Eastbourne has a thriving café culture, from serious specialty-coffee roasteries to cosy tearooms and cafés with a park or sea view. Whether you want a perfectly pulled flat white, a leisurely brunch or a slice of homemade cake after a coastal walk, here’s our guide to the best cafés and coffee shops in town.
The best independent coffee shops
Eastbourne’s coffee scene is led by Urban Ground, the town’s standout independent, with two branches in the centre (on Grove Road and South Street). It serves top-quality specialty coffee, whole-leaf teas, artisan flatbreads and ciabattas and a tempting range of homemade cakes, with the South Street site also doing brunch and cocktails. Coffee lovers rate it as good as anything across in Brighton, and it caters well for special diets.
Also excellent is Nelson Coffee, a roastery near the station serving high-grade, seasonal, ethically sourced coffee alongside a well-regarded, seasonally changing brunch menu and house-baked goods — a favourite for a relaxed catch-up. For more independent choices, Beanzz Coffee & Kitchen on Grove Road pairs specialty coffee with a good brunch offering, Deliciously Gorgeous is a central café and tearoom known for freshly baked scones and cakes, and artisan bakery To The Rise, at the beach end of Terminus Road, is the spot for fresh sourdough and pastries near the promenade.
Local tip: the town centre’s independent cafés cluster around Grove Road, South Street and Little Chelsea — the perfect area to combine a coffee with a browse of the independent shops nearby.
Cafés with a lovely setting
Some of Eastbourne’s nicest cafés come with a view or a green setting attached. The Tennis Café at Devonshire Park is a genuine local favourite for a pot of tea or a fresh coffee in smart surroundings, while the café in Gildredge Park serves freshly baked goods, panini, salads and cakes in a lovely parkland spot. For culture with your coffee, Light, the second-floor restaurant and café at the Towner gallery, does breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea with views over the Devonshire Quarter. And if you’re out walking or cycling the South Downs, Cadence clubhouse cafés are handy grab-and-go refuelling stops. Down on the front, seafront cafés and the waterside spots at Sovereign Harbour are ideal for a coffee with a sea view.
Tearooms and sweet treats
For something more traditional, the Victorian Tea Room serves classic cream teas, cakes and lunches with proper old-fashioned charm, and the Art House Café in the Old Town is a creative, welcoming spot set over two floors with a focus on local produce. When it’s a sweet treat you’re after, Gelato Famoso on the seafront offers a huge range of Italian ice creams and sundaes (plus breakfasts and coffee), while Pearls in The Beacon is the town’s dedicated bubble-tea café with dozens of flavours. For a full afternoon-tea experience, our separate guide to afternoon tea in Eastbourne covers the grand hotels and sea-view spots.
Practical tips
Most of Eastbourne’s best cafés are clustered in and around the town centre, within easy walking distance of the station and The Beacon, so you can café-hop on foot. The independents can get busy at weekends and during big events like Airbourne, so arrive early if you want a table. As ever with the local food scene, opening hours and menus change from time to time, so it’s worth a quick check before making a special trip — and don’t be afraid to venture into Little Chelsea and the Old Town, where some of the most characterful spots are tucked away.
Cafés in Eastbourne: FAQs
What is the best coffee shop in Eastbourne?
Urban Ground is widely regarded as Eastbourne’s best independent coffee shop, with two central branches serving specialty coffee, artisan flatbreads and homemade cakes. Nelson Coffee, a roastery near the station, is another top choice, especially for brunch.
Where can I get brunch in Eastbourne?
Nelson Coffee, Urban Ground (South Street) and Beanzz Coffee & Kitchen all offer excellent brunch. Towner’s Light restaurant and various seafront cafés are also good options for a relaxed late breakfast.
Are there cafés with sea views in Eastbourne?
Yes. Cafés along the seafront and the waterside spots at Sovereign Harbour offer coffee with a sea view. Gelato Famoso on the seafront is popular for ice cream, coffee and breakfasts overlooking the beach.
Where are Eastbourne’s independent cafés?
Most cluster around Grove Road, South Street and the Little Chelsea district in the town centre, with more characterful spots in the historic Old Town — all within easy walking distance of the station and the shops.
Hungry for more? Explore the best restaurants in Eastbourne and treat yourself to afternoon tea.