The most fun restaurants in Covent Garden

Royal China is a sought-after Chinatown destination combining Sichuan and Cantonese cuisines with a menu featuring dim sum, spicy dishes, and even hotpot, showcasing the diversity of Chinese food. The sophisticated interior, adorned with rich colours, low lighting, and manicured greenery, ensures an exclusive feel, while on-site karaoke rooms provide a convenient entertainment option.

All of Big Mamma Group's dive headfirst into the fun, and this one is no different. There's detailed, very over-the-top decor with amusing touches to be discovered around every corner, cocktails are served in cheeky bare-chested mugs, Italian staff are always singing “Happy Birthday” to one table or another, the menu is full of entertaining choices such as a gelato tower, and you can even have a boogie in the disco loo, making Ave Mario hands down one of the most fun restaurants in Covent Garden.

Oche brings its internationally acclaimed gastro-gaming concept to London, combining high-tech darts competition with a diverse menu of sharing plates. Guests can book private dart-playing areas, choose from classic or modern dart games, and enjoy dishes like ceviche, feta croquettes, and stone-baked flatbreads. With an elegant dining space, signature cocktails, and options like bottomless brunch or corporate events, Oche offers a unique blend of entertainment and dining by the Thames.

At The Piano Works, the audience is in charge of the playlist, creating a one-off soundtrack each night. London's only non-stop audience-led music venue employs talented musicians to play everything from timeless classics to modern hits – whatever the guests request via  slips. Alongside the music, The Piano Works serves a diverse menu of dishes like tuna steak and pork ribs. Later in the evening, the Covent Garden branch also doubles up as a lively dance venue.

Hotdogs are arguably one of the most fun things you can eat – even more so when they're battered, deep-fried, and covered in potato cubes or multiple kinds of cheese. The bright yellow Bunsik eateries have garnered quite a following, both on- and offline, thanks to their viral take on Korean corndogs. These street-food classics come in various versions, including one with the sausage stuck on the outside of a mozzarella stick shaped like octopus legs.

The long-standing Sarastro offers an extravagant setting for Turkish cuisine, boasting interiors adorned with golden accents and vintage Art Deco lighting. Diners can enjoy meticulously crafted mezze and other Mediterranean dishes, while a regular programme of live performances adds to the fun atmosphere, spanning everything from opera to Motown and swing. Located in London's Theatreland, Sarastro's heady mix of fun, food, and music has earned it the moniker “The Show After The Show”.

Pick & Cheese at the lively Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden takes the classic sushi conveyor belt system popularised by Japan and applies cheese to it. Plonk yourself down at the counter and choose your cheesy champions as they trundle by on the conveyor belt, complete with condiment pairings. You can pay plate by plate or go all-in with a bottomless option.

The playfully named Bunga Bunga in Covent Garden offers an immersive dining adventure complete with metre-long pizzas, signature Italian cocktails, and house specials. Guests are treated to a lively variety show featuring cabaret acts, dough-tossing chefs, singalongs, and more. Saturdays turn up the heat with brunch entertainment led by charming male dancers.

It's compact to the point of being cramped when full, it's a bit hectic, and the decor includes autographed photos of Thai canal speedboat racers – and it's highly entertaining. Speedboat Bar is a buzzy place inspired by the loud and vibrant Thai-Chinese shophouses typical of Bangkok, and the fun, vibrant atmosphere is as much part of its appeal as the food. Expect the likes of drunken noodles and stir-fries, with cocktails to help combat the spiciness.

Since the late 1960s, Benihana has had Westerners oohing and aahing with its Japanese culinary showmanship. Seated around the signature teppanyaki grill, you'll watch as the chefs put on an engrossing performance featuring onion volcanoes, flashy spatula work, and other entertaining tricks. The cuisine is complemented by a selection of Japanese sake, wines, and cocktails.

Bustronome offers a unique blend of fine dining and London sightseeing aboard a moving double-decker bus with a stunning glass roof for panoramic city views. During the two-hour experience, guests can savour a carefully curated tasting menu. The bus departs from Embankment, though it's really more of a fun Central London experience than just a Covent Garden one. Audio commentary is also available during the journey.

High Yaki offers a fun hands-on barbecue experience where an array of meats and seafood arrives artfully displayed on a tiered stand for you to grill to perfection. The spacious, elegant Chinatown restaurant boasts gold-accented decor, creating a chic and upscale atmosphere. Guests can opt for standard seating or enjoy a more traditional experience at floor-level tables, complete with cushions for a relaxed dining vibe.

The London outpost of the renowned US seafood chain delivers on entertainment value by piling its generous Cajun seafood boils straight onto the table, letting you dig elbow-deep into shrimp, lobster, and the signature crab. Simply select your seafood, sauce, and spice level, and get ready to savour the feast.

The award-winning Inamo in Covent Garden is a cutting-edge Asian fusion restaurant, using interactive touch-sensitive tables where you can order pan-Asian dishes like sushi, play air hockey and other games, and even watch a live feed of the chefs in action. For an even more playful experience, book one of the private dining rooms fitted with giant gaming screens.

Lío transposes Ibiza's legendary Pacha club vibes to the heart of Covent Garden, offering an extravagant cabaret show to go with its Mediterranean fine dining and expertly curated wine list. After dinner, the DJ booth is wheeled out and the fun continues late into the night as the venue becomes a swanky nightclub.

At a new location since 2023, Gilgamesh has retained its opulent charms despite the move. The spacious Covent Garden restaurant features a lounge bar, a mezzanine with a garden theme, and a cosy dining area on the lower level. Drawing inspiration from the ancient "Epic of Gilgamesh," this upscale eatery presents a menu influenced by diverse culinary traditions from across Asia. In the evenings, DJs and other live performers add to the atmosphere at this luxury venue.

Penelope's at the Hotel Amano in Covent Garden is a lively, stylishly designed spot that tends to shapeshift into a high-energy party venue, especially during its legendary monthly parties. The tapas-style menu blends Mediterranean flavours with Spanish and Israeli influences. Accompanied by vibrant cocktails and live DJ sets, the venue perfectly balances fine dining and a fun, dance-worthy atmosphere.