Quirky Soho Bars

With a scandalous and salacious history, this lively pocket of London has always been a hotspot for the weird and wonderful. From high-concept venues and casual drinking dens to tiny speakeasies and themed cocktail spots, these cool and quirky Soho bars have something to suit every taste. We've rounded up our top picks for watering holes in the neighbourhood, so you know exactly where to head for a truly unique night out in W1.

Last edited by Kiera Chapman

Last updated on 3rd February 2025




Dovetail Bar - Leicester Square

Found within the iconic Empire Casino on Leicester Square, Dovetail Bar is a sleek space that's filled with dark furnishings, tiled walls and cosy leather booths. Plus, there's an outdoor rooftop terrace that provides amazing views of the bustling streets below.

You can enjoy a range of delicious cocktails here, and their talented bartenders even offer masterclasses, so you can try your hand at making them yourself. What's more, you'll find DJ sets here until 2 or 3am.

The Little Violet Door

Double Down and 2 other offers

The Little Violet Door draws inspiration from a make-believe apartment to create a fun-filled cocktail bar in the heart of Carnaby. With cute blush walls, cushy velvet couches, and a groovy vinyl bar, this unique spot also features whimsical artwork, bookshelves, and impromptu kitchen dance parties. Spanning two levels, downstairs boasts a playroom with various board games while DJs spin tunes from Wednesday to Saturday. Feelin' hungry? The menu offers tasty prawn tacos, popcorn, and sweetcorn fritters, along with signature cocktails like the tequila-based Sex and the City.

The Room Where It Happens

Happy Hour! and 1 other offer

The Room Where It Happens is where the magic of musical theatre and the joy of dining collide. Located in Soho, this immersive venue features an unforgettable dining experience with live performances from talented singing waiters.

From 5pm to 9pm, enjoy delicious food and drinks while the stage comes alive with show tunes. As the night progresses, the piano singalong begins at 9pm, inviting guests to join in the fun and belt out their favourite songs. Perfect for any celebration or night out with friends, this spot promises entertainment, food, and plenty of tunes.

Freedom

Freedom can be found in all its glory on Wardour Street, offering fantastic vibes in a swish setting, full of velvet booths, sparkly lights and golden embellished mirrors on the wall. It's the ultimate destination if you're looking for a gay bar that hosts cabaret and drag shows. Check out either the downstairs area for one of its dazzling events or head up to grab a tasty cocktail in the pretty lounge. On the menu, you'll find signature cocktails like a Bette Davis, made with lychee, ginger and lemon, or the rum-based Marlon Brando. 

Simmons Oxford Street

Happy Hour (3pm- 8pm) and 3 other offers

Simmons on Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road always delivers a cheap and cheerful time alongside cool and quirky decor. At the former location, it's party central with circus-themed decor in the form of waltzer booths and sparkling lights. Neon-lit and packed with novelties, it hosts a lineup of DJs throughout the week as well as tempting happy hours where you can bag 2-4-1 on all cocktails on Saturdays and Sundays (even the cocktail teapots). Check out the Grapefruit Sour, Tina Colada, Tiki Mojito and more.  

Thirst Soho

Thirst Soho is a buzzing bar that's been running for over twenty years and delivering on exceptional cocktails consistently. It's split over two floors, with an intimate, low-lit space on the ground floor and a downstairs open a little later, playing host to DJs and plenty of shots. Open all throughout the week until 3am (apart from Sundays), it's the ideal destination for a late-night drink in a cool space. During 'stupid hour', cosmopolitans and Tom Collins' are all £7 each and £9 during happy hour, plus you can sip on signature tipples like The Business, made with vodka, elderflower and Sauvignon Blanc for £9.50 during that time too. 

Albert's Schloss Soho

With tables fronting fire bits, stacked up logs and rings of twinkling lights, you could mistake Albert's Schloss Soho for an Alpine lodge, except one that hosts live entertainment every night of the week and whips up moreish Bavarian grub.

Dazzling and vibrant, this bar always offers a good time, as well as an exceptional array of biers imported from Germany, Belgium and more. Tuck into the likes of gooey fondues with your friends and sip on signature cocktails,  such as coconut and raspberry martinis.

Greek Street Live

Happy Hour! and 1 other offer

Greek Street Live encapsulates the best of Soho nightlife: a stylish venue with a buzzing ambience. Tucked away on one of London's most iconic streets, it's a go-to spot for those who love craft cocktails, great music, and a cool, laid-back atmosphere.

