Guide to the best restaurants in Covent Garden

The go-to solution for many a Londoner’s first date, the charming Clos Maggiore conservatory is considered to be one of the most romantic dining establishments in London. It’s certainly hard to disagree when you’re sitting beneath cherry blossoms next to a roaring log fireplace. The menu changes seasonally and speaks the language of love as well, beginning with oysters and running the full gamut of contemporary French-inspired cuisine.

Designed to overwhelm the senses with a combination of elaborate decor and fresh takes on Italian classics, Ave Mario invokes the spirit of that country's trattorias, but with a contemporary twist – just check out the Italo disco toilets to see what we mean. The menu changes monthly, but you can always count on Italian standbys such as pizza and pasta, as well as the signature Gelato Tower, a giant ice cream cake they cut right at your table.

A regular sight in Asia, Din Tai Fung’s meticulously crafted dumplings have become a global specialty in and of themselves. Carefully crafted according to the restaurant’s high standards, they’re regularly hailed as the best in the world and come with various fillings, with the classic being the pork version. The Covent Garden branch is the first in the UK and occupies a stylish venue surrounding a central stairwell and subtly arranged into different areas that are both intimate and open.

Talented young chef Adam Handling’s flagship restaurant Frog provides an upmarket chef’s table experience around an open kitchen. You’re guided through a tasting menu that showcases the best of British ingredients in dishes with theatrical flair and emotional connections to Handling and the team. The courses focus on British cuisine and are also available in a vegetarian version, with optional wine pairing as well.

At the Spring restaurant, located within Somerset House, head chef Skye Gyngell is in charge of seasonal menus that change daily and showcase quality produce. Their two- or three-course set lunch option and à la carte menu are complemented by an innovative “Scratch” menu. It’s available for just one hour in the evening and made from waste and surplus ingredients to address the issue of food waste.

An exotic getaway in Neal’s Yard, this relaxed restaurant and wine bar is inspired by Morocco and Andalusia. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring a plethora of North African flavours and exhilarating ingredients. The Barbary Next Door’s wine list focuses on Moroccan, French and Spanish vintages, or you can try a harissa Bloody Mary or traditional mint sharbat soft drink instead.

The Dishoom in St Martin’s Courtyard successfully applies the formula that’s made the chain such a hit – stylish furnishings, here leaning towards pastel hues, and Indian street food classics, updated for a fine dining setting. The dishes include favourites such as freshly baked naans, biryanis and the signature house black daal, as well as a special unique to the location and inventively crafted cocktails that also span a sizeable selection of teetotal tipples.

Next door to The Barbary Next Door, this spot has punters queueing up regularly in Neal’s Yard for a shot at one of the coveted bar seats behind the counter around The Barbary’s central kitchen. The eatery’s dishes bring together Middle Eastern and North African cuisine and they are in high demand, so space is indeed limited. If you manage to get through the door, you can treat yourself to delicacies such as Jerusalem bagels, black salmon dukkah or chicken shawarma.

Cora Pearl’s stylishly green interior tantalises with an elevated take on British comfort food, with classics such as pork belly with apricot and parsley, or sea bream with aubergine and samphire. The Covent Garden eatery is a popular spot not just for Sunday roasts, but also for dining before you head off to see a show, as it offers both a dedicated pre-theatre menu and a concise lineup of intriguing house cocktails.

The simple Barrafina concept – an open kitchen with bar seating, where you can observe the preparation of Spanish tapas staples – tortillas, Iberian pork cheeks, ham croquetas, patatas bravisimas and more – is honed to a point at the Adelaide Street branch. The daily specials here might include suckling pig, tuna tartare and almond tarts. If you can’t get a spot here, consider trying the Barrafina in Drury Lane, just on the other side of Covent Garden.

The lush plant-filled environment of The Petersham provides a verdant haven for organic Italian cuisine in the centre of London. Focusing on the quality and origins of the produce it uses, it’s committed to ethically sourced ingredients for its light dishes such as asparagus risotto or cod with mussels. Afternoon tea and a tasting menu are also available.

Its red canopies a landmark of Covent Garden, Rules has been a fixture of London dining for over 200 years, with numerous celebrities frequenting its lavishly decorated interior. Offering classic game delicacies such as rabbit and guinea fowl from its own estate, as well as other traditional British dishes like steak and kidney pie or Eton mess, Rules showcases seasonal British produce at its finest, in a luxurious setting to match.

Considered one of the top American restaurants in the capital, the glam Christopher's encompasses a Dining Room, Martini Bar and separate Club Room for private events. The menu features stateside favs such as grilled lobster, steak and blackened shrimp, with cheesecake, fudge brownies and other hefty desserts to indulge your sweet tooth. The scrumptious weekend brunch is available in a limited version on weekdays, while the martinis range from classic to decadent.

