Palmito Restaurant in Brighton and Hove

I enjoyed it but left feeling I owed more to the sous vide than the kitchen

This is a fantastic restaurant! We shared 13 dishes and they were all amazing! The staff were attentive and really friendly, and the smaller space was really nice, which made it feel like a more intimate experience. The cocktails were great as well. Definitely check it out!

Absolutely stunning lunch. All dishes were gorgeous. Service was lovely

Exceptional food and great service. Highly recommend. All of us absolutely loved Palmito. Every dish is packed with interesting combinations, and incredible flavours. Service was attentive and friendly. Atmosphere is really comfortable and relaxed. Will definitely be back!

Very cute little restaurant with super friendly staff and delicious food served on small plates. The sweetcorn was 👌🏻. I had a non alcoholic kombucha sangria that was super tasty. Pistachio tiramisu for dessert was also fantastic. First time but will go again.

Great little spot. Small restaurant with a really great atmosphere. The tables are close but not in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. There is a changing menu of small plates available. The majority hit the spot and have a lovely balance of flavours. You'll find options for a wide variety of tastes. It's great value and I can't wait to go back.

We booked this meal sometime ago as there was a bit of a wait due to the popularity and it is only a small 20 seater restaurant. So plan ahead and book something in advance. Everything was perfect from the atmosphere to the quiet ambient music but more importantly, the service and the food. The restaurant offers a great selection of small tapas style dishes (for sharing). The cuisine is a fantastic fusion of latin American and asian. They recommend 2-3 dishes per person and of course we over ordered (3.5 dishes pp) which was way too much so we didn’t get to try the desert. All dishes were incredible but our favourites were the lamb skewers, prawn & chorizo empanadas, paneer and the corn on the cob. And good value too for the high quality dishes. We will definitely come back. Ideal for foodies!

The food is excellent. Such a pleasure to try dishes with new exciting flavours. The staff were excellent. I hadn't realised it was a 'sharing plates' restaurant and for most people this is fine. However, dishes come in such a random order. For example the flatbreads came at the end and they would have been useful for mopping up delicious sauces. It tends to be a bombardment of flavours fired at you from the kitchen.

Such original and amazing food, we could have worked our way through every single dish on the menu had our stomachs allowed! A rare treat for the taste buds, we will definitely be back again soon.

Loved the neighbourhood feel and the wild variety of food (in small/medium plates) The passion for the food is something else, and the wine/cocktails compliment very well. One of the most interesting restaurants on the Western Road drag, definitely give Palmito a try.

Small restaurant, so the tables are quite close. Food and service were excellent although a lot of dishes are quite rich so carefully consider your dishes.

Palmito is a Brighton gem offering a delightful fusion of latín American and world flavours, a punch of flavour! The cozy ambiance and friendly service complement the delightful dishes, making it a must-visit for food lovers. From gorgeous plant based dishes to masterful executed fish and curries to amazing tasting meat, each bite is a culinary adventure. Just wonderful

We had the best lunch here the other day! Such amazing flavours. Would definitely recommend the oyster mushroom tostada! We will definitely be back.

Jewel in the crown .... tapas with a difference! Cosy intimate restaurant with a Michelin star in the heart of Hove, serving interesting tapas from central Americas .... delicious and good value. A must for discerning diners

The food offered was truly excellent, every dish we had was superb, could not find fault with the quality and tastes of everything. The service was staff were also really excellent. This place is very popular so booking is essential. The only downside is it is small and therefore for obvious commercial reasons they have tried to maximise utilisation of space, this does result is tables being very close, and quite noisy. I really would love to give this place 5 stars but the cramped seating did mean the experience fell slightly short.

Outrageously good food, faultless! Friendly and quick service. Yes it’s a small restaurant and you can overhear your neighbouring table’s conversation, but who cares when the food and cocktails are this good. Can’t wait to return. Book ahead, many people were turned away at the door without a booking.

Wow!! Fabulous food, so full of flavour well presented, lots of influences at play, everything so well balanced. Wonderful friendly staff. It is small and informal and justifyably well booked in advance but certainly worth planning for. This place is special well worth making the effort.

You take a trip to Flavour Town when you eat here. My favourite dishes were the corn cob and the paneer. So many layers of flavour to hit different parts of your palette. If I'm in Brighton again I'll be booking a table (which is definitely recommended, as I saw them having to turn numerous people away who hadn't).

