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!

Definitely not a regular meal out for us but it was my 30th recently so treated ourselves. Very pleased we did! Everything we ate was lovely, the service was attentive but not at all overbearing and the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. I would really recommend the wine pairing, not just because of the delicious wine but the stories and overall experience that came with it. She went through where the wine was from, the tasting notes you might find within and the reasons it was paired with the food you were eating which for me led to a greatly increased enjoyment of the combination.

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.

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.

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.

Waiter was engaging and extremely kind, funny, the food was great, the only thing I will say is there is needed more options of Italian food such as, gnocchi and pizza. I think the atmosphere is needed a more bigger environment but other than that the atmosphere was amazing. I would have liked a drink menu just might have been easier. But it was so amazing and will be coming back.

Enjoyed a delicious three course meal here. We were fortunate enough to be seated on a Friday evening without having booked. A little on the pricey side and I'm not a fan of a 12.5% service charge that is automatically added on to the bill, however the ambience and service was spot on. The chef even came out to see that guests were enjoying their food. My only advice is not to go particularly hungry unless you plan to have multiple courses or a couple of sides because the portions are a little modest.

Easily one of the best restaurants in Southampton. Amazing, flavourful Italian food and friendly service. The restaurant’s interior is beautifully decorated. Their Risotto Porcini is perhaps the best version of mushroom risotto I’ve ever tasted.

Favourite restaurant in Southampton! We go here often and never leave disappointed. We love the food and the staff, they are always polite and chatty… never make us feel rushed. A great wine selection. We also took 16 of our staff here for a dinner party and they all loved it. Great aesthetic and lovely cosy vibe. The chef always comes out for a chat. Will be back soon!

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.

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

Outstanding. Simply outstanding. Generous portions of delicious food, served by a wonderful waitress, and cooked by a lovely bloke. Absolutely couldn’t fault this place. Really superb value for money.

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.

My family loved this place, I came here for my dad’s birthday and the staff were all so friendly. Angel greeted us as soon as we entered and sat us down. The food was delicious. The lamb shank was so tender I’m still thinking about it. Thank you angel for the amazing experience. It was truly the best . Definitely recommend and will visit soon.

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 😊

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

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!

We came here for a family celebration. Our waitress Beannie was just amazing, friendly and gave lots of advice on the food for our mixed age group. Food came in good time and was hot and tasty.

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.

Really wonderful food, a treat, a destination with comfort, class, lounge, huge selection of drinks with a lovely long bar. All tastefully decorated for Xmas. Was so busy having fun that didn’t take too many pictures of the food. Thoroughly recommend oysters, Lobster Thermidor & Hake. Service spot on.

Great meal with great service from Tom. We started with the oysters and then proceeded to try everything we could. The souffle are phenomenal, the catch of the day, a sea bass, was delicious. The chateaubriand cooked perfectly, but in the UK they don't season it, so if your from the states before to ask for extra extra season or some sea salt from kitchen. One of best restaurants in a hotel we had during our travels and a big thank you to Tom who really took care of us, Would visit again!

The staff appeared understandably under pressure due to the busy evening, yet they maintained a high level of professionalism throughout. A particular mention goes to the young, dark haired lady who assisted us was exceptionally knowledgeable and patient as my wife and I inquired about various dishes. Her attentiveness made a great impression. The view of the marina is absolutely stunning, adding to the overall charm of the experience. The dishes we ordered were hot, fresh, and delicious, although they took some time to arrive. However, given the bustling atmosphere, we found this understandable. While the prices are on the higher side, the quality of the food and service made it well worth it.

What a lovely restaurant! Beautiful pork ribs, beef blade and cheesecake Fantastic place

Amazing meal! Great service and delicious food. Cannot understand the negative reviews. Shared rib on the bone - was more than enough for two. Great value for money.

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!

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.

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!

Our second visit to this Fantastic restaurant. Gorgeous meal. A wonderful Atmosphere. Staff are amazing. Even spent time chatting with Max and his partner. Couldn’t ask for a better host. Also turns out he knows one of my football team players 😀😀 Will be back soon. Thank you all.

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.

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.

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.

What a great restaurant! A really warm and authentic feeling atmosphere from the moment you walk in, clearly a family run business. The staff are excellent, very attentive and keen to provide an outstanding service. The menu has a great selection, with plenty of choice and several specials on offer depending on what is available fresh that day. The prices are exceptionally reasonable, and the food is of very good quality. The portions are generous, and there is very little to fault. On the Sunday we visited, the restaurant was unusually quiet, but I imagine even on a busier night you're likely to get a space as there are many tables arranged over two floors. They seem happy to accommodate larger groups also.