Where to eat on Old Compton Street, Soho
Two Italian rooms and a French brasserie on Soho's main drag, with the dish to order and the hour to go.
By Only Soho Editorial
Old Compton Street is the main drag of Soho, a street that became a centre for modern and trad jazz after the Second World War and, since the 1970s, a focal point for London's LGBT community. It also has the Prince Edward Theatre, which has stood here since 1930 and seats 1,727, so a good many kitchens work to the curtain. Here are three doors we would point you towards, short but sure.
27 Old Compton Street: pasta by the bowl, best before or after the show
The concept is tavola calda, the hot table: quick, good casual Italian eating. It opened in March 2025 and is the third Soho restaurant for owner and chef Nima Safaei, who also runs 40 Dean Street and 64 Old Compton Street, according to The Caterer.
Hot Dinners describes it as a drop-in spot for pasta and wine around theatre time, with 12 fresh pasta dishes (13 with the lasagne) plus small bites. Pasta runs from £10 to £15 and wine by the glass starts at £7, per Country & Town House and The Nudge.
Know the rules before you go: it is walk-ins only, and the venue's own OpenTable listing gives tables of two up to 60 minutes and tables of three or more up to 75. Treat it as a quick, happy sit-down, not a long lingering dinner. Late is its trump card: it stays open until 1am from Thursday to Saturday, so a late bowl is possible.
Order: the rigatoni amatriciana or the paccheri puttanesca with tiger prawns, both named at launch. The mafalda with beef ragu has also been reviewed by The Infatuation, which rated the place 7.4 and was lukewarm on texture, so go in for the value and the speed.
64 Old Compton Street: the family-run Italian for a proper sit-down
The sister to 40 Dean Street (a Soho institution of almost 15 years when it was announced) opened in summer 2023. Safaei calls it "proudly gay-owned", on a street that sits at the heart of London's gay village. Hot Dinners reports that pastas and stone-baked pizzas are made fresh in-house every day, and that every bottle of wine is under £50.
The menu runs Cold, Fritti and Baked; Pizzas and Salads; and Pasta, Risotto and Oven. The restaurant's own site suggests booking ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings. It is the better pick of the two if you want to book, linger and not be timed.
Order: the margherita with buffalo mozzarella at £14.90 on the restaurant's own site, then the pistachio tiramisu or an affogato to finish. The pasta and the squid also get praise in its reviews.
Verge Magazine has reported a pre-theatre menu of two courses and a drink for under £30, so ask when you book whether it is still on.
Café Boheme, 13 Old Compton Street: French, late, and best when it is quiet
A French brasserie and bar that has been serving classics for over three decades, on the corner where Old Compton Street meets Greek Street. This Is Soho describes a late-night room with a mosaic floor and a brass centre bar, with live jazz. The all-day menu takes in confit duck, steak frites and escargots, and the kitchen is said to run late for after-theatre diners.
Be realistic: recent reviews are mixed, with slow service when it is busy and some grumbles about drinks and value. So pick your hour. A quieter slot, or a late supper once the theatres have emptied, suits it best.
Order: the steak frites, or the confit duck if you want the full French brasserie act. Take a seat near the bar.
Which one, and when
- Quick bowl before curtain up: 27 Old Compton Street, walk in early.
- Booked table, no clock: 64 Old Compton Street, margherita and tiramisu.
- Late, French, a little theatrical: Café Boheme, steak frites.
