Soho Area

22 Frith St, Soho, London W1D 4RF

The Bar Italia was started in the winter of 1949 by Lou and Caterina Polledri. Lou was originally from Piacenza, Italy. The couple had already opened up a cafe in Long Acre, Covent Garden a few years earlier, and then saw an opportunity for a cafe in Soho, which would not only be a cafe – and remember good coffee was hard to find in those days – but could also act as a fantastic social centre for the Italian community in London.

11 Dean St Soho W1D 3RP

Having built a loyal following for its three-wheeler food van (usually found in Berwick Street Market), PP opened on this busy corner in summer 2013. You can see the kitchen and pizza oven (also servicing the takeaway trade) through the ground-floor windows. The main basement dining area feels intimate, the seating and tables compact. Wipe-clean green checked tablecloths and 1960s Italian film posters help create the feel of a retro Soho trattoria. The friendly, slightly trendy mood is helped by an alcove for table football.

7 Denmark St Soho WC2H 8LZ

Thai Barbecue

Soho Dive Bar & Dining Room

Rare breed meats and day boat fish direct from small production farmers and fishermen.

Thai chillies, palm sugar and fish sauce direct from Bangkok.

Sweet chestnut and oak cask wood barbecue.

21 Poland Street, Soho, W1F 8QG

Another week, another new Brewdog bar opening in London – that’s how it sometimes seems. The Scottish brewery’s Dog Eat Dog hotdog bar opened in Islington a few weeks ago, and now this central spectacular in the heart of Soho joins its roster of branches in every corner of town.

53 Lexington St, Carnaby, London W1F 9AS

The transition from street stall to permanent site is not an easy one. Many successful street food traders simply lack the skills for staffing rotas, spreadsheets and hitting slim profit margins. That’s why the three founders of Bao cleverly teamed up with more experienced and deeper-pocketed operators – the team behind Trishna and Gymkhana – to smooth the journey from market pop-ups to permanent Soho establishment.

15-17 Broadwick St, Soho, London W1F 0DL

Dim sum teahouse offering contemporary Cantonese dim sum, patisserie inspired by European culinary techniques and Asian ingredients, and an extensive range of tea, wine and cocktails

4 Richmond Mews, Soho, London W1D 3DH
020 7559 3000

Sister to the Covent Garden Hotel, Soho hotel is a bubble of cool calm, and therefore it’s also a surprisingly child-friendly hotel.

Veer off Wardour Street and head towards a twinkly-lit porch to find a 10-foot porcelain Botero cat sculpture, oversized plant pots and a clash of driftwood and neon-tinted Perspex – a refreshing alternative to the marble and brass lobbies of most hotels in this postcode.

65-73 Shaftesbury Ave, Piccadilly, Soho, London W1D 6EX 020 7871 6000

A beautiful oasis of tranquil relaxation, The Piccadilly London West End has been acclaimed for its most proud highlight – Excellent Customer Service.

An elegant expression of bohemian beauty and excellent hospitality, presented with style and a smile has been awarded the, ‘Certificate of Excellence in Customer Service 2012’ by TripAdvisor.

17 Moor St, Soho, London W1D 5AP 020 3551 3701

Stay in the heart of London – after all you’re an Urbanite, not a tourist.

Z SOHO has everything you need for a couple of nights in town. Concentrated style, an out-of-town price, and the West End – at your feet the moment you step out the door. No off-central, tourist hotels for you.

49 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 5BG

Gerrard Street, London W1D

Within a century it was one of London’s hotspots – a haunt for artists, authors and politicos who put the world to rights at the Turk’s Head Inn over many-a boozy tipple.

Chinatown’s colourful history stretches back long before the Chinese community of restaurants and businesses popped up in the 1950s. It was the birthplace of the Post Office, Ronnie Scott’s and the playground of the literary elite.

West End

Wander around London’s West End and you’ll be surrounded by a whirlwind of glittery theatre shows, productions and more ticket offers than you can shake an interval ice cream at.

The London Pavillion, 1 Piccadilly Circus, London W1J 0DA

Step inside a world where the bizarre and the unbelievable come to life and amazement is waiting around every corner – whether it’s an actual chunk of the Berlin Wall, or our Amazonian shrunken heads; a knitted Ferrari or a chewing gum sculpture, at Ripley’s there are mind-boggling wonders for even the wildest imagination. If it’s truly unbelievable, it’s in here!

Regent St, Carnaby, London W1B 5AH

Liberty was founded in 1875, but the present Marlborough Street site, with its ships’ timbers and leaded windows, was built in the 1920s. The interconnecting jumble of rooms, with the odd fireplace and cushioned window seat, makes for an intimate feel – as if you’ve strayed into a private room in a stately home. It’s not an accident, founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty wanted customers to feel as if they were exploring someone’s home, keeping the shopping galleries small, albeit linked to three rather grand atriums.

99 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5DY

Curzon Soho is known as the filmmakers cinema because it’s the kind of venue where you could find yourself sitting next to a screenwriter or director. The bar is often buzzing with the sound of highly energised conversations discussing film but there are enough in the corner spots to tuck yourself away whilst waiting for your film to start.