No 32

You'll find yourself on Duke Street in the thick of it—surrounded by independent shops and the kind of buzz that makes Brighton feel like a proper city. No 32 pulls off that tricky balance of being genuinely welcoming without trying too hard. It's got the bones of a proper cocktail bar (the drinks list knows what it's doing), but the grill menu keeps things grounded and unfussy. Order a steak if you're hungry, or just park yourself at the bar with something well-made and watch the street life happen outside.