Bar Italia, Frith Street: what to order and when to go

There are cafés that serve coffee and there is Bar Italia, a red-and-white formica fixture at 22 Frith Street that has been feeding Soho's mornings and its small hours since 1949. The Infatuation calls it a classic Soho café-cum-institution, good for people-watching, an espresso and hanging about for almost 24 hours a day. That is a fair summary of the offer.

A little history

Lou (Luigi) and Caterina Polledri started the place in the winter of 1949. According to Londonist, the family had emigrated from northern Italy in the 1920s and had already been serving espresso on Long Acre in Covent Garden. Hardens says it is still owned by the Polledri family, a rare survivor of Soho's once-thriving Italian community. Wikipedia names the owners as Veronica and Anthony Polledri.

The building has form before the coffee, too. Upstairs at 22 Frith Street, John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of television on 26 January 1926, and a blue plaque marks it. The family nods to that with a large flatscreen TV in the café, as Vittles Magazine notes.

Pop history arrived later. Pulp's song “Bar Italia” is the last track on Different Class, released on 30 October 1995, and places the café “round the corner in Soho”. Londonist, in its Anthony Bourdain bar crawl, reports that he was a regular and called it “the best cup of coffee or damn close to it”. In April 2026 Time Out reported that it had been named best caffè in Britain at the 2026 Italian Awards.

What to see

Look up and around. Stuff About London describes waistcoated Italian waiters, a gleaming Gaggia machine, a polished brass till, a picture of Rocky Marciano behind the bar and Italian flags, with football trophies and the last of the Christmas panettone hanging from the ceiling. There are tables on the pavement as well as seats indoors.

What to order

• Espresso, first and always. Time Out says the place is better known for its excellent coffee. Take it standing or on one of the outside stools.
• An espresso with a Fernet Branca, the Bourdain-crawl order suggested by Londonist, for the last stop of a long evening.
• Spaghetti aglio. The Infatuation flags it and warns that the garlic count is high. Do not plan a kiss afterwards.
• The marinara. The Infatuation picks the doughy, anchovy-topped tomato dish.
• An Aperol spritz, espresso martini, wine or beer. Time Out lists aperitivo and drinks among the offer, and its tip is a solo beer and a seat with a view of the street.

Cakes and sandwiches are also on offer.

When to go

Most sources agree on 7am to around 4am, seven days a week, though one listing runs to 5am and The Infatuation says around 3am, so check before a very late visit. Soho is about timing, and this café has three good hours:

• 8am: The Infatuation describes men on the outside stools. A quiet, proper espresso.
• 9am: the work crowd arrives for coffee. Expect a queue and brisk service.
• After midnight: Time Out says it is best for late-night people-watching, and the Pulp song and Far Out Magazine cast it as the post-club comedown café. Go then for the show.

Reviewers on Tripadvisor describe it as very busy, with service that can be hurried. Order with confidence.

Prices and booking

Time Out puts it in its cheapest price band, and The Infatuation says the prices are low. We have no current menu to quote, so do not hold us to a figure for a coffee. Pasta and a drink will naturally cost more than an espresso at the counter. It is a walk-in café-bar: turn up, no need to book.

A second Bar Italia, if you are nearby

Londonist reported in January 2025 that a small concession called Bar Italia 2 sits at Outernet in the NOW Building, on the Denmark Street and Charing Cross Road side of Soho. It has a limited range of coffee, cakes and sandwiches. It is no substitute for Frith Street, so check it is still trading before you make the walk.

For the full picture of the café and its place in Soho, read The Infatuation's review, Londonist on the family history and Time Out's guide to Soho bars.