Bar Italia, Italian coffeehouse in Soho, London, England
Bar Italia is an Italian coffeehouse on Frith Street in Soho that has both indoor seating and an outdoor terrace for watching street life. The place serves authentic Italian coffee, food, and traditional beverages in a small, focused space.
The place opened in 1949 and quickly became a central gathering point in London's Soho district during the post-war years. Continuous family operation across generations has kept it rooted in local history and community life.
The place has served for decades as a gathering spot where artists, writers, and locals meet over Italian coffee and conversation. This mix of visitors creates a social space where different communities naturally interact.
The location in Soho is easy to reach on foot, with Soho Square nearby as a reference point. Limited seating means it can get crowded at peak times, so flexibility with when you visit helps.
The original espresso machine from 1949 still stands in the space, showing how traditional Italian coffee preparation has been preserved. This working piece of history is a rare example of how old methods remain in daily use.
Location: London
Inception: 1949
Website: http://baritaliasoho.co.uk
GPS coordinates: 51.51339,-0.13135
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
London houses a notable number of unconventional drinking establishments and concealed bars that extend well beyond the ordinary pub experience. In former Underground stations, converted Victorian lavatories and behind unassuming facades, resourceful operators have created spaces that transport visitors to different eras and worlds. These venues often require a degree of discovery: entrances hide behind refrigerator doors, in apparent detective agencies or through small red doors that only the informed notice. The range extends from historic vaulted cellars like Gordon's Wine Bar, which has existed since 1890, to themed concepts such as Cahoots, housed in a disused 1940s Underground shaft. The Attendant uses a former Victorian public toilet as a café, while bars like Evans & Peel Detective Agency guide their guests through a role-playing scenario before granting access to the actual establishment. At higher elevations, Duck & Waffle and the bar at Heron Tower offer views across the city from the 40th floor. Most of these establishments concentrate in neighborhoods such as Soho, Shoreditch and the West End, where traditional pubs sit alongside experimental cocktail bars and specialized coffeehouses.
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