The Best Covent Garden Restaurants

With such an eclectic range of dining spots, from iconic eateries in Seven Dials to trendy hangouts surrounding the famous square, it'd be hard to pick just one great destination, which is why we've compiled this jam-packed guide. Outdoor seating? Check. Cocktails and small plates? You bet. Along with incredible entertainment and picture-worthy places, discover the best restaurants Covent Garden has to offer.

Last edited by Kiera Chapman

Last updated on 28th March 2024




The Petersham

The Petersham is a leafy haven, decorated with golden chandeliers cascading from the ceiling and flower-adorned walls. It draws inspiration from the family home, Petersham House, in Richmond to create a grand dining area serving the finest seasonal produce. The outside space is home to verdant foliage and elephant statues, making it a gorgeous plot to tuck into perfectly executed dishes come summertime. Changing regularly, the menu features Italian-inspired fare such as beef tartare served with burrata and hazelnuts, organic Haye farm short rib and Tuscan fish stew to name only a few.

Maxwell's Bar & Grill

Family run with a history that dates back to the 70s, this cocktail and burger restaurant on King Street serves timeless American favourites and their 'best in town' freakshakes (think flavours like cookie dough and toffee apple). Inside resembles a swanky diner, with bright spotlight bulbs crawling up the ceiling and dark blue leather booths where you can get your chops around Tabasco honey chicken tenders. At the forefront of creative dishes, you'll also enjoy burgers with big cheese moments, and BBQ baby back ribs to remember.

Busaba, Covent Garden

With a huge menu of authentic Thai dishes, and a pre-theatre lunch deal from 4pm 'til 7pm every day where you can bag two courses for £16, what's not to like at Busaba? It makes up a handful of cheap restaurants in Covent Garden with its bargain offers, as well as its reasonably priced main menu serving up chilli beef jasmine rice bowls for £15 each. Among simple, authentic interiors and concrete walls, you can expect classic dishes like pad Thai, king prawn red curry and a range of flavourful soups at this welcoming destination. 

The Breakfast Club Seven Dials

The Breakfast Club began with a simple ethos: comfort food done well. What started as a bright yellow cafe in the heart of Soho with two old school friends at the helm has turned into a UK-wide franchise, with two bars and a pub to its name too. Its Seven Dials location has a retro feel inside thanks to its checkered flooring and wooden panelled walls; it also happens to serve a delicious spread full of all your favourite morning foods, with the brand's iconic twist. On the menu, you'll find American-style pancakes topped with fresh blueberries or hearty bacon, drizzled in maple syrup, plus sandwiches packed full of cheese and crispy bacon. 

Tuttons Restaurant

Tuttons should be a bucket list dining destination as it's one of the most famous and long-standing eateries in the area. You'll find it beside the piazza, overlooking the markets; not only is it romantically charmed, authentic and humble, but it also promises the finest local fare and seasonal plates. Its interiors are iconic from its red leather booths to its panelled ceilings, and its plates are equally as classy. Begin with the house scotch egg served with tomato jam (£9.50) before devouring confit pork belly alongside Doreen's black pudding (£20.95) plus beer-battered fish and chips (£19.75).

Monmouth Kitchen

New Year’s Eve Dining Experience and 2 other offers

From the team behind May Fair Bar and May Fair Kitchen, Monmouth Kitchen is a Covent Garden staple. Furnished with natural minerals, featuring concrete columns, copper and marble tables and vintage furniture, it provides a relaxed setting to meet up with friends. Offering a range of contemporary Peruvian and Italian dishes, the restaurant rustles up stunning seabass ceviche (£16), spicy 'nduja salami pizzas (£12), robata-smoked paprika ribs with a pisco glaze (£20) and a whole host of other lip-smacking plates to try. If you're thirsty, then you'll love their signature piscos and negronis to wash it all down. 

