Speedboat Bar

You're descending into Soho's underground drinking culture when you hit Speedboat Bar on Rupert Street. It's the kind of place where you'll squeeze past other diners to reach your table, elbows touching strangers' elbows, and honestly that's half the charm. The menu delivers proper Thai cooking—vibrant curries that pack genuine heat, som tam that tastes like someone's nan made it yesterday, and fresh seafood that doesn't mess about. The cocktail list is genuinely clever too, not just Thai-adjacent theatrics. At around £15-20 for a main and similarly priced drinks, it won't demolish your bank account, which feels increasingly rare round these parts.