6 Best Restaurants in The South, England

For a refreshingly modern take on Indian cuisine, try this bustling restaurant a few minutes from the town center. Classic recipes are taken as starting points for the artistically presented dishes, which include tandoori breast of guinea fowl with fenugreek sauce, pistachio chicken korma with sweet basil and clove, and a Singapore-style chickpea and baby eggplant curry (part of an extensive vegetarian selection). A two-course seasonal set lunch and an early evening set menu offer good value. The setting is contemporary and cosmopolitan, and service by staff in traditional dress is friendly and prompt. Live performances by a musician or dancer occasionally take place at dinner.

A relaxed, modern bistro midway between Old Portsmouth and Gunwharf Quays, this place is ideal for a snack, meal, or glass of wine from the thoughtfully chosen wine list. The refreshed menu highlights locally sourced ingredients, like the catch of the day or ale-battered haddock-and-chips mostly sourced from Portsmouth's fish market directly opposite the restaurant. Alternatively, opt for pan-roasted pigeon breast with a bitter leaf salad. An all-day pizza menu is served Monday through Saturday too, and the selection of Sunday roasts ranges from traditional roast beef with Yorkshire pudding to a vegetarian sweet potato, spinach, and cauliflower Wellington. You can sit indoors, in a garden at the back, or at Continental-style tables on the pavement.

Reasonably priced and healthy comfort food is served cafeteria-style at this established, family-run favorite. On the menu are dishes like a steak gyro, a quinoa salad with grilled tofu, and a Goan spiced fishcake with poached egg and crispy kale. Serving breakfast (including a great full English and a vegan version of same) and lunch, the place transforms into a busy cocktail bar (no full meals) in the evening.

This airy, light-filled modern brasserie on a restaurant-heavy street close to the docks is known for its melt-in-your-mouth fare for meat eaters but also offers vegetarian options. The menu leans toward fish classics like pan-fried cod, grilled meats, and Modern British stalwarts like slow-cooked pork belly and braised lamb shank.

Whether you're in the mood for beer-battered fish-and chips or a chicken and bacon pie with a puff pastry top, this welcoming pub-restaurant with great views over the harbor specializes in a well-executed, modern approach to classic British pub fare. Service is attentive and friendly, and there's an excellent selection of beers and ales.

A 17th-century thatched-roof building with foundations made from sarsen stones, this traditional inn and pub (Dickens mentions the building in Pickwick Papers) is a two-minute drive from the Avebury stone circles. With a beer garden that has views of Silbury Hill, it's something of a tourist hub in high season, but lunches and dinners are still excellent. Dishes include roast fillet of sole and a Mediterranean tart, along with pub favorites like steak and ale pie and stuffed baked potatoes. Traditional roasts are served on Sundays. Recent innovations include meatless burgers.