Best places to eat in Eastbourne

Cuisine: Greek

Address: 215-217 Terminus Road, Eastbourne BN21 3DH

Gr/eat is a comfy dining spot offering classic and contemporary Greek dishes in a laid-back atmosphere. Passionate owners Vicky and Vasilis were working in Greece and kept hearing from Brits about how much they loved Greek cuisine and hospitality, but that it never tasted the same back home in the UK. So the pair moved to sunny Eastbourne with the aim of setting things straight with original recipes served in a relaxed and fun environment. They have all the classics like Greek salad, Moussaka and Souvlaki but serve up a few tasty surprises like the Septsofai (traditional Greek sausages braised in tomato sauce with peppers) or Psito Htapodi (grilled octopus).

Cuisine: Italian

Address: 227 Terminus Road, Eastbourne BN21 3DH

Another passionate duo are husband and wife team Nunzia and Guiseppe, who bring years of experience from the south of the Amalfi Coast to Anema e Core, which means ‘heart and soul’ in Italian. They chose Eastbourne after enjoying a nice holiday in the area and wanted to start a new life with their youngest son Francesco on the south coast of England. Their mission is to bring the real flavours, colours, sensations and warmth of Italy to the UK, with menu highlights including the Anema e Core selection of Italian cheese and cured meats and homemade ravioli alla zucca (stuffed with pumpkin) a huge variety of artisan pizzas, pasta, risotto and of course tiramisu for dessert.

Cuisine: Vegan

Address: 12, Grand Hotel Buildings, Compton Street, Eastbourne BN21 4EJ

Plant-based food doesn’t get much better than at Green Bro’s, which brothers Anthony and Christian opened in February 2022 after launching on the site of their favourite restaurant The Green Almond which was retiring. They kept former owner Andrew’s popular falafels on the menu, with the brothers cheffing in the kitchen and their Mum Annie making all the desserts and cakes as well as doing the admin. Everything is made from scratch with featured dishes including coconut dhal, the Green Bro’s doner and sweet and sour Hong Kong style.

Cuisine: European

Address: 8 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne BN21 4PN

A refined wine bar, wine shop and upmarket restaurant, Cru is hidden away in a basement near Eastbourne train station. But they aren’t overlooked thanks to their fantastic reputation for pairing fine wine with fresh food, established by wine connoisseurs and foodies who wanted to fill what they saw as a void in the local food offerings. The seasonal, ever-changing menu sees tapas-style small plates alongside more traditional meals, with a rotating wine list of over 200 varieties as well as plenty of craft beers. Share small plates like gin cured salmon and tacos or go all out with the 30-day aged tomahawk steak or ½ grilled native lobster.

Cuisine: Italian

Address: 26 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne BN21 4NS

Opened in 2001 by Gian Luca Albertoli and Victorio Fioravanti, La Locanda Del Duca is a spacious restaurant offering a range of Italian wines, pasta, gnocchi, meat and fish dishes. They have two and three-course set menus for lunch and dinner as well as an Italian influenced three-course Sunday roast. With Victorio passing away in 2007, Luca continues their philosophy with sister restaurant Pomodoro e Mozzarella just a couple of doors down.

Cuisine: Greek 

Address: 195 Terminus Road, Eastbourne BN21 3DH

Family-run Greek restaurant and steakhouse Athens is a cosy and casual establishment perfect for later eats in the evening. Expect plenty of light-hearted banter with the staff and some tasty food at reasonable prices. If you’re lucky waitress Helen will share their recipe for Kleftiko (marinated baked-on-the-bone lamb), while her 81-year-old mother is still in the kitchen making her popular Moussaka. The sirloin steak, lemon cheesecake and baclava also receive rave reviews.

Cuisine: Fish & Chips

Address: 86 Seaside, Eastbourne BN22 7QP

We couldn’t complete a list of best places to eat in Eastbourne without including at least one chippy and Dolphin Fish Bar gets the thumbs up. Just one road back from the promenade east of the pier, Dolphin comes highly recommended for its classic cod, chips and mushy peas combination. The batter is fresh and the fish succulent, while they also offer the full spectrum of authentic chip-shop pleasures from steamed steak and kidney pudding to cheese burgers and battered burgers. Plenty of locals think it’s the best fish and chip shop in Eastbourne and it's been going for over 40 years.

Cuisine: Italian

Address: 119 South Street, Eastbourne BN21 4LU

A modern Italian bistro in South Street complete with lovely decor and an expansive menu, this down-to-earth eatery provides starters such as fresh steamed mussels and pan-fried king prawns with a strong selection of pasta and risotto, meat, fish and pizza for mains. The breast of chicken in wild mushrooms, cream and brandy sauce is particularly popular, along with the spicy spaghetti and seafood spaghetti.

Cuisine: Cafe

Address: 4 Terminus Road, Eastbourne BN21 3LP

Right by the station is the Nelson Coffee Co, loved for its high grade, ethically sourced and freshly roasted in Sussex coffee. You might pop in for a cup of Joe, but you’ll want to stay for the fresh sandwiches and a wide range of house-baked goods every day. Nelson Coffee Co work with local producers to source sustainable ingredients for everything from smoked sausages to halloumi and even the milk in your latte. Their seasonal menu changes every three months and the trendy cafe is known in the area for brunch and pastries.

Cuisine: Indian

Address: 229-231 Terminus Road, Eastbourne BN21 3DH

Malayalam was opened by food fanatics desperate to bring the taste of Kerala to East Sussex. Dishes are complete with hand-ground spices and fresh coconut shavings to make the flavours pop, while the decor is just as inviting with bucolic wood finishes and home decorations. Start with a light and flavoursome dosa, while the salmon coconut curry and pepper chicken curry from Kottayam come recommended.