Botanique By Food For Friends in Brighton and Hove

Came with friends and we all agreed this is our new favorite restaurant. We shared several dishes - all beautifully presented and sooooo delicious! Will be back soon : )

Such a good restaurant!! Great welcome and great food with a smile, definitely will be back again. Keep it up! Thank you :)

Sadly, this restaurant which used to be one of Brighton and Hove's greatest, most imaginative vegan restaurant, has phoenixed and resurrected itself as a multi-style eatery with just 5 or 6 dishes; these include a couple of small vegan offerings and the rest omnivore. Shortage of everything (like cocktails and desserts - just cakes). The saving grace was the superb Manager who was doing everything in her power to try and give us a good experience whilst acknowledging the lack of the main reason for our visit - delicious vegan food. Felt really sorry for the chef too. The place was empty. In the end, we upped sticks and crossed over to the Restaurant opposite which squeezed us in on a very busy Saturday and, at least, had a few vegan options on their menu. Thank you so much to the two staff at Botanique and to the restaurant opposite who put the customer first. I would love nothing more than Botanique to regain its amazing reputation.

Went to Botanique for brunch this morning. Can safely say in 46 years of living this was the best brunch I’ve ever had. I don’t normally write reviews but felt compelled to after this gastro spectacular. We started with the rosemary and truffle polenta, the accompanying dips were incredible. However the 3 brunch plates we ordered between us (no judgement please) were incredible. Wild mushroom on focaccia with sunflower ricotta was a delight. Fresh and bursting with umami richness. Next the Benedict, with silky smooth hollandaise, smoked aubergine rusher, crispy kale and avocado was insane. Finally the pancakes which the hostess kindly split into two bowls. Wow. These pancakes were phenomenal, with maple, fruit compote, fresh strawberries, coconut yoghurt and almond brittle. Would highly recommend. This is simply what all other vegan brunches aspire to.

There has been a definite scaling down of the menu since I visited just after it had opened. This felt like visiting a different restaurant altogether. It felt odd that a Brunch Menu was still in effect for a lunchtime booking. In any case, the Tasting Menu was opted for. Each dish was delicious, with the dessert being a particular highlight. At their best, the dishes provided an explosion of taste and flavour, but at least one dish also just felt like several disparate ingredients just simply cooked well. Whilst I would not avoid Botanique, something would have to change with regards to the menu to tempt me back or encourage me to enthusiastically recommend it. For the price paid, the food really ought be exceptional, not just occasionally very good. On this visit, the staff were absolutely lovely; however, it does not surprise me to see some negative comments given that in order to find this restaurant on TripAdvisor (to review), I had to add ‘by Food For Friends’. My last visit at Food For Friends was entirely lamentable, both in terms of quality and service. If Botanique wants to replicate the Food For Friends business model (charge lots for little), there will not be an encouraging future for Botanique.

Avoid this restaurant. The photos no longer reflect the menu as it is today. We have eaten here a number of times in the past couple of years, and have taken non-vegan friends here because of the quality, skill and taste of the dishes. This is no longer the case. The new menu is a severe disappointment and we will not be returning. Scaled back to 3 small plates and 2 large plates, it no longer allows for social eating. The dishes were modest & overly simple and not befitting of this restaurant. It is such a shame but it feels like the end of this place.

An evening of delish plant based food, full of flavour and colour. The lovely Grace looked after us and hosted a delightful evening, always with a smile. Reading other reviews, yes the portions are smaller, but we left feeling nourished, satiated and with full tummies!

Extraordinary food. Just beautiful. So nice I went for dinner and back for lunch the next day!! It is such a delight to look at a menu as a vegan and be spoiled for choice. Bravo!

In all honestly this place is a rip off. My partner and I love to support vegan restaurants but this place is overpriced with tiny portions. One of the mains was a few roasted carrots with yogurt (please see photo) costing £18. The setting is nice and the service was good but it honestly it just felt like they were trying to rip you off. Apparently the menu has changed recently and it looks like it was massively cut down and marked up. Shame to see a vegan restaurant treat their customers like this…

What botanique do with the humble vegetable is beyond me. It is truly SENSATIONAL food here, if I had to eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life it would be here. Needs to be tasted to be believed.

