Sussex


<p>Best meal of the day? With its family-friendly dishes, laidback approach to time-keeping, and license to begin with what&#8217;s basically pudding (hello, French toast), brunch is a strong contender. </p>



<p>For any naysayers out there, these destination-worthy hotspots are here to convince you. Come for the pancakes, stay for the boutique browsing, gallery going or plain old picturesque moseying. Better still, all these options come with outdoor seating. </p>



<p>A bottomless mimosa while you make up your mind? Don&#8217;t mind if we do! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-botanica-south-lodge-horsham"><strong><a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/botanica/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Botanica</a>, South Lodge, Horsham </strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Botanica.jpg" alt="Botanica, South Lodge, Sussex" class="wp-image-76092" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Botanica.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Botanica-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Botanica-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Botanica-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Botanica, South Lodge</figcaption></figure>



<p>How’s this for a view? Overlooking the outdoor pools at South Lodge’s award-winning spa, Botanica&#8217;s large outdoor terrace offers vistas stretching across the South Downs. The menu is dairy-free and zero-waste but also mediterranean in inspiration, so there&#8217;s no hint of the old hair shirt and instead a whole lot of healthful zestiness for your tastebuds. The porridge, for instance, is stem ginger porridge with apple jam and candied seeds. The poached egg is served will lemon hollandaise and a herbed muffin as well as smoked salmon. And the juice blends are so exotic, you might not even miss the Prosecco. Happily, you can still opt for a bacon and egg roll though. Afterwards, you can explore the hotel&#8217;s epic grounds, comprising over 90 acres of parkland, lakes and landscaped gardens. Who&#8217;s up for making a spa day of it next time? </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-fig-rye"><strong><a href="https://thefigrye.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Fig</a>, Rye</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Fig.jpg" alt="Brunch at The Fig, Rye" class="wp-image-76089" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Fig.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Fig-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Fig-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Fig-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: The Fig</figcaption></figure>



<p>A cosy-cool cafe that performs at restaurant level, nestled in the very centre one of the county&#8217;s most picturesque small towns. Vegan shakshuka? If anyone can pull that off, it&#8217;ll be The Fig. With a menu covering all your brunch cravings as well as less expected dishes like sweetcorn fritters and apricot waffles (heck, yes!), it serves brunch until noon, when equally tempting lunch options take over. Its drinks offering strikes a perfect balance between novel and known: along with fizz and cocktails, you&#8217;ll find hot drinks like dirty chais and mocktails including a lychee fizz. Not in a rush to head home afterwards? Rye&#8217;s boutiques and indie homeware stores provide an ideal mooching ground. If the weather&#8217;s cooperating, try for an outdoor table in the very heart of it all. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-towner-eastbourne"><strong><a href="https://lighttowner.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Light</a>, Towner, Eastbourne</strong> </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Light.jpg" alt="Light, Towner Gallery, Eastbourne" class="wp-image-76088" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Light.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Light-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Light-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Light-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Light</figcaption></figure>



<p>Brunch is strictly a weekend affair in the airy confines of this contemporary arts beacon, where wholesome fare is served with Scandi accents and lashings of cultural clout. There&#8217;s a balcony for fine weather but even on the gloomiest of days, the light&#8217;s downright painterly (the restaurant&#8217;s name is unusually apt). There&#8217;s an artistry to the fare, too, which channels Scani influences and skews slightly more towards fine dining than comfort food. It&#8217;s tasty with it, though — think wholegrain crepes with cherry compote and yoghurt or harissa haricot beans with roasted aubergine and sourdough. It&#8217;s not too grand for bacon and eggs, either, and their eggs Benedict comes with a choice of ham, smoked trout or mushrooms. Afterwards, you&#8217;re perfectly placed to take in an exhibition while the conversation continues. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oeuf-hove"><strong><a href="https://oeuf.cafe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oeuf.</a>, Hove </strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Oeuf.jpg" alt="Oeuf, Hove" class="wp-image-76090" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Oeuf.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Oeuf-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Oeuf-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Oeuf-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Oeuf-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Oeuf.</figcaption></figure>



