Zaytoona Moroccan Restaurant in Portsmouth

Absolutely amazing time with Eissa hosting us. Atmosphere and warmth of the place was a dream. The lamb tajine and seabass tajine were so favourable, with so many more dishes we would've loved to try. There were so many cocktail options that we had never heard of but were amazed with. Enjoyed a lovely champagne sorbet and pistachio gelato at the end. Can't wait to bring our friends for a good time again. Highly recommended.

The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and we really enjoyed our visit.

Booked Zaytoona for a birthday after hearing good things about this restaurant. Customer service was top notch. Loved the atmosphere with the decor and music. And most importantly the food was brilliant 👌 Will definitely be coming back here soon

Nice and cozy restaurant, good atmosphere, tranquility and very good service. Good food, good service and good price. 10 out of 10.

Amazing place feel like part of the family when your there everything explained to you even the spices they use were shown to us.the Moroccan wine was amazing .I loved the restaurant decor and the Moroccan bowels . Bread worth a try and especially the olives.Cant wait to go back .

This was our first visit to Zaytoona in their new location and we weren’t disappointed. The restaurant is really inviting and atmospheric. We had very delicious food and would particularly recommend the Barkok tagine and the chicken couscous, both excellent. And the red Moroccan wine was excellent. Lovely, friendly hosts and we had the added bonus of a belly dancer - unexpected and great fun. Recommended! Thanks to the team there, you made us very welcome and we’ll be back.

Great food and service. Royal Couscous was excellent. As was Moroccan red wine!

The decoration was very nice and the plates were really nice, food was delicious and servers were very willing to help and they gave us baklava after food

Excellent traditional Moroccan cuisine with great service and warm atmosphere in the heart of Southsea! Went there twice during a recent short trip to Portsmouth. Highly recommended!

Delicious authentic food and great service. Isa and staff are professional and welcoming, we had an enjoyable evening . Will definitely be back for another treat. Sabine and Tayyab

Great food, lovely staff, and a welcoming atmosphere, overall a good time

Great food very tasty and the atmosphere is so nice with the traditional Moroccan music in the background and the service was brilliant as the people were very polite and describe what all the food is and told us about all the spices used to make the food. Will definitely be coming back.

Very nice people and the food is amazing 👏

Family run business with very welcoming staff and fabulous authentic Moroccan.

A wonderful restaurant with a beautiful family connection that makes you feel like you have been invited into a loving home. The food was delicious and the service was quick & personable. Try the Moroccan tea and use the hand oil/lotion on the way out, a lovely sensory experience all round. Couldn’t have asked for anything more.

A fantastic find - an excellent addition to the many great restaurants in Southsea. The food was extremely good and the service outstanding - will definitely visit again.

We stopped by here on the way home from the cinema. We hadn't been before and thought it looked nice. It was a really enjoyable experience. The seabass tagine was delicious, freshly cooked and tasty. Chicken shashlik also tender and with really delicate flavoured rice. The atmosphere was relaxed and service was both chatty and efficient. Would definitely recommend.

We had a nice meal together with my family, we have enjoyed lamb Tagine and Seabass Tagine Highly Recommend

Delicious food, beautiful flavours. Excellent service by the young man Esa. Recommend it highly.

I came here with my mum and the food was amazing , the staff friendly and nice and the decoration was stunning. 11/10 would come back!

Must try! The staff are so nice & inviting. Food was amazing and the decor/atmosphere was great. 100% recommend and will come back :)

Be careful !!! For service charge !

We had a wonderful evening at this charming family run restaurant. The food was delicious and so tasty. The decor is lovely and the staff are so friendly , we are definitely going back again.

Food and service is fantastic. Felt like a mini holiday! Thank you for the whole experience. We will see you again soon.

We had a lovely impromptu, mid-week meal here. Very attentive and friendly host who made our visit special. The food was very fresh and flavoursome. Nice atmosphere.

Another amazing night at Zaytoona. So wonderfully spiced and fragrant with a beautiful environment and excellent hosts! I’ll back again soon

Service was amazing with great food and very cozy, relaxed atmosphere. The cous cous and tajines were really good. Humus and lentil soup superb

We enjoyed dining in this restaurant whose cuisine and hospitality were excellent. Pleasant place, suitable to recommend without hesitation for lovers of good cuisine.

