The city of Winchester wears its history like a well-tailored suit – all elegant architecture and regal bearing befitting England’s ancient capital. But while the cathedral’s soaring spires and college’s hallowed halls might dominate the tourist literature, it’s the city’s burgeoning food scene that’s really worthy of coronation these days.
Just an hour from London by train, Winchester has quietly evolved into Hampshire’s gastronomic capital, with a dining landscape that spans the globe, all whilst being anchored in the county’s keen agriculture. The twice-monthly farmers’ market (the largest in the UK) hints at the city’s commitment to exceptional produce, while the winding streets harbour everything from natural wine bars to artisanal coffee shops.
So whether you’re here for a weekend break or making a dedicated pilgrimage to one of the city’s acclaimed kitchens, here’s our pick of where to eat in Winchester right now. These are the best restaurants in Winchester.
Lucky Lychee at The Green Man, Southgate Street
Ideal for creative Malaysian fusion dishes in a characterful historic pub setting…
Breathing new life into a 500-year-old Winchester pub, Lucky Lychee is, to our mind, the best place to eat in Winchester. Chef Nicole Yeoh and partner James Harris marry Malaysian culinary traditions with Hampshire produce and the odd Western flourish (see: the bloody delicious brie and cranberry roti). The accolades agree – Lucky Lychee was recently crowned Britain’s Best Local Restaurant by The Good Food Guide.
The front room maintains proper boozer credentials with high tables and leather-topped benches, while comfortable booths and sofas create intimate dining spaces further back. Dark tones and wood paneling throughout.
The menu showcases Yeoh’s Nyonya heritage – a fusion of Chinese and Malay traditions. Start with sesame prawn toast elevated with lime leaf and coriander, or the Penang crispy pork roll wrapping free-range Hampshire pork in crispy beancurd. Both under a tenner.
The honey Marmite chicken delivers intensely satisfying savory depth. The 8-hour beef rendang demonstrates exceptional spice-handling, while the Nyonya pineapple king prawn curry balances Kashmiri chillies and coconut milk with tamarind and charred pineapple.
Weekend brunch features traditional roti canai – Malaysian flaky flatbreads made fresh to order. The full breakfast pairs Upton’s smoked fennel and black pepper bacon with spiced beans and signature roti. God it’s good.
A thoughtfully curated wine list leans towards low-intervention producers. The Lychee Collins provides refreshing counterpoint, while the Tom Yum Margarita pulls together hot and sour elements to glorious effect.
Open Wednesday to Friday from 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11am. Brunch served weekends 11am-2:30pm. Dinner service Wednesday to Saturday until 9pm, Sunday until 8pm. Booking recommended, particularly weekends. Dogs welcome in certain areas.
Website: luckylychee.co.uk
Address: The Green Man, 53 Southgate St, Winchester SO23 9EH
Kyoto Kitchen, Bridge Street
Ideal for exemplary Japanese cuisine that champions local ingredients…
Recently relocated from Paramount to Bridge Street but losing none of its charm in the move, Kyoto Kitchen has long been Winchester’s go-to for pinpoint Japanese cuisine. Kansai-born chef Hiroyuki Yoshida turns out an eclectic menu spanning pristine sashimi to innovative fusion.
The signature Winchester Roll swaps traditional nori for locally-grown wasabi leaves, arriving garnished with edible flowers and yuzu mayo, with fresh wasabi available to grate yourself. Nothing like a bit of interaction with your lunch, hey? The Signature Roll features prawn and tuna filling topped with seared salmon, mayo and light teriyaki dressing, while the Spider Roll with deep fried soft shell crab, tobiko, avocado and cucumber is equally impressive. All hover around the £15-19 mark.
Beyond sushi, the kitchen offers carefully curated omakase selections. The Chef’s Omakase Sashimi Selection features 20 pieces of the best available fish at £49.95, or opt for the half selection at £29.95. The Chef’s Omakase Nigiri Selection showcases six fish, individually prepared and draped over lightly pressed rice, also at £29.95.
The a la carte shines with dishes like the Gin Dara – melt-in-the-mouth black cod marinated with sweet white miso from Kyoto, served with spicy and sweet miso. At £39.95 it’s not cheap, but the pearly white flesh that literally melts in the mouth justifies it. For something truly special, the Saikoro Wagyu Steak features quintuple A grade Japanese Wagyu served Kyoto-style as gently seared cubes at £74.95.
Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch (12-1:45pm) and dinner (5:30-9:45pm), with additional afternoon service Friday through Sunday. Book ahead – the kitchen is strict about last orders.
Website: kyotokitchen.co.uk
Address: Bridge Street House, 5 Bridge St, Winchester SO23 0HN
The Chesil Rectory, Chesil Street
Ideal for refined British cooking in Winchester’s most historic dining room…
Dating back to the early 15th century, this timber-framed marvel has hosted everyone from Henry VIII to Mary Tudor. The building even helped pay for Mary’s lavish wedding to Philip of Spain at Winchester Cathedral in 1554.
