Princi
Price guide: Budget
135 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0UT
Loading map...
#42 of 115
expert-rated restaurants in London- Recommended for:
- Backpackers / Students, First-time travellers, Singles, Design and architecture, People watching, Shopping, Trendiness
Expert review of Princi
Beloved haunt of many a top London chef once they’ve taken off their whites for the evening.
I haven’t been to this Italian bakery, café and takeaway for quite a while. Oh, I’ve tried, but every time I walk past it’s heaving with customers – and rightly so: there aren’t many places in the West End serving food of this quality so cheaply, or so stylishly. Princi is a joint venture between the Milanese bakery chain of the same name and London-based restaurateur Alan Yau who founded Busaba Eathai across the road and Yauatcha around the corner, among other ventures. Very importantly, it’s open all day and serves food until midnight most days.
Food and drink:
Cabinets displaying colourful goodies (biscuits, tarts, salads, pasta, pizza and more) stretch around two sides of the room. The sweet things and fresh-tasting pizzas are very keenly priced and tend to hit the spot – I’ve never been wowed by the breads baked next door, mind. Heartier hot dishes cover the likes of lasagne, aubergine parmigiana and osso buco and are generously portioned.
Ambience:
An ultra-glamorous granite and marble temple (with water feature) that nevertheless manages to be egalitarian and informal. Tourists love it, but so do locals.
Service:
The crowds and multiple service counters means things are often chaotic.
Location:
Central Soho, within easy walking distance of the shops of Carnaby and Oxford Streets, and the theatres of Shaftesbury Avenue.
Price advice:
It’s up to you: pay just a few pounds for coffee and cake, or go for the hot dishes that are still well under a tenner.
More information on Princi:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Brasserie, Deli, Takeaway
- Food:
- Italian, Pizza, Snacks
- Address:
- 135 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0UT
- Telephone:
- 020 7478 8888
- Website:
- http://www.princi.co.uk
- Serves:
- Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner
- Opening times:
- Mon-Sat 7am-midnight, Sun 9am-11pm.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Reservations:
- Not possible
- Free tags / Keywords:
- Alan Yau, bakery
