The Best Restaurants in Old Basing, Hampshire, United Kingdom (2025)

Visiting a friend in 'stoke and he recommended this place for a quick bite to eat before a concert. The decor is stripped back but the flavours are not. We both went for the Jollof rice, me with mutton stew, which was wonderfully spicy. We accompanied this with Nigerian Guinness (7.5%, be warned). We grabbed a bag of cinnamon puff puffs to go for dessert which were like donut holes. We left happily full. Hope to return and try some other items from the menu. Service was very friendly too. Recommended.

We do enjoy African food, and coming across this well-regarded cafe/ restaurant was a pleasant surprise. Our two boys loved the food despite initially saying it was too early to eat, plus they also originally wanted something else nearby! However, we were glad to have given Afrizi a try. We ordered Nigerian jollof rice/mutton stew and rice/ beans/chicken stew ‐ warms the soul on a chilly night, and this was definitely a treat today. Milk/fruit shakes are nicely done. 👌 The one thing is that we felt that the plantain for the fried plantain and plantain chips could have been riper, which would have made it slightly sweeter than it was. Other than that, the overall meal went down very quickly and without any complaints.

I come here every time I'm in Basingstoke. I wish it existed in my home town. The food is absolutely delicious. My personal favourite is the tofu stew with fried rice and fries plantains. The puff puffs are also a super yummy dessert option. I'm vegan and there's a bunch of options on the menu.

An excellent place to try out Nigerian/African food, all made on the premises to authentic family recipes. Choose from a nice variety of different dishes - mutton stew, chicken suya (fried spicy chicken) with salad, fish stew, plantain fries.

Vegan or not this is a must visit! The coffee is excellent, a great variety of cakes and the pasties were also bursting with flavour. To round it off the staff were very friendly and helpful. Also excellent value for money!

Wow first time visiting today and absolutely love this place!!🧸✨ Friendly welcoming staff and it's such a joy to have so much choice of food I was actually overwhelmed because as a vegan in most places you have to hunt for what you can eat on a menu!! What an experience to have full access to the whole menu!! Went for a tofu stack and my husband went for a Buddha bowl and they were both sooo good generous portions but not heavy on your tummy!! I also tried their banana milkshake with cream n marshmallows and that was delicious!! I also treated myself to their soft serve ice cream with strawberry sauce n rainbow sprinkles!!🌈 omggGosh so good😭😭 I recommend this place to everyone not just vegans, atmosphere is so welcoming and chill and the food is brilliant quality and wholesome!! Will definitely be returning for sure!! Thank you!! 💓🎀❤️💖

So so sooo good. The most innovative and delicious variety of cake (jaffa cake cake, kitkat brownie, cherry pastry, blueberry croissant…). Sadly no photos of those which is testament to how bloody amazing they were, couldn’t wait to eat them! But there’s so much more than cake - it’s a great place for a quick breakfast bite, and lovely lunch. The coronation chickpea baguette was the best we’ve ever had… We visited twice in one weekend and would happily go back again tomorrow even though we live half an hour away! Friendly staff, free parking, gift shop, good value for money. Oh and there’s great coffee & shakes. Healthy options as well as treats…get yourself in there, you won’t regret it! 💚

Warm and homey, a really ‘normal’ (in a good way) cafe which just happens to be entirely vegan. There’s a lovely section of options, it’s really reasonably priced and the staff are friendly. Great food and they allow dogs too!

Went on a whim after visiting The Vyne nearby and parked a little down the road as the village is cute. Arrived to a queue out the door which told me it's definitely going to be worth it! I had a cheese and onion sourdough toastie which was absolutely fantastic. If you like toasties come here. They also had amazing looking Brisket as an option for a sandwich. There's outside seating as well. Plenty of room, bike racks etc. The Olive sourdough is incredible honestly never had bread like it

What can I say apart from fantastic. The whole bakery is amazing. My wife and I popped in for a bacon and sausage roll and we both agreed that they are the best takeaway ones we have ever had. Would 100% come back again

We came here with my wife before noon on Saturday. Unlike many other cafes, they do not bake frozen products but make their own dough. Even though it was before noon, it was very crowded. While drinking our coffees, I noticed that they were making a roast beef sandwich, and I bought it right away. It was great to see them preparing it right in front of us. It was really delicious and explained why so many people were here. The staff are very friendly and always smiling. We will be happy to come here again.