Fantastic all round. All the plates were tasty as heck. The mushroom tostada in particular. Would highly recommend. It’s a cosy, small place and the table by the window was the best spot for a couple. Staff were lovely and the cocktails were dreamy. Get in early and reserve a table!

A taste sensation. Palmito more than lives up to the hype. Highly recommended 👌

Start talking about eating at “Palmito” Brighton, there is no time, the dishes inspire you so much that you don't know what to say. A unique ceviche, nectarine with endives and something else, difficult to discover, easy to assimilate. Of the few times that wine does not take center stage for the pleasure of eating, awakening all the senses, the dishes are easy on flavors but intense in their essence. A simple corn is exciting compared to a timely scallops without definition. A description of cabbage with Macha sauce falls short. I get a lamb skewer, I think it will be the memory I take with me. Attention, you don't need to ask to have everything ready. You cannot talk about cuisine without having eaten from the hands of Diego Ricaurte. Grateful and committed. I only have a 5/5 left that I haven't rated yet. Sorry

Brilliant service, great food and cozy atmosphere; what more does one need. I had pineapple bhel a unique experience.

Great service and food. Wine list could improve. The room is small, so if you have someone very laud close to your table could be a problem.

Loved this restaurant. Every small plate was so so delicious and flavours that took us back to Mexico, the corn on the cob is a must! Loved the fusion of different countries. Very accommodating to gluten free.

Such a great meal. Great flavours, delicious cocktails and lovely service! Really top!

We loved it! Went at 21:00 and the place was still buzzy, nothing had sold out and the service was great! I would go expecting not the most rapid of service times - this is fine as it gives you more time to enjoy the experience - but the menu is extensive and the place is small, so be patient! P.s the mountain mezcal is worth the £12 for a drink to end on!

Lovely little restaurant where you order dishes to share. We’ve had some amazing dishes and some not-so-amazing ones. Overall it was a nice experience but I missed a little bit the consistency between the dishes and the service. We were with three people and sometimes the waiter suggested to add ‘one more’ to a dish of two; that was great. But with other dishes they forgot and we had to split up two samosas into three. May well be back though.

The food was delicious. Some things so simple, made so perfectly, it was an absolute treat. I highly recommend, this small, buzzing and beautiful place.

I absolutely love the food, it was tasty and beautiful presentation. Nice atmosphere and good service. It's a cossy small place. I felt comfortable and enjoyed a lot eating alone between two lovely couples. Definitely I'm coming back.

One of Brightons food icons, it’s a must try for foodies.

I love Palmito it's a beautiful special place for me as its around the corner from my hair salon and home l eat there a least twice a month only becouse l forget to book if not l will be there more often, the food is fantastic and changed every time so never tired of it the mayority of my clients have been there l recommend Palmito to everyone who visit Brighton as the mayority that live here l know it's been and loved it. The chefs are very professionals and the staff are very knowledgeable and happy to inform you abaut every dish. Love Palmito one of my favourite restaurants in Brighton l have got 3 favourites.

The food is stunning, service was great, although we asked for an aged white and got recommended a 2023 wine...we didn't say anything so our fault. The food is amazing though!

Superb. Top food and very friendly

Absolutely love this little gem of a restaurant. We turned up an entire week early but the friendly staff made it work for us, found us space, and we had the best time/ meal with them. Service is excellent and the food packs punchy flavour and has a light delicacy at once. We favoured veggie and fish options, though meat is on the menu, and there is plenty of veggie offerings if you want to stick to them. The cocktails kick (I had an ancho chilli and pineapple mesqualita) as much as the food and the portions are healthy for small plate fodder. We will return very soon!

What a cute little foodie joint in Brighton ! Rightly so on the Michelin guide too ..!! Went for lunch and had an awesome time/ everything was fantastic from service to food and to cocktails ! We had the aubergine / probably the best corn on the cob ever / delicious duck rice and lamb kebabs ( as shown in the photo ) Service was attentive and friendly and gave good recommendations…! Ambiance is of a cafe / so not on the side of fine dining if you are interested… Had pisco sours ( which were decent but probably not the best I have had ) Overall a great experience..! Budget- Meal for 2 is £120/- with couple of glasses of wine each Verdict - 5/5 For further information and more pictures and more foodie info please visit @s50ush

Great food and great service. Lovely atmosphere but the tables are really close together which some people might find uncomfortable. Toilet is downstairs.

