Panero Lounge, Southsea
Website: Panero Lounge
Type: Cafe Bar
Theme: Lounge
Gluten Free Options: Yes; Many!
The Panero Lounge is a part of the Lounges Family which is a national chain; although it gives the vibes that it is unique and quirky.
Venue…
The Panero Lounge in Southsea operates as a central community hub with ongoing events for knitters, book lovers, drink enthusiasts, board games, etc. often hosting individuals working from home on their laptop or getting together for coffee, brunch, or just a social gathering. It acts as your lounge only on a larger scale allowing you to have all your friends over, and some.
On the ground floor is a large open space which spreads out onto Palmerstone Road for outdoor seating, the doors can be fully opened allowing plenty of air flow on a hot day which is lovely. Inside there is a huge selection of seats to pick from, with a bar off to one side, freely accessible water, and I believe I saw some dog treats for your canine friends. There is also a disabled/baby change room on this floor making it accessible for all.
There’s an additional floor which is open spaced like downstairs, however the choice of seats and tables gives off a much more cosy, somewhat intimate setting, but maintains a decent distance between the tables so you don’t feel like you’re intruding on the other customers on this floor. There is also another spot here for water with glasses. This floor is where the main toilets are, which are kept in good condition.
The decor of the entire venue is full of fabric lighting, a lot of random pictures on the walls as well as mirrors, with big comfy chairs throughout, it really does feel like you’ve walked into somebody’s home and that feels very welcoming. It is all very eclectic and quirky which I love as there’s always something new to see!
Staff…
The staff of the Panero Lounge fit the theme of the lounge as the hosts of the house that have invited you into their home, to sit in their lounge while they act as the host, making you feel comfortable and offering you drinks and food. They are extremely friendly and very welcoming and I cannot fault them for anything.
As somebody who has to eat gluten free they asked about allergies and gave me a gluten free menu from the get go, double checking my allergies when ordering and making me feel comfortable and confident in the food I was ordering.
Food & Drink…
Min and I have eaten at the Panero Lounge a couple of times now and the food has always been great.
Although there is an extensive gluten free menu here I always gravitate towards the burgers because it’s not often you get a decent gluten free burger bun, and these buns are decent! The fries that come with the burger are also deliciously crisp on the outside while soft on the inside, they are tasty on their own.
Meanwhile Min seems to gravitate towards the Trio Tapas. The last visit we went they had the Louisiana Chicken, Guicamoli, and Spiced Cauliflower, and in that order were their favourite dishes, somewhat disappointed by the cauliflower but the rest were great, the chicken being their favourite.
As for drinks, I’ve had a few. The mojito is amazing and if you enjoy a mojito then this is a great spot to grab one, while the espresso martini is delicious here, it’s not a Croxton espresso martini which is still my absolute favourite I’ve ever had. Min was very happy with their spicy margherita with salt, it was not to my liking at all, but to be fair no margherita is to my liking!
Overall…
There is a reason that we keep ending up at the Panero Lounge and a reason we will continue to visit. It’s a fabulous, welcoming, friendly environment with great food and drinks at affordable prices, while acting as a hub for the community. It’s worth a visit even if only for a drink and a look around.
