The Seafood Bar in Soho – Coastal Chic Meets Soho Buzz
There is something about growing up in New Zealand that wires your soul to the ocean. When you’re raised on fish and chips eaten straight out of butcher’s paper on a windy beach, with salty hair and the sound of waves in the background, finding good seafood in a landlocked city like London can feel like a mission. Enter The Seafood Bar in Soho. 
Housed in a gorgeous 250-year-old grade II listed building on Dean Street, this Dutch-born seafood haven promised to scratch that coastal itch. As a Kiwi who constantly misses the water, I walked through the doors with high expectations and a craving for something fresh, clean, and unmistakably oceanic.
The Vibe: Coastal Chic Meets Soho Buzz
The moment you step inside, the ambiance feels like an urban homage to the coast. It’s bright, airy, and modern, with white tiled walls, warm lighting, and a magnificent fresh seafood counter packed with glistening ice, oysters, and shellfish.
While it doesn’t have the rugged beauty of Piha or the relaxed quiet of the Bay of Islands, it captures that breezy, social coastal energy remarkably well. It manages to feel elevated without being stuffy – the kind of place where you can happily kick back with a crisp glass of white wine and take your time. So I did one leisurely lunchtime.
The Food: Pure Ocean Flavours
The menu focuses on sustainably sourced, super-fresh seafood, cooked with minimal fuss to let the natural flavours shine through – which is music to any Kiwi’s ears.
We started with a selection of fresh oysters, served simply with lemon and mignonette sauce. One bite and I was instantly transported back home: sweet, briny, and tasting delightfully of the sea.
(Sorry for the iPhone photos, but it was a spur of the moment decision.)
For the main event, if you want the full experience, the Combination Platter or one of their famous Fruits de Mer towers is an absolute must. Loaded with everything from juicy king prawns and mussels to crab and delicate grilled fish, it’s a hands-on feast that encourages you to dig in, get a little messy, and savour every bite. Everything was cooked to perfection – the fish flaked effortlessly, and the shellfish was sweet and tender, without a trace of heaviness. And the cheese pull on that Lobester Mac & Cheese? Heaven.
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And for those who appreciate the classic comfort of a good fish dish, their grilled catch of the day served with simple herbs and olive oil strikes that ideal balance between healthy, fresh, and deeply satisfying.
The Verdict
While London will never quite replace the feeling of digging your toes into black sand with a parcel of snapper and chips in hand, The Seafood Bar offers a genuinely fantastic taste of the coast right in the heart of West End. It has to be one of the best seafood restaurants in London, certainly in Soho.
It’s fresh, sustainable, vibrant, and delivered with top-notch hospitality. If you’re an expat longing for a taste of home (they even have a couple of my favourite New Zealand wines), or simply anyone who loves exceptional seafood served in a lively atmosphere, this Dean Street spot is well worth a visit.
- Address: 77 Dean St, London W1D 3SH
- Perfect for: Date nights, people watching, seafood cravings, and longing for the ocean!
- Learn more & book this fish restaurant in London here
