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
Ideal for creative Malaysian fusion dishes in a characterful historic pub setting…
Breathing new life into a historic Winchester pub that’s stood for over 500 years, Lucky Lychee represents an exciting evolution in the city’s dining scene and is, to our mind, the best place to eat in Winchester. Under the guidance of chef Nicole Yeoh and partner James Harris, this permanent residency marries Malaysian culinary traditions with Hampshire’s stellar produce and the odd ‘Western’ flourish (see: the bloody delicious brie and cranberry roti), creating something genuinely unique in the process.
The space itself retains the vibe of an old fashioned pub – the front room maintains its proper boozer credentials with high tables and leather-topped benches, while further back, comfortable booths and tastefully-upholstered sofas create more intimate dining spaces. Dark muted tones and wood paneling throughout maintain the building’s historic character while creating a sophisticated modern dining environment.
The menu is a testament to Yeoh’s Nyonya heritage – a fusion of Chinese and Malay culinary traditions characterised by vibrant flavours and intricate preparation. Start with their signature sesame prawn toast, elevated beyond the takeaway classic with fragrant lime leaf and coriander. The Penang crispy pork roll is another standout, wrapping free-range Hampshire pork marinated in 10 different spices in a crispy beancurd sheet – a perfect example of the kitchen’s ability to marry local ingredients with Malaysian techniques. Both clock it at under a tenner.
Main courses showcase similar thoughtfulness. The honey Marmite chicken (£14.50) might raise eyebrows on paper, but delivers an intensely satisfying combination of savory depth and subtle sweetness. Their 8-hour beef rendang demonstrates exceptional spice-handling, while the Nyonya pineapple king prawn curry (£16.50) balances Kashmiri chillies and coconut milk with brightness from tamarind and charred pineapple.
The restaurant’s commitment to quality extends to their weekend brunch offering, where traditional roti canai – Malaysian flaky flatbreads made fresh to order – come filled with everything from curry-spiced Hampshire pork sausages to eggs and cream cheese. Their innovative fusion approach is perhaps best exemplified in the full breakfast (£15.50), which pairs Upton’s smoked fennel and black pepper bacon with spiced beans and their signature roti. God it’s good.
A thoughtfully curated wine list leans towards low-intervention producers, with whites selected for freshness and aromatics to complement the spice-forward food. The cocktail list shows similar consideration – their signature Lychee Collins (£10) provides a refreshing counterpoint to the kitchen’s bolder flavours, while the Tom Yum Margarita pulls together the hot and sour elements of that beloved Thai classic to glorious effect.
Open Wednesday through Sunday (from 3pm weekdays, 11am weekends), with brunch served weekends 11am-3pm. Evening service runs until 11pm (9pm Sundays). Booking is recommended, particularly for weekend services, though they always keep some tables free for walk-ins and drinkers. Dogs are welcome in certain areas – just mention when booking.
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. Under the guidance of Kansai-born chef Hiroyuki Yoshida, the kitchen turns out an eclectic menu that spans from pristine sashimi to innovative fusion creations.
The restaurant’s signature Winchester Roll perfectly encapsulates the kitchen’s philosophy of marrying Japanese technique with Hampshire produce. At just under £19, this ‘world-first’ (their words, not ours) creation swaps traditional nori for locally-grown wasabi leaves, arriving at the table garnished with edible flowers and goji berries, with fresh wasabi available to grate yourself. Nothing like a bit of interaction with your lunch, hey?
The sushi menu features other standouts like the Rainbow Roll – a technicolor display of seared fish wrapping crispy tempura and cucumber – and the indulgent Lobster Roll, where sweet meat meets wasabi tobiko and lobster aioli, the latter commanding a thoroughly deserved £20 price tag. Rock and roll, indeed.
For those looking to explore a world beyond sushi, the kitchen offers three excellent tasting menus starting at £55: the classic Taste of Japan, a thoughtfully crafted Vegan Taste of Japan, and the more elaborate Gourmet Taste of Japan, at £80. Each can be bolstered with carefully chosen sake pairings for an additional £25. The sake selection itself is impressive, with everything from sparkling varieties to aged specialty brews.
