Maré by Rafael Cagali
Central Hove, Brighton and Hove
Restaurant in Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Brazilian-Mediterranean Tide Cooking
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Book Maré by Rafael Cagali when the brief is a serious, structured meal in Hove, not a casual Brighton dinner. The 2026 Michelin star and SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants #67 ranking make it a credible splurge, but first-timers should want a composed progression rather than a flexible à la carte night.
About Maré by Rafael Cagali
Maré by Rafael Cagali is a Brighton and Hove restaurant with notable recognition: Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 lists it with 1 Star, SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants places it at #67 for 2026. For planning, it is closed Monday and Tuesday, opens Wednesday evening, has midday and evening hours Thursday to Saturday, opens midday on Sunday, has a smart-casual dress code.
For a first-timer, the safest expectation is that this is a planned Brighton and Hove meal rather than a casual last-minute choice. If the table wants another nearby option, Wild Flor is a useful comparison, while Fourth and Church, Semola, Topolino Brighton & Hove, Gandom Hove are other names to consider depending on the kind of meal you want.
Choose it for a planned Brighton and Hove meal
The strongest case for booking is the restaurant's recognition: a 2026 Michelin 1 Star listing and a #67 placement in SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants for 2026. Those are the reasons to treat Maré by Rafael Cagali as a notable choice in Brighton and Hove.
Keep the planning practical. The restaurant is open Wednesday from 6–9 PM; Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12–2:30 PM and 6–9 PM; and Sunday from 12–3 PM. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. For broader city planning, the Brighton and Hove restaurants guide is the useful first stop; pair it with the Brighton and Hove bars guide if the night needs a drink before or after.
How to decide before committing
The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 1 Star and SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants #67 placement make Maré by Rafael Cagali a notable Brighton and Hove reservation. If those accolades matter to the table, it belongs high on the shortlist. If the group mainly wants flexibility, compare it with other Brighton and Hove dining rooms before choosing.
For comparison within Brighton and Hove, readers may also look at Fourth and Church, Gandom Hove, Semola, Topolino Brighton & Hove, Wild Flor. The right choice depends on the occasion, timing, whether the recognition at Maré by Rafael Cagali is the deciding factor.
Use the rest of the trip to stay practical. Brighton and Hove hotel, experience, winery planning can sit around the meal rather than making one restaurant answer every part of the itinerary. For Maré by Rafael Cagali specifically, anchor the plan around the opening days, the smart-casual dress code, the 2026 recognition.
Planning details
- Location
- 60 Church Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2FP, United Kingdom
- Website
- marehove.com
- Phone
- +44 1273 055900
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Maré presents a quietly confident atmosphere: sleek, modern interiors are balanced by warm, attentive service so the room reads as considered rather than performative. Its location on Hove’s Church Road takes it a notch away from Brighton’s seafront bustle, which contributes to an intimate, residential calm. The evening is paced by the kitchen — dishes frequently arrive led by the chefs themselves — and the overall impression is of a restaurant that prizes craft and seasonal rigor over gimmickry. Expect a restrained, cozy dining room where the focus stays on the food and the flow of the meal.
Best For
Maré is best for intimate evening plans where the meal itself is the point: date nights, special occasions and small groups who appreciate a thoughtfully paced dinner. The neighbourhood-scaled format suits guests who want serious cooking without the theatre of a city centre spectacle. Because sharing is encouraged and courses are presented as a sequence, it’s particularly good for couples or small parties who enjoy passing plates and tasting across a range of influences. It’s not positioned as a loud, late-night spot but as a place to settle in for a considered evening.
Ordering Tips
Treat the meal as a sequence and lean into sharing: the kitchen encourages plates to circle the table rather than arriving as isolated courses. Menus shift with the seasons, so ask staff about what’s currently notable and which dishes are best for passing round. When available, look out for the venue’s signature preparations — such as lobster rice with ox tongue, aged hamachi crudo and baba au cachaça — and consider ordering several small plates to experience the range of Brazilian, Mediterranean, Mexican and Japanese registers that the chef brings to the table. Expect the chefs to be hands-on in service.
Venue details
Ambiance
Sleek modern interiors with earthy terracotta tones, warm wood, and a refined relaxed atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- lobster rice with ox tongue
- aged hamachi crudo
- baba au cachaça
Planning details
Location
60 Church Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2FP, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
If you cannot get a table
Try Wild Flor first if the goal is quality cooking with a clearer value signal. Try Fourth and Church if the group would rather build the night around wine and conversation than a fixed-feeling sequence.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Brighton and Hove
Maré by Rafael Cagali is the splurge pick in this set: choose it when the table wants a Michelin-recognised, tightly paced meal and is willing to deal with a harder booking. Wild Flor is the value play by comparison, with a stated Modern British, ££ profile that makes it better for diners who want quality without turning the night into a major spend.
Fourth and Church is the better alternative for a wine-led evening or a less formal catch-up. Semola and Topolino Brighton & Hove make more sense when the group wants comfort and ease over ceremony. Gandom Hove is the cross-shop for a different mood entirely, useful when the priority is a less rigid dinner format.
The practical split is simple: book Maré for a planned occasion, Wild Flor for value, Fourth and Church for wine-bar flexibility, Semola or Topolino Brighton & Hove for a lower-pressure meal. For groups that are undecided on format, start with the easier peer rather than forcing a tasting-led reservation.
Explore Brighton and Hove
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Maré by Rafael Cagali guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Maré by Rafael Cagali
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maré by Rafael Cagali | Brighton and Hove | ; | 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #60SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants 2026 · #67Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 Michelin Plate | ; |
| Fourth and Church | Hove | No published awards | ; | ; |
| Wild Flor | Brighton and Hove | Modern British | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | ££ |
| Topolino Brighton & Hove | Hove | No published awards | ; | ; |
| Gandom Hove | Hove | No published awards | ; | ; |
| Semola | Hove | No published awards | ; | ; |
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How Maré by Rafael Cagali Brighton and Hove compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Maré by Rafael Cagali?
No particular dishes or menu format are specified. Plan around the confirmed facts instead: Maré by Rafael Cagali is a Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 1 Star restaurant in Brighton and Hove, it is also listed at #67 in SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants for 2026.
What should a first-timer know about Maré by Rafael Cagali?
Treat it as a planned Brighton and Hove meal. It has a Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 1 Star listing, is #67 in SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants for 2026, has a smart-casual dress code. It is closed Monday and Tuesday; opens Wednesday from 6–9 PM; Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12–2:30 PM and 6–9 PM; and Sunday from 12–3 PM.
Can Maré by Rafael Cagali accommodate groups?
Group capacity, private dining, party-size limits are not specified. If you are booking for a group, check directly with the restaurant before making firm plans. Fourth and Church, Semola, Topolino Brighton & Hove, Gandom Hove, Wild Flor are other Brighton and Hove options to compare.
Are midday or evening hours better at Maré by Rafael Cagali?
Choose based on the opening hours. Midday hours are listed Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12–2:30 PM, Sunday from 12–3 PM. Evening hours are listed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 6–9 PM. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday.
What are alternatives to Maré by Rafael Cagali in Brighton and Hove?
Other Brighton and Hove options to compare include Wild Flor, Fourth and Church, Semola, Topolino Brighton & Hove, Gandom Hove. Maré by Rafael Cagali is the one with the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026 1 Star and SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants #67 placement.
