One of the true pioneers of Brighton’s vegan food scene is Food For Friends, an award-winning vegetarian restaurant tucked away in the winding streets of the city’s famous Lanes. Established in 1981 – long before quinoa got cool on these shores – Food For Friends has been serving innovative, organic, and cruelty-free dishes to both locals and visitors for decades. Their seasonal menus and smart-casual atmosphere make it a popular choice for those seeking delicious plant-based cuisine in a sophisticated setting, with the restaurant featured in both The Sunday Times Top Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants back in 2016 and the 2018 edition of The Good Food Guide.

Featuring in The Good Food Guide 2018 and winner of multiple awards, Food For Friends is the original vegan and vegetarian eatery in the city being established in 1981. Perfect for lunch, dinner and late-night dining, this warm and welcoming restaurant is perfect for those looking for a guilt-free bite to eat whilst exploring the city centre due to its convenient location next to The Lanes in the city centre. However, this can also mean that tables fill up quickly on busy days and at peak times, so if you’re planning a visit then it might be worth checking first!

Food For Friends is a top choice if you're vegetarian or vegan and looking for some plant-based goodness to devour. Known for its delectable plates and laid-back atmosphere, this quirky eatery is a perfect stop-off for lunch with friends or date nights alike. Presenting a warm and rustic dining room paired with elegant light fixtures, it offers a tranquil feasting experience from farm to plate: think celeriac Wellington, Hasselback squash and more, washed down with organic, biodynamic and natural wine.

Since 1981, this vegetarian haven has been serving up a mesmerizing array of dishes that redefine plant-based dining. Picture sweet summer peas sautéed in confit garlic, or smokey charred cabbage adorned with house-made cashew cheese—it's a veggie-packed spectacle that even carnivores can't resist. While not entirely vegan, Food For Friends is a plant-based paradise with an ethos of "tasty, affordable, honest cooking" using the freshest produce and supporting local suppliers.

Whether you’re a vegetarian or not, award winning Food for Friends is a must visit for everyone living in or visiting Brighton. It’s probably Brighton’s most famous vegetarian restaurant (with many vegan dishes), receiving many accolades and serving customers since 1981. Their ethos is ‘tasty, affordable, honest cooking using the freshest produce, totally homemade, whilst supporting local suppliers where possible.’ You can’t argue with that.

As you’d expect, Brighton is brilliant for plant-based dining, and the city has no shortage of cool new vegan and vegetarian places to eat. Food For Friends, which has been going since 1981, is the original and still one of the very best. Jutting out onto Prince Albert Street like the prow of a ship, the elegant dining room serves an internationally influenced menu: think spring vegetable katsu-style curry and a hearty roasted roots salad.

A post shared by Food For Friends (@foodforfriendsrestaurant). Brighton is big on veggie food, spearheaded by forward-thinking restaurants like Food For Friends, which has been serving plant-based fare since 1981. Menus use local and organic ingredients where possible, and everything is vegetarian – with many dishes fully vegan, such as aubergine kofta with harissa dressing, Sri Lankan beet curry, and mapo tofu with shiitake mushroom.

Food For Friends, 17-18 Prince Albert Street, BN1 1HF. Claiming to be Brighton’s original vegetarian restaurant, this place is a right ol’ hotspot so I wouldn’t even bother if it’s a Friday or weekend evening if you haven’t got a booking, so it’s definitely one to book pretty far in advance. The food here though is insane and definitely worth the wait. Fresh and filling, I always make sure I save a little space for dessert.

Food for Friends has been serving up vegetarian cuisine since 1981 and in some ways, its reputation as a Brighton institution overshadows the modern-day reality. By all accounts the contemporary incarnation of Food for Friends is unrecognisable from the original hippie haven. It’s now a chic yet relaxed, smart, unfussy restaurant with Farrow & Ball walls and pendant lights – the smart-casual of the dining room décor world.

On a trip to Brighton last year we decided to try Botanique because we’ve always enjoyed eating at their Food For Friend’s restaurant in The Lanes. I wasn’t sure about the menu and told my husband that I thought we’d probably both prefer the FFF’s menu, especially as he’s not vegan, but he told me that I should be adventurous and try it. I’m so glad we did as it was really very good indeed.

Food For Friends has been a frequented vegetarian restaurant in Brighton since 1981, so they must be doing something right. Whilst the cuisine at Food For Friends might be described as fine dining, the atmosphere is relaxed and reflects the name of the restaurant. It is a place to go with friends and loved ones to share conversations over great vegetarian and vegan food.

It uses fresh combinations of ingredients and makes its options interesting than just offering regular choices and serves a range of vegan and gluten-free options. They believe in serving food that is delicious and affordable and uses the freshest of product that supports the local suppliers.