Intenso Espresso Bars in Brighton and Hove

Went here for first time with granddaughters and we really liked it.

Very cute cafe with great indoor and outdoor seating. Took a while to be served, and I'm not sure they had vegan food items, but my smoothie was tasty, even though they were out of the ingredients for the first one I ordered.

Lovely styled cafe, nice calm environment. Coffee was quite bitter but milk wasn't burnt at all. Didn't try the food but it all looked very nice. Good amount of options on the drink menu hot and cold. Nice place for a catch up with a friend

Place seemed nice, staff were friendly. I had a toasted ham and cheese croissant which looked fine at first, but tasted a bit burnt. After I took a few bites I turned it over and the other side was just black. I left that part uneaten on the plate. The lady in charge walked past multiple times and looked directly at it, but said nothing. If it was something hard to see, I would understand, but it had to come out like that, be placed faced down so it wasn't obvious, then get ignored multiple times by the manager who had several opportunities to see that it was burnt.

I was unfortunately knocked off my motorcycle this morning on Portland road and hobbled to the nearest cafe for a coffee to settle my nerves and to make some phone calls before going to get checked at urgent care. I found Intenso and was in a bit of a state when I sat down inside, I mentioned that I'd been hit off my bike and the ladies working brought me a coffee as requested and some water and made sure I was ok. I was not charged for my coffee (which was delicious!) although I did offer to pay. Thank you ladies! I'll call in sometime when I'm recovered as a paying customer!

Refurb looks nice but lost it's identity and it appears the menu has been reduced to a few items that they warm up. Shame as this use to be my favourite cafe.

Nice coffee and friendly staff. Recently refurbished and has a more modern feel now. Just wish it was dog friendly - like most of the other cafes in Portland Road. Will go there again when I don’t have my dog with me.

Loved there Avocado baguette 👌👌. Nice clean coffee shop.👌👌. Will certainly return😉

Everything about intenso espresso is amazing, ever since the new renovation for 2024 it’s got a atmosphere that’s luxurious, modern and welcoming.

THIS IS ANOTHER NICE CAFE TO VISIT

Good location for such a nice coffee place with nice mini pastry and good coffee. The staff is really help and friendly.

Recent renovations. Lovely seating, more spacious, lovely lighting, new windows, lovely improvements to an area in Hove where you can sit & watch the world go by. Good place to come work on your laptop & taste the cakes!

Great pastry great service definitely will be back

I recently visited this coffee shop and I must say, it was a delightful experience from start to finish. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the friendly and welcoming staff. They made me feel right at home and took the time to explain their menu and recommend their specialties. The atmosphere in the coffee shop was cozy and inviting. The soft lighting, comfortable seating, and soothing background music created the perfect ambiance for enjoying a cup of coffee. The shop was also clean and well-maintained, which added to the overall pleasant experience. Now, let's talk about the coffee. Oh boy, it was exceptional! I ordered a cappuccino and it was perfectly brewed with a rich and smooth flavor. The barista clearly knew what they were doing and took great care in crafting my drink. The latte art on top was an added bonus and showed their attention to detail. In addition to the great coffee, the menu offered a variety of options. They had a wide selection of espresso-based drinks, as well as teas and other non-coffee beverages. The pastries and snacks on display looked tempting, and I couldn't resist trying a freshly baked croissant. It was flaky, buttery, and absolutely delicious. What impressed me the most about this coffee shop was the level of customer service. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that I had a pleasant experience. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely seemed to care about their customers. They even took the time to ask about my preferences and made personalized recommendations. Overall, I highly recommend this coffee shop to anyone looking for a great cup of coffee and a welcoming atmosphere. From the friendly staff to the exceptional coffee and tasty treats, it's a place that truly stands out. I can't wait to visit again and try more of their offerings.

Rude owner…never again…………..staff were ok tho but the owner came over and was rude and upset my lady friend.. I leave it there!…

Illona makes the best coffee in Sussex.....

My dad opened this coffee shop when I was about 7 yrs old. I hope all of you enjoy it as much as I did growing up :)

Love the outdoor patio area during the summer and the inside of the cafe is really fun. Really nice staff and great coffee, definitely will be back again x

They are kind conciderate I had no money on my card at that time they only used card and the owner payed for my tea and cake. Now they except cash

Such a lovely cafe - Great environment to study, meet a friend or just enjoy food/coffee. Lovely staff too.

They always get my orders wrong.

Great coffee - Judit great manager and generally nice person - I believe there is a new owner with lots of changes how it used to be!

Lovely little gem of a cafe with the friendliest of staff. Dog friendly and excellent paninis.

I moved in to Hove recently and tried this cafe for the first time today. When I entered the cafe there was no staff there, and I had nothing but waiting to do. I could hear the staff was talking and laughing, probably they could see me on camera but for some reason they decided not to serve me. After 10 minutes tlone of the staff came and asked "Are you waiting for something?" I was really surprised to hear that. It's obvious that I was waiting to be served. I am Japanese and I live here. I am a legal alien. I don't know who they thought I am, but why they choose who to serve, and who not to serve.