Each dish was: - only plant based and cooked from scratch (no pseudo animal protein for example), - seasonal, - totally product focused, with cooking technique only here to bring flavour and texture contrast - priced so that you could very reasonably try three of them (or five for two people) in one meal hence exploring lots of different flavours and/or textures It is so well done that it gives the illusion of being almost simple. I expect and hope that this will be the model for plant based restaurants in the near future anywhere in the world - it is not an attempt to substitute traditional cuisine. It is simply leveraging traditional cooking techniques to bring forward a genuine and original plant based cuisine where each dish is focused on one ingredient. Brilliant, and merci!

The vegan food was absolutely delicious. The venue was full of rustic charm. The staff were really friendly and helpful. I'd changed my booking several times and they were very tolerant. Will definitely go back!

Had a day out in Brighton and this was booked as a special, fancy treat. Found it really hard to decide what to order as it all sounded delicious, eventually settled on the french toast for myself, and my partner had the masala dosa. We shared some rosemary panisse as a starter, these were quite small and you get three as part of the portion. Couldn't fault any of the food, and the presentation was top notch as well. Service was very friendly and they also have a selection of cocktails that I couldn't see listed on the website, I had a negroni. Only thing to be aware of is that I think the menu can change quite often to go with the seasons or the ingredients that can be sourced. The menu on the website mentions a beetroot gnocchi, which I would've been very tempted by but it wasn't on the menu we were presented with in the restaurant, so don't get too attached if you're checking the website before going. Portion sizes seemed good, and prices not too bad, I don't think I'd be able to find a french toast of the same size for £9 in London.

The food was wonderful! Beautifully presented and prepared. Wine was reasonably priced and service was excellent! I highly recommend.

Just perfect. If you want creatively produced plant-based food at its absolute best, this is it. Each dish not only imaginatively presented but full of different tastes. Lots of choice and we went for a selection of dishes which we shared. We managed a dessert - despite being full - well, because they looked to good to bypass. All washed down with delicious glass of wine and followed by hot steaming coffee . Service throughout helpful and with a smile. Can't recommend Botanique enough. Note, this visit was for a birthday celebration for our carnivore sister..... and she chose the venue as it's one o f her favourites.

I am a very infrequent reviewer but felt I had to contribute given how great our meal and experience was. From the food to the service, I found Botanique to be top-class. We ordered the celeriac steak, aubergine tartar, oyster mushrooms, and a substitute for the beetroot gnocchi, which was perhaps my favourite. The triple cooked chips and cocktails were on point too. All of the staff were really nice too. 10/10 from me.

A very poor experience! First time eating here and won’t be going back. The place was empty when we arrived, the coffee machine wasn’t working, the only two female staff we saw were unwelcoming, quiet and nervy. Half our family birthday lunch group were served their dishes, and then nothing came for so long we had to go looking for help! So we couldn’t all eat together. This disappearing act happened repeatedly, and there was often no-one on either floor. The table was never cleared between courses. I guess they were short staffed and helping out in the kitchen but no-one explained. I don't blame the individuals, one of whom was trying hard, but maybe the training and management support is not there. When it was time to pay the bill, the manager magically appeared, with a sour face and said he'd been called in specially from their sister restaurant. He said we had to pay an extra £150 cover charge because our group had put things on the empty adjacent tables, which meant re-setting them and getting a cleaner in! The restaurant was still virtually empty. It was ridiculous. A smarter move would have been to be friendly and apologise for the short staffing, perhaps offer a discount. I’ve been a fan of Food for Friends since it first opened in 1981 but this off-shoot won’t last long like this.

We had a very enjoyable and delicious birthday meal at Botanique. Staff were just lovely too- so helpful and knowledgeable.

5 star! I came here to celebrate my 30th birthday. It was the most delicious food. We had the Christmas set menu. I forgot mid-way through that it was all Vegan! Lovely chilled atmosphere, kind servers and excellent well service, I 1000% recommend, whether you’re vegan or otherwise. Lovely selection of wine and cocktails too. Thanks for a lovely evening Botanique. We will definitely be returning.

