We had breakfast here one morning while staying in Brighton and had a wonderful meal. The cafe is quite small with only a handful of tables, but we got there when it opened and were sat immediately. The portion sizes are very generous! My husband and I could have easily split one meal but ordered our own and then took some our leftovers to eat later. The cafe has a quaint diner feel to it and the staff was friendly and helpful. Overall good experience and a good choice for breakfast/brunch if you are in the area. read more

Come hungry because their breakfast portion sizes are ridiculous. I went with the All Day Jumbo Breakfast, which came with two slices of back bacon, two sausages, baked beans, a fried egg, fried mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and two slices of buttered toast. Granted, they forgot the tomatoes on mine, but it was already enough food as is. My favorite parts were the beans and sausage. The toast was also great because butter. Also ordered a side of hash because I wanted to try it, but it was WAAAY too much food. Service was a little slow, but that comes with the territory of lazy brunch. The place is laid out kind of weird, where there really aren't small tables and everything is made for 3-4 people. The table we sat at faced the wall, which was weird. read more

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Billies, Billies, Billies. It's official. I'm in love. Everyone will tell you about how wonderful this cute little cafe was but until you experience it for yourself I don't think you understand the true amazingness of Billies. I went here on the weekend with a fellow Yelper and boy was I impressed! We spotted Billies not because of a big sign or a bright storefront, but because of the queue of hungry and hopeful people all lined up politely outside it at 11am on a Sunday morning. Surely not? I thought to myself - not very used to having to wine in line for my breakfast in Brighton. But yes, there it was... a big old queue. Now, if I'm honest, at this point my friend and I had a moment of weakness and discussed whether to move on somewhere else but (thankfully!) we stuck around... The sun was shining and the cafe is situated on one of Brighton's prettier streets, away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, where streets are lined with pretty white houses and big beautiful trees. The people queing with us were friendly and equally as excited by the prospect of Billies famous hash, so in truth the waiting process was pleasant enough. It only took us about 10-15 minutes to be seated as we came as a pair (much to the dismay of larger groups who momentarily considered abandoning their friends and families in favour of food). We were seated at a pretty little table in the window, perfect for watching the world go by on this sunny Sunday, as we waited for our food. We both order the has - me going for the Mexican one with guac and salsa (and a side of bacon... shh!) and my friend going for the Farmhouse, I believe. It wasn't a long wait for the food to arrive, considering how packed the place was, and we were content waiting with our Americanos and gossip. The food arrived looking and smelling incredible and, upon tasting, it did not disappoint! My hash was spicy, filling and unusual (in a good way) and I only managed about half of it before asking for a doggy bag. For a mere £8 (or thereabouts) you get at least double portions, I'd say and this is coming for a girl not afraid of finishing her plate! I was so impressed with it - it really hit the spot! The staff were friendly too, while rushed off their feet, and my total (hash, with added bacon, and coffee) came to around £10, which is not bad at all considering I took practically a full meal home with me as well. I really loved my experience here! I felt as if I was in NYC brunching in style, but without those measly portions! This is hearty, tasty food, served with a smile in a very pretty (albeit busy) little cafe! Go and it try it please!!! read more

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I popped into Billies after seeing the good reviews on Yelp and sadly I'm a little bit disappointed. I'll start with the good; my food was great. I went for the avocado and bacon hash with an extra poached egg. It was delicious. The bacon was crisp, the cheese was generous and the portion was huge. I'd definitely recommend the food. But; service was terrible. The waitress was more interested in clearing tables than serving customers. She then took orders from everyone who came in after me despite them still perusing their menus and me having sat there for ages clearly waiting to order. I thought having an hour for breakfast would have been easily enough time but it took half an hour to even get my soft drink served to me. And when my food eventually came a warning that the plate was hot would be nice, as ouch! Great food, not a bad location but one star lost for service. Maybe I was unlucky? read more

