If there’s one meal that doesn’t spend enough time in the limelight, it’s lunch. Especially here in the UK, where us Brits tend to turn to a meal deal to tide us over during the week, while many don’t take their lunch hour all together! We’re not saying lunch has to be a fancy affair every single day, but we think you can do better than defaulting to a rather sad trio of a sandwich, a snack and a drink.
If you’ve reached the end of your tether when it comes to trawling through aisles of cold sandwiches and half-full bags of crisps at Tesco, we have a suggestion. Well, we actually have a few – reclaim your lunch break by making your way to one of London’s foodiest neighbourhoods and discover the best places for lunch in Soho.
If you’re hungry for a quick bite and don’t want to spend hours chomping down multiple courses, lots of these Soho lunch spots are perfect for speedy dining and offer express lunch menus to ensure you can be in and out in a flash. Or, if you have some extra time to kill and want to make a meal of it (literally), discover a wealth of places for lunch in Soho where you won’t want to rush because they’re simply that good.
Alternatively, you’ll find plenty of places in-between – like a fab little tapas bar with counter seating where you can enjoy a handful of small plates with a glass of wine. We've got loads of casual lunch spots in Soho to fit the bill. Finally, we’ve compiled some of the best lunch deals in Soho to ensure you get the most bang for your buck at lunchtime, from three-course menus for just over 20 quid, to warming bowls of ramen for less than a tenner. You’re sure to find something for every budget and every taste in our round up of the best lunch restaurants in Soho.
Best casual lunches in Soho
When it comes to lunch, casual spots are probably the places we rely on the most - the ones we turn to Monday-Friday when we need something easy but delicious. From luxe kebabs to veggie-friendly dishes, take a look at our lunch staples in Soho.
Le Bab
![]()
What: Fancy a kebab for lunch? Heck yeah! Le Bab’s luxe kebabs take inspiration from a mix of global flavours, from its Dirty Bab featuring 15-hour pork ribeye shawarma with chilli pork jus, sweet pickled cucumbers and fondue sauce, to its Fried Chicken Shish topped with grilled chicken, pickled red cabbage, herb yoghurt, seasonal salsa and crispy chicken skin. You can order them in a small or large size, depending on how hungry you are come lunchtime, with prices starting at £11.50. While Le Bab's kebabs are the main event, it also offers a few mezze dishes to get your tastebuds going, too. Try the meat butter naan or hummus with fluffy flatbreads.
Where: 2nd Floor, Kingly Court, W1B 5PW
Book now: Le Bab
Balans No.60
![]()
What: We could argue that Balans No.60 is the perfect place for lunch, but really, it’s the perfect place for dining at all times of day (and night). This all-day restaurant, bar and café stays open until 5am every night, and serves a crowd-pleasing menu of brunches, sandwiches, small plates and larger dishes from 10am. Look out for indulgent options like a treacle-glazed salted pork doughnut with crackling and pickled chillis. It’s also famous for serving a mean Pornstar Martini if you fancy making it a boozy lunch...
Where: 60-62 Old Compton Street, W1D 4UG
Book now: Balans No.60
The Good Egg
![]()
What: The second site from The Good Egg (the original one is in Stoke Newington) is best known for serving up a kick-ass Middle-Eastern-leaning brunch, but there are several dishes that venture well into lunch-land, too. We're talking wallet-friendly options feature everything from bagels and pitas, to baked goods and shakshuka. Top picks include babka French toast with baked halva, poached pears and labneh; Sabih (aubergine pitta with fudgy eggs, dak dak, tahini and zhoug); and its Jerusalem breakfast for two featuring labneh, hummus, pitta, dak dak, Aleppo fried eggs and halloumi.
Where: Kingly Court, W1B 5PW
Book now: The Good Egg
The Ganton Arms
![]()
What: You can't beat a proper pub lunch and this offering by local boozer The Ganton Arms is a handy option to know about any day of the week. The globally-inspired all-day menu offers plenty of small plates and mains to suit any occasion, from burgers to steak and chips to a chicken Ceasar salad. It also runs a specific lunch menu Monday to Friday, which features a selection of wraps served with skin-on fries. Choose from crispy chicken with aioli, panko halloumi with hot sauce or Philly steak with sautéed peppers and American cheese.
