Where To Eat Outside In Covent Garden

Escape the crowded footpaths of central London in the tranquil open-air courtyard of Old Brewer's Yard at Guinness Open Gate Brewery London. This sheltered space serves comforting British pies paired with fresh brews, creating a relaxed, atmospheric setting for outdoor dining.

For an elevated outdoor option, head upstairs to Gilroy's Loft, where fresh seafood is served on a rooftop terrace overlooking the surrounding historic streets. Both spots offer weather-protected outdoor dining in the heart of the capital.

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.

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.

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. 

The Porterhouse in Covent Garden has been a go-to for craft beer lovers since 2000, serving brews from its original Dublin brewery across three sprawling floors. Its large beer garden out front is ideal for soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying classic pub fare like burgers, pizzas and roasts.

With live music every Thursday to Saturday and 18 screens showing major sporting events, including rugby, it's a lively spot for food, drink and entertainment too.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

If you've got a big alfresco appetite, get on over to Gourmet Burger Club. Right on the Strand, it serves up premium patties with a focus on fresh, top quality ingredients. Its signature smash burgers are made with 100% grass-fed Irish beef, while sides are handcrafted in house and sauces made fresh every day. 

Take your pick from beef, chicken or vegetarian burgers, plus club sandwiches, vegan options, its famous onion rings, Italian gelato and plenty more. To pair with your plate, there's a simple but carefully selected beer and wine list - perfect for toasting on the terrace.

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.

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.