Chef’s Guide: Best places to eat, drink in Brighton
From modern gastropubs, to elegant Italian and artisanal small batch gelati — here are the best places to eat and drink in Brighton.
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From modern gastropubs, to elegant Italian and artisanal small batch gelati — here are the best places to eat and drink in Brighton, according to Vesper Bistro & Bar chef Francesco Castellano.
PANTRY
I love that fact that there is a very Melbourne feel to this venue. The outdoor space is my go-to especially when busy, it makes it a great destination for brunch with a friend.
1 Church St
THE BATHS MIDDLE BRIGHTON
This place has best views in the area. With a very well-crafted menu, the standout dish is their Gippsland Organic Cauliflower ‘steak’ with saffron picked fennel. The bustling fish and chippery downstairs offers great takeaway as well.
251 Esplanade
LOU & CO
A boutique shop front where artisanal cakes, pastries, tarts and freshly baked French-style bread are the raison d’etre. Clare Bas is the co-owner and pastry chef who I have briefly worked with at Baby Pizza, and she has truly found a fantastic niche in the market with this place.
5 South Rd
LITTLE SKY GELATO
A prerequisite for a day off in Brighton is an afternoon gelato. This artisanal small batch gelataria offers very limited but very exquisite ice cream flavours, deliciously textured and certainly moreish. I highly recommend going straight for the tiramisu.
332 Bay St
VIVACE
Cozy and elegant Italian restaurant with a sophisticated atmosphere. Vivace is the perfect restaurant for an intimate night out or a destination for a celebration. The saffron spanner crab risotto is a signature and the well-represented wine list completes the deal for me.
317 Bay St
HALF MOON
When it’s time to just chill out, this is a great modern gastropub with a beer garden. The beef Wellington gives me a reason to come back time and time again. But it’s the way the team executes everything that makes it a firm staple in my Brighton go to places.
120 Church St
FYI: Vesper Mediterranean bistro and bar is at 25 Toorak Rd, South Yarra. vesperbistroandbar.com.au