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

We arrived and found that our table was in the centre of the bar area which was great fun. There was a fun vibe and we were close to the live music. There were lots of staff on shift and we were served very fast. Throughout the evening the team were on hand and the food service was great. There were lots of wine options and we were pleased with our selections. We ordered lots from the taps menu, and it was delicious. The steak strips and the squid were my favourite. The live music was really good, the pianist and the singer were great. Great to have live music while you eat. Good selection of puddings. Great place for a party.

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 😃

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!

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!

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

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.

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!

Great food, friendly staff, and a lovely atmosphere. A great choice for any occasion!

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.

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.

Really nice restaurant, friendly staff and tasty food! Pizzas are massive so would be good for sharing, I had to take some home!

Populated with lots of restaurants in this area of Southampton, this choice was simply the best! Atmosphere is great, not too quiet not too loud, drinks are amazing have something for everyone! The food options are insane ! Who knew you could get chicken Caesar salad came on a fresh pizza ! Incredible ! Service is superb - if you get to have the pleasure of Ariaja - you hit extra lucky !!

We had an amazing experience when we visited on Sunday 16.03! The staff (specifically Eleonora and Olivia) were incredibly polite and welcoming, making us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. The service was attentive and kind, ensuring we had everything we needed. Plus, they allow dogs, which made the experience even better! It’s not always easy to find a spot that’s both pet-friendly and has such great hospitality. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was warm, music was great, we’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend! 🐶✨

Super nice meal! I went with my boyfriend to get lunch at Bills! Our waitress Thais, was excellent, she took really good care of us, we will definitely repeat. Also, the food was really good and the place is so beautiful we took some good pictures! Highly recommend it!

Being from Pittsburgh, PA, we do not have Bills. So, when we visit London, we always make it a point to stop. Bills has great food and a great atmosphere. We love the set menu they have and it never disappoints! Rebekah was our server for this meal and she was excellent - well attentive and speedy. Anyone looking to eat here will not be disappointed!

We were really pleased with everything. The meals and the drinks were tasty and good quality and the members of staff were kind and polite. Thanks to Jagodu and Lily we got a good service.😊

Visited on Friday for the bottomless pancakes offer. Everyone was extremely helpful, the service was quick, even with it being a Friday evening and the atmosphere was amazing. A special thanks to Zoe who was super friendly and attentive when serving us! Will definitely return again!

One of the best meals I've had in ages. Friendly service. Happy to alter the dishes for food allergies. Left to loiter after meal, without being rushed, but it was quite quiet. Ideal venue, and great food if you are visiting Harbour Lights Picturehouse or want food outside of the Harbour Hotel.

We had a meal with my husband. He ordered koftes and steak. I have ordered spicy prawn as a starter and main course pan fried hike fish. They were all good, fresh, tasty and served well. At the end we also had dessert, it was lovely. Thanks for amazing chef Lukas and the team. They are all friendly. Atmosphere is peaceful, nice and clean.

We had the most fabulous lunch here today as a group of 10 adults and 2 children. When we arrived the staff noticed that we were handing out our wedding invitations to our friends, and came to ask a member of our party if we were there for a special occasion. Our friends told them that we were getting married later this year and so they brought out a "Congratulations" plate with miniature desserts on for myself and my fiancé, after our mains. I've never known a restaurant to be so wonderfully thoughtful! We were so surprised and so delighted. Aside from that, the food and drinks were absolutely fantastic, the staff were attentive and friendly, and service was very fast. The decor is also really lovely, as an added bonus! Totally faultless. Thank you so very much for a memorable experience and we will definitely be back again!

Figurati has a great vibe and a very cosy feel (love the decor). We received great service from the team and our food was very high quality. They also took into account my special request as it was my partner's birthday – not all restaurants cater to this, so it was a genuine surprise and really made the evening. Would highly recommend; it's a little pricy but well, well worth it, especially for the right occasion.

The best carbonara I’ve had in any restaurant! It’s a lovely location outlooking the water and being able to see all the boats. Friendly staff and all meals at our table were delicious. Favourite spot for a nice dinner in Ocean Village.

We had a lovely meal here. It was a little noisy when we first arrived due to music and just lots of people chatting. My trout was delicious. (As were the other meals). Reasonably priced food; lovely, friendly staff. We parked over the road and walked over. Would definitely come back again!

Papillon is a great place to go for food and drink. We were eating before a performance in the Mayflower opposite which meant we were more sensitive with time than usual. Whether it was people with the same plan or just to have a drink on a Friday the place was packed. They were clearly understaffed and overworked causing the initial service to be slow. Despite this, after ordering our food it came very quickly and was utterly delicious. Atmosphere was good in the converted church.

Really enjoyed the cocktails here, and especially those made by the barman off-menu at our request! Really characterful venue, if a little quiet (although we did visit in early October). Wouldn't hesitate to pop in again.

Had a lovely evening meal at Papillon! When you first enter it does smell and look a bit like a nightclub, so we were very glad not to be sat downstairs. Upstairs is absolutely stunning and has a much nicer restaurant vibe, such an amazing venue! Our waiter was really personable and chatty, and although they had ran out of one of the dishes, there was still a few good options to choose from. We had the gammon steak with incredible chips and a lovely runny egg, and the pork belly which was also super tasty. We can also recommend the espresso martinis, although couldn't say the biscoff one was any different to a normal apart from having a biscuit crumb around the rim. However, we'd definitely recommend for a nice meal (but just ask to be sat upstairs!)

The staff, ambience and location of Papillon is just fantastic. The rib eye steak, Papillon Burger and the fries was also really great. Only the Onion Rings were a tiny bit of a let down. They were too oily (dripping in oil and not the nicest taste either). The desserts was excellent; specifically the bread and butter pudding. The custard that goes with it was also awesome. I would’ve given it a full 5 stars if it weren’t for the onion rings. The staff are really friendly and really make the place welcoming and lovely.

This is genuinely one of the best restaurants I've been too. Authentic feels all around, the staff are brilliant, the food is perfect. There are plenty of dining options, along side lunchtime deals. Photo of my baklava dessert for attention lol Such a gorgeous endulgence treat

I really like the good.. we went out as a team and ordered the big platter and chicken shish it was fresh and nicely made. The sides were good as well.. must try is the Baklava which I personally felt was better than other places.