The best live music bars in Covent Garden

The Piano Works is Covent Garden's music bar where all the live tunes are chosen entirely by the crowd. Grab a request slip and scribble down your favourite song (or slip the band a tip to jump the queue), and wait as the house musicians bring your playlist to life. Alongside the sing-alongs, there's dinner, brunch, pre-theatre food and plenty of cocktails. Stick around after the music starts if you're after a more clubby vibe. 

Oriole is a Latin-style basement bar that hits all the right notes if you're after live music with your drink. Upstairs, it's a chilled pre-theatre hangout, but head downstairs and you'll find a cosy stage hosting everything from jazz and world music to cabaret. There's a Latin-American-inspired food menu as well as a cocktail list that's heavy on the mezcal, with plenty of other drinks to sip while you soak up the sounds.

Stereo brings a slice of style to Covent Garden's music scene, with live music, cocktails and top-notch dining beneath the market's arches. It channels Parisian cool, with nightly live music, from house bands to resident DJs, that keep the party going until late. Food includes American-inspired dishes from fire-cooking pro Andrew Clarke (of Acme Fire Cult), while the bar serves local brews, spirits, and a variety of cocktails.

Louie brings a sliver of glitz and glam to the music scene in Covent Garden. This swish restaurant and bar is situated in a chic townhouse in the city centre, bringing together the flavours of Paris, New Orleans and New York. This spot regularly hosts A-listers, including the likes of Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet. As for the music, expect smooth live jazz in the bar and restaurant.

 Mr Fogg's Tavern is packed with quirky curios worthy of the famous adventurer that the bar is named after. Here, they pour proper pints and serve comforting pub grub, but it's not all about the food and drinks. This eccentric spot also hosts a range of live music events throughout the week, including lively Cockney sing-alongs and live music brunches. 

Covent Garden Social Club is a top hangout for live music lovers, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when the piano bar upstairs hosts live music sessions. Downstairs, the basement bar keeps the party vibes strong, with swinging lights and even fire-breathing performers, but it's the intimate, music-filled evenings upstairs that really make this spot special.