Carnaby is hardly short of places to eat and drink, but there’s something about Vagabond’s newest opening that feels particularly at home here.
Opened on Ganton Street in June 2026, Vagabond Soho sits right in the middle of one of London’s busiest pockets. With Carnaby Street around the corner, restaurants spilling onto the pavements and an almost constant stream of people passing by, you can immediately see why they chose the location.
First Impressions: Peak Soho Vibes
The front of the restaurant has huge windows that open almost entirely onto the street, giving the whole space an open-air, terrace-like feel. On a warm evening, there’s very little separation between what’s happening inside Vagabond and Carnaby outside.
Head downstairs and the atmosphere completely changes. It’s darker, cooler and almost cellar-like, with rows upon rows of wine machines lining the room and plenty more seating tucked away below street level.
140 wines by the glass
Obviously, you don’t come to Vagabond without talking about the wine. There are a huge 140 wines to choose from, dispensed directly from Vagabond’s self-service wine machines.
Rather than committing to a bottle or working your way through an intimidating wine list, you can wander around the machines and look for a bottle that takes your fancy.
We explained the kinds of wine we usually enjoy to one of the team, who couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about helping us find something we’d like. After a few questions, he led us to the right section, talked us through a couple of options and showed us how everything worked.
Then it’s basically wine vending machine heaven. Grab a glass, place it beneath your chosen wine, scan your debit card and pour.
There’s obviously a novelty factor to it, but it’s also genuinely practical, particularly if you’re in a group. There’s no awkward splitting of bottles, debating whether everyone wants another round or quietly wondering why your £8 glass of wine is being divided equally with somebody else’s £15 one.
And if you’re not drinking, there are great non-alcoholic options too!
Don’t Sleep On The Food
Wine might be the headline act, but I actually think Vagabond deserves much more credit for its food.
The menu takes inspiration from the Mediterranean, with plenty of dishes designed for picking at over a glass or two. Think more padrón peppers, burrata salad, roasted cauliflower and patatas bravas rather than your standard bar snacks.
We had come before the theatre and took advantage of Vagabond Soho’s pre-theatre menu, available daily from 5pm until 6:30pm, priced at £18 for two courses, with dessert available for an additional £5.
It’s particularly good value considering how substantial some of the mains are. Our steak came with chips, salad and chimichurri, so this is very much a proper dinner rather than a few token bites before a show.
A Wide Variety Of Small Plates
Naturally, because our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, we also ordered a small mountain of extra plates.
The patatas bravas arrived in an enormous bowl, covered generously in garlicky aioli, while the truffle arancini were exactly the kind of rich, crispy little bites you want alongside a glass of wine. The meatballs came smothered in tomato sauce and Parmesan and disappeared embarrassingly quickly.
One of my biggest surprises, though, was the ratatouille. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever ordered ratatouille in a restaurant before, but this arrived looking exactly how you’d hope after watching the Disney film: beautifully layered slices of vegetables arranged into a circle and sitting in a rich tomato sauce. It wasn’t just pretty either. The vegetables still had texture rather than being cooked into oblivion, and it ended up being one of my favourite dishes of the meal.
The steak was another highlight. Cooked medium rare, tender without being chewy and seasoned simply with plenty of sea salt, it also came with chimichurri, which remains, in my opinion, the elite steak sauce.
The roasted cauliflower was also excellent, with pomegranate adding a little freshness.
Cheese, Charcuterie and Sweet Treats
In hindsight, we probably over-ordered.
The cheese and charcuterie boards being delivered to neighbouring tables were absolutely huge and looked like brilliant value. If I were popping in for just a couple of glasses of wine, this is probably exactly what I’d order next time.
There’s also baked Camembert, which is dangerous information for anyone like me who could quite happily eat an entire one alone.
At the time of our visit, Vagabond was also running its limited-edition collaboration with La Maritxu, pairing Basque cheesecake with dessert wines.
Sadly, Jesus Christ Superstar was calling and we were already cutting things ridiculously fine, so cheesecake had to be saved for next time.
One Of Soho’s Best Pre-Theatre Spots?
This might actually be one of Vagabond Soho’s biggest selling points.
Its Ganton Street location is only a few minutes’ walk from the London Palladium, making it particularly convenient if you’re heading to see see a show there like we were.
The food came out in around 15 minutes and, because you can pour your own wine whenever you want, you’re not waiting around trying to catch somebody’s attention for another drink.
We left Vagabond at around 6:24pm for a 6:30pm performance and were still sitting in our seats before it started.
I absolutely do not recommend leaving quite that little margin for error, but it does prove the point.
Don’t Miss This Soho Gem
Vagabond Soho manages to tick a surprising number of boxes. You could come for one quick glass, build your own informal tasting across the 140 wines or settle downstairs with enough food to constitute a full dinner.
Crucially, despite having a concept that could easily veer into gimmicky territory, the self-pour element actually makes the whole experience feel more relaxed. There’s no wine snobbery or pressure to know exactly what you’re looking for, and with genuinely good food, generous portions and a prime Carnaby location, this is one I’d definitely add to the list.
Book your table here.