8 Best Bars in Soho, London

The beaux arts--style interior of this enduring and popular subterranean bar just north of Piccadilly Circus is so opulent that you'd be forgiven for thinking it had been here since the 1890s. In fact, it's a relatively new revival and has been a hit since it was reconverted in 2012, along with the cavernous Parisian-inspired Brasserie Zédel and the adjacent Crazy Coqs cabaret, which share the premises. The outstanding cocktail list covers Pre-Prohibition, Prohibition, and Post-Prohibition classics—ranging from an 1884 Turf Club vermouth to a 1948 Army & Navy gin—with additional special menus on occasion.

On the corner of Greek Street, Soho's most famous pub is as authentic as they come, complete with light oak saloon bar screens, spittoon troughs, sturdy bar stools, and occasional singalongs around the upright piano. Established in 1840, this was once the haunt for a mélange of Soho's finest writers, journalists, and artists—from painter Lucian Freud to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Today, you can still down pints of London Pride beer and drink with the best of Soho's modern-day bohemians.

Before heading off to prime time, some of the United Kingdom's funniest stand-ups cut their teeth here, at what's considered the birthplace of alternative comedy in Britain. The Comedy Store Players, a team with six resident comedians doing improv based on audience suggestions, perform on Sunday. The King Gong open-mike is a brutal stage contest for 30 brave newcomers while Old Rope sessions showcase new material on Monday. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have the best stand-up comedy acts. There's also a bar with food. Note that you must be over 18 years old to enter.

A beautiful example of a High Victorian pub, the Dog and Duck has a majestic interior overflowing with thousands of ornate glazed tiles, etched mirrors, chandeliers, and polished wood, although it's often so packed it can be hard to get a proper look. There's a fine selection of cask ales at the bar and a restaurant serving superb pale ale–battered fish-and-chips with mushy peas. Originally built in 1734 and patronized by artists and poets like John Constable and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the cozy upstairs dining room is named for writer and Dog and Duck regular George Orwell (who celebrated with a glass of absinthe here upon hearing that Animal Farm had won an American book prize). 

It's easy to miss the unmarked shabby-chic black door with a scuffed wash of red paint on Chinatown's hectic Gerrard Street main drag, but once you find it and make your way past the sometimes hard-to-please doorman, you'll be in a secret three-floor speakeasy that is also one of London's coolest cocktail joints. With a lively crowd, heavenly cocktails, moody lighting, and a knowledgeable DJ spinning smooth jazz sounds, the vibe is sexy Parisian cool.

Thankfully, by booking online, nonmembers can gain entry to this legendary West End open mike, musical theater, and private members' club off Tottenham Court Road. Frequented by a colorful crew of West End thespians, writers, and critics, you might catch a raunchy burlesque, see a theater star belt out power ballads on the open mike, or be captivated by a fascinating monologue from a seasoned Hollywood movie legend. 

Britain's most famous jazz club has attracted the biggest names—from Stan Getz to Ella Fitzgerald—since opening nearby on Gerrard Street in 1959 (moving to its current location in 1965). It's usually hot and crowded, and thankfully the food and table service are up to par. Bathed in the light of table lamps, the ultracool James Bond vibes can't be beat, despite the sad departure of the eponymous founder and saxophonist, Ronnie Scott, who died back in the late 1990s. A full program of free-form jazz sets and shows takes place every night, with additional late gigs on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended.

Book ahead to avoid the lines at Soho's top-ranked bar and cocktail lounge on Old Compton Street. Split into two distinct areas, head through the ground-floor aperitivo bar to the infinitely more sexy speakeasy in the basement, where there are lambent brass lamps, antique mirrors, dark red leather booths, and an array of world-class theme cocktails, ranging from a rum-based Josephine Baker to a vermouth and orange bitters–tinged Dita Von Teese.