Soho has been London's go-to district for a night out for centuries, and its drinking scene is still one of the strongest in the city. A new editor-curated roundup from Condé Nast Traveller UK picks out 18 bars worth your evening, ranging from glitzy rooftop cocktail spots to scruffy-chic pubs where the pavement outside is part of the experience.
The area's character is part of the appeal. Once an aristocratic quarter, by the 1800s Soho had become the West End's hub for theatres, pubs and rather seedier trades. That edge has mostly been polished away, but the neighbourhood still feels busier and more bohemian than most of central London. Wander Greek Street or Old Compton Street and you'll pass wine bars, indie cocktail dens and pub doorways with smokers spilling out for post-work pints.
The editors' four headline picks cover different moods. Upstairs at Ronnie's is the call for live music — it sits above the legendary Ronnie Scott's jazz club, so you can pair a set with a drink. Three Sheets brings serious cocktail credentials, with recognition from the World's Best Bars list. Trisha's is the choice for old-school Soho revelry, the kind of unpretentious spot that preserves something of the area's rowdier past. And Flute is where to head if a fancy rooftop cocktail with a view is the point of the evening.
A practical tip from the piece: many of the best bars here are attached to Soho's strong restaurant scene, which makes them ideal for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap afterwards. Others stand alone as indie spots with award-winning drinks lists. The selection criteria favour both high-end and affordable options, with warm service, standout drinks and sustainability credentials among the deciding factors, and the list is updated regularly.
For travellers, this is a low-effort, high-reward plan: Soho is compact and walkable, tucked between Oxford Street, Piccadilly and Regent Street in the heart of the West End. You can string together three or four stops in a single evening without needing a taxi, and theatre-goers can slot drinks around a show. Whether you want a jazz-accompanied martini, a rooftop Spritz or a messy pub night on Old Compton Street, there's a bar for it within a few minutes' walk.
