Chez Mal Brighton

You're heading down to the Marina for a reason that isn't the casino or a chain restaurant, and that reason is Chez Mal. It's the brasserie tucked into the Malmaison hotel—all dark wood, brass fittings, and that particular kind of moody lighting that makes everyone look like they're in a 70s film noir. The menu does proper French cooking without the fussy pretence: think duck confit, plateau fruits de mer, and steaks that actually know what they're doing. It's the sort of place where you can dress up without feeling ridiculous, or rock up in jeans and no one blinks.