The Ivy in the Lanes

Lunch with cocktails, wonderful food, great place to eat, friendly, attentive, professional staff. Highly recommend it here. We sat outside, as it was too warm inside, but I think that's because I'm menopausal rather than anything the restaurant can do. What I saw of it, was Beautiful inside.

This restaurant is amazing! Me and my boyfriend went here for his birthday meal and we loved it. The food was delicious and the service was the best I have seen in years! I couldn’t recommend this place more. The decor of the building is incredible. The atmosphere was very welcoming and the staff were lovely. We look forward to going again soon.

Always love a cheeky lunch /brunch dinner here , great atmosphere and attentiveness for staff the perfect pitch . Food always looks amazing and tastes good too .

The food, cocktails, service, decor... everything was brilliant. We had a fantastic time out for a friends birthday. Definitely recommend. Worth the money for sure.

As always, the Ivy never fails to impress. The food was delicious and the service was very good.

Beautiful interiors and good service. Warm Sourdough is amazing. Tomato & feta soup tasty and so was the linguine. Trifle was delicious and waiting staff bubbly and attentive.

A lovely experience, albeit a bit pricey with small portions but that's what we expected. Worth going to but not that often!

For years, I thought The Ivy would be too expensive for me, but actually it is fairly priced, and with the decor and the service, it is definitely an experience! I went for breakfast, lunch, dinner, but my highlight was taking my Mum for Afternoon Tea! We had so much food we had dinner for the evening!

Went here for a dinner for 2 and had a great time! The service was quick and professional. The servers were polite and had an all round nice attitude. The decor is really nice inside and not as “stuck-up” as I’d imagined an Ivy restaurant to be. They have a lovely selections of unique twists on classic cocktails and I’m sure any would be quite nice before, during, or after a meal. The food is really nice too with lovely presentation if that’s something you’re looking for. It is obviously a bit more spenny than your typical restaurant but the environment and food do justify this. We spent around £40/50 per head but this included a starter and 2 drinks each. Overall great experience only disappointment was that it was a birthday dinner and the staff asked whether it was a special occasion which we confirmed but didn’t do anything with that. (They have some birthday desserts that you can order at a standard price so you still can do this if you’re feeling very celebratory)

Lovely place.5* We went here for Lunch. We arrived around 12 without booking. Got a table for 3 straight away but then started to get busy. We were seated near the bar, so was able to watch the barman make the Cocktails. We had one vegetarian dish and two fish and chips. Which were both delicious. It was my birthday so they brought out a complimentary dessert with a candle on, which we didn't ask for, so was a lovely surprise. Cocktails were lovely too. Very clean and helpful staff. The ladies toilets are beautiful and everyone is decorated different. The who place is beautiful decorated and lots to look at. The price was reusable and we went as a treat. Would definitely recommend!

Booked the Ivy for our wedding anniversary as we know The Ivy is always good. The food is great, service very friendly and there’s a nice atmosphere. It was extremely hot inside, but I understand because there’s a kitchen and a lot of people. They brought us a dessert for our special occasion which was super kind of them.

REVISIT 23/08/2025 Service was exceptional, food was fantastic. just re-review to add some photos. Lovely experience Great service food was fantastic Lovely choice For the mature palette Highly recommend

I absolutely love going to The Ivy in Brighton! As soon as you walk in, you’re transported to another world. It’s so beautifully decorated! A visit to the ladies loo is a must! For special occasions, book the Tidal Room. We did for our family wedding party in April 2019, it was perfect! Today, July 11th 2025, we had the great fortune to enjoy lunch outside under the sunshade… We were very lucky to have Louis & Adeline ( hope I spelled your name right🙏) looking after us. It was Adeline’s first day & Louis was advising her & teaching her the ropes. They were both great, a credit to The Ivy! Our food was awesome & we were given great recommendations by the above! What a lovely Friday treat!!!

Once again, it was a fabulous experience. From when we first walk in such a cheery, beaming smile welcome from Jade. Jamie, our server could not have been better, attentive but not overbearing. Jemima, the runner, was just lovely, and Lysi was an excellent guide through the menu. Then, to cap it all on leaving, Jade was very busy in reception but didn't stop smiling and offering a very warm welcome, even to people who could have been less rude to her! If you haven't been here it's well worth a visit, but just remember it's a sharing concept on the food, and you don't order your own, just discuss with the table what everyone would like.

