The 20 best restaurants in Soho

Impala sees ex-Kiln head chef Meedu Saad opening a restaurant that he takes its incluences from grill restaurants in Cairo, crossed with Soho's vibrant food scene. Much of the food comes via the huge charcoal grill or the wood-fired oven, and a big focus is on provenance. With a vibe similar to Mountain (from the same restaurant group) this is a big Soho hit.

This restaurant comes from Charlie Mellor, the man previously behind The Laughing Heart. He's brought that hospitality know-how (and a really great wine list) to Soho for this buzzy Italian restaurant, partnering with top sommelier Cameron Dewar. The classic Italian menu features excellent pasta and you should make time to have their freshly baked amaretti at the end. You should make good use of the wine list, but their classic cocktails are well worth trying too.

Khao Bird started in Brighton and then followed up with a London residency before landing at this permanent home in Soho. Run by restaurateur Mike Palmer and Head Chef Luke Larsson, they have a strong focus on Thai barbecue dishes, with particular influences from Chiang Mai. Expect a casual space with a great, focused drinks list and a menu full of dishes like khao soi with beef brisket and Shan BBQ meatballs.

One of Soho's biggest success stories, The Devonshire is a team-up between top landlord Oisin Rogers, founder of Flat Iron Charlie Carroll, and chef Ashley Palmer-Watts. Downstairs, the pub sells some of the best Guinness in London (as well as unique features like three hidden snugs). The wood-ember grill upstairs takes classic grill dishes and elevates them considerably, with some of the best lamb chops in London, a great suet pie and a standout chocolate mousse. if you're lucky, you'll be invited into the celeb-heavy Green Room downstairs, but every element of the building is a roaring success.

Tomos Parry is the man behind the uber-successful Brat and this is his just-as-successful Soho restaurant. Here Parry takes his influences from both Spain and Wales, with a big eye on local sourcing and both cheese and bread made in-house. Expect top sharing plates like lobster caldereta and if the spider-crab omelette is on, it's a must-order.

Bob Bob Ricard remains one of our personal favourite spots in town. We don't know whether it's the fantastically blingy design, the rich food with just a hint of Eastern European in there, the "press for champagne" button or... who are we kidding, it's definitely the Press For Champagne button.

Quo Vadis has Jeremy Lee in the kitchen and he's been cooking up a wonderfully British menu. The restaurant has recently had a revamp, bringing it back to former glory and it now fits in twice as many diners as before. The food serves some of the best British/European dining in town, and the pies and smoked eel sandwich are a must.

Asma Khan's restaurant is now in its third location, a much bigger two-floored affair in Soho. The focus remains the same as ever with the menu featuring a mix of Bengali, Hyderabadi, and Kolkatan cuisine, all delivered by an all-female kitchen. If you manage to get your hands on a ticket, the biryani supper club events are still the biggest draw.

Jacob Kenedy's Soho Italian wins universal praise for its cuisine, a well-chosen wine list and for being one of the best counter dining spots in London. Pull up a stool at the counter and enjoy the regional Italian dishes on a menu that changes regularly..

This classic French institution has been in Soho for more than 100 years, serving up classic French cuisine. And, as you can imagine from the name, it serves the very best snails in London. A wonderful institution that still has great life in it.

The French House is mainly known as a classic Soho pub - but it also has a dining room upstairs. It's a small affair - it almost feels like a private dining room - but it's hosted some great names. It's now home to chef Neil Borthwick who's very much at home here serving up French classics.

After a number of years in pop-ups and other spaces across town, Rita's have settled in Soho for their main restaurant (they also do sandwiches in Dalston). The menu is inspired by owners Gabriel Pryce and Missy Flynn travels across the Americas and the wine list is pretty special too.

Often cited as one of the most romantic restaurants in London, this Soho stalwart is also a great old-fashioned bistro with a decent wine list. If you're looking for somewhere to be flatteringly lit by candlelight - this is the spot.

Downstairs from Soho pub The Blue Posts is this tiny restaurant, run by head chef Seamus Sam. It's a small counter dining affair with only 11 seats. Expect a regularly changing menu that mixes up British produce with Scandinavian and Japanese techniques.

This restaurant is from the founder of the Smoking Goat, still focusing on Thai food but going for simplicity. Expect a short grill menu and a daily noodle dish and a regularly changing wine list. It's primarily counter dining too and the very devil to get a seat at key times due to its popularity.

This is top chef Angelo Sato's Soho restaurant and while it started life as a more casual affair that was all about chicken, it's now changed into a much broader omakase offering that's described as serving a "Japanese-inspired 8-course tasting menu with a European accent." If you love counter dining, this is the place for you.

Randall & Aubin is a Soho institution, having been here for nearly 30 years. And there's a reason for its longevity - eating here is a lot of fun (there's even a disco ball). There's a big emphasis on sustainability and on French and British seafood classics, with their signature dishes including bouillabaisse, spaghetti vongole and big fruits de mer platters.

Hands down one of the best counter dining experience in town, albeit not the quietest one. Expect a Jerusalem-style menu here, with additional influences from Southern Spain and Italy, North Africa through to the Levant. You can grab a table at the back - but try for the full-on counter experience if you can.

Alexis Gauthier brings his own take on French cuisine in the marvellous setting of this Georgian townhouse. The menu is now entirely vegan, making this one of the best fine dining vegan spots in town.

Koya Soho may only seats 25 people but it has a huge reputation that belies its size. Here you'll enjoy some of the best Japanese udon noodles in town here - and there's a great breakfast if you're after a top way to start the day.