Guide to the best restaurants in Soho

Enjoy bistro-style dining combined with Modern American cuisine at Rita's in Soho, where it's all about fresh British seasonal produce and low-intervention wine. Here, they have created a menu of contemporary dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world, using the finest, freshest seasonal ingredients.

This Japanese-inspired eatery is the place to come for a casual weeknight meal or even a solo dinner date. The menu features a selection of udon noodles (supposedly the best in London), as well as small plates, rice dishes and sake, beer and Umeshu, a sweet and sour Japanese liquor.

Handmade pasta, cured meats and high-quality cheeses are just a handful of the things you can expect to enjoy at Lina Stores in Soho. This Greek Street hotspot serves a variety of pasta dishes right in the centre of the buzzy Soho district. Dine at the 12-seater bar, or sit downstairs for a cosier dining experience.

Sri Lanka meets Soho at this contemporary restaurant located on bustling Frith Street. The menu is exceptional and the egg hoppers are a Sri Lankan staple, they're especially good when they're used to mop up the black pork curry. People tend to flock here for the iconic bone marrow dish: two halved coconut-infused slices of bone served with fluffy roti. If you don't have a booking, you can expect to spend a little time queuing, but it's well worth the wait.

Bocca di Lupo has been an Italian icon on the Soho culinary scene for over a decade. The vibe is lively, and the open kitchen adds an air of spaciousness to the place. The menus change daily as they do their best to keep up with changing seasons. You can expect dishes like tagliatelle with fresh porcini mushrooms and a generous amount of garlic, as well as courgette flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovy, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Ducksoup is an intimate natural wine bar and restaurant moments away from the Soho Theatre. It's cosy and has a real personal touch to it, which is hard to find in a place as central as Soho. It would be ideal for a date night or as a place to catch up with a friend, and the menu changes regularly based on what's in season.

Ember Yard's menu is inspired by the incredible wood-fired grills of Spain and Italy and each dish is designed for sharing. Downstairs is the Ember Bar, a dimly-lit, ambient bar with a carefully crafted cocktail menu for pre or post-dinner tipples.

Dehesa is Ember Yard's big sister, located down the road in Carnaby Street. This charcuterie and tapas bar is inspired by the wine and dining scene in Spain and Italy. The menu changes seasonally but if you happen to visit when the signature deep-fried cheese-stuffed courgette flowers are on the menu then you're in for a real treat.

This modern Indian spot started out as a pop-up but proved popular and has since branched out across three different London venues. The menu pairs the aromatic flavours of India with high-quality British ingredients. Previous menus have featured standout dishes like samphire pakoras and Keralan chicken.

This Soho spot is basically a shrine to all things pasta. Enjoy hand-made pasta dishes with the sound of hip-hop as your background music. The place is vibey and has been decked out with murals by London artist, Supermundane.

Noble Rot's second location on the famous Greek Street takes the place of Hussar, a former celebrated Hungarian restaurant. Now, they serve a modern European menu with a nod to its former Hungarian life, alongside a complex wine list. The menu is packed with fragrant dishes like braised lemon sole with lentils and pot-roast partridge with muscat grapes and liver toast, but it does change from time to time. Their set lunch menu is excellent value.

It would be easy to accidentally walk right past this little restaurant on Rupert Street, but that would be a big mistake. The menu is an ode to contemporary Sri Lankan fare made using the finest British ingredients, and it packs a punch when it comes to flavour; think lamb fat-infused paratha with smoked sambal butter, but it's worth noting that the menu does change.

If food inspired by the bustling markets of Jerusalem sounds like your cup of tea, then The Palomar should definitely be on your dining bucket list. It's not only got an admirable menu, but the vibe is atmospheric and lively, making it a great spot for weekend dining. Past iterations of the Israeli-influenced menu include dishes like harissa chicken, glazed octopus, and cumin broccoli with za'atar yoghurt.

The French house in Soho is one of those classic London pubs that you can’t walk past without popping in for a pint or two. Pair that with the exquisite food served in the dimly-lit dining room up a flight of creaky stairs, and you have yourself a recipe for an all-round excellent wine and dine date. It also provides a break from the constant buzz of every day life with a strict policy of no music, no phones and no TV.

Mele e Pere is an independently-run Italian trattoria and vermouth bar in the heart of Soho. Here, you can sample authentic Italian dishes prepared with the freshest British ingredients. Previous versions of the simple menu have included classic pasta like carbonara and spaghetti alle vongole, all the better when washed down with vermouth - you'll find the largest selection in the city here.

This one Michelin star restaurant serves a simple menu of antipasti, pasta, and desserts. Pasta is freshly made in-house into dishes like classic cacio e pepe, courgette ravioli, and their iconic silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter and confit egg yolk. Quench your thirst with the menu of signature cocktails or wine, including rare vintages

Barrafina is a popular spot for lunch and dinner located on buzzy Dean Street, moments from Chinatown. There's a variety of tapas dishes on offer here, as well as a sleek and contemporary interior. If you want to see the chefs hard at work preparing your food, then just ask to be seated at the counter.

The popular Blacklock restaurant in Soho is a tribute to the London chophouses that were established way back in the 17th century. The menu is jam-packed with high-quality meat at affordable prices – expect dishes like pork-belly buns wrapped in crispy crackling and barbecued halloumi for the non-meat eaters. Their Sunday roast has also earned them a spot on many 'best roasts in London' lists.

There's always a queue at every Dishoom branch in London, and for good reason. Its Indian-inspired interior makes for ambient dining, whilst its menu of Bombay street food-inspired classics keeps locals and out-of-towners coming back over and over again. The 24-hour slow-cooked black daal is their most popular dish, especially when it's mopped up with a side of freshly-made roti.

