La Piazza

Head down to Hove's Western Road and you'll find La Piazza doing the unglamorous work of proper Italian food without the theatre. It's the kind of place where regulars know the staff by name and walk in mid-week for a plate of something honest. The room has that lived-in feel—not Instagram-ready, but genuinely comfortable—and the menu reads like someone's actually cooked it rather than designed it. You're looking at fresh pasta, proper sauces, and Italian wines that don't cost a fortune. This is where locals come when they want real food cooked well, not concept dining.