Covent Garden was the first place of its kind in London. It was built in 1630 and was modelled after the big piazzas of Europe. It still has a European feel to it today.
Both a busy and a relaxed vibe can be felt here. Both tourists and Londoners come to the beautiful, pedestrianised square to see a show, look around the shops, and, as we assume you plan to do, eat at one of the great restaurants in the area.
The following list includes places to eat near Covent Garden, whether you’re there to see opera, gymnastics, amateur dramatics, or just to shop.
Ikoyi
Perfect for modern tastes that are heavy on spices…
Chef Jeremy Chan and co-owner Iré Hassan-Odukale didn’t think they could beat the first Ikoyi in St. James’s Market, which was only a mile west of their new home at 180 Strand, but…
…In fact, we did think they could beat those high standards. The restless duo kept pushing the limits, making ideal seem like it had already been reached but was only one crazy-complicated emulsion away.
The new 180 Strand Ikoyi has more room and a nicer look, with clean lines and mustard-colored accents. The atmosphere is slightly more refined, maybe even slicker. Prices have gone up at the same time. The sampling menu costs £300, which is one of the most exciting prices in London right now.
But what a queue of plates! There were about 14 of them when we were there, and every single one of them had high-quality materials. Yes, that spice-based food that was based on how British seasons change so quickly still exists. The famous jollof rice with crab or lobster custard is still here, but there is a lot of luxury and new ideas leading up to the big, smokey reveal. For example, an aged lobster with one of Chan’s famously important sauces—this one was kind of like an agrodolce—was really special. As luxurious and amazing as it sounds, the next dish of lobster claw, sweetbreads, and pine nuts was just that.
Even though this place is doing great, we wouldn’t be surprised if Ikoyi found a way to make things even better. The drive to make things better here is unwavering. Of course in the best way possible…
Barrafina Drury Lane
Great for some of London’s best fish-based snacks…
It’s possible that the most popular way to sit at a bar in London is at one of the locations of the famous tapas group Barrafina.
People who want to find the best places to eat in Covent Garden will be happy to know that this famous part of London has not one but two Barrafinas. We really love the Drury Lane location because it’s small, cosy, and friendly, and they serve seafood more often than other types of Spanish food, which is often very good.
The specials are usually based on what’s fresh from the sea, so keep an eye on the small, moving chalkboard to see what’s good today. On our most recent visit, the enthusiastically brined piece of hake with punchy aioli and red peppers that were so caramelised they were falling apart tasted just as good as it sounds.
Volta Do Mar
Great for lively Portuguese recipes…
Volta Do Mar on Tavistock Street is one of our best places to eat in all of Covent Garden. What’s the good news? This creative Portuguese restaurant has a great pre-theatre set meal with four courses for just £30 (until 6:45pm), in case you want to go see a show at the Royal Opera House, which is right across the street.
Portugal has a history of trading with Brazil, Japan, Macau, and other places, so the food here is both new and familiar. It features regional Portuguese cooking and draws from that history. We only have one thing to say: don’t leave until you’ve tried the Macanese pork bafassa!
Murano Coffee Shop
A great choice for honest and easy Italian home cooking…
Café Murano is the younger, less expensive sister restaurant of Angela Hartnett’s amazing fine dining restaurant Murano. It serves fresh pasta, veggies that are in season that are cooked perfectly, perfectly cooked shellfish, and the occasional hearty ragu, as you’d expect from a chef who loves Italian food so much.
In line with the spirit of the place, the main draw is the quality of the food, and the plates at the restaurant come with little extras or decorations. Cafe Murano instead tries to serve honest, simple food that is served with care and a touch of class. It does more than it says.
Frenchie is now forever closed.
Ideal for simple but elegant French dinner…
Gregory Marchand came up with the idea for Frenchie, which he calls a “modern French brasserie.” Marchand is a chef who learnt his trade at Fifteen under the guidance of Jamie Oliver, who gave him the nickname that now describes his growing restaurant group.
This location in Covent Garden, which opened in 2016, is sister to the original Frenchie in Paris’s second arrondissement. The original Frenchie has been serving simple but elegant French food since 2009 and earned a Michelin star ten years after it first opened. Things are a little less strict on the plate back in London, where the food easily combines the elegance of Parisian dining with the electric energy of London.
So, this restaurant’s menu is more affected by food from around the world. For example, the roasted potato gnocchi is served with a makrut lime beurre blanc, and the intercontinental seabream tartare is swimming in a reduced dashi stock and is made more flavourful with confit tomatoes and green olives. Each item is a real treat.
