fun, late-night bar, which has to be entered
through a sex shop. “It's the perfect 'pre-
going out' restaurant, with big tables for
groups of friends,” she says.
Burger & Lobster (
burgerandlobster.
com
)
is another restaurant high up every scenester's list,
with a menu that serves exactly what the moniker suggests.
Elsewhere, you have tiny, but very popular, Italian tapas
bars like Spuntino (
spuntino.co.uk
),
while Brasserie Zédel
(
brasseriezedel.com
)
holds unexpected pop-up cabaret events.
“
And then, after dinner,” says Lawrence, “coffee bars like
Bar Italia [
baritaliasoho.co.uk
]
are incredible. I'm yet to find
somewhere in East London that rivals Soho's coffee.”
Soho is also in front when it comes to enjoying a stronger
tipple. “This area's now the greatest place in London to drink,”
says Matt Quick, general manager of Bitter Sweet, a members'
club and cocktail bar that opened in September. “In one short
walk, you can go from a gin bar to an ale bar to a martini and
cocktail bar; you'll see a rock bar next to a cool alternative bar.
It's the variety that makes Soho unique.”
And one of the biggest new libatory trends in Soho right
now revolves around experimental cocktail bars, many
of them hidden in Chinatown. “There's no signage," says
Robinson, "you have to knowwhere it is, knock on the door
and you must be on the guest list. It's a new concept that's
just come over from Paris.” Of course, these hidden bars rely
on insiders knowing where to go and half the fun is tracking
them down, before finding a way in. However, we'll give you a
website to start you off (
chinatownecc.com
).
Good luck.
It's a heady cocktail of people, places and unique
experiences; and it's one that makes the Soho of today just
as extraordinary as in former years. “Today, more than ever,
it's a very exciting place to be," concludes Ceviche's Martin
Morales, who has lived and worked in the area for the past
15
years. "In the street, chefs walk alongside jazz musicians,
tattoo artists and folks who work in ad agencies. You'll spot
an actor you saw in a film last night and the newsreader who
read you the news this morning, as well as a few sportsmen
you cheered for at the Olympics. Anyone who's anyone walks
around Soho – they all want to be a part of it.”
London
need to know
(
16
)
maximum number of licensed sex shops
that can operate in Soho at any one time
(
1959
)
year London's first disco, La Poubelle,
opened in Soho's Poland Street
(
2
)
films about legendary Soho porn baron
Paul Raymond that are in development
easyJet
flies to London from 104 destinations.
See our insider guide on page 134. Book
online at easyJet.com
easyJet Holidays
Two nights B&B in the four-star
Copthorne Tara hotel, including flights
from Belfast on 30 January costs £164 per
person via easyJet.com/holidays*
The Z Hotel Soho
is just a few minutes‘ walk from London's
West End theatres and Soho‘s clubs.
Book online at hotels.easyJet.com
07:
Goths
outside the Alice
in Wonderland
club night in
Dean Street,
Soho, 1984
07
*
FOR T&CS SEE P175. PHOTO PYMCA
0 7 5
L O N D O N
