Balans No. 60 was the second Balans site to open in 1993, and it continues the trademarks of the Balans brand to this day - easy going all-day food and drink, and late night, post-party revelry. This Soho site is much larger than the original Balans No. 34 up the road, and it's legendary as a late night drinking establishment, serving cocktails until 5am from Wednesday to Saturday.
Inside, Balans is Soho chic but also cosy and comforting - well-worn tables and floors are a welcome reminder that many great meals and drinks have taken place here over the last three decades, whilst miniature booths provide a small amount of privacy for four. There's some comfy banquette seating along one side too, or you can grab a table on the pavement outside and watch Soho life go by.
The menu kicks off with Balans famous (and ever-popular) all-day brunch, which includes anything from pancakes and coffee to porridge, toast, a full English, steak and eggs, or a lobster Benedict. All these are available until 5pm, along with lots of lunch options, from sandwiches and burgers to large mains, and small plates like Parmesan churros, grilled bavette flatbread, chargrilled squid with chorizo and piquillo peppers, and beef ragu mac and cheese.
The dinner menu retains a few of these lunch dishes, alongside a larger dinner menu that includes dishes like pan-fried cod with mussel and saffron sauce, Keralan curry, squid ink linguine with preserved lemon, and marinated spatchcock poussin with miso noodles. Balans also offers dedicated vegetarian and vegan menus, both during the day and in the evening, with dishes like roasted artichoke and saffron tortellini, and roasted cauliflower with crispy capers and burnt baby leeks.
The drinks list includes classic and signature house cocktails, as well as a well-priced wine list.