Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in East Sussex

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in East Sussex? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Union

4.8

4.8 (1149)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Rye

About the restaurant

The Union is a contemporary restaurant and bar set in a beautiful 15th century building in the heart of Rye. Our menu is made up of small and large plates which we recommend sharing across the table. Our team will be on hand to guide you through your visit.

Our food is guided by the seasons and our menu is ingredient led so changes based on what we have available to us. We primarily use British produce and work with local suppliers to ensure we always source the very best ingredients we can get our hands on.

Top review

Amanda

Dined 3 days ago

Always a nice meal in the union but be prepared to spend.

The Crown Hastings

4.8

4.8 (1154)

£25 and under

British

Hastings

About the restaurant

The Crown is an independently run award-winning freehouse in the heart of Hastings Old Town, open at 11am every day. Our kitchen is open 12-4, 5 till 9.
We serve modern British food in a friendly informal environment using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. We create dishes from scratch, including homemade bread, fish from the surrounding seas and seasonal veg.
We serve local real ales & craft beers, wine and a specialist gin and whisky selection and delicious coffee.
'High Top Tables' refers to our high tables with bar stools.
You can book a table for drinks only.
Dogs are welcome, 'paws on the floors' please.
Children welcome, we have a kids menu.
For allergies & intolerances, please let your server know before ordering.
We serve our full menu on a Sunday, but it is not a traditional roast dinner.
Please call us if you are running later than your booked time.
Table bookings for 2 hours for up to 4ppl; 3 hours for 5+ people. Tables from 7pm onwards are for whole evening.

Top review

Jackie

Dined 4 days ago

We’ve been to The Crown many times over the last few years. Their food is consistently great. Our food today was outstanding. The atmosphere was lovely; there were a few families with young children in the pub. This added to the lovely feeling of the day. The service was just right. We’ll be back again.

Two Sawyers

4.8

4.8 (801)

£25 and under

Pub

Hastings

About the restaurant

The Two Sawyers is a 16th Century Inn recently refurbished and under family ownership. We pride ourselves on serving excellent beer and food.

We have a large beer garden to the rear of the pub with over 30 tables for our guests to use for both drinking and dining.

A character bar with log fires serving guest ales, beers, and wines. The restaurant serves traditional pub food twice both lunch and evening and all day on both Saturday and Sunday.

Top review

Alan

Dined 1 day ago

Quality food & drink reasonably priced, well presented and super staff. Highly recommended.

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Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Popular dish

Fish and Chips

First In Last Out

4.8

4.8 (189)

£25 and under

Pub

Hastings

About the restaurant

The First In Last Out (FILO), is a family run free-house in the Old Town of Hastings. Alongside our award winning beer, we serve quality food prepared from scratch. We offer lunch and dinner everyday, including our ever popular Tapas night (Monday), Indian Thali (Thursday) and Sunday roasts.

The brewery is located just two minutes away from the pub, where we produce five regular ales using a full mash-tun process. We love live music and host regular Sunday evening gigs, of which details can be found on our website.

The pub is popular with locals and tourists alike, who love to get cosy in our booth seating or warm up on cold winters' days around our unique central fireplace.

Dogs and children are most welcome.

Top review

Lisa

Dined on Dec 18, 2024

I’ve eaten here many times and they never disappoint. Food is amazing and the service is always welcoming, I can not fault it and even a little penguin sat on top of my Christmas pud!

Landgate Bistro

4.7

4.7 (1591)

£26 to £40

British

Rye

About the restaurant

We make British food with a classic or modern slant. We source our ingredients from the local fields, woodlands and waters. Everything is cooked on the premises, including the sourdough bread and the icecreams.
The Good Food Guide (2023) says: "A fittingly quaint old building, complete with original features, given a suave modern twist via grey panelling and contemporary furniture. Chef-proprietor Martin Peacock has built his menu on classical French traditions and impeccable sourcing and there’s real creativity and originality on show here. The international wine list offers a decent but not overlong selection, with accessible pricing.

Vegetarian: we will always offer at least one starter and one main vegetarian choice. However, we cannot cater for vegans.

***
Please note, due to customer allergies, we cannot allow dogs on the premises.

Top review

Jacob

Dined 7 days ago

Amazing fine dinning, extremely good value for money. Professional service. Can't fault it. Great for a special occasion.

