The French House in City of London, Westminster - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Definitely a gem in central London! Love that they have seasonal specials everyday. And the madeleines were the highlight!

This is such an iconic venue I've been coming here for about 40 years. It's become a bit more commercialised over the years. Some of the staff today looked a bit jaded. Still love it though. Great cider: )

A busy place with an eclectic clientele- great service and worth a visit.

The French House is an absolute must every time I come to London. I love that they write out their menus daily and offer amazing specials. The staff is lovely, and really connects with their guests to make sure the whole experience is great. This is a place where you can truly indulge and go all out.

My absolute favourite pub in London. Hands down the best - especially in Soho. It’s a classic and has added some great beers recently!!!

Love this place and it's history and only place to get cidre Breton... Nice authentic place to go for a drink

Worth the hype. The goats cheese & garlic on sourdough was incredible. Don’t miss out on the made to order Madeline’s. Service, food and atmosphere was spot on.

My wife and I went for dinner having read great reviews. It turned out to be the day of the gay pride parade in London and SOHO was mayhem. I ascended the stairs to the restaurant which was blocked by a long queue of women’s waiting for the loo. Upon reaching the top, chef Neil was standing there looking a bit discombobulated. I put my hand on his should, said hello, and headed into the restaurant. It was surprisingly quiet, given the chaos outside. I suspect some people just couldn’t get there amongst the reverie outside. It did fill up eventually. Neil came over to the table to say hello, and I suspect the shoulder pat on the way in made him think we had met before, which we had not, Had a good chat, lovely bloke, Taking his recommendations, we had the food gras terrine, the calves’s brain, and the John Dory for 2. I can say without reservation it was all excellent. It’s quite rustic provenceal food, but delish. My only negative is I’m not a liquorish fan, so the Pernod in the fish was not to my taste, but that does not detract from the flawless cooking. The calves brain was a Neil recommendation, and was really good. Huge portion too.. The table service was good - familiar not formal, friendly and professional.. We had another visit from Neil to check in on us at the end. Superb. A free desert to boot as they were closed Sunday and Monday and had some love to share. Highly recomended, a gem.

very busy tight wee gaff , no waiting for drinks and people very friendly nice few drinks here

Its been a few years since I last ate here and it was a relief to see not much has changed 'upstairs' during my absence. The decor is still reassuringly old school, there are still the dozen or so small vintage tables, the narrow bar at the back of the dining room was still present and the walls are still adorned with black and white photos of local Soho legends and patrons from the past and present. The atmosphere is cozy and carefree and front of house staff make you feel like you are friends dining in their own kitchen. Unlike like many other eateries in Soho that have got a bit drunk on their own self importance The French House is the perfect anecdote for a relaxed no rush meal. The cooking was suitably earthy and no nonsense with a menu boasting both classics and offbeat fare ably backed up with thoughtful wine list. A perfect afternoon lunch away from the chaos of street outside.

Delicious and great service from the lady and the gentleman. Must visit spot in London

Just everything you need for a perfect lunch. Wonderful attentive service. Fabulous food. Lovely relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommend

Robbing tourist trap. Only halves yeah loool

I do love this pub but it seems so does everyone else lol. I've never seen it anything but overflowing with customers. Still I do think it is worth it. I'm sure I'll be back.

Small intimate french restaurant above a quirky soho pub. Menu changes each day. Have eaten there twice and both times the food was excellent. Save room for dessert. Only criticism is that wine is a bit pricey, even for London . Cheapest red £50 ( very nice but not really worth the money)

Nice pub, not cheap and gets very busy.

