We Found Your New Favourite Restaurant in The Lanes So You Dont Have to .
Just opened and hiding nconspicuously in a quiet corner off the lanes, a new Turkish restaurant called Istanbull Katz is tucked into Little East Street and is serving some of the most exciting food in Brighton right now — and your first visit is 50% off.
Istanbull Katz · 3 Little East Street, Brighton BN1 1HT · Open Thu–Sun
Istanbull Katz Brighton opened quietly a few months ago on Little East Street, just off the bottom of The Lanes, and has been steadily winning over everyone who finds it. It only opens Thursday to Sunday and iit only seats a small number of people. And it might just be the most interesting new restaurant to open in the city this year.
The name is a bilingual pun — “katz” is German for cats — and it means something: every meal you eat here goes towards supporting cat welfare. It’s a genuinely lovely idea, and somehow it fits perfectly with the kind of warm, unpretentious energy the whole place gives off.
What’s the Atmosphere Like at Istanbull Katz?
Cosy, candlelit, and genuinely lovely. You walk in from the street and the whole mood shifts — deep teal walls, white tablecloths, red taper candles flickering on the windowsill, soft lamplight. It feels like a proper date night restaurant without being stuffy about it. Brighton has plenty of casual spots but not always places that feel this considered without also feeling uptight. Istanbull Katz gets the balance exactly right.
Service is warm and attentive — the kind where staff actually know the menu, tell you what’s good, and leave you alone when you want to be left alone. Small thing, but it matters.
What to Order at Istanbull Katz Brighton
The menu is contemporary Turkish — rooted in the real thing, not a vague approximation of it. Every dish arrived on the restaurant’s beautiful scallop-edged ceramics, which sounds like a small detail but adds up to a meal that feels genuinely special.
Start with the Meze Trio (£14.50). You get four small bowls — a smoky aubergine dip, a vivid red pepper and walnut muhammara, a spinach and chickpea yogurt, and blistered peppers with chilli flakes — plus warm flatbread. Everything is distinct and properly seasoned. It’s the kind of opener that makes you excited about what’s coming next.
Order the Siron (£16) if it’s on the specials. It’s a traditional dish from Artvin in northeastern Turkey — thin dough rolled into scrolls, baked golden, and served on yogurt with a warm spiced topping. You almost certainly won’t have had it before, and that’s exactly the point. This is a kitchen that knows where Turkish food actually comes from, beyond the obvious.
The Eggplant ‘Musakka’ (£23) was the dish of the night. Two roasted aubergine halves on white purée and rich tomato sauce, with olives and cherry tomatoes on top. It sounds simple. It isn’t. This is the kind of vegetarian dish that makes you genuinely forget you’re not eating meat — deep, complex, beautifully balanced. Order it.
The Katz Style ‘Iskender’ Short Ribs (£27) take one of Turkey’s most beloved dishes — the Iskender kebab, all slow-cooked meat, tomato butter, and yogurt — and rework it around braised short rib. The meat falls apart, the sauce is rich without being heavy, and the whole thing feels like a very clever update on a classic.
Finish with the Crispy Kadayıf (£11). Shredded wheat pastry, golden and crackling, with a molten centre, something saffron-scented and custard-like poured over, and blackberries scattered around. It looks beautiful, it tastes even better, and it disappeared off the table at some speed.
Drinks
The wine list is short but well put together, with a welcome focus on Turkish producers. The Diren Kalecik Karasi house red is made from a native Turkish grape — soft, earthy, and genuinely interesting. Two glasses of that and two of the Verano Blush rosé came to £18 each, which is fair for central Brighton. It’s good to see a Turkish restaurant leaning into its own wine culture rather than just offering the usual suspects.
Is Istanbull Katz Brighton Good Value?
Mains run from £16 to £27. For the quality of what arrives on the plate, that’s fair — this is cooking that could hold its own in any serious city. And right now, first-time visitors get 50% off food using code FIRSTEVER50 at booking. Our bill before the discount was £127.50 on food; after it, we paid £51.94 for the whole evening including drinks. Even at full price, this is money well spent.
Verdict: Is Istanbull Katz Brighton Worth It?
Absolutely. Istanbull Katz Brighton is one of those restaurants that makes you feel pleased with yourself for finding it. The food is genuinely exciting — rooted in real Turkish regional cooking, not a vague approximation of it. The room is lovely. The staff are great. And every plate you eat helps feed a cat somewhere. What’s not to like?
Get yourself booked in while the first-visit offer is still running. And ask about the Siron.
Istanbull Katz Brighton: Your Questions Answered
Is Istanbull Katz good?
Yes — it’s one of the best new restaurants to open in Brighton this year. The cooking is inventive, regionally informed, and beautifully presented. The Eggplant Musakka and Siron in particular are not to be missed.
Where is Istanbull Katz in Brighton?
Istanbull Katz is at 3 Little East Street, Brighton BN1 1HT — at the bottom of The Lanes, a short walk from the seafront and Brighton Pier.
When is Istanbull Katz open?
Thursday to Sunday. It’s a small restaurant so booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially at weekends.
Does Istanbull Katz offer a discount?
Yes — 50% off food for first-time visitors. Use code FIRSTEVER50 when booking. Check @istanbullkatz on Instagram for the latest as offers may change.
What kind of food does Istanbull Katz serve?
Contemporary Turkish cuisine, seasonal and produce-led. The menu draws on both Ottoman classics and lesser-known regional dishes from places like Artvin in northeastern Turkey. The restaurant describes itself as Seasonal, Thoughtful, and Purpose-led.
Does eating at Istanbull Katz support cats?
It does. Every meal contributes to cat welfare — “Katz” is German for cats, and it’s central to the restaurant’s whole ethos. Good food, good cause.
ISTANBULL KATZ
3 Little East Street, Brighton BN1 1HT
Open: Thursday to Sunday
First-visit discount: 50% off food — code FIRSTEVER50
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