Got a show booked in the West End? Sorting the meal first is half the battle. Covent Garden sits right at the heart of London’s Theatreland, which means you’ve got some brilliant restaurants practically on the doorstep of the major venues. The Royal Opera House, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the Lyceum, the Adelphi and the Novello are all within a few minutes’ walk of each other, and the dining scene around them has genuinely improved over the years.
Pre-theatre menus in particular have come a long way. Many restaurants now offer two or three well-considered courses in the early evening, designed around getting you to your seat on time without rushing the meal. You no longer have to settle for average food just because you’re working to a schedule.
Getting the Timing Right
Before anything else, it’s worth thinking about timing. Most pre-theatre menus run roughly between 5pm and 7pm, and the majority of West End shows start at 7:30pm. That gives you a workable window, but not a generous one if you leave it too late.
As a general rule, aim to be seated by 5:30pm at the latest. Tell the restaurant your show time when you book, most pre-theatre kitchens are well practised at managing this, but only if they know what you need. Covent Garden gets busy on show nights and the streets are more congested than they look on a map, so always factor in a ten minute walk even if the theatre looks close.
One more thing worth sorting in advance: always book ahead. Pre-theatre slots at the popular spots fill up fast, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The Restaurants Worth Knowing About
Jamie Oliver’s Restaurant on Catherine Street
Right on the doorstep of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, this is about as convenient as pre-theatre dining gets. The set menu runs through the afternoon and early evening from Monday to Saturday, with a good range of seasonal dishes and a kitchen that knows how to turn tables efficiently on show nights. If you’re seeing something at Drury Lane specifically, you really can’t beat the location. On Sundays, the roast is well worth considering if you’ve got a matinee booked.
The Delaunay on Aldwych
The Delaunay has the look and feel of a grand European café, all dark wood, leather banquettes and a menu built around Central European classics. It sits on the corner of Aldwych and Drury Lane with several major theatres virtually outside the door. The pre-theatre offering includes a full menu with a drink, available Monday to Friday in the early evening. For something lighter, the Delaunay Counter does Austrian-inspired snacks including schnitzel sandwiches, a good shout if you want something quick rather than a sit-down meal.
Hawksmoor Seven Dials
A short walk from Matilda and The Mousetrap, Hawksmoor on Langley Street is one of the best pre-theatre options in the area for anyone who wants a proper meal before the show. The beef is exceptional and the early evening set menu is available most evenings from mid-afternoon. The service is well organised for theatre crowds and they’re used to keeping things moving if you’ve got a firm leave time.
Cafe Murano on Tavistock Street
Tucked just off the main square, Angela Hartnett’s Cafe Murano is one of the most accomplished Italian restaurants in the area at a very fair price for the quality. The pre-theatre menu runs Monday to Saturday from early evening, with a concise selection of seasonal Italian dishes done with real care. Bruschetta with stracciatella, grilled pork collar with coco beans, and a sbrisolona tart to finish are the kind of thing you’d expect to pay significantly more for elsewhere. It never feels rushed and the walk to the nearby theatres takes minutes.
Clos Maggiore on King Street
If you’re making a proper evening of it, Clos Maggiore is one of the most beautiful restaurants in London and a genuinely special choice before a show. The conservatory dining room with its retractable roof and cherry blossom trees is unlike anywhere else in the city. The pre-theatre menu is available every day in the early evening, and the Adelphi, Lyceum and Vaudeville are all within a short walk. Worth booking well in advance, this one gets taken quickly.
Joe Allen on Burleigh Street
Joe Allen has been feeding West End theatre crowds for decades and still does it better than most. The subterranean American brasserie right next to the Lyceum has a relaxed, buzzy atmosphere with theatre posters and photographs covering the bare brick walls. The pre-theatre menu runs most days through the afternoon and early evening. If you’d rather skip the set menu, ask for the off-menu burger, something of a long-standing legend among regulars. Works equally well for groups, couples and solo diners.
If You Have Dietary Requirements
It can be harder to find genuinely good plant-based pre-theatre dining in this part of London, but Mildreds on St Martin’s Lane is a reliable answer. One of London’s most established vegan restaurants, it sits within easy reach of the Noël Coward Theatre and Wyndham’s and offers a dedicated pre-theatre menu on weekday evenings. The kitchen is also well set up for gluten-free and other dietary needs, so it’s a good option if you’re eating in a group with different requirements.
If thinking about where your food comes from matters on this trip, eating local in London can really cut your travel footprint and Covent Garden has plenty of restaurants sourcing well.
Before the Meal: Drinks Near the Theatres
If you want a drink before sitting down to eat, or you’d rather graze than commit to a full meal, Covent Garden has good options. Sushisamba at the top of the Market Building has a rooftop terrace overlooking the Piazza and offers a pre-theatre menu on weekday evenings with dishes drawn from the main menu. The views alone make it worth arriving early.
For something a bit further afield, the coolest rooftop bars in London this summer are well worth exploring if you’ve got time before the show.
Making a Full Trip Out of It
A night at the theatre in Covent Garden can easily stretch into a full London break if you want it to. The area is brilliantly connected and there’s plenty to see and do in the hours before a show.
If this is a trip for two, there are some genuinely good romantic winter date ideas in London worth building an itinerary around. For those who want to take in more of the city, staying near Chancery Lane as a base for London theatre and museums puts you in a great central position. And if you want to fill two full days in the city, 48 hours in the City of London gives you a solid framework to start from. Over in the City, the restaurants near Great St Helen Hotel are also well worth knowing about for other evenings of your stay.
Staying Close to the West End
For a theatre break in London, where you stay makes a real difference to how easy the evening feels. Hotel Cavendish is Crown Group’s closest property to Covent Garden and Theatreland, putting you within easy walking distance of the major venues and all the restaurants above. It’s a comfortable, well-located base and takes the logistics out of a show night completely.
Hatton Garden Hotel and Great St Helen Hotel are both a short journey away and a good choice if you want to combine a theatre trip with time in the City. Bloomsbury Palace Hotel, Mabledon Court Hotel and Arran House Hotel are all solid options further out, depending on the rest of your itinerary.
Before you confirm, it’s worth checking whether breakfast is included in London hotel rates as it varies and is the kind of detail that catches people out on arrival.
Have a question about your stay? Contact us and we’ll help you find the right fit.
