The Resy Guide to The Best Restaurants in Soho

Let Gabriel Pryce and Missy Flynn of Rita’s feed you things you didn’t know you needed. Starting with jalapeño popper gildas, mini Martinis, and hot bean devilled eggs. Pryce’s open-hearted, outward-looking Americana has no match in London, while a switched-on front of house enables a fun dinner party atmosphere. Where else can one find saltfish taquitos, ox cheek and grits, clams with creamed celery and fried Idaho scones, and mezcal-laced Oaxacan affogatos? Excellent cocktails and natural wines too, and a private garden – a rarity in Soho – for summer celebrations.

Few in London do glamour quite like the Harts, owners of this classic Soho tapas bar and neighbouring Quo Vadis. Here, the A-list experience is alive and well, and few things energise like chilled cava and a few sharing plates shared at the gleaming marble counter. Dishes from the daily specials board (one so famous it has its own Instagram account, no less) are essential too — the kitchen has a way with fresh seafood, so keep an eye out for seasonal highlights like sole, percebes, or carabineros.

Inspired by the cafes of Tel Aviv, Marc Summer’s vibey restaurant is one of Soho’s best, and happens to be completely vegetarian – along with plenty of vegan options, courtesy of executive chef Helen Graham. The fried aubergine with zhoug and confit potato latkes are unmissable, and worthy of the hype; meanwhile, for the indecisive, there are vegan and vegetarian set menu options for the table to share for £40pp, with a colourful spread of creative dishes like violino pumpkin with braised dandelion, or oyster mushroom skewers with tamari.

Clare Lattin and Tom Hill’s paean to simple and seasonal Mediterranean fare, Ducksoup arguably set the template for the modern natural wine bar. A regularly changing list of bottles and wines by the glass make a relaxed foil for elegant, easy-as-you-like dishes that regularly involved braising, slow-cooking, and one or two outstanding pastas. It’s an idyllic bolthole for a neighbourhood like Soho, and a central location makes the restaurant a fitting setting for meeting friends or intimate dates.

At this critically praised Soho restaurant, a sleek, minimal interior (one of the city’s most striking) sets the scene for plate after plate of dazzling Sri Lankan cooking. Dishes like mutton rolls, sizzling lamb chops, or a curry of dayboat fish are faithful to their origins, and sourced meticulously. Cosy booths cosset while cocktails tinged with the aroma of tropical fruit add to the escapism. Or, pull up a bar for a late weekend session (Thurs-Saturday) when the bar serves snacks and cocktails until 1am.

Picture everything that’s great about dining in Soho — the bustle of a busy room, the thrill of new flavours, the bonhomie of central London’s most buzzing neighbourhood — and distil it into a single restaurant. For many, that place would be this cosy, intimate restaurant that nails the fundamentals. Chef Cameron Emirali frequently changes an unfussy menu that might pair squid with fregola, fennel and chilli, or longhorn ribeye with cavolo nero and comforting boulangere potatoes; meanwhile, the wine list is easily one of the accessible (and fairly priced) in town, and an intimate private dining room is perfect for special celebrations.

One of London’s classic restaurants and a symbol of Soho, this elegant bar, restaurant, and member’s club is still one of the city’s greats. Today, it’s headed up by chef Jeremy Lee, who brings humour and whimsy to a seasonally driven menu. Here, game, pies, roasts and puddings represent arguably the pinnacle of British cooking; cocktails and a smoked eel sandwich are also both an essential part of the experience. A newly refurbished downstairs dining room, while one of London’s best front of house teams deliver a memorable experience.

Easily one of the city’s best spots for great Japanese cooking, Koya offers scintillating sharing plates, superb udon noodles and broths in a variety of styles (zaru udon, hiya-atsu and hiyashi udon are all offered), as well as one of London’s finest specials boards. Vegetarians are well looked after, and it’s a beautifully calm space in Soho for a solo breakfast or lunch, with a long bar and a smattering of small tables at the back. It’s no bookings for now, so there may be a queue. Learn more here.

As far as concepts go, El Pastor’s tacos-and-tequila formula has slipped down a treat. Their newest Soho jewel takes over the former site of Hix, delivering the brand’s inimitable joie de vivre while staying true to the spirit of the original restaurant. Hand-pressed tortillas are the star of the show, accompanying classic and new dishes like a fresh scallop tostada, or a large format spiced duck to share with salsas and plenty of sides. Slip downstairs afterwards, where the former Mark’s Bar has been converted to an intimate mezcal bar – perfect for a nightcap.