The a la carte menu shines with dishes like the Black Cod Gyozas – delicate dumplings filled with black cod and yuzu – and the showstopping Gin Dara, a melt-in-the-mouth black cod that’s actually sablefish, available with either sweet or spicy miso glaze. The latter might seem steep at £50 (not ‘seem’; it is steep), but the butter-soft flesh and complex marinade go some way to justifying the price tag.
Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch (12-1:45pm) and dinner (5:30-9:45pm), with an additional afternoon service Friday through Sunday. Book ahead – this place fills up fast, and 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…
If walls could talk, The Chesil Rectory’s would have quite the tale to tell. Dating back to the early 15th century, this timber-framed marvel – now Winchester’s oldest commercial building – has played host to everyone from Henry VIII (who once owned it) to Mary Tudor (who received it as a gift from her father). The building even helped pay for Mary’s lavish wedding to Philip of Spain at Winchester Cathedral in 1554, when she bequeathed it to the city to help cover the costs.
Today, the medieval character remains gloriously intact. The dining rooms unfold beneath heavy wooden beams, with an impressive inglenook fireplace warming the space. Vintage chandeliers cast a gentle glow across botanical prints and sage green banquettes, creating intimate nooks perfect for both special occasions and leisurely lunches. The two are not mutually exclusive, of course…
The kitchen maintains the building’s heritage of hospitality with a menu that celebrates Hampshire’s natural larder. Start with the tartar of chalk stream trout with kohlrabi slaw and wasabi mayonnaise, before moving on to the 12-hour braised feather blade of beef with potato purée and port jus. The duck breast, served with its crispy confit leg and a boozy cherry sauce, is another standout on a current menu full of them.
As is befitting of any university town, the Sunday lunch here has achieved near-legendary status, with a choice of roast sirloin of beef or pork belly coming with all the trimmings – think crisp, faithfully done roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, seasonal greens and plenty of homemade gravy. The two-course option comes in at £35, with three courses just a fiver more.
Even the cheese course tells a proudly British story, featuring a selection of award-winning local varieties served with seasonal chutney and cranberry and hazelnut biscuits. Finish with their innovative dark chocolate cremeaux, cleverly paired with the now ubiquitous dessert-interloper white miso, as well as a gorgeous coffee caramel.
Open daily for lunch and dinner (though do note they close between services), with especially atmospheric evening sittings in the medieval dining rooms. 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
Rick Stein, High Street
Ideal for fresh seafood dishes that bring Cornwall to Hampshire…
When Rick Stein chose Winchester as the first location to venture 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 and his team maintain the exacting standards that made Stein’s Padstow joint famous.
The menu opens strong with tempura oysters at £5.50 apiece, their crisp coating giving way to briny sweetness, while the piri piri sardines at under a tenner pack serious heat. Prices go north fast thereafter; the shellfish ragoût – a medley of crab, cockles, clams, mussels and prawns in a rich sauce with linguine – is a whopping £34. Fortunately, the dish itself speaks to the kitchen’s ability to let quality ingredients sing without overwhelming them, and is admittedly delicious.
For the true Stein experience, the Fruits de Mer at £70 is hard to beat – a properly lavish spread of shellfish served on ice in the French style, featuring half a Cornish crab alongside prawns, oysters, scallops, mussels, cockles and clams. Perhaps steer clear of the Indonesian seafood curry, though – it’s priced at an almost unforgivable £32 for not a lot of fish, quite frankly.
The bar program deserves mention – their house champagne (£17.50 a glass, £71 a bottle) 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 until 9pm (10pm Friday and Saturday), the restaurant hits its sweet spot with their set lunch and early dinner menu – two courses for £22 or three for £27 represents genuine value in this part of town, 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
Forte Kitchen, Parchment Street
Ideal for imaginative brunch and artisanal coffee in characterful surroundings…
Speaking of croissants, tucked away just off the High Street, this charming multi-level café has crafted a reputation for standout breakfasts and brunches that wear their ‘best in class’ tag proudly. The airy upstairs dining room buzzes from 9am daily, filling with the aroma of 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, with black pudding available for the purists at a £2 supplement. Forte’s North African eggs are equally good, layering garlic yogurt and harissa-spiced tomatoes over flatbread, while the vegan breakfast proves plant-based fare can be just as satisfying with its combination of spinach, mushrooms, avocado and homemade rosti. All clock in at around the £15 mark.
