THE ATTRACTION
The striking Royal Pavilion, Brighton.Credit: Visit Brighton
Built as a seaside pleasure palace in the late 1700s by Prince George (who went on to become King George), the Royal Pavilion is the building that gave Brighton its rakish, anything-goes vibe. Outside, it’s a Taj Mahal-like riot of minarets and domes; inside, it’s an extravagant medley of Chinese furnishings and gold-leafed decadence. Take a tour to ogle its lavish interiors and learn more about the prince’s hedonistic lifestyle, which included countless mistresses and 100-course dinners. See brightonmuseums.org.uk
THE HOTEL
Perfectly encapsulating the city’s bohemian vibe, Artist Residence is a boutique property occupying two neighbouring Regency townhouses in a grand seafront square. Many rooms are decorated by local artists, with lots of quirky, retro touches and there’s a homely ground-floor restaurant and bar that’s open from breakfast till late. Splash out on a suite with an in-room bathtub and you’ll be able to enjoy sea views while you scrub. See artistresidence.co.uk
THE RESTAURANT
Dishes at Burnt Orange.
Don’t be put off by its locale in an unremarkable backstreet near Brighton seafront, Burnt Orange is the city’s most talked-about new restaurant – an intimate, Bib Gourmand-awarded eatery that specialises in wood oven-fired dishes, such as crispy smoked lamb shoulder and fire-roasted chermoula monkfish. Our tip? Choose the Experience Menu, a multi-course feast that showcases the restaurant’s hero dishes. See burnt-orange.co.uk
THE TOUR
Brighton Food Tours eschews the global chains and big-name brands to highlight the city’s diverse range of independent producers. During its award-winning, three-hour VIB (Very Independent Brighton) tour, you might try a pulled pork and achiote taco in a traditional Mexican taqueria, sample an apple crumble and custard-flavoured chocolate from a Paris-trained chocolatier and taste a selection of delicious local Sussex cheeses. With six different stops, one thing you won’t be is hungry. See brightonfoodtours.com
THE CAFE
Wandering aimlessly through The Lanes, Brighton’s tangle of boutique-lined Victorian alleyways, is one of the great pleasures of visiting this breezy seaside resort. And there’s no better place to get your caffeine fix than at a cafe that celebrates this. Lost in the Lanes delivers all the breakfast and brunch stalwarts, but really shines at lunch, with adventurous dishes including Korean pork belly with kimchi and beetroot-cured trout. Most importantly, it serves a damn fine flat white. See lostinthelanes.com
THE SPA
Forget your fancy marble-lined hotel outfits, the real spa action happens right on Brighton’s pebbled beach. Located between Brighton Marina and the Grade II-listed Palace Pier, Beach Box Spa has three wood-fired saunas in converted horseboxes huddled around an outdoor fire pit. After a refreshing alfresco shower, rotate between one of the cosy spruce-lined saunas, the invigorating cold plunge pool and a dip in the English Channel. See beachboxspa.co.uk
THE VIEW
A bird’s-eye view - Brighton’s i360.Credit: Visit Brighton
Designed by the architects behind the iconic London Eye, Brighton i360 looks a bit like a transparent doughnut on a giant pole. After boarding at ground level, the viewing pod smoothly glides up to 138 metres, from where there are unparalleled 360-degree views of the city and coastline. Adrenaline addicts can take it up a notch with one of three “Extreme” experiences, including walking on top of the pod, climbing to the pole’s 162-metre summit and abseiling back to the ground. See brightoni360.co.uk
THE PUB
Twice named Brighton Pub of the Year, The Basketmakers Arms is a friendly, neighbourhood institution that’s tucked away on a quiet corner of Brighton’s trendy North Laine district, a five-minute walk from the train station. A welcome respite from some of the city centre’s cavernous drinking dens, it’s a traditional Victorian boozer offering cask ales and upmarket pub classics, including beer-battered fish and chips and sausages with Colcannon mash. See thebasketmakers.pub
THE GALLERY
Thanks to a thriving artistic community, Brighton is blessed with many galleries and pop-up art venues. But few have the charm of Fabrica, a contemporary gallery housed in the former 19th-century Holy Trinity Church in the heart of the city. This unique space allows it to commission bold, site-specific installations as well as host a varied program of talks, workshops and film screenings. See fabrica.org.uk
ONE MORE THING ...
Be sure to take a stroll along the seafront promenade to Hove, Brighton’s eminently more sensible neighbour, which flanks the coast with a manicured medley of grand Regency townhouses, expansive grass lawns and a neat row of brightly-coloured beach huts.
Rob McFarland was a guest of Artist Residence, Beach Box Spa, Brighton Food Tours and Brighton i360. See visitbrighton.com
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