Located right on the edge of the magnificent New Forest and with the coast at Barton-on-Sea only a mile away, the friendly market town of New Milton offers plenty to enjoy for anyone visiting this glorious part of the UK.
After a relaxing stroll around the town, perhaps popping into some of the independent shops on the High Street to pick up a gift or a souvenir to take home, or a more energetic day at the nearby beach, thoughts will inevitably turn to refreshment. Whether you fancy a light bite or something more substantial, let us help you out by sharing with you some of the very best places to eat near New Milton.
Whilst each of the New Forest Collection restaurants near New Milton has its own unique character and charm, in every one of them you’re assured a warm welcome and a spectacular location in which to enjoy a delicious dining experience. We’ll whet your appetite just a little more here by mentioning the exceptional produce and ingredients available right on the New Forest doorstep that are placed proudly at the heart of every plate.
Hungry for more? Then let’s get started…
The best restaurants within easy reach
On the edge of the New Forest, with its miles of woodland, heath and trails to explore, and the fossil-hunters’ paradise that is Barton-on-Sea easily accessible, New Milton has excellent road and rail links to Bournemouth, Southampton and London too. Most importantly, for the hungry and discerning visitor, it’s also just a short drive from any of these New Forest Collection restaurants.
1820 near Lyndhurst is only 15 minutes from New Milton along the A35, with Burley Manor just five minutes further along (and if you’re on your bike, you might want to leave time to visit Sammy Miller’s Motorcycle Museum that’s just outside New Milton). Bartley Lodge is a further 10-minute drive, and finally, The Drift is only 30 minutes from New Milton on the B3055.
After exploring the area, it’s good to know that whichever one of these stunning New Milton restaurants you choose, a delicious experience is absolutely guaranteed.
Classic meets contemporary
Bartley Lodge
First, take a meander along the long, woodland drive that leads to the impressive Bartley Lodge in Cadnam. This gorgeous, historic country house is set in eight acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, and offers a wide-ranging menu of classic-meets-contemporary favourites to be enjoyed inside one of the elegant drawing rooms, or outside on the sun terrace.
Menu highlights include smoked duck with sour cherry gel and chicory to start, whilst large plates include locally sourced steak, freshly caught and pan-fried fish, and there are some fantastic Asian-inspired vegetarian and vegan dishes too.
Crowd-pleasing desserts at Bartley Lodge include chocolate tart, lemon posset with shortbread, and Eton Mess with New Forest strawberries. Sweet indeed.
The Burley Restaurant within Burley Manor – a gorgeous baronial-style manor house hotel set inside exquisite grounds – is another fabulous restaurant where creativity, sustainability and provenance are key. Every plate here is thoughtfully designed by our Executive Head Chef, with the Modern British menu offering freshly caught fish, Hampshire sirloin steak, and slow-cooked local pork belly all served with seasonal accompaniments.
Surely there’s always room for dessert, so think raspberry and white chocolate roulade, lemon cheesecake, and brownies with ice cream (though not necessarily all in one sitting!).
The Vegan Afternoon Tea at Burley deserves special mention, and for a unique and very special experience for you and your friends, The Butler’s Pantry is highly recommended; here, in your own private dining room, you sip Champagne while your chefs stoke up the wood-fired oven and prepare a Mediterranean feast. Truly unforgettable.
Another of the great places to eat near New Milton is Forest Lodge in Lyndhurst, the elegant townhouse hotel proudly hosting 1820, an award-winning grill and brasserie. Enjoy its contemporary interior spaces, perfect if you’re looking for a more intimate dining experience, or sit out when it’s fine on the terrace.
You can choose from a range of sophisticated small plates, or opt for their Grill menu, where the prime steak, locally sourced from the surrounding Hampshire countryside and aged for a full 28 days, is the obvious star.
Fresh market fish of the day also features alongside equally tasty vegetarian and vegan options, with a fantastic gnocchi dish, and the Mediterranean tatin prepared with seasonal vegetables.
Sweet things to follow include souffle and the apple tart tatin with sticky toffee sauce, sure to send your lucky taste buds into raptures.
As in all New Forest Collection restaurants, the cellars here are also stocked with the very best from local brewers and distillers, only adding to the charm, and firmly establishing 1820 as one of the best places to eat and drink near New Milton.
For the ultimate countryside pub experience, The Drift near Lyndhurst is laid-back and stylish, and offers an award-winning menu of modern British classics taking you effortlessly from breakfast, through lunch and to dinner.
Fresh ingredients from The Drift gardens bring a vibrancy to dishes that are seasonal, local, and always mouth-wateringly scrumptious. Their handmade burgers, generous sharing boards, and great veggie and vegan options are a real hit with families who come back again and again – though perhaps it’s their luscious, proper puddings that are the real lure?! Four-legged friends are also more than welcome here, and with its gorgeous outdoors space and those wonderful forest trails only a moment away, we’ve heard that The Drift is their favourite restaurant near New Milton too.