Step right into a 1930s Parisian brasserie at this French restaurant on Dean Street. The grand Art Deco interior is further complemented by a live swing band, both of which make for an atmospheric dining experience, and that's before even looking at the Bib Gourmand-awarded menu. Food includes French bistro favourites.

For open-kitchen cooking and exquisite Thai food, Kiln on Soho's Brewer Street is the place to go. The menu does change but has featured Thai favourites like stir-fried Cornish greens, slow-grilled red mullet, and lamb and cumin skewers, and everything is perfect for sharing.

Art Deco meets glitz and glamour at the iconic Bob Bob Ricard. Perhaps the most exciting part of this popular Soho spot is the ‘press for champagne’ button, which you’ve probably seen a fair few times on your Instagram feed. When it comes to the food, you can expect signature British and French classics with a modern twist.

Mildreds in Soho is a plant-based institution that boasts an intimate and cosy dining room with a bar and private dining options. This first restaurant from the brand, located near its original site, offers an all-day vegan menu where you can indulge in dishes like vegan kofte, burgers, and curry, along with breakfast, brunch, and a kids' menu.

Despite being a meat lovers' heaven, Temper in Soho takes a strong stance against industrial farming. With in-house butchering performed right in the centre of the restaurant, barbecuing becomes entertaining for customers to view in the open kitchen. The Soho location boasts one of London's largest fire pits in the basement, offering guests the chance to enjoy the performance from cosy booths while sipping on mezcal cocktails and waiting for their food.

Former Ottolenghi chef Eran Tibi is the mastermind behind this Soho establishment, inspired by the cuisine found in Tel Aviv. This Greek Street spot is located inside Ilona Rose House and offers a late-night eatery that provides guests with an outdoor terrace, subterranean private dining space, and an equally pleasing soundtrack to match. Enjoy a menu of unique Israeli dishes and drinks in a trendy, vibrant space.

Speedboat Bar in London is inspired by the Thai-Chinese shophouses in Bangkok's Chinatown. Upstairs, the bar is decorated with autographed portraits of Thailand's canal speedboat racers. As for the menu, Chef Luke Farrell and the JKS group have meticulously recreated the fragrant cuisine of Thailand. Enjoy dishes like drunken noodles, stir-fries, and signature cocktails in a lively and vibrant space that embodies the spirit of the bustling Thai scene.

Milk Beach, an Australian restaurant and bar, has two London locations: one in Queen's Park, West London, and the other in Soho, central London. Their menu is a fusion of cultures shaping modern Australian cuisine, complemented by speciality coffee sourced from traceable farms and roasted in-house. For wine enthusiasts, they offer a selection of organic, sustainable wines from independent winemakers.

Tattu is designed around a Chinese courtyard house with three "residences" and an inner courtyard, where guests dine beneath a pretty cherry blossom tree. Located on the rooftop of the Now Building near Tottenham Court Road station, the venue offers an outdoor terrace with epic views over the city. The decor is lavish and over-the-top in the best possible way, which is also reflected in the kitsch cocktails – which come served in things like smoking skulls. The menu comprises dishes that combine traditional Chinese ingredients with contemporary cooking techniques. 

Berenjak is an authentic Iranian hole-in-the-wall eatery in Soho inspired by the kebab shops of Tehran. They're particularly well-known for their mezze and kebabs, including dishes like coal-cooked aubergine and goat shoulder kebab. Opt for a seat at the counter if you want to watch the chefs skillfully prepare your dishes. They also have their own take on hummus, made with black chickpeas, best paired with freshly-baked flatbreads.

Nopi, a venture by iconic chef Yotam Ottolenghi, touches down in Soho with this lively all-day brasserie. Embracing his trademark Middle Eastern roots, the restaurant offers aromatic, seasonal dishes packed with flavour for lunch, dinner, and pre-theatre menus. Past menus include dishes such as roasted aubergine with whipped feta, sorrel, and Aleppo cashew and a mouthwatering Valdeón cheesecake. There is also a selection of house cocktails to accompany the food.

Yeni is a modern Turkish restaurant from Istanbul founded in 2019 by renowned chef Civan Er. The restaurant features exposed brick walls, wooden floorboards, mirrors, and hanging lights, creating an authentic and modern atmosphere. Regarding food, British produce is cooked over an open fire, and the seasonal menu is packed with sharing dishes like citrus salad and manti dumplings alongside fire-cooked options like Cornish squid and organic Welsh lamb. However, the menu does change from time to time. Vegan, vegetarian, and pescetarian choices are also available, while original house cocktails and a well-selected wine list round off the experience.

The original Bao in the heart of Soho has been racking up Michelin Bib Gourmand awards for years. After work crowds always flock here, all craving the Taiwanese-style small dishes, such as aubergine wontons and fried Horlicks ice cream. The classic bao is, of course, classic, but those in the know like to opt for the confit pork or lamb shoulder as well.

A new venture from the team behind Tapas Brindisa, this Soho restaurant again celebrates the beloved Spanish small plates, but this time focuses on one type in particular. It's all about croquettes here, crunchy morsels filled with tempting delights. The constantly changing croquette menu at this contemporary tapas joint is accompanied by an assortment of other Spanish small plates, as well as wine, sherries and cocktails.

Chef Angelo Sato's (of Trinity, Story, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and many other fine establishments) tried-and-true solo venture in Soho rebooted with an eight-course tasting menu. The Japanese dishes with European influences range from one-bite delights such as miso-cured foie gras tart, to heftier fare such as grilled slow-cooked short rib with lettuce. Designed to provide patrons with a kitchen theatre experience, Humble Chicken also serves a concise range of drinks.