Brighton’s independent restaurant scene has a new set of markers to compare. Announced on 30 September 2026, the Brighton Dome Awards give restaurants one, two or three Domes, alongside a separate Local Favourite status. The name refers to the domes of the Royal Pavilion, while the judging comes from a panel of culinary experts led by Brighton food writer Andy Lynes. The awards are part of a new map-based restaurant guide, launched on 24 September through the Serving Up newsletter.
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At the top of the first list are Dilsk, Etch. by Steven Edwards, Furna and Maré by Rafael Cagali, each awarded three Domes for the city’s highest-rated cooking. The two-Dome group includes Amari, Burnt Orange, The Chilli Pickle, The Flint House, The Little Fish Market, The Set and The Coal Shed. This gives readers a useful spread of styles, from seafood and modern British cooking to Indian food and more informal sharing plates, without reducing the guide to one particular kind of restaurant.
The one-Dome list is much longer and includes Baby Bao at the Pond, Bincho Yakitori, Brusco, Fourth and Church, Ginger Pig, Kindling Kitgum, Namo Brighton, No No Please, Palmito, Plateau, Riddle & Finns, Salt Room, Spice Circuit Kitchen, Stem, The Crazy Goose, Vine House Voya and Wild Flor. The award description places this level around reliable, good-value food, so it may be the most useful section for choosing somewhere for an ordinary meal rather than a special occasion.
The separate Local Favourite category brings together Bonsai Plant Kitchen, Embers, English’s, Halisco, Petit Pois, Reading Room, Terre à Terre and Tutto. There are also a couple of extra details for food-focused readers: The Crazy Goose’s English Wagyu steak with black pepper sauce was named Brighton’s Best Dish, at £28, while The Chilli Pickle’s Green Chilli Pickle Bloody Mary took the cocktail award. The Chilli Pickle is at 6–8 Meeting House Lane and also serves an £18 curry set lunch; The Crazy Goose is at 8 Boyce’s Street.
The awards connect with this year’s OctoberBest festival, which runs from Saturday 10 October to Sunday 25 October 2026. Participating winners are offering special menus during the 16-day event. At Terre à Terre, for example, the options include a £25 Terre à Tapas lunch menu and a £35 Thrice As Nice dinner menu. With the searchable guide now available, the Dome ratings offer a straightforward way to browse Brighton’s restaurants, whether you are looking for the city’s most ambitious cooking, a dependable local address or a familiar favourite.
Published Date
1 October 2026
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