Everything about this place is amazing. Food (esp hot meat sandwiches), coffee, pastries, etc. Would give it 10 stars if I could!

We took a drive from Oxfordshire to dine here. About a 42 minute beautiful scenic drive to get there. Hospitality is friendly and warm. The food was just as we like it and reminded us of a blend of an English breakfast and a South African Wimpy breakfast. Bacon was streaky as we know and love it. Mrs. Balls chutney offered as a sauce! Overall a lovely experience. Highly recommend. Go early.

Good place to stop for a coffee or a quick bite. Especially good on a bike night when they're on! Food is well priced and decent quality. A highchair was available when we visited, which was a good thing to bear in mind for future visits. It's also a dog friendly venue, so good to stop in after a walk.

Popped in for a quick lunch, the service was good, the menu was simple and well priced. The food was baie baie lekker!

It’s been already few times we came here. Last time I had the Fillet which was delicious. The service and the attention offered by a very nice waitress called Alexandra meant a lot for us. Thank you for everything, we’ll definitely be coming back.

We have come here on 2 occasions for work Xmas meals and both times the food and service has been really good! Quick friendly service, no issue with any of the food and staff were lovely.

Amazing food and location. Staff are always amazing. Went for a Birthday breakfast and they were very kind and got me a Birthday card and a free cocktail! 100% recommend this branch, always amazing experience. Special shout out to Flow and Elaine! x

Food was delicious, and it is clear that the owner is super passionate about food and ingredients. Good level of service. Atmosphere warm and welcoming. Highly recommended. The only top tip is to double-check your booking. The booking system seems a little temperamental.

We arrived just after the kitchen had closed on a Saturday lunchtime, they were so kind and welcoming and still served us. They never made us feel rushed and even took the time to come over and personally run through the menus. The food was fresh, hot and delicious. My husband had the Burger and I had the Cajun Chicken Baguette. All was beautifully presented. We were then offered dessert, despite us being so late, so we had the Cointreau Cheesecake. The service was exceptional and if we are ever in the area again we would definitely make a point of returning. Even the wine was delicious!

Such a wonderful spot! The food is always amazing and the owner and staff add to the amazing vibes.

Fantastic food. They have a specials board and are so passionate about their food. They were so good at catering to allergies, I didn't feel that anything was compromised on. The fillet was perfectly cooked and after we retired to the sofas to enjoy another pint. We will definitely be back.

Popped in for lunch and wasn't disappointed. Ordered a bbq chicken burrito, which was full of flavour. I toyed with the idea of getting chips, but the burrito itself was more than sufficient. There is a small kid's area downstairs to keep your toddlers entertained whilst you scoff down your food and the downstairs toilet has a baby change. Main toilets are up a spiral staircase, which also houses additional seating. We shall be returning!

I came in with my husband for some lunch a few weeks ago. I am all for independent businesses and I want to continue to support this one which has been epic in the past. But this time, there were issues. I was served promptly and paid for my order. The lady wrote down my order on a piece of paper and put to the left hand side of the till. Other people had their orders taken in the same manner and received their food before me. All the while, I was stood at the front waiting for the order. A member of the team finally asked if I had been served and when I said, yes, a while ago, they rushed to find that particular piece of paper that my order was on. Once found, they couldn't be more helpful and quick with my order and were very apologetic. There needs to be a better ticketing system to make sure that people are served in order. This seemed hap hazard and unprofessional. The atmosphere was lively to say the least. Most of the noise was from behind the till. The team seemed to be having fun, which was nice to see. But there was a lot of yelling to each other. The big pan was BBQ tandoori chicken and was amazing. The portions were great. The nachos with chilli was tasty. But the nacho crisps had an awful lot of salt on them. So often you had a huge hit of salt, which stopped me finishing my meal. Lastly, you used to do a great jacket potato when you were outside. Where have they gone? I miss them.

Hands down the best food in Basingstoke, very reasonably priced and staff that actually care. I cannot recommend this place enough

Whilst in the area doing a bit of shopping we stumbled on the festival street kitchen. When walking by the first sight was a massive pan cooking up some sort or curry. I instantly wanted to dive right in, as a party of 6 we herded in to admire the menu. we took a few minutes and all had something different, my choice was the big pan Caribbean chicken curry and the smell in the air did not disappoint the staff were amazing and it really gives off an open air festival eating experience. I'm coming back again no question.