Ikoyi is a sought-after London restaurant led by chef Jeremy Chan. It offers a unique culinary experience, blending West African inspiration with international influences and a commitment to sustainable, seasonal produce. The restaurant's stylish contemporary decor and carefully crafted tasting menu make it a top destination for gourmands seeking evolving, original, and authentic cuisine.

Parsons, a compact eatery with tile-clad walls and high-top tables, brings a hint of maritime tranquillity to Covent Garden, even though its dishes have incited a feeding frenzy among the city’s seafoodies. There's a lot going on, from whole fish to dishes such as shrimp croquettes and smoked salmon with Guinness bread, but as the menu depends on the fresh catch of the day, you can never be too sure what's in store.

This contemporary restaurant serves a simple breakfast menu throughout the day, with choices like porridge, ragu on sourdough or a smoked salmon plate providing a wholesome meal that’s full of hygge. There’s also a small selection of drinks. For diners looking for cosy food on a cold day, 26 Grains continues to be a popular destination.

A landmark of London theatre dining, The Ivy is furnished with green banquettes, a collection of contemporary British art pieces and stained-glass windows surrounding a central bar. The menu highlights traditional British classics such as shepherd’s pie, deep-fried haddock and chips and steaks, as well as a selection of international favourites and a dedicated vegetarian and vegan menu.

Serving up delicacies from the deep for well over a century, J Sheekey has become as much a part of West End's theatre scene as the shows themselves. Behind the iconic red façade, the beloved seafood establishment offers more or less anything and everything you could pull out of the sea, including oysters, caviar and classics such as fish 'n' chips and fish pie. During lockdown, they also added a central crustacean bar.

Using a gourmet approach and Michelin-honed techniques, the Le Bab team has been redefining kebabs throughout the capital. Kebab Queen is their buzzy chef’s table experience, assembling reimagined doner and shish kebab bites right on the counter in front of you, in a hidden basement kitchen that’s suffused in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

A well-regarded Italian restaurant with a stylish contemporary interior and a simple menu, Bancone makes its pasta in-house. You can choose from traditional dishes like cacio e pepe, courgette ravioli and smoked duck breast, accompanying them with a signature cocktail or something off the curated wine list that includes rare vintages. Private dining is available at Bancone too.

Hoa Sen is a family-run joint on Drury Lane with a lengthy menu of Vietnamese specialties, for example spring rolls, rice bowls, stir fries, hot pots and pho noodle soups, including many veggie variants. Pick and choose off the à la carte menu, or order a three-course set menu. Highlighted by a scene-stealing pink tree in the front, the stylish spot also offers wine and Vietnamese teas.

A stately dining establishment suffused in Italian class, Margot’s leather booths, dark-hued furnishings and dim lighting toe the line between comfy casualness and suave refinement. The restaurant specialises in classic Italian dishes from all over the country, such as swordfish carpaccio with aubergine, burrata, ossobuco and veal Milanese. You can accompany your meal with a selection of signature cocktails or a bottle from the award-winning global wine list.

Acclaimed chef Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Bazaar bundles up both traditional and contemporary flavours in its vibrant dishes, drawing on India’s famed bazaars for its array of spices. You can start the culinary proceedings with some of the popular Indian street food chaat snacks such as samosas and pressed watermelon, then continue with a choice of mains, including a shepherd’s pie that is supposedly among the best in the city. By the way, the cocktail list was crafted by famed bartender Mr Lyan.

Cafe Murano is an offshoot of renowned chef Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred flagship in Mayfair. The Covent Garden eatery offers authentic Italian dishes such as risotto primavera, gnocchi cacio e pepe and arancini in a casual setting dominated by a long dining bar with a marble countertop, surrounded by leather banquettes. You can also order a set lunch or pre-theatre menus, or drop by on Sunday for brunch.

Bringing European classics such as schnitzels, stroganoff, bratwurst and confit of duck to a tastefully furnished setting reminiscent of Central Europe’s grand cafés, The Delaunay is open all day every day. You can pop in for a hearty breakfast as well as post-theatre nibbles and everything in between, while also indulging in a range of classic cocktails from the restaurant’s bar, which include both classic versions and house variations on established concoctions.

From T-bone steaks to ribs and burgers, the Hawksmoor restaurants are the place to go if you’re a carnivorous type. Regularly considered to be one of the best steak restaurants in the country, the proprietors have been helping restore the reputation of British beef in the process. Their Seven Dials outpost is situated in an old brewery and also features an Express Menu for pre- or post-theatre dining.

