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The French House

A tiny, bohemian Dean Street bar where the crowd spills onto the pavement and beer is served only in halves. It has been a haunt of writers, artists and Soho eccentrics for generations, with a well-regarded restaurant upstairs.

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The French House, a tiny, bohemian Dean Street bar
Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know

Dylan Thomas, Sylvia Plath and Lucian Freud drank here, and during the Second World War Charles de Gaulle and the Free French used it as their base.

Local tip

Beer is served only in halves, so do not ask for a pint. The restaurant upstairs serves lunch from noon to 3pm and dinner from 6pm to 9:30pm Monday to Saturday, and takes reservations.

Finding it

Address
49 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 5BG
Nearest station
Leicester Square (Tube), 191 m away

Details change, so check with the place before you set off.

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