Soho has always been a place of constant reinvention. Cafés and late-night bars sit beside theatres and music venues; morning commuters brush shoulders with night owls leaving clubs. In 2025, its rhythm is as eclectic as ever – and the way people eat and drink has become a reflection of the neighbourhood’s wider atmosphere. More than just fuel, food and drink in Soho have become part of its identity: playful, creative, and endlessly sociable.
The Soho Daytime Mood
By day, Soho feels lighter. Workers spill out for quick lunches, creative teams meet in cafés, and friends gather for brunch. There’s an energy of movement – people in transit between meetings, shows, and shops. What they look for in food during the day is something fresh, flexible, and quick enough to suit a busy schedule while still offering character.
Nessa’s daytime menu taps into this rhythm. Breakfast and brunch bring playful twists on familiar staples – a nod to tradition but always with a surprise. Lunch, meanwhile, offers plates that balance substance with creativity: celeriac carbonara with truffle, or coal roasted cabbage brightened with stilton and sriracha. These are dishes that spark conversation as much as they satisfy appetite. They feel distinctly Soho: recognisable, but never predictable.
As Evening Falls
When the theatres open and the streets fill with neon, Soho’s pace shifts. People are no longer rushing; they’re looking for places to linger. Dinner becomes an occasion, and drinks take on a ritualistic quality. This is where Nessa’s evening menus shine. Seasonal British ingredients are reimagined with flair: roast rump of West Country lamb brushed with black garlic, or grilled sea bream layered with beans, shrimp, and peppercorn sauce.
These are not dishes that demand formality – they are sociable plates, designed to be enjoyed slowly. The feasting menu reflects Soho’s communal spirit, encouraging sharing and conversation. It’s food that mirrors the night: vibrant, generous, and a little dramatic.
The Cocktail Culture of Soho
Soho’s nightlife has always revolved around its bars. Today, cocktails have become part of the area’s creative identity, with venues pushing for originality and atmosphere over volume. Nessa’s bar fits seamlessly into this mood. Signature cocktails like the Boho Negroni or the Abstract 19, served in a handmade ceramic cup, make the act of drinking part of the theatre of the evening. It’s design, art, and flavour combined.
The Negroni Lounge series adds another layer, blending DJs, artists, and cocktails into a salon-like gathering that feels true to Soho’s restless energy. Here, nightlife is not just about noise or crowds – it’s about curated creativity.
Why It Works in Soho
The connection between Nessa’s menu and the wider neighbourhood is clear: both are about contrasts and reinvention. Daytimes in Soho call for lighter, flexible meals; evenings invite ritual and richness. The menu adapts to these shifts, offering something for every tempo of the area.
What unites it all is a sense of play. A dish might look familiar but deliver an unexpected twist; a cocktail might carry the weight of history but arrive in a vessel that feels like art. Soho thrives on that balance between old and new, grit and polish, tradition and experimentation.
In this way, Nessa feels less like an outlier and more like a mirror of Soho itself – eclectic by day, vibrant by night, and always ready to surprise.
