The Canteen in Portsmouth

Average wait time to be seated and was popped on a small table in a very warm alcove. Warm and noisy and unfortunately smelly from a couple of dogs nearby. Staff all look so unhappy and order taken by a large camp guy who seems to waltz around not doing much.Tea was nice as Pompey tea as my partner said it was just what he needed. Coffee was too hot and fairly tasteless. Food was tasty but too much both of us leaving some. Positive is the location and food however negative heat, noise smell and very unhappy staff.

yes one of the best for the area we had just a taostie each well so much cheese and it was a meal in itself, we have been here before and it was great. teapots don't leak down the sides and got 3 cups out of it *

Decided to try out the Canteen for breakfast as was in the area. It’s quirky and cavernous inside and has a few porthole style windows which look out into the sea. Coffee was great. The food I think would have been great had I chosen the right dish. My eggs Benedict was small and slightly odd tasting, they also served it with shredded gammon instead of as a traditional Benedict with a slice of ham. Wife’s toast was good. We noticed that most customers were ordering the bacon rolls which looked great so will probably go for bacon rolls next time.

Totally amazing breakfast on both days we went, Egg Royale and the waffle poached egg with maple pecan were delicious. Sourdough toast with a side of bacon was huge and again, delicious.

Amazing food and a beautiful place for a sea view! We love coming here. Wonderful if you can sit on the deck weather depending.

Intriguing place on the waterfront in Portsmouth, decided to give it a try for breakfast. We were shown to our table by a dour faced young woman who didn’t attempt to engage with us just pointed to a table and left us to it. We got the impression that the entire staff had either had an argument or had been admonished by their manager! We ordered coffees, the canteen breakfast stack and maple bacon waffle. Coffees were fine but the two meals were all reheated and not very nice, the only thing on my plate that was freshly cooked was the poached egg. The bacon was like leather, the rosti was a sort of mashed potato in a parcel of batter, not grated potato fried in a pan and the whole thing was very greasy. My wife had the maple bacon waffle that was completely inedible, reheated bacon on a bed of crushed pecans absolutely drowned in maple syrup. No one came to ask how our meal was and in hindsight we should have complained. I can honestly say that this was one of the worst meals I have had and a complete waste of thirty quid!

Went to grab a quick sandwich, ended up having an hour long lunch, choosing the Pasta of the day (Arrabiata) which was a good sized portion and so tasty. Tea, coffee and carrot cake were all great. Service was excellent and very friendly, even setting up a table that had be packed away for the day so I could sit outside overlooking the sea. Very reasonably priced, had to go back after I had left to make sure I'd be charged for everything! And a great location to.

One of the worst salad i had in my life. Believe the pic says everything. It was with no taste, huge raw pieces of salad, very small portion of noodles and it was colder than an ice cube, seriously. Everything came in a huge freezed jar which i have to shake by myself ( as advised by the waiter 😂 - not even sure how I can shake that ) in order to mix the whole sfuff .. bah.. just want to understand who is the chef of this place

Just popped in for afternoon drinks and cake! Fascinating place in the old city walls looking out to sea. Had a lovely Earl Grey tea, hot chocolate and chocolate brownie. Great service too - would return as food menu looked great too!

The service was extremely poor, the queue outside is identified for takeaway but no one comes to see who is waiting. After waiting in the cold for about 15 minutes we went inside and found only one person being served . We were asked if we wanted takeaway and 15 minutes later after the only customer had left still no service staff were totally dis organised and could not care less about takeaway customers needless to say we we no be visiting this establishment again. If this is the standard in off peak I suggest summer guests take their custom elsewhere, appalling.

Lovely intimate eatery in the old barracks at the Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth. Busy but service good and in the main friendly. One minor comment a window view table became available after we were seated, which we quickly moved to before the table was cleared for which we were told off! Lovely selection of cakes and the Carrot Cake and Lemon Drizzle Cake were both enjoyed.

Great breakfast brunch with my daughter . Sausage, bacon,tomato,mushrooms on a potato rosti. Good capuchino. There was a short wait to be seated in a queue. It s popular.

