The Best Restaurants in Avington, Hampshire, United Kingdom (2025)

Came here on a Friday late lunch after enjoying a day in Winchester. They offer some good 2 and 3 course deals, but we had our heart set on the chateaubriand steak. We ordered this and the baguette with dips to enjoy while waiting for the steak to be cooked. The place is very spacious and nicely laid out, with an open plan kitchen upstairs. Staff here are very good. Our meal was very good paired with a good red wine as well. The only criticism is the mark up on the wine. But this is something that happens everywhere. Overall a brilliant late lunch here🙂

Elegant! Lovely decor, wonderful service, delicious food and a great wine list. We went as a group of 4 for a 2/3 course lunch and there was nothing to fault. It was our first time dining there and we will certainly be back. It was great to have some seasonal game choices on the menu.

Rather noisy, but that's the way of most restaurants these days. Service excellent. Food very good, although carrot 🥕 too soft. Dessert was slightly disappointing as the description said, "Autumn Still Life", and was just like a painting on the plate with not much to eat.

We both chose to dine from the prix fixé menu (which also included a Botanist gin! ). Very reasonably priced for less than £20 for the two course option. I always look at the dessert option first - so I chose the treacle tart. For mains I had the couscous with aubergine and harissa. It was delicious - just the right amount of spice and very colourful. The tart (very generous portion !) with salted caramel icecream was really nice. All the staff were pleasant and friendly - our server in particular (didn't catch her name). Will definitely come back again when in Winchester.

We recently had our wedding at Lainston House, and it was absolutely perfect from start to finish! The venue is stunning, with beautiful surroundings that made for an unforgettable backdrop to our special day. The staff went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly, making us feel truly cared for throughout the entire process. The hotel accommodation was fantastic as well—comfortable, luxurious, and ideal for both us and our guests. The attention to detail, from the wedding planning to the catering, was flawless. Our guests are still raving about the food and the overall atmosphere!

We had a wonderful stay at Lainston House. All of the staff could not have been more friendly and accommodating. A special mention needs to go to Tom Hamblet in the Avenue restaurant. The food was divine and one of the best meals we have had in a long time. Totally delicious and divine. Definitely 5 stars.

Spent a weekend at Lainston House and would thoroughly recommend. The room itself was very good with nice views down the grounds. Eat one night at the Wellhouse and had the Chef's Table at the Avenue the second night. Both very good, though the Chef's table was definitely special. As a note my partner has a number of allergies and both restaurants coped without issue, though was especially impressed with the Chef's table where they did a bespoke tasting menu. Overall for the quality of service the hotel offers and standard of rooms highly recommended.

Stunning setting and beautiful hotel. If you like a traditional manor house then this is the place for you. The staff are extremely hospitable and can't do enough for you. The rooms are traditional and have molton brown toiletries. The grounds are vast and great for a walk. The breakfast and afternoon tea is delicious. Lainston is one of my favourite hotels.

A Taste of Japan in Winchester – Kyoto Kitchen I had heard about Kyoto Kitchen, and while I was in the area, I thought it would be a great opportunity to check it out! My daughter and I managed to book a table on the same day, which was relatively easy despite not being locals. Entering through the hotel, we passed by the bar area before stepping into the main dining space. The atmosphere was both summery and refined, with a unique layout. There was only one central pathway, giving the impression of entering a grand hall, almost like a castle. The tables were arranged on either side, and at the heart of the room stood a striking center piece—a large kimono - its presence commanding attention like a king in a courtroom. To my surprise, there was another dining area designed in the style of a traditional Japanese sushi bar, where guests could watch the chefs prepare fresh sushi. The delicate fabric dividers between the rooms reminded me of Japan, adding to the authenticity of the experience. I was seated in the banquet area, opposite a stunning vegetable art display spanning the entire wall. It created an incredible blend of indoor and outdoor elements, stimulating the senses in an unexpected way. For my meal, I ordered the Winchester Sushi Rolls, as recommended by the waiter. This dish featured fresh salmon, mango, cucumber, and seaweed, topped with goji berries and a horseradish sauce. The combination was delicate yet flavorful—refreshing with a perfect balance of sweetness and spice. I also had Wagyu Gyoza, garnished with edible flowers, which was incredibly fresh and beautifully presented. The service was excellent, and the entire experience truly transported me to Japan. Winchester is fortunate to have such a gem of a restaurant, and I hope they continue to support their talented chefs. This is a must-visit for sushi lovers and anyone looking for an authentic Japanese dining experience.

