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

We had the five-course tasting menu over lunch, and from start to finish, it was an excellent experience. The staff were warm, welcoming, and attentive without being intrusive, setting just the right tone for a relaxed meal. The dining room itself felt either brand new or impeccably maintained, adding to the sense of occasion. The food was outstanding. Every dish beautifully presented, seasonal, and most importantly really bloody tasty! The wine list was solid; while I didn’t drink, my wife enjoyed the wine selected for her. It wasn’t a formal pairing, but when we asked for something to match what we were eating, the choice was spot on. One small piece of feedback rather than a complaint. I was surprised that there wasn’t a seafood course, especially given the restaurant’s prime waterfront location. It felt like a bit of a missed opportunity. Also, while the English sparkling by the glass was a great option, I’d have loved to see a Champagne by the glass as well. That said, these are minor points in what was an otherwise fantastic meal. We’ll definitely be back!

Absolutely stunning restaurant, the staff were so attentive & the food was just beautiful. We had the 7 course taster menu which was an explosion of new flavours. The staff explained every course to us & loved being able to chat with them about the flavours. It’s not just food it’s an experience. Thank you to all of the staff for a wonderful evening.

Visited The Elderflower to try the 7 course (yes, 7 course) tasting menu, and I must say it was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Every dish was incredible, but not large enough to make you feel like a stuffed pig by the end. The wine was matched perfectly to each dish and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Easily one of the best restaurant meals I've ever tasted, just superb.

Incredible taster menu. Service was on point. Food was delicious, especially langoustine with salt baked beetroot and duck breast. Wines well paired. Would highly recommend.

There is a reason the Lime Wood is a 5* hotel as the service, rooms, food, staff, spa, location, and everything else that comes with it are top-notch. The luxury of prestine service in a superb setting without being pretentious with it. The dress code is relaxed and the added bonus of a luxury spa on site for various treatments.

Visited Limewood for a glorious afternoon tea. The sandwiches & cakes were amazing. The staff were so friendly and the service was top notch. There was plenty for two but always more is available. The surroundings and atmosphere was lovely.

We had an absolutely fabulous stay at Lime Wood enjoying a dinner, bed and breakfast and additionally a mud bath treatment. Whilst the mud bath experience was mildly disappointing the rest of our time at the hotel was utterly sublime. Warm, friendly, slick service, gorgeous rooms, excellent facilities, and probably the nicest meal my wife and I have ever had. We hated to leave and would highly recommend a visit to this gem of a place in the majestic new forest.

Just went to have a drink and look around. Staff all so amazingly helpful and pleasant with nothing too much trouble. The duty manager showed us a range of beautifully appointed rooms. Also the spa staff similarly showed us all that they had to offer. Cocktails lovely too

Friendly welcoming staff. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately they had run out of the lamb shank roast option. As can be seen by the photos portions are generous. We had the Mac and Cheese bites for starter with roast beef and scampi for mains. We will be visiting again before our holiday ends.

Popped into this very dog friendly pub for Sunday lunch and it didn't disappoint! Great value too at just £12 for the standard roast chicken, beef, pork etc. An extra £3.50 for a generous portion of cauliflower cheese unfortunately left no room for desserts so that will have to be one for next time. The menu has a good spread of food and a number of daily specials across Starters, Mains and Dessert. They also sell a variety of doggie treats for your four legged furry friends! A little off the main strip in Lymington but well worth a visit!

Amazing Sunday roast here-beautifully presented and delicious. I had the butternut squash and lentil wellington, which was a great vegetarian option. Service was very quick and the atmosphere was lovely. We hope to come back next time we’re in the New Forest.

Wow! What a lovely place. We had a gorgeous lunch. The food is the best we have had in a long time. The staff are great. Our dog got fresh water on arrival. We will certainly be regular customers on our frequent visits to the area.

Had an amazing dinner at Waterman’s Rest in Lymington! Started with a flavorful seafood cocktail and perfect salmon gravlax. The freshly cooked trout and same-day sourced skate wing were delicious, paired with a refreshing and good-value Prosecco. Service was excellent, and the owner’s commitment to local vibes and top-notch ingredients really shines. If you’re in Lymington, definitely check it out!

Very nice beef roast. We had lunch in their outside garden, the atmosphere is cute and the pub is very well kept and clean. If you’re looking for a pub in the area would recommend this one! The staff was very friendly and welcoming although we didn’t book in advance 💫

Ate here after talking to someone in our B&B and was told they served good fish and seafood dishes we decided to give it a try. We booked a table just to be sure and as it was a nice evening decided to eat outside. The food was excellent we had salmon gravlax to start with seabass dauphinoise potato in a bisque and I had the seafood special. Service was good, water was constantly replenished without asking The man who served us I believe is the owner has a bit of a nonchalant demeanor but dont let that put you off Would definitely recommend if you like fish and sea food, we came to the New Forest to try a couple of restaurants should just have eaten here more often and saved a shed load of money

Utterly faultless. My partner is coeliac and they didn’t even bat an eyelid!! Staff were simply charming and the food was SUBLIME. Delicious wine and just the most beautiful evening. Dietary requirements aren’t a thing… they’re just not phased which made eating out a complete pleasure. Thank you!!

It's difficult to find but once you are there you are in for a good surprise. The food is amazing, not pretentious dishes but executed to perfection. I recommend the avocado mousse and the flamboyant chocolate and coffee desert.

