Whether you pine for its seedier past, or are content with its newly gentrified aura, Soho has always been associated in one way or another with, ahem, entertainment. Handily located for West End theatres and the Oxford Circus shopping district, where once its bars and eateries would have been filled with spirited, bohemian souls, they are now patronised largely by the area’s office workers and tourists.

And, while many opine the difficulty these changes pose for independent businesses, when it comes to restaurants, the influx of money into the area has seen it flourish as one of the finest places to eat in the capital. From tiny basement dining rooms to Michelin-starred favourites, here’s our guide to the best restaurants in Soho right now.

Lío London

Images: Lateef Photography

Delivering Ibizan-inspired cabaret alongside a delectable Mediterranean menu, party-goers and foodies can have the best of both worlds at Lío London. Inside the restaurant on Coventry Street, start with a dinner prepared by Attila Kalanyos – former executive chef of Kensington Palace – featuring dishes of wild stonebass ceviche with padrón peppers, linguini al limone with sour cream and oscietra caviar, slow-cooked segovian lamb shoulder and 65-day aged angus tomahawk.

After dinner, the venue is transformed into a nightclub where international DJs bring the inimitable Ibiza spirit to London. Prepare to be mesmerised by this season’s cabaret show, named Besos, Beats and Beauties, where the world-class dance troupe will get your hearts racing, before you can dance the night away in the after-hours club. Just don’t forget to try in-house mixologist George Tsoukas’ cocktail list, featuring Bisous Bisous​ with Moët & Chandon Champagne and Belvedere vodka and Vanilla Kissed Bliss​ made with Tanqueray No10, apple and vanilla.​

3-4 Coventry Street, W1D 6BL, visit liolondon.co.uk

Gauthier

French gastronomy and plant-based diets are not two phrases you often hear in tandem, but this sophisticated Soho eatery specialises in just that. Set in a restored Regency townhouse, Gauthier Soho transports diners back to a bygone era of intimate, formal fine dining with its precise, refined fare. Spread over three floors, with five private dining rooms and a well-stocked wine cellar, chef-restaurateur Alexis Gauthier spotlights classic French cuisine with his five- and eight-course set tasting menus, all of which are entirely vegan. Expect everything from tomato ravioli with basil and leek terrine with plant caviar to Kalamata olive cheesecake, all expertly paired with the restaurant’s finest bottles by its in-house sommeliers.

21 Romilly Street, W1D 5AF, visit gauthiersoho.co.uk

Sola

Taking its name from its mission to bring the best of LA’s Californian cooking to Soho, Sola opened in September 2019 and earned a coveted Michelin star in the 2021 guide. Helmed by chef patron Victor Garvey, who credits his upbringing between New York and Barcelona for his global outlook on food, menus come in the form of an eight-course tasting priced at £169. Dishes rely heavily on seasonal produce, with summer’s seafood-heavy menus featuring smoked eel with foie gras, kindai bluefin with avocado and curry with mussels and langoustine. The wine list is also full of interesting American options, with bottles from Long Island, Santa Barbara, Sonoma and Napa – opt for the premium wine pairing to sample the best.

64 Dean Street, W1D 4QQ, visit solasoho.com

Kricket

Upscale Indian cooking is something that London has come to excel at in recent years, with Gymkhana, Bombay Bustle, Amaya and many more each offering their own take on the country’s varied cuisine. Fans of the trend shouldn’t miss Kricket, an industrially styled space close to Piccadilly Circus, serving up crowd-pleasing dishes packed with the flavours of South Asia.

Keen to impress that it offers food inspired by India, this is not the place to go if you’re looking for the capital’s most authentic Indian food. What you will get, however, is an unusual and memorable meal that cherry-picks the best of the country’s rich foodie heritage and combines it with Western influences. The samphire pakoras, Keralan fried chicken and venison and beef fat kebab aren’t to be missed. Kick things off with a North of the River cocktail (spiced cardamom, gin and lime) for a fitting introduction.

12 Denman Street, W1D 7HH, visit kricket.co.uk

Evelyn's Table

If one of your biggest gripes with the London restaurant scene is how difficult it can be to find a booking at a reasonable hour, Evelyn’s Table may not be the restaurant for you. Tucked away beneath the Blue Posts on Rupert Street and offering just 20 covers per day, waiting lists can be long but, should you persevere, you’ll find a unique dining experience well worth the patience.

Helmed by chef James Goodyear, who cut his teeth at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and Hide Above, to name a few, the ever-changing five-course tasting menu melds great British produce with Selby’s classical French training and knowledge of Japanese and Scandinavian flavours and techniques. Having held a Michelin star since 2022, this is one for those who take their dinner seriously.

