The best restaurants for lunch in Covent Garden

Providing an elegant, intimate setting that toes the line between laid-back comfort and suave refinement, this stately dining establishment specialises in classic Italian dishes from all over the country. Lunch is a two- or three-course affair, featuring starters such as tomato tartare with black olives and breadcrumbs, mains such as pan-fried cod with roasted pumpkin, and a pannacotta or a couple of scoops of gelato to round things off.

Successfully replicating Dishoom’s formula of atmospheric furnishings and updated takes on Bombay-style street food, the Covent Garden branch of the popular group offers all-day dining. Expect house classics such as biryanis and the signature black daal, along with a location-specific special, the masala fish that’s perfect for sharing over lunch. There’s a sizeable selection of teetotal tipples as well to make sure you can still get some work done afterwards.

The seasonal menus at this Somerset House restaurant with a conscience change every day. Head chef Skye Gyngell is committed to serving quality produce and reducing food waste and plastic usage. The set lunch menu is available on weekdays and includes two or three courses, with options such as spiced rubbed quail with onion squash, marjoram and brown butter, or Fern Verrow broccoli with leeks, black olives and anchovy mayonnaise.

Wahaca, the UK’s first carbon-neutral restaurant group, is committed to sustainability – as well as to great food. The colourful cuisine on offer spans a broad range of Mexican favourites such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas, perfect for a quick mid-work bite. Rainbow bowls and wholefood salads are available also, as are vegan and gluten-free options.

At the Covent Garden offshoot of chef Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant, you can indulge in authentic dishes from the north of Italy. Seated around a long marble-top bar or on the surrounding leather banquettes, you can enjoy a set daily lunch consisting of antipasti, secondi and/or dessert. Expect flavourful dishes such as ribollita bread soup, pappardelle Bolognese or mushroom ragu with polenta and gorgonzola.

With a broad range of sushi rolls and yakitori skewers, the Henrietta Street branch of the popular Japanese group is just the thing for when you want a quick bite for lunch. Different sharing platters of Japanese delicacies are available as well, as are salads for the most health-conscious diners out there. If you’re low on time, you can order your food ahead and pick it up to eat at the office or on the way.

Famed steak and seafood purveyors Hawksmoor are ready for aficionados of heftier lunch fare with a two- or three-course menu. Seated in an old brewery, you can start your meal off with potted beef & bacon with Yorkshires or a smoked-mackerel salad, then continue with 35-day-aged rump or royal sea bream, and finish with gloriously sticky toffee sundae. Veggie options are available as well.

A lively food court run by a renowned street-food business, Seven Dials Market consists of street-food vendors, bars, an events space and even a bookshop. There's sure to be something for everyone here, with options ranging from pizza and pad thai to curries, Filipino specialities and dumplings. Lots of sweet treats and smaller bites are available as well.

Weekday lunch at the Covent Garden branch of this nationwide group includes two or three courses of classic British dishes such as chicken & leek pie, smoked haddock fishcake or sausage and mash. You can enhance your meal with various sides, for example, thick-cut truffle chips or onion rings, and treat yourself to one of the signature cocktails. The grand setting will make every lunch feel like an important workday event.

This plush bohemian brasserie serves French delicacies throughout the day, accompanied by French wines and cocktails. On weekdays, they offer a two- or three-course prix fixe menu featuring entrées such as sweetcorn soup or braised rabbit croquettes. You can choose between mains such as pan-roasted salmon or steak haché, with a crème brûlée, ice-cream macaron sandwich or gateau to finish. Add a carafe of wine or elderflower spritz and lunch away.

Lunch at chef Adam Handling’s Michelin-starred Frog in Covent Garden is a languid, indulgent affair, so make sure you have plenty of time on your hands. You’ll be led through a tasting menu that showcases the best of British produce, with the team explaining the personal connections behind the dishes as you go along. Wine pairing is also available at this lavish eatery.

Offering a refreshing change of pace when you’re in a hurry but don’t want to resort to crisps or a cold sandwich, Kastner & Ovens prepares a nutritious, seasonal salad buffet that changes every day. The takeaway joint also offers savoury snacks such as homemade quiches and sausage rolls and quiches, as well as soups and whatever other hot dish strikes their fancy. The food is fresh, health-minded, flavourful and ready to go.

A project by two long-time friends who took a shot at the indie café business and, judging by the hand-drawn thank-you notes adorning the walls, succeeded, Drury 188-189 offers different salads for lunch, as well as sandwiches and soups. A brunch menu is also available, which is especially handy if you’re big on breakfast but had to skip it.

Having incited a feeding frenzy among the capital’s seafoodies, this snug eatery with tiled walls and small tables features a menu that’s dependent on the catch of the day, so you never know what you’re in for. You can be sure it’ll be fresh and tasty, however, and accompanied by something nice and carb-based. If you’re looking for a hint of maritime leisure for your lunch, Parsons will certainly float your boat.

Jamaican patties, semi-circular pastries similar to Cornish pasties and packed with fillings such as beef, chicken or curried goat, make for an excellent lunchtime snack. Jamaica Patty Co, established with the goal of bringing the Caribbean island’s authentic flavours to London, bakes the patties in-store, and offers several other lunch options such as soups and hot dishes. You can complement them with fresh juice as well.

Koshari Street, a contemporary eatery in Covent Garden, sells Egyptian street food that’s great for when you’re on the move. The titular koshari, Egypt’s national dish, is a grain-based bowl with various toppings, ranging from vegan options such as cooked jackfruit or spicy cauliflower, to meaty ones such as chicken or lamb. You can build your own bowl or choose one of the house options for a healthy, nutritious lunch.

Styled as one of Central Europe’s grand cafes, The Delaunay is a classy spot for a leisurely lunch. The two- or three-course Prix Fixe menu at this all-day dining establishment includes favourites such as borscht, smoked haddock kedgeree with poached egg, and Sacher torte. There are other hearty options on the à la carte menu as well, while the adjoining Delaunay Counter serves classic Alpine fare and also boasts a terrace.

A landmark of the London dining scene, the iconic Ivy features green banquettes, contemporary British art, a glitzy central bar and stained-glass windows. You can choose between two or three courses off the set menu with classic British dishes such as the signature shepherd’s pie, fish ‘n’ chips, or sticky toffee pudding.

Clos Maggiore is considered one of the most romantic dining establishments in the capital, all cosy intimacy, cherry blossoms and roaring fire. The menu changes seasonally, with a typical lunch menu featuring courses such as steak tartare, asparagus & pea risotto, pork belly, rump steak and more. The lunch offer comes with a glass of bubbles included in the price.

With a history dating back more than a century, the beloved J Sheekey seafood establishment serves fresh delicacies from the deep in an elegant wood-panelled interior. The set lunch menu includes maritime classics such as fillet of sea trout, steamed Shetland mussels and red miso & lime broth, or Cornish sardines with garlic, lemon and parsley. Vegetarian options are available as well.

The Covent Garden branch of The Black Penny cafés is split across two floors and features a private dining area that’s just the thing for team lunches. You can choose from a range of small plates and sharing platters, with filled buns available as well. The speciality coffee is sure to keep the energy levels up, and there are alcoholic drinks for celebratory toasts, too.

Spinning off his acclaimed Restaurant Story, two-Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers continues his work at Story Cellar in the quaint Neal's Yard in Seven Dials. The restaurant focuses on Parisian-style rotisserie chicken, along with daily grill and fish specials, charcuterie and small plates for lunch. Story Cellar has counter-style seating, as well as a walk-in wine cellar where patrons can store their own personal collections. Private dining and pre-theatre menus are available as well.