Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 19/06/2026 21:20:00

Pink flamingos, a roll-top bath for photographs and a tropical roof garden set the tone at Funky Flamingo, one of Southampton's most photographed bars. Tucked into Winchester Street in the Bedford Place neighbourhood, the garden-themed lounge bar opened during the pandemic and has built a strong following among groups, hen parties and an Instagram-minded crowd looking for somewhere a little different from the usual high-street fare. The interior pairs lush, jungle-inspired decor with a cocktail-led drinks list and a menu of Italian-inspired dishes, from pizza and pasta to sharing plates, served throughout the day and evening. Upstairs, the rooftop garden is the venue's signature feature, a sun-trap terrace strung with greenery that the owners describe as a proper escape from the surrounding streets, open until mid-evening and weather permitting. Weekends revolve around the bar's well-known bottomless brunches, themed around particular music genres and artists, offering two hours of cocktails and food at a fixed price. Although there is no resident DJ, music plays throughout, mixing classic and current R&B, commercial hits, vocal house and garage to keep the atmosphere lively into the small hours. Open from late afternoon most days and from midday at weekends, with regular two-for-one drinks deals, the bar appeals to a broad, multi-generational audience rather than a single scene. Its tropical styling manages to land somewhere between playful and genuinely stylish, helping it stand out among Bedford Place's cluster of independent venues. Part of a small local group that also runs a sister venue in Romsey, Funky Flamingo has spoken of plans to expand further across the area. Centrally placed and endlessly photogenic, it has become a popular starting point for a night out in the city.