Vios Café

You'll find yourself on Brighton Square—that proper little corner of the North Laine where actual Brightonians live, not just visit—and Vios is exactly the kind of spot that makes the area tick. It's unpretentious in the best way: good espresso, the kind of brunch that doesn't take the piss with portion sizes, and staff who actually know regulars' names. The space feels lived-in rather than Instagram-bait, with that warm café energy that comes from people genuinely wanting to be there, not performing for their feed. Come for the coffee, stay because you've somehow spent three hours reading the paper and chatting to whoever's at the next table.