We visited for a family meal and needed somewhere with good Vegan and Gluten free options. The menu is superb and imaginative and we weren't disappointed. Small plates enough 3 between two people or even 2 each if you're hungry. We enjoyed every mouthful and had sticky toffee pudding for desert. It was a bust night and we had to wait a while for desert. Staff were really lovely and knowledgeable. Price was appropriate for the work that has gone in to this food and the ambience was pleasant without loud music which was great ! Very happy we chose Botanique .Will come again and recommend

Variety of vegan combinations we'd never have thought of and all lovely, with great service. Thoroughly enjoyed it

We popped in while walking past as it looked welcoming from outside. We weren’t disappointed as the food was delicious, interesting and imaginative. I wouldn’t hesitate to return.

What botanique do with the humble vegetable is beyond me. It is truly SENSATIONAL food here, if I had to eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life it would be here. Needs to be tasted to be believed.

Went for a birthday dinner. Food was really sublime - the panna cotta exceptional - service very good, ambience was extremely relaxed. A very lovely evening in every way.

I have wanted to eat at Botanique for some time, as I have heard fabulous reviews from friends, and I wasn't disappointed! I love the minimalist decor and ambiance, the staff are wonderful and I was absolutely blown away by the fresh flavours of the dishes. We ordered the masala dosa, the heritage beetroot, fennel, triple cooked chips and the harissa focaccia to share. The portion sizes are all really good and the prices are very reasonable. To drink, we ordered the homemade lemonade, which was delicious, and I'm pleased to say, not too sweet. Every dish was a taste explosion! We can't wait to come back again, and we are really keen to try their evening menu. Thank you!

Fantastic food , lovely atmosphere . Very helpful and attentive staff, great environment . Food was delicious and well presented.

I’m not vegan but the new menu at Botanique could definitely turn me ..we had the blackened sweetcorn which was sublime & original..the masala was stunning topped with deliciousness…all the sauces & cremes complimented the dishes ..we drank non alcoholic beer I can’t remember the name but the nicest I’ve had ..the staff were great ..look forward to lots more suppers here

We came here for my 30th birthday dinner and it didn’t disappoint. The decor is beautiful and feels as if you are dining in someone’s home not a restaurant which felt relaxing and inviting. The wine was brilliant and they have a wide range of options and let you try before you buy. The food was delicious we loved every dish! It was very ambient, relaxing and romantic. We came on a Sunday evening so wasn’t busy at all and it was just lovely. We will definitely return 🥂

Fantastic vegan food. Could not fault it. Sunday roast is a must! The staff is always helpful and friendly.

I’m not a vegan my friend is so I booked this gorgeous place as a recommendation on Google! Wow we were not disappointed! From the moment we walked in we felt welcomed and valued, the decor is calm and beautiful and we got a choice of tables so sat upstairs which was lovely. The service was amazing and was recommended the special (thank god as was to die for) lions mane mushrooms in tempura…delish! We ordered 4 main dishes and boy we were not disappointed. I have never eaten in a vegan restaurant before and I feel after this place I don’t wish to dine anywhere else! My friend can’t wait to go back and visit again and we are booking for next month. Our plates were completely clean after our meal and if you paid me I could not find one single negative thing to say about this place! The wine was also devine! Please even if your not vegan try this place it’s amazing and a taste sensation! One of my new favs in Brighton!!

This is the third time I've eaten at Botanique in Brighton. There were three of us for dinner. The food, as always, was good. However, the selection on the menu was sparse at best.

We went for the Sunday Roast which lived up to the Tripadviser billing, it was beautiful. My wife had the celeriac and I had the aubergine. The potatoes, side vegetables and gravy were exceptional. My wife is vegan, I'm not, but I could happily eat this all the time.

I was so impressed by the explosion of flavours in the potato dish that I even forgot to take a picture. The food was delicious and sophisticated without being pretentious. Friendly staff and beautiful ambience.

We were greeted by Maya, who even though she was extremely busy, made us feel very welcome and appreciated. We hadn’t booked and the restaurant was pretty full. Maya said that a couple of tables upstairs were available and would we like to choose which one we like the most. Tiny detail but in most restaurants we’re just given a seat that the staff member chooses for us. To be given the option was a big win and testament to Maya’s ability to provide a first class service to the customer. The food is fabulous here especially the beetroot carpaccio, potatoes and mushroom dish. The cocktails and wine are great and all dishes have a recommended wine pairing if that’s your thing. The decor is wonderful and rustic yet very contemporary and stylish. We love it! Maya’s colleague was also very accommodating and on top of service. So we had a wonderful time from beginning to end. I couldn’t recommend the place enough and as mentioned Maya was one of the main reasons for our fabulous experience. We’ll be back as this place ticks all the boxes.

