Ultimate Guide to the Best Coffee in the North Laines, Brighton: 7 Amazing Coffee Spots To Check Out 

Coffee in the North Laines

Updated On: November 08, 2023 by   Ciaran ConnollyCiaran Connolly

Brighton is a seaside town in the south of England and home to bustling streets, independent shops, nightlife, pier attractions, and more than a few seagulls. While visiting Brighton you will want to check out the best coffee in the North Laines and this guide will help you do that.

This bustling city is the ideal weekend getaway and is a popular spot for those living in London for business. Whether you want a relaxed stroll along the pebble beach, a vintage clothing shopping spree, or a family fun day on the pier Brighton has it all. 

You will also find a wide range of great bars with craft beers and great spirits available. Some bars in Brighton even have their own home brews, such as The Pond and their famous ‘Pond Water’. It tastes better than it sounds. If you are visiting and fancy a non-alcoholic beverage you won’t leave disappointed as Brighton is also home to many amazing coffee shops to soothe your caffeine cravings and fuel the many fun activities to do in Brighton. 

Read on to learn more about Brighton’s North Laine area and the many great coffees you will find there! 

Where are the North Laines in Brighton? 

Coffee in the North Laines
The North Laines, Brighton

Brighton is known for its lanes which are mostly small twisting paths through the cities which reveal great shops and restaurants you can discover. The main lanes of Brighton are located between the North Laines and the seafront of Brighton. The small pathways which make up this part of the city are called ‘twittens’ (but only in Sussex). Comparatively, the North Laines are large, open streets that make up the cultural hub of Brighton. 

The North Laines run across an area of around 10-12 streets and are packed to the brim with amazing things to see and do. The area is known for its bohemian and alfresco vibe. You are sure to see amazing fashion that will make you want to wear your boldest outfit and hit the streets. 

What can you do in the North Laines, Brighton? 

Once you are fuelled up on coffee, from one of the amazing places listed below, you should try out one of the great things the North Laines are known for such as: 

  1. Visit Curiosity/Vintage shops such as Snoopers Paradise or To Be Worn Again.
  2. Lounge in a public garden at The Level or The Pavillion Gardens.
  3. Enjoy some fantastic food at Burger Brothers or PomPoko.
  4. Catch a show at the Komedia or the Theatre Royal

Where can you find the best coffee in the North Laine, Brighton? 

Black Mocha 

Coffee in the North Laines
Best Coffee in the North Laines – Black Mocha

Black Mocha is an independent coffee shop that offers up great drinks as well as food options. They pride themselves on providing a wide range of options that are vegan and gluten-free ensuring anyone can have their cake and eat it too. Beyond their wide range of brunch classics and pastries is a coffee menu that is served up by their talented team of baristas. 

By the name, you may have guessed that this coffee shop is the perfect stop for lovers of mochas. A blend of coffee and cocoa that eases your craving for caffeine and chocolate at the same time. What’s not to love?

The Iconic Black Mocha which earns this cafe its name is a blend of 70% hot chocolate from Madagascar mixed with their own espresso from beans roasted at their roastery in Hove. This mocha is a little different from the traditional mocha as it contains no steamed milk. Thus, the name black mocha. Perfect for lovers of dark chocolate and espresso. 

If you aren’t a lover of chocolate, never fear you can still grab a latte or cappuccino at Black Mocha. If you fall in love with their coffee blends you can even order them online or buy them in-store to take some home. They also offer gift baskets online for the coffee lover in your life. 

Locals Tip: You receive 10% off your coffee if you use a reusable mug (check out their socials for more information). 

Black Mocha Brighton

Location: 103 Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AP

Opening Hours:

Monday8 am–5 pm
Tuesday8 am–5 pm
Wednesday8 am–5 pm
Thursday8 am–5 pm
Friday8 am–5 pm
Saturday8 am–5:30 pm
Sunday9 am–5:30 pm

Bond St.

