For a city of its size and cultural capital, Southampton’s restaurant scene feels criminally underrated.
Sure, this might be the city where Jane Austen celebrated her 18th birthday and wrote Sense and Sensibility. And yes, it is the place where both the iconic Spitfire and the Titanic had their maiden voyages (the former more successful than the latter, of course), but ask most Sotonian about their culinary heritage, and it’s Clarence Birdseye, the founding father of fish fingers, that might first come to mind.
You can probably guess where this one is going; as locals and proud Saints, we hope we’re not taking the partisan position when we say that Southampton’s restaurant scene is thriving, with national acclaim and awards recognition surely around the corner.
If you’re in the city and wondering where to eat, then here are the very best restaurants in Southampton.
The Jetty, Ocean Village
Ideal for finely done seafood with views of the marina…
From your mum’s kitchen to a place with Michelin-starred aspirations, The Jetty manages to straddle fun and fine dining with grace, and is our favourite high-end restaurant in Southampton, hands down.
It’s a seafood-forward menu here, brought to life not only by veteran chef Alex Aitken, but also by the light and airy dining room, which boasts panoramic views across swanky Ocean Village Marina, and a terrace that always seems to be bathed in Solent sunshine and on the receiving end of the most gentle of sea breezes.
Phew, we could sit out here all day, but the kitchen’s pass-spanning display of freshly caught local fish laying proudly over ice has enticed us back inside. Though there’s a keenly priced set menu at £35 for three courses, we prefer to run roughshod over the a la carte offering – mainly because that’s where the funky, umami-heavy crab croquettes are found.
After that, for the ultimate seafood experience it has to be – and always is – the mixed fish grill, which sees the catch of the day grilled on the bone, served alongside a handful of tiger prawns, a marinière featuring clams, cockles and mussels, and, of course, some aioli, here positively humming with roasted garlic. For £37.50, it’s an absolute steal.
The restaurant is open everyday for lunch and dinner, closing a little earlier on Sundays.
Website: harbourhotels.co.uk
Address: Southampton Harbour Hotel, 5 Maritime Walk, Southampton SO14 3TL
Blue Jasmine, Ocean Village
Ideal for a contemporary take on the food of South East Asia…
Another fantastic restaurant in Southampton’s Ocean Village is Blue Jasmine, a place doing contemporary takes on South East Asian cuisine with real flair and imagination.
Though we’re usually a little cautious of ‘refined’ takes on regional cooking (isn’t it refined enough already?), there’s so much to love about the food at Blue Jasmine, with some seriously show-stopping dishes bringing some much needed spice and vitality to this corner of the quayside.
The kitchen here is led by former Hakkasan executive sous chef Daren Liew, who fuses memories of growing up in this father’s restaurant in Malaysia with some of Hampshire’s finest produce.
The results are spectacular, whether that’s in the Hampshire rib eye beef served bathed in a Sha Ca green peppercorn sauce (an interpretation of a Malaysian satay sauce) or local asparagus stir-fried in chef’s homemade XO.
The undeniable headlining act here, though, is the chargrilled seabass, dressed with a 1400-year aged Chinese vinegar and toasted miso dressing, all finished with truffle because, well, why not?
You’ll certainly pay for the privilege, with that seabass dish clocking in at just shy of £40 and no bottle on the globetrotting winelist available for under £30, but for a special occasion kind of place, with all the theatre and flourish that suggests, Blue Jasmine can’t be beaten.
If you are keen to sample Blue Jasmine’s innovative takes on South East Asian food on something of a relative budget, then your best bet might be the Sunday Wu Cha (afternoon tea) experience. Here, between midday and 5pm, a set menu of dinky, delicious bites, accompanied by a glass of champagne and plenty of tea, costs just £38.
Website: bluejasmine.co.uk
Address: Unit 3-4, Alexandra Wharf, Maritime Walk, Ocean Way, Southampton SO14 3QS
The Pig In The Wall, City Centre
Ideal for a tiny restaurant with big flavours from a revered local restaurant group…
If you’ve ever dined at New Forest destination restaurant The Pig, who proudly source 80% of their ingredients from within a 25 mile radius, then you’ll already be well aware of the quality of the cooking at this restaurant group, which now numbers 8 in total.
