Stem

You're walking down Church Road in Hove, past the local shops and independent businesses that make this stretch feel properly residential—and then you spot Stem. It's the kind of place that doesn't shout about itself, which somehow makes it more appealing. Inside, it's warm and welcoming without any of the trying-too-hard energy you sometimes get. The kitchen takes seasonal ingredients seriously, building a menu that changes with what's actually good right now, rather than what looks impressive on Instagram. It's the sort of restaurant where you can tell the team genuinely cares about what lands on your plate.