Balthazar

If you're looking for the best restaurants near Covent Garden, Balthazar embodies the area's renowned buzz and charm within its French-style brasserie. Make your way over for a romantic candle-lit dinner among vintage mirrors and leather booths in the historic Flower Cellars building. Dive into some of the most delicious wines in the business, displayed around the dining area in golden, back-lit cabinets, There's also a cornucopia of high-end dishes, such as rock oysters, crab mayonnaise, shell-on prawns, whelks and mussels to start, followed by steak frites and risotto

Cinnamon Bazaar

Contemporary urban culture beautifully merges with traditional influences at Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden. Run by the renowned restaurateur Vivek Singh and head chef Rakesh Singh, the kitchen offers its guests a range of different Indian dishes from various towns along historical trade routes. Pull up a chair among dainty hanging baskets and fairy lights to tuck into snacks like Indo-Chinese chilli paneer (£12) followed by chicken jungle curry (£17.50). The eatery runs a fabulous Chaat Your Heart Out deal where you can indulge in an hour of unlimited chaat and chai from Monday to Friday for £14 per person. 

Boulevard Brasserie

Styled with decor reminiscent of 1960s Paris Theatreland, Boulevard Brasserie is an elegant and chic restaurant that's been serving classic French dishes since 1991. Think white tablecloths paired with dangling plants to give a refined brasserie feel, spread over three floors. To accompany such impressive interiors, you can expect a menu full of delicacies, with a dazzling afternoon tea or a la carte menu spread featuring entrées such as confit duck cassoulet and 22oz prime Chateaubriand steak served with dauphinoise potatoes. 

Barrafina Adelaide Street

One of the best restaurants in Covent Garden, Barrafina outposts on Adelaide Street and Drury Lane are whipping up some of the most mouthwatering Spanish tapas and delicious cocktails. Founded by brothers Sam and Eddie Hart, each eatery is equipped with an open kitchen, counter seating, marble surfaces and swish red leather stools, making for a social dining experience with friends. Enjoy tucking into everything from ham croquettes to grilled squid ink sauce, selections of cheese, plus prawn and piquillo pepper tortillas. 

Savoy Grill Gordon Ramsay

Although it's got Gordon Ramsay's name over the door, head chef Arnaud Stevens is steering the wheel of this grand restaurant in the heart of iconic Covent Garden. It offers a luxurious setting to dine in, with lines of mirrors on the walls, retro panelling and golden halos of light above a back-lit bar. There's a chic Chef's Table space where you can feast on a bespoke menu for £175 per person and a Wine Experience Room in which you can savour rare bottles from its collection. Think poached Louet-Feisser oysters, yellowtail crudos and caviar as part of the taste extravaganza found at Savoy Grill Gordon Ramsay.

Gura Gura

Gura Gura is a gorgeous spot cooking up Pan-Asian cuisine over two floors in the heart of Covent Garden. Upstairs, you'll find the main restaurant adorned with plants dangling from the ceiling and pretty Japanese paintings of cherry blossoms on the wall. Below, there's a much more intimate affair in the form of its underground cocktail bar. On the menu is an array of sushi, dim sum and Korean fried chicken wings that can all be washed down with signature cocktails like an avocado maki negroni and a smoked old fashioned. 

Palm Court Brasserie

Palm Court Brasserie is the intimate, Parisian-style restaurant found within the piazza, recreating a classical 1920s Art Nouveau environment with red panelling, leather sofas and arched mirrors scattered across the walls, separated by bursts of green foliage to give an alfresco feel. Whether you're dropping in for a meal or a glass of wine with friends, you can revel in a sophisticated setting that seems miles away from the streets of London. The menu showcases authentic French brasserie dishes like moules marinières, steak frites, and a classic vanilla crême brulée to finish, alongside Champagne cocktails. 

