Heading to the big smoke tomorrow for a couple of days. Looking for somewhere to eat tomorrow (early eve) – somewhere round Tottenham Court Rd/Soho ideally as we’re off to the Dominion. Could do with being somewhere we don’t really need to book, and can be in and out reasonably quickly. McDonalds is not an option 🙂

We’re staying in Soho, where’s good for a post show drink on a Thursday evening? I guess there’s loads, but a bit of insider knowledge will stop us wandering around all “rabbit in the headlights” like.

Ta very much 🙂

Anybody…. 🙂

Soho’s the best part of London. Can I recommend the Toucan just off Soho Square, right round the corner from the Dominion? It’s very small but grubby chic. I really like it anyway.

For food…just take a mosey around Dean St/Greek St/Frith St. The Gay Hussar on Greek Street is quite cool and near where you need to be, and populated by Labour/socialist types. But loads of nice places around there, just mosey around, can’t really go wrong. Some particularly nice places on Lexington Street (Andrew Edmunds) but that’s the other end of Soho.

Personally Maoz on Old Compton St is always fun, it’s just a cheap falafel fast food stand but in an interesting part of town, always something happening (be advised, Old Compton St is the centre of London’s gay community, but is a fun place).

Make sure you experience a late night coffee at Bar Italia – a Soho institution. 🙂

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be advised, Old Compton St is the centre of London’s gay community, but is a fun place

I don’t get that. What, that being the centre of the Gay community in London would somehow normally prevent it from being fun? 😕

‘Be warned, there’s loads of Gays wandering about but it’s still fun.’

🙄

Any-way….

You know what? Take pot-luck. Discover something for yourself. Take a risk; you never know what you might find! 🙂

polpo in beak st. or andrew edmunds.
you are spoilt for choice round there.
if you like real gelato then skip dessert and go to Gelupo on archer st.

The coach and horses on Greek street/Romilly st,just off Cambridge Circus always has a few interesting brews and is a bit of a curio.
I’ll be there tomorrow before M83 gig.hurrah.
+1 for coffee in bar italia.

Barafina on frith st does some pretty amazing tapas – not economy though.
Kettners is over the road from the Coach and Horses,traditional tucker & isn’t bad. Bodeans on Poland st does good burgers/ribs meatloaf (if you are a vegi – perhaps not for you.)

Have fun.

+1 gelupo for dessert.

koya on frith st is a current favourite, if you like japanese culinary concoctions:

http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/venue/2%3A27102/koya

Barafina on frith st does some pretty amazing tapas – not economy though.

+ 1 for Barrafina. Really nice tapas, served at the bar.

I wonder if it’s fun BECAUSE it’s the gay area – i.e. the libertarian vibe filters into everything else – interesting that the most fun parts of other cities I know are also gay areas or neighbour gay areas (East Village/Chelsea; Chueca in Madrid…other examples…)

It is funny though how when I talk about Old Compton Street in conversation everyone still raises an eyebrow in 2011, I spose my comment was pre-empting that

And I live in Hampstead just off the Heath…

Cheers all

Some good stuff to go at there 🙂

If you see a couple of lost souls wandering around, just point us north and give us a gentle shove!

Far too many places to choose from!

Belgo’s is always a favorite of mine to take out of towners too.

http://www.belgo-restaurants.co.uk/

Amazing section of beers.

For the best pint in that part of town(ish), head to CG and try http://www.harpcoventgarden.com/

Cheers CF – this:

CAMRA London Cider Pub of the Year 2011

Will make Mrs W2K very happy!

Belgo’s is always a favorite of mine to take out of towners too

Belgo’s? that’s belgian for Garfunkles/angus steak house!
was sort of new and exciting 20 years ago when they opened.
i can appreciate a northerner getting excited about it but there are so many great restaurants miles better in the area.

and having worked in Belgium for a while belgo’s is not somewhere a belgian would eat. (better off going to dovetails in Clerkenwell)

There’s a few good burrito places like Benito’s Hat on Goodge St. Good if you’re pushed for time. On the same theme, Wahaca do great mexican stuff, no booking but their Wardour St one gets less busy that Cov Garden.

Yalla Yalla is good but gets very busy (as it’s pretty small), may be OK earlier in the evening though.

Byron do lovely (if pricey) burgers, and are also on Wardour St.

But there are absolutely loads of great places to eat and drink around there, just try somewhere you like the look of.

Head to Wardour Street and go to Won Kei

Good chinese restaurant, very fast service, surprising cheap and surley waiters! What more could you ask for?

If cider is yout thing give the Green Man a go, just north of Oxford Street from Soho.

If you fancy a burger try The Hawksmoor (Covent Garden) London’s self proclaimed ‘Best Burger’ not cheap mind but worth it IMO.

For curry Red Fort in Soho is nice.

I’d have a mooch up Charlotte Street personally. Spoilt for choice there with a massive amount of eating places – wide variety of styles and budgets. One or two cracking pubs too. Just west of Tottenham Court Road.

Head to Wardour Street and go to Won Kei

Good chinese restaurant, very fast service, surprising cheap and surley waiters! What more could you ask for?

you could ask them not to throw the uneaten bits of pork back into the pot of pork about to be served to customers.

not going back.

When we go out in Soho we almost always meet up at Cafe Boheme, right at the end of Old Compton St. Lovely old place, great for steak and chips or just a drink. Right in the middle of the action, you cant book a table but you should be fine. Nice crowd, nice staff. Really, go there.

On tottenham court road you’ve got wasabi and japanese canteen (more take away tbh). But if you head down charlotte street (parallel to tottenham crt rd but down the oxford st end) you’ll find loads of restaurants from italian to japanese.
have a look
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/streets/charlotte-street.htm

EDIT: just realised its been mentioned already