Reviews of Upstairs at La Bodega Negra Mexican Restaurant Soho. (Restaurant) in London (London).
Upstairs at La Bodega Negra Mexican Restaurant Soho
16 Moor St, London W1D 5AP, United Kingdom
Description
Information of Upstairs at La Bodega Negra Mexican Restaurant Soho, Restaurant in London (London)
On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.
This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.
Map
Open hours of Upstairs at La Bodega Negra Mexican Restaurant Soho
Popular times
Monday
| 17 | |
|---|---|
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 |
Tuesday
| 12 | |
|---|---|
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 |
Wednesday
| 12 | |
|---|---|
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 |
Thursday
| 12 | |
|---|---|
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 |
Friday
| 12 | |
|---|---|
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 |
Saturday
| 12 | |
|---|---|
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 |
Reviews of Upstairs at La Bodega Negra Mexican Restaurant Soho
K. E.The cocktails were fantastic, as were the staff, though unfortunately there did not seem to be quite enough of them. Order taking and food/drinks took a long time (so much so we decided to order three rounds at once!). Good location, with a lively atmosphere. The food was decent too, though lacking in any non-standard flavour profiles - not to say what they have is boring!
J. P.Authentic Mexican menu (well, as authentic as you can get in central London) with fresh and tasty guacamole. We ate from the set lunch menu which was great value for money and had both full meals and tacos as options for mains. There was plenty of choice for both a vegetarian and gluten-free diet. Food was a little slow to be served, but was worth it when it arrived.
N. S.Absolutely brilliant! We had bottomless brunch with margaritas, gauc and tacos. The food was great. We interacted with a lot of the staff and they were very accommodating keeping our glasses full. There was also a superb mariachi band and drummers. We had a brilliant time and will definitely be back!
B. E.We were looking for a quick bite before our theatre date and after calling in a few places, only to find they were full, we popped our heads into La Bodega.
Although they had no tables free they had bar seating and they had no problem accommodating my partner's electric wheelchair – they're completely accessible.
We asked if they had a quick service as we didn't have much time before we had to be at the theatre. They said they did – and indeed they did!
We both ordered their burger each and it was big and delicious! We also had their guacamole with nachos starter and that was delicious too.
We were in and out within an hour and suitably replenished. The service was swift and friendly. In fact the whole place had a very friendly atmosphere.
We'll definitely come here again, making sure we reserve, and spend a bit more time soaking up the laid back vibe.
E. S. P.Wonderful experience for us at Bodega Negra! We visited for drinks before dinner and everything was good 😊. Staff was kind and polite and our drinks lovely! We had a cocktail and a Mexican beer. The place was moderately busy. We’ll be back soon for some food!
I. R.Firstly the service and the staff were amazing, they were very attentive, accommodating and friendly! Our bottomless brunch drinks were always being topped up, even when it got really busy. The food treated good but the portions, especially the starter and tacos on the bottomless brunch set menu, were pretty small.
O. M.Very cosy but also luxurious feeling in the middle of the city. Highly recommended all of the cocktails. Not crowded, but also not empty death. Ideally to chit-chat and relax.
A. L. S.La Bodega is one of the few places open until late for a pos-theatre casual dinner and has a lovely environment. The staff is kind & welcoming, and the place has a great selection of mezcal. All drinks were fantastic - Mezcalita's glass is rimmed with a Mexican seasoning of salt, chilli and lemon which I love, typical from micheladas. Food-wise, we loved the guacamole and the mushroom tacos. We also tried the rustic quesadilla but found it a bit greasy for our taste due to the provolone cheese. Overall, great place and vibe!
F.The staff was very nice and attentive. We went because it had plenty of space and they accepted a walk-in with no precious reservation.
The place is mostly from enjoying alcohol. You can see that looking at the much larger drink menu compared to the available food.
As we didn't drink, I don't think the place is for us. We only chose it based on the menu outside. We didn't know it was mostly a bar. The food was ok, nothing special but ok. The size of the portions was very small, particularly considering the cost. I found the whole experience underwhelming. I believe this shop is not for people looking to have a meal. However, the staff was nice and we didn't try the drinks which are most important part of the menu.
The place is probably recommended for someone looking for go for drinks rather than a meal.
B. C.The environment was lovely but I felt the restaurant was more a fusion of Mexican food than the authentic you are used to from Mexico or even some of the Mexican restaurants in the area.
The staff were very lovely and friendly.
J. G.Great atmosphere, food, mezcal, cocktails wine, music and staff
A. P.My parte we and me went there for a Sunday lunch and the food was very tasty. Also, we were served by Charles who was super friendly and explained to us everything about the menu
R. 2.Wouldn't return again. Ordered a rib eye steak for 30£, which came as only a steak by itself and corn, nothing for a side/garnish, no chips or salad as you'd usually get with a steak. 30£ is a rip off for a steak by itself. Also the waitress came over so sooo many times, I understand they are trying to be nice and attentive but it is way too much. We are having a conversation with friends and constantly getting interrupted by her coming asking how is everything, way too much. The tacos starters are very very tiny. The restaurants prices are way too high for what they serve, way over priced.
H. G.Thank you to Gabriel behind the bar who has made this the best bar I’ve visited in years (and I hate tequila as a rule!)
Great atmosphere, great music but sitting at the bar Gabriel helped us choose four drinks that met our ridiculous description of what we were looking for, he made them with panache and our night went on and up from there! Will be back!
S. N.Didn’t have the best of experiences, especially with the steak. It was medium well and cold, I expected it to be medium rare and hot. The service wasn’t the best, no one to check up on us and we even went to the bar to order. The barman was really nice though and even brought our drinks to the table, something that he shouldn’t have done but alas…
I. A. A.We had a quick lunch at 3 pm. Very welcoming, good service in general. The waiter ( with long blonde hair) was really nice with us. I just ask him the cocktail I like and I told him to choose for me the food and was amazing. Haddock taco, the best over the whole meal, nice ceviche and a good tuna toast. The dessert was the thing that I liked less, marcha cheese cake, too heavy, doesn't taste much to matcha. I was finishing about 4:20pm so for me was fine... But same people was coming in at this time and they were rushing customers maybe too much, because they were closing at 5, just an observation.
