The Best Cafes in Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom (2025)

I was there for the first time today. We bought a house nearby and I decided to look around the area. I had a vegetarian breakfast which was amazing and very fresh. I didn't notice that you can only pay in cash, but the lady behind the counter said I could withdraw cash from a nearby ATM and pay later. I was surprised by the warmth and trust. There aren't many places like that anymore.

Food - lunch specials traditional roasted turkey and eggs royale were GREAT, very satisfying! Very friendly cafe and I like the neighbourhood atmosphere very much. Definitely returning!

Good old fashioned cafe where the prices are great and the food phenomenal. Greeted with a warm smile, and they make you feel at home. If you want a comfortable stop that will leave your wallet, happy this is it.

Great local cafe,freshly cooked to order well worth a small wait.Cash only .Ask relevant questions on diet or allergy Staff happy to advise ,and check if alright

Loved it for a coffee break :) Pretty and comfortable, good atmosphere overall. The desserts and drinks are awesome, yet maybe a bit too sweet at times. Service is nice, food is served at your table. Spent around £6 for a tea and a dessert.

It’s a great space for studying/working in, and the staff are really friendly. Tried the peach matcha iced latte and it was incredible 😋 Also had both the pistachio latte and the biscoff latte - both were tasty altho a little on the sweet side (and I personally preferred the pistachio). If you like your coffee a bit stronger I’d recommend adding a shot

Very chic place with elegant decor. The cappuccino taste was great, foam nice, firm and holding. Happy to see there is a place which understands how to brew propper coffee. No complaints about croissant and cupcake either.

Such a lovely place for breakfast or lunch, serving a mixture of English breakfast/lunch options and Indian street food, as well as a great selection of cakes. The owner is really enthusiastic and passionate about what he does, we enjoyed an English breakfast of bacon, eggs and sausage with a very light garnish of chilli and Indian flatbread. Such a lovely place, we will definitely return!

I’ve been reviewing Cafes for years and years and believe me when I say this… Hello Coffee is incomparable to any other cafe. From the sheer quality in the food to the extremely compassionate service to the serene atmosphere, I definitely recommend a visit no matter where you live.

We had lunch here a few days ago and it was lovely. The Indian bread and egg omelette was delicious so were the cheese and ham croissants. We could take our 3 dogs in and we will return soon.

Went during my visit to Southampton and had a great experience here. The owner introduced me to a decently favourite loved by many (naan and omelette) and offered great advice and hospitality. Would go again!

My favourite place to take the kids. Wonderful, attentive and friendly staff. Delicious coffee, amazing cakes and all round lovely and vibrant cafe. Great open, bright space. Love it.

The staff was very friendly, and the coffee was very tasty. The pastry we ordered was fresh. They were very sustainable, highly recommended, and I would go back there again.

Was walking the dog to pass the time whilst car was getting an MOT in Shirley. The heavens opened and needed shelter somewhere, so stumbled upon this cafe by chance! Fortunately for us they were dog friendly so we were able to take refuge at this cafe. They were very welcoming to the pooch, and even had dog biscuits available for our four legged friends coming in. I didn’t grab any food, but I did have a latte which was very good quality. I should add the food did look good from what I could see. I will certainly return if and when I’m passing next time.

Lovely place with great coffee and collection of tea! Great atmosphere with a lot of natural light and huge space. Unfortunately, I can’t find a seat as it was very busy. Will try the pastries on my next visit.

Walked in to a lovely welcome, the staff behind the bar are extremely receptive and literally made us what we wanted (it was off menu) after ordering we had them brought to our table, a short while later after enjoying the dj we were given a complimentary shot that was a straight 9/10 . Really great place, I think it's just opened so definitely one to try! Edit We had breakfast here and it really didn't miss the mark. Friendly server really welcoming smile and great food, can't complain one bit

I recently decided to try Good Things. It was a Saturday, sun pouring through the window, a gentle southerly breeze, we were seated by the entrance and the staff were welcoming but it was not all good (🥁) sadly. We were offered water for the table which never arrived and our food took a while to arrive but we think it was due to a shortage of baguette rolls for the bahn mi sandwiches we ordered. I just wish we had been warned about a wait! I had the tofu bahn mi which looked impressive, but the tofu itself was quite bland under the katsu breading. The rolls also made eating the sandwich quite a challenge, so I'd probably prefer a less crusty roll. All in all, there are good things to be had at good things, but there is always room for improvement. Of course, this post is written with good humour in mind.

