Riddle and Finns The Beach

“Wonderful fish” is the reason for choosing this bijou restaurant, a beachfront sibling to Riddle & Finns’ South Lanes original. The mood is relaxed, yet there’s an unmistakably glamorous edge to proceedings – although nothing can trump the “great views” (we suggest sitting outside if you can). The day’s ceviche comes dressed with chilli, red onion and lime salsa, oysters appear in lots of different guises alongside ‘tankards of black velvet’, and platters of fruits de mer feature whole crab or lobster. Otherwise, the kitchen sends out everything from sautéed squid with chorizo and chilli to bowls of bouillabaisse, fish pie or pan-fried monkfish with couscous, courgette tagliatelle, chickpeas and tomatoes. Veggies get a few token offerings, although committed carnivores receive short shrift. The short wine list gives plenty of space to Champagnes, while service is “always so helpful” (especially when it comes to off-menu requests). Prices are relatively steep by Brighton standards, but for seafood this fresh you won’t mind shelling out a little extra.

Riddle and Finns first opened in 2006 in Brighton, and the restaurant has since become an integral part of the coastal city’s restaurant scene. If you’re looking for a luxury experience in Brighton revolving around seafood and Champagne, Riddle and Finns is likely to be your first destination.

Riddle and Finns The Beach is the groups second location (after the ever-popular Riddle and Finns The Lanes) and offers the same lux experience but in a beautiful beachfront restaurant overlooking the English Channel. Huge panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows mean you have a great view of the coast wherever you’re sitting in the dining room, and the room feels suitably opulent thanks to a colour palette of cool greys, blues and sleek marble table tops. There’s also a curved al fresco terrace with a handful of tables for two, which is especially popular in the summer.

Matching the great views is a menu packed with ultra-fresh seafood. Riddle and Finns always has a range of oysters on offer (Jersey Rock, Irish Rock and Louet-Feisser, for example), available with a variety of hot and cold toppings and garnishes. There’s a huge range of other crustaceans and fish too, from light bites and starters like fresh sashimi and tuna tartare tostadas, to fruit de mer platters, langoustines on ice, and tempura tiger prawns with sriracha mayonnaise. The restaurant also offers catch of the day at market prices, alongside grilled lobsters, roasted whole fish and more.

The experience wouldn’t be complete without a great Champagne menu and Riddle and Finns delivers on that front too, offering a range of classic and vintage Champagnes as well as English sparkling wines from the likes of Nyetimber and Court Garden.