Kettner's

Kettner's is one of Soho's grand old names, a French restaurant and townhouse on Romilly Street that first opened its doors in 1867 under chef Auguste Kettner. Revived and now part of the Soho House group as Kettner's Townhouse, it combines a classic brasserie and champagne bar on the ground floor with a thirty-odd-room hotel above, all wrapped in restored Georgian rooms.

As a proper French brasserie in Soho, it trades on old-school glamour done sincerely: marble, mirrors and a long champagne list, with a menu of French bistro classics. Expect steak frites, moules, roast chicken and the like, plus a well-known cocktail bar that has been a Soho fixture across three different centuries.

What to expect from this French brasserie in Soho

Expect the brasserie canon done properly: oysters and charcuterie to start, steaks, fish and French classics as mains, and a serious champagne and cocktail offering. The rooms are handsome and the mood is dressed-up but relaxed, which suits everything from a long lunch to a late-night drink at the bar. It leans celebratory rather than casual.

The history and the house

Few Soho restaurants carry this much history, and the current incarnation leans into it with restored interiors and a champagne bar at its heart. It sits among Romilly Street's fine kitchens, near Michelin-starred Gauthier, with more of the area's tables in our Soho restaurants listings.

How a visit works

Kettner's serves lunch and dinner daily on Romilly Street, with the champagne bar open through the day and rooms above for staying over. Booking is advised, especially at weekends. Menus and reservations are on its official site, and it is listed in the Michelin Guide.