Where: 18-20 Ganton Street, W1F 7BU
Book now: The Ganton Arms
Scarlett Green
![]()
What: The Daisy Green Collection is a group of restaurants which aims to bring vibrant Aussie food and coffee culture to London. Scarlett Green is one of its 14 sites across the capital, and certainly one of the most popular. This Instagrammable spot is famous for its mega brunch dishes, but we think its lunch menu deserves a look-in too. Served from 12pm, guests can choose from the likes of popcorn prawns with creamy fermented chilli sauce; fried roasted aubergine with coconut risotto, pomegranate, crispy kale and miso tahini dressing; and pan-fried salmon with artichoke crisps, lemon hollandaise and crushed potatoes.
Where: 4 Noel Street, W1F 8GB
Book now: Scarlett Green
Temper
![]()
What: This popular BBQ-focused restaurant features a concise menu of smoked meats, steaks and tasty tacos, with all its cuts cooked over open flames. Perfect for sharing over a lunch with colleagues, taco fillings include classic cheeseburger, drunken pig, and smoked goat. If you opt for a steak at lunch (because why not?), don’t forget to make the most of the addictive sauces, including beef-fat bearnaise and bourbon peppercorn sauce.
Where: 23 Broadwick Street, W1F 0QA
Book now: Temper
Mildred’s
![]()
What: If you prefer to chow down something a little more virtuous before heading back to the office, then Mildred’s is the ticket. Famed for making vegetarian food fun, its all-day menu includes plenty of colourful, globally-inspired plates perfect for sharing with a mate. Start with spinach gyoza with daikon pickle and orange lime ponzu, for example, followed by the likes of shiitake tempeh noodles with pak choy and a shiitake broth, or ‘bokkeumbap’ made with kimchi fried rice, salt and pepper tofu, shallots and nori.
Where: 45 Lexington Street, W1F 9AN
Book now: Mildred’s
Copita
![]()
What: Tapas works a treat no matter what time of day you’re eating, and Copita – a breezy Spanish eatery just off Berwick Street – serves classic Spanish small-plates for a cheap buck. From charcuterie and croquettas of all types of flavours, to sweet potato bravas and truffled goat’s cheese, get ready to stuff your face with these indulgent dishes. Wooden stools, tiled walls and glowing candles contribute to that holiday feeling (even if just for an hour).
Where: 27 D'Arblay Street, W1F 8EN
Book now: Copita
Blacklock
![]()
What: Born out of a love for the traditional British chophouse, Blacklock is unmistakably known for its meaty specials and epic Sunday lunch menu. If you don’t fancy going the whole hog (pardon the pun), it offers a small selection of ‘lunch-friendly’ dishes which are served ‘swiftly’ in case you fancy trying one in your break. Choose between a pork belly bun, a steak sarnie and the Blacklock Burger – and none of them exceed £12!
Where: 24 Great Windmill Street, 1D 7LG
Book now: Blacklock
Best fancy lunches in Soho
Fancy places, to us, refers to lunches that are worth spending a little more time over, where extra special menus and soothing interiors are sure to elevate your midday meal from good to worthy of applause. Here are the places to head when you want lunch to be a meal to remember.
Ham Yard
![]()
What: If you're looking for somewhere to book a smart business lunch and are stuck for options, the restaurant at Ham Yard Hotel is an elegant bet. More imortantly, it serves a great-value set menu (choose two or three courses) which includes a glass of Champagne, and is served in a colourful, designer dining room. Start with the likes of trout, dill, fennel, blood orange, creme friache and seeded crackers, followed by fish of the day with brown shrimps, caper and lemon butter. While dessert might include a chocolate fondant with caramelised popcorn and milk ice cream.
Where: One Ham Yard, Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7DT
Book now: Ham Yard
Quo Vadis
![]()
What: It may have been founded all the way back in 1926, but the Soho sanctuary that is Quo Vadis is showing no signs of slowing down. Main courses on the a la carte menu tend to sit around the £30 mark, but there are a few reasonably priced items that work well for lunch. You can enjoy a cobb salad for £15, or a daily-changing pie for just over 20 quid. The dish that people best know it for, though, is its smoked eel sandwich - yours for a modest £12.50.