This is my favourite hang out spot now & hands down the best coffee in Hampshire. The staff are masters of coffee in the day & cocktail experts in the evenings. They are all extremely kind, welcoming & Southampton is very lucky to have them here. The food is also brilliant & I'm slowly making my way through the menu!

Better and cheaper than *bucks. I had a Perfect latte and fresh pastry. Maybe it's not baked here but it's not in a packet. Chilled music and modern decor. Wifi and sockets. What more do u need

Great coffee with good prices. Fresh and delicious doughnuts with different flavours and not very sweet. Friendly people with smiles and always clean place. They have vegan options as well.

Absolutely amazing cafe, massive portions, beautiful food, loads of choice, friendly staff amazing service. Best cafe in Southampton 🙏❤️🧘‍♂️

Been eating here since I was a kid !! Now take my kids most weeks and we all love the place ! Friendliest cafe locally and food is always amazing !!

Oh wow, really enjoyed the food here! It was all fresh with tasty ingredients., incredible value I must add. Fried bread as it should be, nice and crispy, I can't remember last time I had it done like Annies Cafe does.

Having just given up pork the veggie menu has won me over still Wonderful cafe , always amazing food and very reasonable prices

A wonderful place for a wholesome bite to eat and top quality coffee. The focaccia was absolutely delicious and generously filled. I also had a double espresso which was beautifully extracted and had a well balanced flavour. My fellow coffee-snobs will be pleased! The service was friendly and prompt. Pricewise, it's very reasonable, in fact surprisingly less expensive than many other cafés I've been to offering similar fair. I simply cannot fault this one. Highly recommended!

Honestly, I rarely leave reviews but I wanted to leave it this time, because they have the loveliest staff on earth at this cute heaven like cafe. They are all very helpful and positive. I felt very welcomed. I had a hot chocolate, peach tea and a raspberry meringue and they were all amazing. This place has made my studying fun and enjoyable. I will definitely recommend and I will come more often.🌸☺️

Lovely place for coffee and lunch. Always very welcoming and wonderful staff. I’ve found it to be a really child friendly place to visit with my daughter as they have high chairs, some toys and children’s options and I can relax and have a coffee.

Happy Bean Coffee Bar is such a cute and comfy spot! They make some of the best coffee I’ve had around Southampton, and it’s with vegan milk! The vibe is perfect for just hanging out or getting a bit of work done. And honestly, you can’t go wrong with avocado toast—it was so good! If you’re nearby and need a chill place to grab a great coffee, definitely swing by.

A really quaint cafe with a view of the river. Coffees are available in a range of sizes with a small latte being £3.40. There is also a wide range of sweet and savoury pastries with vegetarian options. Staff are also very friendly.

Great place to visit right by the lake. Great service and food were amazing . It's definitely worth a visit ☺️ hope to see you again soon . Loved all the display boards of the hounds of Woodmill .

Stopped in today after a walk along the river. Very warm and welcoming and I was chuffed to see so many dogs inside too. The staff were friendly, I treated myself to a takeaway hot chocolate and cherry pie that'll kill ya! 🥧🥰 Delicious. I will definitely be returning.

I went to Muse Cafe the other day, and I have to say, it was such a nice experience! I ordered a Ferrero Rocher milkshake🧋, and while it did take a bit of time to make, the staff gave me a free pistachio croissant🥐. It was SO good - like, I'd go back just for that croissant. The prices are super affordable too, which is amazing if you're a student. Plus, the vibe is perfect for studying or just chilling📚. I'd definitely recommend this place to everyone!"

Visited there recently and the interior and the ambiance was quite nice there. They had seating on the ground floor as well as the first. We ordered a cappuccino and a herbal tea. Both were quite nice. Of course the herbal tea was made with tea bags, still it was presented in a nice way. They have clean toilets upstairs as well. Make sure to be careful on the staircase though, as the steps are quite narrow. In conclusion it is a nice place to hangout, have a chat or even bring your work and do. Recommended!

I love that Muse stays open until 9pm especially on a Sunday. Perfect to unwind after a hectic week with a cuppa and a book. The coffee is cheap, delicious and suitable for all dietary needs too. Perfect! They even gave us free coffee after the hate marches earlier this year to spread love such as nice touch! Thanks to my server Gabby for working the Sunday evening (19 Jan 2025) with a smile and making this possible - even ensured my coconut cappuccino was perfectly frothy.

Very spacious coffee shop with good coffee open until late evening. Perfect spot to take a rest.