Players Bar & Kitchen

You'll find yourself descending into the Villiers Street arches, where Players operates as the beating heart of Charing Cross Theatre's after-hours scene. It's the sort of place where you can catch live music most nights—anything from jazz to indie covers—without the pretension that comes with Soho's louder venues. The bar itself is intimate without feeling cramped, with exposed brick and moody lighting that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. Staff actually care about making your drink properly, and the cocktail list doesn't read like a chemistry textbook. Perfect if you're after somewhere genuine in an area that's otherwise all chain restaurants and tourist traps.