M. W.Had a wonderful time last night for my birthday. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, the service was impeccable and the food was delicious. Also, the best margaritas in town! Highly recommend
J.Loved it: cool atmosphere, quality bar, good food & friendly service.
Sea bass ceviche amazing. Fish the best of the tacos; others ok. Squid was poor - chewy and batter not crispy. Margaritas & espresso martinis on point.
Would like to check out the original round the corner.
F. S.Very amazing Margaritas, great Ceviche.
The rest is too much cheese and flat bread for an overexpensive price.
I understand is central London but you can work on your menu.
You probably have a good GP in your item but menu is a bit boring and too pricey.
We had 3 round of food and 4 of drinks.
Service was really good , please fix the price and will definetely come back.
E. R.Amazing place, cocktails and bar and waiting staff except for an antipatic floor manager who initially refused to let us in despite there were plenty of free seats. Excuse was "we are very busy, you will wait long time". Strange.
K. R.Wonderful spot with the loveliest staff who made us very welcome. We were a walk in group of 4 on a Friday night and we were lucky enough that they let us have the table all evening. Delicious food and fantastic cocktails. I recommend the truffle quesadilla 👌🏻
E. R.Good food and service. In nice location also.
M. T.Stopped here on a food tour for a soft taco and cocktail. Very tasty and looking forward to going back.
a. p.Overpriced and very mediocre margaritas, tacos and guacamole/chips. I didn’t check the reviews and wish that I had.
J. C. V.Very cool modern Mexican decor
Nice music, not too loud
And idea of an american dinner, mixed with a Mexican cantina
Service is very good
Nice welcome on arrival
Spicy sauces on the tables, a nice variety
The food was served incredibly quickly, but it did not feel as it was very fresh and warm.
It was pretty good, but I've had better ones
Service Charge on the bill
Nice large bar in the center, high chairs
Very small but clean bathrooms
Very good, overall
T. N.Fantastic restaurant with some of the best Mexican food in London. The staff were exceptional and especially accommodating as we were celebrating a birthday.
M. K.Nice waiting staff, good list of drinks, food is good but annoying to view menus via phone and isn't the best place to have a conversation as the music is too intrusive. Cost is West End prices as you'd expect so not the cheapest night out but overall worth a visit.
M. D.Fantastic food and service. Especially Valentina who made our night perfect. Extremely friendly, knowledgeable and funny. Ask for her next time you are there !
P. C.Good funky & freaky place. Mix of Mexican and modern decor and art. Fun place for drinks. Ok music the night I was out there. But I loved the cocktails. The rum cocktails are excellent!
N. B.Had a great dinner in La Bodega Negra. The food was amazing!Our waiter, David, was extremely friendly and helpful which made the experience better.
S. &. J.Everything we ate was delicious, staff were friendly - the quesadilla was not like one I've had before (was similar to a Turkish pizza!) so at first I was disappointed, but it won me over...
E.A little bit disappointing, drinks and tacos were nice, but way to expensive for what they are. There many other Mexican places with better flavours and prices. Ambience, decor and service were fine.
T. G.We had the best time ever in this bar. The food was good, drinks are great and the bartenders knows their stuff. The waiters was super friendly and welcoming and we had a great time. Prices are not the cheapest, but totally fair. Thanks to our polish bartender!
P. E.We had fun! Though we paid for the 3 course meal and never got dessert.
K.Fantastic little place with a hidden underground Club on the other side which looks like a peep show with all Neon and girls and come inside and what not. The music they play over there is outstanding absolutely unexpected really good music great vibe very good service really cool people working there. Actually as a matter fact this place rocks but they play house music which I love. Looks like they got some good food going on too then get to try it but I can vouch for the Tequila's in the mezcal they have one great selection for you especially me I'm a mezcal man I felt right at home. I strongly recommend everyone to go if it's on your list don't even think about it.
R. A.I went to to cafe not the proper restaurant. It was ok, tacos weren't as tasty as hoped! But this quesidilla was!! Friendly staff!
J. R.Amazing atmosphere, great staff but the food was cold when it came out and although it was on the whole really good, being cold let it down.
The vibe is really cool and we had a great time.
D. G.Exceptionally delicious food, very friendly service, I and my wife would happily go again next time we are in Soho
p.Only went here for drinks late at night and had a good time. Cocktails are around a tenner and a corona 4.5£ the music was good, overall nice bar for a night drink in Soho
K. J.The dishes were small and the bill quite large. Food tasted lovely, just not a great deal of it when sharing.
P. P.Quite a place. Good mex food. Great ambience and music for after hour
l. a.Great atmosphere, hilarious entrance and food was good
A. E.Really great food in a beautifully quirky place.
V. M.Mexican Restaurant in Seven Dials area, food and sercice were very good.
A.With the continued gentrification of Soho, the area is losing much of its sordid history. However when la Bodega Negra took the lease, they attempted to maintain the previous back Street feel by moonlighting as a peep show location. In actual fact, this venue is a wonderful cafe/restaurant. Great photo opportunity and brilliant food.
N. B.Nice look and feel inside, good drinks and latin style eats.
A. E.Love this place! super cute and cozy.. great for a date! AMAZING margaritas, bar staff are more then happy to walk you through cocktails if you want to try something new and staff on the door are super friendly and helpful. Also the tacos are great :)
y. k.Amazing margaritas and superb tacos for any casual occation
v. c.Only went there for drinks but it is a great bar with nice music and lovely atmosphere. Staff is very friendly and bathrooms very extra clean even on a full night. Would definitely recommend the place.
R. M.Have eaten at the cafe section upstairs before but the restaurant downstairs is something else! Decked out like an old soho peep show from the outside but like a hidden Mexican speakeasy inside, the place has oodles of character. We ordered almost every veggie dish on the menu and loved everything. The grilled corn and the hibiscus margarita were the best!
S. B.Excellent food with interesting cocktails. Highly recommend the jalapeno margarita
c. c.Always enjoy coming here for a chilled drink. Good tequila selection. Bar staff very helpful.
L. Ö. D.Great service, recommended personal favorites and had an good eye of when we wanted more service. really tasty food!! Only negative was the loud music but if you're into that, don't hesitate.