The French House 📍49 Dean St, London W1D 5BG 🚇 Leicester Square 🍺 £3.50 French House Lager (1/2) A Soho Institution. The French House is located on Dean Street in Soho just off Shaftesbury Avenue. The nearest Tube is Leicester Square, it’s a five minute walk to get here. This Historic pub was built in 1891 and was originally called The York Minster. The pub was run between 1914-1989 by the same family who originated from Belgium. This pub is famous for being the unofficial headquarters of the Free French in World War II. The name was changed to the French House in 1984 following a fire. One thing you need to know before visiting, is that the beer is served in half-pints only. This rule is relaxed every year on 1st April when pints are made available. In recent years it has become custom that @suggsofficial serves the first pint of the day. The footprint of this pub is compact and bijou. The bar area wraps around the servery with a cosy snug located on the left. Around the ox blood red and wood panelled walls are a number of interesting prints, artworks and photos by Soho based creatives. There are stools around the bar, drinking ledges and traditional furniture in the snug. The beer selection is minimal and diverse. I decided on a French House Lager, my beer was decent, price point was West End. I mentioned that the beer was served by the half but you can buy a half a gallon for £28, but I wasn’t that thirsty. Upstairs is the pub’s well renowned restaurant. This intimate venue serves traditional cuisine from a menu that changes daily. Every Thursday, The French House serves the ever popular steak frites. Every time I visit here it’s always absolutely packed with a wonderful convivial atmosphere. The clientele is a mix of punters from all walks of life and backgrounds. I have often found myself talking to interesting people that I’ve never met before. The best time to visit is between 2pm and 4pm when local characters pop in for a chat and a beverage. I can’t speak highly enough about this special Soho institution. The @frenchhousesoho , an absolute must visit London Pub. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 21.02.24

Great, quirky pub. Especially the great staff who had the decency to post back the gift I’d left on the bar - you are life-savers!! Thank you!

one of my friends said the French resistance worked out of here so we mainly come here now and then if we are ever in central london for the vibes hehe. I must warn you, this place is SO PACKED all the time you're either squeezed in between people or standing outside. So keep that in mind!

The French House is one of my favourite bars. I have the best conversations with random strangers every time I go here. It is a Soho Institution!

Weird waiter who fawned and extenuated last syllable of every sentence, fortunately we did not engage with him. Wines ridicuously expensive markup, expensive steak, quite ordinary, one scallop for a dish, what a joke, turbot cooked perfectly but also mega expensive. We could see how it could have been lovely before price hikes and with more normal service. Think the staff are having a laugh at expense, literally, of customers! Such a pity, especially as it was our 38th wedding anniversary! No point going again!

Lovely food, intimate setting, highly recommended. And the madeleines...omg!

The French House. 110% Soho. Weekday late afternoon. Good ambience as always.

Very quirky little bar that only serves half pints and upstairs restaurant was phenomenal the food was just fantastic must try the Madeline’s for pudding. Such a gem in the middle of soho

We only went for a few drinks, a lovely friendly atmosphere and very quick service. The quirky thing is they only serve all their beer in half-pint measures.

Came for drinks. Love this place. Staff are fabulous and the place is full of characters. Yes, it’s busy and you might have to wait to get served, but it’s worth it. Barman with the beard made our evening. True gem.

This review is well overdue! Two friends and I came here for a birthday lunch. We tried to have an enjoyable time, but it was made extremely difficult because, first, we were repeatedly told by the waiter that dishes on the very limited menu were finished. We had a reservation for 1.30pm! Oh, sorry the lamb is finished, oh sorry the apple crumble is finished. Suspiciously, they had plenty of the duck at 95 pounds for two! Secondly, the food was awful, and the presentation was even worse. The pork rillette looked like cat food, plonked next to a few sad pickles and a piece of sourdough. Who serves one scallop? The unappetising confit garlic and goat's curd was spread boringly on sourdough. The John Dory was average, at best. The minimal serving of dessert cheeses presented on a sad old cracked breadboard was unacceptable. The French House will probably defend themselves by claiming it is all very bohemian. Eating from basic tableware, at an undressed, wooden kitchen table, sitting on uncomfortable, old wooden benches, yes, all very bohemian. Everything was bohemian except for the bill! Over 250 pounds for three! What a joke! Never again. I did not leave a tip. Why would you?

Terrible service!! Never again!! London deserves better than this!

Simply stupendous. You have to get the Madelines

Superb, one of the best meals I’ve had in London. Leo was exceptional

This pub is steeped in history been coming here since the early 80's

Quaint little place Tiny inside

Amazing food and amazing service. I highly recommend this place

A small restaurant above the pub. Excellent food, in a pleasant, quiet atmosphere and friendly staff. Menu changes daily, with some interesting dishes.

great bar where you can have great conversations about Culture... good staff..

