Hilltop Cafe

You'll find Hilltop Cafe tucked away on Dyke Road Avenue, in that sweet spot where the North Laine energy fades and actual Brighton residents outnumber the weekend crowds. It's the kind of place that feels genuinely local—regulars chatting to staff by name, the sort of vibe you'd miss if you blinked. The coffee is properly pulled (not over-extracted nonsense), and their brunch menu hits the mark: sourdough that's actually had time to prove, eggs cooked how you actually want them, the basics done right. It's casual without trying, and busy without feeling frantic. Popular for a reason, but you're never queuing round the block like some places in town.