One of those is found tucked away in the mediaeval walls of Southampton. ‘’The smallest of the litter’’ (their words, not ours), The Pig In The Wall more than makes up for its apparent Napoleon complex with big, bold flavours, even if this is more self-proclaimed ‘deli-dining’ than the usual finer side of things that we’ve come to expect from Hutson and co.
Hell, they even call it ”supper” rather than dinner, and the place closes at 8pm, but in those slightly reduced hours you’ll find plenty to enjoy on the Pig In The Wall’s dinner (sorry, supper) table. Go for the comforting cottage pie with a side of garden kale, followed by an apple crumble which has caught in all the right places. Pouring cream is mandatory.
Or, for something lighter, the deli bits are beautifully composed; the Hampshire pork pie, in particular, is a thing of majesty. With glasses of perfectly drinkable plonk available for under a fiver – the easy drinking La Vigneau at £4.75 is a particular steal – this rendition of The Pig is a great way to try the restaurant group’s famed hospitality without having to leave the city or open your wallet too wide. Result!
Website: thepighotel.com
Address: 8 Western Esplanade, Southampton SO14 2AZ, United Kingdom
La Regata, Town Quay
Ideal for old-school Spanish tapas in kitsch setting…
If you’re after the kind of Spanish restaurant that eschews modern (or even kinda recent) gastro-pretensions in favour of time-honoured tapas traditions, then La Regata is your spot. Having held court near the waterfront for almost a quarter of a century, this place has earned its stripes as one of Southampton’s most beloved dining institutions.
The setting alone is worth the visit – housed in a Grade II listed building from the 1860s, the restaurant spans two characterful, kitschy floors with an impressive mezzanine overlooking the main dining room. The decor hits all the right notes of rustic Spanish charm, from the blue traditional tiles to the dark wooden furnishings, but there are also a few nautical flourishes to remind you where you are; if you didn’t smell the industrial sea breeze as you pitched up, the ornamental life buoys will anchor you in Southampton rather than Seville. Bringing you back to the latter, the fairy light-draped palm tree centrepiece adds an unexpected touch of whimsy to proceedings.
But you’re here for the food, and this is where La Regata truly shines. The menu is a love letter to classic Spanish cuisine, with tapas plates that would make any Madrileño feel right at home. The tuna salad with potatoes and peas might sound simple, but it’s executed perfectly, while the fresh grilled sardines further showcase the kitchen’s deft hand with seafood – pleasing when considering how close you are to the water.
For the full experience, gather a group and order across the menu – three to four dishes per person is the sweet spot, but we’re sure you know how tapas works. Make sure the fried squid with aioli makes an appearance (it’s some of the best we’ve had this side of Barcelona), and don’t skip the Cantabrian cheese-stuffed dates, which strike that perfect balance between sweet and savoury, and basically work perfectly as a dessert/cheese course hybrid.
Unsurprisingly, Spanish wines dominate the winelist. Whether you’re in the mood for a crisp Albariño or a robust Rioja, there’s plenty to explore by the bottle or glass for around a fiver, which is cracking value in this economy. And if you’re feeling festive (yep, we know it’s January, but live moves on), the house sangria, available by the glass or jug, is dangerously drinkable.
Website: laregata.co.uk
Address: Town Quay, Southampton SO14 2AR
De Ja Vu Royal Pier (formerly Kuti’s), Town Quay
Ideal for award-winning, Francis Benali-approved Indian food…
We couldn’t discuss the best restaurants in Southampton without paying lip service to everyone’s favourite curry house, Kuti’s, which is now under new management and a truly tacky new name; De Ja Vu Royal Pier.
We’re pleased to report standards haven’t slipped here, with a recent meal at De Ja Vu delivery the goods. It’s not just the restaurant’s long-serving association with Southampton FC legend Francis Benali that makes this place a cult favourite among the city’s curry fans; the food here is genuinely excellent, and its new location at the entrance to the Royal Pier illustrious.
