Weekender Brighton

Get a flavour of this laid-back, south-coast city with micro-roast coffees, crunchy rabbit croquettes, buttermilk sponge and spicy bloody marys

- Alex Crossley

1 Caffeine hit Meander through North Laine to Pelicano, an espresso bar and microroastery where hip locals hang out over coffee and homemade cakes. Huddle inside or shelter in the courtyard with a cup of Brighton blend. pelicanohouse.com

2 Open secret Via the back of the train station (away from the sea) is The Open Market, home to meat, fish and bakery stalls as well as beauty, art and local crafts. Sit in little Greek café Kouzina for hearty home-cooked classics such as moussaka and spanakopita, or grab a falafel and some hummus from Smorl’s to take to the beach. brightonopenmarket.co.uk

3 Counter culture Sit at the counter at Cin Cin to watch staff carve smoked speck and Tuscan finocchiona, pour sparkling sbagliato aperitivos and plate up tasters such as crunchy rabbit croquettes. Choose from the bar’s rotating pasta menu (black squid-ink pappardelle, perhaps, or Tuscan sausage gnocchi), then order a refreshing sgroppino (lemon sorbet, vodka and prosecco). cincin.co.uk