During daylight hours Bar Italia is just another simple cafe, although with a slightly less greasy spoon aspect than its competitors, but come the evening the crowds flock for late night food and drink in the heart of Soho.

The Venue
Bar Italia looks busy from the minute you gaze at its tables and chairs spilling out onto the pavement. These are the only seats that actually come with a table, which put them one up against the ledges and stools inside.

The interior is decorated as one would expect from a cafe; fake plastic wood veneers are carved into planks that run down the walls in strips and there is a communal feeling originating from the cramped ledged seating. Old school electronic poker and fruit machines give the first nod to the layer of kitsch that is also present, the Juventus football shirts, Del Piero photos and numerous old black and white images of sweaty, bruised boxers also help to shovel on the character of the place. The counter runs the entire length of the narrow space and is filled with a brick-a-brack of machinery, meat and sweet breads. The fact that it serves an array of alcohol is almost a forgotten factor.

The Atmosphere
The tables on the street offer a different view of Bar Italia, with loud and boisterous groups doing their best to have their own small effect on the bigger picture of Soho. Inside, however, the days are quiet, apart from the loud Italian voices behind the bar, and you’re likely to find couples looking for a cafe and beer style daytime treat. The history courses through the bar in a way that the black and white photos can only try to emulate. Late nights are filled with all ages looking for refreshment in a venue that can hold your attention like the best of them – just be prepared to be squashed in.

The Food
What Soho-based Italian bar would be complete without the offer of a pizza at 1am? Bar Italia serves a range of the classics amongst a menu filled with Italian cuisine. Paninis, bagels and sandwiches are all filled with mozzarella followed by your pick of a secondary accompaniment such as salami, tomato or pastrami. A full English is served at a fair £6 and the menu is available at all hours.

The Drink
Beer comes by the bottle with a choice of Nastro Azzuro and Moretti and it has to be said that they’re rather expensive. Obviously for a place that runs through the night, extra money has to be picked up from somewhere and this seems to be it.

The wine, too, is one of the most expensive house bottles you’ll find in the area, with the Vino Rosso and Vino Bianco both coming in at £19. There are also a number of spirits that can be found on the menu. The coffee is pretty hit and miss as the first cup may be everything you’d hope it would be but the second reveals that perhaps it was the flavour of the place rather than that of the coffee doing all the work on the tastebuds.

The Last Word
Bar Italia is a Soho icon and a place that you need to visit - preferably on your way back from a big night out - to enjoy the surreal atmosphere of late night Soho.

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