The original Ramo Ramen in Kentish Town was a triumph of expressing their Filipino heritage through classic ramen styles, and this sleek Soho iteration ups the ante significantly. To wit – a bowl of comforting chicken sopas with Tokyo noodles, award-winning oxtail kare-kare ramen, and a showstopping bowl of noodles in a crab coconut broth with an entire grilled lobster to top it off are the kinds of dishes to expect. Classic cocktails add boast inventive embellishments, while a coolly plush dining room, central Soho location and a clued-up crowd seal the deal.

This modern Indian gem takes up a plum corner of Greek Street, with a plush dining room and buzz reminiscent of the group’s first restaurant in Spitalfields. A greater focus on seafood – courtesy of its executive and head chefs, from Goa and Maharashtra, respectively – yields notable early dishes like a punchy lobster pulimunchi with crisp dosa, or a playful riff on prawn toast. A drinks list leans towards Portuguese and Spanish wines, plus Martinis. And yes, the restaurant’s incredible lamb chops are still on the Soho menu, and an essential order for first-timers.

One of the original—and best—steakhouses in town, Sophie’s in Soho always impresses, both metaphorically and literally. Housed in an old theatre, complete with art deco flourishes and soaring ceilings, there’s a pretty covered terrace for spritzes, a glamorous bar for cocktails, and a banquette-lined restaurant for everything from statement dinners to dates. The headline attraction is superb: aged cuts of native breed beef (via Warrens in Cornwall) prepared over an open fire pit to the perfect char and tenderness.

For anyone obsessed with a retro Hong Kong aesthetic, this slick Cantonese basement bar and restaurant in Soho offers a headrush of nostalgia. A pristine tea parlour upstairs wouldn’t look out of place in a Hong Kong period drama, while a moody neon-lit bar downstairs comes straight from a Wong Kar-Wai film. Sharing plates and cocktails are the draw, with smokey Iberico pork charsiu and pan-seared dumplings the go-tos, and HK-style peanut toast and satay noodles for weekend brunch.

For those aching to feast on dim sum or Cantonese fare, this Chinatown gem offers an excellent menu for the occasion. Gather some friends for a big dim sum brunch at the weekend, or make a reservation for a relaxed catch up over roast duck, fresh seafood, or skilfully tossed noodles. A buzzing, light-filled dining room is an excellent setting to relax, and there’s an extensive wine list to sip between toasts.

Former Mission chef Angelo Sato has gone it alone to open this slick tasting menu spot in Soho. Guests relax at a long bar to watch chefs prepare an immersive menu inspired by Sato’s Japanese and European roots, with dishes designed to provide a kitchen-theatre experience. Cocktails are superb – try the Koji old-fashioned – and dishes like a snackable tartlet of foie gras and miso, or grilled oysters with burnt chicken fat and a persimmon vinegar beurre blanc demonstrate Sato’s spectacular skill.

Chef Civan Er’s modern take on Anatolian cuisine won him acclaim in Istanbul, and his elegant Soho restaurant represents some of the best Turkish cooking anywhere in London. This smart, light-filled space on Beak Street is perfect for people-watching, while finessed sharing dishes like oven-roasted beef ribs with isot pepper and shatteringly crisp courgette fritters with sour cherry sorbet are both thrilling and comforting. Perfect for a celebratory dinner (there’s an excellent and affordable tasting menu) or a slightly extra get together with friends.

This former burger truck has three bricks-and-mortar sites now, including a very handy one on Old Compton Street. Made with dry aged beef, the burgers are excellent – try the bougie burger with steak sauce – but so too are the ‘& Beyond’ bits of the menu. Think smoked bone marrow gravy fries, pork belly tacos and truffled tater tots with Parmesan and sage. Expect boozy cocktails, craft beers, and an unpretentious Soho vibe.

Fried chicken, strong drinks and a blistering soundtrack can form the foundations of a truly great night in Soho. Few understand this better than Coqfighter who have made a name for themselves with superior twice-fried chicken sandwiches and crisp Korean-style wings infused with vodka. A round of Sichuan negronis or craft beers never goes amiss, and the dimly lit but always-buzzing room on Beak Street is cosy and comfortable.