Best restaurants in Soho

The Japanese may have a reputation for minimalist design, but glamorous Aqua Kyoto appears to have missed the memo – this place is all oversized hanging lanterns, plush red seating and moody lighting. The jewel in Kyoto’s crown is the central bar/open kitchen, which turns out excellent sushi, as well as high-end takes on classic Japanese dishes; think Wagyu gyoza and mushroom yakitori with truffle sauce. We’d also recommend the weekend brunch, featuring free-flowing Veuve Clicquot.

Found below Aqua Kyoto, this Spanish restaurant from the acclaimed Aqua Group (originally founded in Hong Kong) is as sleek as you’d expect, but it’s not a case of style over substance. Expect a menu of show-stopping tapas which runs the gamut from Iberian ham croquettes and patatas bravas through to spiced crab tostadas and oxtail and avocado empanadas. The street-side terrace overlooking Regent Street is great for a spot of al fresco dining too.  

Victor Garvey's Michelin-starred, Californian restaurant is a lesson in creativity, skill and theatre. Opt for the tasting menu to indulge in inventive dishes like tuna sashimi with avocado sorbet, and chocolate with salted caramel and caviar. 

Tucked away in a hidden courtyard right behind the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Circus, the Ham Yard Hotel feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air within London’s manic West End. The restaurant is open for all-day dining, but the afternoon tea is a definite highlight. Or, if savoury is more your cup of tea, spend your Sunday digging into Ham Yard's traditional Sunday roast.  

An iconic watering hole where actors, writers and artists alike have historically rubbed shoulders, The French House has become a Soho institution over the years. Diners can expect a daily-changing menu offering French classics executed with finesse. A real gem.

The original Bao (there are now two more sites in Fitzrovia and Borough), this tiny space was responsible for introducing London en masse to Taiwanese steamed buns. It is still as popular as ever today, with queues regularly forming outside of the door. From the short, tick-box paper menu, it’s imperative that you try the classic bao: moist braised pork topped with coriander and a smattering of crushed peanuts, sandwiched between a fluffy white bun.

With a name like Paradise, founder Dom Fernando sets his customers' expectations high. Luckily, his 6 course Sri Lankan tasting menu never fails to deliver. Switching from a la carte to tasting menu in June 2024 has allowed Fernando to exhibit the depths of his culinary creativity, delighting his diners with innovative spins on Sri Lankan dishes.

If you have ever found yourself doubting whether vegetarian food can taste as good as meat, run, dont walk, to Bubala. This Middle Eastern sharing plate spot will have even the most carnivorous eaters questioning whether they should go vegan. With locations in Spitalfields and Soho, Bubala has acquired a cult following for their creamy hummus and their ability to elevate the humble vegetable to something mind-blowing.

‘Humble Chicken’ couldn’t be further from the truth, because this beak to foot yakitori restaurant offers a tasting menu of the highest calibre. You can expect more than poultry here though, with plenty of seafood and vegetarian courses to see you through the experience too.

40 Dean Street has been around for nearly two decades, and like its sister restaurant 64 Compton Street, has garnered a staunch following for a menu of traditional classics and updated Italian dishes. An affable and convivial restaurant, 40 Dean Street stands as an affordable luxury with a personal touch. Pro tip: the lobster linguine is a must!

Serving dishes seen in modern day Jerusalem, The Palomar is regularly recognised as one of London’s foremost Middle Eastern restaurants. The best seats in the house are at the counter where you can watch the team at work – be warned that you can’t book though, so you’ll need to factor in queueing time. The wait is worth it to sample the likes of pork belly rubbed with Turkish coffee beans, and ‘Jerusalem mess’ for pud.

Serving some of the best regional Italian food in London, Bocca di Lupo is a buzzy space that’s great for a low-key meal. The menu consists of sharing dishes which change with the seasons, but there are a few staples that stick around all year long – the arancini filled with soft cheese for example, and the comforting prawn tagliolini. Once you’ve finished, pop over the road to Gelupo for dessert, Bocca’s own ice cream parlour.

Mountain was a major opening on the London restaurant scene in 2023 and has had chins wagging ever since. The wood-fired grill restaurant and wine bar comes from the team of Michelin-starred Brat, and it’s clear to see they’ve not let quality slip in their latest venture.

One of London's very best Sri Lankan spots, Kolamba's mottled concrete, terrazzo and rattan interiors are pure wabi sabi chic, and the compact menu packs a lot of flavour. Load up your table with sambols, hoppers and all the curries you can fit in your belly. 