Opera Tavern

Opera Tavern is a warm, inviting tapas restaurant in the heart of the city. Downstairs features exposed brick walls, counter seating and graphic prints by the likes of Ben Eine hung on the wall, then upstairs sees a gold-leaf ceiling and large windows contributing to a suave dining space which is available for private hire. Though the food at this Theatreland destination may be what draws in the crowds, their drinks selection is just as impressive. Choose from Spanish and Italian plates (think Iberico pork sliders, braised ox cheeks and chargrilled octopus carpaccio) all washed down with classic cocktails like sangria and margaritas, plus well-rounded wines.

Souk

Located on Litchfield Street, this charming North African restaurant oozes indulgence, as decadent, authentic interiors and mouthwatering dishes are fused with belly dancing performances and shisha. If you're craving an escape from London's busy streets, this is the perfect place. Since its establishment in 1998, the joint has transported diners to the streets of Tunis and the bustling markets of Algiers with its century-old recipes and entertainment. Pick from the main, Casablanca, Marrakesh and the Royal Feast menu and delight in aromatic plates like lamb tagine, falafels, labneh and baklava. 

Mrs Riot

2-4-1 Long Island Ice Tea Half Price Pizza and 4 other offers

Mrs Riot is a raucus and energetic place for food and drinks. Inspired by one of London's first sirens and vivacious icons of the 1700s, Kitty Clive, this experience-led, pink, punk haunt is a top place to dine if you're looking for a haunt that oozes character and has a curious backstory - and an award-winning bar team doesn't hurt as well. Among eclectic decor, mirror embellishments and vibrant signage, you'll be able to feast on homemade pizzas with toppings like 'nduja or black truffle paste and sip on bespoke tipples such as the vodka-based It's Like Candy and the Ginger Fiesta. 

Browns Brasserie & Bar Covent Garden

Visit Browns Brasserie & Bar to discover one of the best affordable restaurants Covent Garden has to offer without skimping on grandeur, thanks to its golden-topped bar, tables and towering wooden pillars giving it an air of style. This snazzy joint slings out all manner of delicious bites, from brunches featuring lobster benedict to brown butter lemon sole, maple and cinnamon glazed pork belly and ribeye steak. Drinks-wise, delight in seasonal cocktails such as an elderflower and apple martini (£12) or an apricot mai tai (£11.50). 

Inamo Covent Garden

Inamo has been serving interactive table projections since 2008 and offers you the chance to order your food via touch-sensitive surfaces, as well as play retro games like Pac-Man or brainteasers such as Sudoku while you wait. The Hanover Place haunt is adorned with dark, wooden dividers decorated with marble tiles between dining spaces and sleek wooden flooring. On the menu of one of the most fun restaurants in Covent Garden, you can expect East Asian plates of chicken karaage katsu, duck bao buns and dragon rolls, accompanied by house cocktails like lychee mojitos. 

Hawksmoor Seven Dials

You'll undoubtedly tuck into one of the best steaks in the city at Hawksmoor Seven Dials, an award-winning restaurant with successful outposts across the UK. Located in the old Watney-Combe brewery, a flight of intimately lit stairs leads revellers to discover a large dining area sporting towering pillars, exposed brick walls and white, shiny tiles giving it a swish, industrial feel. Well-known for its meat and seafood, its menu is centred around ethically sourced ingredients offering plates of roasted scallops in white port and garlic, beefsteak pudding served with beef dripping chips and indulgent sides like macaroni cheese and creamed spinach. Its Sunday roasts are a thing of beauty and you can even bag two courses for £27 should you book for a midday or early evening meal from Monday to Saturday. 

Temper Covent Garden

Head to Mercer Walk where Neil Rankin's temper is bringing you some of the finest BBQ dishes around, alongside the largest terrace of the group's bespoke smokehouses. Split over two floors, it has a downstairs den decked out with leather booths and a ground-level space made for social dining, sporting an open kitchen (home to the roaring fire pit), royal blue tiling and counter seating. It prides itself on sourcing its meat from one single farmer: Charles Ashbridge in North Yorkshire ann butchering in-house. While rustling up moreish tacos, rare breed British steaks and truffle raclette chips, it's also one of the top spots for unlimited brunch come the weekend, where you can add on free-flowing tipples for just £29 per person.