Have been walking past this place for months thinking I'll go and eat in there. Finally went in on Sunday, the food is absolutely to die for, the lamb shank tagine was sublime and so tasty with the seasonal veg and cous cous. The atmosphere was lovely for a Sunday afternoon and the decor was very aesthetic. It was nice to have the chef come out and give us our food.

Amazing dining experience, the food was impeccable, we enjoyed the ambiance and our host (also the manager) Issa was so welcoming. The food was fresh, authentic and exceeded our expectations. We will definitely come here every time we are in Portsmouth! Family friendly and they even brought our son ice cream on the house.

We had a fantastic dining experience at Zaytoona! The food was exceptional, especially the lamb tagine, which was incredibly tender and packed with rich flavors. We also loved the zaalouk and lentils mezze; they were delicious and perfectly spiced. The restaurant’s atmosphere and decor added so much to the experience—it was calming and beautifully decorated, creating a wonderful ambiance. The service was impeccable, with friendly and attentive waitstaff who anticipated our needs perfectly. Overall, Zaytoona is a must-visit for anyone looking for great food, a lovely setting, and top-notch service.

Wonderful experience in Zaytoona! Lovely service and tasty food. A true authentic Moroccan experience with exotic flavours and spices 😍

I visited Zaytouna Restaurant, and their service was outstanding. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was very relaxing. I’d like to thank Chef Zainab for her wonderful spirit and tasty dishes. This is the best restaurant in Portsmouth, and I highly recommend everyone to visit. 🤍🤍

Great local restaurant. The staff were very welcoming and the food was great. Small but interesting selection of Lebanese and Moroccan wine and would recommend Casablanca beer! Worth a visit to support a restaurant that’s not part of a chain.

Having been to Portsmouth for the weekend, we were looking around for somewhere to eat and came across this lovely Moroccan restaurant, made so welcome. Lovely table for two, the food was exceptional and hopefully we will be back next year. Excellent value for money.

Travelled 25 minutes to come to the restaurant especially as had driven past on more than one occassion and thought how nice it looked. So welcoming and friendly and the food did not disapoint, really tasty, highly recommend.

We had lunch at Zaytoona today. One of the best meals we've had during our travels!! Maybe even the best. Lots of extremely fresh and perfectly cooked vegetables, lamb shank was tender and flavorful with lots of meat. The cous cous and sauce went well with the lamb. Very nice mint tea to accompany. There are plenty of choices for vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters. The staff were all extremely attentive and welcoming. Also very knowledgeable as to Moroccan cuisine. We definitely recommend!!

A M A Z I N G ———————- If you haven’t been here yet , then you absolutely need to. This is fantastic ….. Family run and simply superb 👌 I can’t fault anything , even the Moroccan 🇲🇦 wine went with the meal, that was so hot any full of flavour. First class service and we just cannot wait to come back ….. it would be tomorrow if I had my way. Thank you all . Mark and Tracey Yes first time here but not the last.

Five stars are just enough for this place… From the moment you sit down to the delicious food served you are transfixed to Morocco 🇲🇦 So hot and tasty I wish I could do it all over again …. Who knew Moroccan wine was so tasty with Tagine . FANFLIPPINGTASTIC You will not…. No never be disappointed. Thank you .. Mark and Tracey

Loved the whole atmosphere,the food delicious,the drinks Casablanca Beer and the Moroccan White Wine great.This was just a walk by but came back and very glad we did.

Excellent service and really good, authentic Moroccan food. Recommend!

I had a really lovely meal here. The food was excellent and the staff were so welcoming and lovely! I will definitely be back

I've been looking forward to trying Moroccan cuisine for a while now, and I'm so glad I did! The exotic decor gives it a holiday feel, perfect for a Friday lunch. We ordered the lamb shank and sea bass, it was tender and full of flavor! The staff were welcoming and attentive, Eissa's service was excellent! We will definitely come back and bring our friends! It was my first time to eat Moroccan food and it was so good! At noon on Friday, I originally planned to go to a nearby Western restaurant for All Day Breakfast, but when I passed by Zaytoona, I was attracted by the exotic decoration of the restaurant, so I changed my plan and went in to eat Moroccan food. We ordered the leg of lamb. The chef spent 5 hours simmering it. The lamb was tender and soft, and the gravy was fragrant. It was the best leg of lamb I have ever eaten. I felt warm after eating it! The waiter was very attentive. He knew it was our first time to eat Moroccan food and patiently introduced us one by one. He was considerate and attentive. Will definitely come again next time!