When Hoppers opened its doors in 2015, no one could predict its impact on London’s dining scene. The restaurant became famously hard to get into (Hoppers does not take reservations), but those who joined the thronging queues were rewarded with outstanding and affordable riffs on Sri Lankan cuisine. It’s just as enchanting today, with the obvious order being the eponymous hopper.

With locations in Queens Park and Soho, this Aussie spot is bringing a slice of Sydney to London. At breakfast time, Milk Beach lives up to the Australian reputation as the kings of brunch (the ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter are not to be missed). Dinner does not disappoint either, boasting a menu that reflects the Southeast Asian influence on Australian cuisine.

On the border between Soho and Mayfair, Inca masterfully merges dining and live entertainment with its rather intoxicating dining experience that's part show, part feast. With its seductive lighting and glitzy interiors, delve into some seriously good food, with menus of upscale Latin American cuisine with a Japanese twist. If you're looking for a spot to spend a Saturday evening then Inca is hard to beat.

From the team behind Mamasons and Panadera bakery comes Donia, a modern Filipino restaurant in Soho's Kingly Court. Trendy interiors, bold flavours and fashionable cocktails make this place worth seeking out if you're in the area. 

Soho’s bustling Kingly Court is a great spot for quick and casual dining, but it’s mostly populated with mini-chains. If you’d rather support the underdog, swing by chef Asma Khan’s brilliant Indian restaurant, which boasts an all-female kitchen team. Dining here feels like popping over for a dinner party at that friend of yours who can really cook, with entrancing dishes to try including plump prawns laced with chilli and a slow-cooked Bengali goat curry.

Anyone who orders the lemon and herb option at Nando’s might want to stop reading, as Kiln is not the place for those who don’t like spice. If you are a fan of intense, punchy flavours though, Kiln is great – the menu consists of various Thai-style barbecue dishes served in clay pots, with our top pick being the glass noodles topped with pork belly and brown crab. Don’t miss the great selection of beers either. 

Glamorous Yauatcha has been around for a few years now, but it still pulls in the crowds. Top hits from the menu include the heavenly venison puffs, as well as the edamame truffle dumplings. You can expect a rather hefty bill at the end, especially if you indulge in the expansive line-up of classy wines and killer cocktails, but the quality of food here and the friendly, slick service makes it worth splurging on. 

The chic spin-off of chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s eponymous café chain finds its home on Warwick Street. Breakfast here means freshly-baked pastries or scrambled tofu on toasted sourdough, while later in the day you’ll find colourful health-conscious dishes with Middle Eastern accents, such as chickpea pancakes and mutton shawarma with pickled watermelon and a dollop of yoghurt resting atop flatbread. 

Since its arrival on Soho’s Lexington Street in 2021, Rita’s has maintained a constant buzz. Perhaps it's their £8 martini, or their famed jalapeno popper gilda, but this American inspired spot has established itself as one of the hottest tables in Soho. Chef Gabriel Pryce celebrates the heavy hitters of American cuisine, serving up some of London's best fried chicken, while placing a focus on using local, seasonal produce.

Aulis offers an intimate dining experience in Soho with only eight seats available. Each evening, guests are treated to an interactive dining experience; expect to be captivated by the food as it's prepared in front of you, with each stage explained by the chef.

Bob Bob Ricard's little brother boasts a more compact menu and concept, but the results are just as good, perhaps even better. Top class rotisserie chicken forms the focal point of the menu - for a main course you can choose between chicken and, a different type of chicken. Fear not, though, because there are still three different caviars to try first up, as well as some luxurious desserts and a hefty wine list.

The brainchild of the acclaimed JKS Group (who’ve had a hand in Gymkhana, Bao and Brigadiers to name only a few), Berenjak is an intimate Iranian restaurant serving delectable small plates and kebabs. The keenly priced menu means you can easily eat here for less than £30 if you skip drinks, but that would mean missing out on the refreshing fruit cordials, which can be topped up with vodka or Tequila should you so desire.

This ionic fish and seafood restaurant has been going since 1996, offering a relaxed, fun and approachably luxurious setting in which to indulge in some excellent seafood. Expect everything to be served with plenty of charm and good humour. 

Restaurant, bar and rooftop, Yasmin sits pretty on the sixth floor of member's house 1 Warwick. A menu of Middle-Eastern fare, from resident chef Tom Cenci, offers rich and aromatic dishes, all designed to share. Tuck into flatbreads and dips, skewers, and delightful cocktails for a stylish yet relaxed evening.