Legendary pub, always busy and bustling but let's be honest that's what you're coming for.

Had a lovely meal here during a recent visit to London. The restaurant itself is small but really atmospheric. The menu choices were mostly classical French and we both chose to have fish for our mains following some delicious dressed oysters for starters. My red mullet was excellent - thick and meaty with beautiful crisp skin. We ended our meal by sharing a Paris Brest dessert. Not the cheapest meal in the world but the quality of food and service made it worth it.

I'm often in London and there are multitudes of fantastic pubs in this great city. The French House is a bit unique amongst them for many reasons. A storied and very quirky place in Soho that is well worth a visit. It was the haunt of some legendary characters in past times and still draws in an eclectic crowd. A slight let down on this visit was the supercilious attitude of one of the bartenders.

A bit of a gem. Away from the chaos of the busy pub downstairs is an oasis of calm and fine food. Try and get the window table!

Lovely team, legendary location, exquisite food.

My best place to eat in London. The waiting staff are as lovely as the food. I travel from Yorkshire to eat here each year and love it.

Fantastic food and service. The madeleines were epic; worth the 15 minutes wait.

Pompous, stuffy and outdated. It’s a desperate attempt to recreate the old French attitude towards drink but undercut by a disinterested English bar staff. Retain your ancient charm but move with the ages. Get pint glasses for one.

Love this place always amazing people, little jewel in the heart of soho ❤️ I never went for food only the bar .

Very poor service and over priced pints

Great, friendly atmosphere in the heart of Soho, don't expect lots of seats if thats you're thing, attentive and friendly bar staff. Pints by the half though!

I always love it in here, a delightful pub with real character. If anyone ever changes this they deserve to burn in hell. Very busy as usual but somehow they had crammed 5 people behind the bar so there was no real wait. Hands off the Benedictine, that's mine!

All the wonderful things about fine dining and none of the stuffiness. A beautiful, cozy space tucked upstairs. Despite being in the middle of busy Soho, nothing felt rushed. Friendly and witty service. Great wine. And the food was perfection. Don’t skip the made-to-order madeleines! Will definitely be returning!

A regular stop off for me while in soho in the 80s & 90s for a quick half. It hasn't changed a bit, still full of soho characters

Great beer in a cosy old small pub with great friendly bar staff!

Delicious food in an intimate and cosy setting. The menu changes frequently, and you can tell it is made with passion and care. Most definitely recommend the melt in your mouth madeleines, cooked to order. The whole evening is a treat!

Only serve half pints. I asked why. They said “cos I said so”. Morons.

Being a bit of a fan of Dylan Thomas, I seek out his haunts . This was one of his favourites in London. The history of this bar is a really worthwhile read on Google.

I had the dover sole which was superb. A bottle or two of light red (my lunch guest was having steak) and the world felt alright again. A lovely intimate place. I’ll be coming back. Highly recommended.

Small, cramped, crowded. Pleasant enough atmosphere, but there aren't enough stools.

Can't rate the food as we didn't have any! Busy (there around 5pm), nice atmosphere be prepared to stand, excellent service from the bar!

Where Sylvia Plath signed her poetry collection contract ♡

A charming place steeped in history. It's been extremely busy each time I've visited which means I haven't been able to soak up the atmosphere as much as I'd like. Would love to come back and try the restaurant upstairs!

I love the french house and always has a good atmosphere but its way busier now with lots of tourists and £6 for a half a guinness? What happened. I always enjoy a pernod in there.

Good pub in Soho. Saturday night it was so busy and buzzy. Lively to say the least. Outside in the streets you can smoke and enjoy watching people. Seats inside and loos downstairs (clean).

Classic bistro cooking. Sensibly priced wines. Great waiting staff and laid back atmosphere in a bright airy dining room above Soho.

Place is packed, which signifies the great ambience, food and vibe.. Recommended!

A truly wonderful spot in the heart of London. Classic food and great wine! Reserve early as a very intimate space.

Great little pub , brilliant atmosphere , serves only halfs of ale and great selection of wine

Beautiful French bistro/restaurant, staff were extremely friendly! Rotating menu of classical french dishes, steak was superb! The chef came out and had a chat and told us his favourites and gave some background on the restaurant, was an amazing experience!

