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Ciaran Connolly
Ciaran 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; this guide will help you.
This bustling city is the ideal weekend getaway and is a popular spot for those living in London for business. Brighton has it all if you want a relaxed stroll along the pebble beach, a vintage clothing shopping spree, or a family-friendly day on the pier.
You will also find many great bars with craft beers and superb spirits available. Some bars in Brighton even have their 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 be disappointed. Brighton is also home to many fantastic coffee shops to soothe your caffeine cravings and fuel the many fun activities in Brighton.
Learn more about Brighton’s North Laine area and the many great coffees there!
Table of Contents
Where are the North Laines in Brighton?
Brighton is known for its lanes, primarily small, twisting paths through the city that reveal great shops and restaurants. The main lanes are located between the North Laines and the seafront. The small pathways of this part of the city are called ‘twittens’ (but only in Sussex). Comparatively, the North Laines are significant, 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 impressive things to see and do. The location is known for its bohemian and alfresco vibe. You will surely see fantastic 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 fantastic places listed below, you should try out one of the great things the North Laines are known for, such as:
- Visit Curiosity/Vintage shops such as Snoopers Paradise or To Be Worn Again.
- Lounge in a public garden at The Level or The Pavillion Gardens.
- Enjoy some fantastic food at Burger Brothers or PomPoko.
- Catch a show at the Komedia or the Theatre Royal.
Where can you find the best coffee in the North Laine, Brighton?
- Black Mocha
- Bond St.
- Bread & Milk
- Flour Pot Bakery
- Pelicano
- The Botanist Coffee Co.
- Trading Post
Black Mocha
Black Mocha is an independent coffee shop that offers great drinks and food options. It prides itself on providing a wide range of vegan and gluten-free options, ensuring anyone can have their cake and eat it, too. Beyond its brunch classics and pastries, its talented team of baristas serves a coffee menu.
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 that earns this cafe its name is a blend of 70% hot chocolate from Madagascar mixed with 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. It is 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 home. They also offer gift baskets online for the coffee lover in your life.
Locals Tip: You receive 10% off your coffee using a reusable mug (check out their socials for more information).
Location: 103 Gloucester Rd, Brighton BN1 4AP
Opening Hours:
| Monday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–5:30 pm |
| Sunday | 9 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, which now sells coffee to people around the globe. Horsham Coffee Roasters is based in West Sussex and started roasting coffee in 2012 before roasting specialty coffee had a boom in popularity.
Horsham Coffee Roasters are passionate about where they receive their coffee 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 pay 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 excellent latte art, delicious coffee, and milk 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 the relaxed atmosphere of Bond St.
Location: 15 Bond St, Brighton BN1 1RD
Opening Hours:
| Monday | 8 am–5:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am–5:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am–5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am–5:30 pm |
| Friday | 8 am–5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–6 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am–4:30 pm |
Bread & Milk
Bread and Milk is about coffee, the community, and supporting local businesses. This means that you support locals, from your coffee, roasted by Pharmacie Roasters, to your sausage roll sourced from Brighton Sausage Co. They offer various food and drink options to suit many dietary requirements and preferences. Enjoy a flaky almond croissant, or stick to a healthy breakfast with a superfood porridge; it will be delicious either way.
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 serves one of the best Chai Lattes in Brighton, which is well worth a try.
Location: 82 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4EB
Opening Hours:
| Monday | 7:30 am–5 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30 am–5 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30 am–5 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30 am–5 pm |
| Friday | 7:30 am–5 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | 8:30 am–5 pm |
Flour Pot Bakery
This cute bakery and cafe is on the corner of Sydney Street and Gloucester. This was the original Flour Pot Bakery location in 2013; they have only grown since then. Their focus is on bringing beautiful flavours to their customers in sweet treats such as pastries and great drinks, including coffee.
Their sister company, The Milk Shed Coffee Roasters, roasts all the coffee served at the Flour Pot Bakery. The Milk Shed’s home roast 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 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, which 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
If you are looking for a 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 brand of coffee.
While there, why not check out their coffee board to find a new coffee blend? Pelicano offers various flavour profiles to suit any taste, all served 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 city area 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 pastime 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.
This little green cafe is a plant lover’s dream. It serves Vegan baked goods, fantastic coffee, house plants, and plant pots. The Botanist Coffee Co. works with several local businesses to stock its 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
Trading Post Coffee has not one but two North Laine locations, including its 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 its North Laine locations, you will spot plenty of people enjoying a delicious brunch from its 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. You will find a favourite from their South American ‘Green Monkey’ blend to their Latin American ‘Mono Loco’ blend.
If you find the perfect blend when visiting Brighton and don’t want to be parted, you can visit their website and order pre-ground coffee 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 to ensure you grab a seat to enjoy your coffee and take in the atmosphere entirely.
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. Getting up a little earlier is best 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 you are looking for a warming cappuccino in October or an iced macchiato in July, you will always find great coffee in Brighton. While there, 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.