A fantastic experience! The cozy and relaxing atmosphere, coupled with friendly and professional staff, made for a delightful visit. The freshly cooked, tastefully inspired French cuisine was a perfect highlight. Massive well done to the team!

We visited here for my brother's 30th and it was my first time at an Ivy, it did not disappoint. We were looked after by Fin at the lanes and he was brilliant, quality service and very friendly. The food was outstanding. I had the mozzarella to start and it was without a doubt one of the best mozzarella dishes I've had. Then the Ginger and Soy-glazed Slow-roasted aubergine which was delicious. Everyone loved their meal and I can't wait to book my next visit.

very warm welcome from checking in, It was my partners birthday and from the start she was wished happy birthday, and courteously was given a birthday gift cake with a candle and a chocolate tablet saying “happy birthday”, all waiters & waitresses were VERY polite, Very helpful, Very welcoming and friendly with big smiles. We will definitely be booking here again Food was incredible and service was very quick.

We had a great time in the tidall room in the Brighton Ivy... lovely decor.. just enough to have an atmosphere without being too much. Lili looked after us really well... never an empty glass and the food was superb as were the cocktails 🍸 🍸

We come here regularly and they always look after us. They are thoughtful in what table they allocate and the service is always attentive without being too present, friendly without being overfamiliar and above all consistently excellent. The atmosphere is great, particularly on a Friday when it’s often full.

We visited The Ivy in Brighton on Sunday with my wife and two friends and had a truly lovely experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was welcoming and stylish, making it a perfect setting for a relaxed and enjoyable meal. The service was excellent throughout—attentive, friendly, and well-timed without ever feeling intrusive. The food was great, beautifully presented and full of flavour, and every dish we ordered was thoroughly enjoyed. The wine was lovely and paired perfectly with the meal. We also enjoyed cocktails, which were absolutely delicious—well balanced, expertly made, and a real highlight of the evening. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience and a place we would happily return to. Highly recommended for a special occasion or simply a great meal out in Brighton. ⸻ If you’d like a more casual tone or a shorter version for an online review, I can do that too.

Absolutely superb. Fantastic atmosphere, with elegance and class, without the pretentiousness. We were fortunate to have our bosses treat us to Christmas lunch yesterday. Beautifully laid table, with plenty of room. Exceptional service, incredibly attentive without being intrusive. Food was fantastic and well presented. Would highly recommend and already planning an afternoon tea.

Celebrated a special occasion in December 25. Fabulous food. Delicious, tender steak. Excellent service. Ambience would have been great if it hadn't been for the live music which was far too loud (and not great), so much so we had to shout to each other to be heard. A shame about the live music as it would have been a perfect evening otherwise. I go out for a meal so I can talk to my friends...

We visited before Christmas for a family gathering. Our server was Flora and she was fantastic. Gave honest answers and tolerated the sense of humour my family has. Could not fault her or the food at all. The only MINOR issues we had was although there is a relaxed dress code we had groups of people in tracksuits which didn't fit with the overall settings and the use of the open table app (it took 3 people on 3 different devices in 3 seperate locations to get the booking to work). Would have much preferred to call up and reserve directly.

The Ivy Brighton delivers on atmosphere and service, but falls short on drinks and value. The decor hits the mark. You walk into a space that feels special. The reception team sets the tone from the moment you arrive. The lady with what sounded like a Spanish accent knew her customers, remembered details, and made you feel welcome. Professional without being stiff. She understood hospitality. Anna and her team deserve credit. Professional, friendly, and attentive. They made the evening. Food service ran smoothly. No complaints about timing or attention at the table. The fillet steak arrived looking thrown together. At this price point, you expect better presentation than meat slapped on a plate. The real problem? Drinks service. Waiting over 10 minutes for a drink is unacceptable. This happened both at the bar and when ordering at the table. When you’re charging premium prices, this doesn’t cut it. Value for money suffers because of the drink situation. The food prices you can justify. The drinks? Not when service moves at a crawl. This might be the best Ivy location we’ve visited. The team gets it right where it counts most. But someone needs to fix the bar operation. You’re paying Ivy prices. You should get Ivy speed. Would we return? Yes, but we’d think twice about ordering drinks beyond the meal.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We had dinner with cocktails here and really enjoyed the experience. The food was very good, and the crème brûlée was definitely my favorite. The restaurant was quite busy, but the staff stayed attentive and friendly, making sure everything went smoothly. We were seated inside, and the atmosphere was lively yet comfortable. Overall, it’s a great place to eat, and I can definitely recommend it.