The 10 Cases aims to be a more relaxed, unpretentious and fairly priced space for wine connoisseurs, ordering only ten cases of a shortlisted selection of wines at a time. The Bistrot a Vin space is furnished with an eye towards simplicity and a warm, welcoming ambiance, serving small plates of French specialties. Next door, the Cave a Vin is a wine bar, shop and cellar that boasts a much larger wine list, including more than 300 bottles from around the globe.

The intimate and Michelin-starred dining experience at Evelyn's seats only a dozen guests at a time. Whilst sitting at the chef's counter, you'll sample five courses from head chef James Goodyear. The dishes at Evelyn's Table blend British produce, Japanese techniques and classic French training, resulting in unique meals with a dynamic wine list and insight into the workings of the kitchen.

Seven Dials Market is a lively food hall from Kerb, a well-known business dedicated to incubating and supporting street-food ventures. In the spacious hall you'll find a changing assortment of buzzy vendors covering different cuisines, a large seating area as well as numerous cosier nooks and crannies, a pair of bars, an event space, and even the Market Bookshop. There's a regular entertainment programme as well, including weekend DJ nights.

The historic Savoy Grill is a glamorous restaurant operated by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. With a blend of classic British and French cuisine with modern twists, it has been a favourite of celebrities, politicians, and royalty since 1889. With an elegant updated look, a golden Wine Room that serves a bespoke wine menu, and a classic chef's table experience, the Savoy Grill is an unforgettable dining destination for special occasions or luxurious nights out.

The Covent Garden branch of Browns, an institution of British dining, serves fresh seasonal dishes throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner. Upmarket dishes such as lobster and steaks are complemented by signature cocktails, fine wines, and other premium drinks. In addition to the standard menu, afternoon tea, bottomless brunch, and roast dinner are offered too. Having undergone refurbishment in 2023, the grand Covent Garden boasts a stunning Art Deco setting, as well as a dedicated whisky bar.

Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles is a part of London's growing number of Chinese eateries dedicated to Xi'an cuisine, highlighting the region's signature hand-pulled noodles and other traditional specialities. The restaurant offers a variety of options, including noodles in different broths, sauces, and flavours, such as the special sesame sauce or the seafood broth. The setting is simple, unpretentious, and authentic.

Providing an authentic cantina experience since 1982, Café Pacifico serves a colourful assortment of classic Mexican dishes, including loaded burritos, sizzling fajitas, and flavourful tacos with various fillings, with vegan, gluten-free, and children's menus available as well. Guests can enjoy a concise wine list or opt for a margarita or cocktail pitcher to complement their meal, while the extensive selection of tequila and mezcal adds to the authentic Mexican experience.

Previously named Floral by Lima, Lima Cantina is a lively Peruvian dining spot featuring an array of South American favourites. A standout is the Pollo a la Brasa, Peru's version of rotisserie chicken. This poultry is seasoned in a unique Peruvian herb and spice mix before being roasted to a smoky perfection in a rotombo, the city's first traditional Peruvian charcoal-rotisserie oven. 

Louie, an elegant townhouse restaurant located in the heart of Covent Garden, provides a refined dining experience that finds its flavours in the overlap of New York, New Orleans, and Paris. The glitzy setting has attracted celebrities like Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, while the restaurant and bar areas offer regular live jazz music. Outdoor seating is available as well.

While two-Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers' main digs, Story, closed for refurbishment, he launched Story Cellar, a counter-style eatery with a focus on Parisian rotisserie chicken, charcuterie, daily specials, and other small plate delights. Those appreciative of a fine vintage will find plenty to like on the sophisticated wine list as well, with the restaurant equipped not only with a Coravin system, but also a walk-in cellar where patrons can store their personal collection.

The Covent Garden branch of Sushisamba treats guests to breathtaking rooftop views of the piazza from atop the historic Grade II-listed Market Building. The restaurant boasts a striking glass roof along the market's eastern side, creating an inviting atmosphere with distinct touches such as a bar with a living canopy ceiling, a high-energy sushi bar, and an open kitchen. Like other buzzy Nikkei spots, the menu takes inspiration from the fusion of Japanese and South American cuisine.

The Gaucho restaurants were launched in the 1990s with a commitment to social responsibility and to offering London the finest Argentinian steak around. With their lavishly decorated Art Deco dining spaces and menus showcasing the choicest cuts, including wagyu beef, Gaucho is a favourite among fashionable, carnivorously minded crowds. The Covent Garden branch also hosts regular live entertainment such as tango performances and DJ nights in its basement space.