Merletto Lounge

You'll find Merletto right on the High Street, sandwiched between the everyday chaos of town centre shopping and the quieter bits heading towards the Rye. It's the kind of place that takes itself seriously about what it puts on a plate without being unnecessarily fussy about it. The lounge vibe means you're equally welcome dropping in for an early dinner after work or settling in for a proper evening with mates. The Italian-leaning menu hits notes you'd expect done well—fresh pasta, proper risotto, that sort of thing—but the real draw is how genuinely comfortable it feels in there. Staff know what they're doing, and the cocktail list suggests someone's actually thought about it rather than just copying what London's doing.