Soup-urb

Errrr..... I just want to point out that most of the reviews on this page are for Nia (which was great!). Nia recently closed and Soup-urb opened in its place. I can't comment on Soup-urb as I havn't been, but I just thought people reading this page should be aware that the reviews are for an extinct cafe (RIP Nia!)

(Just tried to publish and I had to add stars - I went for three as it seems fair if you haven't actually eaten there!!)

Great place to catch a coffee when cutting between the two main roads. Having said that, there’s a good chance you’ll linger when you taste the coffee and then see the menu. You cannot be blamed and will not be disappointed for tucking into the fry-up!!
I won’t say anymore….just go and try it.

I’ve been to Nia many times, mainly for coffee, sometimes for breakfast, but today, first time ever, for dinner. And WOW!

As a veggie I’d never been tempted by the menu before, but armed with a great value Groupon we gave it a go. The summer menu is imaginative and delicious and I was blown away.

I eat out in Brighton a lot (lucky me) and can’t remember enjoying a meal as much. As well as excellent food, the service was top notch too. An experience not to be missed. I will definitely be dining here again and hopefully soon if I have my way.

A good place for a chat and a coffee. My favourite dish (and I think one of the most popular items on the menu) Sweetcorn Fritters but when I returned recently (to my horror) the chef had changed the recipe!!!!!! No........ the bacon was so salty, the fitter more like a pancake and the sweet chilli sauce was replaced by something that I am sure was lovely but the dish was no where in the same universe their original heavenly dish.

The waiter asked if there was anything wrong with the dish as he saw that we had not finished them. We politely informed him about the saltiness of the bacon and how sad we were that the original recipe had gone. He was very good and said that he would inform the chef.

I hope that they bring the original recipe back as it was a SURE THING for a great lunch and to wow visitors.

If they bring back the old recipe, I will definitely push the star rating up.

Cafes as how cafes should be.. light and open inside with windows all around, small and friendly, home made food, good coffees and just nice friendly service.

They do some nice morning breakfasts which are healthy and really tasty. Original menu that makes it the best place to go in that area.

Highly recommend.

This comfortably furnished café turned out to be an excellent choice after a tiring and stressful day. The staff are so competent and so lovely!

Despite there being more interesting options on the menu, I was in the mood for fish 'n' chips, which were really nice.

There was a bit of a thing with my companion's food, so they gave us some free drinks and knocked something off the bill. They were very keen to make sure we were happy with the solution.

Now here is an example of getting the 'rustic meets city' look right. Nia is an incredibly charming cafe run but some super smiling staff- the kind that evoke thoughts of the Harry/Sally I'll having what she's having variety! If only I could work out how to be that happy- it is the verge of mental hospital, but maybe that's the city slicker's reaction to good old Brighton hospitality?
They make a pretty decent cup coffee too, with a cute soft macaroon slipped onto the saucer.

I went to Nia for the first time yesterday and immediately loved it - I’d always thought it was just another coffee place and consequently walked straight past it about a thousand times. In fact, it’s a fabulous little place to go to eat lunch (or just have coffee – lots of coffee - which is what we did). As I continually mention in my coffee-shop reviews, a prime people-watching location is very important. Situated right on the edge of North Laine on the road leading right up to the station, Nia definitely satisfies that criteria.

The atmosphere of the place is lovely, slightly rustic shabby chic with big chunky wooden tables, tall wide windows and plants everywhere, which makes it a wonderfully pleasant place to sit and while away a good few hours. The service is brilliant: I was greeted and shown to a table by a lovely young man as soon as I walked in. It’s table service too, which I much prefer to standing around in a queue at a cash register and then finding there’s nowhere to sit.

So, moving on to the coffee – it’s absolutely delicious. Saying that, I’m not (really) a big coffee fan. I have to have it sufficiently diluted with copious amounts of frothy milk and a couple of sugars and have never had an espresso or black coffee in my life. In other words, I like a damn good latte. Nia does just that. They even serve it in a glass coffee mug with a long spoon. Beautiful. Also, rather than little shaky sachets that created mess all over your table, they have a little bowl of sugar lumps to plop into your coffee. I may be very sad for saying so, but this makes me happy.

You might think the county kitchen ambience in Nia would strike a jarring note in the funky North Laine but but somehow it works – the bare stone floor, aluminium plant pots and carefully mismatched furniture provide a calming relief from the determinedly trendy places nearby.

The menu also opts for comfort over innovation and a good thing that is too. I plumped for the mozzarella, spinach and tomato open sandwich washed down with a glass of Bonarda Malbec.

If you are eating alone be sure to get yourself a window seat so you can watch the parade of fashionistas, free spirits and lost souls on Trafalgar Street.

Probably the swishest cafe in the North Laines area of town, surrounded by gimmicky greasy spoons, Nia really stands out with its decor and branding.

The menu serves posh breakfasts such as eggs royal, benedict and American pancakes. Greats place to grab a coffee with the paper as like a lot of cafs in the area its great for people watching.

As its right at the edge of the N.Laines there’s a pay and display parking just behind the building and its real rarity to be able to park up and dive in a caf anywhere in Brighton, so its worth going just for the novelty.

Lovely toilets!

While on holiday in Brighton we decide to have a meal here at the end of a busy day. We thought the place looked very charming with its large windows and light and spacious air, and the assortment of scrubbed wooden tables added a nice homely feel. The waitress made us feel at home straight away and even tried valiantly to help us get my husband’s laptop connected to their Wifi - but unfortunately that was not to be.
The food was absolutely delicious as was the coffee I had and considering that we were 'down South’ and in a city centre I didn’t think the prices were too bad.

This is a small little cafe that serves great food too. I would recommend lunch there, the salads are delicious. The Ginger and honey cordial is also amazing tasting and comes with a real slice of ginger floating in it. Great coffee too and friendly staff.

Now not formally linked to the Shoreham restaurant of the same name (but effectively retaining the winning laid back and intimate feel) we tried the evening set menu of starter and a main for £14.25 a head. With a bottle and service this is a £50 night out for a couple, a little painful on wallet watchers like myself.

However, the menu was a real appetising treat, and we could've happily worked through the lot one by one. We eventually settled on a fig & ricotta and chicken & pancetta salads and racks of lamb, and were virtually gnawing bones and licking the plates come the end.

Excellent, but bemusingly, closing for a refit shortly. Why change something this good?