Pre-theatre dinner in London: where to go, from Covent Garden to Soho
The idea of ‘dinner and a show’ is often more romantic than the reality. As in other capital cities, London's theatre district is tourist central, and without a bit of planning, you're likely to find yourself resorting to one of the large chain restaurants that congregate around Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden, or else falling for a tourist trap. That would be a shame, as there are plenty of charming restaurants hiding in these areas at every budget (and pre-theatre menus often offer brilliant deals). Indeed, a pre-theatre dinner in London can be a great opportunity to try places that might be out of your normal price range, with grande dame London hotels like The Savoy and Hotel Café Royal offering relatively affordable menus. Booking an early slot can also help you secure reservations at in-demand restaurants such as the ones that feature on our list of the top 50 restaurants in London.
Our recommendations for a pre-theatre dinner in London
James McDonald1/13Café Royal Grill at Hotel Café Royal
In an unobtrusive position at the bottom of Regent Street, just before you hit the madness of Piccadilly Circus, Hotel Café Royal is one of central London's best kept secrets, and the perfect place to pop in for a cocktail to get out of the hustle and bustle. Their recently rebranded Café Royal Grill (previously known as The Oscar Wilde Bar) is a delight, unabashedly opulent and dripping in gilt and mirrors, but with a pre-theatre menu that's excellent value for money. Priced at £35 for two courses or £40 for three, it offers a bit more choice than some other venues – we'd recommend the minute steak or the goujons of lemon sole, followed by the chocolate mousse ‘Royal’ for a highly satisfying meal. The service is charming, and we love being tucked away in such a glamorous space – it's a brilliant way to kick off an evening of escapism.
10 Air St, London W1B 5AB
hotelcaferoyal.com
Steven Joyce2/13Maison François
Down a side street in St James' near Fortnums, Maison François is a very stylish place to eat. The restaurant occupies a genuinely impressive space with Art Deco architecture and soaring ceilings, neatly divided into smaller squares so as to create intimate corners. The menu is packed with delicious takes on French bistro classics, including plenty of small plates you could easily make into a full meal, and there is a dedicated pre-theatre menu available Monday-Friday, 2:30pm-6:30pm, priced at £35 for two courses or £40 for three. Go for the taleggio flatbread, roast chicken and a chocolate mousse with a glass of house wine – it will be one of the most satisfying meals you get in London.
34 Duke Street St James's, London SW1Y 6DF
maisonfrancois.com
3/13Henri
Attached to the bottom of the Experimental Group's charming Henrietta Hotel (on Henrietta Street, as you might guess) is this chic French bistro by Jackson Boxer. The menu is filled with French bistro classics, some with a modern twist, others just as you would expect them. The steak frites is luxurious, the oysters are fresh and lively, and the desserts are wonderfully indulgent (the Royal Opera Torte is a must-try). As befits a restaurant in the heart of theatreland, Henri offers a very reasonably priced pre-theatre set menu (currently three courses for £30). You will find the place buzzing before the shows open, but it's an energising bustle, and you can also pop in for a cocktail at the bar if you're passing.
14, 15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QH
henricoventgarden.com
4/13Rovi
Nestled in Fitzrovia, just north of Soho and theatreland, Rovi is an exellent pre-show pick. After a refurbishment that revealed smart new interiors, comfortable banquettes and energetic murals, the restaurant is reopen and ready to serve up great food.
As part of Yotam Ottolenghi's empire, Rovi is naturally delicious, with great ingredients prepared and cooked in simple and unfussy ways. Think vegetables, fermation and fire and you're on the right track. Much of their produce comes from Wolves Lane, their kitchen garden in north London, making this a sustainable endeavour, too. Don't miss the corn ribs or the aubergine tops.
59 Wells Street, Fitzrovia, 59-65 Wells St, London W1A 3AE
ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/locations/rovi
JACK HARDY5/13Gallery at The Savoy
In a prime position on the Strand and in close proximity to the many theatres of Covent Garden, Gallery, the new restaurant at The Savoy, is a luxurious place to dine before heading to see a show. The restaurant’s interiors have been recently redesigned by Shayne Brady, with an open, airy feel and wall frescos depicting the silhouetted dinner dancers of the early 1900s. The menu pays homage to the original head chef at The Savoy, the famed Auguste Escoffier - these include Auguste’s Sole Tacos and Escoffier’s Consommé. As well as the all-day dining menu, Gallery also offers a pre-theatre menu; at a reasonable £50 a head, it includes a cocktail on arrival and three courses. Make this a must-visit for your next special occasion – it's bound to make the evening more memorable.