Bond Street Coffee is an easily spotted cafe in the North Laines with its beautifully painted blue frontage. This cafe was the flagship store for Horsham Coffee Roasters who now sell coffee to people around the globe. Horsham Coffee Roasters is based in West Sussex and started roasting coffee in 2012 before roasting speciality coffee had a boom in popularity. 

Horsham Coffee Roasters are passionate about where they receive their coffee from and work with co-operatives in Costa Rica, Rwanda, and Kenya. They aim to produce the best and most ethically produced coffee they can. They ensure they are paying above Fairtrade standard prices for the beans they buy. Once the beans are sourced they are graded to ensure quality. In each step of the process, the team at Horsham Coffee Roasters is thinking about the cup of coffee you will enjoy when you arrive at Bond St. 

When the highly skilled baristas at Bond St. serve you your coffee you can expect great latte art, delicious coffee, and milk sourced from a local farm warmed to the ideal temperature. Lots of thought has gone into your coffee but you can just sit back and enjoy in the relaxed atmosphere of Bond St. 

Coffee in the North Laines
Best Coffee in the North Laines – Bond St.

Location: 15 Bond St, Brighton BN1 1RD

Opening Hours: 

Monday8 am–5:30 pm
Tuesday8 am–5:30 pm
Wednesday8 am–5:30 pm
Thursday8 am–5:30 pm
Friday8 am–5:30 pm
Saturday9 am–6 pm
Sunday10 am–4:30 pm

Bread & Milk 

Coffee in the North Laines
Best Coffee in the North Laines – Bread & Milk

Bread and Milk are not just about coffee, they are about community and supporting local businesses. This means from your coffee, roasted by Pharmacie Roasters to your sausage roll sourced from Brighton Sausage Co. you are supporting local. They offer up a wide range of food and drink options to suit lots of dietary requirements and preferences. Enjoy a flaky almond croissant or stick to a healthy breakfast with a superfood porridge, either way, it will be delicious. 

This relaxed and modern cafe is packed with great menu items and run by super friendly staff. They are also dog friendly, so your furry friend can come to say hello while you enjoy your coffee and treats. 

Locals Tip: Not a coffee person? Bread and Milk also serve up on of the best Chai Lattes in Brighton which is well worth a try. 

Location: 82 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4EB

Opening Hours: 

Monday7:30 am–5 pm
Tuesday7:30 am–5 pm
Wednesday7:30 am–5 pm
Thursday7:30 am–5 pm
Friday7:30 am–5 pm
Saturday8 am–5 pm
Sunday8:30 am–5 pm

Flour Pot Bakery

Coffee in the North Laines
Best Coffee in the North Laines – Flour Pot Bakery

On the corner of Sydney Street and Gloucester, you will find this cute bakery and cafe. This was the original Flour Pot Bakery location in 2013 and since then they have only grown. Their focus is on bringing beautiful flavours to their customers in sweet treats such as pastries as well as great drinks including coffee. 

All the coffee served at the Flour Pot Bakery is roasted by their sister company, The Milk Shed Coffee Roasters. The home roast created by the Milk Shed is called ‘Shed Brew’ but if you want something a bit different they offer a range of single-origin coffees you can try. They create their coffee roasts in small batches focusing on creating delicious coffee from bean to cup. 

Locals Tip: If you miss this spot while you are in the North Laines they also have a seafront location you can try. 

Location: 40 Sydney St, Brighton BN1 4EP

Opening Hours: 

  • Monday 8 am–6 pm
  • Tuesday 8 am–6 pm
  • Wednesday 8 am–6 pm
  • Thursday 8 am–6 pm
  • Friday 8 am–6 pm
  • Saturday 8 am–6 pm
  • Sunday 9 am–5 pm

Pelicano 

Coffee in the North Laines
Best Coffee in the North Laines – Pelicano

If you are looking for rustic aesthetic and mouth-watering pastries look no further than Pelicano, an industrial Instagram-worthy spot to grab delicious coffee and pastries. Pelicano’s Laines location is their flagship store opened in 2014 to sell their own brand of coffees. 

