Kensingtons, Brighton

Cheerful and relatively cheap, this place does some of the best fry-ups in Brighton - guaranteed hangover killers, but they’re great even if you haven’t had one over the eight the night before. Like a slightly more boho greasy spoon, there are little booths you can tuck yourself into, or perch by the window to spy on the comings and goings of Kensington Gardens.

The music’s a bit random, depending on who’s there at the time, I guess, but that just adds to its myriad charms. Welcoming, cosy and with some darn good grub, you could easily spend all day here, and, I guess, some probably have.

I love the kensington cafe. Right in the heart of the now modernised north lanes you can sit on the balcony and look out over everything and everyone. There are a lot of places now to eat in Brighton and perhaps the cafe is not always my first choice. But if i’m on my own there is nowhere better. A tortilla with refried beans, a beer and a newspaper is a great way to spend an hour or two. This is simple, wholesome food and very reasonable.

I love the Kensingtons. Since I was a student I went there everyday after lectures to drink cheap but tasty coffee, eat breakfasts (they have great veggie alternatives) and chat to the friendly staff. They play good music, and it has a really nice, relaxed atmosphere.

This cafe has a balcony overlooking the extremely bustling, trendy shopping street of Kensington Gardens in the North Laines. It can be hard to get a balcony seat, but inside there are big wooden tables and benches and plenty of space (though it’s full at lunch time). There is a huge choice of very good food, my favourite being the refried beans and guacamole with enchilladas. Like most cafes in Brighton, it caters extremely well for vegetarians, with fry-ups as well as healthy stuff and fake meat with the breakfasts. It does a sort of breakfast bap, with all the breakfast stuffed into it, which is pretty full on as it’s huge, but very good indeed. The only thing lacking is a toilet - you have to go downstairs and into a separate shop that is attached, and downstairs in that. But at least there is one, it’s just a hassle to get to.