Bar Italia is an Italian café located on Frith Street in the Soho district of London.

On 26 January 1926, John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of television at 22 Frith Street, the building where Bar Italia is located.

In November 2010, it was announced that Dave Stewart and Ian La Frenais were writing a stage musical about the cafe which will be called Bar Italia.

"[4] In July 2011, British artist Ed Gray unveiled a painting of Bar Italia featuring patrons Rupert Everett and John Hurt.

[5][6] In an interview Thomas explained he chose Bar Italia for this portrait "because I like being there, I go there regularly, I feel comfortable there....theres a bohemianism in this place and its full of memories of mine since I was a lad".