From start to finish,were made to feel like we had been invited into the family home.The waiter was very knowledgeable and gave us good recommendations on what to choose.So lovely to visit a well run family restaurant. The food was served very hot.Cant wait to visit again.Thankyou for a lovely evening.

The food and service are excellent.

A restaurant serving delicious Moroccan meals

This was our fourth evening visit to Zaytoona and the fourth time, as a couple, we had come along with two or three friends. Each time we’ve really enjoyed the food, atmosphere and ambience of a Moroccan, family run, restaurant. The food here is authentically Moroccan, full of flavours and aromas and presented in a rustic yet attractive style. The service at Zaytoona, is attentive and thoughtful, with helpful information provided where required. We have enjoyed the occasional interactions that we’ve had with the members of the restaurant and front of house team, each of them friendly, welcoming and warm. The food and drinks on offer are very reasonably priced, the house wines we’ve had have been good and the ‘Casablanca’ beer, though quite strong, is very flavoursome. If you’re in a hurry to ‘eat and go in a hurry’ this restaurant may not be for you … but if you’re looking for a restaurant where the food is prepared with experience, and love where the food is authentically moroccan, where you can hear and be heard when talking with your companions and eat in an unhurried atmosphere, there’s probably nowhere better in the Portsmouth area. We thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

We had a lamb shank tagine and a seabass tagine, Both were excellent and had a lovely chat with the delightful family that own the restaurant. We look forward to coming here again!

Very authentic Moroccan restaurant, and one of the friendliest hosts you will ever come across. Very polite, generous, and humble. Food was quality and on point! Good portions, and overall highly recommended!

An excellent late afternoon/early evening meal & venue. We were looking for an experience that wasn't the usual 'gastric' pub style that sadly so many are these days. Southsea used to have a good selection of world cuisine but most has become the stereotype of this land which is a real pity if you are looking to experience a more genuine multicultural opportunity. Zaytoona gave us a lovely opportunity to have a more traditional Moroccan meal which was well worth it. As a group Jehovah's Witnesses, we were looking for a venue to take three of our dear friends who had just graduated from pioneer school and wanted to make it a special place for such an occasion, to enjoy a good meal, conversation, and a wholesome environment. The hospitality and service was excellent, and the manager Eissa was the complete host together with his staff, something that can be very lacking these days. He was happy to rearrange furniture, and take into account our needs which puts your mind at rest when dining out. It's one thing to have an authentic meal but it's even better when the ambience, décor and utensils are served as they would if you were in that land - nice touch. We had seen the clay pots used in scenes from Morocco and wanted to try this, so thank you to our host for making the experience more authentic. Did the authenticity stop at this? No. My wife comes from a coastal village where the fish is so fresh it you can tell if it has been 'iced', so she chose the seabass tangine. She was very happy with the dish and noted how the heat of the food is retained for longer when served in the claypot. As for myself, although I am not a vegetarian I chose the vegetarian tangine which was lovely. Those with us tried the lamb tangine and were very happy with their choices. We accompanied this with almost the entire range of side dishes to make the experience more enjoyable. Although there is nothing unscriptural about drinking alcohol and we do on occasion enjoy a good wine or porter for a meal, my wife and I decided to try the mint tea to make the experience even more authentic. It was a lovely accompaniment to the meal. It should be mentioned that Eissa has an interesting range of alcohol to go with your dining experience and it's worth having a chat with him when you dine. Back to the food. Eissa explained to us more about the ingredients used by his parents who were working hard in the kitchen catering for those dining. The sea bass tagine had fish that was fresh that day and was a dish that is only available in the coastal parts of Morocco. My wife was very happy with the freshness of the fish and you can notice the difference when a restaurant uses 'old' ingredients. If the ingredients are picked too soon and not allowed to ripen or are stored for a long time then the food becomes 'dead food' - as in no taste, no real nutrition. Not so with that served at Zaytoona as Eissa himself is a chef and takes pride in the ingredients and food served. As regards the lamb, it was explained that this too was very fresh which helps with the texture and softness of the meat. We were so happy with the meal that we were not going to have any dessert. Normally we don't tend to as the sugar load and dryness of many desserts makes them 'manufactured' and unappealing. But our youngest pioneer kept asking Eissa about the desserts and he very kindly placed a complementary plate of desserts on the table for us to try. I am not normally a dessert person as the dryness of many and the oversweetness I find difficult to swallow, but these samples Eissa gave us we actually in no way dry and were not overpowered by the sugar content. Well worth the sampling and if you dine, we can recommend them. We are very glad to have experienced dining at Zaytoona and hope to have the opportunity again for another special treat. Our thanks to Eissa, his mother and father, and the waitress.

