The Grapes

You're heading down Oxford Street towards the water, past the usual chain spots, when you spot The Grapes. It's got that reassuring look of a place that's been doing its thing for decades without needing a rebrand—dark wood, proper bar stools, the kind of joint where regulars have their spot. The Maritime Quarter location means you're close enough to the waterfront but far enough away from the tourist circuit. The pub feels like actual Southampton, the kind of place where people come for a proper pint and decent food, not for Instagram angles. It's upstairs in the hotel, which somehow makes it feel even more like a secret, though word's definitely out among people who know where to find a good local.