Bar Termini
Soho, London
Bar in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Italian Bar Format, All-Day
Why go
Bar Termini is a strong Soho pick when the plan is focused Italian-style cocktails in a compact room, not a loose group night. Go for aperitivo energy, coffee-bar precision, a short, high-intent stop; choose somewhere roomier if the evening needs space, flexibility, or a long sit-down format.
About Bar Termini
Bar Termini is a London bar with a smart casual dress code and a confirmed awards record. It can be planned into a London day or evening, its opening hours make it easy to fit into different parts of the week. In a city where a night out can quickly become overplanned around details that may change, having a clear baseline is useful.
Use the confirmed details as the decision filter. It opens from 07:30 Monday to Friday, from 09:00 on Saturday, from 10:30 on Sunday; closing is 23:30 Monday to Thursday, 00:00 on Friday and Saturday, 22:30 on Sunday. Those hours make it possible to think about Bar Termini across different parts of the week, from weekday plans to later Friday or Saturday evenings, while Sunday has a shorter closing window. If the plan depends on a specific drink list, food offer, table setup, or group arrangement, check the venue's official channels before committing.
Go for the confirmed record, not assumptions about the format
The clearest reason to choose it is its recognition: Bar Termini placed #9 on World's 50 Best Bars in 2017 and #130 on Top 500 Bars Best Bars in 2025. Those accolades put it in a serious bar conversation. Awards can explain why a venue is worth noticing, but they should not be stretched into claims about what will be available on a particular visit.
That is why expectations matter. Treat Bar Termini as a high-intent London bar stop, avoid building the night around details that may change. The strongest plan is to use the recognition as the reason to include it, then leave room for the practical realities of the evening once current information has been checked. For a broader crawl, use Our full London bars guide, or build the evening around food first with Our full London restaurants guide.
Plan it as a London stop, then keep the rest of the night flexible
For planning, the most useful information is city, hours, smart casual dress code, awards. That is enough to position Bar Termini within a London day without pretending to know more than is needed. The dress code gives a basic steer on how to arrive, the opening times give the practical boundaries for when to include it. Keep the rest of the itinerary flexible unless you have confirmed current details directly with the venue. If timing changes, other London dining and drinking options can fill the gap more reliably than relying on assumptions.
For wider trip planning, pair this with Our full London hotels guide, Our full London experiences guide, Our full London wineries guide. Those broader guides can help frame the surrounding stay, whether the bar is one part of an evening or a smaller stop within a longer London plan. If the night turns into a bar crawl or a longer drinks itinerary, they also cover other bars and restaurants in London and beyond, making it easier to adapt without forcing the entire plan to depend on one detail.
Planning details
- Hours
- Mo-Th 07:30-23:30; Fr 07:30-00:00; Sa 09:00-00:00; Su 10:30-22:30
- Location
- 7 Old Compton St, London W1D 5JE
- Website
- bar-termini.com
- Phone
- +44 7860 945018
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Bar Termini reads like a compact slice of Italy in the middle of Soho. The write-up frames it as a narrow neighbourhood bar — the Italian bar di quartiere — that never shifts its register, moving smoothly from morning espresso to early-evening aperitivo. That continuity sits against the bustle of Old Compton Street, a thoroughfare the copy describes as running “at a low-grade hum,” so the bar feels warmly domestic yet very much part of Soho’s lively streetscape. Its international recognition is noted without implying reinvention, reinforcing a steady, well-honed character.
Best For
Bar Termini is ideal for early risers grabbing espresso at the counter, for people stopping by after work for an aperitivo, and for cocktail-minded visitors who prize a consistently crafted program. The bar’s unusually long opening hours — from 07:30 on weekdays through midnight on weekend nights — make it a reliably accessible option across much of the day. Its counter-focused, compact setting also suits solo visitors or small pairs who prefer the intimacy of an Italian neighbourhood bar rather than a large, noisy cocktail room.
Ordering Tips
Start your visit with an espresso-led drink in the morning if you’re there early; the bar explicitly serves coffee from 07:30 on weekdays. In the early evening expect an Aperol-hour crowd, so ordering a classic aperitivo is a safe bet. Given the bar’s recognition on international lists, cocktails are presented with care, so let the bartender point you toward their aperitivo or short-cocktail offerings. If you want the classic experience, plan to take a spot at the counter where the neighbourhood format is most evident.
Venue details
Ambiance
Low lights, cozy and intimate with a European Italian vibe, lively atmosphere, and nice background music.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Music
- Classic Italian
Signature Pours
- Negroni
- Espresso Martini
- Marsala Martini
Planning details
Hours
Mo-Th 07:30-23:30; Fr 07:30-00:00; Sa 09:00-00:00; Su 10:30-22:30
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- LAB, Notable alternative
- Swift, Notable alternative
- The Bar, Notable alternative
- The Black Book, Notable alternative
- Lina Stores Soho - Italian Restaurant, Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares in Soho and central London
Choose Bar Termini over LAB if the goal is a compact Italian-cocktail stop with more aperitivo focus than party energy. LAB is the easier call for a livelier, more general cocktail night; Bar Termini is better for two people who want a tighter, more purposeful drink before or after dinner.
Swift is the cleaner cross-shop if the priority is a polished cocktail bar with a broader evening feel. Bar Termini is stronger for bitter-led Italian drinking and a quick Soho anchor, while Swift makes more sense for guests who want the night to stretch longer. The Black Book is the better alternative for wine-led plans, especially if the group cares more about bottles than cocktails.
If the decision is food-first, Lina Stores Soho - Italian Restaurant is the safer move; use Bar Termini for drinks around that plan rather than as the meal itself. The Bar is the more neutral choice when the group has mixed tastes and needs a less specific brief. Bar Termini is the sharper pick when everyone wants the Italian bar lane and is comfortable with a small-room experience.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Bar Termini guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Bar Termini
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Termini | London | Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2026 · #8Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1302018 World's 50 Best Bars · #62017 World's 50 Best Bars · #92016 World's 50 Best Bars · #30 |
| LAB | London | No published awards |
| Swift | London | Top 50 Cocktail Bars UK 2026 · #15Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1332026 Pinnacle Guide2023 World's 50 Best Bars · #762020 World's 50 Best Bars · #332019 World's 50 Best Bars · #412018 World's 50 Best Bars · #46 |
| The Bar | London | No published awards |
| The Black Book | London | No published awards |
| Lina Stores Soho - Italian Restaurant | London | No published awards |
How Bar Termini London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bar Termini good for a date?
It can be considered for a London date if the hours and smart casual dress code fit your plans. The awards record, including World's 50 Best Bars #9 in 2017 and Top 500 Bars Best Bars #130 in 2025, gives it credibility.
What's the crowd like at Bar Termini?
The crowd profile is not specified. What is confirmed is the schedule: 07:30 openings Monday to Friday, 09:00 on Saturday, 10:30 on Sunday, closing as late as 00:00 on Friday and Saturday.
