Where To Have A Pre Theatre Dinner in Covent Garden

Covent Garden has been a centuries-long haven for culture and arts lovers. As well as being home to the prestigious Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, the area has over twenty theatres, from the small and indie-friendly Arts Theatre to the world-famous Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Of course no evening out is complete without a good meal, so we’ve collected our favourite spots on where to have a pre theatre dinner in Covent Garden; any of these eateries is sure to set you up perfectly for a show.

Twenty Places for Pre Theatre Dinner in Covent Garden

Mon Plaisir

If you’re feeling continental it’s hard to beat the atmosphere at Mon Plaisir, which is London’s oldest French restaurant and has been serving amazing cuisine française for over half a century. It has four rooms to choose from, each with their own theme, and offers a lavish menu of traditional French dishes including - mais oui - a wide selection of wines.

Hawksmoor Seven Dials

For a hearty meal before your show, Hawksmoor Seven Dials can be found in the old Watney-Combe brewery on Langley Street. As well as its extensive meat and seafood menu - veggies will want to steer clear! - this spot also offers an express menu specifically for pre or post theatre meals.

Temper

This mouth-watering steakhouse is a must-try for consummate carnivores! Temper butchers all its own steaks in-house from slow-reared and pasture-grazed rare-breed British cattle, and serves only cuts from each whole beast rather than bringing in pre-packaged steaks. There’s an open kitchen and spacious terrace, and the real corn tacos are well worth a try.

Margot Restaurant

For classic Italian fine cuisine it’s hard to beat Margot. The setting is elegant, the menu is seasonal, everything is fresh and the wine list runs to over three hundred options. As well as lunch and a la carte there’s a pre-theatre set menu option, a range of signature cocktails, and the dessert options include homemade ice cream, sorbet, or artisanal Italian cheeses.

La Ballerina

Situated right next door to the Royal Opera House, La Ballerina really is in the heart of the theatre district. They offer both pre and post-theatre meals, including options that serve starters before the show, mains in the interval and desserts with coffee after the finale - a great option for opera lovers. The homemade pasta and Italian salads are well worth a try, and even the dough for their pizzas is made freshly every day rather than frozen.

The Delaunay

Get a taste of the grand cafe-restaurant hybrids of middle Europe at the Delaunay on Aldwych. The Counter bar and cafe offers a lovely spot for drinks and lighter bites, or indulge in the full pre-theatre dinner menu with a wide range of Germanic dishes from rich stroganoff to stuffed courgettes. Don’t forget to try the Franz-Joseph before you go; this famous Austrian dessert is not to be missed, although you might struggle to decide between it and the divine apple and cinnamon strudel!

Cafe Koha

Located right between the stage doors of Wyndham's Theatre and the Noël Coward, Cafe Koha is an ideal spot for a bite before a show. There’s a fixed price two-course pre-theatre menu, with a selection of classic dishes all from locally-sourced ingredients, including corn-fed chicken breast, rib-eye steaks and the famous KOHA burger. Veggies can dive into the deliciously creamy wild mushroom risotto, and there’s even vegan ice cream on offer for afterwards.

Le Garrick

Head back to the continent with Le Garrick, a Covent Garden institution popular with the theatre crowd and placed on the list of London’s top romantic restaurants every year. The food is all regional French classics, ranging from traditional recipes to modern twists, and there’s a very reasonable fixed price two or three course pre-theatre menu, too.

Frenchie Covent Garden

Combining an elegant touch of Paris with the electric mood of London, Frenchie Covent Garden is a modern French brasserie with a seasonal menu and open air terrace for al fresco dining. Enjoy the lunch or pre-theatre set meals, explore the a la carte options or dive into a five-course tasting menu, which also comes in a purely vegetarian variety, and indulge in an expansive selection of cheeses after your main meal.

The Ivy Market Grill

Get a taste of old-fashioned glamour at the Ivy Market Grill,which offers terraced dining and private rooms in the heart of Covent Garden. The menu is a mix of British comfort food and exciting international dishes, including both vegetarian and vegan options as well as breakfast, lunch specials, cocktails, and cream teas. Be sure to try their mini chocolate truffles even if you aren’t normally a dessert person - the salted caramel core is divine.

