The best nightclubs in Soho

You'll have to dress to impress to get into Cirque Le Soir, but once inside this deluxe circus-themed Soho nightclub, expect to rub shoulders with the likes of Drake and Miley Cyrus. A nightlife spot for the capital's elites, Cirque Le Soir hosts various themed parties where top-shelf liquor runs in rivers and all sorts of debauchery goes on.

With the help of a highly skilled house band and request slips, you can craft the perfect soundtrack to your night at The Piano Works, choosing your favourite songs – a tip will even bump them ahead in the queue. You can start your night off with dinner at your table, before the party and the dance floor shift into full gear. The live music helps make for a unique clubbing experience.

The Box is an exclusive and mysterious cabaret nightclub in Soho, supposedly home to all sorts of hedonistic decadence. Not just anyone can walk in, as only those with a famous enough name or sufficient levels of style and flair are allowed to pass through the front portal. Inside, theatrical debauchery awaits, accompanied by cocktails and other drinks throughout the night.

This recently refurbished Soho nightclub and cocktail bar is situated in a historic building dating back to 1892. Soho Residence spans three floors, each a distinct space. The ground floor bar welcomes you with classic cocktails and tasty bar snacks, the upstairs lounge offers a relaxed setting for chatting and socialising, and the basement club keeps you dancing to popular tunes late into the night.

An offshoot of the popular G-A-Y party brand that's home at the legendary Heaven nightclub, this venue provides an inclusive space for partying to energetic pop music. G-A-Y Bar is where the pre-party vibes start, with three floors catering to energetic crowds and hosting themed nights.

The Soho branch of the popular Barrio Bars group is located in a basement and doesn't hold back on the colour combos with its vibrant, eye-popping decor. During the night, the evening cocktail bar gradually shift into an all-out party atmosphere, with hip young crowds downing music-inspired drinks and Mexican snacks, and showing off their moves to reggaeton, soul and disco music. Themed bottomless brunches are held here as well.

One of London's largest and best-known LGBTQ+ venues, Ku Bar is spread across three floors next to Leicester Square. You can start the night off in the champagne bar before dancing the night away to pop chart-toppers and classic floor fillers. The venue's late-night club in the basement is open early into the morning. A few streets over you can also find the sibling She Soho club, dedicated entirely to queer women, non-binary folk, and their guests.

The Be At One bars are a familiar sight around London, known for their all-in approach to partying, fuelled by more than 100 different cocktails. The expert bartenders can mix you up anything from classic cocktails to inventive new concoctions, with a 2-for-1 offer during happy hour. There are several Be At Ones around the Soho area, with the Regent's Street branch especially well-suited to casual late-night clubbing.

Suffused in class and style, Club 49 is one of the most popular Soho nightlife establishments. Patrons can chill out and catch up over one of the cocktails from the lengthy drinks list before venturing downstairs, where a bouncing dance floor and loud, banging tunes await. The parties go hard and long at Club 49. Private seating is available as well.

This upmarket restaurant, bar, and nightclub offers exclusive theatrical dining to get the night started, before turning up the party atmosphere with bottle service until the early morning. You'll spot this iconic Soho nightlife venue immediately thanks to the large neon sign on the side of the building. Dinner involves a spectacular show and different set menus, packed with luxury delicacies such as champagne, caviar, and truffle. Dress smart.

Bold and bright, the renowned 100 Wardour Street venue is covered in floral displays and neon lights. It's another spot where a pleasant evening meal can smoothly progress into a night of merrymaking, with the Soho clubbing venue hosting a range of live music performances, from vinyl-spinning DJs to proper funk bands.

Thirst Bar is an independent local bar in Soho's Greek Street that spans two floors. You'll find a bar with ample seating and a broad array of cocktails, including different gins poured into large goblets, on the ground floor, but if you want to party hard, head downstairs. The basement dance floor is where the fun times last late into the night, thanks to shots and DJs playing all the hits.

Lío London is a glamorous show restaurant with a changing seasonal performance keeping diners entertained as they enjoy signature Mediterranean dishes and an expertly curated wine list across its different spaces. After the final curtain, the DJ booth is brought out and Lío turns into a fancy 700-cap nightclub with serious clubbing pedigree – the entire venture is backed by Ibiza's famed Pacha Group.

St Moritz Club in Soho is a down-to-earth venue with a storied past, dating all the way back to 1960 and evolving from a fondue club into a legendary live music spot. Live shows still make up a significant part of their programme, featuring weekly ska, blues, funk, and world music concerts, followed by DJs playing the biggest hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s late into the night.