Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in East Sussex

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in East Sussex? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Union

4.8

4.8 (1149)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Rye

About the restaurant

The Union is a contemporary restaurant and bar set in a beautiful 15th century building in the heart of Rye. Our menu is made up of small and large plates which we recommend sharing across the table. Our team will be on hand to guide you through your visit.

Our food is guided by the seasons and our menu is ingredient led so changes based on what we have available to us. We primarily use British produce and work with local suppliers to ensure we always source the very best ingredients we can get our hands on.

Top review

Amanda

Dined 3 days ago

Always a nice meal in the union but be prepared to spend.

The Crown Hastings

4.8

4.8 (1154)

£25 and under

British

Hastings

About the restaurant

The Crown is an independently run award-winning freehouse in the heart of Hastings Old Town, open at 11am every day. Our kitchen is open 12-4, 5 till 9.
We serve modern British food in a friendly informal environment using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. We create dishes from scratch, including homemade bread, fish from the surrounding seas and seasonal veg.
We serve local real ales & craft beers, wine and a specialist gin and whisky selection and delicious coffee.
'High Top Tables' refers to our high tables with bar stools.
You can book a table for drinks only.
Dogs are welcome, 'paws on the floors' please.
Children welcome, we have a kids menu.
For allergies & intolerances, please let your server know before ordering.
We serve our full menu on a Sunday, but it is not a traditional roast dinner.
Please call us if you are running later than your booked time.
Table bookings for 2 hours for up to 4ppl; 3 hours for 5+ people. Tables from 7pm onwards are for whole evening.

Top review

Deborah

Dined 3 days ago

a delicious Christmas eve meal and a great friendly atmosphere. This place is just great!

Two Sawyers

4.8

4.8 (801)

£25 and under

Pub

Hastings

About the restaurant

The Two Sawyers is a 16th Century Inn recently refurbished and under family ownership. We pride ourselves on serving excellent beer and food.

We have a large beer garden to the rear of the pub with over 30 tables for our guests to use for both drinking and dining.

A character bar with log fires serving guest ales, beers, and wines. The restaurant serves traditional pub food twice both lunch and evening and all day on both Saturday and Sunday.

Top review

Sue

Dined 1 day ago

We had a meal booked for 8. The service was exceptional. The food was excellent and the wait time between courses negligible. It was also extremely good value in a lovely setting. I would recommend this beautiful inn to anyone, you will not be disappointed. We will definitely be back.

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Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Popular dish

Fish and Chips

First In Last Out

4.8

4.8 (189)

£25 and under

Pub

Hastings

About the restaurant

The First In Last Out (FILO), is a family run free-house in the Old Town of Hastings. Alongside our award winning beer, we serve quality food prepared from scratch. We offer lunch and dinner everyday, including our ever popular Tapas night (Monday), Indian Thali (Thursday) and Sunday roasts.

The brewery is located just two minutes away from the pub, where we produce five regular ales using a full mash-tun process. We love live music and host regular Sunday evening gigs, of which details can be found on our website.

The pub is popular with locals and tourists alike, who love to get cosy in our booth seating or warm up on cold winters' days around our unique central fireplace.

Dogs and children are most welcome.

Top review

Lisa

Dined on 18 Dec 2024

I’ve eaten here many times and they never disappoint. Food is amazing and the service is always welcoming, I can not fault it and even a little penguin sat on top of my Christmas pud!

The Gallipot Inn

4.7

4.7 (169)

£25 and under

British

Hartfield

About the restaurant

Set within the historical parish of Hartfield famous for A.A.Milne Winnie-the-Pooh books. The Gallipot Inn lies a stones throw from Ashdown Forest and has a excellent reputation for food & drink throughout the area.

After being the the chef for over seven years Leo has taken over the business with his wife Kerry and warmly welcome you to our establishment.

Top review

angela

Dined 5 days ago

Great food .. excellent service.. super ambience ..

The White Hart

4.6

4.6 (875)

£26 to £40

Gastro Pub

Uckfield

About the restaurant

Welcome to the The White Hart, we specialise as a Steakhouse... We love all things meat and have pioneered our own unique style of relaxed yet vibrant customer service, this is made easy with our approach to food- The best seasonal ingredients cooked utilising methods from around the world. We love what we do and we hope you do to.

Top review

Riaz

Dined 5 days ago

Great food and service. Will definitely visit again.

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4.6

4.6 (44)

£26 to £40

Modern European

St Leonards-On-Sea

About the restaurant

BAYTE, is a modern European neighbourhood restaurant with an emphasis on local sourcing and quality produce in the seaside town of St Leonards-on-Sea. The seasonal menu blends influences from across the globe, with particular reference to Italian recipes, such as hand-rolled pastas.
The meat at BAYTE is free-range and reared on biodynamic, organic Haye Farm in Devon. Vegetables are also sourced from organic suppliers, most of them from English and Japanese vegetable growers Namayasai, and Goat Grid Farm, both in nearby Lewes.

Top review

LishkaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing Christmas Italian experience, loved it all. Thank you

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Experience

New Years Eve at BAYTE - 9pm

The Grapevine Champagne and Jazz Bar

4.5

4.5 (22)

£26 to £40

Wine Bar

Rye

About the restaurant

The Grapevine Champagne & Jazz Bar is an intimate art-nouveau styled establishment, hosting live music most nights, with a vast drink offering. Our jazz bar offers over 150 wines & Champagnes, 50 whiskey's, 20 gins, cocktails, and much more.

Sit amongst the candle light and tap away to the live music with a glass of something cheerful!

Top review

Sam

Dined on 6 Dec 2024

We had a fantastic evening with our friends. Paying to book is a nit of a rip off but we had a great place in the lounge. The musician/ singer was brilliant. The ambience and general atmosphere was perfect. The place is a bit pricey, but we didn't mind as we had such a good evening

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Experience

Live Music Booking (for Non-Members)

The George in Rye

4.3

4.3 (552)

£26 to £40

British

Rye

About the restaurant

Located right in the heart of the town's High Street and Citadel, The George Grill is the restaurant of The George in Rye, one of the finest hotels on the South coast. Our head chef, Oscar, offers you a classic British Grill menu combining his love of charcoal cooking with a Latin twist. The Grill is a firm local favourite and celebrates the best of ingredients and suppliers in the area. At the heart of the kitchen is a wood-charcoal grill, where our kitchen team roast seafood landed that day from fishermen based in Rye Harbour. We also serve Romney Marsh lamb, Aberdeen Angus grass-fed beef and seasonal vegetables from our farmer based in Boughton Monchelsea. Lovingly restored and renovated, this Grade II listed bolt-hole offers a welcoming retreat for design lovers and foodies alike.

Top review

Jeremy

Dined 1 day ago

Fantastic service. Josper grill cooked ribeye very good. Lovely meal. Made us feel special. Jeremy Robson

Glasshouse

3.8

3.8 (118)

£26 to £40

Bistro

Eastbourne

About the restaurant

Glass House is a fresh new seaside restaurant / café that aims to regenerate the pavilion building and surrounding Redoubt Gardens. Returning it into a destination for community and visitors to eat, meet, relax and celebrate.
It is dedicated to bolstering both Eastbourne’s community and heritage, showcasing local produce and culture whilst allowing residents and visitors to enjoy the spectacular views of our beautiful seafront.

Top review

Pru

Dined 1 day ago

Very good brunch. Good and efficient service. Very noisy.

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