Balans Soho, No.60

Restaurant | London | England | United Kingdom

Best restaurants in Soho London

"Balans Soho, No. 60" in London, England, is a true institution in the heart of the vibrant Soho district and is one of the most well-known restaurants in the area. For over three decades, it has represented a blend of modern British cuisine with global influences, stylish ambiance, and a lively atmosphere that lasts into the early hours of the morning. It is the largest and loudest member of the Balans family and has established itself as a legendary meeting point – a place where artists, night owls, and food enthusiasts alike feel at home. It is particularly renowned for its long history and ability to continually reinvent itself without losing its distinctive Soho character.

Modern British cuisine Soho

The décor of "Balans Soho, No. 60" is a successful combination of urban elegance and relaxed coziness. The space is generously designed, featuring a long bar that invites patrons to linger and semi-private seating areas that offer privacy while allowing guests to observe the colorful hustle and bustle. Neon lights and artistic accents give the interior a modern touch, while the open layout and large windows enhance the sense of liveliness. Especially during the summer months, the seats by the window or outside are a highlight, as they provide perfect opportunities for "people-watching" – a must in a neighborhood like Soho, known for its diversity and vibrancy.

Cocktail bar in London Soho

Culinarily, the restaurant offers a varied menu that spans from breakfast to late-night dining. Highlights include the "Eggs Benedict," a classic that impresses with perfectly poached eggs and creamy hollandaise – a favorite among brunch lovers for which Balans is famous. The "Balans Burger," served with juicy meat and refined sides, is also popular and represents a modern interpretation of a pub classic. For something exotic, the "Thai Red Curry" impresses with its spicy depth and fresh ingredients. The dessert menu tempts with sweet delights like the homemade "Blueberry Pancakes," which offer a true taste experience with their fluffy texture and fruity notes.

Brunch options in Soho

Another hallmark of "Balans Soho, No. 60" is its cocktail menu, considered one of the best in London. The "Porn Star Martini," which became popular here, is an absolute star – a sparkling mix of vanilla vodka, passion fruit, and a separate shot of champagne that has put the venue on the map in terms of creativity and enjoyment. In addition to this signature drink, there is a wide variety of other cocktails crafted by experienced mixologists that pair perfectly with the dishes. The drink selection is complemented by a solid wine list, featuring both local and international options.

Creative drinks in London

The restaurant is not just a place to eat, but an experience. It attracts a diverse mix of regulars, tourists, and Soho locals who appreciate the casual, inclusive atmosphere – a legacy of its role as a meeting point for the LGBTQ+ community and night owls. The service is often described as friendly and efficient, with staff eager to accommodate individual requests. However, during peak times, there may occasionally be short wait times, which do little to tarnish the overwhelmingly positive impressions.

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
60-62 Old Compton St
W1D 4UG London

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday9:00 - 1:00
Monday9:00 - 23:00
Tuesday9:00 - 23:00
Wednesday9:00 - 5:00
Thursday9:00 - 5:00
Friday9:00 - 6:00
Saturday9:00 - 6:00

Reviews

3221 Reviews

Nept !
08.03.2025

This is a great place! I booked a table for my 40th birthday lunch and they could not have been more accommodating. They gave me the back room for x25 pax, food came out pretty much all together, they took my guidance on music from their player for the area, let me drop off the cake etc the day before. Honestly, stellar service. Every staff member was funny, friendly, kind - they bent over backwards to make my special day a success. All without needing a huge deposit or paying single bill. And the food was delicious! A great place for a special occasion. Balans No.60 is the spot!
Loredana Bilancione
02.03.2025

I like the place very much! I think it's cosy, unpretentious and effectively very good! Food is tasty and choices are various. Same drinks. Service was great! The waiters were caring and very professional. The place is quite spacious and despite the reservation (better always book if you can), by 2pm there were tables available for walk-in too. I'd definitely go back!
Toumaï Bauts
28.02.2025

Great welcome, great service, great food. The place is very nice. We were eight including 4 children. There was something for everyone. "Normal" price for London. Highly recommend.
Leslie Slater
28.02.2025

The service and atmosphere were great. My chicken tacos were boring. They didn’t have much flavor. The potatoes with seaweed butter were delicious and my companions loved the scallops.
G Saviano
27.02.2025

Nice food, nice waiters but a bit too crammed inside - tables are very closely packed together. Too little space.
Ben Staines
24.02.2025

The service was excellent, our waiter Kyle couldn’t have been better. Really made us feel welcome, interacted with each member of the groups, got suitably involved in our conversations. Drinks & food delicious also.
Kumar Ghosh
23.02.2025

