In the heart of London’s Soho, Cafe Boheme has been serving French classics for over three decades. Offering an all-day menu centred around French favourites, including confit duck, steak frites and escargots – all dishes are based on traditional recipes. The brasserie is inspired by the 19th-century poets who used to meet on Old Compton Street and features art-lined walls, a brass bar and mosaic tiled floor. Head outside and dine al fresco for views across Soho or join us at the bar everyday from 3pm for live jazz.
Having spent years supplying London’s top restaurants through their separate wine businesses, Joe Haynes and Benedict Butterworth have joined forces with Tom Hurst, who has worked at Brawn, The Marksman, Levan, and most recently as Head Chef at Lasdun, to launch the trio’s first restaurant together.Located in a Grade II listed building on Cloth Fair, Cloth Restaurant is part of a historic row of buildings in the City of London that survived the Great Fire of 1666. Down this atmospheric alley opposite St Bartholomew church, Cloth is taking over a double fronted corner site that’s beneath the former home of poet John Betjeman and next door to the two oldest residential buildings in London. Inside, low ceilings, wood floorboards with antique wall lights and artwork create a cosy, intimate atmosphere, while marble tables, long dark wood banquettes, antique crockery and cutlery will create the feel of a classic bistro.
Tucked away down Dean Street amongst the hustle and the hipsters is the Pierre Victoire, one of Soho’s favourite dining institutions. This little haunt has been serving up rustic French cuisine to loyal regulars for over a decade, and this is still one of London’s favourite places for date nights and cosy pre-theatre meals. Part Provencal, part Art Nouveau, the dining room at Pierre Victoire is decorated with whitewashed walls, chalkboard menus, a vintage piano, eclectic artworks, untreated wooden floorboards and wine bottles stuffed with drippy candles, and the wholesome home-style cuisine and moreish wine is all delightfully affordable. With a steak-centric menu, Pierre Victoire also serves tasty omelettes, creative salads and plenty of seafood.
L'Escargot is London's oldest and most celebrated French restaurant serving classic French provincial dishes. It also has a great cocktail bar with reasonably priced cocktails and all day dining. Upstairs in the cocktail Bar there are live music acts every weekend.The restaurant has welcomed luminaries such as Coco Chanel, Charles de Gaulle, Maurice Chevalier, Laurence Olivier, Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon. Princess Diana was a regular and to this day the restaurant is the home of many celebrated personalities.It is located close to all the major West-End theatres, which makes it an excellent pre and post theatre dining spot.