Botanique, Hove, Brighton

Botanique Brighton
Botanique, Western Road, Hove, BN3 1AF

Botanique is a fully vegan restaurant in Hove, Brighton owned by Wolføx. They own several establishments around Brighton including restaurants, an hotel, bakery and coffee roasters. They grow their own micro herbs and even the plates are embossed underneath with their name. The buildings across the road from Botanique is all Wolføx owned, apart from the jewellers…maybe that’s to come.

On a trip to Brighton last year we decided to try Botanique because we’ve always enjoyed eating at their Food For Friend’s restaurant in The Lanes. I wasn’t sure about the menu and told my husband that I thought we’d probably both prefer the FFF’s menu, especially as he’s not vegan, but he told me that I should be adventurous and try it. I’m so glad we did as it was really very good indeed.

Botanique Brighton
Top left photo is of downstairs at Botanique, the other two are upstairs.

We had a very good waitress, she showed us to our table which was ‘the best in the house’. We were beside a large window which looked onto the busy street below, nothing scenic but it’s good to watch the world go by and people watch, especially in Brighton, there’s plenty of flamboyant/eccentric characters around, we love it.

Botanique Brighton
From our first visit. Clockwise from top left: small plates, Courgette – gold & green, chilli, ginger, sesame; Asparagus – blanched, polenta, saffron, yoghurt, toasted almonds; And yes, their own beer.

I was a bit lazy and didn’t ever finish writing the above review but we recently visited them again earlier this month. We stayed overnight in Brighton as we were to see Simply Red – tickets from 2020, but we could only fit Botanique in for Sunday lunchtime. On a Sunday they don’t have the full À le carte menu – which is normally small and large plates – but we really enjoyed what we had.

Botanique Brighton
Again, some dishes from our first visit. Clockwise from top left: Red spring onion fritter, Panang butternut purée, pickled chilli; Lions mane scallop tempura – dill, chive, garlic aïoli lemon; Beetroot – miso glaze, pistachio crumb, pickled blackberry, beet orange purée; Mousse – lemon, rhubarb, Campari, lavender dessert.

We had the same table as last time which was nice. We remembered that the almonds were particularly tasty and good to nibble on whilst waiting for the meal to arrive and they didn’t disappoint.

Botanique Brighton
Sunday lunch menu; Marcona almonds

From the menu – with only three dishes to choose from on a Sunday – it could only really be the squash dish for us. This came with lots of lovely veg – not too hard, nor too soft – bay & rosemary roast potatoes, local heritage carrots, parsnips, roast chestnuts, crispy Brussels sprouts with miso buttered Sussex greens. All very colourful and well presented, along with plenty of yummy Primitivo & thyme gravy.

Botanique Brighton
Our Sunday lunch

We shared two desserts, the pavlova and the ginger sponge pudding. Both were delicious. The Pavlova – basil, blackberry, cream. A large meringue with blackberries and tiny basil leaves, presumably their own homegrown micro herbs. Again, a well-presented dish with a few flowers on top to make it really pretty. If I recall rightly, my husband had the Pavlova last time and it was excellent then too. My favourite.

The sponge pudding – ginger, pear, parfait was great, similar to a sticky toffee pudding.

Botanique Brighton
The exterior of Botanique, with the huge glass window upstairs where we sat on both occasions.

Botanique is quite plain inside, think olde worlde France.  Our last visit was in the evening with tealights on the tables giving it a softer look, in the daytime it looked a little too rustic. Service on both occasions was very good indeed.

We shall definitely pay Botanique another visit.

Ambience 7
Quality 8
Value 8
Service 9
Overall 8
Return? Yes!

A x

Leave a Reply