In fact, Kuti’s was named as the UK’s Top Indian Restaurant in 2018 at the International Indian Chef Awards, and it was an accolade that felt well-deserved to those who have enjoyed the restaurant’s famous Adraki lamb chops or Kashmiri king prawn rogan josh.
Sure, this isn’t a modern ‘small sharing plates of Indian street food’ kind of place, with its very particular type of pink and yellow colourscheme and curious placement of full-size rickshaws. Rather, it’s a curry house in the Anglo-Indian tradition of the British high street, with ornate gold trim on the banquette seating and a purple hue to the evening dining that Prince would feel at home basking under. The menu hasn’t changed dramatically since the name did, with beloved classics like those lamb chops still very much in place.
With Cobra King Malabar IPA on tap and the poppadoms free-flowing, there’s no place we’d rather be, particularly post-St. Mary’s, while we dissect a famous Saints victory over some delicious Indian food. We just can’t help thinking they’ve missed a trick here not calling it ‘De Ja Vu-ti’s’…
Website: dejavuroyalpier.com
Address: The Royal Pier, Mayflower Park, Town Quay, Southampton SO14 2AQ
Dancing Man Brewery, Town Quay
Ideal for pub classics and gorgeously hoppy beers…
Just a minute’s walk from Kuti’s and into Town Quay proper, we’re ending our tour of the best food in Southampton at Dancing Man Brewery, with a pint of the brewpub’s award winning, hop-heavy Jack O’Diamonds in one hand and a double DMB cheeseburger in the other.
This gorgeous pub, housed in a mediaeval woolhouse defined by timber beams and a freestone facade, is a place for incredibly complex, invigorating beer first and foremost, but the food found on the menu (fresh out of a newly refurbished and reimagined kitchen) is eminently satisfying, too, with nourishing pub classics the order of the day – every day – here. It’s the perfect way to end a perfect day exploring Southampton’s top restaurants.
Website: dancingmanbrewery.co.uk
Address: Town Quay, Southampton SO14 2AR, United Kingdom
Hartnett Holder & Co, Lyndhurst
Ideal for refined Italian-British fusion in luxurious New Forest surroundings…
Just a short drive from Southampton proper, in the heart of the New Forest, sits what might be Hampshire’s most impressive culinary collaboration. When Michelin-starred Angela Hartnett joined forces with Lime Wood’s Luke Holder, the result was something rather special indeed – a restaurant that marries Italian soul with British produce in the most elegant of settings, the aforementioned Lime Wood Hotel.
The dining room, reimagined by designer Martin Brudnizki, strikes that perfect balance between casual and refined – think panelled dark-oak bar, flattering lighting that can make even a plate of pasta look fancy, and corner sofas that you’ll want to linger in.
The menu here is a constantly evolving love letter to Hampshire’s abundant produce, with many ingredients coming from the hotel’s own grounds and smokehouse. The kitchen’s partnership with Four Acre Farm in Ringwood (a no-dig farm just down the road) means the menu changes not just with the seasons, but sometimes daily, depending on what’s been pulled from the earth that morning. Breathe in that damp, earthy aroma of the woodland, and prepare for a sense of seasonality to match.
Current winter highlights include chalk stream trout from the River Test, West Country venison, and mushrooms foraged from the surrounding forest, but it’s the pasta dishes that really showcase the kitchen’s prowess – keep an eye out for the silky spaghetti with Isle of Wight lobster and chilli, a dish that perfectly encapsulates the restaurant’s Anglo-Italian approach and connects the restaurant to not only the surrounding pastures but also the nearby coast.
For the full experience, round things off with the tart tatin to share and some freshly baked madeleines. And while the tome-like wine list might feel overwhelming at first, the knowledgeable staff are more than happy to guide you through their impressive selection of organic and biodynamic options.
With three AA Rosettes under its belt and a string of historic accolades including Restaurant of the Year at the Hampshire Food & Drinks Awards a decade ago, Hartnett Holder & Co proves that some of Southampton’s best food can be found just beyond the city limits. Just make sure to book ahead (and to book a bed, too) – this is one restaurant that’s worth planning your evening around.
