27 Old Compton Street

27 Old Compton Street serves fresh, handmade pasta from a fast-paced counter in the middle of Soho, its kitchen built on the Italian tavola calda tradition of good food cooked quickly and eaten without ceremony. It takes its name from its address and trades late, past midnight at the weekend, which makes it a useful stop when the theatres empty and much of the neighbourhood is winding down.

The menu is short and pasta-led, with homemade sauces, a handful of sides and desserts, and a drinks list running from wine and beer to spritzes and alcohol-free cocktails. Dishes such as amatriciana and tiramisu anchor the list at 27 Old Compton Street, and the whole thing is designed to move: order, eat well, then go, or take it away. As an Italian pasta restaurant in Soho, it fills the gap between a slow trattoria and a grab-and-go counter, and drew warm early notices from London food critics, including Hot Dinners.

Why this Italian pasta restaurant in Soho works

The appeal is speed without compromise. Pasta is made fresh and sauced to order, table service is quick, and the late hours mean you can eat properly when most kitchens have closed. It suits a solo bowl at the counter as much as a group before or after a show, and the takeaway option makes it just as good for eating on the move.

Food and drink

Expect central-Italian plates done simply and well, with amatriciana among the regulars and tiramisu to finish, plus a spritz and cocktail list that includes non-alcoholic options. You will find more of the neighbourhood's tables in our Soho restaurants listings, with another late option a few doors along at Cecconi's Pizza Bar.

How a visit works

27 Old Compton Street opens daily from noon, running to 11pm on Mondays, midnight midweek and 1am from Thursday to Saturday, with an earlier close on Sundays. Walk-ins suit the format and the counter turns over quickly, so even a busy evening rarely means a long wait. Current menus are on its own website.