While there why not check out their coffee board to find a new coffee blend to try? Pelicano offers up a wide range of flavour profiles to suit any taste all served up in delicious lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and more. 

If you fancy a walk while you enjoy your coffee you can also visit their takeaway location at The Level. There you can walk around the beautiful Valley Gardens, a recently redeveloped area of the city where you can enjoy wildflowers and see plenty of happy dogs on walks. You may also see groups of people skating and rollerblading, a popular pass time for people in Brighton. 

Location: 28 Sydney St, Brighton BN1 4EP

Opening Hours: 

  • Monday 9 am–7 pm
  • Tuesday 9 am–7 pm
  • Wednesday 9 am–7 pm
  • Thursday 9 am–7 pm
  • Friday 9 am–7 pm
  • Saturday 9 am–7 pm
  • Sunday 9 am–7 pm

The Botanist Coffee Co. 

Coffee in the North Laines
Best Coffee in the North Laines – Botanist Coffee

This little green cafe is a plant lover’s dream serving up Vegan baked goods, fantastic coffee as well as house plants and plant pots. The Botanist Coffee Co. works with several local businesses to stock their shelves. The delicious pastries and cakes come from Cielo Cakery and the plants come courtesy of Hi Cacti. 

Their coffee primarily comes from Horsham Coffee Roasters (of Bond St Coffee) but they also showcase other local roasteries on their menu. Roasters such as Pharmacie and Trading Post Coffee. (Spoilers: Trading Post is next on the list!)

Location: 50A Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AQ

Opening Hours:

  • Monday 8 am–4 pm
  • Tuesday 8 am–4 pm
  • Wednesday 8 am–4 pm
  • Thursday 8 am–4 pm
  • Friday             8 am–4 pm
  • Saturday 8 am–4 pm
  • Sunday 8 am–4 pm

Trading Post

Coffee in the North Laines
Best Coffee in the North Laines – Trading Post

Trading Post Coffee has not one but two North Laine’s locations including their cafe The Roastery where the magic happens. Since 2017 Trading Post has brought fantastic coffee and food to the people of Brighton. If you end up in either of their North Laine locations you will spot plenty of people enjoying a delicious brunch from their menu, it is a great place to fuel up for a day out in the city. 

When ordering coffee at Trading Post you can choose from a wide range of roasts and blends that suit any taste. From their South American ‘Green Monkey’ blend to their Latin American ‘Mono Loco’ blend you are sure to find a favourite. 

If you find the perfect blend when visiting Brighton and don’t want to be parted, you can visit their website and order some pre-ground coffee for you to enjoy at home. This way you can remember your trip and all the great coffees you tried in the North Laines. 

Location: 40 Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1 4AL

Opening Hours: 

  • Monday 7:30 am–7 pm
  • Tuesday 7:30 am–7 pm
  • Wednesday 7:30 am–7 pm
  • Thursday 7:30 am–7 pm
  • Friday             7:30 am–11 pm
  • Saturday 7:30 am–11 pm
  • Sunday 7:30 am–7 pm

When Should You Go For Coffee in the North Laines? 

As you can imagine, this busy bohemian quarter of Brighton is often bustling with people, which means coffee shops can be hard to find a seat in. So, you should strategise a bit to ensure you grab a seat to enjoy your coffee and take in the atmosphere fully. 

Tools like Google can tell you the busiest times for each place on this list but the golden rule is to avoid arriving at 11 am. This is the busiest time for cafes as many people take a break from work or if it is the weekend people have had time to lie in and head out for coffee. Best to get up a little earlier to ensure you don’t have to wait for a seat. 

While enjoying your visit to Brighton you should also look out for cafes that become bars in the evening, you may find a great wine spot to try out. 

Conclusion

A trip to Brighton isn’t complete without relaxing in a comfortable cafe and enjoying a drink. Whether it is a warming cappuccino in October or an iced macchiato in July you will always find great coffee in Brighton. While there make sure to watch the world go by taking in the atmosphere of this bohemian seaside town.

Want to visit more Seaside Towns? Check out our article on the English seaside towns you should visit.

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