Places to eat in Southampton

The Southampton restaurant scene has something for everyone. From award-winning cosmopolitan eateries to a street kitchen run by a BBC Masterchef winner. Our guide to Southampton restaurants rounds up a selection of seven of the best dining experiences in the city.

We kick off our pick of the best cafés in Southampton with The Docks Coffee House on Oxford Street. Arguably the best café in Hampshire, this place will stand up to the critique of any coffee connoisseur. They use only the best leaves and beans for their tea and coffee, and they source all of their food from the finest local producers in Hampshire. Come here for breakfast or lunch to experience a relaxed environment with friendly staff and reasonable prices, and if the weather is nice, you can even sit outside and watch the world go by.

Halladay’s Tea Rooms just up from Watts Park on Bedford Place is a cosy café renowned for its fantastic breakfasts. They serve a wide range of dishes in the morning, but the classic Halladay’s full English breakfast is a particular favourite with the locals. Their lunchtime menu is equally impressive, with jacket potatoes, sandwiches and much more to choose from. If you’re looking for a sweet treat to accompany your tea, you won’t be disappointed either, with a stunning selection of cakes on the menu. If you are staying at our Cumberland Place hotel, then you are just a short stroll away. The only catch is that Halladay’s is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so plan your visit wisely.

The Art House Café describe themselves as ‘so much more than a café’, and they are absolutely right. This community-run organic café on Above Bar Street near East Park doesn’t just offer fantastic food and drinks, it also houses a gallery, pre-loved clothes boutique and regular poetry and music events. It is an award-winning community hub and has been feeding creativity to the city of Southampton since 2008.

On the third Saturday of every month between April and November, Southampton General Market hosts an Artisan Food Market. With stall after stall of delicious local food produce, this is not to be missed if it coincides with your stay in Southampton. Plus, its less than a mile from our Southampton Airport hotel.

On the first Saturday of every month, you can pay a visit to Southampton Farmers’ Market on Oxford Street, near Queens Park. With a wide range of stalls selling fresh seafood, local meat and vegetables, as well as unique products such as Hampshire honey, you are bound to find something you love.