Brighton's Best Student-Friendly Cafés

---

About the author: Hi! I'm Shiqin Ong, the UniHomes Brighton Content Ambassador and a Geography and Anthropology student at the University of Sussex in Brighton. I love travelling, hiking, and music alongside writing! I'm also involved in uni sports including rugby, as well as the Photography Society and the student newspaper :)

If you already thought that the list of things to do in Brighton was never-ending, I’ve got even more for you!

For all my coffee lovers and café enthusiasts, here’s my student guide to the very best of Brighton’s thriving café culture.

The best cafés for Brighton students

1. Alcampo Bar and Lounge

At the top of my list is most definitely Alcampo Bar and Lounge, a personal favourite of mine that’s seen me in the depths of my essay writing mode – their lattes have gotten me through many of my assignment seasons, whilst their strawberry milkshakes and brief breaks in the sun (on their pavement terrace) always keep me motivated.

Alcampo Lounge is part of a chain, with its slightly-smaller sister location Modelo Lounge located in Hove. It really has anything you could ask for: a café in the day and casual bar in the evening that hosts both quiz nights and cocktail nights throughout the month. 

With a menu serving an assortment of Asian fusion recipes, Alcampo is a London Road Brighton classic, and one that I will very much miss wandering into after getting distracted by the charity shops it neighbours.

More interested in cocktails than coffee? Give my blog post on the best student nights out in Brighton a read.

📍 Address 1: 84-86 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JF

–

2. Pelicano

Having just come out of assignment season, Pelicano is another hotspot for students revising and writing.

Nearer to the popular student neighbourhood of Elm Grove, it is common to see students here throughout the week, whether it is for a coffee catch-up or group study session.

With two branches around town (the other is in on Lewes Road), both outlets are popular student spots.

📍 Address 1: 28 Sydney Street, Brighton, BN1 4EP

📍 Address 2: 15 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3HP

–

3. Café Rust

Just south of Preston Park, Café Rust lies wedged between the main stretch of London Road heading to the seafront and the Rotunda Café that’s within Preston Park’s rose garden.

A quieter spot, Café Rust is an excellent stop for both studying and coffee catch-ups in their quaint back garden and airy interior. Their selection of cakes (with different varieties always temptingly sitting by the till) usually accompany the pot of tea I get to share with friends.

Being a chain coffee branch, the Café Rust at Preston Manor is also a lovely spot to enjoy your drink to then head off to explore the wonderfully curated Preston Manor Gardens or Preston Rock Gardens, which features Brighton’s mini waterfall.

There are quite a few Café Rust branches in Brighton, but here are the addresses for the ones I've mentioned:

📍 Address 1: 50 Preston Road, Brighton BN1 4QF

📍 Address 2: Manor, Preston, Preston Drove, Brighton, BN1 6SD

–

4. Garden Café Brighton

Tucked away within the Lanes in the city centre, Garden Café Brighton feels like a mini Eden, with their secret back garden perfect for coffee dates.

Gorgeously decorated with its assortment of plants, this café offers a variety of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages from matcha, kombucha, teas and coffees.

Whether you're stopping by for a kombucha or slice of cake, the cosy and casual interior captures Brighton’s relaxed atmosphere.

For more ideas on what to do in and around the Lanes, check out my guide to Brighton's city centre.

📍 Address: 29 North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YB

–

5. Starfish & Coffee

Sitting right by the Queen's Park entrance, Starfish & Coffee is one of Brighton's most celebrated neighbourhood cafés, with the accolades to prove it.

Founded in 2017 by Tony Marks (former radio presenter and now café owner), Starfish & Coffee has won Brighton Restaurant Awards' Best Café title multiple times, as well as being named the number one brunch spot in Brighton by Time Out Magazine in 2014. Their brunch menu uses local produce originating from villages and towns like Ditchling, Bodiam and Worthing, further collaborating with other local businesses such as The Flour Pot Bakery and Brighton Sausage Company.

The raised outdoor terrace facing the park is the place to be; alongside the bright, airy interior, this makes Starfish inviting year-round. Whether you're a brunch devotee or simply after a good coffee, Starfish & Coffee has truly earned its reputation.

📍 Address: 32 Egremont Place, Brighton, BN2 0GA

–

Bring your takeaway coffee back to student accommodation in Brighton

Whether you're after a cosy flat for just yourself or a spacious home for you and your mates, UniHomes can help you find student accommodation in Brighton – with bills included!

Already sorted next year's student house? UniHomes' utilities packages take the stress out of student bills by bundling your gas, electricity, water and Wifi into one monthly payments that's split equally between you and your housemates. Click here to get a quote today.

This post is part of the UniHomes Content Ambassador programme, where current students across the UK share tips about student life in their city to help you make the most of your time at uni. Like these guides? Add UniHomes as a preferred source in Google with just one click by checking the box to see more expert content from our student writers!

The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.