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

Restaurant AO by Daniel Rogan, nestled in the serene Sunnyfields Farm in Southampton, is an absolute gem that promises an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment you step through the doors, you are greeted with warm hospitality and an atmosphere that exudes both elegance and comfort. The food at Restaurant AO is nothing short of spectacular. Each dish is a masterpiece, crafted with precision and a deep understanding of flavours. The ingredients are fresh, locally sourced, and beautifully presented, making every bite a delight. What truly sets Restaurant AO apart is the passionate staff. Their enthusiasm for what they do is evident in every interaction. They are knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely dedicated to ensuring that every guest has a remarkable experience. From thoughtful wine pairings to detailed explanations of each dish, the service is impeccable. In summary, Restaurant AO by Daniel Rogan is a must-visit. The combination of phenomenal food, exceptional service, and a beautiful setting makes it a standout choice for any occasion. Highly recommended!

We decided to travel down to Southampton to experience this up and coming chef. Daniel Rogan, whose father has three Michelin stars, clearly has some serious skills in the kitchen and a great pedigree. We arrived at the farm location. It was interesting driving the not made for off road car in the dark across the mud/gravel entrance to the farm. I was expecting to hit a pot hole but everything was smooth sailing. We parked up and found the entrance. A very unassuming wooden door. Upon entering we were greeted with a lovely smile from front of house. We were shown to our table which gave us an audience view of the open plan kitchen, like all the other tables. Overall the food was exquisite. And at £110pp can't be beaten for value, especially when comparing to London prices. Although this was not Michelin starred, if Daniel keeps going like this it surely must be in his future. The restaurant itself did feel like a village hall, but then you're on a farm. Not sure what other reviewers are expecting. Normally I go through each of the dishes but you can see the menu and all you need to know is that each dish complemented the preceding dish well. The Old Winchester Cheddar was our favourite, and the dessert was well worth waiting for. Service was good enough. Some servers way friendlier than others (shout out to the lovely blonde lady with glasses - sorry I can't remember your name!). We overall had a great experience. It was worth the 90 minute drive from London. I'm going to keep an eye on the seasonal menu changes and come down again to see how it's progressed.

Our second visit to Kesarum, and it won’t be our last. Maresh greeted us with such warmth and made us right at home from the start. As other reviews have mentioned this is a small team of three running the whole restaurant - two out back and one on front of house. Working flat out, we still felt that everything was attentive and nothing missed. Food was exquisite and intricately plated, the wine pairings were great and Maresh explained the plating of each dish as it came out. Best vegan dining experience in this part of the world, by a long way! Menu changes several times a year. They recommend 2 - 2.5 hours for 3 courses which we found to be about right, the whole experience was very relaxed and warm.

My wife and I have eaten at various high end restaurants and a couple of Michelin starred restaurants around the world and we felt Kesarum was on par. We were lucky enough to have a quiet lunchtime together and opted for the £35 two course and wine pairing option, with Mahesh talking us through a perfect pairing for our palettes. We added the lotus root chips as an extra side and I am so glad I did. Not usually the biggest fan of chutney, I took an apprehensive first bite, but this chutney was sharp and vinegar based, perfect for the crunchy slices of lotus root. The rest of the meal was a delectable mix of spice, sweetness and savory. Real umami with everything considered to the smallest detail. Can’t recommend this restaurant enough.

Kesarum is an incredible restaurant. The food is an absolute taste sensation. We were completely in awe of the flavours of the dishes, the combinations of flavours were like nothing we've tasted before, every bite was savoured. The cocktails and mocktails were equally delicious and beautifully presented. The hospitality was second to none and our host lovely and knowledgeable. He took the time to explain to us the history of the dishes, which we found fascinating and added to the whole experience. I highly recommend Kesarum and am looking forward to our next visit.

Such a great place for yummy food, amazing ambiance, and incredible service. We didn’t take many food shots but HIGHLY recommend the arancini and spinach side. So affordable! Yummmmm

Gorgeous spot for a date night, with attentive staff and a homely atmosphere, guaranteed to make you feel at home. You have to visit here, the menu and drinks are unbelievable!

