4 Best Restaurants in The South, England

This coastal outpost of one of London's trendiest restaurants combines stunning views overlooking the Cobb with the celebrity-chef's trademark high standards and originality. The menu changes twice daily, but the focus is always on simply cooked and beautifully presented seafood, including Korean fried monkfish cheeks, grilled sole on the bone, and, of course, local oysters. There's a limited vegetarian menu, but the dessert menu is extensive, with dishes like Peruvian chocolate mousse with honeycomb. Book well ahead to sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the coast, on the small terrace, or at the Kitchen Table, where you can watch the chefs at work.

Renowned as one of Britain's finest seafood chefs, Rick Stein chose Winchester for his first venture away from the Cornish coast. The menu is largely focused on fish and crustaceans, but carnivores and vegetarians are catered for as well. The airy room embodies tasteful nautical chic, but the restaurant's popularity means it can be noisy when busy.

This small but acclaimed seafood restaurant attached to a fishmongers' specializes in innovative fish cuisine using the freshest ingredients. Options change daily but might include dishes like roast Devon hake with chorizo, parsnip, and wild garlic or sea-cured mackerel with puffed rice, kombu, and ponzu sauce. There are three set-price dinner menus, ranging from four-course (£55) to 8-course (£95), and three at lunch, starting at £23 for two courses. There are only 10 tables so reservations are recommended.

Superbly positioned right on the beach close to Bournemouth Pier, this fish restaurant serves the best seafood in town, whether grilled, baked, or in fish pies and stews. The menu usually includes a crayfish roll, a soft-shell crab burger, and wild locally caught fish and shellfish (including local oysters, crab, mussels, clams, and lobster). There are also a few non-fish dishes such as a crispy duck and blood orange salad. Simple wooden tables and a large glass front lend a modern, minimalist feel, and there's a narrow deck and terrace for open-air dining and excellent views over the sea and sand. But be warned: if you turn up for lunch one minute after service finishes, you won't be served. In summer, pick up ice cream and snacks from the adjacent stand.