Billie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, BNH

A no frills, traditional looking cafe nestled away on a quiet corner behind Western Rd in central Brighton, Billie's is a poky little place, but if you can get in, you're guaranteed a great breakfast! The cafe is small, the decor simple and the location ideal for a spot of people watching- some brilliant characters have rolled past the windows during my many breakfasts there. It is, in my opinion, a happy alternative to the plethora of characterless trendy cafes and gastro-pubs popping up all over town. Most importantly, the food is good and inexpensive. Brunch will typically cost you under a tenner and the menu covers all of the breakfast basics, from full English to pancakes. What sets Billie's apart is the wide range of hashes on offer. These mountainous piles of hashed potato can be ordered with all sorts of accompaniments, ranging from bacon and avocado to salsa, guacamole and sour cream ('Mexican hash', my favourite by far). Billie's blends English greasy spoon classics with American influenced dishes to create the perfect transatlantic breakfast menu. Be warned, the coffee is in my opinion not great and there are some dodgy spray paintings for sale, but the service is always friendly and, as any good cafe should, they do a mean Eggs Benedict! A great place to nurse a Sunday morning hangover, Billie's is always packed at the weekend and attracts an eclectic crowd. Avoid going in a big group and try to get there either very early or late morning. Having said that, I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table! One star lost because I am typically in a big group of friends when I want to eat here, and it can be really tricky! read more

Billie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, BNH

Billie's does Brighton's best breakfast. Hash! Yes, that's the speciality. Fried potatoes and onions with, all sorts, it could be swede, mushrooms, sausages, even avocado. Billies mixes and matches some great stuff. They might make a hash of their food, but just the way you like it. I adore Billie's. Less than five minutes from the sea, it is also the purveyor of fry ups which are to die for (and you well might because the portions are huge). My personal silly breakfast of choice is coffee, eggs benedict and a banana milkshake. Sometimes I'll have a side of hash too. A palace of fried delights, and no mistake. And yet from the outside it looks so unassuming: a litte cafe with gingham table cloths. It gets rammed at the weekend with the hungover hordes. I go in the week and you can always get a table. read more

Billie's - Billies, May 2010 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, BNH

Visited here for a quick bite before leaving Brighton, on the recommendation of the friends with whom I was staying. A lovely little cafe, nestled a little out of the way, but still very accessible. Clean and well presented, with gingham tablecloths and the classic greasy spoon condiments (Heinz ketchup and HP sauce) inviting you to take a seat and get struck in. The extensive menu includes every breakfast or brunch food you could want or imagine, and probably some more too. My companion opted for the jumbo breakfast whilst I went for their speciality farmhouse hash; skipping over other favourites such as Welsh rarebit, benedict, of avocado on toast with a host of extras. The portion sizes are on the 'hell yeah' side of generous, whilst the prices remain on the 'is that all' side of reasonable. And the quality of the food was splendid. It would have been a clean plate from me, but there was just too much for one hungry man to consume. Simply the best value, high quality food I think I've found in he south east. 2 large appetites completely satiated for the whole day I suspect for less than £20 including drinks! What more could you ask? read more

Billie's - Farmhouse hash and jumbo breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, BNH

If you're looking for a good brunch place, head to Billie's. It was one of the first cafes I went to when I first moved to Brighton and I still go there at least one a month. It's position on the corner of Hampton Place and Montpelier means it's a great spot for people watching and enjoying the sunshine pouring through the windows. The fact it's so small means there's only a handful of tables and if you're going in a group of four, you might have to wait at weekends. A favourite with locals, the menu specialises in brunch staples like eggs benedict and welsh rarebit as well as full english and veggie breakfasts. The mexican hash with avacodo and salsa seems to be popular but my favourite is the irish hash with turnip, potatoes and fried egg. Trust me, it tastes much better than it sounds. The freshly squeezed orange juice is also great. In fact, Billie's is the perfect destination for when you've been up all night working or partying. read more

