When we're not designing websites, building Shopify stores, fixing SEO problems, or explaining to clients why "just a quick change" is never actually a quick change, there's one thing the team at We Are Jungle can always agree on:
Food is important.
Very important.
In fact, some of our best ideas have come from a coffee shop, over lunch, or after one too many cocktails and a slightly questionable food order. If there was an award for discussing websites whilst eating, we'd probably have a trophy cabinet full of them.
Portsmouth's food scene has quietly become one of the best on the South Coast, and after years of eating our way around the city (purely for research purposes, obviously), we've put together a list of some of our favourite spots.
Coffee: because websites don't build themselves
That Coffee Place
If you've spoken to us recently, there's a good chance we've recommended That Coffee Place.
Tucked away on an industrial estate in Hilsea, it proves that great coffee does not need exposed brick walls, Edison bulbs and a bloke called Sebastian explaining tasting notes.
Instead, they've focused on what actually matters: making excellent coffee and creating a genuinely welcoming atmosphere.
What started as a coffee shop is quickly becoming a community hub. Between run clubs, BBQs and local events, they've built something that feels bigger than just somewhere to grab a flat white.
It's become a regular stop for us before heading into the office and, on occasion, a convenient excuse to leave the office entirely.
"Just popping out for a coffee."
Forty-five minutes later we're discussing website strategy over another latte.
Southsea Deli
Southsea Deli sits firmly in that dangerous category of places where you pop in for a coffee and accidentally leave with enough food to feed a family.
The coffee is excellent, but the real star of the show is the sandwich counter.
Our personal favourite is a crusty baguette packed with pesto, chicken, salami and salad. It's the sort of sandwich that requires both hands, several napkins and a complete disregard for dignity.
Worth every bite.
Lunch: where client meetings mysteriously end up
Positive Eats
When we're pretending to be healthy, Positive Eats is usually our destination of choice.
Their build-your-own bowls are legendary and somehow manage to taste indulgent whilst still convincing you you're making responsible life choices.
Sticky rice, salmon, salad, bang bang cauliflower, crispy onions and sweet chilli sauce remains a personal favourite.
The fact they also sell protein puddings means you can finish lunch feeling virtuous before inevitably ruining it all with biscuits back at the office.
Manzoku
If we have a lunchtime meeting in Southsea, there is an alarmingly high chance it will end at Manzoku.
The Korean fried chicken is genuinely some of the best we've ever eaten. Crispy, sticky, sweet, spicy and utterly addictive.
The kind of food where everyone at the table says they'll just have one piece before immediately ordering more.
Then there's the photo booth.
Any restaurant that combines excellent food with the opportunity to wear ridiculous props and embarrass yourself in photos instantly earns extra points from us.
Noshbox
As the sister company to That Coffee Place, Noshbox follows the same philosophy.
Great food.
No nonsense.
Lovely people.
It's become another regular stop for the team and one of those places that's impossible not to recommend once you've tried it.
Dinner: when calories stop counting
Croxtons
Croxtons has become one of our favourite evening spots in Portsmouth.
The atmosphere is relaxed, the beer selection is excellent and the food is consistently brilliant.
The pomme frites with peppercorn sauce should probably come with a warning label because once you've ordered them, you'll find yourself thinking about them for weeks afterwards.
Their burger menu is always evolving and some of their specials have genuinely been among the best burgers we've eaten anywhere in the city.
It's the sort of place where you plan to stay for one drink and somehow end up staying all evening.
Efes
Look, Portsmouth has plenty of opinions when it comes to kebabs.
Everyone has a favourite.
Everyone thinks everyone else's favourite is wrong.
For us, Efes sits right at the top of the pile.
Their homemade chilli sauce alone deserves its own fan club and after years of what can only be described as extensive kebab research, we're happy to stand by that statement.
Date night favourites
Lins Thai Cafe
When the babysitter has been booked, the children have been successfully negotiated into bed and we have a rare evening to ourselves, Lins Thai Cafe is often the first place that comes to mind.
The food is exceptional, the portions are generous and the value for money is ridiculous.
Our usual order includes enough starters and mains to comfortably feed four people despite there only being two of us.
We've accepted that's just who we are now.
The Briny
If we're getting dressed up and pretending to be sophisticated, The Briny is usually the destination.
Situated on the seafront, it manages to deliver on every level.
The setting is fantastic.
The service is excellent.
The food is consistently outstanding.
Over the years we've worked our way through much of the menu and highlights have included the halibut, venison, pork dishes and one of the best racks of lamb we've ever encountered.
Their whiskey sour also remains the gold standard by which all Portsmouth whiskey sours are judged.
A little slice of Italy
Florios
Florios might just be one of Portsmouth's best-kept secrets.
Their pizzas are genuinely some of the best we've eaten outside of Italy.
The dough is spot on, the ingredients are fantastic and every pizza feels like it's been made with genuine passion rather than simply assembled.
The deli itself is equally dangerous.
Whenever we're cooking Italian food at home, Florios becomes a lifesaver.
Imported meats, cheeses, pasta and ingredients line the shelves and suddenly your quick trip for olive oil turns into a basket full of products you absolutely didn't plan on buying.
No regrets.
The one that got away
Smoke & Mirrors
This is Portsmouth's restaurant equivalent of the white whale.
We've tried.
We've genuinely tried.
Yet somehow every time we look to book, it's either fully booked or we've left it too late.
At this point it's become something of an obsession.
The reviews are incredible, the photos look amazing and it's sitting firmly at the top of our 2026 hit list.
Smoke & Mirrors, one day we'll get a table.
One day.
The honourable mentions
If we included every Portsmouth venue we love, this blog would be longer than some of the websites we build.
A few more favourites that deserve a shout:
Final thoughts
Portsmouth's food scene has never been better.
Whether you're grabbing a quick coffee before work, squeezing in a lunch meeting, planning a date night or recovering from one too many cocktails, there's something brilliant waiting around the corner.
If you've got a favourite we've missed, let us know.
We're always willing to conduct further research.
Purely in the interests of supporting local businesses, of course.
Brad Goddard
·
Founder, We Are Jungle
·
29 June 2026
