What to do/visit in Southampton? +restaurant recommendation please

In the city itself not much to recommend - it's a pretty bland and nondescript kind of place... (I lived near there for years.)

Some of the small villages are nice - Hamble, Bursledon, or across to the New Forest.

There are some nice restaurants - my favourite is La Regatta, opposite the Red Funnel ferry port, it's lovely.As Imelda says, the city centre is a bit non-descript really.

Lymmington is pretty and I also like Lepe (past Fawley refinery) for coastal walking.

Are any of these villages easy reach without a car? I don't think they'll be renting one?

Thanks for the restaurant recommendation, will have a look at it now!

There are some excellent places, we particularly like http://www.cocorio.co.uk/ brilliant live music, food and atmosphere.

From Southampton I would drop into the new forest ...loads of stuff to do there

Not really that easy to get anywhere without a car - there is a train, but they only run hourly into the villages I think.

If you can get a train to Bursledon it's only a quick 1 minute walk to The Jolly Sailor pub, which is right on the river. That does pretty good food.

Without transport though it's not the best place to be.

Where are they coming into? The airport, the ferry/ship terminal or the station? All are on different sides of the city. (The airport isn't even actually in Southampton.)

For food I really like Dock Gate 4 and Oxfords (disclaimer- I haven't lived in Soton for 5 years, but did visit DG4 last year)