Dreadful will never use again. After a 40 min wait outside on a wet Friday lunchtime at several intervals other people were ushered in before us. Finally after being bought in, infuriatingly we were ignored for another 15 mins causing us to leave. Appalling customer service. I would highly recommend eating elsewhere or even at home.

amazing breakfast stack and easily caters to lactose intolerance! waitress (didn't catch her name) very friendly and entire staff smiley. beautiful view out the window and a lush selection of cakes (highly recommend cinnamon swirl and carrot cake)

Great spot, I love Old Portsmouth. We were escorted to a table with a lovely view. Service was very slow, waited ages for someone to take our order. One waitress seemed to be deliberately avoiding eye contact. Perhaps she was new? Eventually flagged down the lady who initially showed us to our table who took our order. Great coffee but so many people around us seemed to wait for ages for their hot food. Appreciate that the food is freshly cooked but people were clearly frustrated. Not sure what the etiquette was for paying the final bill, waitress continued to avoid eye contact so went to pay when I saw her return to the till. Stood next to her and waited and was then surprised to find that she asked the lady behind me if she wanted to pay! The lady behind pointed out that I was first in the queue and I was then asked at which table I had been sitting. I guess this goes to prove the waitress had a limited focus as we had been sitting at the only window table in our area. Customer service was disappointing. Actually found the waitress quite rude. Great coffee though.

Tasty food and really good coffee, went here whilst we were staying with some friends over new years. They were able to fit us in after only a 5 minute wait and even though they were very busy we were served and received our food and drinks promptly. Good quality for the price you definitely get your moneys worth. I had a veggie sausage sandwich and the sausages were the nicest veggie sausages I’ve had.

Husband and I were wandering around old Portsmouth and were ready for a light lunch. Found The Canteen and we're so glad! Best food and service in Portsmouth! Both had delicious and fresh tomato basil soup and shared the best cheese toastie we've ever had. Service is excellent and the space is cozy and charming. If we lived here we'd be regulars! I'd give it 6 stars if I could.

This restaurant is situated within the Hot Walls of Old Portsmouth. They regularly have a queue outside, which is okay because it moves quickly, they come outside and let you know how long the wait will be and they allow the staff time to clear and relay between table changes. The menu offers a selection of full breakfast stack, dishes such as spicy scrambled eggs, eggs benedict to a scone or sausage roll. Service is not fast, but it is worth waiting for. where they score highly is in keeping their customers informed and updated.

Lovely service, excellent little establishment, brilliant selection of cakes and a nice looking menu. Wee treasure of a find.

After my wife deconstructed the bacon sandwich (removed the fat from the streaky bacon) my grandson enjoyed his sandwich. My wife enjoyed the poached eggs on sourdough. She had ordered tha breakfast stack for me. I left half of everything. the menu seemed to be designed for easy assembly in the kitchen. A square of fried potato with mushrooms and a slice of tomato on top with the slices of the aforementioned streaky three halves (lengthways, for the sandwich I presume) of sausage topped with a small poached egg. Clearly most of this is precooked and warmed as required. Not for me, I'm afraid. lovely location, venue and nice staff.

Hi four of us went here for lunch. The food was better than average, the place is lovely in the arches in old Portsmouth. There are plenty of staff however the service is very slow both waiting to get served at the door and once you are seated. Cleanliness was about average.

Beautiful venue and team. The veggie stack looked beautiful, was slightly disappointing, however, only because it was quite cold and I was expecting a hot breakfast.. Otherwise wouldn't fault the experience.

Service was generally very good, if perhaps understaffed. My partner's open sandwich was good, as was the coffee, but my Buddha bowl was disappointing and needed dressing and generally 'pepping up'.

