Where to Eat in the Covent Garden Area, London

What are Ideas for Eating Out in Covent Garden

With a selection of well-known shops, world-famous theatres, and plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from, it’s easy to see why many know Covent Garden as the beating heart of the West End of London. Here you will find several of the best-known London attractions including the London Transport Museum and the Royal Opera House. The area is undoubtedly a huge hit with tourists since there is plenty to see. The world-famous Covent Garden Piazza hosts some amazing live entertainers and buskers, who will always attract a crowd. It’s a prime location with Charing Cross Road, The Strand, and Leicester Square all on the borders, so it’s no surprise that Covent Garden has become one of the best locations in London for dining out.

Long known for being a popular tourist area, Covent Garden was once a place for the locals to avoid, with lots of overpriced, tourist-trap chain restaurants. However, over the past few years, there has been a huge shift in the dining options in this area with a large range of excellent and independent restaurants opening their doors here. If you’re thinking of visiting or even moving to Covent Garden, we’ve put together a list of some of the best dining establishments in the area for you to try.

Where to Eat in Covent Garden?

Whether you are hunting for a romantic restaurant to take your date, want to plan a luxury meal or are looking for great quality food and fun at affordable prices, Covent Garden really is a London area that has it all to offer. Home to some internationally recognised restaurant brands and some of the best chefs in the world, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding your favourite place to eat out here.

The Petersham Covent Garden:

Even more glamourous than the original Petersham in Richmond, this is the restaurant to be at if you are looking for luxury and fine dining. With delicious Italian cuisine served at every meal, the menu is made up of hearty classics, and it’s definitely worth the high prices, with a stunning interior and gorgeously presented plates.

Kerridge’s Bar and Grill:

Covent Garden is the home of Tom Kerridge’s debut restaurant in London, which is a plush and comfortable place to enjoy a meal. The menu has a huge range of accomplished dishes, but plenty of luxurious comfort food on offer, including the delicious lobster thermidor, which is not to be missed. Featuring red leather booths and chic lighting, the atmosphere is just as good as the food.

RedFarm London:

This New York imported Cantonese restaurant might not be the cheapest option in Covent Garden, but it is definitely worth the money. Enjoy quirky, Cantonese-inspired dim sum dushes like cheeseburger spring rolls or the Pac Man dumplings that were a huge hit on Instagram. Or tuck into classics like the delicious xiao long bao soup dumplings.

Savoy Grill at The Savoy:

The long-standing Savoy Grill is overseen by celebrity TV chef Gordon Ramsay, so it’s no surprise that this restaurant is a popular favourite of his fans in Covent Garden. The restaurant screams glamour with glittering chandeliers and mirrored walls. Customers love it here for the meat dishes, with plenty of stunning chops and steaks on the menu and an extensive wine list to pair them with.

Café Murano Covent Garden:

If you are looking for a place to eat with welcoming and cosy vibes, Café Murano is an excellent option. A more casual spin-off of the flagship in Mayfair by Angela Hartnett, this restaurant serves modern Italian meals and is one of the best places in the area to get gorgeous homemade pasta. Choose from a selection of beautiful Italian-themed cocktails to complete your meal.

Margot, Covent Garden:

If you’re looking for an upmarket experience and some of the best Italian food in Covent Garden, Margot is the place to be. Oozing with elegance and some of the best service in the area with suited barmen and smart doormen, there are plenty of stunning additional touches that make up the whole experience here, making it the perfect choice for a luxury celebratory meal or a date night to remember. The menu is just as luxurious, including favourite Italian classics like crab ravioli.

J Sheeky, Covent Garden:

One of the favourite spots for the theatre fans, it’s easy to see why the legendary J Sheeky restaurant has made such a name for itself in this area. Here you will experience a warm and friendly service that will make you feel right at home, whether you’re coming from a theatre show or not. Home to some of the best quality seafood in the area, it’s definitely a must-visit.

The Ivy, Covent Garden:

The Ivy is growing rapidly in London, and if you visit the capital it might feel like there is one on every corner. Covent Garden, however, is home to the original, and definitely worth visiting with an air of glamour that the other restaurants in the capital have so far failed to replicate. The Ivy in Covent Garden has attracted some seriously high-class customers with its stunning British and International cuisine, including the Queen herself.

Nutshell, Covent Garden:

If you’re looking to try a new world cuisine, head to nutshell where Iranian cuisine has been given a complete contemporary makeover. With intricately cooked, delicious meals served with gorgeous garnishes, it offers an experience that you won’t forget in a hurry set among unique pink décor that’s definitely worth Instagramming. The cocktails are certainly worth the visit for too, with plenty of options on the menu with a floral, Iranian twist.

Clos Maggiore, Covent Garden:

If you are planning a romantic date night in Covent Garden, Clos Maggiore is a top contender, having regularly appeared at the top of lists of the most romantic restaurants in the entire capital. Serving stunning classic French cuisine in a very romantic and intimate atmosphere, the best seats in the house can be found in the famous glass-roof conservatory decorated with gorgeous foliage and seductive fairy lights.

Sushisamba Covent Garden:

If you love Japanese cuisine, Sushisamba is the place to be, with a stunning rainforest vibe and some delicious food on the menu. From tightly packed sushi rolls to delectable Wagyu gyozas, this restaurant offers a colourful setting to enjoy a meal at Opera Terrace in The Piazza.

Best Coffee Shops and Cafes: Where to Eat Covent Garden Area

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to relax with a coffee and a bite to eat after a morning of shopping in Covent Garden, or would like somewhere to go for a relaxed lunch date, there are plenty of options to choose from in this area. Popular with tourists and locals alike, here are some of the best cafés and coffee shops in the area to head to.

The Black Penny, Covent Garden:

The food here is one of the main attractions, especially when it comes to the lunch menu. The coffee is also definitely worth talking about, sourced from the Alchemy in South London. Along with a communal seating area, this café offers an event hosting space in the basement, making it a top choice for employers in the area.

Monmouth Coffee, Covent Garden:

With over thirty years of coffee-roasting experience, Monmouth is one of the most well-known names for great coffee in London. They offer blends from Kenya, Central America, and South America, and offer consistent quality while working tirelessly to make sure that everything is kept fair trade. It’s definitely worth the wait for their coffee but bear in mind that the Covent Garden café is quite small and there’s usually always a queue.

Coffee Island, Covent Garden

Located on St Martin’s Lane, this Coffee Island is the first London location for this Greek chain, and they’ve got all the gear and the expertise from back home with them. You can get your coffee brewed in a huge variety of ways by the highly experienced staff. You’ll also be able to get authentically brewed Turkish coffee made with a hot sand tray, which is rare to find in the UK.

Lundenwic, Covent Garden:

This Nordic-inspired café is a favourite spot for coffee and quality, healthy food including a range of breakfast options and lunches, along with fresh juices and smoothies that are made every day in-house. They serve a single-origin brew that changes regularly.

Timberyard Seven Dials, Covent Garden:

Timberyard Seven Dials is well-known for being a workspace for creatives, but it’s also made a name for itself as a coffee shop, serving a range of speciality teas and coffees. They offer single-origin roasts from The Barn and Climpson & Sons blends, plus a rotating batch of filter coffees to choose from. Everybody is welcome – even if you are not looking for a place to work, you can drop by for a hot drink.

Notes, Covent Garden:

With their own roastery, you can be assured that the coffee here is always good and it’s the perfect spot for day drinking with an extensive wine list filled with organic bottles that go down well with the cheese boards and charcuteries on offer.

Whatever kind of dining experience you are looking for, Covent Garden has it all to offer.