Bar Italia

"Something old, something new—not just for brides on their big day, but also London coffee shops. Bar Italia is expanding with a new spot at Outernet. They’ve described the move as “a blend of timeless tradition and cutting-edge innovation”. We’re looking forward to seeing if the 1949-founded cafe meshes with the LED-lit chaos of Tottenham Court Road." - team infatuation

"What To Get: An espresso, a cappuccino, or a Negroni. Time Capsule Factor: Few places feel more essential to Soho than Bar Italia. The fashion crowd have always used it for a coffee and a cigarette, but you’re just as likely to find a couple of high-vis workers sitting outside, too. Plenty of other restaurants feel paused at a moment in London’s time. Bar Italia is a snapshot of London, full stop." - jake missing, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak

"From 7am until roughly 3am, Bar Italia caters to Soho’s every need. Regulars at the Italian cafe—who arrive separately but are united in their desire to stare down passers-by—sit on stools outside, smoking from 8am. The work crowd drifts in later, for hot, strong coffees. And if the football’s on, expect a throng in the evening, passionately waving cannoli at the screen towards the back of the narrow, memorabilia-covered room. But night owls will know Bar Italia’s flickering neon sign and faded terrazzo tiles best as somewhere to seek refuge and pizza at 2am." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager

"Bar Italia is only closed for a few hours every day, but from 7am all the way until around 3am it caters to Soho’s every need. By 8am the iconic Italian cafe already has blokes—who arrived separately but are united in their desire to stare down passers-by—sitting on stools outside, smoking. Roll forward to 9am and the work crowd drifts in for hot, strong coffees, brusque service, and speedy, saucy chicken milanese paninis. The prices are low but know that the garlic clove count in the superb yet simple spaghetti aglio is high, and the zingy anchovy-topped marinara is one of the best, doughy ways to give yourself tomato sauce-associated heartburn in this city. By evening, jazz is swapped for Kisstory classics and if the football’s on, expect a throng passionately waving cannoli at the screen towards the back of the narrow, memorabilia-covered space. But night owls will know Bar Italia’s flickering neon sign and faded terrazzo tiles best as somewhere to seek refuge and creamy tiramisu at 2am every night of the week. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Sinéad Cranna

"Open for: Breakfast and lunchPrice range: $Bar Italia remains one of London’s most precious institutions, a relic of the mid-20th century sitting indomitably on Soho’s Frith Street. More than almost anywhere else in the capital, Soho is a victim of change, fads, and nonsensical restaurants. (True story: A half decade ago this same street played host to a venue called Flavour Bastard.) But Bar Italia never changes. And for that, we must be grateful. Its consistency and sense of self is what makes it so steadying and reassuring in a world of flux and uncertainty. At Bar Italia you always know your espresso will be bitter, your Peroni will be cold, and your bacon ciabatta will be better than almost anything else you can get in this storied but spoiled patch of the city.Best for: An iconic, reliable breakfast and espresso." - Adam Coghlan