The Best Restaurants in Portsmouth (2026 LocalLinked Guide)
Portsmouth's best food isn't in the chains at Gunwharf. It's in the independents tucked along Albert Road, Palmerston Road, Elm Grove and the seafront, run by people who care about what goes on the plate.
We've spent the last few years visiting and getting to know pretty much every independent food spot in the city, so this list isn't pulled from a review site. These are the restaurants we'd send a friend to, whether you're after a date night, a big group dinner, or just a really good plate of food on a Tuesday.
The best restaurants in Portsmouth
1. The Briny, Southsea seafront
A family-run seafood restaurant right on Clarence Esplanade, with views across the Solent from its terrace. You can graze on small plates or settle in for a proper meal, and there are meat and vegan dishes for anyone not on the fish. Regulars rate the Kentucky Fried Trout, the salt and vinegar samphire and the beef short rib. It also holds an AA Rosette.
What to order: Kentucky Fried Trout, or a shellfish platter to share
Best for: Families, seafood lovers, sunny days on the terrace
Good to know: Dogs welcome on the terrace. Separate gluten-free and dairy-free menu.
Find it: Clarence Esplanade, Southsea PO5 3PG · Visit website
LocalLinked deal: 15% off your bill, Monday to Thursday
2. The A Bar, Old Portsmouth
A family-run bistro and bar on White Hart Road, opposite the Camber fish market, on a site that's been a pub or eatery since 1784. The menu is modern British built on local ingredients, with plenty of seafood, a strong wine list and wood-fired pizza with a British twist. Sit on the terrace or in the garden and you've got views of the Spinnaker Tower.
What to order: Moules marinière, or one of the wood-fired pizzas
Best for: Celebrations, group dinners, Sunday roasts
Good to know: Gluten-free options. Private parties for up to 60.
Find it: Lombard Terrace, 58 White Hart Road, Old Portsmouth PO1 2JA · Visit website
LocalLinked deal: Any pizza and a pint (or soft drink) for £20, Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 9pm
3. HUIS, Elm Grove
Southsea's Belgian bar and kitchen (huis is Flemish for "home"). Everything is homemade from fresh, locally sourced ingredients: mussels, meatballs, dishes cooked in beer, croques and waffles. The beer list runs to around 100 bottles from Belgium and beyond, plus HUIS's own draught beers. It's one of the best-reviewed spots in the city, so booking ahead is a good idea.
What to order: A pot of mussels with Belgian chips, or the brisket croque
Best for: Beer lovers, relaxed dinners, lunch
Find it: 62 Elm Grove, Southsea PO5 1JG · Visit website
LocalLinked deal: 20% off food, Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm to 3pm
4. Soprano's, Palmerston Road
A long-running Italian on Palmerston Road that some regulars have been visiting for 20 years. The menu covers pizza, pasta and risotto, with a specials board that changes regularly, and reviewers keep coming back for the generous portions and good value.
What to order: Prawn linguine or the mussels, then the tiramisu
Best for: Classic Italian, family meals, bigger groups
Good to know: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Gluten-free choices are limited.
Find it: 108 Palmerston Road, Southsea PO5 3PT · Visit website
5. Croxtons Kitchen & Tap House, Palmerston Road
An independent kitchen and tap house in Southsea's old Post Office building. The food takes influences from around the world, from burgers and tacos to burritos, but it's best known for its Sunday roast. They brew their own SHANT beers and keep seven rotating guest taps.
What to order: The Sunday roast (book ahead)
Best for: Families, groups, Sunday lunch
Good to know: Kids eat for £1 between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays. Closed Mondays.
Find it: 94-96 Palmerston Road, Southsea PO5 3PT · Visit website
LocalLinked deal: £1 dessert with any main, Friday to Sunday
6. Algarve's Grill, Osborne Road
A Portuguese restaurant serving Portuguese tapas, fresh fish, steaks and traditional dishes. It's one of the highest-rated restaurants in Portsmouth, with a Travellers' Choice award for 2026. The showpiece is the Mountain & Sea Paella, loaded with chicken, chorizo, seafood, king prawns and half a lobster.
What to order: The Mountain & Sea Paella to share (limited availability, so ask when you book)
Best for: Seafood lovers, celebrations, a proper sit-down dinner
Good to know: Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Wheelchair accessible, with highchairs.
Find it: 48 Osborne Road, Southsea PO5 3LT · Visit website
7. Meat & Barrel, Palmerston Road
A craft beer and burger kitchen from the team that started Victorious Festival. Expect smash burgers in brioche buns, a proper BBQ section with brisket, ribs, smoked wings and pulled pork, plus mac and cheese and dirty fries. There are vegan burgers too, and a big range of beers on tap and in cans.
