Igigi General Stores

One of the best coffee shops I’ve ever been, whenever you are in Brighton go do this place. The food is very, very good as well.

Igigi shops are pretty and very stylish — and its great to have unique and independent stores like this on our doorstep. Not much in their stores would fit with my bright coloured popart décor — and because they choose one direction in terms of neutral colours and natural materials style– that must count them out of some potential custom. However — the café is excellent and good value and whenever I’ve bought any of their (beautifully gift wrapped) presents for friends and family from here they always become a talking-​point because they are beautiful and unusual and über-​stylish. I love their window-​dressing, cheese on toast, handmade spoons, own-​brand scented candles, scarves, cards (with seeds), and bags. The owners are charming and put massive effort into running their business — its great to see how they are developing their own-​brand items. Good on them.

Whenever I come to this area of Brighton/​Hove I want to move here. I love the fact that the high street features loads of interesting independent shops. An exhausting trail around Artist Open Houses provided the perfect excuse to take a break at this lovely café. This was definitely the girls’ choice, but the boys were easily persuaded by the promise of delicious cakes.
We almost missed out altogether, though, as we didn’t make it back to Western Road until after 5 — the café officially closes at 4.30! Luckily, we didn’t have to beg too much to be offered some cakes to take away. We all agreed that the cakes were the best we have tasted in ages and the coffees superior, too. I really don’t mind paying extra for such a treat.
The café staff were exceptionally friendly, especially considering our tardiness. It is probably just as well this is not my local, as I would end up living in the café … as it is I can’t wait for my next visit to the area.

What a lovely place. Very unusual, warm, homely, wacky place, surrounded by lovely kitcheny things. The staff were sall very helpful and friendly and couldn’t do enough for you.
The cakes were amazing and the menu looked lovely. We will certainly return. We had our two dogs with us who were welcome too, which I though was brilliant. Such a welcoming place. Well done!

I quite like looking in Igigi, although I never actually buy anything because it is so flippin’ expensive, but they have got such a coherent aesthetic for the shop that it’s a pleasure to browse. The ground floor is the homewares section, but the basement houses the menswear. We are off to Africa soon, so were half-​heartedly looking for sun hats, and they always have a few styles in Igigi such as panama hats and trilbys, as well as some hats which are for decoration only. At the moment they have a British colonial army style sun helmet lying around which is fun to try on… it’s a look that probably wont go down too well in The Gambia though.
The clothes are lovely, although very costly. There was a gorgeous blue cashmere men’s cardigan in here in the winter season, but at £180 it was definitely a look-don’t-touch item for me. Generally the service in the Igigi shop is nothing to report, the staff don’t take much of an interest in me (probably because I never buy anything!), but last time we were in the woman staffing the menswear was really friendly and really helpful, offering suggestions of other good hat vendors when we didn’t buy any from there.

Igigi General Stores has a really nice, homey atmosphere — a great shop to come into out of the rain. The home décor and natural gift ideas came in a grey, beige and wooden theme. Handmade soaps, bath and shower gels, china and dishware, napkins and placemats, candles and vases were all in these natural colours and had a nice earthy feel.
Wooden items included functional pieces like coat-​hangers as well as decorative figurines — mostly hand painted animals. Men’s fashions were displayed in the basement, although women’s fashions have been moved a few doors down on Western Street.
I didn’t venture into the café upstairs, but from glancing in, it had the same homey/​earthy feel. I’m guessing healthy organic yummies, but will venture back this week to check it out.
Igigi is a bit expensive for gifts, but they’re unique and high quality — I recommend checking it out.

Whilst Billies get lots of (well-​deserved) plaudits on the Brighton breakfast front, igigi’s is IMHO a better option.
Situated above the shop, it’s all very lovely and well-​designed, and genuinely feels like somebody’s amazing kitchen that you’ve been invited too. Breakfast’s are made at a counter to one side, and smoothies and coffee’s create all sorts of noise that adds to the whole experience. Don’t come if you’re looking for a traditional English fry-​up, it’s more of a dippy egg kind of place. I normally go for Sardines on toast with rocket salad — sounds pretty wanky but the portions are huge and the ingredients are top notch. You can also get platters of toast and cheese and jam and loveliness, and all sorts of coffees.
For two, with coffees etc you probably won’t spend more than £20, which to me seems more than reasonable.
ps. Special mention too for some of the loveliest staff in Brighton; properly friendly, beautiful people.

Just like with Farrow&Ball’s paint shop– this place sends me into a quandary. On one hand, when I walked in the first time I actually gasped because the presentation of the store is so stunning. On the other hand, I immediately started to enumerate the many ways in which this sort of look is impossible, pretentious and quite detached. Everything is linen, cotton, glass and all of it in white or beige, with a reclaimed vintage edge– it does reek of an upper-​class French house in the countryside– one in which no one is allowed to move, sit, eat, drink or breathe. Either that, or they have buckets of money and just replace things regularly with more white/​beige items. You would have to buy the whole lot to achieve anything similar– which is probably the idea. The owners have done that dangerous and powerful thing of creating the illusion of a fabulous life through style and I walked around trying to uncover how I could imitate it. If you can resist the pull of style envy and keep a healthy pragmatism then go along and get some inspiration– it really is the most beautiful shop. The café has great coffee and impossibly restrained little cakes.

Igigi General Stores looks and feels like a boutique shop you’d stumble across in Paris.
There’s a spiral staircase which leads to a café and the walls have been stripped back to reveal original details of the building. As for their stock, they specialise in expensive, antique chairs, daybeds, cupboards and chaise longues. The cosy size of the store means there’s usually only one of each on display but the owners clearly have access to more as they also offer a home-​styling and bespoke furniture service.
As well as unique pieces of classic furniture, they sell lovely linen, tableware, glasses, bowls, chopping boards, cake stands, candles and toiletries. It’s an enchanting space but I suspect if I took items home they wouldn’t look quite as special as they do in the store! I also find the fact everything’s white, cream or wood a little bland. Like Pedro Almodovar, I love splashes of bold colour and Igigi is devoid of them.

From my experiences in Igigi there are several staff members who help make this quaint café a success. It is obviously popular as it is often so busy i have had to wait downstairs for a table but i have found that the ladies will always do their best to fit us in. The food is worth the wait and the cream teas are amazing especially the strawberry jam!
The general store downstairs is beautiful with lots of goodies and i usually leave with something i love but don’t need! Def worth a trip into Hove for.

Igigi downstairs is a French themed general store at one address, a clothing store two doors down, and above the general store, is a French themed café.
There are two staff members who seem to be on duty — one is friendly, cheery and charming, the other seems to think she’s doing you a big favour by serving you and talks on her mobile while you drink your café au lait. I simply peer up the stairs and if the wrong one is on duty, I got up to Starbucks instead!
When the right person is on duty this café is charming, small, friendly, intimate, with great cakes and coffee.