I. H.great margaritas and bday party, thx all ! :)
C. F. D.Amazing cocktails, best spicy margarita I ever had !!!
D. C.Very cozy and welcoming. The wait for a table was not long. The food was good and the drinks great. Only issue is there was only one bathroom stall for the whole bar. Other than that, great.
T. d. L.Had a great time here on a date with my partner.
Staff is super bubbly and friendly; trying to upsell without being annoying about it. The menu is good and food is well prepared.
The place itself has a great ambiance and does a good job of making you feel like you've stepped into a hidden part of Mexico without going overboard with sombreros and other stereotypical props that you would see elsewhere.
Have margaritas when you're there! Try a classic margarita with Don Julio Blanco tequila; it's the best.
s. s.Excellent bar. Drinks were great, bartender very good. No idea of food. We will be back
A. C.Love this place! Best tacos I've had in the UK and good value for the quality. Only downside is the expensive drinks...although they do have a daily happy hour if you get there early enough!
N. C.Had the place to ourselves for a bit, unfashionably early I guess.
Ended up having a boogie and enjoying lots of non-threatening male company, loved it!
R. C.One of my favourite Mexican restaurant in Soho. 'Quesadilla Rustica' is yumm.. no need to say about margaritas. I had been there over weekends and it was very busy. Need to book in advance.
Btw, don't get confused with it's entrance though ;)
L. S.Tasty food, amazing margaritas (one with jalapenos is my favorite), great atmosphere and friendly staff. A little bit overpriced for the portion sizes but still worth going. Don’t forget to check out downstairs for a good night out!
T. T.Food was good but not great - so a bit over priced. Atmosphere was relaxed and the staff were welcoming and friendly. Would go back for a pre-dinner cocktail rather than a meal.
C. L.Good food, and nice atmosphere but prices are too high for what it is, and service could have been better.
S.We loved it. Loved the entrance completely took my husband by surprise.
the food was super super tasty!
the waiter was just the most helpful.
have booked already to go back:)
can't wait!!
G. M.Great Mexican food. Fresh and tastes great. Staff were super friendly. Will be going back!
F. D.Lovely place. Good food. Take your friends there. It's always a nice surprise
D. Y.Great date night place, incredible cocktails and food. From the outside it looks like a sex shop. I highly recommend going
A. D.The food was nice but fairly average and a bit overpriced but I've rated my experience higher because our server was so nice and friendly. They helped us with choosing our order and was very attentive with filling our glasses and checking we were okay.
D. N.Great food, cocktails and atmosphere! Highly recommended! Remember to use the right door...
C. B.I would defo recommend this place to friends. The Food was fresh and tasted good. The drinks are top. Normally drink with my partner but chose a virgin cocktail and it was amazing.The only reason I wouldn't give it a 5,is because it is slightly over priced and the seats are too close together.
T. M.We were disappointed by the service at this restaurant, where we found the staff pushy and reluctant to apologise after making a mistake on our order. It's a shame as the food was good, albeit somewhat overpriced.
B. K.Food and service is good and bar is great. Nice vibe. Just a bit pricey for what it is. But if you don't care about the bil at end of the night go crazy.
P. K.Very cool restaurant. We sat downstairs and there was a great vibe, dark and fun, with an entrance which looked like a sex shop/peep show. The food and cocktails were good too but quite pricey so more of a treat. Good location in the heart of soho
P. D.Quirky, great food ambience and excellent service. Would recommend and definitely return. Love the entrance by the way, it certainly freaked out some of our party!
C.Upstairs is chilled and downstairs is like a really fun party! We didn’t eat but the place was full and the drinks were superb. Great for a dinner with a bit more atmosphere and fun than normal! Recommend and plenty of places to keep the party going nearby.
N. S.Lovely restaurant and bar with a great atmosphere. The food was good and the service even better.
S. H.Absolutely love this place. Great entree and good Mexican food. Friendly staff.
s. h.Great service, and the food suggestion by the waiting staff were spot on. Would definitely recommend it. Would advise to book ahead and it can get busy.
N. S.Nice atmosphere, but they haven't heard about air conditioning. Nice food, but too small portions. Nice waiters, but they are always bothering you. Go there, but don't expect too much. This place is BUT
M. M.Food was good but the service was definitely not decent. A bit expensive for the portion as well.
j. s.First impressions were a little??? Once inside it was great. Good atmosphere fantastic food and great staff. Highly recommended
S. G.Service was great, waitress recommended the tuna tostada and it couldn't of been more right it tasted amazing. We chose the tacos (can choose 3 different ones for 18) great value for money and again filling and tasted good. Alcohol was pretty expensive but would definitely come back.
D. Y.Great date night place, incredible cocktails and food. From the outside it looks like a sex shop. I highly recommend going
J. C. V.Nice atmosphere, but the food quality and prices aren’t quite there. Not very authentic in terms of actual Mexican fare, there’s better options out there at this same price range. The margaritas are also surprisingly bland.
L. Ö. D.Great service, recommended personal favorites and had an good eye of when we wanted more service. really tasty food!! Only negative was the loud music but if you're into that, don't hesitate.
P. D.Quirky, great food ambience and excellent service. Would recommend and definitely return. Love the entrance by the way, it certainly freaked out some of our party!
I. T. C.Just brilliant. We wanted a few tequilas before we went out but the bartender's basically used us as their guinea pigs and their experiments were delicious! Excited to go back.
A. C.Love this place! Best tacos I've had in the UK and good value for the quality. Only downside is the expensive drinks...although they do have a daily happy hour if you get there early enough!
E. B. H.(This review is for the basement restaurant, not to be confused with the street-level part of La Bodega Negra.)
Great, lively place with very good Mexican food, well hidden behind a rather garish strip joint facade. The restaurant itself is dark and loud, with a rustic interior, with little In common with the entrance.
Staff were fairly efficient and with a hint of attitude, but not in a bad way. Our waiter was knowledgeable and gave recommendations that fit our group well.
I'd recommend the classic margarita there, using a smooth, aged tequila, as well as the soft shell crab tacos and tostaditas with tuna.
Prices are not the lowest around, but considering the tastes and the atmosphere, it's absolutely worth a visit if you're ever in the neighborhood.
