The Guide by Vana

Romantic places in Soho

8 romantic places in Soho, each one on the Guide on merit.

1. 

   Beasy

   Cocktail bar

   A speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden in a former Soho barbershop, low-lit and late.

   Head down to the basement late, when the living-room space turns into a soundsystem.

2. 

   Bubala

   Vegetarian Middle Eastern · Middle Eastern

   Vegetable-led Middle Eastern mezze so good the meat is never missed. Critically adored and a reliably brilliant date.

   Order the oyster mushroom skewers and the confit potato, and let them keep the small plates coming.

3. 

   Donia

   Filipino · Asian

   A small modern-Filipino room recreating sweet-and-sour flavours with British produce. The lamb pie and ube choux belt.

   Book ahead as the dining room is small, and anchor an order around the lechon and the ube choux.

4. 

   Kumori

   Japanese handroll counter · Asian

   Thirty seats, one counter, and each temaki placed straight into your palm to be eaten where you sit. The whole point is the four seconds between the chef's hand and your mouth. Nori that still cracks.

   Eat each roll the second it hits your hand. The nori is made bespoke for crispness and it starts softening almost immediately.

5. 

   Marjorie's

   French · European

   A Parisian bar a vins off Carnaby, with sauce-led cooking to match the all-French list.

   Come for a glass and charcuterie and let it slide into a proper dinner, which is the point.

6. 

   Miokuru

   Japanese · Asian

   Twenty seats, British seafood, Japanese technique, and handrolls made in front of you. The quietest room in Soho for the money.

7. 

   Sucre

   Argentine · Caribbean & Latin

   Open-fire Argentine cooking in a dramatic former concert hall, all wood smoke and low light. A grown-up, date-perfect room for a night out.

   Order from the grill and the provoleta to start.

8. 

   Upstairs at Ronnie's

   Jazz & cabaret room

   Ronnie's without the queue downstairs, close enough to the players to lose track of the hour.

   The early set is the easier ticket; book it and stay on for the late show if the room is still humming.