If you are after a spot in Southampton that doubles as a view, Maritimo Lounge is hard to beat. It sits on the waterfront in Ocean Village, tucked into what is described as the tallest building in the city, and the whole place is built around the water: floor-to-ceiling windows run across three floors, and the outdoor terraces look straight out over the Ocean Village Marina. There is a bit of history hanging over your head, too: the venue keeps the original light fittings from the SS France, the longest ship ever built in the twentieth century, which used to sail from Southampton to New York.
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The menu is built to carry you from breakfast right through to a late dinner. In the mornings, it is full English, eggs Benedict with salmon, shakshuka, pancakes and a run of toasties that goes from a simple grilled cheese to a brisket birria. Lunch and dinner lean into burgers and bowls: a lounge burger, a bacon cheese smash, a halloumi or a beyond meat cheeseburger, alongside dan dan noodles, birria tacos, louisiana fried chicken, nasi goreng and a sri lankan curry, with a few salads for anyone not in the mood for a burger. Dessert is a big part of the list, with a homemade mango and passion fruit cheesecake, duck pancakes with hoisin, a berry cheesecake, biscoff banoffee choux and warm chocolate brownie. On the drinks side, there is coffee, tea and a full cocktail list including mojitos, aperol spritz and a few house signatures.
What makes it an easy weekday option is the run of deals that kick in from 5pm. Cheeky Mondays give you a free glass of house wine, a pint of Cruzcampo, a soft drink or a dessert when you order any burger, main or salad. Tapas Tuesday pairs three tapas with a drink for £14.50, and the Lounge Cocktail Club runs every day from 5pm until closing, with two identical cocktails for £13.50. At lunchtime, Monday to Friday, there is a bowl of soup and half a grilled cheese toastie for £7.50. There are vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options across the menu, and the place is family-friendly, with high chairs and a children's menu, as well as dog-friendly.
It is worth knowing what you are walking into. The venue offers table service, bar service, takeaway and delivery, takes reservations and has a click-and-collect service. There is a bar, an outdoor terrace and paid parking, both private and on the street. Accessibility is well covered, with an accessible entrance, seating, toilet and a hearing loop. Opening hours are 9am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 9am to midnight on Friday and Saturday, so it is as much a late-night drink as a long lunch.
And the setting does half the work. Ocean Village is a waterside destination just south of the city centre, sitting on the mouth of the River Itchen within the Solent, and it is the UK's first and only five-star marina, with over 300 berths and room for boats up to 80 metres. Maritimo shares the neighbourhood with a few other spots, so it is easy to make a proper evening of it.