Having graduated from Pop Brixton to a permanent Soho site (which has seen been followed up by other locations in Brixton and White City), Kricket is one of the premier Indian small plate joints in the capital. Head here to enjoy the signature Keralan fried chicken and lamb chops with sweet yoghurt, while the delightful likes of smoked sweet potato and crunchy samphire pakoras might make you ditch the meat and become a full-time vegetarian.

Imagine ROKA's crowd-pleasing sushi rolls, robata grill plates and skewers, but at more affordable prices, and you've got Inko Nito. A smartly-designed dining room means every table has a great view of central kitchen, and there's a solid drinks list to choose from too, as well as a popular weekend brunch that is worth booking.

A Soho favourite dedicated to authentic Italian cooking and local sourcing, 64 Old Compton Street has built a reputation as one of the best independent restaurants in the area. From fresh pasta and pizzas to arancini and hearty mains everything here is soul-soothing, warm, and elegant - the kind of food that’ll make you smile.

Although a sleek City sibling has now opened, the original Bob Bob Ricard still has plenty of pulling power. As well as being popular for its famous ‘press for Champagne’ buttons, Bob Bob is also a well-known hotspot for famous faces because the booth seating provides a touch of discretion. The menu of pimped-up comfort food meanwhile is as luxe as they come – think lobster mac ‘n’ cheese and a Champagne and oyster mushroom pie.

We've big fans of the sleek art deco styling and easy-going all-day menu at this bar and restaurant on the corner of Warwick and Brewer Streets. Former Duck & Waffle head honcho Tom Cenci oversees a menu that leans into nostalgia, with a homemade Vienneta (called the Viennessa) and a spin on a McDonald's breakfast muffin that's among our favourite breakfasts in London.

Alex Dilling draws on classic French gastronomy and injects it with his own vibrant and energetic cooking style. Book in to experience some of the most exceptional cooking in London right now, and enjoy views of Regent Street while you do.

Found underneath The Blue Posts pub, Evelyn’s Table is a chef’s table experience with room for only 15 diners. The food here sees a seasonally-changing menu of small plates with a southern European accent, with dishes you may come across including salt-cod beignets with punchy taramasalata and smoked eel atop blinis. The best part of dining here though is chatting to your neighbours and the team of friendly chefs – it’s not the place for introverts. 

Part of the ever-expanding Soho House group, Dean Street Townhouse is full of chatter from morning till night, with the intimate street-side terrace the most coveted spot. Inside, you’ll find comfy furnishings and a menu of best-of-British fare. Try the likes of eggs any style or avocado on toast for breakfast, while later in the day sees lamb leg with broad beans and mint or ribeye steak with a side of thick-cut chips and béarnaise.

Often found on ‘best tapas in London’ lists, Barrafina is a firm favourite among the capital’s foodies. Taking up most of the ground floor of Quo Vadis (this branch moved here from its original Frith Street site in 2016), Barrafina pairs an exclusively Spanish wine list with remarkably moreish tapas – think classic croquetas, sizzling prawns swimming in garlic sauce and deep-fried courgette flowers topped with goats’ cheese. Don’t forget to factor in queuing time.

Devout carnivores can come and worship at the altar of this temple of meat, which now has siblings in the City and Shoreditch. Blacklock is best known for its ‘all in’ option, which will get you pre-chop bites (canapé-sized snacks), followed by a pile-up of beef, pork and lamb chops atop coal-grilled flatbread and a side each. If you’ve got any room left, we’re big fans of the white chocolate cheesecake, served straight from the tray.

Part of the Hart Brothers empire, long-standing Quo Vadis underwent a refurb in 2016, with the ground floor now housing Barrafina Soho after it had to move on from nearby Frith Street. Quo Vadis might have less of a buzz than it once did, but the menu is still a joyous celebration of all things seasonal, including chilled soups and vegetable-led dishes alongside the more traditional fish & chips. Excellent service is a further draw.  

The team behind this glamorous Italian restaurant have launched a second site in Soho, where glossy interiors, indulgent dishes and a 300-strong wine list position it firmly in special occasion territory.

The Devonshire burst onto the scene in 2023 and it’s still as difficult to get a table now as it was in opening week - but it’s worth persevering. So much more than your average gastropub, here you’ll find genuinely delicious food and the best pint of Guinness in the capital.