Kyoto Kitchen is a wonderful place to enjoy Japanese cuisine. Located in Winchester, it offers a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that sets the stage for a great dining experience. The menu is thoughtfully designed, with a focus on fresh ingredients and creative dishes that balance traditional flavours with a modern touch. Each dish is beautifully presented, showing great attention to detail and care - and the food was delicious. The service was exceptional—staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to help, making sure you feel looked after throughout your meal. Whether you’re marking a special occasion or just want to enjoy a quality meal, Kyoto Kitchen is a fantastic choice. It’s the kind of restaurant you’ll want to visit again.

My daughter took me here for my 60th birthday present. On arrival the restaurant knew it had been my birthday a few weeks ago, but still wished me happy birthday. There were four of us eating and we all chose the gourmet set menu. The menus are being changed Monday so they will have new names. They asked us about food allergies. Two of us are gluten free and to complicate things I can't eat crustaceans. This was no problem to them and they adapted the food when ever necessary. The food was exceptional and the waiters took time to explain exactly how each dish had been prepared and what the ingredients were. The food came at a nice pace. When we had our penultimate dish, the Winchester Roll, they served this with fresh wasabi. The flavour of this was fantastic. I would certainly come back and eat here again. I really want to try their vegan set menu next time.

Had an absolutely wonderful birthday meal here. All the staff (especially our lovely waitress, Momo!) were incredibly attentive and the food itself was absolutely superb. If you’re looking for authentic Japanese food in a fancy (but not posh/snobby) environment then this is the spot~

Lovely café, brought my family here visiting Winchester. My mum said it was the best chai latte she's ever had. The atmosphere was fantastic and service was fantastic. This is now or go to coffee spot in Winchester

Throughly enjoyed my lunch here today. The food was very good(creamed spinach, mushrooms on sourdough) very good portion size! The scotch egg my partner had was enormous. Tad on the pricier side but the good sized portion made up for it.

I recently held a dinner for 40 professionals at Forte Kitchen. The team at Forte Kitchen were super helpful both before my event and during it. They made us all feel very welcome and the service was perfect ... good without being intrusive. The food was delicious and totally suitable for the event and very good value.

I was visiting Winchester from London to visit family for Christmas and had an amazing experience at Turkuaz, atmosphere was just perfect and the service was brilliant - the team couldn’t be more friendly and attentive whist giving us some great food and drink recommendations. Food was delicious and portion sizes were just right, highlight for me was the octopus dish which felt really unique. Would highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Stunning food and interior at Turkuaz in Winchester! The vibe makes it somewhere you can go for a special occasion but the price is reasonable. Tasty food and good service. They also have good cocktails!

This place was great, went on a date night with the wife, this place was a recommendation from a friend, definitely worth it! Food was great, place is lovely, decor is fantastic. Only down side, which is purely personal it was way too hot (felt like the heating was on full blast) and my wife an I were sat at a table for two basically smack in the middle of the room with booths and bigger tables on both sides, which meant there was non-stop people and servers walking past at a very close proximity. Other than that, it was great!

Lovely evening with friends, food was amazing and live jazz music completed the dining experience. fair price for delicious food, would go again definitely worth a visit if you haven't been.

Popped in with my daughter on Wednesday and we both had pizzas. Having been to Italy this year, I can say hands down that these were on a par with the pizzas we had there. Super tasty, amazing bases and just delicious. Really lovely friendly staff. All perfect.

Popped in with my friend for lunch, and the stable has such a wonderfully cozy atmosphere with lovely staff. Had the Hawaiian Five-Oh and by far the best pizza I have had with such fresh ingredients and homemade dough

We came here for bottomless brunch. The food was amazing and the drinks were really good. Would recommend the candyfloss gin and tonic. Rosie looked after us and made sure we were always topped up. Would definitely recommend.

We tried the Christmas special- festive full monty and the pig on pillow. The pizza is nice and the crust is crunchy. There are different type of cider as well.

This place is a hidden gem. We dropped in for an unexpected mid week lunch. Fabulous service, really professional but warm and friendly, nothing too much trouble. Callum is the manager, a great poach from The Ivy in Winchester. Food beautiful, plentiful and piping hot using local ingredients. Contemporary refurbishment of the pub and attached accommodation but pays homage to its period is gorgeous. Asked to see the on site accommodation which are the cottages attached to the pub. They are great value and beautifully refurbished too. Board games, blankets, hot water bottles, biscuits for dogs in the bar all add to the great welcome. The owners have got this spot on and clearly know what they are doing. Can’t recommend this place highly enough!

