BALANS - Soho

Balans has been part of Old Compton Street since 1987 and remains one of Soho’s longest-running LGBTQ+ hangouts. The No.60 site is the main event: a big, lively restaurant that opens early for breakfast and stays busy late into the night, serving everything from eggs Benedict in the morning to Porn Star Martinis for Soho’s late crowd.

The menu leans modern British with international touches, running from brunch classics and the famous Balans burger to steaks, crab linguine and a strong cocktail list. The dining room rarely has a quiet moment, and the pavement tables on Old Compton Street are among the best seats in London for watching Soho life unfold.

Balans isn’t trying to be a hidden gem. It’s a Soho institution, and it’s earned that reputation.