The best pre-theatre dining in London

Gilgamesh sits just across the street from St Martin's Theatre and sets the stage with an intricate, luxurious backdrop inspired by Babylonian myth and legend. The pan-Asian restaurant's pre-theatre menu features your choice of two or three courses, with options including the likes of sushi rolls, Thai green curries, and cheesecake. 

The Seven Dials branch of Hawksmoor has a pre- and post-theatre menu, ideal if you're a meat lover. It's even been ranked as one of the best pre-theatre dinner spots around. Steaks here are recognised as some of the best out there, and you can get a taste from the express menu with choices like potted beef, steak frites, and chocolate tart. Choose two or three courses.

Located near Piccadilly Circus, Ham Yard Restaurant is a vibrant and style-conscious space that boasts unique interiors by designed Kit Kemp. A two or three course set menu that includes a glass of champagne is available and it's ideal for pre-theatre dining. The dishes are fresh and seasonal and celebrate fine British produce.

A restaurant from popular Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi, Nopi is an airy brasserie serving the distinctive Middle Eastern flavours he's known for. Dishes on the pre-theatre menu change frequently and are intended for sharing - think marinated olives, roasted maple beetroot, and seared ox tongue. Wine pairings are also available.

Award-winning Bocca di Lupo is a stripped-back restaurant specialising in indulgent Italian dishes like antipasti and fresh pasta. When you want a pre- or post-theatre meal, there's a monthly-changing two course offering that you can add wine to. Expect classic pasta dishes and fresh salads, plus an Italian wine list.

All-day bistro Nessa serves seasonal British recipes and offers diners a number of menus. The Nessa Express menu is an ideal choice for pre-theatre, designed to get you to your seats on time. You get two or three courses and a glass of champagne, with the option to add extra sides. The setting is classic and comfortable.

A meal in a grand Art Deco brasserie is a great start to a night at the theatre, so check out Brasserie Zédel. Whilst there’s no dedicated pre-theatre menu, there’s a two or three course prix fixe menu that’s ideal. Expect traditional French options like chopped steak and chocolate and caramel tart.

Covent Garden's most beloved brasserie makes for an elegant pre-theatre stop. While there isn't a dedicated pre-theatre menu, the prix-fixe is served until 7pm, perfect timing before a show. Expect French favourites such as duck liver parfait, chargrilled halloumi and a warm chocolate brownie, all in a grand, Parisian-style dining room. For those heading out later, there's also the post-theatre Onglet steak frites with peppercorn sauce, available from 9pm onwards – a classic way to round off the night.

Visit Sushisamba for high-end Japanese dining in spectacular surroundings. The contemporary cuisine here is inspired by Japan, Peru, and Brazil. A three course pre-theatre menu is on offer, with options like taquitos, ceviche, a variety of vibrant sushi rolls, and desserts like mochi. The menu includes vegetarian choices.

Italian restaurant La Ballerina is close to the Royal Opera House, and has an elegant ballet and opera theme. They're so used to theatre-goers that you can spread your meal throughout the whole evening - starters before the show, your main during the interval, and a coffee at the end of the night.

Considered perhaps the most romantic restaurant in London, a pre-theatre meal at Clos Maggiore is a great way to begin a special night. A two or three course pre-theatre menu with champagne is served, with starters like spiced red lentil soup and scallops followed by main courses like risotto or pork loin. You can expect highlights of contemporary French cooking.

In Covent Garden there's Cora Pearl, an elegant restaurant for upscale British dishes. Its location is ideal for pre-theatre dining, with a dedicated menu of two or three courses – dishes change according to the seasons. The restaurant even checks which show you're going to in order to make sure you're done feasting on time.

Four days a week, Spring serves a menu using waste produce and surplus ingredients between 5.30 and 6.30pm, making it an ideal early dinner for theatre-goers. All of the food is seasonal at this modern restaurant in Somerset House, and this unique pre-theatre menu might include pasta rags or roasted vegetable scraps.

