Southampton is your gateway to some of the best food in the South of England. From the chalk streams and vineyards of Hampshire to the salads from the Isle of Wight and the artisan food producers of the New Forest, there’s a lot to explore.

Here are some top places to eat in Southampton, especially if you’re visiting on a cruise. Knowing where to eat in between sightseeing is essential.

Mettricks is a locally owned café near the Southampton docks, aiming to bring great coffee to the city. The decor is cozy, with pine tables and mismatched chairs. They source high-quality meat and bakery products from local suppliers. If you need free wifi, this is the place to be. Try their egg and crispy bacon sandwich or a homemade cake with coffee. The original café at 117 High Street stays open in the evening for cocktails, wine, and real ales with light bites until 10 pm. Mettricks has branches at 117 High Street, 2 East Bargate, and soon at 1 Guildhall Place.

For a quintessentially English experience, try afternoon tea at The Grand Café, originally the historic South Western Hotel used by first-class passengers on the Titanic. Afternoon tea is served from 2.30-5 pm (book in advance) and includes delicate sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and a selection of cakes. If you’re visiting Beaulieu, another elegant afternoon tea spot is the luxurious Montagu Arms.

The Pig in the Wall is a boutique hotel set into the old city walls of Southampton. It serves light dishes, homemade flatbreads, and cakes from mid-morning to 10 pm. They specialize in charcuterie, with items like pork crackling and apple sauce or Honey Mustard Chipolatas. The decor is shabby chic with exposed brickwork and leather chairs. All produce is locally sourced, featuring New Forest pork, Hampshire cheeses, and Isle of Wight tomatoes. Their sister hotel, The Pig at Brockenhurst, is also a well-known foodie stop.

The Dancing Man is a micro-brewery, bar, and restaurant housed in The Wool House, a medieval stone building. They brew around 20 different beers in rotation, with seven on tap at any time. Look out for the Pilgrim’s Pale Ale and The Last Waltz. The menu is British, with pies served with buttery mash and greens, and a popular Sunday roast.

For a variety of great restaurants, head to the lively restaurant quarter in Oxford Street, just a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal. The pedestrianized street has a vibrant atmosphere, especially on weekends and evenings. We recommend the Oxford Brasserie for a cosmopolitan menu using local produce and Olive Tree for classic French bistro food. The White Star Tavern specializes in modern British cooking with local Hampshire produce.

If you’re looking for a traditional pub, try the Duke of Wellington, opposite The Tudor House in the heart of the Old Town. The timbered building dates back to the 13th century and has been a public house since 1494. They serve a wide selection of draught and real ales, with pub favorites like fish and chips, steak, and ploughman’s with ham or cheese.

While exploring Southampton and other parts of Hampshire and the New Forest, look out for local specialties. The chalk soil of Hampshire is ideal for wine growing, and you’ll find some of England’s best-known wineries near Southampton. The still and sparkling wines from Nyetimber and Hambledon aim to rival the best champagne. You can visit the Three Choirs Vineyard at Wickham for tours and tastings.

Hampshire is also known for its peppery, green watercress, especially in the spring and summer. The Watercress festival is held in Alresford every May, and you can even take a steam train past the watercress farms.

The Isle of Wight, just a short ferry ride from Southampton, is known for its fresh produce like asparagus, cherries, apricots, and especially tomatoes. Look out for these on restaurant menus in Southampton. The local New Forest ice cream, produced in Lymington, is widely available in shops and cafés around Southampton. Other artisan ice cream producers worth trying include Sundae’s Child in Romsey and Beaulieu chocolate studio in Beaulieu village.