London Soho's Hidden Gems

When people think of London, they tend to think of Oxford Street and Covent Garden as the places to shop, eat and drink. Few actually think about visiting those areas that are really close by like Soho which is literally adjacent to Oxford Circus and there is actually more to discover there than you think. There are also a huge amount of hotels near Soho for you to stay in and with so much to see and do you will definitely want to make a weekend of it. I was tasked* with showing you some of the hidden gems of Soho that you may not have heard of or even knew were nearby, so here are some of those said hidden gems.
The Ivy Soho Brasserie

Located in one of Soho's most popular areas in Broadwick Street you can't miss an opportunity to visit this iconic restaurant. Serving everything from breakfast to afternoon tea to dinner and drinks you can visit any time that suits you. I went for the Ivy Garden Breakfast and had their delicious vegetarian breakfast with avocado, hens egg, haloumi and mushrooms. Just thinking about it makes me want it all over again. Not only is the food delicious but the setting is beautiful with an impressive bar area, William Blake art and plush chairs. It definitely gives you that extra special feel no matter what time you visit and the prices are pretty reasonable too.

Minalima

If you're a Harry Potter fan, you can't miss the opportunity to visit Minalima. Right behind the stage of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, here you will find an absolute gem of a place with all the graphics and designs from the Harry Potter movie franchise. They're all created by design duo geniuses Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, aka MinaLima. Discover 4 floors of absolute delights of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts goodness and this isn't all; the Minalmima duo are working their way through all the fairytale classics so don't miss their stunning illustrations they have done for Peter Pan and The Secret Garden alike!

Maitre Choux

Even if you don't eat anything from Maitre-Choux, you simply must go to see what culinary delights they have in store. They are the first and only choux pastry specialist patisserie in the world! Their choux pastries have got to be some of the prettiest I have ever seen and they taste divine too. They also offer drinks so you can enjoy a mid morning or mid afternoon delight or take them away. I would recommend getting there early as it gets busy very quickly.

Foyles

If you love a good read as much as me then you cannot not visit the infamous book store that is Foyles. With five floors covered head to toe with books, there is without a doubt bound to be a read just for you. Foyles have not long had their move to a bigger and brighter store and I could spend hours in here browsing the shelves. There is anything and everything for a book lover in this store.

The Soho Hotel- Refuel Bar

A little more on the pricey side but The Soho Hotel Refuel Bar is not one to be missed either and it is also one that you may miss. Hidden away in a little mews is this elegant and chic bar. We popped in here for a little break and sit down and had a couple of their delicious mocktails. What makes this extra special though is the gorgeous setting. It is very art deco and includes a mural painted by London-born artist Alexander Hollweg, which runs along the entire length of the oak and pewter bar. I could have whiled away a few hours or more in here. It is the perfect pitstop to your busy day.

Rosa's Thai Cafe

This is one you may miss if not looking close enough but Rosa's Thai Cafe serve the most delicious thai food and at brilliant value too. I really recommend their chicken pad thai and jasmine tea which is coincidentally what I ordered. Perfect for lunch or dinner but gets busy very quickly so plan your visit.
There are some of my hidden gems of Soho which you will definitely need at least a whole weekend to see and enjoy, so the next time your thinking of a trip to London why not visit Soho.

*This post was part of a collaboration with Hotels.com who gifted me the spending money but all views are my own