5 of the Best Bars around Soho for First Dates

First dates can be a nerve wracking affair but they are sure to go with a swing if you pick one of our top picks for best bars in Soho for first dates.

68 & Boston

Situated on Greek Street in busy Soho, 68 and Boston offers you a wine bar (68) on the ground floor and cocktail lounge (Boston) upstairs. 68 has a fantastic array of wines, proudly offering 45 different wines by the glass and boasting a private cellar collection. The atmosphere is edgy and fun, with contemporary décor and ambient lighting, making it the perfect place to start a midweek date. The food menu offers tasty bites if you want to turn your drinks into dinner and Boston, the speakeasy style cocktail bar upstairs is the perfect place to continue your evening into the night. It's eclectic list of cocktails and cosy, elegant ambience makes it perfect for date night.

Bar Americain

This intimate art-deco inspired cocktail bar is perfect for a first date. The relaxed, friendly décor will calm any first date nerves and the cocktail list will keep you both happy. A short walk from Piccadilly Circus and the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street it's a perfect first stop for a drink or three, and as it's situated in Brasserie Zedel you could always move to have dinner in the parisiene style restaurant.

Jewel Piccadilly

If you like your first dates to be a bit livelier, then Jewel is the bar for you. A long standing London favourite, this busy bar just off Piccadilly is a short stroll from a plenitude of restaurants and clubs should you want to continue your date into the small hours. Featuring several differently decorated rooms, each with their own bar, and a cocktail list to die for this is the bar for you if you prefer a party atmosphere to an intimate one. Often with live performances and DJs Jewel has a relaxed and friendly vibe, perfect for soothing those first date nerves.

Mint Leaf Piccadilly

Mint Leaf has the most beautifully crafted cocktail list, with old favourites and newly invented delights (Tikka Takka anyone?) and the intimate atmosphere in their dark wood panelled bar makes it perfect for a first date. A short distance from Piccadilly Circus, Mint Leaf's calm ambience makes conversation easy, and if you want to have a bite to eat their bar menu mirrors the contemporary Indian cuisine of the restaurant. If you want to continue on somewhere else then Mint Leaf is well placed for the London nightlife, although you might enjoy yourselves so much here you'll want to stay all evening!

Cahoots

If you fancy something different for your first date then Kingly Street's Cahoots is the place for you. The 1940's themed bar is an ice breaker in itself, serving rum and gin based drinks in hip flasks and vintage milk bottles. The whole bar is decorated in the style of a 40s London tube station, with mismatched periodic furniture and a real vintage feel. Live swing music and vintage DJ's provide the entertainment and make for a really fun and easy vibe, perfect for a chilled out and relaxed first date (or second date!) and Kingly Street is close by to the bars, restaurants and shops of Regent Street and Carnaby Street.

Wherever you decide to go for your first date, we're sure you'll have a great time!

For more great ideas for first dates, or any date night ideas, take a look at our London guide and London blog which is regularly updated with new features.