Went in on Monday and had say a bacon brie and cranberry sandwich which there was a hair in and requested to speak to the manager i believe her name was Martina, when she then refused me a refund for the sandwich which i had found a hair in. absolutely would not recommend.

Shame as the owners can make coffe but staff no need to teach how to make coffe ie put coffe in was like hot milk but funny as was cold so lost customer sorry but needs to be said so if you want more custom sort it out thanks as could be good as decor and inside out looks good but its all about cofee and fast service

Simple good value coffee shop that does the basics well. Nice coffee, panini. Friendly staff.

Great place for coffee and snacks. Great front of house team.

Nice comfortable interesting coffee bar. Cappuccino and a sausage roll, very good. Outside seating for a nice day.

Fabulously quirky cafe with the friendliest staff! Good range of hot and cold drinks, smoothies, tasty sandwiches, pastries and cakes. Cool decor, good prices. Highly recommended!!

Love the funky look, vibe and style. But menu wise they is a lot more to be desired. There are not enough vegan and veggie options. And some more healthy option. Kitchen level of cooking would benefit from an increase but I understand it the level of cooking is due to budget and rental costs as rental costs have put such a squeeze on quality of service and offerings across the board. If they could increase the food quality the whole venue experience is a fun unique one :)

Recommended place, relax, chit chatting

Quite a nice place to have a tea, coffee and/ or cake. Spacious and airy. You dont feel hemmed in. Well signposted menu inside. Good selection of alternative plant based milks for those with dairy allergies or for vegans. Fantastic chocolate muffins, really chocolatey. Worth a visit.

Very friendly staff and service , the coffee was tasty and the food was delicious. However , the coffee cup had stains on it when served. Also the naked mannequins on the wall feel very out of place with the rest of the interior. Overall a really pleasant experience :) definitely will be returning

Nice place nice coffee nice staff

Great vibe, great coffee, great food. What’s not to love!

Lovely little cafe. Friendly staff. Good atmosphere.

Popped in for a takeaway coffee, nice smooth creamy, staff very friendly and helpful. Good selection of food either eat in or to takeaway on the board, fairly busy little place.

Really nice coffee shop on Portland Road. Dog friendly and jolly staff

Such a fantastic cafe! The customer service as soon as you step in the door is top quality and makes you feel very at ease and welcome. The staff are super friendly and nice, and the coffee (decaf option too) tastes amazing! Great range of alternative milks so brilliant for vegans, and so many different drinks to choose from! The atmosphere and music is very good and I can’t recommend this place enough! :)

Is it bad that we drive ten miles to get fresh coffee here? Tastes so good, I could weep. Service always prompt and friendly. Brightens our afternoon.

I happened to visit Intenso for the first time today and the team there is nothing but fantastic. Super polite, friendly and very helpfull. Not to mention that the coffee tastes lovely. Big shoutout to Jack for his excellent customer service!

You will really be looked after at Intenso. Staff are so friendly. On a grey day the interior brightens me up and on a sunny day I love the garden to sit in. Not eaten here yet but food looks good. Dog friendly, too 👍

This place bangs! Amazing coffee, great staff.

Quirky and welcoming cafe with the best coffee and croissants.

One the best coffee in town, staff is super friendly and relaxed ambiance

Excellent service, great place.. Atmosphere, location and food.. Coffee fab also.. Thanks!

Great service, great menu, and best coffee house around!

Great flat whites and worth the journey each morning. Love the music and ambience when we are able to sit inside. Bravo!

Das Cafe ist sehr stylisch und bunt eingerichtet. Es befindet sich nicht ganz im Zentrum der Fußgängerzone, trotzdem ist es mit dem Bus oder zu Fuß gut zur erreichen. Das Speiseangebot ist umfangreich und wirklich köstlich. Dies spiegelt sich das auch im absolut gerechtfertigten Preis wieder. Der Geschäftsführer hat uns an dem Tag persönlich bedient und mit guter Laune unterhalten. Wir werden bei unserem nächsten Urlaub, mit einem Buch unter dem Arm geklemmt, gerne wieder kommen. Liebe Grüße aus Deutsch

A lovely place to come and sit on the comfy sofas on a dreary day, and and even better place to come and sit on the large terrace and soak up the sun on a summers day, great coffee and lovely staff.

Always great coffee and excellent friendly service each and every visit.

Coffee like I have never tasted before. Look Forward to having lunch there now Lockdown is over.. Keep up the great work and atmosphere ...

A fantastic place! Great coffee and great service. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Incredibly good coffee beans, sourced from local roasters

Relaxing with the best morning coffee. Great staff. Pleasantly surprised!

Great local coffee shop...highly recommended.

A great place for awesome coffee and excellent customer service.

Have been to Intenso Cafe a few years back for a meeting regarding NaturalSelecta party that promoted soft drinks only. Local newspaper covered the event. Lovely place to have a coffee break, a cake or a cup of of tea.

Amazing place, really nice community and great service. The food is delicious, dogs are allowed and its totally kid friendly!

Really friendly local coffee place.