Head to The Ivy Market Grill for al fresco dining in the heart of Covent Garden. There's an elegant interior as well as the coveted terrace. A set menu is served all day that's a convenient choice before a show, with international dishes like cauliflower soup, shepherd's pie, and a plant-based burger.

If you want bold British dishes for your pre-theatre meal, Pivot is worth checking out. Set in a two-storey Georgian townhouse, there's a casual café space on one floor and a relaxed all-day restaurant on the other. There's a three course pre-theatre offering that you can add a carafe of wine to.

Each branch of Café Murano has a lunch/theatre menu, with the Covent Garden restaurant being particularly well-placed for theatre fans. Choose from two or three courses like stracciatella with courgettes or squid ink risotto, with suggested wines available too. This one is worth considering if you’re an Italian food fan.

Opened in 1977, Joe Allen is a favourite with theatre devotees. It's a classic restaurant with an authentic New York atmosphere. The set menu works for lunch or a pre-theatre dinner, with easy-going choices like seasonal soup, chicken pot pie, and ice cream. Cocktails and international wines are also served here.

Get the evening off to a romantic start at Pierre Victoire. Set in the heart of Soho, this venue is low-lit, intimate, and popular with theatre-goers - a set menu is available for a convenient meal. Expect contemporary French and European dishes like gnocchi, steak, and duck confit. The wine list includes European vintages and bottles from elsewhere in the world.

Run by three brothers, Blanchette has a relaxed and familial atmosphere, creating a warm space to enjoy French bistro classics. Try the two or three course set menu for lunch and pre-theatre, with dishes changing regularly. It includes tempting options like confit duck leg cassoulet or mussels. There are original and classic cocktails.

Sucre brings flame grilling to the heart of London with its elevated Latin American recipes. This restaurant and bar is modern yet opulent. As well as the main menu, a more concise range of dishes is offered for lunch and pre-theatre. Expect small and large plates like mussels with chorizo and sea bream.

As its name and location suggests, Prix Fixe Brasserie is a popular spot for pre-theatre meals. With low lighting and exposed brick, it's great for an intimate dinner. Choose the set menu and you have plenty of options for each course, plus you can add steak, cocktails, or side dishes.

Enjoy classic and contemporary Indian flavours at Cinnamon Bazaar. This place offers a menu for early and late dinners that's ideal for before or after a show. Choose from dishes like pork belly, chicken curry, and the award-winning lamb rogan josh shepherd's pie, served in vibrant surroundings.

Sael, tucked away in St James's, is a sleek but down-to-earth British restaurant that makes an ideal pre-theatre stop before heading into the West End. The marble-and-brass room feels smart without being overly fancy, and the central bar keeps things lively with cold pints and cocktails. Chef Sam Mills (formerly of Pollen Street Social) puts British produce front and centre, with dishes like wood-fired figs, Cornish lobster, and perfectly charred British steaks cooked over wood fire. The menu changes with the seasons, but it always feels comforting and classic.

The pre-theatre menu at Wild Honey St James is an affordable way to sample a Michelin-starred meal. This refined restaurant has marble tables and a luxe finish, and serves distinctive modern European cuisine. Wines from throughout the world, including England, are also on the menu at this venue.

With well-considered interiors and eye-catching decor, Brumus is a striking setting for a meal. European dishes are served in this lively environment, including a set menu that makes a convenient choice for lunch or pre-theatre dining. You get two or three courses of fresh seasonal dishes such as soup and sirloin steak.

The Delaunay won't just give you a tasty pre- or post-theatre meal – they offer you tickets and dinner packages to certain shows as well. Whether you book a package or just a meal, you can sample European dishes in a timeless restaurant. Expect classics like smoked salmon, grilled spatchcock chicken, and caramelised rice pudding.

Just a short stroll from the Prince Edward Theatre, 40 Dean Street serves theatre audiences and locals alike with hearty Italian fare, from handmade pastas and freshlyl-baked pizzas to sizzling grilled dishes. Inside, the warm, intimate setting makes for an ideal pre-show meal, while in fair weather the pavement tables provide a lively spot to soak up the atmosphere before curtains-up.