Brilliant use of the area right by the Round Tower - especially on a wet day. Had never come across Cheese, Chive and Bacon Scones, before. What a neat idea. Quite delicious. Twinned with a Macciato, excellent service and a great vibe. We will be back. Hayling Seagoon

We have been frequent visitors to the Canteen since it opened in 2016. We have never been disappointed by the quality of the food and the service from the staff is brilliant. Georgia manages the team brilliantly and there is never anything that is too much trouble. If the weather allows then sitting on the deck watching the busy harbour entrance is a must. Today we both had the breakfast stack which has improved over the years and is a brilliant way to start the day! The coffee is one of the best in Portsmouth and we couldn’t rate it highly enough. If you are hungry, try the amazing sausage roll or cakes; they are all amazing. We are leaving Portsmouth today and moving on to pastures new but have thoroughly enjoyed having such an excellent cafe close by which has friendly and helpful staff, great food and excellent coffee. Thank you Team Canteen for all the joy!

Wanted to try this place for ages and was sadly disappointed, arrived just after 10am expecting a bit of a queue as it's southsea in the sunshine. 15 minutes later we were seated, told there was a 20-25 minute wait for food which was surprising as the restaurant was only half full and there were plenty of staff around. Waited so long to order drinks I actually asked the people next to us if we had to go up to order. 5 minutes later the lady came over to take our drinks and food order. We were sat chatting and didn't really take much notice of how long had passed until I saw that a couple after us had received their food first. Food finally arrived 40 minutes after we ordered, was nice but very salty. Not sure if I'd bother returning as there are plenty of other places in Southsea with better service.

We visited for breakfast whilst on holiday. We sat on the decking and it was lovely. The eggs Benedict was lovely although no runny eggs! Nice hot chocolate too. We did return again a few days later. Food took longer and by then I had drunk my hot drink. I did purchase another but something for the cafe to be aware of.

It’s probably much better if you arrive before 11:45am. Menu becomes very limited otherwise. Had cheese & Ham toastie, very good portion, but seemed very salty (must be the cheese or Ham used), good job you get a free large bottle of water to help clean your palate. Staff friendly & polite. Would probably try again but before 11:45am & not after that time.

Best part of the Canteen is its setting. We ordered 2 x bacon sandwiches, and 2 x bowls of chips. "Ah, dont have any chips left" this was at 11.45 am. If it was my business id be out to get some in, its not rocket science. Sandwich arrived. Bread almost 2.5 inches thick, try eating that!!! Oh, and the bacon was overdone. To be fair, they knocked them off the bill, certainly wouldnt go back....

We went for a quick brunch and had such a great experience. It's a fabulous setting in the Hot Wall arches, the food is excellent and the service we received, particularly from Andrew, who checked so thoroughly and kindly to make sure the food was safe for my allergy, was delightful. I had a crab mayo open sandwich, which was delicious and light enough to leave room for a to die for, but very filling Biscoff icing topped sticky toffee cake. The toffee icing topped banana loaf was also amazing and a bit lighter!

A shout out for Andrew who is regularly working at the Canteen. He manages the queue and is an absolute ray of sunshine. He is always welcoming, fun and engaging. Without exception the staff here are wonderful and they are often under pressure as it's nearly always busy. Food is good, menu interesting but it's the staff, and Andrew that keep us coming.

We stumbled across the cafe during our walk along the Millennium Line from Southsea to Portsmouth. We did have to wait a little bit to be seated but I think this is because staff have very different roles and duties, a simple welcome and please...

Went today with friends for a breakfast. Chose the veggie stack which sounded delicious but was a huge letdown. Two of us ordered it and both agreed it wasn’t very nice. Cheap veggie sausages in it when you can get much nicer even at Wetherspoons,...

Lovely, light scone with jam and clotted cream. With a pot of tea pigs tea. Heaven sitting on the deck in the sun watching the boats go by. Served by the lovely Andrew what more could you ask for.

Great location. We sat outside at the waters edge watching the busy harbour. Breakfast was delicious and reasonably priced. We had the Canteen Stack, waffles and sausage sandwich. The pastries looked wonderful too. The staff was very friendly and the menus offers vegetarian options. We...