What to order: The Barrel burger with dirty fries
Best for: Groups, birthdays, burger cravings
Good to know: Outside seating. Vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Find it: 110 Palmerston Road, Southsea LocalLinked deal: 50% off burgers, all day every Monday
8. Piecaramba!, Albert Road
A comic book themed pie and mash restaurant that started in Winchester and opened in Southsea in 2025, with a queue down Albert Road on day one. There are more than 20 pies, plus Detroit-style pizza pies. Jay Rayner gave it his seal of approval, and the chilli beef burrito pie has won awards.
What to order: The chilli beef burrito pie with mash
Best for: Families, vegans and gluten-free diners
Good to know: Lots of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free pies. Kids' menu. Pie meals around £15.
Find it: 116 Albert Road, Southsea PO4 0JS · Visit website
LocalLinked deal: Pie, side and drink for £10, every day, 4pm to 9pm
9. Maya, Jubilee Terrace
Contemporary Latin American small plates built for sharing, with open-fire cooking at the heart of the kitchen. The cocktail list pairs Latin spirits with ingredients from around the world. Diners rave about the Nikkei triple-cooked pork belly, the beetroot ceviche and the carnitas spring rolls.
What to order: A spread of small plates, including the triple-cooked pork belly
Best for: Date night, cocktails, sharing with friends
Good to know: Separate vegan menu. Evenings only, and tables suit smaller groups best.
Find it: 15 Jubilee Terrace, Southsea PO5 3AS · Visit website
10. Ugly Bird Asia Grill, city centre
A modern Asian charcoal grill that opened on Stanhope Road in November 2025, from the team behind Compass Rose in Anchorage Park. The kitchen is open, so you can sit at the bar and chat to the chef while he grills. Think skewers, white truffle noodles, seafood laksa and bao.
What to order: A mix of skewers and the white truffle noodles
Best for: Something new in the city centre, dinner before a show or gig
Good to know: Dishes marked for spice and diet, with some gluten-free options. Closed Mondays.
Find it: Catherine House, Stanhope Road, Portsmouth PO1 1DZ · Visit website
LocalLinked deal: Bento box and soft drink for £15, Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 12pm to 2:30pm
Frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in Portsmouth?
It depends what you're after. For seafood with a view, The Briny on Southsea seafront is hard to beat. For Portuguese seafood and steaks, Algarve's Grill on Osborne Road is one of the city's highest-rated restaurants on Tripadvisor. For a classic bistro with a waterfront feel, try The A Bar in Old Portsmouth.
Where should I eat in Southsea?
Albert Road, Palmerston Road, Osborne Road and Elm Grove have the highest concentration of independent restaurants. Highlights include HUIS for Belgian food and beer, Meat & Barrel for burgers and BBQ, Piecaramba! for pies and Maya for Latin American small plates.
What are the best restaurants in Portsmouth for vegans and gluten-free diners?
Piecaramba! has a long list of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free pies. Maya has a separate vegan menu, and Algarve's Grill has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The Briny has a separate gluten-free and dairy-free menu, and Meat & Barrel does vegan burgers.
Where can I get a good Sunday roast in Portsmouth?
Croxtons on Palmerston Road is known for its roast and gets busy, so book ahead. The A Bar also serves Sunday roasts.
How can I save money eating out in Portsmouth?
Seven of the restaurants on this list offer an exclusive deal through the LocalLinked app, from 50% off burgers on Mondays to 20% off food. One deal usually saves more than a month of LocalLinked Premium costs. See the full list of deals below.
Save at these restaurants with LocalLinked
Every restaurant on this list has an exclusive deal you can only get through LocalLinked, Portsmouth's local deals app. Open the app, find the venue and show or scan your deal when you order.
Restaurant | LocalLinked deal | When |
Meat & Barrel | 50% off burgers | All day Mondays |
HUIS | 20% off food | Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm to 3pm |
The Briny | 15% off your bill | Monday to Thursday |
The A Bar | Any pizza and a pint (or soft drink) for £20 | Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 9pm |
Piecaramba! | Pie, side and drink for £10 | Every day, 4pm to 9pm |
Ugly Bird Asia Grill | Bento box and soft drink for £15 | Tue to Fri and Sun, 12pm to 2:30pm |
Croxtons | £1 dessert with any main | Friday to Sunday |
One deal pays for the app. A single meal deal typically saves more than a month of LocalLinked Premium costs, and there are dozens more deals across Portsmouth's cafes, bars and independent shops.
Deals correct at time of writing. Check the app for the latest terms.
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