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Unmissable Restaurants in Soho, London.
Anyone visiting London for theatre or nightlife is likely to end up in Soho. With a plethora of restaurants, bars and cafes scattered through winding alleys and narrow streets, it can be hard to pick the best places to eat. Stretching from Oxford Street to the north through to Leicester Square in the south, Regent Street to the west and Charing Cross Road to the east, Soho encompasses Chinatown. It’s part of the West End and one of London’s main entertainment districts. Originally farmland, it became a royal park during the reign of Henry VIII and was developed further in the late 17th century. The original aristocratic inhabitants moved away by the mid 19th Century and Soho grew in popularity, with a bohemian, multicultural population. The district became edgier and by the twentieth century, it was perhaps best known as a base for the sex industry, in addition to night clubs and theatres rather than Soho restaurants. And, as a base for media companies – advertising agencies and film companies. Home to Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the 100 Club and the Boulevard Theatre, it’s still an important entertainment destination.
By the Millennium, Soho was becoming increasingly well known for restaurants – from the speciality Asian restaurants of China Town to Italian bars, pizza and pasta joints. In my head, though it was always a great foodie destination. I worked there in the 1980s when Berwick Street Market was still the go-to place for local chefs who flocked there in the early hours for fresh fruit and veg and when you could buy ingredients from the ethnic shops that were impossible to find anywhere else in London. I remember live lobster crawling around on the floor of the Chinese fishmongers and fresh pasta dusted with snowy polenta flour to take home (unknown anywhere else in town) from Lima Stores. Then something had happened. For as long as I can remember, there had always been good restaurants in Soho, but a few new players seemed to breathe life into the area. The first I remember was Randall and Aubin, an eclectic French/English brasserie. And, Alan Yau’s restaurants in Soho, Busaba Eathai and Yauatcha. People arrived on the scene like Russell Norman with Polpo and a whole series of themed casual dining venues where the food was really good and really authentic. Princi – a joint venture between Alan Yau and Rocco Princi was often so busy I wouldn’t even go in. Dining-out grew in popularity – but, a casual, relaxed version of the formal meals my parents had enjoyed. Perhaps because of the timing, since this step-change happened in parallel with a growing interest in travel, Londoners were more than happy to explore different cuisines.
Soho today is still a multicultural food hub. Places like Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street have sprung up and became popular so quickly that they might have been there for fifty years. What’s not to like about three floors of excellent restaurants and bars around a central open courtyard? And, most of the places I remember from when I first worked there – Rules, Lima Stores and l’Escargot are going strong too. Where do you start though if you are exploring Soho’s Restaurants? We’ve rounded up all our favourites so you can easily find the right restaurant in Soho for you – from quirky Soho restaurants through to classics like l’Escargot.
From Quirky Casual Dining cafes and bars to Fine Dining restaurants - our guide to tried and tested restaurants in Soho
Sussex Restaurant, Soho - Review
The latest venture from The Gladwin Brothers is Sussex Restaurant in Soho - an excellent selection of locally sourced seasonal British ingredients cooked and presented with contemporary British style
Sticks'n'Sushi Soho - Review
Excellent, easy to order range of sushi, sashimi and yakitori sticks from this Danish Group. Sticks'n'Sushi Soho has two dining levels and plenty of space for guests. The reasonably priced offer will work for a range of diners, from families through to casual business lunches.
Inko Nito Soho - Review
Rainer Becker's Inko Nito offers Soho diners an affordable and unconventional Robatayaki experience at reasonable prices. Great freshly prepared and cooked Japanese dishes from the same family as Zuma and Roka.
Ed Baines at Randall & Aubin Soho
A Soho favourite, Randall & Aubin offers a menu of seasonal British food in a casual French/English brasserie setting. A lively and friendly restaurant that has never disappointed.
Lunching at l'Escargot, Soho - Review
Classic French dining in this Soho stalwart. L'Escargot was refurbished and reopened just a few years ago but feels as if it hasn't changed for far longer. Excellent food and attentive old fashioned style service.
Ember Yard - Berwick Street
Part of the Salt Yard group, this is a casual dining restaurant offering small tapas-sized portions of food with an emphasis on spice and smoke. Expect great flavours and innovative dishes, with a reasonable price tag
Darjeeling Express - a Supper Club comes Good
Asma Khan's Darjeeling Express is the child of an immensely popular supper club. The restaurant serves excellent home-cooked style food produced from their own kitchen by a team of female chefs.
Chotto Matte, Soho
Beloved by the young and beautiful, Chotto Matte serves Nikkei style dishes and a range of innovative cocktails in a lively setting over three floors. Perfect for people-watching with excellent food and drink to keep you going.
Orient London - A Chinese Restaurant Reinvented
There's a wealth of excellent Chinese restaurants in Soho. Orient London serves classic Mandarin Chinese dishes in a stylish space. They can cater for all size of groups and offer an excellent menu with a few particularly stunning dishes.
Corazón Mexican Bar and Restaurant
An independent Mexican and Southern Californian restaurant in the heart of Soho with a quirky menu including dishes like mole and fries together with tacos, tostadas and plenty of tequila,
Mele e Pere
An independent Italian trattoria with Soho spirit is how Mele e Pere describes themselves. You'll find excellent Italian dishes with a contemporary twist together with house-made vermouth in this warm and friendly restaurant.
Temakinho - A Brazilan and Japanese fusion in Soho
Offering Japanese fusion dishes, Temakinho Soho is one of an international group of restaurants. Think fish empanadas, tropically inspired colourful and unique sushi rolls, washed down with a whole range of Brazilian cocktails and beer
The Blind Pig
The Blind Pig is an ultra-popular wine bar with food sitting on top of Jason Atherton's critically acclaimed Social Eating House. Fabulous cocktails and a bar menu that means you might not feel like going downstairs to Social Eating House.
The Duck and Rice Soho
Alan Yau's classy Chinese pub offers draught Pilsner Urquell and a wide range of Chinese food in a cosy, elegant setting. This is less about authenticity and more about a great place to meet up with friends. The food is pretty good too.
Meanwhile, if you are thinking of visiting, why not pin this post for later
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