Where To Eat Outside In Covent Garden

Looking for a fancy French food fix? Boulevard Brasserie has been serving the crème de la crème of French goodies in London's West End since '91. Bringing a slice of chic Parisian dining to the heart of Covent Garden, thanks to streetside tables and an indoor-meets-outdoor feel from the swish French doors, this retro dreamland spans three floors that'll transport you way back to 1960's Paris Theatreland. Choose between a variety of afternoon tea, lunch or dinner menus, with signature dishes including moules et frites, boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin.

A top choice for Covent Garden restaurants with a view, Tuttons offers dining overlooking the stunning historic piazza, giving guests a front-row seat to all the hustle and bustle of the city centre. A Covent Garden fixture for over 30 years and a sought-after destination come summer, this brasserie is a love letter to great British suppliers and seasonal produce, specialising in classic dishes like confit pork belly and seafood linguine, with an extensive selection of cocktails like the strawberry gimlet and mango margarita to wash everything down.

Located within Covent Garden market, VyTA is a gorgeous Italian restaurant that's filled with bold colours and stylish golden decor. That's not all though, as they've got an outdoor dining space that overlooks the hustle and bustle of the surrounding area.

What's equally enticing is their extensive Italian menu, featuring a wide variety of pastas, meat dishes and salads. We recommend the homemade deer ragu gnocchi, cooked for five hours, followed by a tasty tiramisu.

If you're craving a good ol' fashioned burger, look no further than Honest Burgers in nearby Holborn. Located just a hop, skip and a jump away from Covent Garden tube station, this restaurant touts an outside dining space in the form of street side tables, so you can scoff hearty buns of Honest beef with crispy parma ham, mozzarella and Baggio Burger salsa verde as well as bacon plant burgers with rosemary fries while people-watching. 

Nestled in the heart of Theatreland, Bow St Tavern is a Covent Garden rooftop restaurant with lush outdoor seating and gorgeous views of the Royal Opera House. While this cosy joint may be a historical boozer at heart, having been around since 1763, it offers a modern menu featuring goodies like Korean chicken burgers, Longhorn beef pie and kebabs up for grabs. And the best part? The rooftop is available all year round with an awning, outdoor heaters, and a seated space inside if the weather is unkind.

When you need cheap outdoor dining in Covent Garden with cocktails galore, Mrs Riot has your back. A hidden treasure chest of fun, this quirky haunt is a cocktail bar and experience-led bistro located on the lively Henrietta Street. Decorated with a fusion of vintage and funky art pieces by none other than Hollywood film designer Sonja Klaus, this bistro offers an amusing experience for locals and tourists alike, bringing you delish bites like pizza Romana, truffle mac 'n' cheese and arancini balls, all with a side-order of live music each night.

When it comes to meat, temper does it best. From bottomless BBQ brunches to steak supper clubs, this swish joint is unmissable for outdoor dining in Covent Garden. Perfectly perched on Mercer Walk, the restaurant's spacious terrace is a brilliant spot for chomping away on hearty grilled plates of beef brisket and sour macha mussels while soaking up the sun. Witness a fiery spectacle as the chefs work their magic on meaty delicacies right in front of your eyes while you down a delish smoky mezcal negroni or a top-quality glass of vino from their extensive wine list.

Boasting brilliant views of the Thames from its prime position on the terrace of Somerset House, Setlist is the perfect place for eating outside in Covent Garden. This cool, creative space has a team of female chefs in the kitchen, each bringing a different cuisine to the mix.

Devour tasty dishes like aged beef smash burgers, slow-roasted tomatoes on toast or smoked aubergine pizzas. That's not all though, as they also host a regular lineup of live music, DJ sets and art installations.

With a successful sister site in Soho, Barrafina is a staple for delicious tapas and wine in the heart of Covent Garden. Boasting five locations sprinkled around the city, the Hart Brothers are bringing the fiesta to the West End with this Spanish gem decked out in red leather bar stools, marble counters, and Michelin stardust. Pull up a chair across the outdoor seating area and tuck into plates of seafood, cold meats, croquetas, tortillas and grilled specials with a glass of their signature sherry (or two). Just be prepared to queue for those first-come, first-served seats.

Flaunting a brick-walled, bistro vibe that will make you feel right at home, this Henrietta Street haunt is owned by Rob Hampton and Matt Lovell, two seafood lovers who started off their journey at markets and festivals with oyster stands. Bringing the best British seafood by the bucket-load, The Oystermen is the ideal swish stop-off in Covent Garden when you fancy shellfish bites like mussels and South Coast crab. Not only that, but there are also quaint street side tables to revel in for when the sun is out. Not in a fishy mood? They also offer goodies like dumpling-sized gnocchi topped with brown crab meat and spiked with chilli.

Named after the 19th century's most notorious party queens, Cora Pearl is a beautiful Michelin-recommended restaurant taking inspiration from both British and French cuisine, serving elevated comfort grub in the heart of Covent Garden. Boasting a cosy, bistro ambience, this sophisticated joint is well-known for its fresh and boldly flavoured delicacies. As for outside space? The street side tables here will sort you for alfresco dining as you munch on fish stew and croutons as well as Neapolitan ice cream.

After Covent Garden restaurants with a view? Check out Radio Rooftop located on the 10th floor of the ME London hotel, where you can indulge in a boozy brunch overlooking the River Thames and beyond. From sunrise to sunset, enjoy the changing views of the capital with glimpses of The Shard, St Paul's, London Eye and Big Ben as you revel in carefully-curated cocktails and seasonal dishes hand-picked by the chef like crispy calamari with the Ruby Spark cocktail.

A stunning pick of cheap outdoor restaurants in Covent Garden and a global institution to boot, Sushisamba is an essential visit for its unique blend of Peruvian, Brazilian and Japanese cuisine. Think refreshing tipples and innovative dishes like the chucumber cocktail and kobe beef ishiyaki, alongside lush decor that simply must be Instagrammed; we're talking sleek and stylish interiors featuring a spiral staircase decked out in their signature bright orange hue, plush velvet booths and a foliage-adorned ceiling. Head over to this swish joint overlooking Covent Garden's stunning piazza for tasty food and a brilliant atmosphere.

A Covent Garden hotel restaurant with stunning outside seating, Da Henrietta is run by the Italian Supper Club, serving up delicacies like Yorkshire herb-fed chicken with Paris browns, Ligurian pancakes made from chickpeas and warm madeleines with Chantilly cream. Expect to eat your way through dishes from the west coast of Italy, all swilled down by wine from lesser-known producers.