Old Compton Brasserie
Soho, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Old Compton Brasserie works when Soho location and flexible timing matter more than a destination dining brief. It is better for mixed groups, theatre-area plans, easy central meetups than for diners seeking a tightly defined cuisine or award-led restaurant experience.
About Old Compton Brasserie
Old Compton Brasserie is a practical London option when timing and a direct plan matter more than a destination-restaurant brief. It includes broad opening hours across the week and a smart-casual dress code. Its value is therefore best framed simply: a London brasserie to consider when you need a flexible place to meet, rather than a venue to choose for a specific cuisine, award pedigree, chef name, or tasting-menu format.
The recommendation is intentionally modest: use it for a flexible London meal, not for a high-stakes food pilgrimage. Planning can focus on its hours and dress code. It does not specialize in a particular cuisine, signature dishes, or awards, details on prices, seating capacity, delivery, or allergy policy are not specified. For another London dining option, 10 Greek Street is a useful comparison. Lina Stores is another London option to consider when comparing plans.
Why it works in London
This is a practical choice because its hours give diners a wide planning window. Old Compton Brasserie opens from 12 PM Monday to Friday, from 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday, stays open until 11:30 PM Monday to Wednesday, 12:30 AM Thursday to Saturday, 11 PM on Sunday. That makes it easier to fit around daytime, evening, or later plans.
Expectations matter. If the brief is a more occasion-led comparison, L'Escargot is another London venue to weigh against it. If the brief is a simple, practical meal with a smart-casual dress code and broad opening hours, Old Compton Brasserie remains a straightforward choice. For wider planning, use Pearl's London restaurants guide, plus the London guides for hotels, bars, wineries, experiences.
The right way to use it
Go here when the decision is driven by London access, flexible timing, a preference for a smart-casual setting. Its strengths for practical planning are opening hours and dress code. Pick elsewhere when you need a venue chosen around a specific cuisine, price point, award, chef, or menu style. For comparison, consider Lobos or Prosecco Caffè if you are weighing other London options. Quick reference: London, smart casual, broad weekly hours, best used when timing-led planning matters.
Planning details
- Location
- 36 – 38 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TT, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- oldcomptonbrasserie.co.uk
- Phone
- +442074342214
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Old Compton Brasserie leans into Soho’s long-standing brasserie tradition: an informal, unpretentious room that still feels purposeful. The restaurant sits directly on Old Compton Street and trades on the neighbourhood’s density of cafés and late-night venues, so the atmosphere is animated rather than hushed. Service and sequencing favour flexibility over ritual; meals unfold at diners’ own pace while the room hums with a mix of daytime and evening energy. Expect classic brasserie cues—solid cooking and a convivial dining room—filtered through Soho’s lively urban character.
Best For
This is a venue built for flexible, any‑hour dining: daytime lunches and weekend brunches, early-evening drinks that spill into dinner, and late-night tables when Soho is at its busiest. The format suits casual catch-ups, informal date nights and groups who value choice and pace — you order when you want and the room adapts. With a busy bar that often vies with the dining room, it also works well for after‑work drinks that turn into a meal without ceremony. It’s less a place for tightly choreographed tasting menus than relaxed, sociable dining.
Ordering Tips
Respect the brasserie rhythm: this is not a set tasting menu, so order what you want when you want it and allow for variable table turnover. The copy flags that the bar can be busier than the dining room, so arriving early for drinks or taking a bar seat can be quicker than waiting for a table. Lean into signature, straightforward plates—think sharing-friendly starters and focused mains—and don’t rush; the kitchen is set up to serve an informal, any‑hour crowd. Try the house favourites like the Beef Fat Crispy Fried Potato and the Beetroot Cured Salmon if you want a direct sense of the menu.
Venue details
Ambiance
Vibrant yet relaxed setting with cosy chic atmosphere, exposed brick walls, horseshoe bar, and three zones including mezzanine.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Beef Fat Crispy Fried Potato
- Beetroot Cured Salmon
Planning details
Location
36 – 38 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TT, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
If you cannot get a table
Try 10 Greek Street if the priority is a more food-led Modern European meal in Soho. Choose Lina Stores if Italian is the group's shared brief and a clearer cuisine lane would make the decision easier.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Soho
Old Compton Brasserie is the easier utility choice in this set: pick it when the group needs central Soho access and a lower-friction booking. 10 Greek Street is the better call for a Modern European meal with a clearer food focus, while Lina Stores makes more sense when Italian is the brief.
For ambiance, L'Escargot is the stronger special-occasion comparator; it carries more old-Soho occasion energy. Lobos is a better fit for a livelier dinner where the restaurant itself is the plan, while Prosecco Caffè works better for a lighter, drink-led stop.
Value depends on the occasion: Old Compton Brasserie is the sensible middle choice when convenience is the value. If the meal needs a more defined cuisine, choose 10 Greek Street or Lina Stores. If the room and occasion matter more than flexibility, choose L'Escargot.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Old Compton Brasserie guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Old Compton Brasserie
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Compton Brasserie | London | ; | No published awards |
| Lobos | London | ; | No published awards |
| 10 Greek Street | London | Modern European | Star Wine Lists 20262023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended |
| Lina Stores | London | Italian | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #8352023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended |
| Prosecco Caffè | London | ; | No published awards |
| L'Escargot | London | ; | Michelin Guide France & Monaco 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
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How Old Compton Brasserie London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Compton Brasserie good for a special occasion?
It can work if the occasion is about timing, convenience, keeping the plan simple. It features a smart-casual dress code and late opening hours, including until 12:30 AM on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. For a different London option, L'Escargot is a natural comparison.
Is Old Compton Brasserie good for solo dining?
It may work for solo dining if you want a London venue with flexible hours and a smart-casual setting. Its opening hours run until 11:30 PM Monday to Wednesday, 12:30 AM Thursday to Saturday, 11 PM on Sunday. Lina Stores is another London option to compare.
How far ahead should I book Old Compton Brasserie?
Booking lead times are not specified, so it is safest to check availability directly for your preferred date and party size. The restaurant's hours are broad, with later closing on Thursday through Saturday. For another London comparison, consider 10 Greek Street.
Can Old Compton Brasserie accommodate groups?
Group capacity, private dining, or seating layout are not specified. If you are planning for a group, check directly with the restaurant and use its opening hours and smart-casual dress code as your starting point. Lobos is another London venue to compare when planning.
What are alternatives to Old Compton Brasserie in London?
Other London options to compare include L'Escargot, Lina Stores, 10 Greek Street, Prosecco Caffè, and Lobos. Pick Old Compton Brasserie when smart-casual dress and broad opening hours are the most important factors, rather than a specific cuisine, price point, award, or menu format.
Is lunch or dinner better at Old Compton Brasserie?
Its hours support daytime and evening planning: it opens at 12 PM Monday to Friday and 10 AM Saturday and Sunday. Later plans may be especially easy to schedule because it closes at 11:30 PM Monday to Wednesday, 12:30 AM Thursday to Saturday, 11 PM on Sunday. Lina Stores is another London option to compare for a different plan.