Bacaro was on my list for a long time! In the middle of August we managed to go for a Sunday lunch ant it was really enjoyable! We had the beef, the lamb and the fish, everything was cooked very nicely. Very good service. We’ll be back 😃

just amazing! Could not say a bad word about it. i took my girlfriend here for valentines and it didn't disappoint! the food was tremendous, the staff were very helpful and kind, the setting was lovely and very romantic for valentines. The atmosphere was lovely and a calm atmosphere. Could not be more grateful!

Could not fault it. Went to the mayflower and then here for dinner. Service amazing and the staff all so lovely! Definitely be coming back! All our dishes where 1000/10

Absolutely brilliant. Tucked in a row of unassuming shops this place is as authentic as it can get. Fantastic pasta choices and drinks list to pair with. Spoilt for choice as everything on the menu looked great! Do keep a lookout for their specials which have some very unique but well paired dishes! Had the lobster ravioli with shrimps added at an extra £4.50, but was well worth it. Ravioli was full of flavour and the cream sauce wrapped it all up nicely. Shrimp was well done and had great texture!

We had a lovely visit to this restaurant on a recent trip to Southampton with our Daughter and her boyfriend. The youngsters opted for the authentic pizza which was not only mouth wateringly delicious but also had the added bonus of us taking a look at them being made through the hatch. Highly recommended dish. Everything from the ambience, food, service and right through to the excellent choices of wine, were spot on for us. We would highly recommend Max's if you're in Southampton, the authentic pizza and the delicious Pinot Blush. We will definitely be back.

Good food. Highly recommend pork ribs and seafood rice. No need to reserve. Not very quiet but suitable to talk.

Great food, great service, and generous portions. We arrived early for our booking, and had to wait for two of our party, but didn't feel rushed whilst we had a coffee while waiting. Three tapas dishes per person was plenty, and we had leftovers. The only problem with that is that there was so much on the menu that was tempting, and we had very little room for dessert! We'll definitely have to go back to try some of the dishes we missed out on.

Absolutely delightful Spanish restaurant with exquisite cuisine! I've been a frequent visitor since 2021, and every time, the experience has been unforgettable. The highlight of the menu is undoubtedly their Spanish seafood paella mixed with meat – it's a heavenly blend of flavors that tantalize the taste buds. The service is impeccable, and the ambiance is charming, making it a perfect spot for a memorable dining experience. Highly recommended!

Went for an early meal 6pm. Couple of artisanal beers👍 had Paella Valencia, wait time 40 mins as advised by waiter. It was excellent. Lots of mussels, clams, prawns and small pieces of chicken, peppers, rice etc. For a cold wet evening in Southampton could not fault it 😊

Top notch service, brought my partner here for her birthday for a meal, hotel and breakfast! She said she felt like a princess cause she was treated like royalty! Staff was extremely accommodating, parking was limited and small a tab difficult but staff member moved their own car in the rain for us! Cannot recommend any higher, 15/10 amazing!

Me & my mother in law stayed over this weekend & we had the best experience ever! The staff are brilliant, the room was top notch, the food was just well delicious dinner & breakfast!!! Highly recommend to anyone staying in Southampton, thanks so much guys for a fabulous weekend!!!

Stayed here a night before our cruise in December with a parking space reserved. Professional and friendly staff with a warm welcome. Had lunch and breakfast and the food was excellent. Lovely spacious room with a view over the ferry port.

We had our anniversary here and they treated us so well. We were looked after the whole time and the culture was wonderful. Me and my partner had starters, mains and desserts here and all dishes were so wonderful. The waiters are very approachable and considerate staff. They were humoured and conscious. I would highly recommend you eat/drink here! The prices they charge are very reasonable. Thank you Ennio’s for having us tonight!!!

