The best restaurants in Hampshire

Set on the Faccombe Estate, The Jack Russell is a quintessential gastropub where seasonal British cooking sits comfortably alongside roaring-fire pub character.

From beautiful countryside surroundings to cosy bedrooms and approachable food, it's a popular choice for a weekend away, summertime snacks and wintery meals.

The Wellington Arms is an independently owned country pub where seasonal British cooking is closely tied to its own kitchen garden and nearby producers.

With a roaring brick fireplace, wooden beams and cosy dining area, it's the perfect pub to settle into for a long lunch or dinner. 

The Greyhound on the Test is a gorgeous riverside gastropub in Stockbridge, combining seasonal British cooking with a garden overlooking the Test.

Its broad menu covers refined pub favourites such as Dorset summer lamb rump, grilled Devonshire sole and braised Wiltshire pork belly, paired with a strong wine list.

Alresford's Spanish specialist Pulpo Negro brings tapas, Spanish wines and seafood-led sharing plates to Hampshire's Georgian countryside.

Its menu offers a vibrant departure from the county's traditional British restaurant scene, dishing up blistered padron peppers, charred summer greens and indulgent croquettas. 

Set inside a dramatic Georgian manor hotel, Marle at Heckfield Place is an expression of estate-led, high-end dining, with short seasonal menus shaped by produce from the surrounding land.

The restaurant uses fruit and vegetables from nearby Fern Verrow Farm, with a focus on sustainability, minimal intervention and a farm-to-table approach.

Overlooking Emsworth Harbour, this is one of Hampshire's strongest choices for contemporary fine dining by the water.

Modern British cooking, an eight-course tasting menu and a restaurant-with-rooms format make it particularly well suited to a special occasion.

The Dining Rooms at this rural hotel provide a traditional setting for lunch or dinner, with British cooking and plenty of space for celebrations and groups.

It's a beautiful countryside hotel setting that draws in diners from far and wide, providing an impressive backdrop to match the quality of cooking. 

Part of the Red Dog Saloon group, this casual restaurant focuses on Deep South American barbecue - expect generously flavoured smoked and grilled meats alongside wings, wraps and burgers. 

With sharing-style plates, live music and rustic, timber-panelled interiors, it's a great spot for birthday celebrations and dinner with friends.

Contemporary British produce-led cooking is the focus here, with seasonal dishes served in Careys Manor's polished dining room.

Cambium is a reliable and versatile choice, complete with vegan alternatives, a breakfast buffet and friendly welcoming service.

This delicious Thai restaurant brings aromatic Thai cooking to the New Forest, with classic dishes and street-food-inspired plates alongside vegetarian and vegan choices.

Situated within the New Forest hotel, it's a great spot to know about when you fancy some authentic Southeast Asian flavours.

The Woolpack Inn is a characterful countryside inn where straightforward British cooking is matched by a proper pub atmosphere.

The combination of traditional bar, restaurant, bedrooms and outdoor space makes it a useful choice when you want fresh, delicate plates in an easy-going, rural atmosphere.

Born from a collaboration between Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett and Lime Wood's Luke Holder, the restaurant aims for fun meals rather than strict fine dining.

The food is Italian-inflected with local ingredients - think home-cured meats, spaghetti with Isle of Wight lobster, and zabaglione for dessert - served in a casual dark-oak-and-leather dining room.

Having first opened its doors in 2014, The Elderflower Restaurant is run by husband-and-wife-run duo Andrew  and Marjolaine.

The intimate, chef-led dining experience is built around a refined, seasonally driven British tasting menu - courses might run from crispy duck wing with grouse leg through to smoked eel and mushroom stew and a chocolate-whiskey mousse. 

Lainston House's signature restaurant, led by MasterChef: The Professionals champ Tom Hamblet, is the ultimate dining destination for a formal country-house dinner.

Tasting menus, a chef's table and modern British cooking turn your meal here into a special occasion, while the historic setting provides a distinctly Hampshire experience.

The flagship restaurant of the luxury Chewton Glen resort, The Dining Room is styled as a smart conservatory with pale furniture and greenery.

The menu ranges from British classics to more cosmopolitan dishes - tuna tataki, Thai lobster curry, Cornish turbot - built around ingredients from the hotel's own kitchen garden, backed by an extensive wine list.

The menu here is built around hyper-local sourcing, with produce grown in the on-site walled kitchen garden and almost everything else sourced within a 25-mile radius.

Expect rustic British fare like ham hock terrine and buttermilk-marinated lamb belly, in a relaxed, mismatched-furniture setting.

Woodlands Restaurant offers a broad dining option in the New Forest National Park, covering breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, with a terrace overlooking the hotel's gardens.

Traditional British cooking and family-friendly touches create a welcoming environment, making those visiting from further afield feel right at home.

This Oakhanger countryside pub combines a traditional freehouse feel with a more ambitious kitchen, covering steaks, fish, burgers and modern British dishes.

Its Sunday roast, outdoor space and family-friendly approach make it one of the area's most versatile spots - plus dogs are welcome too!

Dining at Hambledon Wine Estate comes with a glorious vineyard view, premium wine and top-end cooking - perfect for a special occasion.

Seasonal British dishes, a tasting menu and a set lunch give the restaurant flexibility, whether you're simply visiting on a sunny afternoon or as part of a bigger celebration. 

Atlantic Gate is a contemporary Southampton restaurant with a seafood-led menu that also covers sizzling steaks, mouthwatering grills and modern European plates.

Its position beside the city's waterfront and glass-fronted terrace give it an urban, sociable feel with a large open kitchen adding an element of theatre. 

The more relaxed sibling to The Avenue, The Wellhouse at Lainston House is centred around two wood-fired ovens and a smoker. Everything is cooked over woodfire, including fish, meat, starters and even dessert.

Designed with wooden beams, exposed brick and hanging plants, the restaurant really feels like a quaint countryside escape.

Set within the Aviator hotel, The Brasserie is not your typical airport restaurant: sleek interiors, first-class food and professional service make your dining experience a special one.

With a la carte, a tasting menu and Sunday lunch, expect everything from pan roasted scallops to hoisin glazed smoked tofu.