Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in East Sussex

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

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!

Two Sawyers

4.8

4.8 (884)

£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 5 days ago

Food was very good for the price nice and friendly atmosphere made a enjoyable visit

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Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Popular dish

Fish and Chips

The Fig Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (78)

£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.

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ALLOW DOGS IN FOR DINNER SERVICE!!

During the day you can bring well behaved dogs when we are walk in only.

Top review

Sarah

Dined 3 days ago

Really nice, fresh food. Great service. Worth a visit.

First In Last Out

4.8

4.8 (240)

£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

Melvyn

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Good attentive service which was much appreciated.

La Delizia

4.8

4.8 (80)

£25 and under

Italian

Hastings

About the restaurant

La Delizia, meaning ‘The Delight’, inspired by delis and eateries in Positano and Amalfi, offers authentic, specialist Italian food and drink, to take home or eat in.

Featuring fresh Whitstable oysters, calamari, pasta, an authentic meat and cheese counter serving paninis and Antipasti selections, as well as Italian delights such as ‘Crema di Caffé’ an Iced Coffee dessert, fresh orange juice, and so much more.

Top review

Colleen

Dined 6 days ago

Delicious food, great staff, very friendly too. Worth having a look at the food they sell, so much good Italian food to choose from

The Crown Hastings

4.7

4.7 (1211)

£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

Jean

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

We had a lovely birthday lunch, felt very welcome. Noisy building works outside beyond their control.

The Cove

4.7

4.7 (94)

£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

Joseph

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Really friendly waitresses and good food, patatas bravas was especially nice.

The Royal

4.7

4.7 (123)

£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

GoSomewhereElse

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Consistently welcoming, good energy, great staff and delicious! Love this place.

BAYTE

4.7

4.7 (105)

£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

Rachel

Dined 6 days ago

This place was recommended by friends and I went with my husband for my birthday lunch. Loved it! Great food, ambience and service.

The White Hart

4.6

4.6 (908)

£26 to £40

Gastro Pub

Uckfield

About the restaurant

Welcome to the The White Hart, we specialise as a Steakhouse... We love all things meat and have pioneered our own unique style of relaxed yet vibrant customer service, this is made easy with our approach to food- The best seasonal ingredients cooked utilising methods from around the world. We love what we do and we hope you do to.

Top review

Lynette

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

We loved meeting the owner. He is a lovely chap. He has decorated his restaurant beautifully, and the food is incredible. The staff looked happy as well, and the service was excellent. We went there for Father's Day, and I accidentally chose the wrong date. The lovely owner checked with me if I had the correct date. Thank you! We were fitted into a slot and could take our beautiful dog, Luca. He is recovering from surgery, and we couldn't leave him. Luca had a beef patty. It was cooled down before it was given to him. Lovely touch. Thank you very much.

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The Star Inn - Waldron

4.4

4.4 (36)

£26 to £40

British

Heathfield

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Star Inn, nestled in the heart of Waldron, East Sussex. Join us for a drink, lunch, or dinner throughout the week and weekend. Pop in, say hello, and make yourself at home.

Top review

Debbie

Dined 6 days ago

Lovely pub, friendly service, good quality food....

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