The French House

"Long long ago, in a time before your phone developed the ability to tell you that you should probably get a life and stop looking at it, the bar at The French (as it’s known to its Soho regulars) was serving booze to arty sorts and fuelling deep and meaningfuls. The no-screens rule will also force you to abandon your iComfortBlanket and split a bottle with the person you’ve just met, who will definitely be the love of your life (for the next four hours, at least)." - heidi lauth beasley

"Ye Olde Factor: The legendary Soho boozer has not only stood the test of time but also stubbornly refuses to drag itself into the 21st century. Discarding its commitment to serving half-pints and a no-screens rule would be like watching Dame Judi Dench become TikTok-famous for iPhone hacks. Alleged Notable Regulars: Charles de Gaulle drank here. Dylan Thomas once got so pissed he left an entire manuscript under his chair. Francis Bacon was a regular." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, sinead cranna

"Few London pubs are as well-known as The French House in Soho: this place is a classic and the French food very much follows suit. While the downstairs of this drinking institution is still kept to mostly that, if you walk up the creaking stairs you’ll find a red-walled, bright dining room. This is London’s finest location for the longest of lunches. Come on a Thursday for impeccable steak frites, rich, boozy chocolate mousse, and, of course, wine." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager

"Fondly referred to as ‘The French’ by regulars, novelists, and those who’ve watched one too many Guy Ritchie films, the Soho boozer's devious upstairs dining room isn’t just a historical inclusion. The no-mobile-phones rule and famous patrons, both literary and legless, add a little glitz, but everything about The French House is fantastic. Whether you’re sinking cidres downstairs or settling in upstairs on a Thursday—their imperious steak et frites day—you always feel a part of something a little secret (and potentially sordid)." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager

"An iconic Soho watering hole ideal for drinks and a lively atmosphere." - Andrew Young