The 30 Best Bistro in Southampton

“Wow. Had never been before and went off a trusted friend's recommendation. We had the most lovely evening. They were so accommodating of the fact im in a wheelchair; the restaurant is accessible (however the bathrooms are a little trickier! Thankfully I can walk a little though so it was no issue) My first impression was how homely and welcoming the place was. Then I noticed the cleanliness! Everything was immaculate and looked brand new! We were greeted in and welcomed warmly. The ambience was perfect and the background music was beautiful. Each course came out and was absolutely superb. The starters were actually some of the best food I've ever eaten - we had scallops, duck mousse and the snails - all perfectly cooked and seasoned with the perfect accompaniments. As we sat, enjoying our meal, the restaurant busied and the staff gave the same amount of warmth and service to everyone - greeting many customers like old friends (we assume this means they get a lot of repeat customers!) My husband ordered the cheese board and we were delighted when an entire platter, with an array of cheese was brought out. The waiter asked my husband his taste in cheese and then proceeded to recommend cheeses he thought would be right. He went through the board with such knowledge of the various cheeses and was spot on with every single one he suggested: my husband loved them all! The bathrooms were the cleanest public bathrooms I've ever been in! And this is gonna sound absolutely crazy but it's the first toilet I've ever been to that has really decent toilet roll!! I've stayed in 5 star hotels around the world and never rate the toilet roll but for some of us, well, it's important OK!! There was no pretentiousness and people were dressed in an array of clothing - from smart casual, to a little dressier; so you only need dress up if you feel you want to (we did!) The bill, although a little eye watering, was worth the price completely. Everything was fresh and perfectly cooked. The portions sizes were more generous than we had expected and we left after 3 courses from their set menu feeling full and very happy! We will 100% be back and highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fine dining, in comfortable surroundings with all the warmth and personality that you'd expect from an independent family run business.”

“Much better eating in than delivery, so worth noting. You get freshly prepare bowls completely as you build yourself, portions are good sized and some nice extras available if you’re still hungry. Cake for dessert is available. Not too noisy to eat and chat, and never that busy inside”

“I can’t say enough good things about this place! From the moment I walked in, the aroma of freshly baked dough and melted cheese had me hooked. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and the service was quick without feeling rushed. I ordered the Watani pizza and it was incredible—perfectly crisp crust, generous toppings, and a flavorful sauce that tied everything together. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients and take real pride in their craft. The atmosphere was cozy and clean, great for a casual dinner or grabbing a quick bite. Bonus points for the great drink selection and fun music. Whether you’re a classic pepperoni fan or someone who loves trying unique toppings, this spot has something for everyone. Easily one of the best pizza places in town—I’ll definitely be coming back!”

“Food is amazing. But attention they have two boards not just one. And one board have much more interesting food then another. Somehow they forgot to mention so we lost the opportunity to experience the best food.”

“Lovely cosy pub. Been here a few times for Sunday lunch and the food is amazing. Very good service. Parking is limited though”

“We dropped in for coffee and stayed for lunch! Our first visit to this lovely cafe but it definitely won't be our last. We arrived just as the morning rush was finishing so we had a choice of tables, our food was cooked fresh (but even so, with minimal delay) and was just how we like it. Excellent to see a good range of healthy options as well as the standard cafe fare, and the prices are reasonable, especially for a prime location. The picture shows my Eggs Royale - the portion size is two of these but I'd eaten one before I remembered to take a picture!”

“This place is a true gem in Romsey. Great atmosphere, great service & an excellent menu, both food & wine. We might become regulars!”

“Food was very delicious. Waitress was lovely. Downside is that the tables were very very sticky (not dirty) and made the tactile experience unpleasant.”

“Wow! I’m still thinking about the pasta now. Food was so good!! Really authentic, beautiful venue. Great service, both of our servers were lovely and attentive. Definitely coming back!”

“Cosy, sells nice wines, had nice live music and the ambience music was lovely too. Would recommend”

“A brilliant band played there last night. The beer was really good if you like craft and real ales. The location is really close to the ferry and cruise terminals so if you are visiting the local area I highly recommend a drink (or 2) in this traditional British pub. The staff are really friendly and apparently this was a pub/ale house when the Titanic left Southampton and was copied for a scene in the film. After sitting in the window seats last night I can absolutely believe that maybe true.”

“Had an amazing meal here with Masterchef: The Professionals winner from 2023, Tom Hamblet featuring as Head Chef! The food was beautifully presented and tasted delicious, while the service was top class.”

