Soho is recognised as one of the finest neighbourhoods to eat in the capital, known as a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts. This lively district in London exhibits diversity and culture through its entertainment facilities and the Michelin-starred restaurants, are the perfect representation of the influence that this can have on an area in the most attractive and engaging way. Not always having been the buzziest location in London, Soho was originally a large area of farmland and open fields up until the 16th century, when it transformed into a fashionable, bustling locality. The urbanisation of the area attracted a plethora of people including artists, musicians, writers, and wealthier residents who cultivated Soho into the entertainment hub it is today. Their pioneering spirit is now celebrated on every street, in every venue, and on every menu.
As the elite of London society flocked to the new uprising community in the 19th century, Soho began to be known for its high-class restaurants and dining experiences. The community has maintained its reputation for innovative culinary excellence in its unique restaurants for centuries, mixing traditional dining options with worldly cuisines to entice food fanatics from all over the globe. With over 250 restaurants in the Soho area, from classic establishments to modern eateries, settling on the perfect place to dine can often be a challenge. To help, we have hand-picked 5 of our fine dining favourites of 2024.
SOLA Soho
A restaurant of modernity and stylish ambiance, SOLA combines classic comfort foods with an American flair to produce innovative Californian cuisine. This is quite literally where Soho meets LA for a cosy yet chic setting, with the shining bright décor evoking the Golden State. Victor Garvey’s culinary expertise is illustrated through his Californian cooking, with dishes relying on seasonal produce, including a summer seafood menu recommended by many.
Having recently gone under a major new refurbishment in 2023, SOLA has expanded its dining room and dramatically increased the wine storage capacity to hold the 57 labelled all-American wine list offered. SOLA takes pride in its focus on the latest North American wine and offers a premium wine pairing to sample the best they offer. The brilliantly detailed eight-course tasting menu, encompassing a global outlook on food, is definitely worth a try when visiting Soho.
Also Read: Best Restaurant Islington
Evelyn’s Table at the Blue Posts
Concealed under The Blue Posts Pub in Soho, Evelyn’s Table is a 12-seater counter dining experience, providing intimacy on a whole new level. Despite being tucked away in a small cellar, Evelyn’s Table is a renowned luxury restaurant where its food wanders the globe in its modern European dishes. Head Chef James Goodyear combines British ingredients with Scandinavian and Japanese cooking techniques, all underpinned by French training. The restaurant's ever-changing menu intrigues guests, demonstrating the creative and perfectly executed courses prepared by a team of 5 chefs.
As you eat, the chef conveys a detailed explanation of the sourcing, pairing, and Asian combinations of the delicate dishes, to take you on a journey as you savour the sustenance. Evelyn’s Table opens your palate to new and exciting flavours and the desserts are described as mind-blowingly flavoursome. Holding a Michelin star for over 2 years, this hidden gem is a quintessential restaurant ready to be uncovered.
Also Read: Best Restaurants in Yorkshire England
Gauthier
Our next fine dining favourite offers cutting-edge French dishes in a hushed surrounding in a Georgian townhouse. Gauthier is a sophisticated Soho eatery which specialises in vegan, plant-based recipes intertwined with French cuisine. Spread across three floors in this restored regency townhouse, Gauthier provides formal fine dining with Alexis Gauthier’s incredible five and eight-course set tasting menus. This old-style, special occasion dining venue redefines the expectations of ‘fine dining’ as it refrains from using animal produce. Instead, it is recognised as ‘the French gastronomic vegan oasis in the heart of Soho’.
Who would want to miss an opportunity to experience the contemporary tastes of an exquisite restaurant like Gauthier? The restaurant presents an 8-course ‘Grand Diner’ tasting menu for you to indulge in the pinnacle of deliciousness. To top it off, all dishes are expertly paired with the restaurant’s finest bottles by its passionate, expert servers. The future of food on your doorstep.
Also Read: Places to Eat in Surrey
Bob Bob Ricard
Holding the impressive record for pouring the most champagne of any restaurant in Britain, Instagram famous restaurant Bob Bob Ricard is known for its launch of ‘Press for champagne’ buttons. Bubbly at the press of a button! The restaurant itself takes inspiration for its decor from the Orient Express with every table being a separated booth. The flamboyant interior pairs with its signature menu of British, French, and Russian cuisine, reinventing the classics with the finest ingredients.
The man behind the luxe eatery is entrepreneur Leonid Shutov, whose passions reflect rarity and off-the-scale sexiness. Specialities include a bone-in chicken Kyiv, an extensive caviar offering, and a delectable beef Wellington. The glamorous dining room offers an opening of vodka shots at -18, or delicious oysters to accompany your bubbles at the push of a button. Bob Bob Ricard is the perfect place for celebrating in luxurious style with a well-crafted menu to satisfy all.
Also Read: Top Restaurants in Mayfair London
Lio London
For evenings when you don’t want the night to end after dinner, saving one of the most extraordinary venues till last, Lio London combines fine dining with a cabaret show and a lively nightclub. This concept of mixing theatre, restaurant, and nightlife is a new idea brought to the capital by the Ibizan Pacha Group. Lio London offers a Mediterranean menu infused with European recipes to start your evening with a bang. You are then led into an immersive after-dinner show, including vibrating performances and high-volume energy to engage you as an audience.
International DJs travel from across the globe to create the incredible Ibizan spirit to accompany your specialist cocktails shaken by a world-class mixologist. This exclusive restaurant invites you to dance and sing your heart out after enjoying an immaculate dinner. Producing entertainment with an exclusive feast, Lio London excels in encompassing the spirit of Soho.
A trip to the Mediterranean, an afternoon in France, or Californian cuisine to brighten your day, Soho, the heart of London, offers culinary excellence across multiple restaurants transporting you to another part of the world with extraordinary flavours and fine dining experiences. The lively, bustling nature of this famous district invites you to taste an exquisite dish from one of the finest restaurants in London. Offering endless entertainment, artistic prowess, and cultural innovations to accompany your gourmet food, there really is no other place like Soho.