Amazing experience. Special dinner for 6 friends, none vegan. We were all delighted with the evening. Loved Every dish each a complex layer of taste and textures . We tried and shared every dish except 2!. Great to explore something different. Such a Beautiful setting...

Selected from a web search, arrived knowing little about the place, completely stunned by the dining experience. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough, absolutely superb! In the past 10 years, my favourite meal.

We’ve been eating out in Brighton for several days as part of our holiday. Being avid cooks ourselves, we’re highly discerning about our food choices. Without a shadow of a doubt, hands down, Botanique are our firm favourites. The choices of small dishes, the freshness,...

Mixed recent reviews on here had us questioning whether to come. So glad we did. The space is beautiful - calming and elegant. Plenty of room between tables which seems a rare thing these days. Service was friendly and informed. Willing to accommodate a bigger...

Went to the restaurant with 2 friends and had a very enjoyable evening with good food and a relaxed atmosphere. As a non-vegan I wasn't really sure what to expect but the food was great - tasty, flavoursome and enough of it. Definitely a place...

I first came to this restaurant in june 2022 and the food and service were amazing..... Fast forward 6 months.....and wow.....its gone from 5 star to zero stars which is what I would have given if I could.. AWFUL SERVICE.....infact it's a non service! And...

This was our second time at Botanique and it was an underwhelming experience compared to our first visit in 2021. We arrived on time and wanted to be seated upstairs and were told that service was downstairs only. We specifically went there for their vegan...

Just greasy non-descript food. Belly ache was all we came away with. As a vegeterian I almost wanted to eat meat! Don't bother. We won't be returning.

Visited last night with a friend and had the loveliest meal. Warm and welcoming staff, lovely wine and the food was outstanding! Highly recommend. I can’t wait to come back.

We, three friends, had dinner at Bontanique on a Friday night. The food was excellent as it was the first time I ate there.

We had dinner and loved it! Delicious, unusual flavours. The pudding was outstanding - vegan pavlova, yum. The decor is super nice too - only weird point is that the toilet is right next to two tables in a kind of teeny annexe with a...

The venue is beautiful, like an expensive stay somewhere in Santorini. The food was amazing: we had the brussel sprouts, potatoes and broccoli. The cheesecake, however, was very misleading as it was three squirts of cream cheese with biscuit crumbs. Our waitress was fine, but...

Brilliant vegan food - imaginative, creative and totally delicious. Great wine list and lovely friendly staff. I’m not vegan (am veggie) and went with meat eaters who equally loved it. Would recommend .

The food was incredible. Tasty, varied and rich and filling. Innovative and creative with veg and sauces. Desserts fantastic and a brilliant choice of wine. Staff were friendly and informative. Will definitely return.

Small plates are very small plates and are way overpriced. I came away still feeling hungry after spending £120 on a meal for 2! The wine was basic and overpriced.

I originally booked a table for 5, but the day before I telephoned to extend this to a table of 7. This was agreed. When we arrived, there was no one to greet us at the door, a member of staff at the front of...

We were blown away by our Sunday roast….We have never experienced such exceptional flavours in a main meal. Oyster mushroom for me and Celeriac for my wife, accompanied by the most exceptional cooked vegetables with a cauliflower side dish. Truly fantastic meal in a lovely...

We came as a celebration with our vegan family group and what joy for them to be able to order everything and eat everything. In fact I think we did actually order and eat everything! Inventive, beautifully presented, calm, interesting and just lovely even for...

My vegan daughter recommend this restaurant we went together and I was completely blown away by the food. Service was pleasant but food was out of this world. Not only tasted delicious but beautifully plated and a delight to look at. Almost too good to...

I'm not one for taking photos of my food so I can only write about my experience. We booked into this restaurant as a party of four - two adults and two children. I am fully vegan and generally struggle with tasty, interesting and wholesome...

The food was excellent but it took an extremely long time to appear. An hour after arriving, we were still waiting, having only had a small bowl of olives. We then waited sometime before I managed to attract the attention of 3 serving staff ,who...

