The story
Maré by Rafael Cagali is a Brazilian-Italian restaurant at 60 Church Road in Brighton and Hove, and it was named in the National Restaurant Awards 60 for 2026. Chef Rafael Cagali opened the Hove dining room in 2025 as his first venture outside London, and it has already earned a Michelin star.
Cagali previously ran Da Terra in Bethnal Green, and the Hove menu is more relaxed. Dishes are designed to share and move from small bites to small plates, larger centrepieces and desserts. Ewan Waller, a former Da Terra sous chef, runs the kitchen day to day, and the cooking follows the seasons with produce from Sussex and across Britain.
Recent menus have included native lobster claw tartlet with ginger and N25 caviar, fried oyster with hot sauce emulsion, and aged sea bass crudo with tomato and ajo blanco. For larger plates, the kitchen serves Freedown Hills picanha with chimichurri and lobster rice finished with ox tongue. Desserts include a cachaça elderflower baba with strawberry and chantilly, and a guava crème caramel.
The main room is on the ground floor and seats up to 38 guests, including places at the central bar counter. Charlie Lee, Cagali's partner, leads front of house. The wine list is short and leans on premium English still and sparkling wines, with a few bottles aimed at special occasions. A private room at the rear hosts groups of up to 14.
Recognition
Location
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