Manzi's Guide to Soho

One of London’s most vibrant districts, with its mix of charm, grit and relaxed inclusivity, Soho has an ever-changing roster of events, revues, theatrical and musical performances, as well as a thriving café culture and plenty of independent stores. In the summer, crowds spill out on to the pavement over dinner and drinks, amid a melee of Georgian and Victorian architecture. Here’s just a taste of what’s on offer…

Café Culture

A melting pot of cultures that took root in the area in the 1950s, Soho has long been known for its European grocery stores, jazz bars and drinking dens, which together produce a subversive, creative energy. The lifeblood of the area is its coffee bars, which took seed with the neighbourhood’s post-war wave of Italian immigrants, who introduced Londoners to espresso. Bar Italia on Frith Street is one of the oldest and still the most sociable, while Algerian Coffee Stores on Old Compton Street has a huge selection of coffee and kitchenware to browse and buy. New wave favourites include Grind on Beak Street and Tintico on Greek Street, both serving single origin varieties in relaxed settings.

Curtain Up!

Many of London’s most famous theatres are in the heart of Soho. Within a stone’s throw of Manzi’s, this summer sees musical Ain’t Too Proud at The Prince Edward Theatre, charting the life of The Temptations; comedy musical Mrs Doubtfire at The Shaftesbury Theatre, the ever-rotating roster of comedy, cabaret, new writing and Stand up at Dean Street’s Soho Theatre and the world premiere of Brokeback Mountain at the newest edition to the neighbourhood – Soho Place.

And All That Jazz

Long celebrated for its nightlife, Soho is the home of late-night jazz, with both world-renowned and up-and-coming artists playing at Frith Street’s legendary Ronnie Scott’s, a Soho institution named for the entrepreneurial saxophonist that founded it in 1959. Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis and Count Basie have all headlined here and these days an eclectic programme of DJ sets and live music includes Latin, jive, blues and flamenco. Other celebrated venues include late-night cocktail bar Jazz After Dark in Greek Street, with its roster of jazz, soul and funk; Carlisle Street’s The Piano Bar Soho, known for its laid-back vibe (reservations strictly in advance) and of course an eclectic roster of live jazz performances at our sibling, Crazy Coqs in Sherwood Street.

Off-beat Stores

From Carnaby Street, which made its name in the Swinging Sixties with its alternative fashion offering, to Beak Street and Berwick Street, known for their vinyl record stores, (the latter served as the location for the cover shoot of the 1995 Oasis album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?), Soho celebrates independent shops as well as suitably stylish and subversive brands such as Ganni and Agent Provocateur. Design, homeware and fashion enthusiasts should check out Alex Eagle’s flat-fronted concept store on Lexington Street. If walls could talk, there would undoubtedly be plenty of stories to share: the basement has been used as everything from an air-raid shelter during the Second World War to a recording studio and nightclub. These days, the space is a cross between a store and a gallery, offering up a curated edit of clothing, furniture, art, photography, ceramics, books and other curiosities.

Neighbourhood Strolls

It’s easy to overlook the area’s green spaces: Soho Square Gardens is a popular leafy oasis in the middle of the neighbourhood’s cluster of narrow streets, noted for the mock-Tudor round storage hut at its centre. Nearby Chinatown, established in the 1970s, is quarter best explored on foot, the better to check out its strings of red lanterns and alleyways of Chinese grocery stores. While strolling, the Photographer’s Gallery on Ramillies Street which hosts a roster of exhibitions, talks and events is worth a look in. Bibliophiles will enjoy browsing an array of specialist and vintage book stores on Charing Cross Road and nearby Cecil Court. The beauty of Soho lies in contrast: listed buildings blend with new-builds; historic stores with pop-ups; traditional theatres with contemporary new venues. It all adds up to a compelling neighbourhood which we are proud to be a part of.