If you follow me on Instagram you might have spied that I spent the weekend just gone gallivanting around Brighton with my boyfriend, Charlie. We took part in a Valentines city swap courtesy of ibis with Cate in the Kitchen which saw Cate and her boyfriend head to Cambridge whilst we jumped on a train and headed down to the coast.
I was super excited to visit Brighton for the weekend, I haven’t spent much time at all in Brighton and I knew the vegan food was to die for, there are SO many options. So let’s get stuck in.
Where to Stay
We stayed in the ibis Brighton City Centre which was located right by the station which was SO convenient as it meant I didn’t have to trawl across the city with my suitcase. The location couldn’t have been better, right in the centre of all the action and where we wanted to be. The staff were so lovely and welcoming, and I love that they make you feel at home and sit down with you in the reception area to check in to your room. There’s a real personal vibe here, which is something you don’t necessarily expect from a hotel chain.
Our room was on the top floor, spacious enough and with a lovely view over Brighton city centre. We had a lovely big, comfy bed and it was the perfect base for exploring a new destination. Oh and the toilet I thought was particularly cool, literally felt like I was in a spaceship! The hotel also boasts a cool and comfy lounge area equipped with a bar and comfy seating, ideal if you need somewhere to catch up on emails and do some work. Breakfast is also included, and is a buffet style all-you-can-eat, now, I don’t tend to eat much in the mornings so it was fruit and an apple juice for me but Charlie certainly made the most of the pastries that were on offer!
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Brighton that offers comfort and value for money I would wholeheartedly recommend ibis, we were both very impressed with our stay.
What To Do
Where to start?! I honestly could have spent a whole week in Brighton, I just absolutely LOVED it but here are my favourite things to do in the area:
Shop Independent
The Brighton shopping scene is hard to beat, it’s absolutely bursting with independent boutiques which I feel is actually something Cambridge really lacks. I could spend all day hunting for gems in the vintage shops, fawning over the beautiful homeware in the interior boutiques and getting lost in Snoopers Paradise. I definitely want to go back in the summer and take Charlie’s van with us as I spotted so many pieces of amazing vintage furniture I would have loved to take home and fix up! Some of my favourite independents I found included a little home shop called ‘Abode Living‘, for clothing I fell in love with ‘Our Daily Edit‘ and lifestyle ‘Workshop‘ which was probably the most aesthetically pleasing store I’ve ever entered.
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Head To The Pier
It wouldn’t be a trip to Brighton without heading onto the pier now, would it?! Unleash your inner child on the 2p machines, pull funny faces in the photo booth (and then spend £4 on a dodgy paper print out), and chomp down on a stick of rock. If you’re wondering, no we didn’t win anything on those rip off claw machines, but it was all part of the fun. A walk along the sea front is a must-do, but make sure you wrap up warm, those gales take no prisoners…
British Airways i360
Searching for the best view in Brighton? Take a trip up the i360, the worlds TALLEST moving observation tower. Enjoy breathtaking views over the beautiful south coast with this unique attraction. Just don’t go if you’re afraid of heights!
Stroll Around Aimlessly
Brighton is one of those cities where you can spend a couple of hours just wandering and wind up somewhere cool. It’s a city full of hidden delights, and there’s something unique just around the corner whether it be impressive architecture, interesting graffiti or a vegan donut shop. You can only imagine my delight stumbling across one of those! Glazed – if you fancy checking it out for yourself.
Where To Eat
If you’re veggie or vegan, Brighton is probably one of the BEST places in the UK to eat out. We were absolutely spoiled for choice and had two really fantastic meals (along with a couple of vegan sausage rolls!) which I just had to share. I would recommend downloading the Happy Cow app which gives you a full list of the restaurant, cafes and even shops which offer veggie options, it’s super handy.
First up we went to Purezza, a vegan pizzeria which honestly blew our minds. Charlie declared it the ‘best meal he’d ever eaten’ and that comes from a wannabe vegetarian. He’s slowly getting there! My hard work is paying off…
We ordered cheesy bites for a starter which were just divine, the cheese was gooey and you wouldn’t be able to tell it was vegan, even Charlie (a dairy lover) was impressed. For mains, we both indulged in a pizza, mine had the most delicious crispy tofu and BBQ sauce, and Charlie’s was equally as tasty. Although stuffed, the dessert menu was too good to resist and so we both enjoyed a vegan brownie and left fully satisfied. It was probably my favourite meal I’ve had as a vegan, and the good news is they’re opening a branch in London too!
On Sunday we headed to Food for Friends for a delicious vegan Sunday roast. The restaurant is beautiful and very centrally located. The food was brilliant and we both rated it highly. The roast potatoes were dreamy, and the dessert was gorgeous. Somewhere I’d definitely head back to in the future!
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I’d also recommend stopping by Infinity Foods, a veggie supermarket which sells an amazing selection of vegetarian and vegan health foods as well as some naughty treats. I spent far too much money on vegan chocolate but hey, I don’t come here often!
A big thank you to ibis for organising such a fantastic trip for us, we both had an amazing early Valentines weekend!
*our trip was organised by Ibis but all thoughts and opinions are my own
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