If you like your beer in half pints this is the place for you

I am not worthy of reviewing this cultural icon.

Google doesn't seem to have the capacity to list multiple opening hours if a business has separate sections on the premises 🙄. The hours advertised here are for their upstairs restaurant. The pub is open daily from noon, as per their Instagram.

Leuke bar in het midden van alle reuring veel bekende Britten doen hier hun tussenstop een van de weinige plekken waar ze standaard een klein biertje tappen.

Brilliant atmosphere, friendly staff and an interesting selection of drinks. It’s often standing room only, but don’t let that put you off!

Quirky tiny one sidedbar only serving half pints! Look out fir the characterchers that adorned the walls. Some are staff! Unusual, popular drinker

Favourite Pub in Soho. The staff are always lovely and my go for chilled London.

Tremendous atmosphere! Definitely worth the standing room only.

We loved the welcome at the restaurant. We had a reservation but were very late and the couple found a place for us despite a complicated situation. Very charming authentic people to serve. The restaurant is very cosy but quite small. My son, husband and I enjoyed an intime and very lovely evening especially thanks to the nice women that served.

Didn’t get food but good atmosphere and great drinks, very crowded but fun.

Came with my (French) mother and we enjoyed excellent food and even more excellent service from Gentiana. Will definitely be back

Always brilliant fun and great atmosphere.

Loved my solo dinner date here. Good, French brasserie style food. Can be funny eating out on your own sometimes, but the staff made me feel more than welcome - they made it fun.

Great pub in the heart of Soho. Great atmosphere.

Incomparable! Special! Long live!

The epitome of Soho. If you know, you know.

Buzzy Soho bar with very decently priced drinks

Horribly overpriced, grotty bar and grubby. We didn’t eat here, probably couldn’t afford to.? The three glasses of wine we had were £48 …!! 🤯 so heaven knows what the food cost…?ridiculous prices…pity the unsuspecting tourists who’ll get rinsed here..!

Would give 6 if possible. The only thing better than the knock-out food was the service. The French guy serving us in the restaurant was an absolute legend

Amazing food! The fish and steak were delicious. Desert as well!

Busy for a Tuesday, eclectic bunch of patrons, liked it, no real ales though #12 #26

The French is The French. Just the name of a house larger warrants a pit stop. Meteor. From France. Quite a drink! The French never disappoints you, it’s a steady service with an excellent selection of drinks. HB (Ash-Beh) is there, which is a massive plus. The crowd is undergoing a change with the times, less of acting professionals and more random beautiful people! Love you All! Xxxxxx

If I had a restaurant, this is the kind I’d want; small, relaxed and with the kind of food I love to eat. We could have chosen everything off the menu and what we did have was absolutely delicious. The madeleines are a must-have highlight! The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, efficient and clearly passionate about what they do. The only down-side was the scruffy loo but this was Soho on a busy Friday night and is probably shared with the pub downstairs.

We went here for a late lunch/ early dinner before a show later on in the day and loved it. Everything we ate was delicious, the wine and drinks were all fabulous, and the atmosphere was great.

All time favourite pub of all time. The food in the restaurant upstairs is sensational! ❤️

our favourite pub in london great atmosphere love the breton cider!

Drinks and vibes immaculate but often busy

very enjoyable, fun and friendly place

Friendly, charming bar with a brilliant area out the front to watch the world go by whilst sipping on your Breton cider.

Went to the bar downstairs. Great evening. Really nice crowd. Great staff. Rolling artwork. The Guinness is one of the best you’d get outside Dublin! Nice bottled ciders too. Loved the no pints policy - draft beers by the glass only!!!

Noisy and they only serve halves. But great atmos. Don't remember eating, but guess it was great!

Excellent pub with pleasant staff and clientele. Fantastic history a must if you're in the area.

We had a great evening. The food was delicious albeit all the mains were steak ! So no good for fish lovers or vegetarians. Great service from Jazz.

Love the no phone calls inside policy.

The original pub, and is still there after all this time... interesting characters, welcoming atmosphere, soul of Soho... I am very fond of this pub, lots of memories from the past.