Summer Food Pop-Ups and Street Eats in Brighton 2026

Brighton’s summer dining scene for 2026 is shaped by a mix of exclusive seasonal residencies and established street food spots. With major events like the Love Supreme Jazz Festival coming up from 3 to 5 July 2026 and Brighton Pride in August 2026, the city has plenty of temporary and permanent food options to explore over the warmer months.

The most notable addition this season is the SORA pop-up residency at Malmaison Brighton Marina, located at The Waterfront. Running from 20 May 2026 until 31 August 2026, this contemporary Japanese dining experience focuses on sushi, robata grill cooking, and social sharing plates. The menu features dishes like sticky pork belly with burnt apple purée and sesame, miso-glazed black cod, Loch Duart salmon teriyaki, king oyster mushroom with coriander mayo, Korean cauliflower, and crispy rice bites. Their sushi selection includes tuna nigiri, kingfish sashimi, and signature rolls like the Green Dragon and Firecracker Maki. During the day, they serve Bento Boxes, and a Japanese-inspired afternoon tea called 'A taste of the Orient' is available daily from 12:00 to 16:00 for £35 per person, or £45 with a cocktail. SORA operates daily, with extended late-night service on Fridays and Saturdays featuring DJs and live music. The restaurant and bar are open Sunday to Thursday from 12:00 to 23:00, and Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 01:00, with food service ending at 21:00 on weekdays and 22:00 on weekends. Breakfast is also served daily, and reservations can be made via SevenRooms. The venue includes an alfresco BBQ and free parking at the marina.

Further along the coast, Halisco is hosting a beach pop-up at Lazy Fin, serving Mexican street food from April 2026 until the end of September 2026. The menu focuses on tacos, featuring options like slow-cooked ox cheek with bone marrow mayo, and refried beans with sautéed mushrooms and confit garlic. Other dishes include pork carnitas, pineapple salsa with chips, and crispy sea bass fillet with burnt corn, red peppers, and tamarind. Halisco also continues to operate its permanent site at 64 Preston Street.

For those who prefer multiple options in one place, Shelter Hall at Kings Road Arches offers a seafront food market with seven rotating kitchens and two bars. The venue features sea views, live music, and app-based ordering. The current kitchens include Churrasco, ThaiAngle, VIP Pizza, Saltio, 3Bros Burgers, Lost Boys Chicken, Temaki Bros, Sear by Salt Shed, Rybka, and Coffee and Cake. It is open Monday to Thursday from 11:30 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 00:00, and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, with kitchens closing an hour before the venue. Brunch is served Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00.

If you are looking for dedicated plant-based or casual Japanese options, Happy Maki at 49 Gardner Street is a vegan sushi specialist serving sushi burritos and poke bowls, including their Thai Sweet Potato roll, Hoisin Duck roll, and cauliflower wings daily from 12:00 to 20:00. Additionally, Pompoko offers Japanese street food at 110 Church Street and their new branch in Kemp Town on Manchester Street. Operating on a cash-only and bring-your-own-alcohol basis, their menu features tori chilli don, pork yakisoba, pumpkin curry, takoyaki, and yubamaki, open daily from 11:30 to 23:00.