A pleasant evening with work colleagues. The staff were really attentive but not intrusive. We shared two of the mezze between the six of us. A good selection of typical Turkish fayre... The hummus and bread were particularly delicious. I had a mixed plate of various meat. All perfectly cooked and a good size portion. No-one had room for dessert... Maybe next time.

One of the best, if not THE BEST place to eat at in Basingstoke. A superb nicely decorated venue with warm and welcoming, always smiling staff. The food was delicious and we will certainly return soon. Bonus points to Ellie for serving us and chatting to us.

I highly recommend this restaurant. Friendly and helpful smile. As soon you crossed the door, you are received with a warm welcome and big smile, Food is tasty and good portions. Lots of vegan options available.

A wonderful dining experience! Had a fantastic lunch at this beautiful restaurant! The food was delicious, and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. A special touch was when they moved us to the same table we had shared 8 years ago when the restaurant first opened- such a thoughtful gesture that made our visit even more memorable. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making it a perfect spot for a special lunch, a date or with friends and family, as in my case. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food and outstanding service. We enjoyed a shared mixed hot starter, shared mixed main, and to continue the sharing, ordered cheesecake in two flavours, which they split in the kitchen for us. We tried something new to the menu: Avocado and Lime cheesecake - awesome!

A Culinary Delight- A memorable Experience! We recently had the pleasure of dining at Spices and spirits Basingstoke and it was an exquisite experience that left us all absolutely delighted. The moment we walked in, we knew we were in for a treat.. The ambiance at the restaurant is lively. Soft lighting and well thought-out decor which enlightened the perfect mood for our evening. Every dish we ordered was a work of art, both visually and tastefully. Service at Spices and Spirits was brilliant. Can’t wait to return for another unforgettable meal.

Visited here on Monday for the first time as I was in the area of Basingstoke celebrating my wedding anniversary.. First impression.A*. Very clean and lovely decor. I'm vegan and the options were plentyful Staff was very welcoming and prices were great. The food was exceptional.. flavour,freshness, quantity and quality.. Absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. Had a bit of a wait but I was not fussed about it because good food with such standards takes time. You can tell a lot about food by the chef's passion. How it was prepared and presented. I would definitely recommend this place and hope to visit again if I'm in Basingstoke. Please please keep up the standards and service of your restaurant..it's very rare in these times. Absolutely great food and service..

An all round star of India! Heard about this place but it took me too long to try it! I'll be back. The menu is different from other curry houses - varied, clever and with loads of vegetarian options. The food is divine! Spiced for flavour, and served to look good. Even the rice comes in metal vases. Lovely staff too, and nicely decorated and clean restaurant. I had a coconut-based fish curry, which was very special, but the sides and breads are also delicious. Well done S&S!

Decided to try here due to reviews. I got the Chati Lamb prices at £16.50, rice and peshwari nan. I find the prices a little on the high side given the portion size served. The curry had a lot of spice, the lamb was soft with a couple of chewy parts but spice like a Madras. The rice was fine as you would expect. The Nan, was a bit flavourless actually, very small portion with not very much filling. Overall I would rate this visit 6/10.

One of the best Thai food restaurants in UK. Closest to authentic Thai taste. Friendly customer service. Highly recommended if you’re in the area of Basingstoke.

First time dining here and what amazing Thai food. Food was amazing and the restaurant is setup into little areas upstairs so you’re not sitting near lots of people which makes it a cosy place to be! Restaurant was very busy on Saturday night and there was a slight mix up with our starters, 2 out of the 4 arrived as starters, and 2 arrived with the main course, but apart from this little mistake the restaurant was excellent, staff where very friendly too.

Was recommended by one of my friends to try this place and we had some good Thai food. We had papaya salad, pork fry , chicken massaman with coconut rice. Desserts we had banana fritter with coconut milk. They have a different menu for lunch - smaller quantity. A good satisfying meal and the staff were pleasant and warm.

Fantastic food, great prices and quick service. I enjoyed the menu, there was a great staying arrangement too. Highly recommend.