28 Rupert Street, W1D 6DJ, visit theblueposts.co.uk

Lina Stores

If you’ve never been to Lina Stores you’ve almost certainly admired its pistachio-hued exterior. An extension of the original delicatessen on Brewer Street – a store almost impossible to pass without dreaming of cacio e pepe and gelato – this elegant Greek Street space is a go-to for reliably delicious handmade pasta, excellent antipasti and an Italian aperitivo and wine list to rival any in the capital.

The space is small so booking ahead is highly recommended. However, should you be lucky enough to snag one of the al fresco walk-in spots you’ll be treated to some of the best people-watching in the city: this really is dinner and a show. Start with fried ricotta with herb gnudi and bruschetta with anchovies before moving on to Lina Store’s signature pasta dishes. There really is no bad choice here but, if forced, we’d recommend the 30-yolk tagliolini with black truffle, butter and parmesan every time.

51 Greek Street, W1D 4EH, visit linastores.co.uk

Bob Bob Ricard

You know Bob Bob Ricard – the hugely opulent Soho mainstay that launched a thousand Instagram posts with its ‘Press for champagne’ buttons. Accordingly, it holds the record for pouring the most champagne of any restaurant in Britain but, if you can drag yourself away from the bubbles, you’ll find a food menu that sparkles in its own right.

Featuring both a take on modern British cuisine and influences from Russian restaurateur Leonid Shutov, there’s a menu of vodka shots served at -18°C, alongside an extensive caviar offering and Bob Bob Ricard classics, including a bone-in chicken Kyiv, beef Wellington and lobster macaroni and cheese. Brunch lovers should be sure to book a mid-morning table to experience the restaurant’s hugely popular waffle and bellini hour.

1 Upper James Street, W1F 9DF, visit bobbobricard.com

Polpo

With locations in Soho and Chelsea, Polpo is another of the capital’s eateries serving up the best primi and secondi you’ll find outside of Italy. This time inspiration comes from the rich culinary heritage of Venice, with the menu dominated by small plates of cicchetti and pizzette, all designed to be enjoyed alongside the restaurant’s impressive offering of Italian reds, whites and cocktails. Unconstrained by a starter, mains and dessert structure, allow yourself to meander around the menu, ordering an olive tapenade crostini here, a soft egg, spinach and parmesan pizette there, while encouraging your dining companions to add some cacio e pepe and beef shin ragu for the table, to create a dining experience as long and luxurious as an afternoon spent lounging beside a gently lapping canal.

41 Beak Street, W1F 9SB, visit polpo.co.uk

Barrafina

With four locations across the capital, Barrafina has pretty much got the Spanish tapas scene sewn up and it’s the original (and now Michelin-starred) outpost on Dean Street we’d recommend booking. Owned by brothers Sam and Eddie Hart, also of Quo Vadis and El Pastor fame, Barrafina specialises in authentic tapas taken from the varied cooking traditions of Spain’s different regions, accompanied by a succinct list of Cavas, Spanish sherries and wines.

The core menu is dominated by familiar dishes taken back to their roots, including pan con tomate, gambas rojas and prawn and piquillo pepper tortilla. A daily changing list of specials – for which there is a dedicated Instagram account – is also worth exploring for its seasonality. 

26-27 Dean Street, W1D 3LL, visit barrafina.co.uk

Sussex

Part of the Gladwin Brothers' ever-expanding empire of modern British restaurants, which also includes The Shed in Notting Hill, Rabbit in Chelsea and Nutbourne in Battersea, Sussex specialises in local and foraged produce treated with proper care and attention. The majority of the high-welfare meat comes from the Gladwin farm while much of the wine list also hails from the family vineyard in West Sussex. When it comes to food, you’re unlikely to find a truer family affair.

Food at Sussex falls squarely into the British classics done right category, with Carlingford oysters, Arundel courgette salad, Tamworth pork belly and hake fillet all featuring. Special seasonal menus and regular events also provide a big part of the draw at Sussex, with the restaurant regularly hosting guest chefs, such as Masterchef: The Professionals 2020 winner Alex Webb, and one-off feasts to celebrate foodie events such as the Glorious Twelfth.

63-64 Frith Street, W1D 3JW, visit sussex-restaurant.com

Yeni

The first London offering from chef proprietor Civan Er, whose Istanbul eatery Yeni Lokanta is one the city’s most highly regarded, Yeni blends open-fire cooking with fine British ingredients for a fresh take on Turkish culinary traditions. All dishes are designed to be shared and there’s plenty for vegans and vegetarians – who, understandably, often hear the words ‘open fire’ and assume it’s not for them – to get stuck into.

Do, however, expect your palate to be challenged – there are combinations here you almost certainly haven’t tried before. Think house-cured mackerel with saffron vinegar, fermented lamb with walnuts and Gibraltar octopus with romano pepper. Feeling brave? Opt for the carte blanche tasting menu and let chef Er send out a parade of whatever he deems to be best that day.

55 Beak Street, W1F 9SH, visit yeni.london

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