Billie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, BNH

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This is a 'proper' cafe that serves 'proper' food. No messing around here. This place hasn't changed at all in 20 years because it doesn't have to. They've got it timelessly spot on. I have tried a couple of times and failed pathetically to conquer one of their famous hash breakfasts, but boy did I have fun trying. They are monster, you get A LOT of bang for your buck. The same goes for the jumbo all day breakfasts which are drool worthy down to the toast. Everything is locally sourced and of the highest quality - extremely tasty. They also offer some sweet treats if you're feeling in a naughty mood. Pancakes, banana split, ice-cream... Etc The filter coffee is great and if you ask for a large they mean large! The milk shakes are delicious. Service is great, I really don't have a bad word to say about this place. I love it. I could easily wile away a few hours in here without noticing. Don't go changing Billie's! read more

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I have been coming to Billies since 2004 and even though they have changed owners during that time the food and atmosphere of the place has more or less stayed the same. I do find most of the hashes too heavy for me, but I have never had a better welsh rarebit than here and they make amazing scrambled egg with salmon. It is not the cheapest breakfast/brunch place but the quality of the food is good and the portions huge! read more

Billie's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Brighton, BNH

Enfin! Billie's does live up to it's hype. It's Bijou, so you need to time your visit, especially on the weekend. At 09:03 (they open at 9am) we rocked up an chose the premium, IMO, corner window slot for 2. The Jumbo breakfast was just that. My judgement might be slightly clouded having just spent 8 months in NZ where premium pork products as just that, but the 2 sausage and 2 rashers of back bacon definitely hit the spot. All round I enjoyed the visit and the delightful service. My only tiny gripe it that they butter your toast. I prefer cold toast with butter that hasn't melted. But it did not detract from the all around experience. Beware - the Hash Brown dishes are HUGE. Almost certainly not to be finished in one sitting, though they will doggy bag for you. PPS - Freshly squeezed orange juice was lush. read more

Billie's are deservedly famous for their "Hash" range of breakfasts (essentially a mountain of potato topped with pretty much whatever you want) which can cure the most malignant hangovers, although I am yet to finish one. The venue is small with only 7 or 8 tables, so understandably there is often a bit of a wait on saturday and sundays, but it's well worth it. The milk shakes are insanely good too. The staff are all really friendly and go out of their way to ensure that you are happy and there are always weekend papers and magazines to flick through whilst you're waiting for your food to arrive. Anyone who is struggling to decide on what to eat on a hungover morning should without a doubt head down to Billie's! read more

I found this place from Yelp, and wanted to give it a try when we were in Brighton last Saturday. We walked about 10 mins from the train station, and found this cute little corner cafe in a not-so touristy neighborhood. My hubby got the jumbo breakfast and I got the farmhouse hash, and oh, what a treat! We loved every little bite we had along with the delicious coffee. Everything was so delicious! The service was super nice too. It is a very small place, so there may be a line at the door. We were the first in line and we only waited about 10 mins, but the waiting time can get longer since it is a very small place. read more

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Context for this review: I'm An American student studying abroad. This place is INCREDIBLE. One of my top favorite meals I've had in all of my travels around England. I had the garlic mushroom mash with avocado added and oh my goodness. It was incredible. It was like food back home in Austin, tx - fresh, tasty, huge portions, and it was ACTUALLY SEASONED! I have to admit, the blandness of English food takes some getting used to as a foreigner but this place hit the spot. So so so yummy. 10 outta 10. Come prepared to eat! read more

This place is such a hidden gem! I'm glad it's so hidden away or I don't think I would be able to get a table. The staff are lovely, the menu is great, they have avocado on the menu, so I'm happy! The hash is the best hash ever - have one with eggs on it - just makes the best combination with the potato. I actually went here on a first date, and it was a really good balance of casual, easy going service with the kind, helpful table service you need. Coffee was fantastic, but be warned - when they say large coffee they mean LARGE! I came out on a bit of a caffeine buzz, but that's never a bad thing. read more