“A lovely little independent Chinese restaurant run by a husband and wife team. The food is cooked fresh and is carefully flavoured, not packed with salt and sugar like so many regular takeaways. We'll definitely be back here and will be recommending to all our friends!”

“Exceptional attentive but not over the top service from Arati at Winchester. Really busy fully booked restaurant on the Friday before christmas. Lots of large tables but as a table 3 we did not feel left out. Drinks came out quickly, really good quality and well priced food. Very loud atmosphere so 4 stars here. Will be back again for sure.”

“Our first visit here last night and was a delicious meal. Started with the Thai chicken wings which were in an amazing sauce and then had the chicken pad Thai which was delicious in a slightly sweet sauce. Also great they sell Chang beer.”

“A warm welcome on a cold and wet day. Started with a lovely bottle of delicious Zinfandel wine. The food that followed was divine! The best Chowder I’ve ever had, (better than Boston USA). Sandwiches are lovely too, with pre seasoned fries, scrumptious. My partner’s pulled Beef bourguignon starter and pizza were lovely. Portion sizes are generous. the prices very reasonable. Great selection of food on the menu. Bonus, loving the playlist background music. Lots of free parking, as per signage, you simply need to give your car registration. Lots of outside seating too, (for warmer days). Toilets very clean. We’ll be back for sure. Highly recommend!”

“I only went to this establishment because my friend Sam works there, and as always his service was amazing. However I stayed and returned for the burgers. The burger sauce they use is honestly the best one I've ever had and it brings the burgers to the next level. I don't live nearby and I spend an unhealthy amount of time thinking about the burgers. The atmosphere and service are 10/10, they're quick and the food gets to you speedy and steaming.”

“I have been here a number of times and it is always excellent. Friendly arrive, great food that arrives in good time. Lots of choices - both on the menu and daily specials on blackboards.”

“Brilliant food, great service! Reasonably priced with good sized portions, the food came quickly and all together. Veggy curry was lush, and the pie of the day was really good too. They also had live music which was a really nice addition.”

“Lovely setting for lunch. We sat outside and watched the world go by. The waitress was lovely and really helpful. They had a separate vegan and vegetarian menu with plenty of choice. The food was delicious, so were the cocktails.”

“Had two tomahawk steaks, ribs and a rib eye. Food was fantastic and the staff were very helpful. A great spot for a birthday dinner”

“I had my birthday lunch at La Regata, and it was truly a wonderful experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with beautiful Spanish décor that made the meal feel extra special. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made me feel genuinely celebrated on my birthday. The food was absolutely delicious – every dish was full of flavour, perfectly cooked, and beautifully presented. The tapas selection was especially impressive, with a great variety to suit all tastes. La Regata exceeded my expectations, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend a special occasion. I’ll definitely be coming back – highly recommended!”

“I drop in occasionally when I want to treat myself. Food is always top form and the staff always have a smile for customers.”

“Great staff members, very welcoming and helpful with the menu. Food was great, tasted good and big portions. Prices were fair as well! Highly recommended stop!”

“Lovely place to eat and they are very helpful when dealing with intolerance and allergies. Food was very tasty. We stopped off here a couple of years ago and remembered how good it was and it's still great.”

“Visiting Salisbury for the day with friends Always a challenge to find a good eating establishment that suits us all This was a great choice. As it happens we all chose fish/seafood. Great food, lovely ambience, excellent service and good value. Particular call out for the mussels and superb chips Will definitely call again when meeting in Salisbury”

“First time I ate here, I had eggs royale and requested no sauce (which was great that they didn’t put the sauce on). The first egg was perfect, unfortunately the 2nd egg was too runny. I was happy for just the one egg to be replaced, but they replaced it all! I have since had a cooked breakfast and my first ever French toast. Oh my goodness - it was amazing! This will now be my go to for French Toast. Lovely, thank you.”

“Had a table booked for a family celebration, table all set up nicely, service was good and the food was excellent. Staff were helpful and polite. Service all round was good. A nice size garden for children and dogs.”

“A beautiful building located at the side of South Western Hotel & next to the old railway station that is now a casino. We visited for a wedding & the large room was indeed grand! Beautiful decor with chandeliers.”

“We hired the restaurant for a wedding reception this Saturday and it was perfect. The staff were incredibly accommodating, everyone was friendly and helpful. The food (cold buffet) was outstanding and our guests commented on how good the food was! It was plentiful as well as delicious. Manager Mark had been responsive and incredibly helpful throughout - nothing was too much trouble. Mark also booked DJ Martin who was great. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening, as did our guests! Thank you”