Had cocktails at farm this eve with Owen (crystal) and Sholly (Stella). The tequila cocktail was amazing! Great vibes, really recommend.

Really delightful experience here. We went for an early dinner. The ambience is gorgeous: well spaced, rustic and beuatiful and the (all veggie) food is astounding. We had all the light courses to share and every one was amazing. It was nice and quiet so...

Stunning venue, great service and sublime food. Keep doing what you're doing! I don't live locally but I Keep thinking of driving an hour out just for a meal here!

Simply stunning! From the welcome and ambience to the beautifully presented and exquisite dishes - I just love this place! I’m not vegan but it’s a destination of choice. The mushrooms are to die for! Keep doing what you’re doing - we’ll be back!! Oh...

My friend and I were very disappointed when we went to Botanique on Sunday for lunch , it was our first visit and had high hopes However we waited 75 mins for our meal to arrive. Apparently there was a mix up and a table...

Delicious experience at this elegant French barn style restaurant. Don’t forget to book! Incredible service, superbly knowledgeable staff with the classic edgy look. Everything about this venue is perfect, decor, staff, ambiance, food, portions, speed. Don’t rate it on the outside toilet which surprisingly is...

We had a stunning tasting menu - so many delicious and inventive dishes. The dishes and flavours just kept on coming. This was all served by friendly and knowledgeable staff. And all in a stylish setting. This is a great night out.

I went recently on a work lunch. The wine was incredible! The food was top notch too. Can’t believe what they can do with only plant based ingredients. You definitely don’t feel like your missing out on anything. The trio of bread is possibly my...

My boyfriend and I had the most amazing New Years Eve meal at Botanique! It was our first time there and we kept meaning to try it and we are so glad we did on New Years. The flavours were incredible we could’ve just kept...

Everything about Botanique is amazing! The restaurant is well laid out and distanced tables, the serving staff were very knowledgeable about the dishes and how they are made, the food itself was gorgeous, every bite was bursting with flavour and the different textures and presentation...

Amazing experience for our taste buds, plant based seasonal food presented very nicely and delicious. The restaurant is cosy and elegant and the staff are brilliant. Dog and child friendly too

We, three friends, had dinner at Botanique in Brighton. The menu was imaginative and the food was delicious. However, Botanique is not recommended for the budget conscious.

Food was lovely, a bit pricy and could have done with bigger portions Did leave a bit hungry, needed a bit of bulk/carb a side of chips would have been good, (posh ones of course). ldelicious mushroom dish, but thought the beetroot was a bit...

The food was exceptional. Every dish was better than the last, and it's a beautiful setting to dine in.

I booked Botanique on the recommendation of a friend and the meal exceeded our expectations. Just brilliant from start to finish, friendly efficient service, good choice of wines and just the most outstanding cooking. I’m not vegan but have already booked a return visit, we...

What a lovely eve. Great, unbothering yet attentive knowledgable service. Food just tasty….not sure we picked all the right combinations but still appreciated what we had. Had my first celeriac purée ever and yes, silky smooth it was. Wine felt well selected (rose, red…incl an...

This is one of Brighton’s best restaurants. Excellent staff, tasty food, an eclectic wine list - what more could you want? Don’t let anybody tell you that vegan food, lovingly prepared can’t be the equal of carnivorous offerings.

Nothing bad to say about the atmosphere and the service, these were good, but the food was so disappointing, compared to my previous visit. Portions are very small and you pay £ 8-10 for a small plate, containing something that you can easily cook at...

The staff is quite friendly but the food was so disappointing….. The lunch menu had only very few “small plate” options which were £8 or £9 and, as much as I like having light lunch, one beetroot on the plate is not enough…. I left...

Food delicious and inspiring with an array of different plant based treats. However portions too small (and I'm a small eater) for price paid and didn't lend themselves to sharing as we were advised to do by waitress. Waitress also a bit grumpy and (upstairs)...

This is even better than the original food for friends: ambience is more intimate and quieter and the food even better if that's possible. Service attentive and friendly but not intrusive. Everything exceptional, can't fault it in any way. Totally recommend for a treat.

Being big fans of Food For Friends, my Wife and I were very excited to try out their new plant based venture. We are both vegan so are always on the look out for new vegan places to try. Love the minimalist decor and the...