The Gallipot Inn

4.7

4.7 (169)

£25 and under

British

Hartfield

About the restaurant

Set within the historical parish of Hartfield famous for A.A.Milne Winnie-the-Pooh books. The Gallipot Inn lies a stones throw from Ashdown Forest and has a excellent reputation for food & drink throughout the area.

After being the the chef for over seven years Leo has taken over the business with his wife Kerry and warmly welcome you to our establishment.

Top review

angela

Dined 5 days ago

Great food .. excellent service.. super ambience ..

Colombo 16

4.7

4.7 (184)

£26 to £40

Sri Lankan

St Leonards-On-Sea

About the restaurant

Inspired by the diversity of Colombo and England, Colombo 16 brings the essence of modern Sri Lanka to Marine Court, the historic Grade II-listed Art Deco building on the shores of St Leonards-On-Sea. By day we offer fusion lunch with some traditional Sri Lankan options, by night contemporary curries, short eats and desserts intended for sharing. Our dishes are based on family recipes, modernised with an ingredient-led approach sourcing locally and importing weekly from Sri Lanka.

Top review

David

Dined 5 days ago

When you're looking for something deliciously different or authentically Sri Lankan then this is the place to go. Great food, great atmosphere and great service.

The Cove

4.7

4.7 (61)

£25 and under

Pub

Pett

About the restaurant

In sleepy Fairlight, on the edge of the Firehills, The Cove is an independently run freehouse serving locals, wanderers and gastronauts alike. Halfway between Hastings and Rye, The Cove is the perfect stop after a walk across the local beaches and coastal paths of East Sussex. We have a fire for the winter nights, a garden for summer days, and a friendly bar waiting to welcome you.

Originally a hotel, the building sat empty for several years until 2022, when the Cove was renovated, restored and reopened with a new lease of life. It has quickly gained a reputation for excellent, elevated pub food with local chef and restauranteur Nick Hales leading the kitchen.

In 2023 it was featured on The Times 50 Best Summer Pubs, and given a glowing review by Grace Dent in The Guardian Observer.

Top review

Richard

Dined 3 days ago

A delicious lunch and superb service. The perfect start to our Christmas celebrations. Thank you.

The Royal

4.7

4.7 (65)

£26 to £40

Gastro Pub

St Leonards-On-Sea

About the restaurant

The Royal is operated by James Hickson, who has a solid hospitality background having learned his trade at well-loved restaurants and gastropubs including St John, Great Queen Street, The Canton Arms and Moro. James is hands-on at the pub, overseeing the relaxed yet lively atmosphere, friendly service and sophisticated food and drink. The kitchen is led by head chef, Andrew Taylor-Gray, who has previously worked at Petersham Nurseries, Hix and The Canton Arms.

The Royal has been included in the Michelin Guide since February 2020 with Bib Gourmand status, which we have maintained ever since.

A welcoming gastropub for locals and visitors alike in St. Leonards-On-Sea and Hastings, low-key and down-to-earth, The Royal occupies an historic corner site right opposite St. Leonards Warrior Square station.

Top review

Lisa

Dined on Dec 16, 2024

This is not just gastro pub food, this is a place that creates beautiful well thought out food, generous portion sizes, and extremely great value if you visit midweek and have their fixed price menu. There is always something a little bit different on the menu and that’s what makes it so interesting. Would highly recommend.

The Grapevine Champagne and Jazz Bar

4.5

4.5 (22)

£26 to £40

Wine Bar

Rye

About the restaurant

The Grapevine Champagne & Jazz Bar is an intimate art-nouveau styled establishment, hosting live music most nights, with a vast drink offering. Our jazz bar offers over 150 wines & Champagnes, 50 whiskey's, 20 gins, cocktails, and much more.

Sit amongst the candle light and tap away to the live music with a glass of something cheerful!

Top review

Sam

Dined on Dec 6, 2024

We had a fantastic evening with our friends. Paying to book is a nit of a rip off but we had a great place in the lounge. The musician/ singer was brilliant. The ambience and general atmosphere was perfect. The place is a bit pricey, but we didn't mind as we had such a good evening

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Experience

Live Music Booking (for Non-Members)

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