The Garden Cafe
St Ann’s Well Gardens, Hove
Who with? The kids
When? Weekend afternoons
Ambience? Family-friendly cafe with plenty of shade
The details: The gardens are a not-so-secret Hovian treasure. There are big grassy areas for picnics and games, plus a children’s play area, pond and tennis courts. The cafe, at the heart of the gardens, serves well-loved homemade soups and cakes, as well as sandwiches and salads.

Mediterraneo
Clyde Road, Brighton, 01273 674350
Who with? Gossip girls
When? Lunch
Ambience? Cosy deli by day which becomes a restaurant which takes private bookings by night
The details: Chances are you’ll have to wait for one of only two tables which, admittedly, might not have the best views in Brighton, but the gourmet Sicilian delicacies – parmigiana di melanzane, zuppa d’orzo – have made Mediterraneo the city’s favourite Trip Advisor choice.

The Dorset
North Road, Brighton, 01273 605423
Who with? Work colleagues
When? When the grind is over
Ambience? Continental-style bar rammed in the evenings but genteel at happy hour
The details: Best loved for its moules frites and moules marinière in summer, The Dorset’s youthful buzz takes over the North Street end of Gardner Street in summer with tables spilling out on to the busy thoroughfare. Great for people watching.

The Setting Sun
Windmill Street, Hanover, 01273 626192
Who with? Date, new friends visiting Brighton
When? Dusk
Ambience? Upmarket, light and airy local
The details: The clue is in the name. The reward for hiking up the steep Hanover hill are some of the best views over Brighton, especially when the sun is setting and that blood-orange Brighton sky is in full bloom.

The Colonnade
New Road, Brighton, 01273 328728
Who with? Thespian lovers
When? The interval
Ambience? Familiar faces from more than a hundred years of theatre hang from the walls in this elegant bar
The details: Inside it’s all gilt-edged fittings and velvet seats, but during the mid-show break nip out from any of the theatres close by for a drink on its terrace in New Road, where you might even spot a sleb.

Pavilion Gardens Cafe
Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, 01273 730712
Who with? The family, the inlaws, the parents
When? Quiet bite at elevenses
Ambience? Tea room elegance with coffee shop speed under trees in the shade
The details: The hut at the top of Pavilion Gardens is a Brighton institution which has been dishing out tea and coffee to tourists and locals for years. Kick back for the best view of the Pavilion in Brighton – though watch out for the beady-eyed regulars... the seagulls.

Duke of York's Picturehouse
Preston Circus, Brighton, 0871 9025728
Who with? Film buffs
When? Pre-show
Ambience? Quirky space atop Brighton’s oldest cinema with the famous can-can dancer’s legs up above
The details: Sneak through the doors opposite the upstairs bar for one of the quirkiest terrace spaces in the city. The Grade II-listed building’s balcony overlooks Preston Circus, while the bar prides itself on its wide selection of wine.

Street Diner
Brighthelmstone Gardens, off Queen’s Road, Brighton
Who with? Workmates
When? Friday lunch treat
Ambience? Bustling street food market with tastes and smells from across the world
The details: This new regular Friday (and Saturday) food market pops up at 11am and is gone by 3pm. Producers and chefs from the region whip up fresh food on the hoof, with street food stalls including The Trolls Pantry, Camper Vanatics, Crocus Paella and Hello Chorizo

The Hove Place
First Avenue, Hove, 01273 738266
Who with? Workmates
When? Post-work tipple
Ambience? Suits rub shoulders with sun-seekers
The details: It might look inconspicuous from the front but there’s a large, well-lit Italianate garden made for early evening drinks. As well as the beautiful, well-kept space there is both pub grub and bistro dining on offer.

Pizza 500
Preston Road, Brighton, 01273 911933
Who with? Friends
When? For dinner
Ambience? The Italian voices and constant chatter make this informal pizzeria feel as if it’s just landed from Naples
The details: The former garage is now a place for knocking back cheap bottles of Moretti while scoffing budget pizza and pasta. There are a few tables clustered inside, but through the back are long banks of sun-drenched wooden tables.

Preston Park
Chalet Cafe Preston Park, Brighton, 01273 503477
Who with? Fellow dog walkers
When? Early mornings
Ambience? When the owners stick out the chairs and tables, it’s a glorious 360-degree terrace, with views to every corner of the park
The details: At weekends mums and dads take over the two-storey brick and timber central cafe while kids play in the 63-acre park. For legions of early-morning dog walkers though, the former home of the park police is an ideal pit-stop, especially for its Victoria sponge.

Hobgoblin
York Place, Brighton, 01273 682933
Who with? Student pals
When? When everyone is at work
Ambience? Youthful crowd enjoying the wide selection of ales
The details: A £1 million revamp three years ago transformed the Hobgoblin. Inside are exposed brick walls, but the giant beer garden – perhaps the biggest in Brighton – is the reason to visit. Rows of tables, plus heaters, cubby holes and roofs should the worst happen.