Billie's has been here for as long as I can remember. They're the perfect place to come to for a morning fry-up after a long night. Their portions are massive! Excellent value and I've always left feeling very satisfied! read more

This is a great place for breakfast and lunch, and I confess it's come in handy on more than one occasion when I've had a hangover from the night before, especially as it's only down the road from my flat. I went in there last weekend after a particularly energetic night out, and found relief quickly in the form of one of Billie's famous hashes. The Beano comes with two sausages and baked beans on a bed of tasty hash browns and topped with melted cheese (£7.30). I couldn't resist ordering a slice of bacon (at a small extra charge) to complete what turned out to be a very effective, although gutbusting, hangover cure in all its loveliness (note: it cures my hangovers anyway, I can't speak for yours). My mate Victor (or Vic the Veggie, as he's affectionately known) plumped for an enormous Ranchero, consisting of hash browns topped with Mexican chilli salsa, guacamole, yoghurt and melted cheese (£7.30). It looked good actually (and he said it was), but there's no dragging me away from my sausages and bacon. Anyway, it all washed down beautifully with two mugs of tea at a quid each. Lovely! Billie's is open from 9 until 4pm, seven days a week, but try to get there early because it gets busy quickly. It's got five scores on the doors (that means cleanliness, in case you're like me and don't always notice), and the service is quick and friendly. I tried to take a picture of the hash but people started staring at me so I put the camera away. Maybe that's a good excuse to go back next time me and Vic need a quick hangover cure ... read more

Hidden behind the bustling Western Road, Billie's is the perfect place to grab a Sunday morning breakfast. There home made hash is famous amongst the locals, and once you've had it you'll understand why. With heaps of different ingredients to choose from you can't go wrong. But the hash isn't the only thing they do well. Their menu boasts a huge variety of brekkies, including poached eggs, avocado and grilled cheese on toast, and full on Englishes. Seriously kookie and uber cool, Billie's embodies everything 'Brighton', and brings a certain uniqueness to the traditional breakfast. And the hash is not to be missed. read more

Yum! Big American portioned sized breakfasts but with a definite British twist. Come hungry and try the hashes which are different toppings piled on top of a mound of pan fried potatoes and onions. Here, hash browns are more akin to home fries (for you Yanks out there.) Friendly service too! Only very slight fault were the takeaway containers that were made of styrofoam. It would be better to have more eco-friendly material. read more

Billie's is great for people watching, which is lucky as you won't be able to move after you've eaten! Always popular with locals in search of a big weekend brunch, Billie's opened over 30 years ago and is now run by brother and sister team, Lisa and Dominic. Their customers are loyal so you can expect to find a (fast moving) queue outside this cosy corner cafe on Hampton Place, just up from Western Road. As per usual, I struggled to look past the Farmhouse Hash - sausage, bacon, baked beans & mushrooms pan-fried in butter with homemade hash browns and topped with a fried egg & grilled cheese and Antonia went for the Avocado & Bacon - grilled bacon & sliced avocado on a bed of homemade hash browns topped with grilled cheese. Both hashes were as huge as we remembered (if not bigger) and neither of us managed to clear our plates, which is a rarity to say the least! My hash was nice and crispy but Antonia's definitely could have done with longer in the pan to add some crispy bits and texture to what is essentially a plate of potatoes! Are there better brekkie offerings in Brighton? Yes, but Billie's has it's place and long may it continue. read more

Good, waistline busting food, friendly service and solid value. Only downside is that because it's so small some tables are rather more comfortable than others, as people have to continually push past you to get to their seats. The speciality of the house is potato hash - topped with anything from an entire english breakfast to a mexican salsa, all finished off with copious amounts of melted cheese - but I haven't actually seen anyone polish off an entire plateful yet other than my boyfriend who could quite literally eat a cow. Think of it as a challenge! read more