D. G.Amazing food, amazing place, amazing atmonsphere. One of the best places I've been to in a while. Totally recommend it!
D. W.Visited on a Saturday evening when things were at their peak. Found the atmosphere to be fun and buzzing. The food and cocktails were good, as was the service. I'd definitely come back.
R. L.Amazing food - fried chicken tacos are a must. Staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back soon.
k. f.The food is great, atmosphere is amazing but most of all, the staff. The staff is just superb! Very attentive, informative and fast. Taco Tuesday with tequila cocktails FTW.
R. B.Great food, really tasty - but a bit pricey and very packed in for dinner.
L. G.Decent tacos, good cocktails and friendly staff. Food was a little expensive and not the most refined Mexican around, but good nevertheless.
C. 9.Relaxed great atmosphere and lovely food. Service was friendly and attentive
A. S.I thought the food was good but TINY portions! I had to keep buying more and more to feel full. Also it was very dark and not as busy as I would have liked for a Friday night.
T. M.The food was delicious and the staff were wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
E. M.The place is good, but I can't say the same for the service - they just really need to think about it. The prices are also pretty high for what you get. 3 stars from me.
M. B.Fabulous little place selling genuine authentic Mexican food. Very cool vibe with great waiting staff who explain the courses to you if you aren't sure what they are. Very tasty tacos that aren't too large. My wife and I had 6 tacos and then ordered 3 more. It was a hot day so they had the windows open which gave it a nice buzzy atmosphere even though it was lunch. Great food and friendly helpful staff.
G. S.Such a good atmosphere! In a place from which the outside looks like a strip club dance place ... very unassuming. And the menu is very special too
m.This is one of my favorite Mexicans in London! The drinks are amazing and there is always something new. The food is also very good with great vegetarian options available, too. Turns into very cool bar later at night
A. S.The best margarita I’ve ever had
U. M.Brilliant food. Fun atmosphere. Great cocktails.
A. D. G.Went to the restaurant for a Birthday dinner. Very good and polite service, even got a dessert with a candle. Fantastic pork belly and guacamole. Only catch is that you (reserve) get the table for 2hours only.
E. S.Really cozy place with friendly staff but small and overpriced portions.
M. C.Really good service, great atmosphere and food was great... What more could you ask for!
K. P.Great place!
Went in with prior recommendations and would definitely say we had a great time. The MEZCALLTA was terrific.
The food wasn’t too spicy but they have super sauces to suit your spice levels!
Service was OK nothing to write home about TBH!
It’s a cool spot in a cool part of London.
Go check it out!
A.Really friendly front of house, food isn’t worth the money. Size of portions and quality isn’t what you’d expect for the price
L. G.A very fun place to take someone for a surprise if you go in the right side of the building! (The sex shop entrance!) it offers good sharing food but I wouldn’t say the food is the focus, it’s the quirkiness.
S. E.Food good, not outstanding. Atmosphere nice enough, quirky / gimmicky / fashionable hidden entrance & facade. Prices ridiculously high for a group / set menu. Rip off to put it mildly.
F. F.One of my favourite restaurants in London. Brilliant food, not badly priced for the quality, and cool decor. I love surprising people who don't know about it and get slightly freaked by the outside sex shop/strip club appearance.
j. b.Cocktails and food were both really good. We was in the cafe and atmosphere was good
F. A.Great Mexican food. Really satisfying with a temping drinks menu
T. B.Menu is small but the actual grub was tasty. Good atmosphere and a good place to have some cocktails. It's right next to the palace theatre so ideal if you're grabbing an early bite before a play.
R. v. d. S.The quickest and best service I've seen in a long time. I'm from Amsterdam, where service doesn't exist, so that isn't saying that much... But also a really awesome /tasty place
I. T. C.Just brilliant. We wanted a few tequilas before we went out but the bartender's basically used us as their guinea pigs and their experiments were delicious! Excited to go back.
V. W.Great decor and atmosphere. Tacos were yum and service was great.
S. C.Really great service and yummy food! Would recommend!
D. P.Very good cocktails, especially the piscos, and excellent food. The girl that served us was very friendly and pleasant.
D. C.Good food. Slow service. Disappointing about the fruit flies all over the windows... !
P. B.A great cozy place with a nice bar area, ideal to take a date, a bit pricy though.
P. D.Fun surroundings but the food is very overpriced for what it is. I think there's better Mexican food in London but it's fun going here for the novelty sex shop factor
S. S.Had the set menu pre theatre. Tasty and filling for a good price. Very busy, funky and good service.
C. B.Great food and friendly staff. A little gem hidden away will definitely use again when visiting London.
S. K.Great food, easy going, nice atmosphere.
J. A.Vivid atmosphere, great service, yet lacked some basic Mexican dishes
E. C. J.Staff was a bit too cool to serve us. Manager place our food order and I thanked him and asked if I could order more good, but he has left in a swift.
V. C.The food was nice, lovely tacos (really) and they test and try new flavours, that makes them special.
The margarita flavour of the day is awesome, one f the best margaritas I have ever tried :)
F. M.The employees are very friendly. The food is fast and very good. The price isn't very expensive
B. V.Always a cool spot we had a few light dishes and drinks. Food was very good and the aperol spritz was lovely.
E. D.Amazing Bar! Definitely a hidden gem and i would advise everyone to visit.
G. K.Perfect place! Loved the Mexican "Vivan los Muertas" decoration inside, drinks and environment in general
M. G.The ambiance is great the appetisers tiny and mediocre but the desserts amazing
S. K.Recommended. Can veganise most meals by removing items off. But still be ready to pay full price
B. T.Great atmosphere. Enjoyed the crab burger. Great service. Very speedy and friendly. Great location.
R. M.I loved this place, I like the cheeky Soho setting (looks like adult shop). I like downstairs and being surprised by chilled, but stylish restaurant. I loved jugs of Margherita, the music and the food. The place has a great atmosphere. I had soft shelled crab, pork belly both melt in mouth and wonderfully cooked vegetables.
E. C.Prices are a bit high but still a nice place. Loved the burritos.
V. F.Loved my food (soft shell crab) & that the waiter recognised a hangover & offered us "Mexican water" (tequila!) which we took him up on. Nice restaurant but unsure about unisex toilets. Would definitely visit again though.