Probably the only/best late night sit down diner in the area, queues are randomly busy(or not) but table turnover is quick enough. Decent menu for after party grub if you hate fast food. Service is professional but think because of all the drunk clientele they're not super friendly.
Krasimir Kiryakov
23.02.2025

Staff as good and friendly as can be. Fast service. Delicious. Daniel is amazing.
Rainer Gruen
23.02.2025

Nice atmosphere, good food, attentive service, excellent company combined with very reasonable prices. Highly recommend. As Arnie would say: I'll be back 😉
tobias wiesner
21.02.2025

The restaurant is located in the middle of Soho and has a very varied breakfast menu. The food is all delicious, from full English breakfasts to healthy breakfast options. We tried a few things and everything was delicious, the service was attentive and very helpful and above all friendly. The pancakes are great, the perfect basis for the way through London
Zija Landi Shaba
20.02.2025

Excellent!! Daniel Amazing 🤩 Thank you!
Finlay Royle
20.02.2025

We had a great time at Balans - a Soho institution. Friendly service and not intrusive. Great food, good wine and cocktails. Great restaurant in the heart of Soho, and very welcoming to LGBT+ community as well as others. Menu is halal and food cooked separately from non-halal options. Thanks for a great evening!
Barry Knight
19.02.2025

When ever I'm in London I use Balans either for coffee or lunch or dinner - I'm never disappointed - the staff and service has always been good.
Gunther Toudy
06.01.2025

Balans No. 60 likes to advertise itself as “Famed for its outrageous atmosphere”. In reality should this place should be “Famed for outrageous prices and deeply mediocre cooking”. Poached eggs on toast, a simple dish, classic comfort food which you’d think that the chefs at a late-night diner would have perfected. What came to our table were cold, overcooked eggs on a plate, next to equally cold slices of toast, to be buttered with also near icy packaged pates of butter, presumably to be applied like araldite with a putty knife. Comfort food? More like discomfort food. Cost for this mess: £8, to which we asked for mushrooms (£3), smashed avocado (£3) and sausages (£5.50). Here was the insult to injury. Lukewarm mushrooms came as the smallest possible portion, not quite buttons, not quite portobello, more of a garnish than a side. Even smaller was the portion of avocado smash, less that half an avocado at best. The sausage links were adequate but failed to compensate. Americano £3.50, plus service charge, not on menu but added to the bill. Total cost approx. £20 per head for a meal that any greasy spoon with ambitions to pedestrian success would have charged £15 max. If the food was produced with any care or attention the £20 would be just about acceptable. Any supposed ‘buzz’ in no way compensates for shoddy catering. The place presents itself as a late-night hipster hangout, with mural portraits of supposed Soho legends such as Quentin Crisp, Amy Winehouse plus various non-entities from the 1990s painted on the way downstairs to the bogs, a metaphor for the direction of travel of this touristy rip off joint. Some long established institutions like to rest on their laurels, Balans prefers to grind their laurels into dust. This place deserves to close.
Tadas R
16.02.2025

Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere cozy lil place to have brunch with friends or a date! Reasonably priced also!
Jo Kaneti
16.02.2025

Second visit this year. Really love the food. However, it could be slightly cheaper to fit peoples budgets. Staff really really accommodating and friendly.
ilker bayar
15.02.2025

I was there on Monday morning for a breakfast and just love the place so i remember to leave them a review. Food is quite fresh and tasty and comes in big portios. They have lovely friendly and kind staff and very nice atmosphere which is quite spacious which makes it good for dates as well.
Cheryl Baker
15.02.2025

Our waitor, Simon was fabulous. He was knowledgeable about the food, humorous, speedy and attentive. The food was great and the 50% off sparkling wines was an excellent idea!
Anders Jøndrup
14.02.2025

The lemon tart is to die for
peter jackson
14.02.2025

Excellent food, interesting menu, friendly attentive service.
Alya Theuret
10.02.2025

Super ! C’était bon, le service et parfait, prix abordable et les serveurs sont très agréables, l’hygiène est impeccable , je recommande fortement.
Roland Saunders
07.02.2025

Yum amazing service. Food incredibly tasty Generous Will be back
Adam Pearce
04.02.2025

Always a good experience here, our go to place in Soho. No matter how busy they are they always manage to seat us. Always feel well taken care of and the service is quick. The prices are a bit high but it is central Soho. The place is big (goes back so far) and clean, especially for being open all the time.

 

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