If youre looking to grab a drink in central London, youve come to the right place. Soho boasts some of the best boozers in the city, but not all pubs here are alike. Avoid the tourist traps and instead use our insiders guide to getting the perfect pint – as well as some excellent people watching.

The best pubs in Soho at a glance:

• 🍷 Best for a decent glass of wine: French House, Dean Street
• 🌈 Best for queer cabaret: Admiral Duncan, Old Compton Street
• 💀 Best for rock history: The Ship, Wardour Street
• 🍲 Best for gastropub greatness: The Shaston Arms, Ganton Street
• 🍻 Best for pavement pints: Coach & Horses, Greek Street

If you think weve missed somewhere, that might be because weve been pretty empahtic when it comes to respecting and honouring the traditional boundaries of Soho. Here youll find boozers within the area marked by Oxford Street to the north, Charing Cross Road to the east, Regent Street to the west and Shaftesbury Avenue to the south. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less. Check out our ranking of the best pubs in Fitzrovia for some smashers just across the way. See you at the bar. 

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is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our .