Caravan Covent Garden

Caravan is a restaurant that is not only beautiful to look at but also pulls out all the stops with its food. Located in the heart of the theatre district, taking over a restored Grade II-listed building, the all-day eatery has decorated its home with natural elements, from light oak furnishings to plants tucked away in cosy nooks. The menu includes a range of mouthwatering small plates including burrata and hot smoked salmon, plus sourdough pizza. Swing by for brunch and you'll be treated to its signature coffee blends and dishes like vanilla pancakes or a chorizo and potato hash.

Salvador and Amanda Covent Garden

Live Music Fridays and 3 other offers

Salvador & Amanda is all about fiestas and when it comes to hidden gem restaurants in Covent Garden. It certainly ticks the box as the romantic eatery can be found nestled deep underground, serving moreish tapas to locals and tourists alike for over twenty years. Head on over to unwind in stylish surroundings featuring candle-lit tables, shabby-chic brick walls and sturdy red pillars while enjoying authentic grub, sumptuous cocktails and vibrant music from a Latin house band. Come for the 5pm 'til 7pm sangria happy hour between Monday and Saturday then stay for crispy ham croquettes, Spanish omelettes and patatas fritas. 

Gaucho Covent Garden

VAT Free Fridays

Not only does this James Street venue flaunt sophisticated interiors, but there's also a mouthwatering menu boasting Argentinian influences. Gaucho is located in an extension of the historic Royal Opera House, exhibiting a low-lit dinner setting, surrounded by curtains reminiscent of the tango theatres of Buenos Aires. Here you can devour sustainable, succulent cuts of meat and bag a set lunch menu featuring two courses for £27 or three for £30. You'll be delighted with its cocktail offering too, with signature tipples such as citrus negronis and the rum-based Honey Punch.

Kebab Queen

Founders Manu Canales, Ed Brunet and Stephen Tozer are well-versed in this Turkish delicacy after launching Le Bab in 2016 before launching their fine dining concept Kebab Queen in 2019. The idea was born from the desire to merge some of the principles that come with haute cuisine and their love of Middle Eastern cookery. The restaurant is designed by Angus Buchanan of Buchanan Studio, who's lent his modern touch to create a finessed space donning draped pink curtains, golden chandeliers and royal blue chairs. The menu consists of eight courses for £90 a head, including kattaifi cannoli, lamb kebab and ajvar, plus kazandibi (burnt pudding).

Christopher's

Famed for its brunch involving the best French toast in town (think milk or dark chocolate brioche topped with ice cream and melted, gooey sauce) Christopher's is an American restaurant housed in a Grade II-listed building that used to be a papier mâché factory before opening in 1870 as London's first licensed casino. It's decked out with modern furnishings and grand, tall ceilings and is composed of three spaces: a downstairs martini bar, the elegant dining space on the first floor and a secluded clubhouse room on the lower ground floor. On the main menu, you'll be delighted to feast on blackened salmon, wagyu burgers and various cuts of quality steaks.

Tandoor Chop House

Notting Hill's Eggbreak crew has set up shop on Adelaine Street with the Tandoor Chop House, a delicious fusion of British meat and North Indian spices. Inside, you'll find rich decor in the form of a royal blue open kitchen, pretty tiled floors and an array of dark wooden tables atop with fragrant plates. We're talking goodies like black pepper chicken tikka, green masala pollock, and bone marrow naan. Yum. Cocktail-wise, this joint has taken the classics for a ride and infused them with signature ingredients: get your lips around a Limoncello Chaat Margarita (£11) or a Darjeeling Negroni (£12). 

J Sheekey Oyster Bar

A renowned dining institution, J Sheekey Oyster Bar is at the forefront when it comes to the seafood scene. It's been providing sumptuous produce from its home in St Martin's Court since 1896, recognisable thanks to its iconic ruby red exterior and crustacean bar surrounded by hanging monochrome photographs of famous faces. The elite terrace and lively jazz nights are matched with equally impressive oyster plates, haddock and seabream, as well as a set lunch menu for £33 per person, courtesy of head chef Andy McLay. Of course, there are also Champagne and cocktails like the West End negroni to make your visit a success.