D. P.Great service, excellent drinks but pricey food for what it is.
J. M.Had an amazing time. American national, went here the last night I was visiting London and the food, drink, and atmosphere were a great finish to a great trip. Definitely a pricier option, but not too out of line with the London norm. The tuna ceviche was a particular highlight. This would be a great place for a date! Definitely a unique restaurant
J. M.Grear food and great staff. Very nice presentation.
J. H.Great Mexican food; the tacos are really nice. Good cocktails too
A. C.Fun, underground speakeasy bar and restaurant. Upscale Mexican food and amazing cocktails
E. E.Cool venue with good food and drinks, even if it's a bit overpriced.
Y. S.Nice atmosphere but nothing I ordered was tasty....
R. E.We visited La Bodega Negra on a Monday night. What a fantastic experience! Right from the start the service was brilliant.
Our waiter (David) was brilliant, he took time to welcome us and introduce himself. Going through the menu he told us about the favourites and asked us what we were feeling like and then proceeded to give excellent recommendations.
The food came out was excellent, hot, fresh and tasty. The cerviche and pork belly were amazing.
The drinks were a little expensive, but they tasted amazing.
If you're looking for a restaurant with an amazing atmosphere, great service and food you can't go past this place.
S. L.Really cool Mexican restaurant where the entrance is secretly located through an adult shop! For me it is the perfect date spot, the neon signs add a bit of mystery and when you go down to the quirky restaurant underneath it will not disappoint. Had some great food and a lot of beers! One thing to note is there is a cafe of the same name round the corner, when booking be sure you book the correct one.
J. C.Great night at the restaurant. Foods was wonderful as were the cocktails.
I. M.Nice little basement bar and restaurant serving some excellent tequila and mescal based cocktails.
G. W.Cosy little spot, and lots of books to read
G. M.Walking through what I thought to be a sex shop en route to my dinner was a little disconcerting, but within minutes I was totally immersed in the awesome atmosphere of this place! The food was incredible - that slow cooked lamb especially...! Had way too many margaritas, but that's a testament to how delicious they taste and how charming the staff are! Wee bit pricey, but worth it for an occasion!
B. K. (.Good food, amazing drink and make sure to play "the wheel" :)
H. E. D. A. M. C.Nice and cosy place to have food & drinks with friend
D. P.Fantastic lamb dish. Not cheap but the best I have had in ages Starters were great as well.
S. T.Tagged a long day of walking and before seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, this was the perfect place to eat. The food was wonderful, the drinks very satisfying, and price was reasonable!
M. T.Great Mexican with a limited menu that cashed in the appeal of a porn shop frontage. I feel it's amplified demand from its 'gimmick' selling point only heightens the expectations that it finds hard to meet.
I would go again - but with such a limited menu I would have to leave it to another season and maybe a quieter night to get the intimacy of an environment I had read about and hoped for.
K. C.Cool bar in the heart of soho. Staff is young and fun, would recommend
C. R.Small selection of tasty food and a lively atmosphere
S. A.Amazing food. Bomb cocktails. Leave room for dessert.
d. e.Good vibe in a relatively chill atmosphere. Well made drinks and pretty good tacos.
M. L.Friendly staff, always buzzing on a Friday night (when we end up here, after after work drinks) with just the right mix of bar/cocktail and restaurant that makes you feel you are still out enjoying yourself (but not so young that Eating is Cheating). Nice selection of food, enough choice for veg/pescetarians. Will come again.
P. C.It's my girlfriends favourite place. Great
Atmosphere - Great cocktails
M. A.Nice atmosphere and tasty food, but nothing amazing, especially at the price they're asking. I went to the dark underground restaurant, not the diner. The service was confused and chaotic, the space far too cramped and too dark (couldn't read the menu!) and the staff a bit aloof and inexperienced.
For example, was told that dishes would be served as they were finished in the kitchen, not served for the group at the same time. I asked whether there would be a big gap between any two dishes so no one in the group was sat without dinner too long while others ate. The waitress looked liked I'd asked her whether the chef could do handstands.
Oh, and the stinginess of the portions was pretty insulting given how much they were charging, and you had to order a bunch of sides just to make a full meal.
Anyway, an interesting, but overpriced dinner out.
P. E.A must place to eat! The atmosphere and hospitality is just 1st class!
E. B. H.(This review is for the basement restaurant, not to be confused with the street-level part of La Bodega Negra.) …
F. U.Kind staff, nice environment.
A. B.Nice food and cocktails. Friendly staff.
D. F.Lovely food, pleasant ambience. Reasonably priced.
K. S.Great Mexican food, frozen margarita was delicious. Really cool exterior.
B. B.Great food great atmosphere..young vibe
B. T.Great cocktails but the crab burger was not that good, you could taste the deep fried breading but not the crab.
S. I. D. L. C.Lovely cocktails,interesting and creative mexican food.
J. M.Great place for tequila lovers, friendly staff. Needs a bit of maintenance and cleaning.
S. K.Delicious authentic Mexican food and an extensive tequila menu! I'll definately be back!
R. S.Really good experience, excellent staff! Great Mexican vibes😀
M. D.Good atmosphere, food good, I would recommend the crab tacos they were fantastic . Discretionary service charge of 15% is a bit of p*** take to put on the bill, this isn't America.
C. R.Dreadful amaretto sour. Good food, not amazing, just not worth the price tag. Just lacking much actual flavour (apart from the tequila sorbet!) Service was great and they really looked after me being a coeliac.
P. L. P.Food is delicious and the service is fantastic!
O. C.Cool vibe and pretty well hidden, drinks can be expensive though
E. R.This place, while a little over priced, has a great atmosphere and a really excellent tacos. The barstaff are especially knowledgeable about mezcal so do take advantage of that when ordering your margaritas!
G. H.Food wasn't as good as previous visits and they brought all our starters and mains at the same time even though we specifically ordered them as starters and mains. Won't be rushing back.
