The Birdcage Bandstand Café Bistro in Brighton and Hove

At £8 odd for 2 Americano’s I’m very disappointed! We used to enjoy sitting here and watching the world go by but this is now unaffordable. Such a shame!

I just paid over £12 for a terrible coffee, a stale muffin and an old pastry. Honestly the food and drink offering is appalling, it’s so overpriced. Don’t go. Just go to any of the other cafes a few minutes further down the beach.

On a walk along the seafront we decided to pop in here to get a drink and watch the sunset. Had to wait about 15 minutes to get noticed and let in despite there being plenty of free tables. We weren't the only ones who felt this way. When we did manage to get in we were shown to a table but the staff member left before asking if we wanted drinks. Waited about 10 minutes for staff member to notice us again and was told someone would be right over. Staff members did come out but not to us. After another 10 minutes decided to leave. Just seemed very chaotic. Got an ice cream on the beach and carried on walking which was great.

The thing I love about this cafe in particular is the service. There are so many places to eat on the seafront but I will go out of my way to cycle here because the staff are so warm and helpful. The hot drinks are served in a decent sized cup which is also well-balanced at the handle so you’re not trying to cantilever it (!) the food is delicious and it’s table service so you can relax from the minute you go in. Lucky to have all that in the seafront and also reasonably- priced.

Great place for humans and dogs. It’s our first time visiting Brighton and we Googled dog friendly restaurants in the area and this place came up. Upon entering the restaurant, our dog was greeted with a treat which she absolutely enjoyed. The staff was very friendly and even gave our dog a dog bowl with water and some more treats. The coffee was great and the food was good. Will highly recommend to other dog owners visiting Brighton.

A rare chance to sit so near the beach and sea. Friendly, welcoming service. I must remember to ask for the coffee to be hot next time. It was a bit tepid. Tasty though.

Always follow your heart! I was actually heading somewhere else but heard the most amazing music and was drawn in. The Bandstand Cafe is a heavenly place. Beautiful staff. Fabulous food. Great energy. I'm so glad I followed my heart.❤️

Gem of a place lovely Avocado and halloumi wrap

Great coffee. Would have loved another as it was so good, but it was quite expensive.

We were stood outside waiting for 30mins when there were clearly many tables available. Was told they’re short staffed but at least sit your customers down and get the drinks order. Poor management. In the end we walked away as did everyone else.

Was stood in the queue waiting to get a coffee and to ask about hiring the venue for a drinks reception. By the time someone (a male employee) came and spoke to us they were rude and flippant, clearly having had a bad day but they took that vibe out on us. Literally just waved us away when I said “are you alright, you seem to be mad at us!?” Shall not be returning again or following up on our event enquiry.

Lovely place, great service and atmosphere.

Lovely friendly atmosphere and great breakfast thx

Wonderful meal and great view over the sea.

Very good little beach restaurant. The services are great and the food is very good! Thanks to them

Very friendly place, with staff who love dogs! ❤️ Both the standard full-English, and the vegan breakfasts were really good, and we'll definitely be back again to try the lunch menu! Highly recommended!

The best breakfast in Brighton with the best view-and the staff are absolutely wonderful, always friendly and accommodating. I come here as often as I can.

Smiley attentive staff Great coffee and croissants

The best coffee in town and they also make fantastic home-made flapjacks. Staff are great and there is a big terrace with lovely views of sea and the old pier. The cafe inside is also really unique - circular with cast iron pillars, a special place, highly recommended.

If you want to escape the crazy crowds head west to this hidden gem. Underneath the stunning Victorian Bandstand this little cafe/bistro offers warm and attentive service and a lovely menu selection. With outdoor and indoor seating right on the beach, there is something for everyone depending on the weather. I recommend the sweet chilli chicken wrap washed down with the most delicious Passionfruit martini I've ever had. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is far more relaxing than the moshpit further up the beach. I enjoyed the chilled vibe and super friendly staff so much I went there twice. Highly recommend !

Good Service. We enjoyed a great coffee, an ice cream, and a slice of the best GF carrot cake I've ever eaten. Will be back for a full lunch very soon.

We just had a drink. The service was absolutely great. Our dog was given water with ice cubes and small treats. We'd love to come back.

Lovely afternoon at the Bandstand Bar and Bistro for drinks in the sun. What a wonderful experience it was the service was second to none and we received excellent service from Sultan who was attentive and ensured we had a suitable place in the shade. We will be back !

Didn’t get any food however the margaritas are amazing and Jimi, our waiter, was so friendly and gave us excellent service.

Always go there when visiting our daughter in Brighton.

Lovely little place, seafront location, sit outside if you can /weather permits. Good coffee/food / vibe - happy attentive staff, prompt service & realistic prices - thank you.

on the beachfront nice view overlooking the old pier, friendly and polite staff, Reasonably priced! Great place for a beer and burger on a sunny afternoon 👍🏼

Amazing location right on the beach, friendly staff with excellent service, and the best iced coffee in Brighton!

Nice little place, very reasonably priced drinks.

The best English breakfast I’ve had so far! The location is perfect, beautiful view of the sea, and outstanding cocktails. The staff are so friendly and welcoming, thank you Sultan, Baha, and Nick, such a lovely team. I highly recommend this place!

A really pleasant seaside bistro! My partner and I went here with our dog to have breakfast. The staff is really sweet and made us feel right at home. The coffee and milkshake were super tasty and we ordered a full English breakfast and a salmon/cheese omelette. Our dog was given a couple of treats, a bowl of water and a bunch of attention (probably still not enough if you ask her 😋). Service was quick, but we didn't feel rushed in any way! I would definitely come back here for a nice breakfast/lunch. 😊

Very friendly service, great Vegan Burger and chips!! Good value!