Noise levels were very high inside. Outside was nice and relaxing. As with all Ivy,s your expectations are high. I felt a slight hesitation on behalf of the staff that serviced me. However as the meal processed they warmed and became more attentive. (I am a person of colour) Food was outstanding. Well done as normal.

Lovely place to have a date or dine with groups of friends or have celebrations be it birthdays, anniversaries etc. ..the food was great. Waiters were super friendly, nice , polite and professional. They make very good cocktails. Only thing I didn't appreciate was the vegan menu. They don't make it available like they do other menus. But they let you know that it's available. Unfortunately, I asked for it and I was told it would be brought to me but they never brought it. So has to settle for something manageable on the main menu. Also, you pay extra service charge if at all you want vegan menu. I think this should be looked into because it's a lovely restaurant.

The food was okay. I had the Duck curry which had very mild flavours for my Indian palette. The service was nice, even though it was quite slow. We arrived at 6:30PM and we left around 9:15PM. We had 2 rounds of drinks, a main, and a dessert. It was also bit too warm in there. The ambiance was quite nice to be fair.

Superb atmosphere, great staff and lovely afternoon tea.

Went here on Boxing Day. The atmosphere and decor are lovely. Service loses points because we had to wait 30 mins for a table that we had booked, but apart from that, staff were friendly and attentive. Drinks taste good but not many fresh ingredients used… a lot of them are pre made and just poured into a pretty glass… Steak was quite fatty and chewy despite being cooked rare but the rest of the food was good. I would go back and order something different. Cloakroom service was great. Also the bathrooms are super cute

I had lunch there with a friend and the place looks amazing, beautiful interior and the food was delicious (we had the wagyu skewers for starters and I then had the prawn curry as a main while my friend had the prawn omelette). The only negative thing I can say about the Ivy Asia is that sometimes it feels like the staff is rushing you (coming over to pick up plates when you're not finished). We still had a lovely lunch and enjoyed it very much!

As someone who genuinely appreciates a well‑cooked steak, my recent visit to The Ivy left me underwhelmed. I ordered steak with high expectations — especially given the restaurant’s reputation — but unfortunately it was far too chewy and didn’t reflect the calibre The Ivy is known for. The rest of the food was pleasant enough, but nothing stood out as exceptional, and overall it felt more like an average restaurant charging premium prices. For two people, ordering from the lunch menu (starter and main) plus a couple of rather expensive drinks, the bill came to £186 including service charge. The service charge itself was higher than the usual 10%, so we asked for it to be removed and instead left a tip directly for our waitress, who was absolutely lovely and genuinely the highlight of the experience. Would I return any time soon? Probably not. For the price point and the reputation, I expected much better, and I left feeling disappointed rather than impressed.

A new dining experience for us. An attractive looking restaurant, it was busy and buzzy. I am not sure why they think so many speakers need to be installed to blast out the music, it was a bit loud. Pleasant decor and good ambience. We selected from the ‘1917’ menu. The food was good, but small portions (ok for us but maybe not for those with bigger appetites). Service quite good after a slow start, it looked as if they might need another member of staff or two. Those looking after us were friendly. Overall we enjoyed our visit, but probably prefer somewhere slightly smaller/quieter.

Had the 1917 menu, which is good value. However the Calamari starter didn't have much Calamari and was a bit mean on the Asian slaw. But tasty. The fishcake was good but the puree was too cold which detracted. Wine good. Great service.

I was probably unlucky with my visit to the Ivy last night. Despite the staff looked very professional and attentive, as we were having our anniversary celebration, we got some of our drinks arriving after our food finished (we needed to ask for them) and three wrong orders - chunky chips instead of the Truffle and Parmesan chips; medium fillet of beef that came as rare; and rib-eye on bone that was asked as medium-rare, came as well done. As the most expensive grill cut (38.95£ plus 12% service charge), having a well-done steak like that was so unappetizing. To be fair to the waitress, they offered to replace the food, but we had already waited so long, and it was so late, and we did not want to have food go to waste. As we were celebrating an anniversary, they were kind enough to offer a “happy anniversary” ice cream bowl, but just after we ordered our desserts. I do understand they have a bar area if you want to continue drinking after the meal, or for pre-drinks, but after our initial order, or 2nd drinks just came after the meal finished (when the objective was to drink it with the food). After all that, the waitress apologised and said that they were giving us a discount for our last drinks (about £20 in total). However, they still added up over £20 in service charge, leaving us with a meal for two people costing just over £189 (with the “discount”). Whilst mistakes can happen, for this price, these simple errors shouldn’t occur, and some training should be considered, as well as removing the service charge or letting the customer decide (as some people are not so happy to speak up). Unfortunately, whilst I do understand that the restaurant has some nice aesthetics, it was loud, and for this price tag, I cannot recommend it at this time.

