1 | For a twist on Japanese favourites: Oliver Maki
Award-winning Soho favourite Oliver Maki made its name fusing traditional Japanese food with eccentric ingredients and flavours from across the globe, and their new menu proves that inspiration still isn’t in short supply.
Situated over two floors on 33 Dean Street, the 30-cover restaurant is led by Executive Chef Louis Kenji Huang who has introduced 12 innovative dishes. Opt for the the Cauliflower Shiromi Chirashi and marinated Cauliflower Rce (no, if anything that’s not enough cauliflower), alongside the Miso Sea Bass, flavoured with a delicious union of Japanese plum blossom and creamy foie gras. Then, after a few too many sakes, take a reckless plunge into their signature maki menu.
2 | For a nightcap too many: The Perception at the W
Overlooking the bustling movie premieres and criminally underrated pizza slices of London’s Leicester Square, the über-swanky Perception is the result of an ambitious redesign within the W.
The first thing you’ll notice as you walk in is the sixties-inspired fireplace, surrounded by retro vinyl records and chill-out spaces, perfect for sampling some of the W’s staple cocktails. Opt for the Granada Gunpowder for a heady mix of scotch whisky, Campari and Disaronno, and once you’ve built up the liquid confidence, sheepishly ask for a delicious vodka Capri Sun and move over to the 360-degree bar area (that is unless you want to plonk yourself down by the window and sample the impressive food menu, designed by resident chef Magnus Reid of Shoreditch cafe C.R.E.A.M.)
Truly, when it comes to finishing off a boozy Soho bar crawl in style (it closes at 3am on Fridays and Saturdays), there’s no better way to go out.
3 | For a boozy trip back in time: Aqua Shard
Look at you, chewing through wagyu 1,000 feet above the London skyline like a fine-dining Godzilla. Dinner at the panoramic Aqua Shard is a unique experience from start to finish, so why shouldn’t the cocktail menu be too?
Bar manager Luca Missaglia has taken influence from the first ever bottled cocktails of the 20th century – named ‘Club Cocktails’ – to create a vintage menu of quintessentially British flavours. Whether you’re after Cornish Manuka & Sauvignon Blanc, Mandarin & Lapsang, topped with Tanqueray & Sparkling wine, or just any old-timey booze that’ll put an end to your crippling fear of heights, they’ve got you covered.
4 | For Soho's best American cooking: Jackson + Rye
Since its opening in 2014, New York-inspired brasserie, bar and grill Jackson + Rye has established itself as a firm favourite among London's Soho crowd, the perfect spot for a late dinner with friends or a laid-back date somewhere with a bit of buzz.
Now, they've refreshed their menu meaning there's even more reason to go. The French-American fusion is the still in place, just better - salt and pepper squid on crispy vermicelli noodles is a delicate delight, while mains like the herb marinated cornfed chicken, garlic butter and fries or the lamb rump with tomato, pomme purée, veal and rosemary jus hit the sweet spot where fine dining meets hearty fare. And unlike other, similar joints in Soho, the prices are delightfully reasonable.
5 | For unforgettable Indian: Benares
Not for nothing was the mastermind behind Mayfair's Benares, Atul Kochhar, the first Indian chef to acquire a Michelin star. His modern British twist on native Indian cuisine is a complex yet subtle affair, a party of unusual spices, homemade chutneys and other delights that are as pleasing intellectually as they are to taste (well, almost).
Take the bhangre koliwada - a beautiful piece of Cornish mackerel given a crispy chilli, lime and ginger marinate. Or the jal tarang - scallops with roasted apple and lemon chutney and spice root vegetables. Or for the adventurous, duck varuval - a roasted barbary breast with tamarind and peanut rice, spiced jus and picked vegetable slaw. This is intelligent, lovingly assembled food that surprised and delights at every turn.
6 | For some (live) salsa with your steak: MNKY HSE
If you don't spot the missing vowels at first, try ordering one of MNKY HSE's excellent cocktails to crack the mystery of this underground joint's name: they come with a little swinging monkey toy. You might get too distracted, though - opposite the dining tables is a stage on which live salsa, jazz or DJs create the kind of dining atmosphere that shouldn't work on paper, but somehow very much does. This is an infectiously bonkers addition to the sometimes-stuffy Mayfair scene where, thankfully, the food is just as vibrant.
Serving Latin American dishes made from mostly British ingredients, the menu brims with energy and imagination, from the hamachi truffle ceviche octopus and chorizo tacos to - if you're very, very hungry - the 1kg grill wagyu tomahawk steak, probably the most testosterone-pumping dish in West London. A place for a quiet romantic evening, this 'aint. But if it's fun and a good feed you're after, this monkey is a keeper.
