The Monarch

Walk into The Monarch on a Friday night and you'll find yourself in proper cocktail territory—the kind of place where the person behind the bar isn't just following a recipe, they're actually thinking about what goes in your glass. Palmerston Road in Southsea has become a proper little strip for a night out, and this spot sits comfortably among the better things happening round here. The drinks are well-crafted, the crowd's usually friendly without being lairy, and there's enough going on to keep you interested but not so much noise you can't actually have a conversation.