Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in East Sussex

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants 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 Sundial

4.9

4.9 (570)

£26 to £40

French

Herstmonceux

About the restaurant

The Sundial is a privately owned, relaxed and chic French restaurant with spectacular views of the South Downs in East Sussex. The Sundial’s à-la-carte and seasonal menus as well as its cuisine and ambience are typically French. Our restaurant in East Sussex is perfect for a meal with family and friends or an intimate dinner for two, the Sundial’s lounge bar, French restaurant and private dining room provide a flexible combination for parties, business meetings, seminars, wedding venues and group events for up to 60 people. Our restaurant can cater for upto 150 people as a wedding venue. If you´re looking for a Fine Dining French restaurant in East Sussex, or anywhere in Sussex, you won´t find a finer French restaurant!. Our French restaurant has a Civil wedding License offering you the perfect wedding venue in East Sussex. Restaurant also has a large car park with 16 parking spaces.

Top review

Kathryn

Dined 5 days ago

My wife and I were most impressed enjoying a birthday lunchtime treat, where we chose the 'Daily Menu' which had enough choices for us both. Both the Lamb and the Guinea Fowl were blissfully tender, superb flavour and beautifully presented. The canape, amuse-bouche and petit four were a culinary triumph! The parking is easy, next to the building, which is pretty and even more interesting inside. Only the location on the main road through Herstmonceux is a small drawback, as heavy trucks running on our poorly maintained roads cause some background noise.

Thai Marina

4.8

4.8 (1653)

£26 to £40

Thai

Eastbourne

About the restaurant

Thai Marina is situated at The Waterfront at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne and serves modern Thai cuisine in a traditional setting. The menu has all the classics you'd except such as Green Curry or Pad Thai as well as newer dishes such as Lamb Cutlets or Tamarind Sea Bass. In the summer months, enjoy alfresco dining all day and through the evening and on the weekends enjoy the Thai summer barbecue by the waterside.

Top review

Sally

Dined 4 days ago

Very good friendly people food excellent and will definitely be going as long as my friend who was with me can make it to 101 years of age!

The Fig Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (76)

£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

jacqueline

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Fabulous evening - wonderful food, great service, lovely friendly staff & buzzy atmosphere

Landgate Bistro

4.7

4.7 (1626)

£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

Jenny

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Lovely tasty food, great value... delicious we wil be returning

The Union

4.7

4.7 (1196)

£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

Mark

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Wonderful experience from start to finish. The guys serving us were attentive, knowledgeable, engaging, funny and just great. We are definitely going back, thank you !!!

White Hart Netherfield

4.7

4.7 (492)

£26 to £40

British

Battle

About the restaurant

We are a country Gastropub owned by farmers. Our farm supplies the beef, lamb and pork and we source other ingredients from local producers where we can. Our small seasonal menu changes regularly reflecting what is available in our area. We pride ourselves on being very much a country pub, offering freshly prepared seasonal food and a warm welcome. We also love offering locally produced drinks, such as gins, rums, ales and wines, giving you the complete taste of Sussex.

Top review

Sarah

Dined 7 days ago

Not only is it a beautiful setting, especially if the weather is nice enough to sit outside. We found both the service and food to be outstanding and look forward to revisiting again soon!

The Mermaid Inn

4.6

4.6 (1438)

£26 to £40

British

Rye

About the restaurant

Dine in the AA 2 Rosette Linen Fold Panelled Restaurant, where you can enjoy the ambience of the large restaurant, the cosiness of The Dr Syn Dining Room or the privacy of the Boardroom for your evening meal, lunch and breakfast.

Head Chef Drew King is focused on using quality, seasonal, local ingredients and cooking them perfectly. He has a broad range of experience having worked in Michelin Star restaurants. and is able to adapt to the requirements of the guest and the occasion.

Please note dogs are not allowed in the Restaurant. Bookings are for the Restaurant only. We do not reserve for The Bar and outside seating areas.

Top review

KATE

Dined 6 days ago

We had a lovely meal. The staff were welcoming, very friendly. Our food from the set menu was delicious and very good value. I would highly recommend the Mermaid.

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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4.6

4.6 (31)

£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

kerry

Dined 5 days ago

We had a lovely evening, live music playing In back ground, food was delicious & couldn’t fault the service definitely a 👍👍👍

The Relais Cooden Beach

4.2

4.2 (349)

£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

Sarah

Dined 5 days ago

Wonderful place to relax and eat in the sunshine. Our server was friendly and attentive, the food was amazing and the views and relaxed atmosphere made us feel we could be abroad.

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