Dispite the reviews it was quite average, was expecting a lot more for the price tag that comes with it. Although nothing was 'bad' nothing was outstanding. You will most likely go here enjoy it but forget the food quite quickly.

Went for a birthday meal having booked months in advance. At first was sat directly next to the door which was disappointing as had mentioned birthday in the booking. Asked to move to bay window and was advised this might cut our dining experience and that we might be moved half way through food, which was odd. This turned out to be fine and we were not moved the food was exceptional and service really good. It is very cramped though and always busy so detracts from the experience a bit. To reiterate the food is absolutely fantastic.

I have to be honest, i have wanted to eat at Palmito for ages despite it being yet another small plates menu, as the reviews have always been so glowing, however I left feeling somewhat deflated. A South American / Asian fusion menu that is 'Spice Driven'. I am not a South American food expert if i am honest, but i am Indian and have spent a lot of time in Asia so i feel more qualified to discuss this side of the fence. The spices were present but lacked any real punch. The cerviche felt a bit like a prawn cocktail and the rest of the menu just didnt deliver the punchy concept that it bills for itself. The food was good, it was tasty, my wife loved it, it just didnt reach the levels i was expecting and I was out of the door in an hour and 15 so it was more of a meal than an experience.

Small plates done brilliantly with great cocktails and top notch service. Practically perfect. Aside from the Birria (when done well, as it is here, it's the food of the Gods) we had a vegetarian meal this time, and it was delicious.

We came from London for this. Didn't disappoint, food and service were good on Saturday lunch. Music was a touch too loud and chaotic. Interesting menu, we were told its Indian-Ecuadorian. Decently priced. Would have liked a mocktail list. Small venue so book ahead.

Really interesting restaurant, small plates menu that doesn’t disappoint. We chose 10 plates for four of us, accompanied by flat bread and were very full at the end of the evening. Food arrives as cooked but came at a good pace and we never felt rushed or waited too long. Highlights were the beetroot croquettes, fried chicken and the pork tacos. Interesting wine list, well priced. We chose the Spanish white (effectively the house wine) and weren’t disappointed.

Beautiful place amazing delicious seasonal food, lush freshly fruity made cocktails, well done Diego and Kanthi, my favourite place from now on. The one thing I would say is we sat on the stools and didn't find them comfortable, we changed to chairs and was much better. Looking forward being back again soon.

Great range of vegan small plates, all of which were delicious. Not cheap, but good for a treat. No vegan desserts, which was a shame. Very friendly staff & good atmosphere. Would definitely go back again

Wow what a special little restaurant. Lovely service and the tastiest small plates I've had in a long time. Everything was amazing.

Delicious food! Roberto was a gracious and tentative host we thoroughly enjoyed our experience here.

Cosy little place. Great value for money. Recommended.

Brilliant, just brilliant. You need to go here but you need to book well in advance. It's that good

One of the best meals I've ever had! This is a a real hidden gem in the centre of Brighton and Hove. All of the food was great, but the stands outs were definitely the haddock tacos, monkfish curry, oyster mushroom tostada and the pistachio tiramisu! Please never take these off the menu!!! Highly recommend and already planning our next trip back! Would love it if it opened at lunch time with a lunch menu too!

Every plate delivered! Brilliant meal with friends at this intimate gem of a restaurant. Fusion flavours - influences from India, Latin America & even the med! So, so good and spot on staff to boot. Would highly recommend and we felt it was excellent value for money.

Had to book several weeks in advance, but worth the wait! Friendly staff, sumptious food, and great cocktails. Good for veggies and vegans as well as meat-eaters. Recommend the mezcalitas, stuffed padron peppers, corn on the cob, and the fish tacos. We'll definitely be returning soon.

Great food and service but quite cramped tables. One tip is to maybe not order all your food at once or, like with many small plate establishments, you could get overwhelmed.

What a fabulous restaurant, the food is excellent, for a vegan and meat eater it covers everything. We will definitely be back.

Many dishes are vegan, so this is definitely a place to take someone who is tired of the meat-free options available elsewhere: roast harissa cauliflower with black pepper grapes or crisp celeriac masala with stuffed padrón peppers and tamarind chutney, say, should tick that box. Meat eaters, meanwhile, will find happiness in longhorn beef steak anticucho for a shockingly reasonable £15 that comes flanked by grilled potatoes and doused with Peruvian aji panca pepper paste and coriander sauce.