The medieval character remains intact beneath heavy wooden beams, with an impressive inglenook fireplace and vintage chandeliers creating intimate nooks. The two are not mutually exclusive, of course…
The kitchen celebrates Hampshire’s natural larder. Start with chalk stream trout tartar with kohlrabi slaw and wasabi mayonnaise, before moving to 12-hour braised feather blade of beef. The duck breast with crispy confit leg and boozy cherry sauce is another standout.
Sunday lunch has achieved near-legendary status – roast sirloin or pork belly with all the trimmings including crisp, faithfully done roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and plenty of homemade gravy. Two courses £35, three courses just a fiver more.
The cheese course features award-winning local varieties. Finish with dark chocolate cremeaux paired with white miso and gorgeous coffee caramel.
Open daily for lunch and dinner (closing between services). Book well ahead – while the building may have survived six centuries, free tables here rarely last six hours. It’s not surprising; this is one the best restaurants in Winchester, make no mistake.
Website: chesilrectory.co.uk
Address: 1 Chesil St, Winchester SO23 0HU
Read: The best places for a Sunday roast in Oxford
Forte Kitchen, Parchment Street
Ideal for imaginative brunch and artisanal coffee in characterful surroundings…
Tucked away just off the High Street, this multi-level café has crafted a reputation for standout breakfasts and brunches. The airy upstairs dining room buzzes from 9am daily with Dorset-roasted coffee.
Breakfast here is a serious affair, befitting of the many lingering hangovers that this city always seems to suffer from. The Full English can barely be contained on its plate, with local sausage, bacon, eggs and all the trimmings, black pudding available for purists at £2 supplement. North African eggs layer garlic yogurt and harissa-spiced tomatoes over flatbread, while the vegan breakfast proves plant-based fare can be just as satisfying. All around £15.
For something lighter, brioche breakfast rolls start at £7 – locals swear by smoked trout, watercress and avocado. The chalk stream trout makes another appearance at lunch atop sourdough toast. Why wouldn’t it keep repeating on menus, though? It’s one of Hampshire’s most elite ingredients. It will keep repeating in other ways throughout the day, too…
Generously filled sandwiches at lunch. Their crispy chicken with katsu mayo is a standout, as is the harissa hummus with rocket.
Downstairs Hatch offers simplified takeaway, but the main café (open daily 9am-4pm) rewards those with time to linger. Booking advised for weekend brunch – this hidden gem isn’t so hidden anymore.
Website: fortekitchen.co.uk
Address: 78 Parchment St, Winchester SO23 8AT
The Wykeham Arms, Kingsgate Street
Ideal for elevated pub dining in a storied Winchester setting…
Sandwiched between Winchester Cathedral and the 14th-century college, this Fuller’s pub has earned two AA Rosettes for thirteen consecutive years. Under head chef Luke Emmess, the kitchen maintains high standards while keeping one foot firmly in pub tradition.
Begin with house-made sourdough and divine, golden-hued chicken butter, or dive into starters like chalk stream trout (there it is again) and n’duja fishcake with lobster sauce. The Grassroots beef short rib crumpet with marmite glaze is as good as it sounds.
You could luxuriate in those starters for the entirety of your meal here, but to do so would be to miss out on the more homely main courses. The signature lamb pie with creamy mash and port jus sits comfortably alongside pan-roasted trout with Cornish mussels. Both priced mid-twenties. For committed meat-eaters, the 8oz fillet steak with café de Paris butter makes a strong case for the ol’ carnivore diet at £45, while the 800g côte de boeuf at £82 is perfect for sharing.
The wine list is particularly strong on European classics, with their own Wykeham-branded wines showing surprising quality. The pub remains an actual drinking establishment too – Fuller’s ales alongside guest craft beers.
Open daily from 11am (food served from noon). Booking essential, especially for Sunday lunch. While the main menu offers refined comfort, the bar snacks menu provides perfect sustenance for a quick pint between cathedral and college.
Website: wykehamarms.co.uk
Address: 75 Kingsgate St, Winchester SO23 9PE
Overdraft Beer & Tacos, Jewry Street
Ideal for craft beer and Mexican street food…
A vinyl-soundtracked taco joint might not be the most obvious addition to Winchester’s faithfully MOR dining scene, but Overdraft has made itself indispensable. Everything from soft corn tortillas to seitan chorizo is made in-house daily.
The taco menu reads like a greatest hits of Mexican street food. Tacos are £4.50 each, or three of the same for £12. The Baja fish taco features tempura-battered catch of the day with lime slaw and mango chilli sauce, while the 12-hour braised machaca brisket shows their skill with slow-cooked meats. Vegans are particularly well served – their crispy seitan ‘chicken’ boasts a pleasing mouthfeel and plenty of vivacity.
For something more substantial, burritos come packed with red rice, refried beans and all the trimmings, while the birria tacos – three crispy shells with brisket and melted cheese, served with rich dipping sauce – have achieved cult status for good reason.