Website: limewoodhotel.co.uk
Address: Beaulieu Rd, Lyndhurst SO43 7FZ
AO, Eling *temporarily closed*
Ideal for a refined, farm-to-table tasting menu at Southampton’s most Michelin-friendly restaurant…
The son of 3 Michelin-starred, Southampton-born Simon Rogan, Daniel Rogan has created something uniquely his own in this little corner of the city, just off London Road at Sunnyfields Farm. It’s a family affair here, with the name AO simply the initials of Rogan junior’s two children. Lovely stuff, but that’s enough about the lineage, we’re hungry…
Though the restaurant sits on Jacobs Gutter Lane, it’s got its eye firmly on the stars, with Michelin aspirations apparent in the refined but unfussy plates celebrating just a couple of key ingredients, the reaffirming of AO’s sustainability chops with every dish’s arrival, and the hyper seasonality of the whole thing. Indeed, you’ll be on first name terms with the restaurant’s producers and growers by the end of the no-choice, 8 course, £80 a head tasting menu.
All of this might sound a little cynical – there’s an open kitchen, exposed brick walls, and chefs presenting dishes, too – if the food wasn’t top notch. Here, it’s precise and perfectly executed, with a lightness of touch the true narrative thread that ties everything together.
An early dish of a single, palm-sized barbecued scallop with a gorgeously burnished crust and mi-cuit centre is served with an aerated cauliflower puree and small but meaty slivers of hen of the woods mushroom. It feels like the perfect bridge between winter and spring, and sets the tone for a procession of dishes of similar exactitude, a rundown that reaches a crescendo with a thick piece of blushing White park beef fillet, celeriac, and the liquorice hum of black garlic. The sauce, reduced until sticky and coating the beef just so, is divine.
A word for the sommelier here, who gets the tone of the £50-a-head wine flight just right, offering insights into the winemaking process and flavour profile of each glass without letting your food go cold when doing so. It’s a tricky balancing act to get right.
Though that Michelin star is yet to be awarded (open for less than two years, it’s only a matter of time, we think), AO has already caught the attention of SquareMeal UK, which has included it in their Top 100 restaurants list for 2024. Expect to hear more about this one as they bed in and grow.
*As of December 2024, AO is temporarily closed for refurbishment*
Website: restaurantao.co.uk
Address: Sunnyfields Farm shop, Jacob’s Gutter Ln, Southampton SO40 9FX
Lakaz Maman, Bedford Place *now permanently closed*
Ideal Masterchef-winning, fully-flavoured Mauritian food…
Bedford Place is one of our favourite neighbourhoods in Southampton, with some great independent pubs (you may well have seen us sinking a few in the Black Phoenix), bars and restaurants in the area doing all the good things right.
The best place to eat in Bedford Place? In our humble opinion, it’s got to be Lakaz Maman, the brainchild of Masterchef 2012 winner Shelina Permalloo. Meaning ‘Mum’s House’ in Mauritian Creole, and run by an all-female management team, this really is a warm and welcoming place to dine, with a cosy dining room and hearty, home-style Creole dishes bringing lots of love (and flavour) to the table.
Though you could fashion a whole meal from the starters section (do not miss the gato pima – a deep-fried mix of split yellow peas and chilli – aswell as the chargrilled octopus tentacle with pineapple salsa), you’d be foolish to overlook Permalloo’s signature curries. Rich with coconut milk and fragrant with a spice mix that’s redolent of cardamom, the braised mutton is our favourite; the grassy, gamey meat the perfect counterpoint to the light luxury of the coconut sauce.
A full halal menu with plenty of vegan options too, this is one to enjoy as a big group; if you can fit them all in, that is!
*Sadly, as of January 2025, Lakaz Maman is now permanent closed.*
Website: lakazmaman.com
Address: 22 Bedford Pl, Southampton SO15 2DB, United Kingdom
Now, when was that last train home?
Why not head east on your culinary journey of discovery next, in search of Brighton and Hove’s best restaurants? You know you want to!