Delicious, homemade food, a family atmosphere and Eissa's service is unbeatable.

Great service and food, very authentic Moroccan.

Beautiful restaurant, incredible food, wonderful service! Couldn't recommend more. Make sure you finish your meal with Nos Nos.

We were a party of 5, the whole evening was delightful, the welcome and the attentive service was very nice, they created a lovely atmosphere. The food was excellent, we all had starters, a main course and a desert. Being a vegetarian was easy here the flavours of the food were authentic and moorish, the sea bass was amazing and the lamb shank was described as the best my friend had had! Desert did not disappoint either, baklavas with gelato was perfect. Throughout the whole evening we were given clean cutlery and serviettes after every course, water was poured without having to ask. We were not rushed at all. We loved it here and we would most definitely recommend coming. We will be back. Thank you.

It's been 18 years since I had a morrocan meal and this place hit all the right taste buds. Amazing service. The food was fabulous. Pastillas is so worth it, had the boneless Lamb tagine and cus cus, Mixed pastries and Baklava with nose nose coffee. Oh wow. I can't wait to come back. Amazing. Thank you.

Delicious food, super friendly staff!

We had fun with my friends ony birthday meal. Excellent service 👏

Very tasty food. Excellent service and typical Moroccan vibe. Highly recommended.

It’s nice restaurants and delicious food good prices and kind staff I highly recommend

I have had the opportunity of traveling around the world, and recently my husband and I happened to walk in to, what would turn out to be one of the best food and restaurant experiences of our lifetime. This restaurant is a Mama-Pop and son operation, and the service and food we received was delicious, fresh, and certainly memorable.

We had a wonderful meal this evening at Zaytoona. Three of us had the chicken shashlik- cooked to perfection. One ordered the vegetable tagine and the staff were happy to swap the vermicelli rice for plain rice to accommodate her gluten intolerance, and the other two people in our party shared a selection of small plates and declared them all to be delicious. Would highly recommend this restaurant if you enjoy great food in lovely surroundings.

Brilliant place, the lamb shank was amazing, well worth a visit!

Nice little place, great food, good atmosphere, nice Lebanese wine. Very nice waiter saw use looking in window and came out to chat! Glad he did

I visited Zaytoona with my best friend in July. The minute we walked inside we were made to feel most welcome. The restaurant was tastefully decorated and had a lovely ambience. The Moroccan manager talked us through the menu and made some suggestions, that we took up. The food was absolutely wonderful. True Moroccan cuisine! The chef was Zina, the manager's mum, who cooked from the heart! Service was attentive all night, and nothing was a problem. It's a family run restaurant and simply lovely. They deserve to make it a big success. I'd highly recommend visiting.

You have to wait for the food as it is freshly made, when it arrives you will not be disappointed. A must try.

This is the second time that I have been here and I have been very impressed on both occasions. The service is amazing, warm, friendly and welcoming. The food is spectacular in terms of taste and presentation. Amazing gem in the heart of Southsea.

Cannot rate this establishment highly enough. Absolutely enchanting decor which takes you to a place far far away, fantastic host Esa showed his genuine passion and desire to make our experience the best ever and knew the menu and specific ingredients in great detail. All food clearly prepared to order and tasted fantastic. Chef must be very highly skilled and enjoy what he/she does in the kitchen. Will be sure to make this a place we go to again and again.

Excellent restaurant they have good options

Delicious food and lovely staff

Great food, fresh taste, reasonably priced definitely coming back

had such a wonderful time here. will always recommend this place to everyone as the service and food were both unmatched. I would suggest asking the staff for what they would suggest if you’re not sure, as they are always happy to help you find what suits you best. Beautiful restaurant, beautiful staff and even better food.