The Tower Bridge and Soho branches of Gunpowder have pre-theatre menus of punchy Indian cuisine, with the Soho branch being ideally placed for theatre fans. These are contemporary dishes like beetroot croquettes and tandoori paneer. You can choose from two or three courses and also take advantage of this menu at lunchtime. There's a big choice of wines and signature cocktails.

With a recognisable green exterior, Le Garrick is a charming French restaurant known for attentive service and regional French recipes. The food here is unmistakeably French, and pre- and post-theatre dining is available in addition to the main menu. You'll find classic dishes like warm goat's cheese salad and moules frites, plus French wines.

Seafood restaurant J Sheekey may not have a pre-theatre menu, but they welcome theatre-goers. Tell staff when your show starts and they'll ensure you eat in plenty of time. Behind the restaurant's iconic red exterior, there's a classic dining room with a horseshoe-shaped bar, where dishes like their infamous fish pie are served. They also offer a post-theatre menu for later sittings, perfect for unwinding after the curtain falls.

Just around the corner from Southwark Playhouse, Paladar brings Latin American vibes to Elephant and Castle with its bright art-lined dining room and leafy courtyard. The early-evening pre-theatre menu keeps things light and quick, featuring gluten-free sharing plates like ceviche, crispy arepas and rich duck mole. Wines and cocktails come from across Latin America, and service moves at the right pace to get you to curtain-up on time. It's a lively, friendly spot that turns a show night into more of an occasion.

Start your evening with a refined Italian meal at Norma. This intimate and style-conscious restaurant offers a number of menus, including a pre-theatre selection. Guests can sample two or three courses of classic Italian dishes like caponata served with crostini, pasta recipes, and gelato to finish. Seasonal cocktails and Italian wines are also served here.

Not just near the National Theatre, but right in the heart of it, Lasdun comes from the team behind the award-winning Marksman pub. The restaurant, inspired by old English grill rooms as well as its riverside location, serves seasonal menus featuring plenty of seafood and meat, as well as Marksman signatures such as the brown butter & honey tart. Two or three-course pre-theatre meals are available.

Popular rooftop restaurant and wine bar Forza Wine expanded to the National Theatre with its largest location to date in 2023. Just like the venue in Peckham, guests can expect great views, indoor or al fresco dining, and a natural wine list paired with small plates. Larger groups can order the entire menu and private dining facilities with one long table are available.

The Portrait Restaurant, located in the National Portrait Gallery, showcases acclaimed Chef Richard Corrigan's European and Irish influences with a focus on seasonal, local produce. Offering stunning views of Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament, it provides an ideal setting to enjoy a curated menu or pre-theatre dining. Highlights include dishes like crispy goat's cheese, lamb belly with aubergine purée, and desserts such as ginger and quince steamed pudding.

It doesn't get more convenient than dining at the actual theatre where you're about to catch a show. Served in the elegant Grand Saloon, the three-course menu at Theatre Royal Drury Lane features seasonal British dishes with modern flair, including options like ox cheek bourguignon, classic fish pie, and indulgent desserts such as sticky toffee pudding. As the only West End theatre offering a full dining experience before a show, it provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening in Covent Garden.

At Caravan, you'll find a stylish all-day eatery with a mix of indoor and al fresco seating. The restaurant group was originally launched by friends who share a passion for travel, reflected in the globally influenced menu. The Covent Garden restaurant near Gillian Lynne Theatre offers a two or three-course pre-theatre menu at an affordable price, with choices including the likes of brick-roasted chicken or coconut red curry.

Farzi in Haymarket is serving up a special pre-theatre menu, perfect for a quick yet flavourful two-course meal before catching a show at the Criterion or one of the other theatres within walking distance. The menu includes a choice of five starters, five mains, and two desserts, including dishes like Wagyu beef kebabs, prawns in spicy mustard curry, and a burrata salad with grilled nectarine. With bold flavours and elegant presentation, it's a timely and tasty option for theatregoers.