Best Pre-Theatre Dining in Covent Garden

Curtain up at 7:30? Here's where to eat beforehand without watching the clock.

Covent Garden sits inside a ten-minute walk of most of London’s West End theatres, which makes it the natural place to eat before a show. The trick is timing: a table booked too late means rushing the last course, and most restaurants here know the drill well enough to offer a proper pre-theatre menu. Below are six reliable options, from a fixed-price sitting at London’s oldest restaurant to a no-booking counter that suits a last-minute decision.

  1. 1

    Rules

    The grandest pre-theatre choice on this list - book the early sitting and you'll be at the Royal Opera House or Theatre Royal Drury Lane within ten minutes.

    34-35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7LB

  2. 2

    Joe Allen

    Steps from Theatreland's stage doors, with a fixed-price pre-theatre menu built specifically around curtain times.

    2 Burleigh Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7PX

  3. 3

    Barrafina

    No booking taken at the counter - useful if your evening plans came together at the last minute.

    10 Adelaide Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4HZ

  4. 4

    Wahaca

    Fast, casual and quick to turn a table over - good for a tight pre-show window.

    66 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4HG

  5. 5

    Homeslice

    Sharing plates at a relaxed pace - best if you've got a bit more time before the show.

    13 Neal's Yard, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9DP

  6. 6

    Dishoom Covent Garden ££

    An all-day Bombay cafe menu that's easy to order from quickly without feeling rushed.

    12 Upper St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9FB