Lucky Beach Brighton Sun-soaked dining by the sea
POV: You have an ice-cold Aperol Spritz in hand, as the warm sea breeze caresses your skin. You gaze out at crystalline waves rolling over the pebbles. Life is good.
I’ve been a fan of Lucky Beach for many years. For me, it’s the ultimate spot for a sun-soaked breakfast right on the seafront – their eggs Benedict topped with fresh crab being a firm favourite. Location is everything here. Situated along the quieter stretch of Brighton seafront, you can choose to sit on the exposed decked area to catch maximum vitamin D benefits or shelter under gregarious orange sun umbrellas closer to the venue itself.
Mornings are always worth setting an alarm for, the aforementioned breakfast is served until 11:45am. Quality local produce is the order of the day, coupled with an inventive menu that elevates beyond your bogstandard seaside offering.
Alongside a traditional full English and my go-to crab Benedict, there’s a line-up of other indulgent brunch dishes: Matcha pistachio pancakes with blueberries, coconut yoghurt and simple syrup. Berlin eggs served over whipped sumac yoghurt, buttered greens and spicy chilli butter and avocado-heavy plates that nod to Brighton’s love of a wholesome start to the day.
It’s the kind of breakfast menu that works whether you’re easing into the morning with a flat white and something light, or going all in after a long walk along the seafront. Add in a backdrop of waves, Brighton sunshine and easy, laid-back service, and it’s not difficult to see why this venue has been considered one of the city’s longstanding favourites.
Somehow, though, I’d never ventured into the lunch menu, so I jumped at the chance to put it to the test. Arrive between 3pm and 7pm and it’s happy hour, and Aperol Spritzes are included in the array of drinks on offer for a very reasonable £7.90. (Who doesn’t love an ice-cold glass of Italy’s famous bitter apéritif the moment the sun comes out?) Side note: beers are a wallet-friendly £5.90.
The lunchtime menu has options to suit all appetites, ranging from small plates to hearty mains such as fish and chips and burgers, with a strong focus on fresh fish and local ingredients. My lunch date and I opted to share a few small plates and this turned out to be the right move. The food arrived without delay: well-presented, vibrant plates that we couldn’t wait to get stuck into.
First up: fried fish tacos, generously filled with crispy battered white fish, topped with lime crema, guacamole, slaw and a punchy pineapple salsa. They struck a perfect balance: crunchy, fresh and just the right amount of sweetness cutting through the richness. Alongside came loaded crab fries, piled high and drenched in a zingy, tomato-based chilli crab sauce, with delicate flakes of both light and dark crab meat. Stunning.
The cucumber Caesar salad was a standout, bright, fresh and moreish. Crisp cucumber, crunchy croutons and chickpeas were brought together with a light, tangy dressing that reset the palate between bites of the tacos and loaded fries.
Finally, lightly fried calamari with tempura vegetables, served with lemon and tartare. Golden, crisp and well-seasoned, it delivered exactly what you want from a seaside classic.
If you’re looking for somewhere with a relaxed vibe and an elevated menu, then Lucky Beach needs to be on your hit list. With happy hour drinks, a strong brunch and lunch offering and reasonable food prices, this venue has all the ingredients for the perfect Brighton afternoon that easily rolls into early evening.
Come for the crab Benedict, stay for the tacos and a second round of spritzes; this is Brighton at its sun-drenched best, where lunch has a habit of stretching well into the evening.
We will be running a competition to win lunch for two with drinks (T&Cs apply) on our Instagram page in May – details IG: @discover_btn
FYI: Lucky Beach is the sister restaurant of Red Roaster (on St James’ Street & The Dome) and Lucky Bird, based in London. Keep your eyes peeled for our review of the pre-theatre menu coming soon…
www.luckybeach.co.uk | Kings Road Arches, 183 Kings Road, BN1 1NB
Photography: @prewcaptures
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