Where: 26-29 Dean Street, W1D 3LL
Book now: Quo Vadis
Yauatcha
![]()
What: This is one of the pricier lunches in this list, but it’s worth it if you’re a fan of fancy Chinese food and want to experience some of the best in London. Yauatcha in Soho serves a Dim Sum experience menu for lunch only, available for £48 per person. It includes a collection of its best dim sum dishes, including crispy prawn wontons with pear and sweet chilli dip, venison puffs, char siu bao with honey roasted pork and scallop shui mai with prawn and caviar. Wash it all down with a selection of teas.
Where: 15-17 Broadwick Street, W1F 0DL
Book now: Yauatcha
Kricket
![]()
What: The menu at Indian small plates joint Kricket is pleasantly concise, so you won’t have to waste loads of time choosing what to eat. Kick things off with a selection of kulcha bread, with tempting toppings including brown butter, or date and pistachio. There are just as many vegetarian dishes as there are meat and fish, making it a good option if you’re dining with veggie eaters. Look out for samphire pakoras with chilli garlic mayo and date and tamarind chutney, grilled butternut squash with makhani sauce, fresh paneer, hazelnuts and puffed wild rice, and its famour Keralan fried chicken with pickled mooli and curry leaf mayo. We’d recommend the masala chai (which you can spike with rum) to wash it all down. Prop yourself up at the bar and watch the chefs work, to experience one of the most fun places to eat in Soho.
Where: 12 Denman Street, W1D 7HH
Book now: Kricket
Best lunch deals in Soho
Many restaurants offer excellent lunch deals that allow diners to eat more cheaply than at other times of the day. They're also especially useful if you're dining in a hurry but still want to enjoy a proper meal. Check out our pick of the best lunch deals in Soho.
Bao
![]()
What: If you’re okay with a little bit of queuing, lunch at Bao is a Soho rite of passage. The set lunch menu is available for £15 and includes a choice of bao (with options such as confit pork and lamb shoulder), a choice between Taiwanese fried chicken or Eryngii mushroom, and a bowl of rice. If you’re having a cheeky drink, don’t miss the Asian-inspired cocktails, including a Soy Old Fashioned and a Rhubarb Spritz. The set lunch menu is available Monday to Thursday, 12-3pm.
Where: 53 Lexington Street, W1F 9AS
Book now: Bao
Bocca Di Lupo
![]()
What: Serving some of the best regional Italian food in the capital, Bocca di Lupo offers a daily-changing one-dish lunch for £12.50. It’s a great way to experience the food at this swish Italian restaurant if you’re on a budget. However, if you’d rather stick to the à la carte, then one of its comforting pasta dishes, including tagliatelle with squid ragu, or pappardelle with venison sauce, will elevate your lunch hour three-fold.
Where: 12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB
Book now: Bocca Di Lupo
Tonkotsu
![]()
What: Ramen joint Tonkotsu offers a stellar lunch deal for under a tenner, which in the heart of Soho is near impossible to come by. Simply choose from a lunch-sized ramen or Hiyashi (cold noodle salad) with a side. Our favourites include the chilli chicken ramen, the kakugiri ramen and the pork, ginger and garlic gyoza. Available Monday to Friday, 12-5pm.
Where: 63 Dean Street, W1D 4QG
Book now: Tonkotsu
Noble Rot
![]()
What: Whether you’re trying to impress a work colleague or just want to have a proper catch-up with a mate over great food, Noble Rot continues to uphold its rightful position as a vital part of London’s restaurant fabric. The interiors are decidedly retro and evoke the feel of an old-school Parisian wine bar, and the dishes on its daily-changing menu are all superb. Mains will cost you a hefty buck at about £30 each, which is what makes the set lunch menu such insanely good value. It changes every day, so you don’t know what’s on offer until the morning of, but at £18 for two courses, or £22 for three, this is one of the best lunch deals going in Soho.
Where: 2 Greek Street, W1D 4NB
Book now: Noble Rot
Nothing beats a good sarnie for lunch, does it? We’ve gathered the capital’s best sandwiches – find out where to find them in London.