Some places are just intrinsically cool, years of history building the spot you see in front of you today. The French House in London's Soho is one such place. With a long, proud history as the haunt of literary and media types, The French House has a long-standing reputation as a central pillar in London's historic district of dastardliness and debauchery.
Its iconic blue frontage with huge French Tricolour and Union Jack blowing in the breeze is as much a part of the Soho landscape as neon signs and sex shops, but what makes this place so special is its beautifully maintained atmosphere ties you to those who have passed through before.
Upstairs a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant sells appealing French fare in a small room, but wine by the glass is the true currency here, with its unique history part of the district's rich tapestry from years of journalists pouring off Fleet Street to chew the fat on the latest happenings in the world of news.
This bohemian bar is both a classy and raucous spot, where good taste in both art and wine is vital but stuffy manners are chucked into one of the well-used cigarette bins out front. If its wine-soaked tables could talk, they'd tell of the endless nights of laughter, rosy cheeks and steamed-up windows that the French House is almost a synonym of for those in the know.
Find your way with 222 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
The people of Bonnington Square really know how to foster a vibe with leafy exotic plants spraying scattered shadows as you sit and eat...
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From focaccia to pasta, coffee to cake, this one-stop shop is as much a place to buy your brew and bread as it is to have a lunchtime bite of pasta...
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Of all the reasons why you have to check out this idyllic boozer, perhaps the most important is that this is the home of the finest scotch egg in London.
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Birds sing while trains rumble along atop the parallel railway arches, old men play boule in the shade and planes skim overhead on approach to Heathrow.
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From the run-down chic aesthetic to the strong beer selection and excellent pub garden, there are no chinks in the Dog House's armour...
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Inside, the bar is a welcoming, tightly-packed vibe with old-fashioned, old-world decor with gorgeous bare wood surfaces & countless pictures on the walls.
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The unassuming, retro signage outside amidst the noise & din of Waterloo might pull you in, but what makes you stay is the genuine town tavern feel inside.
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With a rustic French feel, Pierre offers dishes with rich red-wine sauces and tasty meats from much of the spectrum of the French culinary roster.
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With old-fashioned vintage Guinness branding adoring just about every surface, this is the ideal spot to take a moment and enjoy a perfectly-poured pint.
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Built back in 2010 on the site of a disused railway line, it’s a local secret: a quiet, forest-like space to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming.
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Inside, the rooms have distinctly different decorative styles. This is to give an idea of how the house would have looked at each stage in its history.
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222 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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