S. K.Great food. Something different. 9 Old Compton street.
P. G.Great selection of tequilas and mezcals. Friendly staff and late opening with a great underground bar.
T. N.Good Mexican food joint with lots of athmosphere and cool vibes. Great for groups. Good for dates.
A. D. B.I’ve been here twice now and been pleasantly surprised both times. I’d heard from reviews and friends that it wasn’t as good as it’s L’esquina counterpart in New York – which I’ve also been to and thought it was great. And whilst it may be considerably smaller and the ambiance isn’t quite as good, it’s still pretty stylish and I thought the food was delicious. Also seemed slightly less pricey than L’esquina and it seemed to have a good range of options. Although it tends to be quite busy and you usually need to book, the second time I went they were able to fit us in because of a cancellation and you could drink at the bar before. In some ways this was better than most places in soho – where you have to queue for ages! Because I don’t think many other people think to do it or know it’s there.
T. M.Amazing place to get Mexican place with resonable prices. Try the vegetarian burrito.
A. M.Nice place to go for an impromptu drink. Good buzzing music without it being too loud.
M. A.Good food for a nice lunch. A bit expensive
B. Z.One of my best experiences overall in London. Amazing food, music, vibe and people. A must do! Bonolo, South Africa.
S. R.Distinctly average. A Mexican colleague of mine described the food as fairly average, not bad as such, but the service was chaotic and we all had our mains at different times, and before our starters. I think there are better Mexicans out there.
M. G.Waited along time for food to arrive, and I was not impressed after it arrived, very basic for the cost
W. W.Good food for reasanable price, but small portions. The cheescake was really yummie and the atmposphere is really nice. Will definetily come back!
R. B.Service is good and the quality of the food was great.
B. A.Quirky very cool decor and a very bizarre entrance....food is good, staff are cool and drinks are very good. Music is loud so not good for a quiet chat!
H.My favourite place for midweek cocktails and dinner.
M. S.The entrance to this loud, club like restaurant is deceivingly behind what looks like a strip club entrance. The more casual restaurant is on the parallel street so make sure you're booking at the correct one.
J. C.Excellent service and friendly staff, food is excellent
L. M. H.Unique atmosphere and delicious true Mexican flavored meals.. good music and fine tequila/mezcal selection. Try the Chiles Rellenos with Quinoa
R. I.The crab tacos are a must order and the guacamole is incredible but, as with other reviews, a hefty bill to pay! The interiors are great and service was very attentive but if you're on a budget you won't be making a habit of going!
J. M.I walked past about 3 times before plucking up the courage to go in as it really does look like you're walking into a Soho sex shop. Even when I got in the door I still wasn't sure as there is no sign that this place is a restaurant until you start walking down the stairs, but I guess that is all part of the fun. The décor when you do get downstairs is really lovely – my friend and I were thinking how great it would be to hire out the big table in the mirrored booth area. The food was good, but the menu was not as big as I expected it to be, I almost felt like there wasn't enough choice. The stand out dish for me was the tuna ceviche and the margaritas were fabulous. #Irishtini
M. B.the best mexican food and also amazing margaritas
a. n.Amazing food but very expensive and little choice
T. C.Small food, big price, average flavour.
f.Bodega Negra Restaurant is not a secret anymore. The hype around this 'prohibition dive/restaurant' underground joint is long gone. The bar is still okay, but if you have dinner be prepared to be rushed and hustled for food and drinks. They hit you with everything ordered right away so most food will get cold quickly. Quality is still okay, but could be better for what you have to pay. It's a mixed bag. It's very stressful if you are on a date which this restaurant should be the perfect location for. Do it once and see it for yourself. Pro tip: Get the roasted corn cob. Best item on the menu.
L. B.Great tequila cocktails, great food and atmosphere.
D. L.Quite compact and not asking food, good but more expensive than it needs to be
C. B.Let's face it; the real fun is downstairs. It's dark, it's busy, and it serves an excellent selection of tequila & mezcal. Always warm and friendly, and an even better sit-down menu. That's not to say that the bar snack menu is to be ignored; their very decently priced soft-shelled tacos are absolutely delicious and extremely more-ish. They go very well with the margaritas which to me are second to none.
S. H.Nice staff but mediocre food. Wahacca has much more tastier food & cheaper.
L. V.The cocktails are delicious and the mixologists at the bar are happy to share their wealth of knowledge and make some reat recommendations. Perfect for a weekend affair or a casual Sunday lunch. The food is fresh and exciting and the staff are friendly and attentive.
S. M.we went with a 50% discount because they just launched their new menu and it was OK. Not worth full price, even though the service was nice. Same size as Breddos or Al Pastor, but thousand years away in terms of flavour and quality. I think I rather do Wahaca.
A. A.Nice atmosphere, delicious food😍 Exotic entrance..
T. B.It's a secret!
S. N.Bustling location, ok food and a too sweet Margarita.
A. D.Delicious but small plates. Get some cocktails!
F. A.Very nice concept and the Tequila menu is impressive
D. R.Nice cocktails
M. W.We got to the cafe at 17:30 and there were plenty of seats available. It was a warm day, but all of the huge windows were open so there was a cool breeze.
The frozen margaritas were really refreshing and tasty. We also ordered a Malbec, which was lovely but quite expensive for a 175ml glass.
The quesadilla, which is in the starters list is huge (about the size of a pizza) so it's more than enough for a main. Although we asked for some chicken to be added, which cost £5, which is extortionate for the amount we got! It was tasty, if not a little too cheesy.
The tacos were excellent and a good way to get a variety of flavours.
A meal for 2 came to £80, which was too much, but other than that it was a nice experience.
n. p.I quite liked lunch La Bodega Negra - the huevos rancheros with rib-eye was genuinely delicious although perhaps slightly too spicy for my liking. The restaurant interior is funkier than most, i think this makes the place better suited to more lively evening dining than to lunch. Pretty good.
A. M.Decent cocktails. VERY expensive though
K. K.Very good cocktails and music
T. L. P.Great menu; Nice staff
J. W.Fresh food delivered fast! Great cocktails! 🍸
L. S.Noisy and tightly packed, but staff was nice. Sadly I found the meat a bit on the dry side and the cocktails on the small side.
