2 Best Bars in Soho, London

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.

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).