The Barbary

The Barbary presents 'fire, clay, pestle and mortar' as its approach to its cuisine that takes inspiration from the Barbary Coast, an area infamous for pirates and, until the beginning of the 20th century, the Barbary Lion. Nestled within Neal's Yard, the restaurant tells a story of voyages and the rich heritage of countries along the Atlantic Coast, reflected in its cool, blue interiors. At the forefront of its menu is elemental cooking, which the chefs adopt to create gorgeous plates like chicken masabacha (£22), cauliflower jaffa-style (£11.50) and labneh za'atar (£7). 

Stereo

Inspired by the late-night culture of bustling cities like New York and mixed with the sophistication of a Parisian hideaway, Stereo is a live music and dining destination from the same team behind Da Henrietta and Experimental Cocktail Club Chinatown. Equipped with a L-Acoustics sound system, velvet sofas and a bar crowned with a halo of individual, glowing orbs, it's a slick location where DJs 'til late and signature tipples await. Sip on the vodka-based Vanity Fair or the Californication made with tequila and, of course, red pepper. As for food? Expect fried chicken sandwiches, deviled eggs and more across mouthwatering menus.

Ave Mario

Sister venue to the well-known (and well-Instagrammed) Circolo Popolare and Gloria, Ave Mario is another jewel in the Big Mamma crown, bringing big energy and big plates to the heart of Central London. When it comes to Italian restaurants in Covent Garden, this one is a 700-metre squared, bejewelled paradise inspired by Florence. Think black and white stripy walls, large mirrors and glowing neon signs surrounding a cornucopia of tipples behind the bar. Ideal for date night or a dinner with friends, the menu features its famous homemade spaghetti chitarra served in the whole round of pecorino to share between two, as well as pizzas topped with burrata and a lemon pie flaunting a 5'9-inch layer of meringue.

Ikoyi

Ikoyi is one of the most sought-after places to eat in the city, particularly after being named one of the world's 50 best restaurants, not to mention its Michelin star status. Co-owned by Ire Hassan-Odukale and Jeremy Chan, it specialises in creative tasting menus (from £200 to £320) that focus on produce in its optimal state, with emphasis on sub-Saharan West African flavours. Its interiors are minimal and clean, providing a tranquil dining space to focus on the seasonal ingredients.

Lahpet West End

Head to Slingsby Place and you'll find Lahpet, a restaurant specialising in Myanmar's cuisine. It's a bright and elegant space, with plants hanging from the ceiling and a back-lit bar with a stone countertop, singing to its natural elements. Perfect for a spot of lunch or a delicious dinner, you'll find a menu bursting with Burmese flavours, such as fried bream with a tomato, shallot and garlic soy glaze, plus king prawn curry and hearty bowls of noodles. Finish off your meal with one of its signature cocktails, like the Dawei Tai made with banana peel rum, and you won't be disappointed.

Radio Rooftop

Covent Garden restaurants with a view don't come more striking than Radio Rooftop, one of the city's most popular destinations boasting sights of the Thames and other famous landmarks from the 10th floor of ME London. Its interiors are iconic, thanks to its pointed glass ceiling, jutting out above the skyline where underneath you'll find sofas topped with plush cushions and a glowing bar. It provides a brilliant backdrop for a casual lunch, breakfast or cocktails with business clients. The versatile menu includes everything from lobster and garlic mayonnaise tacos (£20) to chorizo sausage rolls (£11).

Dishoom Covent Garden

Dishoom is an iconic place to eat in the capital, with outposts in Soho and Shoreditch to name a few. At its core it serves moreish Indian cuisine, pulling inspiration from authentic Bombay cafés and their heritage which is reflected in its interiors as well as its cooking. Spread across two floors, the Covent Garden location is decked out with green and pink seating arrangements, contrasting the wooden panelling and a nod to the downstairs area which is more reminiscent of a relaxed bar. To kickstart your day, wolf down unlimited date and banana porridge, then return for its chilli cheese toast, famous house black daal and chicken ruby murray. 

