London’s Soho has been synonymous with the capital’s nightlife for decades, if not centuries. Its world-famous walkways—such as Carnaby Street and Old Compton Street—still swing with sixties’ era style, and as the risqué centre of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, the district is overflowing with both retro and new-age watering holes.
These are 10 of the best bars in Soho to visit in London in 2024.
Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel
22 Sherwood St, London W1F 7ED
Image credit: Brasserie Zedel | Instagram
Bar Américain is a secret(ish) bar nestled within the bowels of the opulent, 1930s-era Parisian institution Brasserie Zédel. Downstairs, the American-style bar is trimmed with dimly lit Art Deco interiors, oozing with old-world nostalgia, and serves up classic and house cocktails every night of the week.
Colony Room Club At Ziggy Green
4 Heddon St, London W1B 4BS
The original Colony Room Club opened in Soho in 1948 and became known affectionately as one of the ‘seediest spots in Britain’. Having named the likes of Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Tracey Emin and Damien Hurst as patrons over the years, the infamous drinking den closed its doors in 2008. It has now been recreated as an immersive art installation underneath the Mexican diner Ziggy Green, where you can buy drinks at 2008 prices. The venue also features hundreds of original and recreated artworks, and upholds its former no-phones-allowed policy.
Cahoots
13 Kingly Ct, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
Image credit: Cahoots | Instagram
Cahoots is a 1940s-themed bar set inside an abandoned train station. It has three distinct spaces – the Underground, Ticket Hall and Signal Station—with “Black Market Knees-Up” taking place every Saturday afternoon. The bar also puts on a bunch of live music, and has war-era rations for nibbles and a cocktail menu inspired by early 20th century market liquor.
Bar Lina
18 Brewer St, London W1F 0SG
Buried beneath the famous Line Stores Delicatessen on Soho’s Brewer Street, Bar Lina is part-speakeasy, part-Sicilian cocktail bar. You have to walk through the deli’s many shelves of pasta, sauces and biscotti to reach the chic underground venue, which sets an intimate tone with moody lighting and velvet seating. The place majors on Italian classics – with negronis and spritzes galore – plus delicious meats, cheeses and antipasti for nibbles.
Soma
14 Denman St, London W1D 7HJ
Image credit: Soma | Instagram
You can get a feel of Soma but its tagline alone: “in search of the divine”. The first bar from one of Soho’s favourite Indian restaurants Kricket, Soma is chic, minimalistic speakeasy, influenced by the Indian subcontinent. It boasts a sweeping nine-metre stainless steel bar, and its cocktails such as the gooseberry chaat Margarita and the savoury pickled mooli Martini are full of surprises.
The Vault
3 Greek St, London W1D 4NX
Inside a whisky shop named Milroy’s on Soho’s Greek Street you’ll find a bookcase. But the bookcase isn’t a bookcase at all. In fact, it’s a hidden door to a basement bar called The Vault, a candle-lit cavern with a catalogue of experimental cocktails.
Opium
15-16 Gerrard St, London W1D 6JE
Image credit: Opium | Instagram
Opium is a dim sum parlour and drinking den, spread over multiple floors in the heart of Chinatown. Shrouded in a moody red glow, the 1920’s Shanghai themed venue is actually three bars in one, each with its own individual signature drinks menu.
The Thin White Duke
22B Great Windmill St, London W1D 7LD
Named in honour of the late David Bowie, The Thin White Duke is a bar, dim sum restaurant, coffee shop and recording studio all rolled into one. Cocktails are named after Bowie's 1976 & 78 Isolar Tour, with the likes of “Berlin – May 16th” (gin, Cynar and Underberg) or “Glasgow – June 19th” (mezcal, scotch and Punt e Mes) on the drinks menu.
Experimental Cocktail Club
13a Gerrard St, London W1D 5PT
Image credit: Experimental Cocktail Club | Instagram
Arranged over two floors of an old Chinatown townhouse, Experimental Cocktail Club is hidden behind an unassuming door between two Chinese restaurants. Fitted with exposed brick walls and mirrored ceilings, and serving up a comprehensive list of classic cocktails and experimental concoctions, this Soho venue was the French hospo group’s first outpost outside of Paris, before eventually setting up stalls in Venice, Ibiza, New York and beyond.
Garlic & Shots
14 Frith St, London W1D 4RD
A dark basement bar with a memorable name, Garlic & Shots has 101 different flavours of vodka, six of which include garlic. The Gothic-style bar and restaurant also has a bunch of garlic-infused food options, and a wide selection of shots, beers and wines too.
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