Our location in the middle of Theatreland means that there is a great early dinner deal: three meals for just £34. We added Frenchie to our list of the best value pre-theatre meals in London’s West End because the deal is so good. Please check it out sometime.
*Unfortunately, The Frenchie is now forever closed as of January 2024. Chef Marchand said this was because business conditions in London are getting harder and harder to handle. We’ll really miss this place.
Dishoom
Ideal for comfort food in the Bombay way…
If you didn’t go to Dishoom, did you even eat in London? If you’re looking for great food near Covent Garden, you can rest easy knowing that this is where the first location of the chain that serves Bombay-style comfort food opened.
Come try a piece of (very modern) history at the place that you can always count on. Even though it has grown, it still mostly delivers the goods.
Even though ours is a bacon naan roll, we can’t help but finish with Dishoom’s mango kulfi on a hot day; it’s so good.
KERBS Seven Dials
Great for street food and making unique cocktails…
Seven Dials is one of the most exciting places to eat in London. It was brought to Covent Garden by KERB, a group known for supporting London’s street food scene.
Cucumbers and bananas were kept in Seven Dials Market, which was then called Thomas Neal’s Warehouse, in the 1800s. The market has been split into two areas to respect its history: Banana Warehouse and Cucumber Alley. It has been turned into a food court.
Banana Warehouse is called “The Belly of the Beast,” and it has a lot of tables and chairs for people to share. There are a lot of street food kitchens and countertop bars here that serve a wide range of food from all over the world. There is also a bar downstairs that uses spirits from the East London Liquor Co. to make unique cocktails. If you’re in central London on a wet afternoon and want to eat and drink until late at night, Banana Warehouse is the place to go.
Cucumber Alley is the place to go if you’re hungry and need a break while shopping in Covent Garden. It has seven small food shops that are open seven days a week and sell some of the best snacks and desserts in the Big Smoke.
When we were there before, we tried Ong Ong Buns’ Shanghai mooncakes with salted duck egg yolk and Oshpaz’s delicious dumplings made from thin dough and filled with juicy beef. Needless to say, we’ll be returning. For both.
Homeslice Pizza
It’s perfect for 20-inch wood-fired pizzas, and the best part is that you can have two separate halves…
In a nicely circular way that reminds me of the big pizzas we’re about to eat, we’re ending where we began, in Neal’s Yard.
Pizza purists shouldn’t go here, but everyone else should have a great time. The pizzas are big (20 inches), and great for having fun with a group. In fact, in bro slang, the name “Homeslice” means “friend,” and the idea of “buddying up” is a good way to make friends and have fun.
Some of the topping combinations are clever, while others are just plain weird. For example, cauliflower cheese and harissa? It’s great when they get it right, though.
The Petersham
The place is great for Italian food and a “plot-to-plate” eating experience…
The Petersham is right in the middle of Covent Garden and has an organic, produce-driven Italian menu. The sophisticated, almost spiritual atmosphere is meant to relax and recharge.
The Boglione Family runs the restaurant, which has a strong commitment to the slow food movement and traditional ways of growing good food. It gets its organic and sustainably grown food from Haye Farm in Devon, which makes sure that the ingredients in its dishes are of the best quality.
That dedication to sustainability isn’t just a catchphrase; the sister restaurant, Petersham Nurseries Café in Richmond, is one of only three in London to have a Michelin Green Star. If you ask, which two are they? Apricity in Mayfair and Silo in Hackney Wick, which is a leader in its field.
The Petersham’s menu shows how beautiful seasonal food can be, with dishes that use the best British products and add special touches with ingredients from Italy. So, that’s summer veggies from the farm (courgette, squash, fennel, and kohlrabi) served as crudités with the traditional Piedmontese sauce bagna càuda. Next is a wild mushroom risotto made with taleggio that is a little sharp and funky. Heaven.
There are also different dining options at The Petersham to fit different events. Its pre-theatre menu, which is served from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, is great for people who want a fancy meal before a show. For a more relaxed time, the restaurant serves Afternoon Tea from Thursday to Sunday, which is a fun take on a traditional British treat.
The Boglione family loves modern art and modest grandeur, and the restaurant’s interior shows this. French artist Francesco Boglione’s personal collection of art hangs on the walls, giving the eating experience a touch of art. It’s a luxurious place for any event, from small get-togethers to big weddings, with wide windows, Genoese chandeliers, and a private deck. You don’t just eat at The Petersham; you have an experience there.