Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in East Sussex

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots 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!

Two Sawyers

4.8

4.8 (859)

£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

Angela

Dined 3 days ago

We ate at the Two Sawyers for our 41st Anniversary with a party of 6. The food was beautifully presented and delicious. Our servers were friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The service was prompt, food hot and a lovely atmosphere.

Discover more

Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Popular dish

Fish and Chips

The Fig Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (49)

£26 to £40

Global, International

Rye

About the restaurant

The Fig is a casual neighbourhood restaurant, serving small plates from around the world. Expect a cosy, low lit interior, friendly staff and flavourful, unstuffy food; made with love.
We always have plenty for everyone; including vegan and gluten free dishes.
Located right in the centre of Rye, a short drive from camber sands.
We are open for Brunch, Lunch and dinner.
Brunch and lunch walk ins only, bookings for dinner.

Top review

Klaus

Dined 3 days ago

Friendly staff, good service and advice. Good food.

The Union

4.7

4.7 (1187)

£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

Richard

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

Steak to share was a wonderful experience and found no fault in the side dishes which were also plenty to share for two. Service was spot on as well as the wine available with a wonderful range of English wines. One of the finer restaurants in Rye…. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Cove

4.7

4.7 (90)

£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

Eileen

Dined 4 days ago

Great Sunday roast and charming server. Very fair pricing.

The Royal

4.7

4.7 (106)

£25 and under

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

Gary

Dined 4 days ago

Enjoyable food, good service at reasonable prices.

BAYTE

4.7

4.7 (84)

£26 to £40

Modern European

St Leonards-On-Sea

About the restaurant

BAYTE, is a modern European neighbourhood restaurant with an emphasis on local sourcing and quality produce in the seaside town of St Leonards-on-Sea. The seasonal menu blends influences from across the globe, with particular reference to Italian recipes, such as hand-rolled pastas.
The meat at BAYTE is free-range and reared on biodynamic, organic Haye Farm in Devon. Vegetables are also sourced from organic suppliers, most of them from English and Japanese vegetable growers Namayasai, and Goat Grid Farm, both in nearby Lewes.

Top review

Bruce

Dined 1 day ago

Every dish was really taste especially hake with caponata & Rigatoni cacia e Pepe. Good friendly and informative service. Good all round

Discover more

Experience

Japanese Night with Chef Joshua Dickinson

Dem Shish

4.6

4.6 (26)

£26 to £40

Turkish

Eastbourne

About the restaurant

Award-winning Turkish eatery for social drinking and dining. First-class Turkish cuisine, signature cocktails are hosted in the finest setting in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Top review

Graham

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

Lovely dinner! 20% off too! Thank you soon much ! See you soon

The George in Rye

4.3

4.3 (603)

£26 to £40

British

Rye

About the restaurant

Located right in the heart of the town's High Street and Citadel, The George Grill is the restaurant of The George in Rye, one of the finest hotels on the South coast. Our head chef, Oscar, offers you a classic British Grill menu combining his love of charcoal cooking with a Latin twist. The Grill is a firm local favourite and celebrates the best of ingredients and suppliers in the area. At the heart of the kitchen is a wood-charcoal grill, where our kitchen team roast seafood landed that day from fishermen based in Rye Harbour. We also serve Romney Marsh lamb, Aberdeen Angus grass-fed beef and seasonal vegetables from our farmer based in Boughton Monchelsea. Lovingly restored and renovated, this Grade II listed bolt-hole offers a welcoming retreat for design lovers and foodies alike.

Top review

Alex

Dined 2 days ago

Enjoyed a really lovely lunch at the George today. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent (thank you Miguel!). The whole place has a really nice vibe.

The Relais Cooden Beach

4.3

4.3 (334)

£25 and under

English

Bexhill-On-Sea

About the restaurant

The Relais is named in honour of our motorsports heritage and the menus celebrate our seaside location.

Just steps from the beach, The Rally Restaurant enjoys the best views in the house and a spacious terrace for seasonal al fresco dining.

Enjoy fresh and seasonal menus including the ‘catch of the day’ supplied by our local Sussex fishermen. Our menus change with the season with a focus on fish and seafood and locally sourced ingredients.

Open all day and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and afternoon tea - whether you’re gathering with friends for a long lazy lunch or celebrating a milestone occasion with family and loved ones, The Rally Bar & Grill is the perfect location to dine, relax and create lasting memories.

Top review

Angela

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

Excellent all round! Food lovely, service excellent, sat outside which was lovely with the weather & the view!

Coquina

4.3

4.3 (17)

£26 to £40

Mediterranean

Hastings

About the restaurant

coquina is a restaurant and cafe serving Mediterranean inspired food using the best seasonal produce from across Sussex, Kent and the South Coast. We serve fresh, vibrant and comforting food that you want to eat.

Top review

Joanna

Dined 4 days ago

Incredible food - highly skilled but also yummy. Great service and ambience. Faultless.

Explore Diners' Choice best of East Sussex

Explore more Diners' Choice lists