<p>If Wes Anderson were to open a restaurant, it may well look like Oeuf. Think seaside whimsy with an extra serving of scrumptiousness. Just two meals are served at this Hove joint: breakfast and brunch, both of them candlelit. If that sounds quirky, wait until you hear about the signature dish: Frumpets. Portmanteau perfection, they&#8217;re crumpets in French toast batter. Also on the menu, parmesan carbonara waffle, beef tallow tots, fluffy yet somehow vegan and gluten-free pancakes, and &#8216;Oeuf. &amp; Surf&#8217;, featuring crayfish and crab, saffron-scorched hollandaise, tempura nori seaweed and poached eggs on toast. Honestly, Muddy could graze on this menu all day long. It&#8217;s just a pebble&#8217;s throw from the beach, so you can get a bracing stroll in afterwards — or else just enjoy the view from a table at the front. Need another reason to make a date there? Check out the secret garden, complete with birdsong, leafy canopies and roses. Who&#8217;s for another mimosa? Afterwards, you&#8217;re less than a 15-min stroll from the Hove Museum of Creativity. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jo-amp-co-hove"><strong><a href="https://www.joandcorestaurants.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jo &amp; Co</a>, Hove</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/Untitled-design-10-1.jpg" alt="Pancakes at Jo &amp; Co in Hove, Sussex" /></figure>



<p>A stack of five buttermilk pancakes? Go on then… Jo &amp; Co specialise in brunch so you’re in expert hands here, with classic options ranging from all the sweet stuff, Nutella included, to streaky bacon. Not a fan of the sweet stuff so early in the day? Savoury dishes include spicy cornbread and croissant scramble as well as a cracking full English (they veggie variant is tempting enough to lure even diehard carnivores). Bubbles are also available, for celebrations just-cos.  Unsurprisingly, this place is a firm local favourite. Suppliers including the Flour Pot Bakery and Mac&#8217;s Farm indicate a commitment to quality from nearby but the owners also take inspo from their travels in Australia and New Zealand. Fancy a splash of sunshine with all that? There are a few outside tables on a pavement wide and calm enough to make them actually appealing. You&#8217;re barely 10 mins from the seafront so be sure to save time for some promenading afterwards. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cowdray-farm-shop-cafe-midhurst"><strong><a href="https://www.cowdray.co.uk/eat-at-cowdray/cowdray-farm-shop-cafe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cowdray Farm Shop Cafe</a>, Midhurst</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Cowdray.jpg" alt="Breakfast at Cowdray Farm Shop, Sussex" class="wp-image-76091" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Cowdray.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Cowdray-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Cowdray-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Cowdray-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Cowdray-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Cowdray Estate</figcaption></figure>



<p>After a farm-to-fork brunch with a generous helping of rustic chic? Head to the Cowdray Estate where along with world-class polo and atmospheric Tudor ruins, you&#8217;ll find a much-loved farm shop café. The outdoor seating comes with a play area for fractiousness-free lingering, and menu-wise, we&#8217;re talking everything from waffles and &#8216;the big Cowdray breakfast&#8217; — a full English with double everything plus bubble and squeak — to green smoothies and matcha lattes. The ham, eggs, honey and more are from right here on the estate — don’t forget to stock up on gourmet goodies at the farm shop before you leave, and there are tempting candles, ceramics, linens and more to be had in Cowdray Lifestyle. Expansive parklands mean walks galore (you can even visit an oak tree reputed to have once sheltered Elizabeth I), and the estate has a lively seasonal programme running to foraging walks and wellness events. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babylon-the-kitchen-duddleswell"><strong><a href="https://babylon.eco/experience/the-kitchen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Babylon The Kitchen</a>, Duddleswell</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Babylon.jpg" alt="Babylon The Kitchen, Sussex" class="wp-image-76094" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Babylon.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Babylon-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Babylon-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/08/Babylon-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Babylon The Kitchen</figcaption></figure>



<p>This eco hub is all about brunch, which is served until 3pm. If you&#8217;re worried that makes it a bacon-free zone, fear not. The &#8216;Babylon Breakfast&#8217; features all the classics, including black pudding, but there&#8217;s heaps for veggies and vegans, including marmite mushrooms on sourdough and an omelette made with Sussex Charmer cheddar. What you won&#8217;t find on the menu are avocados (air mile villains!), so the guacamole is instead made from peas and broad beans, adding extra protein. The sweet-toothed are less well catered for but you&#8217;ll always find irresistible cakes and bakes on offer, and if you&#8217;re in the mood for a glass of something extra delicious, the café makes the most of neighbouring vineyards and breweries (there&#8217;s even a prize-winning kombucha company nearby), but you&#8217;ll find French and Italian vino, too. There are ample glasshouse seats if the weather&#8217;s looking iffy but you still fancy a hint of al fresco. Afterwards, stock up on plants and consider visiting nearby Ashdown Forest and Pooh Sticks Bridge. This year marks the 100th anniversary of A.A. Milne&#8217;s famous bear so there&#8217;s plenty going on. </p>



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Al fresco’s on the menu at some of the best brunch spots near you

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