Gin and Olive Southsea

You'll find yourself on Albert Road in Southsea, where Gin and Olive sits quietly among the independent shops and cafes that make this corner of Portsmouth worth the walk. It's the kind of place locals return to without making a fuss about it—no Instagram theatrics, just consistently good food and a gin list that takes itself seriously without being pretentious about it. The Mediterranean menu moves with the seasons, and they're clearly not mucking about with frozen fish or shortcuts in the kitchen. Expect proper flavours, decent wine pairings, and staff who actually know what they're talking about.