Whether you're stopping by for drinks like the vodka-based Loverboy or planning a night out with friends, this venue promises a quintessential Soho experience.

Salsa! Soho

🌯 Fajita Fridays 🌯 and 3 other offers

Get transported to South America as soon as you step foot through the doors of Salsa! Soho - the nightclub and bar brings heaps of colour, culture and delicious cocktails to the heart of London. You can expect to strap on your dancing shoes and get down to Latin music on a regular basis here, as well as revel in happy hours and six different types of mojitos (think lychee-flavoured or watermelon and prosecco). If you fancy something a little more wow-factor, how about getting your lips around the Solero, which features Smirnoff Mango and passion fruit purée.

The Little Scarlet Door

Picante Power and 1 other offer

Taking cues from the iconic loft apartments of New York, The Little Scarlet Door is a gorgeous addition to this bar group's repertoire of seriously cool secret bars. Find the entrance on Greek Street (red marks the spot) and you'll be treated to DJs, an Andy Warhol-inspired vault, cocktails and more. If you're looking for a more casual, flat share-inspired haunt, then The Little Violet Door, backing onto Carnaby, is the place for you. 

Epoc

Looking for a unique night out in Soho? Karaoke Epoc offers the perfect blend of fun and relaxation in this Japanese-style karaoke bar. Located behind Sushi Kyu, it's just minutes from Piccadilly Circus and Chinatown, making it a convenient spot for both locals and visitors.

With JOYSOUND and Multi-Language karaoke machines, you'll have access to an extensive song library in English, K-pop, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean. Enjoy private rooms for groups of up to 12 people, ideal for a memorable birthday, a night with friends, or even a special celebration. Sip on cocktails or Japanese drinks, and enjoy hot bar food or tasty cold snacks.

Pitch Soho

You'll find Pitch Soho on Meard Street, boasting stylish, modern interiors and a whole lot of golf-themed fun for all abilities. There are multiple huge, interactive screens to play quirky minigames on, including Bullseye, Party Putt and more.

Whether you're coming along for a few rounds of golf or partying to resident DJs, there are plenty of great drinks available from the bar. Plus, they're cooking up Asian-inspired treats like chicken karaage, spicy vegetable dumplings and grilled beef gyozas.

Soho Residence

Soho Residence takes over three floors of a beautiful building in the West End, the first of which is a dedicated gin parlor with elegant interiors and tall windows, perfect for peering out over the streets below. Head upstairs to frequent the botanical cocktail bar where you'll find hanging plants from the ceiling and drinks such as pornstar martinis and cosmopolitans. Signature tipples include the fruity Raspberry Fool and the Patron Silver-based Down In Mexico.

Comptons, Soho

A lively pub and gay bar all in one, Compton's in Soho is a popular spot that's been filled with drinkers since 1986. You can count on them to always have a buzzing atmosphere, with a wide variety of wines, beers and spirits up for grabs.

That's nit all though, as they also offer a menu of delicious British fare. And be sure to visit on a Thursday, when they host their weekly pub quiz.

The Bloomsbury Club Bar

The Bloomsbury Club Bar is a sleek cocktail bar found inside the Bloomsbury Hotel, serving up 12 creative concoctions inspired by Ancient Egypt. the cosy space features comfy sofas, pretty fairy lights and lots of greenery, among exposed brick walls and tiled floors.

They also host free jazz nights here every Wednesday and Saturday, showcasing musicians from all over the city. Plus, they serve tasty bar snacks like marinated olives, truffle fries and beef sliders if you get hungry.

100 Wardour St

Birthday Brunch - On the house! and 1 other offer

Found on the site of the former Marquee Club – an iconic venue where artists like David Bowie and the Rolling Stones strutted their stuff – 100 Wardour St pays homage to that history with a quirky cocktail list, live music dinners from Tuesday to Saturday, and Saturday jukebox brunches where the roaming band take requests for what to play next. Better yet, there's even cabaret too.

SOMA Soho

Seductive and sexy, SOMA is a minimalistic take on a speakeasy from the same team behind the modern Indian restaurant Kricket. It serves creative drinks inspired by the flavours of India, made to be enjoyed in its low-lit basement bar that features a 9-metre long hand-finished, stainless steel surface and intimate booths. Ideal for date night, or simply a meet-up with a mate (with the intent of showing off your expert bar knowledge, of course), it serves the likes of the Leaf, made with Opihr Gin and Makrut Lime Leaf, or the Chaat, featuring Tapatio Blanco and Kumquat.