Princi in Soho was the first branch of Milanese baker Rocco Princi’s boutique bakery to open in London it has been a success at drawing a steady crowd, hungry for good, simple Italian food ever since. The space is divided into two, with a restaurant on one side, and a more informal, canteen style setup on the other. Running the length of the room are glass cabinets showcasing the Italian wares behind which men toss and top pizza for the wood oven to keep the food supply freshly stocked. It’s a delicious Italian pick and mix, but at busy times traditional queuing goes out of the window in favour of a more chaotic ‘Italian’ system.

Who goes here:

Due to the canteen-style nature of this restaurant it is a transient crowd. It is perfect for escaping the office and grabbing a work lunch. In the evenings it is a great starting point for a bar hop around Soho. Get a Campari spritz from the bar with your food and away you go.

Why you’ll want to visit:

It’s traditional and tasty Italian food at its best. Fast food without the junk.

Image credit: worldfoodieguide.com

What to look out for:

If you are a dessert lover then look out for the rows of baked treats. The chocolate salt cookie comes highly recommended.

When to go:

When it is busy it is sometimes mission impossible to find a seat, however I dropped by at about 9pm for a sneaky dessert after a meal at Burger and Lobster (with a walk in between the two first!). This is a much more chilled out affair : busy but without having to get too up-close-and-personal with fellow patrons.

How to find it:

135 Wardour Street, London W1F 0UT. 5 minutes from Leicester Square underground.

Our nearest home:

You couldn’t get much closer than this eclectic photographer’s home on the very same street.