Excellent spot for a family dinner, Sunday roast was exceptional. Trio of roasts was delicious, perfectly cooked, especially the topside of beef. Great atmosphere in the bar area. Certainly worth driving around 30 minutes out of the city to the countryside for a hearty meal. Veggie/Alternative dish was also highly recommended by my partner, certainly worth having if you don't eat meat. Lastly, even if you have a mega roast dinner, the deserts are exceptionally light. All rounded off with a well brewed coffee. Would highly recommend!

Restaurant Shared our first meal here with our lovely in-laws. Service was very good. Just needed the water to have been with us at some point and I could have given 5/5. This was our only gripe. The garden restaurant room is pretty with a chic glamours feel. I would say the acoustics ( loud voices) could be a little challenging but nothing to stop us retuning. I just noticed it a few times. The menu had a great choice of food. Something for everyone. Our food was presented nicely, tasty and made a refreshing change from chain pub menus. Flavoursome and each meal was of a generous size. The restaurant felt Cosy and all the staff were efficient and friendly. Can’t wait to try a summer menu, bet we don’t wait that long to try it !! 😂

Visited for a meal. Not been for many years and thought how nice it was after the major renovation. The restaurant at the back of the building is lovely and a very pleasant environment in which to eat. Menu had something for all tastes; we had the Shepherds Pie and the veggie Wellington. Both dishes were nicely cooked and presented and enjoyable. The portion sizes were rather on the small side but had we chosen to have a starter, they would have been just about right. We thought the deserts were over priced so didn't partake. Nice to have local Flower Pots beer on tap, a good selection of wines, at a price as is usual everywhere it seems. Pleasant, efficient service from the young staff.

The Ivy is a great place to eat with unusual food on offer. I had whisky barrel smoked venison tartare to start and goose, turkey, and duck shepherd's pie for my main. The staff were very attentive. My only complaint is the acoustics are very poor and we had to shout across the table in order to have a conversation. It is a popular place as it was packed on a Monday evening a week before Christmas.

One word; Amazing 👏 I ordered the roast and I was always sceptical because I love the old pub but was pleasantly surprised my only gripe was as i was eating I saw someone get the beef 😋 and got food envy 😅 nevertheless the roast was succulent, potatoes crisped to perfection and everything was moist and super tasty. Don't get me on the desserts. I could sit there and eat them all day. Sticky toffee pudding 🍮 is intense flavour on the mouth

What an amazing place for lunch! One of the best restaurants we’ve been to in a very long time. Service excellent, food delicious and an ambiance to savour and enjoy. Thank you Ivy and our server, Cameron, we had a wonderful lunch. We were given surprise birthday cakes to celebrate our birthdays, such a lovely touch. A meal to remember. Can’t recommend it enough.

Absolutely fabulous place. Staff exceptionally attentive. Food excellent. Exceeded our expectation. Great atmosphere. A celebration of my 80th Birthday. Champagne Hi Tea.. Even provided small cake with candle beautifully decorated.Will definately come back again. Not not just for an occasion. A lasting memory.

If we could give this pub 5 stars plus then we would!! Found this pub on google search whilst on a visit my family. We all decided to give it a go after reading the reviews and we were not disappointed. The food was absolutely delicious, every course perfectly cooked, very flavorsome, and well presented, absolute top compliments to the chef. The service was very good, our food arrived in a timely manner and was served with a smile, it was a great experience and we would highly recommend.........we are definitely going to come back when next in Winchester. Fabulous experience.

Fantastic choice of lunch venue. From placing a booking to leaving was perfect. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. Everything we chose to eat was exceptional. Proper country pub home cooking at its best. Even the toilets were a pleasure to visit. Thanks so much for an awesome experience.

We were passing through and stopped for lunch here. Wasn't expecting such an amazing burger! It was very thick, juicy and full of flavour. The fries were nice and crunchy and well seasoned. Daughters sausages were delicious too. Cost around 30 quid to feed the both of us including a beer so not bad value for money. Staff were fantastic, very friendly. Definitely recommend

Lovely room with great character. I really enjoyed the breakfast. Nice to see the pub early at breakfast, a real chance to see all the history on the walls

Really fabulous lunch. Glad I booked because even on a Tuesday it was full. Our waitress was amazing despite how busy the pub was. It is a wonderful eclectic mix and a step back in time with roaring fires, good beer and great food.

New Year’s Eve luncheon for 7 persons. We’re able to get a table booking despite leaving it to 24-hrs in advance. Lovely historic pub. Friendly and attentive table service in the dining area (there are a couple of different dining areas in this large pub.) For visitors to Winchester and its cathedral this is a recommended venue. Good kitchen and well prepared hearty winter dishes. David W, Dec 2024