Though the name Overdraft might give students PTSD at first glance, their Taco Tuesday deal (three tacos for £8) packs out the industrial-chic space weekly. Whichever way you play it, don’t skip the sides – the lime salt fries channeling the flavours of a margarita somewhat, are addictive, especially with a dash of their house-made hot sauce.
Open daily from noon. Kitchen serves until 9pm Monday to Saturday, 8pm Sunday. Bar stays open until 10pm weekdays, midnight Friday and Saturday, 9pm Sunday. They don’t take bookings, but turnover is quick, and the bar makes waiting a pleasure rather than a chore.
Address: 5 Jewry St, Winchester SO23 8RZ
Website: overdraftbeerandtacos.co.uk
Pulpo Negro, Broad Street (Alresford)
Ideal for sophisticated Spanish tapas in a charming market town setting…
Just a short drive from Winchester in picturesque Alresford, Pulpo Negro has held its Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2014. Founders Marie-Lou and Andres Alemany bring authentic Spanish cuisine to Hampshire’s watercress capital.
The menu reads like a love letter to Spanish gastronomy, starting with impeccable jamón ibérico from Castro y González. Their namesake Galician octopus adobado is a masterclass in cooking the tentacled one until tender, and the gambas al ajillo arrive sizzling boisterously in garlic-infused oil. The BBQ seabass on the bone comes barmarked and handsome, adorned with smoked harissa and preserved lemon for a little extra energy.
The classics are done right – pan con tomate and plate of pert boquerones before moving onto heartier, more leftfield dishes like corn-fed chicken thighs with Navarra chickpeas and dukkah. The kitchen’s commitment to premium ingredients shines in large Scottish langoustines with sobrasada negra and oloroso butter; a superb dish if ever there was one.
Spanish gin takes centre stage in their cocktail program (try the Gin Mare with rosemary, thyme and lemon), and the wine list leans heavily on Spanish regions, from crisp Albariños to robust Riojas, many by the glass. Whatever you’re drinking and however full you are, end with their churros con chocolate. It would be criminal not to.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, lunch from noon to 3pm and dinner from 5pm to 11pm. The intimate dining room fills quickly, so booking ahead is essential.
Though it’s not exactly in the city, it’s certainly one of the best restaurants in the wider Winchester area. Christ, that’s a clumsy sounding phrase.
Website: Pulponegro.co.uk
Address: 28 Broad St, Alresford SO24 9AQ
Shoal, The Broadway
Ideal for elevated fish and chips that transcend the genre…
Sometimes you just want really good fish and chips, and Shoal delivers exactly that. Located on the ground floor of Winchester’s handsome Guildhall building, this chippy doesn’t lose sight of what makes fish and chips great in the first place, despite its illustrious location.
The fish is consistent, fresh and perfectly cooked, and encased in light, crisp batter that somehow manages to stay crunchy until the last bite. The chips are, you know, chips as they should be – none of your frozen nonsense here – and the homemade sauces are a cut above.
You can sit down if you so wish, and you might want to; the restaurant proper offers unlimited chips with its main courses, though you might struggle to finish your first portion – they’re bloody massive! And don’t skip dessert – the ice cream is made onsite with flavours changing daily, and comes with a lovely little branded wafer that adds a touch of old-school charm. What more could you want in such a proudly old school place?
Website: shoal.uk.net
Address: Guildhall, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH
Rick Stein, High Street
Ideal for fresh seafood dishes that bring Cornwall to Hampshire…
When Rick Stein chose Winchester as his first location beyond Cornwall in 2014, he brought more than just his name – he imported that distinctly Cornish reverence for fresh seafood. Today, with daily deliveries from the southwest coast, head chef Chris Baker maintains the exacting standards that made Stein’s Padstow joint famous.
The menu opens strong with Thai fish cakes at £12, while the seared Cornish scallops with lentils and herb dressing pack serious flavour at £19.50. Prices go north fast thereafter; the shellfish ragoût – a medley of crab, cockles, clams, mussels and prawns with linguine – is £36.50. Fortunately, the dish itself is admittedly delicious.
For the true Stein experience, the Fruits de Mer at £48 is hard to beat – a properly lavish spread featuring Cornish crab claw, oysters, prawns, scallops, mussels, cockles and clams, all left in the shell and served on ice with shallot vinegar and mayo. Perhaps steer clear of the Indonesian seafood curry, though – it’s priced at an almost unforgivable £34 for not a lot of fish, quite frankly.
The house champagne comes from a tiny winery east of Reims that’s been supplying the Steins for three decades. A thoughtfully curated wine list leans heavily on coastal regions, with several excellent by-the-glass options starting around £8.
Open daily from noon. The set lunch and early dinner menu – two courses for £22 or three for £27 – represents genuine value, especially when held up against the a la carte pricing. They’ll even serve you a coffee and pastry if that’s all your day requires – though why you’ve pitched up at Rick Stein’s seeking only a damn croissant is a question for another day.
Website: rickstein.com
Address: 8 High St, Winchester SO23 9JX