My friend and I found this place by chance and had our brunch there. We were on a day trip to Brighton on Sunday and this place was a pleasant surprise. It is away from the touristy crowd and being a converted corner flat it is cosy (also reads "cramped" because it seemed to be quite a popular place!), it is not the standard eating place that we found along the waterfront and high street. That adds so much more personality to it. (I confess I was excited about the checkered table cloths!) Jumbo breakfast was jumbo and the Salmon Benedict was next to heavenly. The girls who served us were very friendly. read more

Billies cafe is most renound for it's hashes, a dish of fried up potato and onion mixed with other ingredients. They are £5 each and possibly the best thing in the world. The farmhouse; sausage, bacon, beans, mushroom with a fried egg and grated cheese on top is by far the best and a great hangover cure (best not to think about how many calories it's got!). They do also do other breakfasts and lunch though I do find it hard to think why anyone would order anything else. The staff are all lovely and the only down side is that this place is a pretty badly kept secret and you'll probably have to wait in line with all the other clubbers if you want to sort your sore head out on a sunday morning. read more

I used to live on the same street as Billie's. That meant a massive breakfast hash almost every Sunday (boy I miss those days). Billie's is something of a Brighton institution, specialising in all your traditional breakfasts, plus their amazing breakfast hash! (It's essentially an English breakfast chopped up with loads of potato.. it's amazing) Billie's was rated in one of the top places to go for breakfast in a few national newspapers, so it can get extremely busy, especially in the mornings! On a Sunday you can expect to find a queue outside, but believe me it is worth it. It's small, has no airs and graces but that's the beauty of it. The food speaks for itself. If you haven't had a Billie's then I implore you to try one. (go on, have a breakfast hash!!) read more

The best breakfast in all the land! The farmhouse hash is an absolute delight and sets you up for the day, you won't need to eat again until dinner! I have seen many defeated by the size and goodness of the Billie's hashes and I myself - as a rookie - had a few unfinished plates. I am now proud to say I have mastered the art of eating a full plate of the goodness! Thank you! Give it a go, it's one of the best things you'll ever do with your morning. Or afternoon, they are open all day :) YAY! read more

Don't go for the hash- unless you've been up all night dancing and have that hungover hunger that never seems satisfied. The hash made Billie's name- it's huge and unhealthy so obviously a success. The best things about Billie's though are the little quirks that make it feel like a neighbourhood cafe for locals and those in the know. Go early on a saturday and you won't have to queue as long but you'll still get that rush of anticipation as you wait outside the blue door. As people come out you wait for them to leave before you squeeze through what looks like someone's front door and try not to hit a waitress on the way in. It's small, cosy, basic, but the prices are reasonable, the staff are super friendly and the poached eggs are cooked to perfection. Just the right amount of intimate and leave-you-to-it. read more

You wouldn't stumble across this popular cafe, but with its local reputation you may well have heard of it. Famous for its hashes, Billie's is essential for the hangover looking for to stock up on starch, fat and meat. The farmhouse hash is a monstrous plate, basically a fried breakfast stir-fired together with sausage, bacon, beans, mushrooms, and lots of potatoes, topped with a fried egg and melted cheese. If that's too much then there's the garlic mushroom and avocado, though as with everything else, this comes with potato and cheese too. It all tastes great - pretty much as you'd expect it to from the descriptions, and keeping you full up all day long. So popular is Billie's you may find yourself waiting outside for a table, but service is brisk in this poky but cute cafe. read more

The queues of hungover Brightonians waiting to be served on weekend mornings will vouch for the revitalizing qualities of a Billie's breakfast. Their famed Hash Range of breakfasts come in a mountainous size and can be ordered with an array of accompaniments. The food is good and relatively inexpensive. Although nestled away on a quiet corner behind Western Road, Billie's popularity has this small café thriving with its hearty servings. read more

