Guide to outdoor restaurants in Covent Garden

Sushisamba is a trendy spot located on the famous Opera Terrace. It's got a view of the piazza and the east side of the market thanks to its glass roof designed by Eric Parry. The outdoor vibes even continue inside, thanks to the bar with a living canopy ceiling. The real standout feature remains the outdoor terrace. It's perfect for soaking up the sun and enjoying awesome views while eating sushi and other Nikkei delicacies.

Parsons is a popular seafood restaurant with outdoor seating. It offers a menu dependent on the catch of the day, featuring whole fish and seafood dishes like smoked salmon with Guinness bread. The restaurant is small and cosy with a bright and sleek white-tiled interior, oak panelling, and a marble island where beer and wine are served. The outside terrace is perfect for languorous lunches.

The Ivy Market Grill is a charming eatery in the heart of Covent Garden, featuring an outdoor terrace surrounded by lush greenery. The interior is equally inviting, with stylish leather banquettes and tasteful wood furnishings. The restaurant serves an all-day menu featuring brunch classics as well as all-day dining options. Using seasonal ingredients, the dishes are given a modern twist whilst retaining their classic flavours.

Ave Mario is famed more for its over-the-top interior than for being an outdoor restaurant, but you can still enjoy decadent Italian food on the terrace outside. The menu changes monthly but always includes Italian staples like pizza and pasta. The extensive wine list includes Italian wines and the signature showstopper dessert is a Gelato Tower. 

La Goccia is an Italian restaurant located known for seasonal menus based on the ethos of slow food. The restaurant offers indoor seating with views of the open kitchen and wood-fired oven, as well as outdoor seating on a spacious terrace surrounded by plants and flowers. The menu features contemporary Italian dishes made with ingredients sourced from independent producers, including the family farm. In addition to the food, the bar serves fine wines and signature cocktails.

J Sheekey is a renowned seafood restaurant that has been serving up delicacies from the ocean for over a century, making it a staple in London's West End. The elegant wood-panelled interior behind the iconic red façade offers a variety of seafood dishes, from oysters and caviar to lavish platters featuring an array of oceanic delights, plus classic dishes like the signature fish pie. The restaurant also boasts an outdoor seating area and a central crustacean bar.

The Petersham is a haven of greenery, offering a luscious setting and authentic Italian food. With an emphasis on sourcing the highest quality produce, this restaurant is committed to using organic and ethically sourced ingredients. The menu features light dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients. A verdant courtyard is available for al fresco dining.

Tuttons is a must-try for traditional British cuisine. This well-established restaurant with outdoor seating has a laidback bar and private dining areas suitable for different group sizes. The decor exudes timeless elegance, and the restaurant boasts views of Covent Garden. The seasonal menu includes favourites like chicken liver pâté and fish and chips, with breakfast and pre-theatre dining also available.

VyTA is an Italian restaurant and cocktail bar with unique outdoor dining areas, including a private terrazza overlooking Covent Garden. Inspired by 1960s Italian architecture, the design-led venue boasts bold colour choices, striking velvet furnishings, and geometric patterns that create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. VyTA offers an authentic Italian menu with a contemporary twist, taking inspiration from the Roman countryside and nature's raw elements. 

In the heart of Covent Garden, Louie is an elegant townhouse restaurant that offers a sophisticated dining experience blending the cuisines of New York, New Orleans, and Paris. With a chic ambience, the restaurant has welcomed stars like Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet. It regularly hosts live jazz in its dining and bar areas. Louie offers outdoor dining on its terrace.

Le Bab redefines kebabs with a gourmet approach, Michelin-honed techniques, and an emphasis on seasonal, ethical ingredients and free-range meats. Their menu offers mezze alongside sophisticated versions of the street food staple, complemented by cocktails and wine. The restaurant's outdoor seating area makes it ideal for summer events, including weddings, receptions, and corporate gatherings.

Piazza at the Royal Opera House is a stylish and welcoming restaurant that offers sustainably sourced British-inspired dishes made from London's finest market produce. Guests can dine in a newly refreshed dining room that showcases the rich heritage of the building, or enjoy outdoor dining all year round on the weather-proof terrace, with a stunning view of Covent Garden thrown in for good measure.

26 Grains is a contemporary restaurant with outdoor seating that offers a wholesome dining experience suffused in hygge. Their simple breakfast menu, which includes options like porridge, ragu on sourdough, and smoked salmon plate, is served all day. In addition, they offer a small selection of drinks. You can enjoy your meal in the cosy interior or at one of the streetside tables.

Strongly opposed to industrial farming, the Temper steakhouses provide a haven for conscientious meat enthusiasts. Their unique approach involves in-house butchery, right in the heart of the dining space. With open kitchens and fire pits, the art of barbecuing is transformed into a form of entertainment. The Covent Garden branch features a spacious outdoor terrace for those who wish to avoid the smoke.

The Oystermen specialises in serving modern British seafood in Covent Garden. There's a rustic and homey interior with rugged exposed bricks as well as a terrace for al fresco meals. Naturally, raw and cooked oysters are on the menu, plus other seafood-focused dishes like spicy crab thermidor and squid ink risotto with braised cuttlefish.

Boulevard Brasserie boasts an old-school classic look both inside and out. Pavement tables are available or you can sit in the simple and refined indoor dining space. A choice of menus are on offer, including options for children, showcasing classic French cooking. Open since 1991, this place is an enduring hit on the food scene.

Modern British restaurant Cora Pearl boasts a sleek interior with green furniture and a matching marble-topped bar, but outside seating is also available on the terrace. This style-conscious restaurant serves elevated versions of comforting British classics like lamb rump and bacon chops. Sunday roasts and pre-theatre meals are also offered here.