Bad food bad coffee the owner is so rude and is a conartist just look him up

Hot chocolate is lovely,but the service has gone down hill. The staff look and sound like they work in a funeral place.

I love the coffee here, definitely one of the best coffee houses around.

Great Coffee, Great Atmosphere. Great staff who make the word perfection sound small.

Amazing service from the girls Andrea, Blanka and Jess. Always friendly and smiling! Making great coffees

Had been meaning to try this place for a while & found it open (kiosk) in lock down, so plucked the courage & bought a latte. This is now my absolute favourite coffee shop. I have tried other places, but always returned to Intenso. My daughter has been with me several times when we have bought coffee & drinks elsewhere & often I have had 1 or 2 sips of a coffee, binned it & travelled to Intenso to get a decent one! 😊 The pastries & cakes are scrummy, but yet to try the sandwiches, as they look good too. Staff are so friendly, always smiling & when they have the time, always have a chat with me. Just for the coffee alone, I would say you have got to check it out. Totally recommended, go try 👍 😉

One of my favourite independent coffee places (also do tea if that's what you like). Good price sandwich menu, cakes etc. Inside seating and a few outside tables with umbrellas, should the sun shine... Staff are always happy, helpful and relaxed.

Great coffee and selection Keeping within the government guidelines required Polite friendly and excellent service Great atmosphere Would recommend

Was a regular prior lockdown, and still a regular whenever I pass by, fantastic staff, and they do a really nice brew to top.

Had a large latte, excellent coffee, cozy terrace and friendly staff.

Really nice drinks and friendly people who work there

Great cappuccinos, lovely staff

Coffee is Strong Full Flavour and Intense, lives up to its name INTENSO. Staff are Pros and courteous. Love going there when we are in the area. Also they cater for ones with food allergies, my wife is gluten free so they were able to provide her with some 'proper' food unlike a lot of places that give just a hard boring biscuit. I had a ham cheese & tom toastie, it was great, my wife had a salmon & cream cheese, gluten free, also very nice. So I very much recommend Intenso E B. Thanks Guys. 😉

Relaxing atmosphere , pleasant staff

Rude manager, please avoid there are plenty of other places for coffee

Music too loud, difficult to hear each other speak.

Nice off beat coffee shop. Good coffee and wide selection of pantries, sandwiches/panni/rolls. Very chilled out place. Place we're you meet up with friends or just relax with a coffee. Friendly staff and good customer relations. Would recommend.

Great great great . Nice place and great staff . Perfect for a bite to eat and a nice refreshing drink .

I had the privelidge of frequenting this coffee bar last week. I was very impressed with the outstanding service with a smile from the staff... The customers also seemed very friendly... And a lovely coffee...!

Cozy, friendly warm atmosphere with enthusiastic staff... And relaxing music. Tasty coffee and fresh croissants. The owner was very professional and welcoming.. What a gem... For the local community! I'll definitely be back soon...

Always a nice atmosphere in here, tasty coffee and John, who served us was really friendly and welcoming

Delicious sandwiches and cakes with very good coffee. Nice surroundings, small tables, booths, larger seating area for a bigger group and outside seating. One of my favourite cafes in this area!

Great coffee and a really relaxed room, great for reading or studying, very comfy. Good music selection too.

Great place to go , great atmosphere and service , my local coffee shop to meet lots of lovely local people.

Great coffee and love being able to cook your own toast

Nice and friendly and would highly recommend a visit.

Popped in to kill time. Really like the vibe, coffee is great and the decor is really cool. Love how eclectic it is.

Usually a good service but today after waiting 30 minutes for a sandwich the waitress came and gave us our money back and said she was too busy to make it because she had too many coffees to make. Surely you should serve the waiting customers first. Very rude behaviour.

One of the best espressos in the Brighton and Hove area!

The environment is quirky. The staff are always super friendly and sweet. It's my favourite place for a hot drink and a Panini, always freshly made to order a good selection of cakes too. The music is chilled and you can sit solo and feel comfortable, it beats the 'chain style equivalents' hand down.

Very clean, friendly, great choice of drinks and cakes. Just a shame I'm only visiting as I'd make this my regular visit.

Always great coffee and service. One of my favourites.

Driving from Wales, this is my 1st port of call! The staff are professional, friendly and the coffee and cakes are wonderful! Highly recommended!

Good coffee. Comfortable chairs. Friendly service.

I've just moved to the area (a few minutes walk away from this coffee shop) and stopped by 'Intenso' a few days ago. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted with a lovely smile from the waitress. We ordered our food and received friendly and helpful service. We ordered a panini and a blueberry muffin. Both delicious and tasted fresh. We also loved the décor, very quaint. In general, a great, cosy coffee house. Already planning my 2nd visit!

Coffee is very bog standard, but the premises is immaculately clean, and the female barista was very kind. I can imagine great for kids as they have a section out the back. Would go back for the environment.

Decent coffee and cheerful staff. Not eaten here but lots of people do.

Good coffee and food choice. Dog friendly too!

Coffee no bad. I feel sorry for the personnel Julian Preston Powers is an incredibly awful person like no many I have seen before.