Al Duomo

You walk into Al Duomo and immediately know you're somewhere that takes Italian food seriously. Tucked into the handsome Pavilion Buildings just off the Old Steine, this place has been quietly serving some of the most authentic Italian cooking in Brighton for years whilst half the city chases after flashier openings. The menu reads like a love letter to proper Italian cooking – none of that watered-down stuff you get elsewhere. Their pasta is made fresh daily, the pizza bases have that perfect char from a proper oven, and the wine list features bottles you'd actually find in a decent Roman trattoria. The staff know their stuff too, happy to talk you through the day's specials without that forced enthusiasm you get in chain places. It's the kind of spot where you bring your parents when they visit, knowing they'll leave impressed.