Strand, London WC2R 0EZ
thesavoylondon.com
CHARLIE MCKAY6/13Joe Allen
Joe Allen is an absolute institution in the West End, and avid theatre-goers have been flocking there for decades to fill up pre- and post-show on its New-York-inspired food and stiff drinks. If you go post, you're probably in for a sighting of at least one actor. The even better news is that there's a new chef directing the kitchen, formerly of The Ivy and The Dorchester so, while the food was always good, it's now better than ever. Think baby back ribs that are smoked and delicate, creamy corn chowder and roast cod with gumbo. There's no specific pre-theatre menu, but if you arrive around 5pm, everyone will be there for the same reason, and there is an all-day set menu at £25 for two courses and £30 for three. Go for dinner beforehand, head back for martinis afterwards to discuss what you've just seen.
2 Burleigh St, London WC2E 7PX
joeallen.co.uk
Tim Winter7/13The Delaunay & The Delaunay Counter Bar & Cafe
There are two brilliant options in this interconnected pair of restaurants, depending on how casual you want to be. The Delaunay is a grande dame London restaurant, serving hearty mittel-European fare, and its ‘Full Haus’ pre-theatre menu (served Monday-Friday, 4.30pm-6pm and priced at £29 for three courses and a drink) offers some of its best dishes – think grilled spatchcock chicken followed by Sachertorte. If that sounds a little heavy (or if you haven't booked in advance) the Counter Bar & Cafe might be just the ticket, serving lighter coupes de champagne, steins of beer, and quick dishes like rösti with a fried egg and truffle or pork schnitzel. Whichever option floats your boat, you're perfectly placed for most West End theatres.
55 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BB
the delaunay.com.jpg)
Mark Anthony Fox8/13Twenty8 NoMad
Covent's Garden American export, NoMad Hotel, has quickly made a name for itself since it opened directly opposite the Royal Opera House in 2021. We already love their show-stopping restaurant – which has recently rebranded as Twenty8 – for brunch, and now there's a pre-theatre dinner menu that's a great excuse to book to see the beautiful space (formerly the Bow Street Magistrate’s Court). The two-course menu is more expensive than others in the area at £52, and it's a little restrictive in that you have to sit down between 5.30pm and 6pm. But is a visual feast: think oysters with vermouth mignonette, steak frites and grilled farm vegetables – all guaranteed to be served up quickly so you're ready in time for doors at the theatre.
28 Bow St, London WC2E 7AW
hilton.com
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9/13Bancone
So long as you book in advance, Bancone's original restaurant on William IV Street in Covent Garden is a perfect in-and-out pre-theatre pick. You're guaranteed unctuous, fresh pasta, an ever-changing selection of snacks to start and a well-mixed drink. The bar is the best seating option if you're pre-theatre, where you can watch the chefs put on a show before you head off to the main event.
39 William IV St, London WC2N 4DD
bancone.com
10/13Bar Crispin
Pre-theatre, you might not want a heavy set menu that so many restaurants offer. Instead, head to the uber-stylish Bar Crispin on Kingly St for a curated selection of small sharing plates alongside an ever-changing, always excellent selection of wines and cocktails. It's small, there's outdoor seating and it feels more like you're in New York than London in the very best way. Once you have been, you'll forever be finding excuses to nip back.
19 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PY
crispinlondon.com
11/13Sucre
Argentinian fire cooking is always a good idea, and why not pre-theatre? The beauty of Sucre is that the food is quite light, so even with the pre-theatre menu (£28 for 2 courses, or £34 for 3 courses), you won't be so full that you catch yourself dropping off. It's a brilliant reason to try one of London's buzziest restaurants and see what all the fuss is about, and although it's slightly off the usual theatreland track (in the northern half of Soho), and the pre-theatre offering is only available Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm, it's well worth going a little out of your way.
47b Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7JP
sucrerestaurant.com
12/13The Barbary Next Door
Covent Garden can be a hard place to a find decent, independent restaurant to dine at before a show, but luckily The Barbary and its small neighbour The Barbary Next Door are on hand to help. Levantine cooking is the name of the game and the smaller, next door restaurant is the one to head for pre-theatre as you can be in and out in a flash. Booking is advised as it really is tiny, but on balmy evenings, tables spill out into the lush courtyard of Neal's Yard. The only issue? It's so good, it could be hard to tear yourself away.
16A Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP
thebarbary.co.uk
13/13Bocca di Lupo
There never needs to be an excuse to drop into Bocca di Lupo and enjoy the Italian fare on offer but its proximity to a lot of theatres (it's on a quiet back street in Soho, just north of Leicester Square) does make it especially tempting for a pre-theatre dinner. Settle into a negroni and some pasta, or some cichetti and a tiramisu and you're easily set up for the evening ahead. Bocca di Lupo do offer a set menu, served until 6.30pm, that is perfect pre-theatre fare and incredibly well-priced: £18 for a starter and main, and £25 if you add a dessert.
12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB
boccadilupo.com
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