Shoreditch to Soho: A London Night Out
Jonathan Barlow
The Route
London nightlife doesn't have a center. It has poles — Shoreditch in the east, Soho in the west — connected by a city that never quite sleeps. This is how you cross it in one night.
7 PM — Dishoom Shoreditch
Start with dinner at Dishoom. The Bombay-inspired menu is flawless — the black daal has been simmering for 24 hours. The chai is a meal in itself. Book ahead or join the walk-in queue.
9 PM — Callooh Callay
Rivington Street cocktail bar with a hidden back room through a wardrobe (literally). The cocktails are inventive without being ridiculous. This is where Shoreditch proves it can do sophistication.
11 PM — Fabric
The legendary Farringdon nightclub. Three rooms, each with its own sound system and programming. Room One's bass hits differently — the Bodysonic dancefloor vibrates through the floor. This is techno and drum & bass at the highest level.
1 AM — Soho
Cross into the West End. Bar Italia on Frith Street for espresso (open until 4 AM). Ronnie Scott's if you want late-night jazz. The Groucho Club if you have a member friend.
3 AM — Duck & Waffle
The 40th floor of Heron Tower. Open 24 hours. The duck and waffle dish is exactly what the name promises. The view of London at 3 AM — the Gherkin, the Shard, the river — justifies everything.
London at night is a city of transitions. Each neighborhood is a different volume, a different tempo, a different conversation.
