Bakery & cakesGloucester Road

Black Mocha

North Laine favourite for its signature mocha

7.9/10

Local score

No. 23 of 141 cafés on r/brighton, from 24 locals across 25 threads.

100% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.

A well-loved independent on Gloucester Road, consistently named among Brighton's best coffee spots and praised for its signature black mocha drink, phenomenal hot chocolate, and good breakfast/brunch food including gluten-free cakes. Also does a cheap lunch deal and occasional salad specials.

Go for
Coffee, cake and a relaxed brunch

What locals say

We have a lot of very decent coffee places here with well trained and knowledgeable staff…. @33, Bond Street, Milk Shed, Loam, 17 Grams, Ikiagi, Black Mocha , Botanist, Pelicano…..followed by the not top tier but still decent ones such as, Flour Pot, Coho, Bread And Milk, Trading Post (at a push), My Coffee Story, Down to Earth, Dhama……. I could go…
u/Present_Bumblebee_30, 202525 upvotes“Why are coffee shop staff so untrained in Brighton and Hove? I'm unsure anymore what I am paying £3.50-£4 for. Not naming names but it is most places.”
100% this is on my wishlist for Brighton lunch options. My favourite places for salad so far are Black Mocha (not takeaway though), and Earls and Lavash do a good takeaway salad bowl. However there isn’t really a dedicated takeaway place which has a good selection of grains/greens/protein/dressing/toppings. I’d be really happy if someone was to open something along the lines of The Salad Project or the Salad…
u/AlessaDark, 202418 upvotes“Any interest in a healthy salad bar in brighton?”
Roundhill, Patty & Bun, Vegan Noms or Halo Burger (the last two might be delivery kitchens only) Best Japanese: Moshimo Best Korean: Time For Kimchi or Namul Best Vietnamese: Milk No Sugar Best (and only) Ethiopian: Abyssinia Best coffee: Pelicano or Bond Street Best cake: Black Mocha Best gourmet nonsense: Erpingham House, Terre a Terre or Food for…
u/GALACTIC-SAUSAGE, 20215 upvotes“What's everyone's favourite vegan/vege places to eat out? (Can include flexi places)”
Brunch: Black Mocha, petit pois, redroaster On the go lunch: Earls, Crunch & co, We love falafel, Akimoto Coffee shops: Twin Pines, Pelicano (Amazing cakes), Bond St Coffee (gotta try the cinnamon buns)
u/ACosmicWanderer, 20234 upvotes“Visiting until the middle of June - if you had to recommend your favorite breakfast place, brunch/lunch place, and activity to do while I'm here, what would they be?”

Ranked from 21,200 r/brighton comments. Summaries are written by AI from what locals said; quotes are word for word. Not affiliated with Reddit. Back to the guide