Great location. I stopped for a takeaway snack. There was only a couple in front of me being served, but after 5 minutes I decided the £5 sausage roll was not worth the wait. That's right £5 for a sausage roll! Imagine an OAP seeing...

Always stop for a coffee on the terrace when visiting Old Portsmouth. The sun was shining, it was warm and I had my “no better place to be” thought. It’s just a great place to watch all the boats. For a change also tucked in...

Fairly average with a limited menu and expensive for a snack. For example £8.50 for toasted bread with a very thin spread of paste, £5.50 pasties are small. No Eggs Benedict on the menu anymore which used to be very good. Location is good which...

From the moment we entered we were greeted like old friends, shown to a freshly cleared and cleaned table and we ordered our coffees. After glancing at the menu and noting the more-than-reasonable prices, we also ordered food. It arrived quickly, beautifully served, piping hot...

Had a great lunch at the canteen over Easter. What an amazing place and fantastic friendly staff. Two ladies were working and made our lunch experience there wonderful as it was a birthday special lunch. I shall return.

Popped in for a coffee with daughter and her partner. Ignored by front of house and then ignored by lady at the counter. 5 minutes at counter and still not acknowledged.

A lovely setting with enthusiastic, friendly staff, and delicious food. We loved our coffee and cake so much that we went back for a crab sandwich at lunch time.

1st time eating in this restaurant but what a pleasant surprise. Ambience was good & meals were specials such a nice change with different surroundings. The Staff are really friendly & with a bit of lighthearted friendly banter mates them special. Cant recommend this place...

Haven't been here for a few years. We got a very warm welcome from Andrew and he made a fuss of our dog Sidney. The carrot cake was delicious. Not too keen on the decaf tea it tasted different. Would highly recommend

Great place to eat if you like eating your food in a dog kennel…..too many dogs by far, some owners feeding their dogs on the table, some barking and others letting their dogs walk around sniffing at tables. So unhygienic….. The food is good and...

We found this café on TripAdvisor. Amazing and friendly welcome good homemade food. Special thanks to the waiter who recommend a nearby bistrot ABar and wines for diner.

We popped in for an early lunch, and were first drawn here as we knew it was dog friendly plus we were visiting the art shops that surround. How glad we were! The staff are absolutely delightful and the toasted sandwiches we ordered were gorgeous....

What amazing staff ...the two men who served us were totally delightful , entertaining helpful and totally brilliant, food and ambience excellent

Went here for a private function in the evening. Very nice decor. Staff very good. Cannot comment on prices as everything was paid for. Quite small venue and tables and chairs hard and basic (as it is a canteen!). The 3 course meal we had...

I'm moderating this review up based on the fact that I've had really nice lunches here before so feel a 4 is balanced but my visit today would only be worthy of a 3. There is a new menu with some weird options. I didn't...

A friend and I popped into this establishment on a whim to grab a quick breakfast. The atmosphere was very nice and the staff friendly. The place is very welcoming. We both ordered a cooked breakfast with a cup of tea and a cup of...

Called in for coffee and cake on a wet afternoon and very impressed. It was very busy, clean, friendly staff and not overpriced given its location right in the centre of the old part of town. We were given a table and a few minutes...

My boyfriend and I have visited 3 or 4 times in the past few months and it never fails to impress us. We struggle to go anywhere else to eat before Saturday match days now! The staff are always friendly and welcoming. The food is...

Absolutely delicious food. My beef chilli was yummy followed by a hot chocolate with extras. Can get busy, be prepared to queue.

I wanted eggs Benedict but instead of the Hollandaise sauce I asked for grated cheese, they happily obliged and my breakfast was delicious. My husband has the flapjack after his breakfast and said it was one of the best he had eaten. The actual place...

Love the location. The coffee is fantastic. However I ordered a scone to go with my coffee which didn’t arrive until after I had finished my drink. Would have been much better if they had been served together, or even if I didn’t have to...

Brunch here was the HIT of our weekend in Portsmouth. There was a bit of a wait to get in, but we ended up on the deck with a gorgeous view of the harbour. We were warned on arrival that food was up to an...

