22 best bars in Soho for a tipple

Below Stone Nest

Drink to order: Whiskey Sour

My favourite kind of bar is the kind you have to be in the know about – tucked away, unassuming, almost secret. The kind you don’t just stumble across on a casual night out. Below Stone Nest is exactly that, despite being perched right at the chaotic crossroads of Shaftesbury Avenue. Slip through the discreet entrance and descend into the basement of a Grade II-listed former Welsh chapel, and you’ll find Below Stone Nest – hauntingly beautiful: an atmospheric mix of decaying grandeur and contemporary cool. The building is mid-restoration, but that’s precisely what gives it its soul. Cracked walls and exposed brick are left untouched, softened by pools of warm uplighting that flicker across the room like candlelight. It’s a surprisingly cavernous space, with soaring ceilings, striking art pieces, and an eclectic crowd huddled around the few tables, which are snapped up as quickly as they’re vacated. The highball cocktail menu is short, sharp, and seriously good value. There’s even a small stage tucked into the corner, where live musicians spin moody jazz and low-key sets on weekends. Chelsea Hughes

Address: 136 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5EZ
Website: stonenest.org

Trisha’s

Drink to order: gin and tonic

A far cry from some of the capital’s more sophisticated, modest establishments, Trisha’s wears its gaudy aesthetic with pride. Enter through an unassuming front door and descend a dishevelled, sticky staircase to arrive at what could easily just be someone’s garishly decorated living room. Work your way towards the bar, passing dangling disco balls, multi-coloured Christmas lights, giant boomboxes and walls plastered with posters and black-and-white frames of patrons of the past. Membership here costs £20 per year, or pay for entry on the night (fees depend on the day but typically range from £10-£20). Loved by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Anthony Bourdain, Led Zeppelin and, more recently, Charli XCX, you’re guaranteed a memorable night out at this deeply alluring underground bar. Olivia Morelli

Address: 57 Greek St, London W1D 3DX
Opening hours: 5.30pm – 1.30am
Instagram: @trishas.soho