This place is lovely. A real gem. Its low key and unassuming. The food is great, the staff fantastic and it's very reasonably priced. I had mixed souvelaki, and my wife had moussaka. Would come again and recommend to others. They don't take plastic so will need to have cash or bank transfer. Also they are busy so will need to book

The food was great, we went with the Meze. Some of the dishes came out a little too quickly. It would have been a bit nicer if 2 dishes were brought out with a little more space in between instead of one dish every 5 minutes. However that being said, the food was all lovely and we will be returning.

Food was absolutely delicious, Also shared a few puddings on this visit, The warm brownie was sensentational and the baklava was yummy. Always guaranteed an amazing meal. Lovely small restaurant with a casual atmosphere, perfect.

The service here is second to none- such utterly fantastic staff. Natalie was particularly wonderful. 100% professional, super efficient and extremely understanding to your needs and timings. Food was delicious and so prompt and very reasonably priced. A lovely evening, thank you!! Also only 7 min walk from the theatre and station so great location/place to go on a night out.

Went for a family dinner. The restaurant itself is aesthetically very charming and the staff were warm and helpful. Margherita was delicious, generous size, good balance of sauce and the dough was nice and light. Nice glass of red or 2 to finish with. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and service was very fast. Would visit again.

What a Wonderful Restaurant! The food was amazing and the service above and beyond. I went with my family a party of nine they accommodate us without any problem. The food was completely fresh and well made. The pizza, risotto, pasta, and Homemade Tiramisu were DELICIOUS. The server treat us fast, efficiently and all the request that we asked were on point. The Restaurant was clean and very cute. Overall you have to stop here to enjoy a great evening.

Great, very relaxed evening dining in. Characterful decor, plenty of space for larger groups with a large room available upstairs. Food was tasty and filling. Wholesome but just lacked a little something for me (just personal preference, hence 4 rather than 5 stars for food) but would still recommend. Save space for desert! Staff were extremely welcoming, happy, friendly and accommodating. Great evening meal out.

Such a lovely waitress, very friendly had time to hear about my day and wished me a happy birthday. Very pretty girl as well! Also lended me a lighter for my cigarette as was struggling to find one. Food was superb, I had curried Goat and my dad had oxtail 👌 😋 had the best experience today. I think Nevaeh is manager in the making!

Superb Meal full of flavours. One of the best Caribbean roast I have had. Decent portions and was filling. Can't fault anything. Really wanted try the cheesecake as that looked good but didn't have time others didn't want one. Didn't think I would have any room for it. Would Certainly come again and Cocktails was really nice one of my favourite drink Pina Colada. Staff was Welcoming and Helpful. Thanks for having us.

Great jerked bbq restaurant. The staffs are super friendly. The food is spicey and delightful. They have several kids options. But they can be a bit spicey. So recommend the place for adventurers.

A Caribbean delight! The food and the drinks - especially the cocktails! Are about as good as you'll get in a national chain restaurant! And at a very reasonable price too! The staff are always very welcoming.... that, along with music, makes for a great atmosphere! We had the Bottomless Brunch this time. As well as giving you a great chance to sampla a variety of cocktails (pictured below), it represents incredible value for money!

Lovely authentic Italian restaurant with a few seats inside. Best to reserve a table to ensure you get a place. Fully recommend the handmade pasta with very delicious spices and herbs. The pizza garlic bread was also amazing, and the service is also lovely.

Seven of us dined at Piccolo Mondo tonight and all of us thoroughly enjoyed every dish we had, clearing the plates of three courses each. The fries were a favourite between us, so unbelievably crunchy in the best way. The young brunette girl serving us was fabulous, she was very attentive and helpful with everything! Well done to her!

We visited this place for Valentine's Day and I couldn't think of a better place for a romantic meal. Food was great, friendly and helpful staff and relaxing atmosphere.

Second time visiting this restaurant and have had a wonderful evening on both occasions thanks to the wonderful hosts and marvellous chefs. Incredible food, authentic and comfortable atmosphere and attentive service. 100% recommend to all :)