Favorite Bars and Cafes in Soho/ West End (London)

The Living Room W1

The Living Room W1 at Heddon Street is a chic bar and restaurant that serves sumptuous wholesome food and great cocktails. However, its main draw is the live music, which is mostly played from Tuesday to Sunday. Contemporary European cuisine comprising grill-based dishes are on offer; the menu tends to change periodically. Moreover, the restaurant can also be booked for private gatherings and social events. Check the website for further details.

The Warwick

Are you at The Warwick? Then you must have noticed the apt use of steel in the chic interiors and the perfect play of lights in the night. While business luncheons abound during the day, the evenings usually encourage avid drinkers to crowd at the Main Bar. Dig into the Sesame Crusted Chicken Fillets, ummm...they just melt in your mouth. And please keep in mind that this place is capable of packing a good 370 people. Furthermore, parties and other events can be organized with prior reservations. From Monday to Thursday, the bar is open from noon.

Refuel Bar & Restaurant

This trendy restaurant is housed in the Soho Hotel. Muted browns and beiges dominate the decor, and the mural mounted behind the bar ups its trend value. The menu features such preparations as monkfish and mussels in saffron broth, deep-fried parsnip crisps, and a host of wines are served up as well. The ideal place for special occasions and friendly lunches, Refuel will surely fuel your desire to return!

Ruby Blue

This fantastic establishment overlooks Leicester Square, and offers you the chance to wine, dine, or groove the night away, depending upon your mood! The bar, Le Royale, serves up heady cocktails and pubgrub, while the stylish restaurant boasts of a contemporary menu that includes such dishes as pan-fried turbot, medallion of pork and black pudding, and pot roast chicken. Three themed booths (the Bedouin, the Savannah, and the Leather) are ideal for private occasions, and the nightclub offers you the chance to get your freak on! What more could one possible desire?

Souk Medina

North African cuisine doesn't get any more authentic than at Souk Medina in London's West End neighborhood. Colorful Moroccan-style lamps throw light on low-lying sofas and multi-hued cushions, where you can recline like a sultan of the desert as you partake of lamb couscous, chicken with dates and honey, pastilla seafood, and other such preparations. The candles and traditional tableware add to the experience, and the impressive wine list will floor you. Prices are not unreasonable, and the service is impeccable, so rest assured that a visit here will be a smashing success.

Verve

Walk into the trendy and chic Verve to get rid of pesky end-of-the-day stress. This venue is creating waves in the West End neighborhood. It boasts of a main bar and a high-spirited dance floor in the basement. The atmosphere in the bar is relaxed and informal in stark contrast to the energetic and upbeat ambiance in the club. Order a drink, settle into comfortable chairs and munch on some fish and chips with a salad; or else simply feel the music move through your body as you groove to the DJ's tunes in the club. Get your friends here and book this space for a private do; but make sure you reserve in advance.

Wagamama - SoHo

Wagamama serves up a pan-Asian cuisine that features a fusion of eclectic traditional favorites with modern flavors. The fare is made fresh and all items are featured on a dietary menu, allowing guests full access to the ingredients in their food. Orders are taken via electronic pads, meaning that preparation begins in the kitchen as soon as you have made a choice on what to order. Dishes come to the table in the order that they are prepared, which can be problematic for groups who want to eat together. Start off with a range of dumplings, or dive right into the kare noodle soups. The atmosphere is also a major draw with lots of open, light space and minimalist décor. The end result is a dining experience that has only grown in popularity as new locations have opened worldwide.

The Blue Posts in Berwick Street

The Blue Posts is located on the high end of Berwick Street and is what the older places in the area used to be like. There are many beers on tap and the rest is poured old-school style. Locals are attracted here during the week, while the normal weekenders looking for a good drink come on Fridays and Saturdays. It's been reported that London bars like this won't be around in five years, so enjoy it while it lasts.

The John Snow

The John Snow is named after John Snow, the doctor who established cholera as a water-related disease. The pub offers the water pump out front that helped trigger Snow's discovery, and of course local beers and good bar food. The bigger bar upstairs attracts media types all day long (it's always welcoming), while the outside courtyard is very popular in the summer for locals and visitors alike.

Suka

The straight black and white lay out of Suka's main dining area has an understated dynamism. The cuisine has a Malaysian origin but the design of the interior is predominantly European to suit the patrons. Housed inside The Sanderson Hotel, Suka has made a mark incorporating British and French styles with the preparation of Asian curried crabs, lemon grass fish, and the tropical squid and mango salad. Traditional Malaysian fares like rice or noodle based Nasi Goreng or Hokkienmi add novelty to this elegant dining experience.

The Clachan

Built in 1898, the Clachan still retains some of its original Victorian decor. Clachan, meaning "a small village", is a popular stop for Oxford and Regent streets shoppers as well as an after-work meeting spot. Food is served from noon till 10p, and the menu features the standard pub fare. One of the main draws, however is the large and varied selection of real ales. Clachan also features quiz machines.

Arts Theatre London

Shows at the Arts Theatre London include concerts, comedy, theater, film, and other eclectic events. This venue is also home to the London Cocktail Club, and has many bars that come in handy, in case you want a pre-performance drink. Parking is available on Upper St. Martins Lane. Check the website for upcoming events and further information.