B. B.Awesome place! would go everyday if I lived in London
S. D.Amazing atmosphere. Got to try the cheesecake
S. -.I really enjoy the Chilaquiles. Mexican comfort food at it's best
Z. P.After a bit of confusion as to whether we'd booked or not (we thought we had, they thought we hadn't), we got a lunchtime table easily. I choose the mushroom tacos and a pink grapefruit juice. Now I've had tacos at another Mexican restaurant before and enjoyed them but wasn't exactly over-awed... these on the other hand, were crazy delicious. The kind of yumminess were you want your friends to have a taste (so they can share in how good it is) but not too big a bite! I also tried some of my friend's quesadilla, which was so laiden with toppings it looked like a pizza. It tasted pretty darn good too. Food aside, this place is achingly cool – it's a bit of a designer's dream. One thing to note, if you try coming in through the back entrance, its neon signs suggests this is an entirely different establishment than it is – more a house of disrepute than a Mexican restaurant, just in case you get confused!
P. L.Called in for dinner on a Friday night and had a great table by the window – perfect for people watching outside. Tried the Mexican white wine (a first for me) and it was really enjoyable. The soft shell crab burger (£12) was lacking in flavour overall and I found the black beans side too solid. However the chicken and lamb tacos were delicious, as was the chicken main course. The tequilas are the highlight here though – especially the coffee favoured one.
S. T.The neon lights in this restaurant attract you there like a seedy fly. This place is cavernous but tiny at the same time - I can’t get my head around it, but no matter the seat you are cloaked in a magic candle lit darkness that just urges you to be a little naughty.
Naughty, is what this menu is - Mexican ( obviously ) - the food is fresh and tastes it, the spices in the chicken made us all moan in enjoyment… and the cocktails… mojitos coming out of our ears, enough for us to draw a tequila gun and say…ARIBA!
D. A.Great Mexican tapas and good tequila selection.
R. V.Good food, nice Margarita cocktail
H. K.Cool venue and food's good
K. D.Really good lunch deal (2 courses, £9.90) and delightful waitresses/waiters. I had the quesadilla as a starter and the chicken burrito as a main. Both were delicious and the burrito was huge! My lunch company had tacos as a main and ice cream for dessert. The tacos were tasty, albeit rather small. As ice cream flavour, my companion went wild and chose avocado, which wasn't the greatest idea he's had in a while. This was the first time we tried avocado ice cream, so perhaps it is supposed to taste like this, but according to me, it tasted as if they had flavoured butter with an old avocado, amplifying all that is bad about avocados.
Avocado ice cream aside, this was a very nice visit and I would still recommend a visit to this place.
M. N.Great to get back to LA BODEGA NEGRA. Always a great evening :)
E. R.Amazing atmosphere and food.
R. C.Great place for cocktails, love the atmoshephere.
A. H.Very quirky and the cocktails are very nice
A. B.Always good vibes and great food
S. G.Come here for the cocktails. Best pisco sour in the world. Really.
S. S.Food was already, service not that much to be honest...
S. H.If you are reading this you have found the hidden level. And obviously you should go down the rabbit warren...
s. r. s. i. d. e.I had a very good taco. Thanks guys!
K. G.I'd been meaning to visit La Bodega Negra for ages, so when I finally got round to visiting, I had quite high expectations. Despite calling a mere 15 minutes ahead, the waitress had no recollection of my booking - which made for an awkward start - however at lunchtime the place was half empty so we didn't have any trouble getting a seat.
I had expected the decor to be a bit more... dark and sumptuous I suppose, but it was quite Wahaca-esque with bright and cheery posters on the wall. The food was a good surprise as it was really very different from any Mexican food I've had in London before - my quesadilla came flat, rather than rolled up, so that it looked more like a spicy pizza. The tacos were also super tasty too - they came with soft wraps rather than crispy Taco Bell-style things that fall apart. Overall, this is a nice spot for lunch, but if you're looking to impress there are better places in Soho.
H. M.Great vibe and Maitre D’ was extremely welcoming and accommodating. The food is excellent and over all a restaurant to visit. The watermelon are phenomenal. I did have to tell the American tourist at the nest table to STFU, as I didn’t need to here her gripe about comparison to American dining. My only snafu was waitress brought us a round of shots and them immediately took them back whe. We were celebrating a birthday. But that was reflected in her tip. But that’s not a reflection of the food and atmosphere. The food comes quick and fast and cou,d really improve their salsa verde recipe. Ok not great_
W. J.Best Mexican bar in the area
C. J. C.Perfect margarita, nice chips and guac, tacos very nice. Valentina!
M. J.Lovely mexican food and drinks. Style: trendy fusion. Only minor thing: they wanted me leave my shopping bag in the coat check. I refused bc i had just bought some expensive electronics and didnt want leave it. Became a thing and i had to hide the bag it was in.
T. A.Staff are always friendly and welcoming - the tacos and tuna tostadas are my FAVE!
m. r.Tacos molto buoni! tacos very good taste!
M. d. B.We had drinks in the basement, good atmosphere but NB flip flops not allowed
L. M.Me and a friend had dinner here, and really enjoyed ourselves.
I was taken aback by how bold the outside of the restaurant was - walking into an apparent strip club in Soho on a Wednesday night is not something I frequently do. Reaching downstairs however, I was pleasantly surprised by the relaxed, casual atmosphere, the dimmed lighting and the attentive staff.
We were promptly shown to our tables, where we sat on comfy sofa cushions. To drink I ordered the 'Medi Noche Mexicana', and although it was suitably coffee-tasting, I couldn't really taste the vanilla. It was a refreshing drink without a doubt, but not an excellent one - and this feeling the cocktail evoked of 'something missing' foreshadowed the meal to follow.
To eat, my friend and I shared Lamb (w/ Drunken Salsa) Tacos, Braised Beef (w/ Salsa Picante) Tacos, the Pork Belly and New York Striploin with Potatoes (w/ Mole Negro) and Pinto Beans (w/ Chorizo) on the side. All the food came very quickly, which we appreciated - and gave us confidence when ordering more.
The tacos were incredible - biting into their soft shells caused the fillings to drip out seductively, and the meats inside were deeply fulfilling. These were probably the highlight of our meal - however, they were tiny. Paying £13 for 4 tiny tacos felt a bit steep.
The Pork Belly was good - tender enough, with a rich accompanying salsa that was great to mop up - but the crackling was gooey rather than satisfyingly crunchy or crispy. The Potatoes were moreish cubes of joy, but the Mole Negro took away from their flavour. And the Pinto Beans - like the salsa - was a delightful lubricant to the entire meal, but I couldn't taste any Chorizo at all.