Tuttons

On the east side of Covent Garden, overlooking the historic markets, sits Tuttons. This is the place to go for a classically English menu with all-British ingredients, from apple cider and onion soup to veal escalope or slow-cooked pork belly, with everything from crème brûlée to eton mess for dessert. There’s also a fixed price two or three course pre-theatre dinner option, or private dining for larger parties having a special night.

Smith and Wollensky

Another one for meat-lovers, Smith and Wollensky is a classic American-style steakhouse found close to the riverside in Covent Garden. From butcher burgers to an astonishing 900g Irish Tomahawk steak, there’s something to satisfy the most enthusiastic carnivore. More impressively for a steakhouse the veggies haven’t been forgotten; the delicious salads come in ample portions and there’s even a tofu risotto for something to get your teeth into. Don’t miss the wide selection of after dinner whiskeys and dessert cocktails if you’re after a good tipple before your show.

Simpsons in the Strand

Serving traditional British dishes since 1828, Simpsons in the Strand offers a touch of luxury in the centre of Covent Garden. The Sunday roasts in particular are a terrific indulgence, and don’t forget to swing by the bar too for a range of both classic and contemporary cocktails loaded with quintessentially British flair.

Christopher’s

With a martini bar on the ground floor, dining area on the first and private club on the second, Christopher’s gives a real taste of classic American glamour from the moment you step inside the grade II listed building that houses it. There’s a weekend brunch as well as a varied menu with a premium air; from wagyu beef burgers to grilled lobster to tofu sweet potato and coconut curry, there’s something chic for everyone’s taste buds here.

Cafe Murano

Offering Italian-inspired cooking with a modern and sophisticated twist, Cafe Murano is a must visit for pasta aficionados. Everything is ethically sourced from suppliers with sustainability at their core, and if you end up falling in love as deeply as we did you can even take home some of their ingredients with their meal kits and hampers.

Opera Tavern

It’s always tapas time at the Opera Tavern, a Spanish and Italian-inspired bar and restaurant on Catherine Street in Covent Garden. Enjoy a range of seasonal dishes featuring fish, meat and veggies, delve into the range of charcuterie and cheeses for an upmarket bar snack, or grab one of the set menus which offer sharing dishes from sea bream ceviche to roasted artichokes.

Boulevard Brasserie

Right in the middle of the opera quarter in Covent Garden, Boulevard Brasserie offers both traditional afternoon teas and a classic French brasserie menu, including options for pre-theatre dinner and prix fixe. From coq au vin to sweet potato casserole, there’s also an ample selection of desserts to choose from, although we think you’d be mad to pass up on the sinfully divine Belgian chocolate truffle cake!

Sushi Samba

At the Opera Terrace on top of the grade II listed market building, Sushi Samba offers gorgeous rooftop views across the piazza alongside an eclectic but delicious mix of cuisine. Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian culinary arts are combined here for an absolutely unique menu selection that includes tempura, churrasco, anticuchos, sushi, moqueca, seviches, and much more.

Palm Court Brasserie

Get your art nouveau on at Palm Court Brasserie, a loving recreation of 1920s Parisian style with an intimate air. There are some great veggie and vegan options here - we’re particular fans of the delicious chickpea ratatouille - along with continental and brasserie staples from roasted sea bream to beef bourguignon. The lunch and pre-theatre menus come in two and three courses, and be sure to try their excellent champagne cocktails while you’re there.

Augustus Harris

Heavily inspired by the bàcari of Venice, Augustus Harris is primarily a wine bar and coffee shop, but if you’re after something lighter for your pre-theatre dinner then their range of crostini, paninetti and spuntini dishes make for a marvellous way to line your stomach ahead of a show. There’s also a huge range of cocktails and wine on offer, including a rather lovely Cabernet Franc rosé with delicate floral notes that pairs excellently with brioche.

Make an offer and stay nearby

Take in the open air culture and chic marketplace vibes of this unique area of London before enjoying an evening show; these picks of the top places to have a pre-theatre dinner in Covent Garden make for a great set of options for all ages and tastes. While you’re exploring the capital check out our guide for visiting the foodie-rich paradise of Brick Lane, and don’t forget to check out how to make an offer on a hotel room with hoo for a bargain on your next stay, wherever it is.