I’ve become increasingly fond of Bexhill. Catch it on a sunny day, beneath a blue sky, and the white colonnade and De La Warr Pavilion shimmer in the light with an almost exotic feel. For a moment, I can imagine I’m on a Greek island. As you’d expect of a seaside town, Bexhill has plenty of places to eat and there are few greater pleasures than sitting by the sea with fresh seafood, or settling in for coffee and cake somewhere with a little character. So, from breakfast and a mid-morning coffee to lunch, afternoon cake or dinner, we’ve picked out our favourite places to eat in Bexhill to help you eat your way around Bexhill in a day.
The Carriage Café
I pulled into an empty car park and in the evening sunlight, a warm glow shone through the windows, and it looked utterly magical. As the name suggests, The Carriage Café is a converted former railway carriage and is far more spacious than I’d expected, with plenty of tables inside and outdoor seating. It is also one of those places you could easily drive past without realising. The Carriage Café and the Old Ambulance Station (opposite) are part of the same creative community, with the carriage’s exterior featuring artwork produced by local artists.
The Carriage describes itself as “The Coolest place in Bexhill. The best breakfast on the south coast in the mornings, seasonal modern dining in the evening. Cool music, industrial chic. Part of the Bexhill art movement.”. We’re inclined to agree and would recommend this as the place to have breakfast before you start a day exploring Bexhill.
The Sovereign Light Café
Made famous by Keane in 2012 and their ode to Bexhill, this café is not particularly pretty but it is right on the sea front and has a good menu and reputation. Make this your pit-stop for a mid morning coffee.
Pebbles
Family-run Pebbles also sits right on the Bexhill seafront a hop and a jump from the Colonnade, with outdoor seating overlooking the promenade. Its seafood-led menu includes fresh crab and lobster, while inside, rowing oars, boats and plenty of lobster art bring a wonderfully nautical feel. We absolutely loved it and would recommend this as your place to have lunch.
The Crafty Norman Brasserie
Ready for an afternoon slice of cake? The Crafty Norman Brasserie is quite possibly the cutest pink café we’ve ever seen and quite a surprise. It felt like stumbling across a little slice of Paris in the middle of Bexhill. Pink, pretty and utterly gorgeous, it was so unexpected that we couldn’t resist stopping for a look. I ended up buying two little slices of cake (no surprise there), although they offer much more than sweet treats. The brasserie also serves food making it somewhere you could happily settle in for more than just a coffee and cake.
Relais at Cooden Beach
Originally built in 1928 and rebuilt and expanded in 1935, Cooden Beach Hotel began as a private home for the de la Warr family, who entertained an extraordinary list of guests, including King George V and Queen Mary, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Winston Churchill, and the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
I first visited back in the mid 1990s for a wedding on the bleakest of bleak winter’s day, and standing outside being battered to oblivion by wind and chewing on a stale sandwich there was certainly none of the luxe glamour that you’ll find now. After a major refurbishment, it reopened in 2024 as The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel and Spa, with restored heritage features, stylish accommodation, coastal dining and a spa. With outdoor seating and indoor style, make this your dinner date.
Other places to look out for:
As recommended by our man on the ground in Bexhill, Stefano Morrelli:
The Cinnamon Café: “Breakfast for us is always here because it’s not a full English and feels so much healthier. My breakfast today consisted of hummus, scrambled eggs, olives, cornichons, tomatoes, cucumber, pitta bread and my all-time favourite, Khalid’s home made makdous (aubergines, walnuts, chilli).
Trattoria Italiana: “There are plenty of restaurants on the seafront but the Trattoria Italiana is one of our favourites and great quality.”
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