Lovely little cafe for a coffee and cake during a bracing sea front walk from Hove.

great coffee, by the sea, great service, and dog friendly. Amazing full English

Great start to year with family breakfast at this super friendly hidden gem under band stand on sea front. Very accommodating of our 2 year-old

Friendly and efficient staff and goodbite to eat

Atmosphere is irrelevant. Because this was a very quiet time. I sat outside and it was pleasant to sit there and look out to the waves.

Excellent cakes and coffees. Lovely view, it's right by the beach. Staff are really good and the prices are reasonable considering the location. Highly recommended!

Lovely staff. Great views. Variety of drinks hot and cold. Licensed and lots of quality tapas, snacks and meals available. Cakes and pastries too. Ice creams to eat in or takeout..

Had brunch here following a 100km cycle ride so we were hungry and thirsty on arrival. Quick note for cyclists: You can't take your bikes into the outdoor dining space, but you can lock them to the metal railings from the outside so they're not out of sight. Really nice seafront eaterie. I could not fault the full English breakfast. Beautifully cooked and not a hint of grease. Coffee was lovely, and the cold Peroni on tap on a hot, sunny day was a bonus. Charming attentive staff, nice clientele and a few well behaved dogs which I always like to see. We shall return.

I can only comment on service this time, as I just had an ice cream, but I am definitely going back soon for food and drink. Mainly because the guy was so welcoming and friendly , just shows what good service will do for a business ! Back soon !

Nice spot here and very good to have a seafront view with a good range of food and drink options as well. Always good to have a nice spot to come to when the weather is nice as outside and sea views can be good photo opportunities.

Located on the seafront - good food, pet friendly, gluten free options with good service too!

I found the experience incredibly distressing and infuriating. The manager was incredibly patronising when I ordered my black decaf coffee. Incredibly poor management. Will not be visiting again. SHAMBLES!

I've lived here 23 years including 7 across the street from Banstand. Today on a busy day ( sunshine in Brighton) we waited 45 minutes for a coffee. They ran out of any food (what we wanted) . I feel this place is destined for the junkyard of Brighton places without a clue.

Personnel sympa, bien situé et nourriture copieuse

Very nice and friendly staff Delicious burger

Was doing the toilet when a druggy came in asked my name and what I was doing in there,to which I replied what the he'll has that got to do with you,followed by having a s---.

Only had a coffee but really nice and great value

Nice ice cream and actually affordable unlike everywhere else!

Damaged personal property, refused to pay or offer any compensatory measure other than blame me for using a tissue to try and wipe it off. The waiter dropped a greasy fork on a new bag and offered to get a tissue, by the time he got back we had found and used our own tissue. The bag is expensive and new and i asked they pay for the cleaning bill and the manager/owner said it was "unfortunate sequence of events" because i had used a tissue. ie blaming me . The waiter said it was apparently a small mark, again a complete minimisation of the damage caused. As an extended family meeting up we have supported this cafe for years, spending over time multiple 100s between us in lunches and breakfasts. Supporting this café when drunks that use the table tennis area nearby were putting off customers going there. So short sighted to save themselves a 100.00 cleaning bill. dishonest and unpleasant in dealing with this issue that could have been very simply dealt with more grace and honesty. Food is ok, management and staff clearly not so. great shame.

Lovely and cosy cafe with full breakfast and some lunch options; we love going here for breakfast after a walk/run on the beach. They have an indoor seating area as well as outdoor! The service is warm and friendly and the food is great.

Food was great and it is away from the crowds in a nice spot.

We loved the small cafe under the bandstand! Service and food were excellent and we particularly liked the way the staff managed the Covid 19 restrictions. Well done!

Lovely place and friendly staff.

Nice coffee and cake. Seating outside. Prompt service

A lovely little cafe on the sea front, fantastic food and very Friendly staff

Sehr nette Bedienung, leckeres essen zum günstigen Preis direkt am Strand. Nur zu empfehlen. 👍🏼

Love the atmosphere and layout. The soup of the day is amazing and Chai Latte is to do die for.....

A great little bar/restaurant. We have walked from Hove to this bar several times. Kiddie friendly. Recommended

De passage à Brighton, nous nous sommes arrêtés bruncher dans ce petit café qui borde la mer. Super vue, super ambiance, et très bon brunch 👍 nous avons été ravis !

Even if the prices are a bit inflated by the location of this eatery, at the bottom of a nice Victorian band stand overlooking the beach, the service is so polite and the stay is so pleasant that I didn't really mind. The food is in fact simple and of good quality, whether it's a sandwich or a main dish. I recommend it a treat after a long walk on the beach!

Nice place to stop and take a rest. Great coffee and good selection of hot foods, sandwiches , deserts. Helpful staff.

Good food, staff managed very well on Pride day with lots of customers.

Lovely staff, great environment. Just loved it.

I live locally and wondered along the beach with a friend this summer. Feeling a bit parched we popped in and ordered two pints of lime and soda water. When we went to the bar to pay the bill, the owner said £8.40. When we questioned the price he confirmed they were £4.20 each. We asked to see the menu and he said there isn't one. He then stated that our custom is pointless if we sit at his cafe at peak time, take up two seats and order two cheap drinks compared to if two people attended and ordered two high priced alcoholic beverages. Stupidly we paid it and left. He showed no shame and couldn't even look as in the eye as he shrugged his shoulders. Shame as its such a nice location.