Comptons

You push through the doors on Old Compton Street and immediately feel like you've stepped into proper old-school Soho. Comptons has been a fixture here since 1986, and it shows in the best way—wood-panelled walls, a long bar, and the kind of lived-in charm that can't be manufactured. The place fills up quickly with regulars, tourists, and everyone in between, all united by decent cocktails and a no-nonsense vibe. It's the sort of pub where you can nurse a pint for hours or knock back shots with strangers who become mates. The music's good, the staff know what they're doing, and there's zero pretension.