First, a disclaimer. This was Victorious festival weekend, and a member of staff mentioned that they only had two chefs working. However this is the experience from my point of view. Initially, we asked for a table for three and the restaurant didn’t appear packed....

Breakfast at The Canteen. With great views and a warm welcome we enjoyed a great start to the day at The Canteen in beautiful Old Portsmouth. Breakfast and coffee were top rate and staff were excellent . And dog friendly too.

Recently had a delicious breakfast in The Canteen with 5 others in our group. Relaxed atmosphere and tasty food all round - plus all in a very unusual setting! Very happy

Me, my partner and the doggy went in for a drink on the off change there was a table. The staff were all SO friendly and welcoming (especially the person who gave the dog a treat and said it made their day!). We were able...

Excellent breakfast selection which we enjoyed before visiting the historic dockyards. Great location with friendly staff and really good food. Dog friendly too.

Visited this venue for a private party last night and the staff was absolutely amazing I couldn’t rate them highly enough the food was excellent a very enjoyable evening

Too much for me, that doesn't happen often. My son recommended this place as he goes there often. We had to queue for a little while outside until seated but it was sunny and well worth. I ordered the bacon and maple waffle and the...

First time here even though I live in Portsmouth. Staff friendly shown to table unfortunately couldn't get window one but one nearest toilets! Service little slow which surprised me as not that busy. But apart from that good experience

We had heard really good things about this place and its all true. Apart from being a really interesting location and building, the various breakfasts we ordered were superb. Service was fantastic too . We certainly arrived at the right time as queues were forming...

Second time visiting the "Canteen" for an early morning breakfast, again it was fantastic, great service, recommended.

First impressions of The Canteen were fantastic - the decor and friendly smiles of staff were very welcoming. Having sat down, we had to wait around 10-15 minutes to be served, which is forgivable as the food and coffee was absolutely devine and arrived quickly....

What an absolutely brilliant place to eat. The staff were very polite and friendly. Couldn't do enough for us. Atmospheric and the food was equally as good. Lovely view from the outside terrace of Portsmouth Harbour. Great selection of teas and coffees too. Can't wait...

Stopped by The Canteen for a takeaway coffee over the weekend and it was so good we stopped by again the following day. Honestly some of the best coffee I've ever had and the setting is fantastic to drink and watch the ships go by....

I decided to go out for brunch at The Canteen after running in the triathlon. There was a slight wait as it was peak time for people wanting to eat but it was only about 10 minutes before I got a table. The front of...

We came across this lovely place today whilst walking from Portsmouth to Gunwharf. Such a warm welcome by the staff. Was seated in the perfect spot looking out to the sea and boats. Great menu choices. The food was amazing !! We Will definitely be...

Me and my partner went yesterday for lunch. They serve breakfast all day! We were delighted. Food great, and a lovely treat to take away after. Great coffee, great menu. Couldn’t fault it. Wonderful atmosphere, amazing staff who are all professional and friendly. No bookings,...

We had coffee and cake here which was served by friendly staff in an amazing location within Old Portsmouth Tudor walls

Visited for the first time a few weeks ago, was surprised to see it so busy at 9:30 on a Monday, but it was soon clear that this place is a true delight. Attentive but not obtrusive staff, the food was amazing, high quality ingredients...

Amazing amazing amazing breakfast by the sea Had the breakfast stack and it was delicious. Service was great and the view was perfect Would recommend

Recently visited The Canteen, a wonderful little cafe with hidden charm, a unique concept due to location and construction. Part of the former Napolionic fortification. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. They gave us a guided tour with still more surprises. Beautiful mocha, best...

Amazing spot built into the fortress walls in Old Portsmouth, incredibly atmospheric vaulted ceiling’s and a really friendly welcome. The food was excellent too - I had the Canteen Stack - their take on a full English - all the individual elements were brilliant and...

Popped in here for breakfast and was a great experience. When we arrived the welcome was top notch, the breakfast menu is brilliant and the food was as good as it gets for breakfast. It was a bit chilly but didn’t impact the experience.

