This is the best coffee in Brighton - no contest. Great atmosphere and people watching too. Don’t even think about going to Starbucks opposite - you will regret it. (The hot chocolate is like melted Green and Blacks too - mmmm!)

I went here when waiting for my coach back to London, as it’s very handily right around the corner. Service is slow but the coffee is very good. They sell a selection you can take home with you. They also do good basic food although it’s not so cheap there.

Café in Brighton with a bohemian edge.

This is my favourite café in Brighton. In fact, it often tops other people’s lists of favourite cafés, so I’m surprised no one else has reviewed this before now. What I like is the laid-back, tolerant atmosphere and the excellent coffee. I’ve been there at least 100 times.

There’s a wide range of types (espresso, Americano, latte etc.) and origins (Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India etc.) of coffee. I recommend a cafetière (£2.30, holds two cups) – they grind the beans while you wait. Also, the espressos are superb. There are various teas, fruit juices etc. Tea comes as tealeaves in pots (not teabags).

They also do light food – toasted sandwiches, ciabattas, baguettes etc. – from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can’t wait till 11:30, you can get toast with jam/honey at 45p a slice. There are always cakes and pastries on offer. There are always vegetarian and vegan options.

As for the customers, I can’t easily classify them. There’s a wide variety of ages and nationalities. It’s child-friendly, but don’t let that put you off as the children are well-behaved. It’s also gay-friendly and disabled-friendly. Many people read the Guardian or Independent. Everyone accepts everyone else.

Another thing I find remarkable is the good quality of the music – it’s never bland, mindless pop, and never too loud or intrusive. There’s no set style so I can’t really classify it.

There’s a fair amount of room – it accommodates maybe 50 inside and 10 outside. The seating is mostly wooden chairs at tables, but there are also some comfy sofas. The toilets (upstairs) are good. There’s also a disabled toilet at ground level. There are newspaper and magazine racks. The walls have works by local artists, changing every month or so.