I'm slightly gutted that Billie's is a bit more than a 10 minute walk from my house, because it's the perfect place to get breakfast when you are hungover - i.e. at your laziest. That being said, when I do make it that far it does the trick. The hashes (about 7 quid each) are so big they could easily be shared, especially if you wash it down with one of their tasty milkshakes (£2.90). The blue gingham print table clothes are cheery and the large windows make the place light and airy, although they do make you feel a little bit on display, especially as the inside of the cafe is slightly raised up compared to the pavement outside. read more

great place and rele close to me i used to traipse into town and eat somewhere like kennys but now i've found this place i have no need its great pretty reasonable for what you get the best bit is people watching usually seated by the big windows so you can just watch the world go by. Loved the food quality all really good and i think they make an effort to use local produce...bonus. Try the milkshakes too....what i class as a 'proper' milkshake mmm... cant wait to go back :-D read more

Very friendly, lovely serving lady. Cook/Owner seemed to treat her like a piece of foreign muck though, really annoyed me. Great big tasty coffees, mind boggling array of hashes. Good hearty winter food but I must admit, the novelty of working my way through the big pile of hash (melted cheese on top was just a touch too much)wore off pretty quickly. Looked like I had only eaten a quarter of it. Tasty to begin with - gets boring. Give me a Tallula's or Real Eating Company anytime for breakfasts. BAM! read more

For some reason they have a reputation for their 'famous hash'? Its just a pile of yesterdays left overs that requires a large amount of ketchup to add any dimension to the experience. Not bad, but lets not get ahead of ourselves guys! read more

Top food and service! I first visited Billie's ten years ago and have never once left disappointed. Their salmon and avocado toast (Big Smoke) is a favourite! read more

I don't often write reviews of anything, but felt I just had to make a comment about Billes. Billes is quite simply THE BEST CAFE IN BRIGHTON! I feel like some of these negative reviewers must have been writing about the wrong place. The food is perfect, every time. Always huge, always fresh, always absolutely delicious. The frequent queues of 20 people on the pavement are testament to the popularity of this little gem. Belive me, I don't wait half an hour queuing for food unless it's worth it! But when you have a Sunday hangover, it just has to be a Farmhouse Hash at Billies. read more

Came down from London and ate in Billie's on two days ago. So refreshing to eat well prepared food. Unsurprisingly, it's a very busy and buzzing place every time I visit. Would recommend to all who like a good fry-up with out all the nasty grease and oppressive atmosphere. ps. Agree with a previous reviewer's comments. You MUST try the milkshakes!! read more

Awful food. I think the flurry of positive reviews seen below have been put up by the owners in response to all the bad reviews this dive has got. The food is terribly overpriced and didn't seem fresh to me. You could tell the food had been pre-cooked and then just warmed up and put on the plate. My friend had the hash dish which she couldn't finish as it made her feel sick with all the grease. Very oppressive atmosphere and unfriendly/grumpy staff made the visit an even more depressing experience. We left feeling ripped off. If you are up for a nice weekend breakfast or lunch then this is definitely not the place to go. I must agree with Dezire's comments, we could have eaten for half the price in a decent working mans cafe, and had a far more pleasurable experience. read more

Yay for Billie's! The place is tiny and the staff are absolutely lovely and accommodating, and the breakfast hashes are gigantic and really really good. What a homey little gem of a place. read more

Good if you like a cramped space, owner/cook really rude and moody which really annoyed me, felt sorry for the girl working there. Food was Ok but nothing special, I will not be going back. read more

Wonderful fresh food. Good quality, lots of it and good value. I have been going here for several years and the staff and management are always friendly and helpful. I think any negative comments must be made by worried competition. Give it a try if you you're a bit greedy but still want your food tasty and well cooked. read more

I found this cafe to be warm and inviting. I don't enjoy proper manly cafes so it was nice to enjoy a good brekkie in a more feminine and soft atmosphere, i would definitely recommend to family and friends :) read more