For something lighter, the brioche breakfast rolls start at £7 with your choice of fillings – locals swear by the combination of smoked trout, watercress and avocado. The chalk stream trout makes another appearance at lunch atop sourdough toast, accompanied by spinach and slow-cooked tomatoes. 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…
The lunch menu brings a selection of generously filled sandwiches. Their crispy chicken with katsu mayo is a standout, while the harissa hummus with rocket once again shows the kitchen’s skill with vegetarian options.
Between meals, the homemade kombucha (£4.50) provides a refreshing pick-me-up, while those seeking something stronger might opt for a local craft beer.
For those on the move, Forte’s downstairs Hatch offers a simplified takeaway menu, but the main café, open daily from 9am to 4pm, rewards those with time to linger. Booking is 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, The Wykeham Arms wears its heritage proudly. This Fuller’s pub has held court on Kingsgate Street for generations, earning two AA Rosettes for thirteen consecutive years. Under head chef Luke Emmess, the kitchen maintains that high standard while keeping one foot firmly in pub tradition.
Begin with their house-made sourdough and a divine, golden-hued chicken butter, or dive straight into starters like the chalk stream trout (there it is again) and n’duja fishcake, served with a lobster sauce that speaks to the kitchen’s fine dining ambitions. 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, which strike a careful balance between pub classics and more ambitious fare. Their signature lamb pie, topped with creamy mash and served with a rich port jus, sits comfortably alongside pan-roasted trout with Cornish mussels. Both are priced in the mid-twentines. For committed meat-eaters, the 8oz fillet steak (£45) with café de Paris butter makes a strong case for the ol’ carnivore diet, while the 800g côte de boeuf (£82) is perfect for sharing.
The wine list is particularly strong on European classics, from affordable house options to special occasion bottles, with their own Wykeham-branded wines showing surprising quality. The pub remains an actual drinking establishment too – you’ll find Fuller’s ales alongside guest craft beers.
Open daily from 11am (food served 12-9pm, later on Fridays and Saturdays), with a shorter Sunday service focusing on roasts. The dining rooms fill up quickly, especially for Sunday lunch, so booking ahead is essential.
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 with its commitment to authenticity – everything here, from the soft corn tortillas to the seitan chorizo, is made in-house daily.
The taco menu (£4.50 each, three of the same for £12) reads like a greatest hits of Mexican street food. The Baja fish taco, featuring tempura-battered catch of the day with lime slaw and mango chilli sauce, is a standout, while the 12-hour braised machaca brisket with habanero mayo 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, Overdraft’s burritos come packed with red rice, refried beans and all the trimmings, while the birria tacos – three crispy shells stuffed with brisket and melted cheese, served with a 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 of the same taco for £8) packs out the industrial-chic space weekly with bargain hunters. 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 until 11pm (midnight on weekends), with food served until 9:30pm. They don’t take bookings, but the turnover is quick, and the bar makes waiting for a table 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 the picturesque town of Alresford, Pulpo Negro has held its Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2014 – a testament to founders Marie-Lou and Andres Alemany’s vision of bringing 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 (£12 for 25g, £24 for 50g). Their namesake Galician octopus adobado (£20) is a masterclass in cooking the tentacled one until tender, and the gambas al ajillo arrive sizzling boisterously in garlic-infused oil. For something more substantial, 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 here – start with 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 stretches beyond their jamon selection, and shines in dishes like their 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, naturally, from crisp Albariños to robust Riojas, with many available 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 for lunch (12-3pm) and dinner (5:30-11pm, 5-11pm Friday and Saturday). The intimate dining room fills up quickly, so booking ahead is essential, particularly for weekend services.
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