The A Bar, Portsmouth

Bigger inside than it looks from the outside, there is a long straight, thin room across the front with a dining area (bistro) and pizza kitchen to the left, behind is a conservatory and there’s a front dining and drinking area outside. Upstairs is I think a wine shop. Two hand pumps were dispensing Directors and Langham session bitter which was a reasonable drink, mostly of course it sells wine although there’s a T-bar with five taps and a Moretti solo fount.

Official site of abarbistro - www.abarbistro.co.uk

Official site of abarbistro - www.abarbistro.co.uk

This busy, popular bar/bistro is housed in an old Georgian building and was formerly known as The American Bar. It has greatly improved since its previous incarnation, and the food is very good if a little pricey. It as a pleasant wine-bar atmosphere, and the wine selection is quite good. There are the usual bottled European beers, and there are two real ales on offer. I had a pint of Goddards Scrumdiggity which was excellent. Well worth dropping in for lunch or a few beers, or even a glass of decent wine. Personally I use it as a bolt-hole to escape the rigours of Gunwharf Quays Shopping Centre.