Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Soho drop-in bar. No fuss, quick decision.
A compact Soho address on one of London's busiest streets, 64 Old Compton Street works best as part of a wider evening rather than a standalone destination. Come midweek and early for two — the location does the heavy lifting, with easy walk-in access and a neighbourhood full of good next stops. Book it as your drinks anchor, not your headline act.
If you've been to 64 Old Compton Street once, you already know what it offers: a compact, no-frills address in the heart of Soho's Old Compton Street, surrounded by the neighbourhood's familiar mix of street energy and late-night foot traffic. On a return visit, the question isn't whether the location still works — it does , but whether you've found the right moment to actually enjoy it. The answer is earlier in the week, earlier in the evening, and ideally with one other person rather than a group.
Old Compton Street itself is one of London's most reliably animated stretches, which makes the addresses along it a double-edged proposition. The energy outside is real, but it also means weekend evenings can tip into chaotic. For a date or a two-person catch-up, a Tuesday or Wednesday visit around 7pm gives you the buzz without the crowd. That window is when this kind of Soho spot tends to perform leading: the room has air, conversation is possible, and you're not competing with a hen party for a seat.
As a date venue, the address scores on location alone , Old Compton Street has a density of good alternatives nearby if you want to extend the evening, which gives any date here a natural second act. Pair it with a booking at a Soho restaurant beforehand and use this as your drinks stop. That sequencing works better than arriving cold and hoping the atmosphere delivers on its own.
For context on what else Soho and wider London offer at this level, our full London bars guide covers the category thoroughly. If you're building a full evening, our full London restaurants guide and our full London hotels guide are worth a look. Further afield, Bramble in Edinburgh and Bar Kismet in Halifax are strong comparisons if you're benchmarking UK bar culture more broadly.
Booking is direct , this is not a venue where you'll be fighting for a reservation weeks out. Walk-ins are realistic on quieter nights, though calling ahead removes any uncertainty. Dress is casual Soho: put-together but not formal.
Quick reference: Leading visited midweek, early evening, for two. Easy to book. Central Soho location with strong options nearby for extending the night.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64 Old Compton Street | — | ||
| Bar Termini | World's 50 Best | — | |
| Callooh Callay | World's 50 Best | — | |
| Happiness Forgets | World's 50 Best | — | |
| Nightjar | World's 50 Best | — | |
| Quo Vadis | World's 50 Best | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
No confirmed happy hour offers are documented for this address. Old Compton Street is a strip where several neighbouring bars run early-evening deals, so if discounted drinks are your priority, check Bar Termini or nearby venues before committing here. That said, 64 Old Compton Street is positioned as a drop-in spot, so prices at the bar should be in line with standard Soho pub rates.
64 Old Compton Street sits on one of London's most recognisable LGBTQ+ strips, and the crowd reflects that: mixed, local, and unpretentious. Expect a Soho regular crowd rather than a destination-seeking tourist crowd. Weekday evenings are relaxed; weekends pull in more foot traffic from the street.
It works for a low-pressure first drink, not a sit-down date night. The address is compact and informal, which suits a casual opener before moving somewhere with more room. For a date with more atmosphere, Happiness Forgets in Hoxton or Nightjar in Shoreditch offer a more deliberate setting.
Small groups of two to four are fine; larger parties will find the compact footprint a squeeze, especially on weekends. If you're coordinating six or more, look at a venue with bookable space. Callooh Callay in Shoreditch handles groups better and takes reservations.
No food offering is confirmed in the available venue data. Treat this as a drinks stop rather than a dining address. If you want food alongside drinks in the same neighbourhood, Quo Vadis on Dean Street is the credentialled option a short walk away.
No reservation infrastructure is documented here, which suggests walk-ins are the default. That works in your favour on quieter weeknights, but Old Compton Street gets busy on weekends, and a compact bar fills fast. Arrive early if you want space.
No outdoor seating is confirmed in the venue data. Old Compton Street itself is a pedestrianised strip where drinkers spill onto the pavement, so standing outside is common practice in warmer months, but designated seating is a different matter. Don't plan around it.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