Ate here recently with my husband & we were not disappointed. Our first time for Morrocan food - just delicious. We had the lamb tagine with couscous & dressing. Can recommend Morrocan wine too & the baclava for dessert with mint tea. Nice atmosphere & welcoming service. Will definitely be back when in Souhsea. I'm now looking for Morrocan restaurants near us at home in N.Ireland.

Beautiful chicken Tagine.. Well looked after by staff and decor was perfect .. will go again !

Amazing place and the food was gorgeous as well as the staff!

What a wonderful dining experience. We called in for lunch on Friday. We were made to feel very welcome and had a lovely comfortable position in the window. The food was incredibly fresh and tasty. We opted for the sea bass tagine with salad, couscous and lentils. Will definitely return the next time I am in Southsea. Gorgeous!!! Thank you ☺️

Delicious food & friendly staff - very attentive! Would definitely recommend!

Delicious food, wonderful service and beautiful ambience. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Southsea

Just landed in Southsea area on a work trip, searched for food near me and saw Moroccan, oh yes please. Its a Wednesday so a bit quiet around the area and we were the only lads in the restaurant at the time but our host Eissa treated us to literally the best home made Moroccan I have had since I visited Marrakesh. Do yourself a favour and visit Zaytoona if you are in the area. We are Melbourne based Coffee, Food and Wine snobs and this is the best meal I have had in the last 3 weeks since I have been in the UK. Thanks Eissa, legend, you really care about fresh food, it came through in spades, we loved it. Will be back before we leave to go home. 🇬🇧🇲🇦🇦🇺

What a wonderful meal - the flavours were just as I remember them from my time in Morocco! The host was also exceptional. Wil definitely return.

We enjoyed the kafta tagine and Harira at Zaytouna – it was perfectly seasoned and tender. Great atmosphere👌

I drove all the way from Ruslip london to try this Moroccan food as I struggle to find good Moroccan food . The service , atmosphere and the food is just wonderful and quite the best I have received in a long time , will recommend this to everybody you must go and visit Zaytoona!

Delicious selection of mezze, helpful, friendly service. Also excellent value. Highly recommended. Great vegetarian choices.

Amazing restaurant, with delicious food and a lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend The best restaurant in Portsmouth, great service and very delicious food

Delicious food in beautiful surroundings & excellent service

There is such a concentration of good restaurants in Southsea and Zaytoona is a worthy addition. The food and service was excellent. It is not a large menu but each dish was top notch. You will not be disappointed.

The food here is astonishing. The service is amazing and it's a great price. Definitely will be coming back.

The food was amazing, the lamb was so soft and tender and full of flavour! The owner is also really nice and gave us really good recommendations! All in all a really great restaurant!

The food and service was first class.Lots of choice. Will definitely return and recommend to others.

Amazing family run restaurant! Food is absolutely delicious and the service is outstanding. Well deserved five stars and highly recommended!

We had lunch this past Saturday there. We loved the delicious food, everything was really delicious, we will definitely repeat. It is a family restaurant decorated in a beautiful way. And a very pleasant service, thank you very much..

Great Moroccan restaurant in Portsmouth, very welcoming and authentic. The staff is incredibly nice and attentive to customers. Great for small parties too.

We had a very good experience in this restaurant, the food was delicious and all the staff is lovely, friendly and very helpful with everything. Would definitely recommend the place, and to try the pastillas, they were amazing! They were also so considerate for special dietary requirements and made a separate meal to suit our needs. Thank you for everything ❤️

Most Authentic Moroccan Experience I Ever Had. It is a Must Visit place. 💯

Food was awesome, staff were friendly and welcoming. I recommend 👌

Great staff and the food was excellent

A lovely family run restaurant. We shared spinach and olive starter dish and hummus and homemade bread; then had vegetable couscous as a main. Great quality fresh food, attentive and very polite staff.

Another Southsea Gem. Independent, family owned, traditional moroccan restaurants with a nice selection of starters and various Couscous/Tajine. Vegan option available

Absolutely loved it, will definitely be back 😁

In 30 years of eating out this was the probably the best meal I have ever had. So nice to have traditional food cooked to your own liking with amazing and personal service. Our waiter Eissa was an amazing host and the decor fitted perfectly. This is an oasis in the desert of Portsmouth cuisanary culture.

My daughter and I had a lovely, authentic North African food experience at Zaytoona yesterday... ambience & attentive service were top-notch. Will definitely return & highly recommended.