Cora Pearl

From the team behind the celebrated Kitty Fisher's in Mayfair is Cora Pearl, a gorgeous restaurant specialising in elevated British comfort food and named after the infamous 19th-century courtesan who used to live nearby. Inside the characterful townhouse, you'll find velvet emerald green booths, candle-lit tables and, at the helm of this romantic setting, head chef Mr Fabrizio Pusceddu whipping up top-tier pre-theatre dining menus and hearty Sunday roasts. Tuck into decadent plates with a hint of the demi-monde delights of Paris, such as roast beetroot, goat's curd and pickled walnuts (£12) to start, followed by stone bass, braised rainbow chard and chorizo crumb (£34), then old-school milk and cookies (£9) to finish. 

SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden

SUSHISAMBA is a landmark in itself when it comes to famous places to eat in the big city. Situated at the Opera Terrace atop the historic Grade II-listed Market Building, it features an Eric Parry-designed glass roof and a living canopy ceiling paired with monochrome tiles and expansive glass walls looking out onto the market below. At its core, it's a high-energy sushi bar with a menu entailing flavours from Japan, Brazil and Peru. The kitchen uses a robata grill to cook up delicious meats, vegetables and fish; you'll find an array of plates fit for sharing here, like crispy taquitos, eggplant tempura and black miso cod, plus house cocktails like the ginger-flavoured Tom Yam or a sake spritz. 

Café Murano

Angela Hartnett, most well-known for being a protégée of Gordon Ramsay, opened Café Murano in 2013 as a little sister to her celebrated spot Murano. After being received brilliantly, she went on to start the Covent Garden site in 2015 and a third in Bermondsey during 2019. Shaun Francome is the executive group chef leading the way in overseeing and creating delicious Italian dishes within a refined setting. Complete with leather banquettes and a long marble bar, it makes for an open and sociable dining spot to delve into cacio e pepe gnocchi plus rigatoni with spicy fennel sausage ragu and radicchio. If you're looking for a private dining experience, its first floor comes with a dedicated bar and skylight roof suitable for 20 to 50 guests.

Margot

Margot comes from the brilliant Paulo de Tarso and Nicolas Jaouën and is a dainty bistro serving over 300 global wines. It sits on the edge of Covent Garden with opulent interiors such as golden spider-like light fixtures married with blue sofas and checkered floors. For food, you'll find Italian delights and bold flavours, woven into an appealing pre-theatre set menu of two courses for £9 and three for £43. Starters include seabream tartare with blood orange and shaved fennel offering a light, citrusy kick to begin with before the mains, like asparagus risotto scattered with toasted hazelnuts, win you over.

Frog by Adam Handling

Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling, the Scottish-born MasterChef: The Professionals finalist, is a theatrical dining experience where you get to know the staff on a first-name basis and indulge in a wonderland of experimental food made with fresh, British produce. Inside the Southampton Street haunt, you'll find pastel pink and dark blue chairs alongside bold prints on the wall, most noticeably a pop art portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The tasting menu includes Balmoral quail with green herbs and garlic, plus desserts with elements of caramel, salted milk and hazelnut.

Bancone

The brainchild of restaurateurs William Ellner and David Ramsey, Bancone is a sleek Italian restaurant serving up plates of perfectly cooked pasta that'll transport you straight to the Mediterranean. In 2020 it was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand and has held on to it ever since. With a lengthy dining counter, an open kitchen, and exceptional pasta made right in front of your eyes, this joint is a must-visit for either date nights or a catch-up with friends. Signature dishes include silk handkerchiefs on a bed of walnut butter and confit egg yolk (£11), plus braised ox cheek entwined with pappardelle and Barolo vinegar (£17).