Bar Termini: Best Thing to Happen to Soho in Ages?

Been to Bar Termini yet? If yes, give this review a quick skim, nod in agreement, and head back over to this understated and stylish bolthole of good taste. I’ll see ya there (and probably soon)! But if you haven’t been so fortunate, have a read why I reckon the bar is one of the best spots to open in Soho in a long time. Then make plans to get over there ASAP … and if you’re hoping to drop by in the evening, spare yourself any disappointment and book a table first.

Whether you’re passing near Old Compton Street in the early morning in need of a quick shot of espresso (for a mere quid) or you’re looking for a cosy place to sip sophisticated cocktails well into the night – with a delectable assortment of other reasons to drop by stretching across the rest of the day – this tiny (seats 25) bar brought to you by cocktail mastermind Tony Conigliaro (of The Bar with No Name fame) and extreme espresso geek Marco Arrigo (Head of Quality at illy Coffee) is an ideal setting.

First off the coffee is pulled perfectly – with more barman confidence than barista flair. And if you’re one to poo-poo illy over more hipster-centric cups, you’re missing out on some of the best-blended and most balanced coffee on the market.

Food is amazing too – as long as you realise the snack menu really is just that. The short list of small dishes is there to keep you going until you can have a full meal, augment your drinking, or whet your appetite for further foodie endeavors. That said everything I’ve nibbled while there was gorgeous. Allow me to rave particularly about the Pomodoro Tartare (£6), a super savoury tomato “tartare” (don’t worry, it’s vegetarian) served with Mucchino cheese and fresh basil. The bar does a good range of Italian cheeses and cured meats as well (have the coppa). Mercifully, Termini does a £1 mini-panini too.

So with the 10g Espresso al Bar and the mini-panini, you can slide in and out in a jiffy, feeling fairly satiated for only £2.

Boozier offerings impress immensely. I dare you to come across a more considered list of aperitifs in this town. I loved the Terroir (distillates of flint, clay, and lichen, £8) cocktail and am longing to return for a more thorough investigation of the bottle aged Negroni.

I don’t think there’s a drink over £8 at the moment. A Peroni (250ml) sets you back £3. There’s a quality but very limited selection of wines.

Service is old school and on the ball. Staff wears white jackets come dusk.

Efficient, elegant, and easy on the budget (for Soho these days anyway), Bar Termini is located at 7 Old Compton Street, W1D 5JE. Find out more at bar-termini.com.