All in all, La Bodega Negra provides an enjoyable meal with bites that have the potential of perfection, but never actually reaching it. If you're in Soho and want a quick and tasty Mexican meal in a different location you can do much worse than La Bodega Negra.
Our meal came to roughly £40pp inc. service charge
A. W.I had dinner sevral weeks ago, it was small sized restaurant in the basement and seemed busy even it was Sunday evening. The restaurant from outside perfectlly macthed with Soho atmospher,sign says'SEX SHOP'. It's brilliant. Food was modern fusion Mexican, I would like to say. It was a bit pitty that there was small choice of the menu. Maybe the restaurant is meant for more cocktail drinkers... Overall, I enjoyed this edgy restaurant in soho. :)
R. H.Nice place, not what I expected at all
J. M.Like a smaller version of Wahacha. Great if going in smaller groups and want somewhere a bit quieter than Wahacha but offering the same type of thing.
A. J.Great fit a pre-theatre snack and drink
L. B.5 of us went in for the lunch special. Some of the lunch items were tiny. The food was nothing spectacular.
D. P.Nice wine and lots of tacilas to try
I. D.Amazing food, great environment
P. R.Food was okei. However, the staff was rude.
B. C.Fajitas great, tacos excellent, margaritas tasty, table service great but kitchen service poor (food being cooked and brought out separately with inexcusable delays eg my main was cold by the time my wife's was brought out, starters arrived after mains...). The ceviche was a disaster, it was raw fish, had not been cured in lemon or lime...?!?! I hope that was someone's lack of prep and not their recipe! Relatively pricey, but I guess that's due to the location.
A. B.A very average Mexican diner. We were quite disappointed as all the hype about Bodega Negra and its "cooler" big brother on old Compton street really suggested they were something special. The cocktails were, admittedly, quite nice, but the meals were lacking in flavour and were quite small. It was too dark in there to properly read the menu and when we did bring the candle closer it didn't really help much as a lot of it was written in Spanish. One of the things we ordered was a chorizo torte and black beans, but about five minutes after ordering we were told they didn't have either chorizo or black beans, which was rather disappointing... Overall an OK experience, I suppose, but definitely wouldn't go again.
P. M.small selection, mediocre and somewhat pricy
S. S. T.La Bodega Negra - this could easily have been a one star review were it not for the impeccable service, the location, and the Don Julio-laden margaritas.
Firstly the ambiance - is it a bar, a nightclub, a restaurant? I am unsure, and I think they are too - if you are having a meal, consider trying to have a conversation somewhat unrealistic!
Secondly, the food - as a huge fan of the various flavours and spices of Mexico, I was severely disappointed: the tuna tostadas tasting of nothing but the corn tostada, the soft shell crab being equally flavourless, and the slow roasted lamb barbacoa lamb being so bland (not to mention being chilled by the air-conditioning) that it did Mexico a great disservice.
The saving graces were service, which was incredible. Our waitress ensured that our water glasses never emptied and the margaritas kept flowing. The margaritas themselves were lovely too!
£185 for probably the worst Mexican meal I have had in London - save yourself a few pounds and get yourself over to El Pastor!
R. S.Great food and service.
A. M.Nice experience n superb location
H. P.Disguised as a brothel so you have to be brave to walk in but once you do its so cool
D. F.Amazing food! Amazing cocktails!
H.- Tacos crab & braised beef
- tuna ceviche
- quesadilla cheese
- tuna tostadas
- grilled corn
- ribs
e. m.The best restaurants I've ever been to in terms of décor and cool factor, we were sat in a what I can only describe as a cardboard flavela. Its was spooky, fascinating and so well crafted. Something like a Mexican nightmare before Christmas. The staff were beautiful, I think they picked the hottest people in London but also helpful and charming.
The drinks were extensive, strong and expensive. The food was very good, some unusually dishes all very well cooked and fresh.
The highlight was seeing Heston Blumenthal the next table - you know it has to be good if he's eating there
a. D.It's a "must go at least once" but Hour Will comme Back !
Event plate in the night ...
L. D.Always sit at the bar is my rule of thumb for most bars or restaurants with a half decent cocktail menu. The same applies here. The staff are great, and the male staff generally respectful (not too laddish or pervvy.) The pisco sour is sublime. The food is nice, but in my personal opinion, is too commercial to be considered great Mexican/Latin-American fare. I want tamales, blue chips, cactus bountiful bowls of fresh guac. Portion size is always an issue in London, but with Mexican food I just expect more. It's still worth it for the pisco and service!
O. R.Really good Espresso Martini coctail!
M. S.Super nice food!
C. P.Eating and drinking in a electric latin atmosphere
M. F.The mezcal drink called Pepino is amazing.
C. T.Nice coctails good location
L. V.amazing taco’s, very cute place and friendly staff
I. D. O.Great barmen, great atmosphere
M. B.Nice place for small groups
s. k.Expensive
A. x. g.Very nice posh hotle
J. G.Prices didn't reflect the quality
I. V.Nice Mexican restaurant
F. A. D. D.It was a Tequila Promotion with Telented Mexican Artists exhibition
S. E. I.Great tequila selection.
R. B.Always a great experience
S. M.The lamb was absolutely delicious!
N. B.Friendly and laid back
O. A.Deep dark and very memorable
K. P.Best tequila in London!
D. T.Nice food.
O. M.Very, very worth the visit.
E. F.Nothing special - expensive for what it is.
V. A.Great atmosphere.
J. B.Best tacos in London
Ü. Y.Great margaritas!
E. N. (.Cool place in Soho
M. G.Decent mexican
H. J.Great ambience; service & staff friendliness were on point. Not the best Mexican cuisine I've had in London but definitely up there. Try the chimichurri broccoli! I'm a carnivore for life but it was outstanding. Definitely give this place a go if you're in the area
M. B.Go for the Tequila
R. A.not bad
F. R.Excellent!
E. Y.Love it
c. f.Loved it!
M. D.Great!
J. B.Great food and service.
k. 8.Good
y. y.Perfect
S. A.Awesome
M. L.Perfect
Contact
Photos
