Best Cocktail Bars in Soho You Need to Try
The best cocktail bars in Soho run from world-ranked drinking dens on Old Compton Street to hidden speakeasies beneath Kingly Court. This is the curated short list, grouped by the kind of night you are planning, whether that is a serious cocktail, a themed hideaway or a grand art deco room. Every bar below is a genuine Soho or Chinatown venue in the W1 postcode that was trading at the time of writing.
The serious cocktail dens
Swift, Old Compton Street
Swift is the bar most bartenders name first. The ground floor is bright and quick for an aperitivo, while downstairs is a low-lit, wood-panelled lounge for a longer session over an expertly made classic. It is a regular on the World's 50 Best Bars list and sits right in the heart of Soho at 12 Old Compton Street. Come early or expect to wait for the basement.
Bar Termini, Old Compton Street
A tiny Italian-styled bar a few doors along, Bar Termini is built around Negronis, Martinis and espresso. There are only a handful of tables, the aperitivi are precise, and the whole thing feels like a slice of Rome dropped into Soho. Perfect for a pre-dinner drink rather than a big group.
The Blind Pig, Poland Street
Hidden above Jason Atherton's Social Eating House on Poland Street, The Blind Pig is an award-winning speakeasy with an inventive, ever-changing menu and a relaxed, dimly lit room. Look for the unmarked door. The cocktails are technical and the snacks are worth ordering.
Themed and hidden bars
Cahoots, Kingly Court
A full immersion into 1940s wartime London, Cahoots is set in a mock Underground station complete with a vintage train carriage, ration-era decor and staff in period dress. It is theatrical fun, the cocktails match the theme, and it is one of Soho's most photographed bars. Book ahead, especially at weekends.
Disrepute, Kingly Court
Down a red velvet staircase beneath Kingly Court, Disrepute is a members-style basement bar that also welcomes non-members for a slick, grown-up cocktail in low light. It leans sophisticated rather than gimmicky and is a good choice for a date.
Experimental Cocktail Club, Chinatown
Just off Soho on Gerrard Street in Chinatown, the ECC is a candlelit, buzzy upstairs bar behind an unmarked door, part of a respected international group. Expect creative, well-balanced drinks and a lively late crowd. It is one of the originals of London's speakeasy revival.
The grand room
Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel, Sherwood Street
Beneath the vast Brasserie Zédel just off Piccadilly Circus, Bar Américain is a glorious art deco cocktail bar that has changed little in decades. It is all polished brass, low lighting and classic American-bar cocktails served by waistcoated staff. Ideal for a pre-theatre drink or a touch of old-world glamour without a members' door.
How to get a table
Soho's best cocktail bars are small and popular, so a few habits help. Arrive before 6pm on weekdays for the easiest walk-in, book ahead for Cahoots, Disrepute and the basement at Swift, and go midweek if you can, as Thursday to Saturday nights fill fast. Most of these bars are within a five-minute walk of each other, so it is easy to move on if the first is full.
Explore more of W1
This is the drinking companion to our dining coverage. For dinner first, see the where to eat in W1 pillar and our best restaurants in Soho roundup, or the wider best bars and nightlife in W1 guide. You can also head back to the W1 London homepage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cocktail bar in Soho? Swift on Old Compton Street is the one most often named the best, a regular on the World's 50 Best Bars list, with a quick ground-floor bar and an intimate basement. The Blind Pig and Bar Américain are close rivals depending on the mood you want.
Do I need to book cocktail bars in Soho? For Cahoots, Disrepute and the downstairs of Swift it is wise to book, particularly Thursday to Saturday. Bar Termini, the Blind Pig and Bar Américain take walk-ins but fill early, so arrive before the evening rush.
Which Soho cocktail bars are hidden or speakeasy-style? The Blind Pig (an unmarked door above Social Eating House), Experimental Cocktail Club (behind a plain door in Chinatown) and Disrepute (down a staircase in Kingly Court) are the classic hidden bars in and around Soho.
Are Soho cocktail bars expensive? Expect roughly £13 to £18 for a cocktail at these bars, in line with central London. Bar Américain and Bar Termini can be a touch gentler, while the most creative menus at Swift and the Blind Pig sit at the higher end.
Is Experimental Cocktail Club in Soho? It is on Gerrard Street in Chinatown, which sits just inside the W1 area on the southern edge of Soho, a two-minute walk from the main Soho streets, so it is usually grouped with Soho's bars.