
It’s very discreetly located, and many locals wouldn’t even know it was there if they hadn’t been before. It’s a truly “hidden gem” and the perfect place if you’re looking for a unique hen do that oozes charm and sophistication. We’ve found that wait staff to be superbly attentive to your every need, and nobody leaves Mediterraneo without a smile on their face and a gently full stomach.
Constantinople (Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern)
Address: 51 Norfolk Square, Brighton, BN1 2PA
Call: +44 1273 777 355
It’s good to see this style of cooking keeping up with the times, and vegans can feel free to visit Constantinople on the grounds that they are well-catered to (in fact, we hear that there are now more vegan restaurants in the Middle East than anywhere else).
We love the presentation of the food here, and we find we spend as much time taking photos of it as we do eating it. Ozlim and his staff have made eating Turkish food in Brighton an unforgettable experience, and you’ll be happy to spend your hen do here, and you’ll tell all your friends about it afterwards.
Chamuyo (Steakhouse, Argentinian)
Address: 62 Middle Street, Brighton, BN1 1AL
Call: +44 127433 748 448
Chamuyo’s an unashamed carnivore place, and neither vegans nor vegetarians will find much of interest in this incredibly solid steakhouse. We like the wooden shop frontage and the very classical feel of the interior, and the steaks are absolutely excellent. In fact, many consider Chamuyo to be the best steakhouse in Brighton.
It is authentically Argentinian, and the wine list is packed to the brim with excellent Argentinian numbers to complement the beef. We’ve never heard anyone with a bad word to say about the service – it’s a fabulous experience as long as you like meat.
Manju’s (Indian, Asian)
Address: 6 Trafalgar Street, North Laine, Brighton, BN1 4EQ
Call: +44 1273 231 870
Indian tapas? Why not? That’s the philosophy of Manju’s, and it really works. Vegans and vegetarians (as you’d expect at a good Indian restaurant) are very well catered to here, and so are all the carnivores. You can order lots of different dishes and pick exactly what you want.
This is Gujerati food at its absolute finest, and we can’t imagine a hen do that wouldn’t do well at Manju’s it’s one of Brighton’s best-kept secrets in superb value dining.
Halisco (Mexican, Latin)
Address: 64 Preston Street, Brighton, BN1 2HE
Call: +44 1273 875 812
Sometimes a hen do calls for as much tequila as you can drink, and where better to do that than in Brighton’s finest Mexican restaurant. The tequila is, however, entirely optional and the food at Halisco is superb without so much as a single drink.
We were pleased to see that they cater to vegans and vegetarians on our visit, and they even have a decent range of gluten-free choices. The décor is very funky and can lend itself to some fun photography, and the good is fine too, though we think the portions can be a bit on the small side sometimes.
Tookta’s Thai Food (Thai, unsurprisingly)
Address: 30 Spring Street, Brighton, BN1 3EF
Call: + 44 1273 748 071
We recommend booking early for Tookta’s Thai Food which is deservedly revered by Brighton’s foodie scene for being the best Thai restaurant in the city. We like its simple Thai-themed décor, and a hen party should have no problem fitting in as long as they have a reservation.
There’s a wide range of choices on the menu, and that includes gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian dishes, which means you can be sure everyone will find something they like. All the ingredients are fresh, aromatic and tasty. You can be sure of a good time at Tookta’s.
Tinto Taperia (Spanish, Mediterranean)
Address: 7 New Road, Brighton, BN1 1UF
Call: +44 1273 727 766
Paella and tapas are two of our favourite words, and Tinto Taperia is the place in Brighton to find them. Hens going here should be aware that while they are vegetarian-friendly and have gluten-free choices, this isn’t a vegan location.
However, if you’re looking for super Spanish food and plenty of sangria to wash it down with – you won’t go wrong here. The tapas approach means you get huge amounts of variety and lots of photos for your social media.
Riddle and Finns The Lanes
Address: 12B Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB
Call: +44 1273 721 667
We end with what we think may be the best seafood restaurant in town. It may not be quite as “fine dining” as some of the other places on our earlier list, but the food here is second to none. Its location in the Brighton lanes is perfectly situated for a hen do night out, and we find their champagne service to be exquisite.
They don’t take reservations, so you need to go early. Fashionably late will have you cooling your heels and waiting for a seat, but as long as you can get organized, you’ll enjoy one of the city’s best meals without spending a fortune on it.