Turned up on the off chance. 2 adults and 3 dogs . From taking the call to see if they had space, to getting served was great. The beer was very good "Toll House". The food was also very good, I thoroughly recommend it.

Popped in for a quick pint. Very good selection of beers and ales. Friendly staff. Food looked really good and the place was full. So I would book if going for food. Large seating area outside, some seats have heaters. Will probably have a meal here before we go back. Dog friendly, small car park. Cant comment on rooms didnt stay there.

Cracking place this, stayed for business but would definitely return on a leisurely vacation, the staff were impeccable, the lad was having his dinner and jumped up to serve without hesitation, so polite and this matters today imo! Room is spot on, heated, lovely bathroom and I can't wait to try the breakfast tomorrow! Great beers brewed on site. Location is good for a short walk into the centre bit and would recommend to friends and family without doubt

Had an absolutely amazing meal with my husband! Service and food was top notch, the restaurant is beautifully decorated, and really pleased that they are dog friendly. Shame we live so far away or we would definitely be back!

Great location and a nice welcome on arrival. Table as requested and food was both tasty and well proportioned. The only niggle was the music from the bar area was both loud and not really appropriate for ambiance that was trying to be created. Personal choice maybe but relevant to our reason for dining. Nice dining experience overall and we'll be coming back 👍🏻🙂

Great spot, food was good. They were busy so maybe service a little slower than the norm, but wasn't an issue for us as chatting with friends in the sun that was streaming through the window. Will definitely go again. Staff were excellent. Dog friendly. Didn't stay overnight, just food.

Lovely views from this restaurant with ample outdoor seating for the warmer weather. Service great and our needs for our anxious dog was warmly accommodated. The food was lovely and the portions very generous too. Would recommend if you are in the area. Excellent fish and chips and a lovely catch of the day sampled. Burgers are huge but delicious, managed to eat most of it… for the fish and chips we were able to take half away for later on so no waste!

Food was really good all dishes would have again. Cocktails superb. Staff so accommodating

We visited for the first time for a birthday celebration on 28/10/23. The food was superb. Portion sizes were very generous. The service was great. And it was a lovely atmosphere. The only drawback, was the wood fire which irritated our eyes. But apart from this, the waiter and chef were extremely attentive, courteous and very kind. All we can say is, this is a fantastic place to go for a great meal with friends and family. Thank you for making my birthday meal a memorable occasion with my wonderful friends.

Lovely little pub with great history. Very warm welcome from all staff. The atmosphere was lovely and country-esk. They accepted dogs which was fab. The food was absolutely beautiful, faultless and served timely and with carefully thought about presentation. We had the Monkfish Scampi and Salt and Pepper squid, both superb. For mains we had Halibut in a lobster bisque, and the Chicken and Ham hock pie - full of flavour from start to finish. To end we shared the sticky toffee pudding which was topped with delicious honey comb. We even had the chef and owner come out and chat with us which was such a lovely touch. Wonderful experience, will definitely be back when we’re next in the area!

Dating from 1096, this great pub, with a fantastic menu, was originally under the control of the local monks. Historically important, the Grade 1 listed building has been preserved for our pleasure. Out of the way, on a small country lane and village. Nice selection of beers, it is in contention to be the oldest licenced estabishment in England. Great chat with the landlord, and skilled chef, Steve who knows so much more. Plenty of seating inside and outside. Friendly staff.

Outstanding food, service and atmosphere - couldn't fault it! Sensible pricing too - while not cheap, they don't take the proverbial like so many places do; that's the difference which prompted me to leave a 5 star review. This is a treat to be enjoyed once or twice a year if you live locally!

Overall fantastic experience! The food was amazing, loved how they focus on sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. I particularly loved the gardens and decor. The staff made us feel very special as celebrated our engagement. Thank you for everything, I could not recommend the Pig in the forest enough!

Having booked to stay nearby we thought we would explore a different Pig, as our local one is in Coombe. We just wanted to let you know what exceptional and friendly service we received from Jack, our waiter. It really was refreshing to be served by someone who clearly enjoys his job so thank you very much. The restaurant is beautiful and we had a wonderful lunch, by far the best gnocchi we have ever had. It was so utterly delicious we ordered another one to share!

We stopped here for an evening meal. Staff were very friendly, it had a lovely atmosphere and restaurant which we were sat. We chose sausage with mash potatoes, a children's pasta dish and one of the burgers. All meals were delicious and very filling as portion sizes were very generous. We all had a dessert each which again was really nice. We would recommend the Ferryman to others for food and we will definitely return when we are next down that way.

Mixed feelings. Its a lovely pub with wonderful atmosphere. The food is pricey so our expectations were high. However the quality didn't match the pricing and so went away somewhat disappointed. We'll definitely return, but probably not for food.

We enjoyed our evening meal and the service was attentive without being intrusive. The wild mushrooms on toast a very good starter. The smoked trout starter exceeded expectation. The Rump steak came with all the usual trimmings. The Fish and Chips were a generous size portion. The Riojca an excellent choice. Will eat there again.

This restaurant is situated by the Road so It is very easy to find and It has plenty of car park. The service is really good and the kitchen works really well. The atmosphe and decoration is pretty good and we enjoyed our visit very much. The restaurant It is apart from the bar with nice seatings and the bar is also a large space near the entrance. Very clean restaurant and very recommended.