Soho is where London goes to eat, drink, and stay out later than it planned to. Within its compact grid of streets you will find more restaurants per square metre than anywhere in the country, cocktail bars that range from speak-easy-hidden to boldly theatrical, live music venues that have been hosting legends for decades, and a West End theatre district that is the envy of every other city in the world.
Starting the Evening: Pre-Dinner Drinks
Bar Termini on Old Compton Street is the perfect starting point — a tiny Italian-inspired bar that serves exceptional Negronis and espresso martinis in a space that feels like a Roman cafe. If you prefer something more theatrical, Cahoots on Kingly Street is set in a disused 1940s Underground station, complete with vintage train carriages and swing-era cocktails. Swift on Old Compton Street does serious cocktails on the ground floor and more relaxed drinking in the intimate basement bar.
Dinner
We have written a full Soho restaurant guide, but the short version is: Barrafina for Spanish tapas, Bao for Taiwanese steamed buns, Quo Vadis for modern British, and Bob Bob Ricard if you want to press a button that summons champagne. For a more formal dinner date, the private dining rooms at The Palomar or Yauatcha are excellent choices.
Theatre
The West End has over forty theatres within walking distance of each other. For a date, the smaller venues often work better — the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden, the Noel Coward Theatre on St Martin's Lane, or the Harold Pinter Theatre on Panton Street all offer a more intimate experience than the mega-musicals. If you want to see a show as part of your evening, our team can advise on what is currently worth booking.
Late Night
Soho does not close early. Opium on Gerrard Street is a cocktail bar and dim sum restaurant set across three floors of a Chinatown building, open until two in the morning. The Blind Pig above Social Eating House on Poland Street does inventive cocktails until midnight in a moody, speakeasy atmosphere. For live music, Ronnie Scott's remains London's premier jazz venue — the late shows at half past eleven on Fridays and Saturdays are legendary.
With a Companion
A night out in Soho with one of our escorts is one of the most popular bookings we arrange. The area is so densely packed with excellent venues that you can walk from bar to restaurant to cocktail bar to theatre without ever needing a taxi. Our Soho escorts know the area intimately and many have their own favourite haunts. Tell our team what kind of evening you have in mind — lively and sociable, intimate and quiet, or somewhere in between — and we will suggest the perfect companion. Browse the gallery to start planning.
Cocktail Bars That Deliver
Soho has more cocktail bars per square metre than anywhere else in London. Our favourites:
- Swift, Old Compton Street — two bars in one. Upstairs is quick, well-made drinks in a buzzy atmosphere. Downstairs is darker, slower, and better for conversation. Both are excellent.
- Bar Termini — Italian aperitivo culture in a tiny Soho room. The negroni is perfect and the vibe is effortlessly cool. Get there early — it fills up fast.
- Experimental Cocktail Club, Chinatown — behind an unmarked door, up the stairs, into a dimly lit room with some of the most creative cocktails in London. The kind of place that feels like a discovery even when it is packed.
- The Blind Pig, above Social Eating House — Jason Atherton's cocktail bar serves drinks that match the inventiveness of the restaurant below. A hidden gem above Poland Street.
Late Night Options
One of Soho's advantages over more residential neighbourhoods is that it genuinely comes alive after 10pm. If your booking extends into the late evening:
- Ronnie Scott's — legendary jazz club that has been going since 1959. The late show (from 11pm) is more relaxed than the main set and has an incredible atmosphere.
- Trisha's, Greek Street — the kind of members' club that feels like a private party. Eclectic crowd, great music, and a sense that anything could happen.
- The Box — theatrical, provocative, and unlike anything else in London. Not for the faint-hearted, but absolutely memorable. Our more adventurous escorts tend to love it.
Planning a Soho Evening
Our favourite Soho itinerary for a dinner date:
- 7pm: Cocktails at Swift (upstairs, 45 minutes)
- 8pm: Dinner at Brasserie Zédel or Dean Street Townhouse
- 10pm: Walk to your hotel or a late-night bar
The beauty of Soho is that everything is within walking distance. You never need a taxi, the streets are alive with people, and the energy of the neighbourhood becomes part of the evening itself.
Our Soho escorts know the area inside out. Many live locally and can recommend places our team has not even heard of yet. Tell us you are planning a Soho evening and we will match you with someone who will make it unforgettable. Browse the gallery to get started.