We visited on Saturday and would highly recommend. The restaurant had a friendly atmosphere and the food was amazingly tasty and well presented. We had the breakfast stack which was fantastic. What really made this a special experience was the staff who were all incredibly...

Visiting The Canteen while in Portsmouth, we were welcomed by extremely friendly but professional staff who took the time to talk to us, find out about our visit, and make us feel very welcome. The food (breakfast ) was wonderfully presented and tasted amazing. Would...

We visited this place last week for brunch. Great place for brunch and a lot more. They have good options for vegetarians as well. You could enjoy the sea view if you manage to get a table near the window. They have outdoor seats as...

Fascinating finally getting to see inside the Old Barracks after decades of walking past them. It made a very characterful setting for lunch. We kept our coats on because the doors were open but this was probably to keep the venue well ventilated due to...

Had a lovely breakfast at this cafe, I ordered the veggie stack with toast and my husband ordered eggs Royale. The staff were very attentive regarding my nut allergy and checked all the ingredients to make sure it was safe for me. The food arrived...

Congratulations to the management of The Canteen on your staff recruitment, fabulous and brilliantly charismatic team that makes eating here a fun happy smiley experience. Lunch with a friend who had the full breakfast with wine, perfect midweek idea drinking with breakfast. Followed up by...

Lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. Couldn’t see a children’s menu online but they had a great children’s menu once there and provided colouring too. We all really enjoyed our food, it was presented really well, tasted fresh and of good quality!

I was met at the door and taken to my table by Tom who was so welcoming , the inside of the Canteen is very clean and there is lots of space between tables , my order was taken by a young lady who was...

Great service with helpful staff. Situated in a Fort tower, in the city wall. Delicious homemade food. Dog friendly. Run a charity for the food bank. Donations of £2 can be added to the price, but only if customer wants to contribute.

We found this place by accident. It looks nothing from the outside but when you get in it is like a rabbit Warren. We were lucky enough to get a table on the deck Where we had a lovely coffee while watching the comings and...

The breakfast stack is amazing, probably one of the best breakfast I have ever had, good quality, fresh ingredients, excellent service, can’t fault it!

Lovely breakfast. Very fresh and well prepared ingredients. Relaxed service and unique environment in the old walls of Portsmouth.

We discovered this place for breakfast. It was nice and cool inside, nice reprieve from the intense summer heat. No signal for mobile data but they do have WiFi. Felt like dining underground which was very interesting. They have outside seating if you prefer. Sufficient...

We went here for a famoly breakfast. It is a great location with a picture window looking out on the Solent. Collectively we went for eggs benedict, waffles, bacon and maple syrup and a vegetarian sausage and avocado sandwich. All the food was cooked to...

Ordered online …. Waited an hour and 15 minutes and then the order was canceled. Called restaurant and was told their tablet wasn’t working but to reorder on deliveroo. Waste of time and really unhelpful service. Just wouldn’t bother!

Went here for a private party recently and was very impressed. The setting is lovely, and the staff were absolutely amazing. So helpful, cheerful, polite and extremely attentive. We had canapes which were absolutely delicious. Will definitely go back.

Decided to get breakfast at the Canteen, I had eggs Royale. Delicious. Lovely place to experience. Great menu and helpful friendly staff.

Had a dreadful breakfast at the Sisters Cafe, so came here and had a reliably good one - scratch that, it was excellent! Friend had a GF carrot cake - she said it was great, not sweet as they can often be. Coffees were good...

There is really very little add to previous reviews. Breakfast/brunch dishes are well presented with quality ingredients. Not cheap of course, but very generous quantity. Excellent coffee and juice. Unbeatable position and views of the harbour mouth.

Hot and tired after a walk round the old town we came across The Canteen at 10 to 4 on a Sunday. Staff welcomed us in but advised they would be closing soon. We asked if there was a table outside and were led through...

This was my first visit. They have a limited menu but food was so tasty. The staff were friendly and I will be going back.