A few of the best restaurants in Covent Garden
Theatreland is teeming with eateries. So many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming to separate the wheat from the chaff. To save you from needing to do so, here are a few of the best restaurants in Covent Garden to book when you’re heading into London’s city centre, from small but charming seafood restaurants to the city’s most lauded tapas bar.
Cora Pearl
From the team behind Mayfair’s esteemed Kitty Fisher’s comes Cora Pearl, named after a 19th-century courtesan with a fascinating history. The menu is short but sweet, putting its focus on seasonal British ingredients to produce quality, crowd-pleasing dishes like the signature ham and cheese toastie starter. Alongside the a la carte menu, there’s a great pre-theatre option as well as a Sunday lunch. In terms of atmosphere, the restaurant has perfected that rare blend of cosy meets sumptuous, making it one of the best restaurants in Covent Garden in which to enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner.
30 Henrietta Street
Barrafina
Arguably London’s most acclaimed tapas bar, Barrafina now boasts a total of five restaurants across the city. Not long after the launch of Barrafina’s original Dean Street restaurant, the smaller outpost on the corner of Adelaide Street came along. Take a seat at the counter and relish in the convivial atmosphere that surrounds you. When it comes to ordering, the prawn and piquillo pepper tortilla is spectacular, while the ham croquetas should come with a warning: they’re addictive. For those who like to plan ahead, the good news is that this Barrafina takes bookings… although they do get snapped up pretty quickly.
10 Adelaide Street
The Oystermen
Just next door to Cora Pearl, you’ll find folksy seafood restaurant, The Oystermen. True to its name, there’s a great daily selection of both fresh and cooked oysters within the wonderful, regularly changing menu focused on fish and seafood. Sit indoors and enjoy the typically nautical decor, or take a seat outside to soak up the bustling atmosphere along Henrietta Street. If you fancy a pre or post meal tipple, head just around the corner to Bedford Street Wines, a lovely little wine bar and shop from the same owners.
32 Henrietta Street
The Barbary
Tucked away within the treasure that is Neal’s Yard, The Barbary is regularly cited as one of the best restaurants in Covent Garden. It tells a story rooted in Northern African cuisine – its name deriving from the Barbary Coast, where Berbers of the Atlas Mountains settled. Seating just twenty-four guests around its counter, The Barbary is an intimate and immersive affair where you can watch dishes like mangal chicken and smoked labneh octopus being prepared on the robata or tandoor clay oven. For a quicker, more casual bite, The Barbary Next Door is a great option for small plates and wines from Spain, France and Morocco.
16 Neal’s Yard
Parsons
As soon as you step into Covent Garden’s much-loved little seafood restaurant, Parsons, an air of retro, art deco nostalgia instantly delights. The menu is an ode to fish dishes done simply and superbly: think battered cod cheeks with pickled chilli and paprika mayonnaise or steelhead trout with cucumber and kelp yoghurt. Look out for the daily specials too, handwritten on the white tiled walls each day. From the team behind popular wine bar and bistrot, The 10 Cases just over the road, rest assured the wine list is equally impressive. Whether you want a quick bite or would prefer to settle in for a few hours, Parsons is one of the best restaurants in Covent Garden no matter the occasion.
39 Endell Street