This is my new favourite restaurant in Brighton - the food is the most creative and tasty I’ve had in ages. Really enjoyed it and lovely wine too.

Palmito may be tiny but it packs a mighty punch. Small plates fusion via South America and Southeast Asia, we are some of the best dishes we’d had all year during our last visit. Particular highlights were the prawn and chorizo empanada, the coconut squash Dahl, and the Indian fried chicken. Booking is a must!

I have only given 4 stars for atmosphere because of the size - we were constantly bothering our neighbours asking then what they were having. We enjoyed that aspect, but perhaps they were looking for romance, not annoying neighbours. We LOVED every morsel here and the service was exceptional. Telling everyone to go. Bloody brilliant.

Our third visit to Palmito and very lucky to have it local to us. Food was delicious and service second to none. Yes it’s a small restaurant (reading other reviews on the seating) but that’s part of the charm. Can’t wait to return

Loved Palmito and can’t wait to return

Last night we visited Palamito for the second time - I'd give this visit 2 stars, but our first visit was a solid 4, so I've put 3 stars. The squash fritto was mainly crispy fried grease, I couldn't actually taste the squash. For £17 I'd expect the Picanha steak to be tastier and bigger. The best thing we had was the chicken thighs, however, my girlfriend did ask for recommendations of non-spicy dishes and the slaw that came with the chicken was definitely spicy. I enjoyed it though. All in all, a bit dissapointing.

Delicious and varied dishes! One of the best spots in town!

I went there for dinner with great expectations. The food was fine, tapas style. A bit too loud for a chill dinner but I was there on a Friday night. Very friendly staff

I’ve never struggled to pinpoint a cuisine more, so many different influences from around the world and we loved it! Great vegan options and everything was delicious.

The best culinary experience I've ever had. Expensive? Yes. Absolutely worth every penny? Yes!

Food was unreal, glad they saved the best for last - the beef short rib just fell apart. We will definitely be coming back

We were beautifully welcomed-& looked after-as soon as we walked into this small, intimate restaurant, guided through a lovely menu & told the food was Equadorian with an Indian twist. Exciting! And the food was wonderful-plenty of choice for every kind of palate-preceded by glorious cocktails. And we were told the food came out when it was ready….which is all very well, but made the meal as a whole, a little disjointed. So a tiny bit disappointing, but the evening was still a fun one.

Exciting food. Small plates style that came out when they were ready rather than in order. We wanted to try EVERYTHING on the menu. Perfect for a special occasion.

Went here with family today and it was faultless, the food was exceptional, will definately be back for more.

If you can get a table, it’s a must do Absolutely fantastic, taste, presentation and service on point

Great restaurant amazing food great service price not bad either

The best dining experience I have had in Brighton, the food was awesome. Inventive, delicious and beautifully prepared. Can't wait to go again.

This was our first visit to Palmito and we loved it. There’s a great variety of interesting dishes and everything we had was delicious. Very good vegetarian selection too. The staff were lovely and service was great. We also really enjoyed the cocktails.

Every dish we tried engaged the senses! Just before having the first bite or drink the delicious aromas were present, smoky, citrusy, fresh. Then some dishes played with the texture of the food, soft and crunchy at the same time. Without saying that the presentation and the taste were always presently deciduous! All of this with a cosy atmosphere and excellent service, always with a smile. The highlights for us were the birria tacos, the halloumi salad, the aubergine spread and the smoked pineapple and jalapeño mezcal cocktail! Over all a delight to the senses!

Totally unique and incredible and I can’t wait to go again!

A truly tiny restaurant but the food has MASSIVE flavours. Fantastic range of eclectic dishes, all of which (the ones we had anyway) were delicious and full of flavour. The panna cotta for dessert was the best I’ve tasted outside of Italy, incredible. A must visit if you’re in Brighton.

This restaurant is a true gem! The ambiance is warm and inviting, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Each dish was a burst of authentic flavors, masterfully prepared and presented. The staff were notably friendly and attentive, contributing greatly to the overall enjoyment. It’s a must-visit for anyone looking to explore unique and delicious culinary offerings!

Really awesome in every way. Imaginative dishes with plenty of vegetables and loads of flavour

Tasty food but it was really cold in the restaurant and the waiter topped up our wine with the wrong wine bottle (they were all kept behind the counter instead of on our table and there was a lot of mixing of bottles going on).