Amazing service, minimal but very delighful interior design with earth based colours. The food was absolutely perfect. With simply ingredients they create memorable dishes. They worth to visit it asap. Thank you very much. Hope to visit you again soon.

Date night. Service was spot on. Food looked amazing and tasted delicious. We had a couple of cocktails and glasses of wine, two appetisers, one large plate and four small ones, a shared dessert - totaled £90. Great value - we left having had a...

Excellent in every way- service, ambiance and food was all first class. Classy and delicious. This is what meat free food should be all about

The food here is incredible! So imaginative, so delicious, we absolutely loved every taste. The flavours were inspired and the service was impeccable (thank you Hannah, you looked after us so well!). My husband requires gluten free and this was no problem at all -...

Superb dining experience. Eclectic, creative, delicious vegan cuisine. Everything in this restaurant is executed with precision, high-quality and care. Shout out to Hannah whose service is second to none. One of the best meals I've had (and I often travel to new countries specifically to...

We have been eating vegan for 3 years and this was the best meal yet. Such a diverse and unique menu. Lots of tastes and lots of textures.

We were looking for a bite to eat and came across this fab restaurant, staff were lovely, being a major meat eater I suddenly realised that this is a plant based eatery but wow what fantastic meal, the flavours and textures were sublime, you have...

We were hungry after a long day and several swims in the sea and didn't know what to expect. It was fantastic. The food and flavour combinations were epic, surprising, satisfying and enormous fun. For the first time I contemplated the need for meat or...

There’s not more I can say than easily the best restaurant in Brighton Superb service … vegan food was amazing Well curated wine list Lovely modern vibe

There are not enough adjectives in the dictionary to do this place justice. I am a gluten free vegetarian and eating out is generally under whelming. My meat eating husband booked Botaniques for my birthday and it did not disappoint. What a treat it was...

Honestly the best food I’ve ever tried in Brighton. Stunning, creative, texture. Meat eaters joined and raves about it.

From the decor to the staff to the food this place is amazing, we loved every minute! Emma our waitress was so informative and attentive she’s amazing! There was also a mix up with my booking as I accidentally booked the wrong day but the...

We loved the food on offer at this restaurant. Even as pescatarians we found the plant based menu noteworthy. The flavours were superb and our waiter knowledgeable about the food on offer. However, our evening did not get off to a good start as when...

Really exciting, groundbreaking food. The staff here are charismatic and friendly. Daaaaaaamn good Arancini All the charm of fine dining with a laid back easy feel. Anywhere that can perform that kind of alchemy with mushrooms is worth visiting

This place is beyond words. The most beautiful meal we’ve ever had. An all vegan menu celebrating vegetables! We had a selection of tasting plates and desserts. The standard is incredible. Beautiful flavours and excellent service. Cannot recommend this place enough.

I couldn’t possible rate this place higher 🙌🏽 since going vegan I’ve missed fine dining and this place really hits the spot! I took my non-vegan parent and he loved it as well. Not only is the food incredible, locally sourced, and very reasonably priced,...

Great seasonal plant based food. Prepared and served with absolute class. The tempura mushrooms were a particular treat!

We visited Botanique for a special family dinner and wanted to try something a little bit different. As we went in we were greeted by a lovely lady who told us we had a great table - which we did (right by the window upstairs)....

The food here is so good! I had more than just a dessert but was too excited to eat so didn't take enough pics. Thoroughly recommend

Delicious food and warm service in this welcome new vegan addition to Hove. Tasty combinations would make you forget that you’re not eating meat fish or dairy. We had brunch but will definitely return for the dinner menu.

I was recommended to try this relatively new restaurant by a vegetarian friend who'd been to the sister restaurant, Food for Friends. I went for lunch, and it was a gastronomic delight. I highly recommend it.

One of the best restaurants in Brighton/Hove that I’ve been to in a long time. The food is just fantastic. I’m not veggie/vegan but I would be if I ate like this all the time. The pea & dill pesto we had for a starter...

We booked Botanique while we were visiting Brighton for a few days because we were looking for good vegetarian food and we were not disappointed. All three courses were very good and just the right size - I particularly enjoyed the cauliflower main and rice...