Thousands flock to Brighton every year to enjoy the south coast, and of all the restaurants and venues lining the Brighton beachfront, Rockwater is one of the most interesting. Spread over three floors of a stunning seafront site in Hove, Rockwater is part restaurant, part community hub and boasts a sunny rooftop space, as well as a beachfront cafe and smart first floor restaurant.
A lot of effort has been put into the interiors, which feature calming pastel shades throughout as well as comfortable armchairs and furniture decked out in sleek wood and marble. The roof terrace is a particularly impressive space - a retractable roof and glass French doors make it suitable to use all year round, and the sea-facing balcony is especially popular in summer, offering a gorgeous view over the English Channel.
Rockwater serves food throughout the day, kicking off with fresh baked pastries, hot and cold breakfast dishes and turmeric lattes, before transitioning seamlessly into a catch-all lunch menu of small plates, salad bowls, grill dishes and pizzas. There’s something for everyone on the menu here, whether you’re in the mood for harissa chicken with onion and lemon, spinach and pickled chilli, or perhaps beer battered tempeh with crushed peas and fries, alongside sharing dishes like whole baked seabream with sautéed potatoes, charred cos lettuce and dill dressing.
Rockwater also runs a shoreline food stall called Snacks by the Shore, which you can stop in for a lobster and king prawn roll, Jersey oysters and handpicked white crab with cod flakes, creme fraiche and lemon caper salsa on sourdough.
On the drinks front, Rockwater has a compact wine list as well as beers, soft drinks and the like, but the restaurant specialises in cocktails, with innovative house mixes like the Strawberry and Ginger Spritz with Salcombe Rosé Sainte Marie, strawberry, ginger and soda.