Exceptional everything. From the food to the attentiveness of the staff, to the busy atmosphere, I loved it. The dishes were all quite inventive but unpretentious and brilliantly well cooked. The style seemed centred around South/Central America, but with strong influences from Britain, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and India, and they were married together masterfully with local produce. Fusion food at its best. The cauliflower and the venison were stunning in particular. Get the olives. And the flatbread. The one thing to be wary of is it's a very cosy little place, so can get a little loud and cramped. I think it adds to the atmosphere, but can imagine others might be uncomfortable if they wanted a quiet meal.

So love the food here!! Super fusion of tapas style sharing taste sensations. An absolute treat😁😋

Great food - very South American could have tried the whole menu !! Lovely kind staff Very cosy, shame it’s a little compact maybe the success will lead to bigger premises -

Absolutely incredible food and atmosphere! The staff are so lovely and accommodating too, it made it such a wonderful evening. The Tacos and corn on the cob with Chipotle mayo were incredible.

Incredible food. Great service.

The quality of the food is comparable to a Michelin star restaurant. Highly elaborated small plates, presented in a simple format makes the experience feel like a customizable degustation menu. Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Would highly recommend the scallops and the tequila cocktails.

The easiest place to enjoy yourself. Have been in a few times, most recently partner's birthday, great front of house and punchy, precised cooking.

One of my favourite food experiences in Brighton. My partner and I ordered 7 dishes between us and everything was well thought out and presented beautifully. It’s more of a cosy, informal setting but well managed with attentive and friendly staff on hand. Well done guys 👏

Amazing food and great cocktails

Best menu in Brighton! Would highly recommend.

Food was great and a wonderful Spanish white Rioja. The restaurant is tiny and you are in close quarters of your neighbours but it’s part of the experience! The food came out perfectly timed and the service was fantastic. We had a lovely meal.

Beautiful food, so flavoursome and good sized portions. Came out at a good pace so we could enjoy a couple at a time. Staff were very warm and friendly and always made sure we had water with no ask. Only criticism I could make, was that it was a little awkward getting in and out of the tables but that won't stop me from going back! Can't wait to try more food from here, thanks for a lovely evening 😊

Incredible food and atmosphere. Perfect balances of acid, smoke, and overall flavor. Probably our new favorite restaurant in Brighton and Hove.

"An average experience overall. The service was decent, and the atmosphere was okay. It didn't leave a strong impression, but it wasn't bad either."

Wonderful selection of great tasting tapas dishes that satisfied both the vegetarians and meat eaters in our party. Friendly, knowledgeable and cheerful service in a nice setting with relaxed atmosphere

The food, service and atmosphere were all 10/10. A relaxed friendly unpretentious vibe. The sour cherry margarita was delicious and every dish we had was stand out, the pork tacos and the scallops were our favourites. We will definitely be coming back!

Had a great evening with a friend at Palmito. Lovely caipirinha cocktails, delicious food. Would absolutely return. It’s a small space so tables are small and very close together and it does get noisy but the atmosphere, food and drinks were fab. We were lucky as the table next to us was empty so the waitress pushed it next to ours to give us more space. We would perhaps try and book the window table next time.

Prioritising covers over space / experience for the customer. The tables are ridiculously small and close together. Food was good though.

This is definitely one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in my 16 years living in Brighton. I will definitely be telling everyone about this great snug restaurant. Tasty food, great service and not silly prices!

Wow! Absolutely loved dinner here. Drinks and food fantastic. Cocktails were also a highlight. Service was friendly and efficient. Mid meal power cut which everyone handled with good humour and professionalism- the team were super chill. Ate some of our tacos in the street due to this which was fun. Absolutely loved this place. We are heading back asap!

On holiday, we’d booked for our wedding anniversary after reading the review by Giles Coren. Totally different from anything we’ve ever had, the four dishes plus a dessert were ample for us and the wine went well. Our favourite dish was the nectarine salad. Only drawbacks were the closeness of all the tables and shortly before we left, a very noisy group of 4 ladies came in. But a great experience with very friendly staff. We’ll be back next time we’re here on holiday!

The food was excellent. The scallops were my favourite, with the cauliflower and broccoli close seconds. However it is quite a small space. I don’t think I’ve ever sat so close to another table. We ended up chatting with our neighbours as they were so close. If you get a choice go for the table in the window - I think that’s the table with the most space around it. I will return and will try to make sure I get that window seat!