Skip to main content

Best Pre-Theatre Restaurant Guide: Where to Eat in London's West End

Published Date

Where to eat in London’s West End

West End Covent Garden District in London at night

London’s West End comes to life every evening when locals and tourists pour out of tube stations to dine and see a show.

While the district’s boundaries can be difficult to define, the network of streets and squares surrounding Covent Garden and Leicester Square are where you’ll find more than 40 theatres showing big-name musicals, cutting-edge plays, world-class operas, and underground comedy shows.

When it comes to choosing a great place to eat before the theatre, we’ve pinpointed a selection of standout spots that have the local seal of approval and get your evening off to a theatrical start.

Barrafina

Best for shows at Adelphi Theatre

Be prepared to wait in line for a counter seat at this cult tapas spot. With a glass of manzanilla in hand, work your way through the sharing selection, beginning with glistening slithers of Ibérica ham and crisp croquettes, before ordering larger dishes like the oozing tortilla. If you have tickets to a theatre show nearby, it’s wise to arrive when the restaurant doors open at 5pm to give yourself plenty of time for a leisurely dinner.  

10 Adelaide Street, London

Din Tai Fung

Best for shows at Lyceum Theatre

The West End borders Chinatown meaning there’s no shortage of great places to enjoy dim sum and dumplings before seeing a show. However, the selection at the famous Taiwanese chain, Din Tai Fung, can’t be bettered. Most diners book a table to sample the Xiao Long Bao – each individual dumpling is delicately rolled, filled with a selection of vegetables, seafood, and meat, and hand-crimped with exactly 18 folds. Advance booking is highly recommended.

5 Henrietta Street, London

Chinatown in West End District London at night

The Ivy

Best for shows at St Martin’s Theatre

A theatreland icon for more than a century, this historic restaurant is one of the best-known dining spots in London. Once a regular haunt of A List celebrities, it’s now slightly easier to secure a reservation but does require advance planning to secure a prime-time pre-theatre booking. The menu balances traditional British dishes with contemporary twists, such as the signature shepherd’s pie alongside more recent additions like a very good Malaysian prawn curry. A pre-theatre menu is served Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m.

1-5 West Street, London

Bancone

Best for shows at Hadestown Theatre

London has no shortage of great Italian restaurants, and this Covent Garden gem ranks high among the capital’s top spots. From neatly folded cappellacci stuffed with Cornish crab to long ribbons of tagliatelle stirred through spicy nduja ragu, the menu sweeps across Italy to cherry pick flavorful dishes, served alongside a well-priced wine list that doesn’t stray beyond the country’s borders. They’re well-versed in pre-theatre dining so service is swift.

39 William IV Street, London

Burning candles on top of outdoor restaurant table at night

J Sheekey

Best for shows at Prince of Wales Theatre

This grand dame of theatreland is renowned for the day-fresh seafood that arrives from across the UK coastline. Order a glass of Champagne and pick your way through one of the generous seafood platters –Atlantic prawns, Scottish lobster, and dressed Cornish crab. If there are just two of you, choose to perch at the central bar in the main restaurant, while the booths overlooking the terrace in the Atlantic Bar are great for larger groups. 

28-32 St Martin's Court, London 

J Sheekey Best for shows at Prince of Wales Theatre This grand dame of theatreland is renowned for the day-fresh seafood that arrives from across the UK coastline. Order a glass of Champagne and pick your way through one of the generous seafood platters –Atlantic prawns, Scottish lobster, and dressed Cornish crab. If there are just two of you, choose to perch at the central bar in the main restaurant, while the booths overlooking the terrace in the Atlantic Bar are great for larger groups. 28-32 St Martin's Court, London Dishoom Best for shows at The Ambassadors Theatre Based on the Irani cafés that swept colonial-era Bombay in the 1930s, Dishoom introduced Londoners to the spicy cooking of the Parsi community in 2010 – and it’s a love affair that’s still going strong. There are now seven iterations dotted across the capital, but it all started at the Covent Garden original which has had a dramatic, art deco makeover. From the lengthy menu, make sure you choose a biryani to share, something from the tandoori oven, and a portion of chili cheese toast. 12 Upper St Martin's Lane, London

Balthazar

Best for shows at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Located just off Covent Garden’s main square, this is almost an exact replica of restaurateur Keith McNally’s New York original. Its antique mirrors, polished brass fixtures and red leather booths perfectly embody the classic Parisian brasserie, and the long menu brims with hearty classics. The pre-theatre set menu is one of the best priced in the area and includes the hand-chopped steak tartare, which has become the restaurant’s signature dish.

4-6 Russell Street, London

The Palomar

Best for shows at Apollo Theatre

Let your evening of theatrics begin at the counter of this West End favorite, where a team of energetic chefs create dishes that burst with the colors and flavors of Southern Spain, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. Everything on the menu is delicious, but it's wise to choose a larger meat or seafood dish and a selection of the intriguing vegetable dishes like the crispy pink fir potatoes dressed with smoked labneh and baby cucumbers served with green tahini and crispy chili oil.

34 Rupert Street, London

Rooftop view of busy Rupert Street in London at night

Explore London with Diners Club 

Look for the Diners Club® International and Discover® acceptance marks when you’re traveling around London.

 

The information provided herein is sponsored by Diners Club International®. It is intended for informational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Content on this website may contain information from third parties and/or links to third-party websites. Diners Club International bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of this information.