Visited this restaurant fir lunch in a Thursday 11:30, was greeted very politely by a lady. Was seated in a quiet area which I requested. We were then served by another taller lady of colour. The service we received was rather appalling. When cutlery was laid down after our order, it was sort of ‘ placed roughly’ very nosy. I was having a conversation with my husband, and all I could hear were the clicking of the forks and knives’. Order was taken very abruptly, food was placed on table without even a turn of head to check if ‘is there anything else I could get you’. This is not the sort of service you expect from a good restaurant. Food came rather quickly which was good. My fillet steak came perfectly to my satisfaction. My husband had the ‘ivy burger’ which was good too. It is a shame that a perfectly planned lunch appointment was ruined by just this one server. May I suggest she goes back to training, if that is not possible, she could go to the back so as not to annoy customers. She is obviously not too happy to work or to serve customers. She has this ‘sour’ looking face. For the price we pay for lunch, I really expected better service. At least, with a smile.

We had high hopes for this family lunch having enjoyed many wonderful meals at the original Ivy, but the Brighton version was very disappointing. It looks great, so points for the designer. But the service is horrendous - over an hour to serve starters (2 courses took 2.5 hrs total) and the waitress was snippy even though there were mostly empty tables and plenty of staff - and the food wasn’t much better. Scallops were overcooked and chewy, sea bass had little to no flavour outside the sauce dumped on top of it. Those who ordered beef were happier so I would say avoid the seafood. But honestly there are *much* better culinary experiences in Brighton and this poor Ivy offshoot doesn’t cut the mustard.

Took my mum for a treat as we'd never been to The Ivy and always heard rave reviews. Never been so disappointed. I will start by saying that it's not usual for me to leave such a negative review, however I will say after reluctantly having to tell a member of staff about the service we received, she was lovely and very apologetic about the whole thing. But for anyone looking for a special afternoon tea occasion, I would look elsewhere... The restaurant was empty which we thought would be nice, during our 90 minutes there, there was a maximum of 4 tables of guests. Asked about a voucher I had, the staff member said they would check but never returned. We were bought our afternoon tea and told we could ask for extras. 45 minutes into having the afternoon tea, not a single member of staff had asked how we were, did we need anything etc. Unfortunately got to the point we had to go and find a member of staff to ask for extra cream and a tea refill. I'd also point out the tea is served in a metal pot that is so hot you have to use the cloth napkin to be able to pick it up to pour your tea, and the tea is in a filter bag poking out of the side of the pot. Sounds silly but just not what I would expect from a place with such a good reputation. We were there for 90 minutes, at the end when we finished, there were no other tables and no members of staff to be seen. For such an empty restaurant I've never had such an unattentive service. Food itself was nice, not the best but certainly not bad. Mostly just the service that was lacklustre.

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday this evening. The starter was poor had much better , the main meal was also poor . Completely over rated and disappointing first visit and we won’t be going back again . The staff were lovely but too busy taking all young fair enough. I had to go and ask for some water and then the bill . The music was completely not what I expected felt like I was in a local pub .

Allergy sufferers DO NOT EAT HERE!!! I attended the Ivy in the lanes for a family celebration as I have done previously many times. Always a great atmosphere and very understanding of allergies. This time was extremely different. I attempted to order my usual dish cooked without my allergies, our waiter quickly stopped me and informed me that it would no longer be possible-that the rules have changed since the summer and they are unable to cater any dish to allergies. I was speechless to say the least. She then suggested I must order something from the menu that is allergy free for me, I explained how this is impossible as I have multiple allergies. The only thing I was able to eat was chips, which the server explained cannot be guaranteed against cross contamination. If this wasn’t a family celebration I would have left. I was extremely shocked and disappointed and will not be coming back. As someone with an invisible disability and multiple allergies I have never felt so bewildered and small. If you have any allergies I urge you to eat elsewhere.