Soho Twilight Food Tour

Last updated: 29 July 2023

Soho, one of London’s oldest and most diverse neighbourhoods.  From the chic to the downright bizarre, Soho has it for you in spades.

Located in Westminster, Soho sits within London’s West End.  Flanked by theaters, China Town and with a reputation as a base for the city’s sex industry, you shouldn’t be surprised to discover it’s also a foodie haven.

I joined a group of select bloggers to try out Eating Europe’s new tour, Soho Twilight food tour.  Exploring 6 very different establishments, sampling their wares and learning what makes them unique.

First up is La Bodega Negra. Serving Mexican street food, this cafe has a broad tequila and margarita menu.  Sampling a mango margarita sent tingles around my tastebuds, followed up by some tasty pork tacos.  Not being a lover of spicy food, I smothered it in sour cream to take the sting out of it.

I’m now trying to source one of their taco stands, it’s revolutionised taco night!

Through the backstreets of Oxford St is a minefield of roadworks and renovations as the Cross Rail is being built and the revamped Tottenham Court Road, our next stop was a haunt that I’ve been dying to visit for months;  The London Gin Club.  

After a brief history of Gin in London, notes on juniper berries, a taste and a sniff and I suddenly felt like quite the gin aficionado.  Accompanying our drinks was a beef pie that had been marinaded in gin.  YUM!

Next stop was Enrique Tomas.  Iberian cuisine wasn’t something I was particularly familiar with.  So I avidly studied the region map at our table and listened intently to the history and differences of Jamon.  Feeling enlightened, we moved on to our next stop.

Only once before in the alleys of Melbourne have I encountered anything quite like our next stop, PIX. Food on sticks & skewers is the pintxos way.  I let the majority of the group go first while I sourced a chair in this incredibly narrow eatery.  Choices were limited when it was my turn, so I settled on Pomegranate, Feta & Walnut salad and a slice of quiche.  Quite a buzzing atmosphere but it’s very squishy when it’s busy,  definitely more than two items are required if this is your evening meal.

Finding a quality Dim Sum outside Sydney has been quite the challenge, to the point I stopped hunting for it.  Enter, Opium.  A rather large burly security man with a spectacular hat guarded a non-descript door on Chinatown’s main street.   Joe shook his hand and in we went, as if we were VIPs.  Gasps were heard from others in the queue.  We climbed two flights of dark timber stairs in a dimly lit house, my mind began to wander. What was this place?! Designed to mimic an opium den, it does a convincing job.  It could have easily been a nightclub, although distinctly lacking the doof-doof music, or even a brothel although lacking scantly clad ladies.

Two small rooms, scattered with candlelit tables we were sat at a large table facing the bar.  Two pots of tea to try and some dim sum.  I was in heaven with the Har Gau, it was just as good as I remember.  The mushroom and truffle dumpling was a tasty addition which I’d happily have again.

No dinner is complete without dessert.  We headed for Said, a family run chocolatier originating from Rome.  Being spoilt by an authentic Italian Nonna, I’m particularly picky about my tiramisu.  This one rivaled Nonna’s and was utterly moreish. Washed down with a hot chocolate, this place is one not to miss.

Feel like you’re missing out?

The Essentials

Eating Europe runs tours the Soho Twilight food tour four times a week.  The tour is three and a half hours long, however spaces are limited so get in quick.

Stops on Soho Twilight Food Tour

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Need more information?

Check the London Food Tour website for more information or to book.

Not in London?

Eating Europe also runs food tours in Prague, Amsterdam & Rome

Disclaimer: While I was a guest of Eating Europe, all opinions, as always, are my own.