Food Guides
New year, new dining experiences to indulge in. Read on to discover some of the best restaurants in London that should be on your dining list for 2025.
Home to some of London’s most loved dining spots, explore Covent Garden's dining destinations from breakfast to brunch, fine dining or grab and go bites. Filled with a diverse array of options to suit all taste buds and budgets, morning ‘til night - discover the best places to dine in Covent Garden this 2025.
Managed by a squad of 120 Italians, inspired by an idyllic day in Florence, Ave Mario is a buzzing and energetic restaurant, serving up the most theatrical Italian food in London. With a brand-spanking-new menu served up on the regular, food at Ave Mario is always fresh and seasonal. Indulge in ‘biga’ pizzas, Italian classics and of course the Instagram famous La Gran Carbonara served out of a whole round of pecorino.
The perfect spot for a date, casual catch up or family meal, Ave Mario is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. As the restaurant is so popular it is best to reserve a table in advance to avoid disappointment.
Promoting London’s most promising street food traders, Seven Dials Market has food trader for every mood. Bringing together a diverse group of concepts from around the world, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Try over 20 cuisines from pizza and hash browns to sushi and the world's first ever cheese conveyor belt.
Seven Dials is also home to two bars with delicious non-alcoholic options, and plenty of vendors serving up sweet treats like soft serve ice cream and doughnuts.
The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen showcases the finest and freshest oysters and seafood from all across the British Isles. Featuring a stunning all-day raw bar for walk-in guests, The Oystermen offers the perfect intimate dining experience for seafood enthusiasts in the heart of Covent Garden. Enjoy your seafood paired with a glass of wine from the fantastically curated collection.
A concept by two-time Michelin star-rated chef, Tom Sellers - Story Cellar in Seven Dials is a must-visit. Combining classic dishes and exceptional wines, with creative flair and counter-style dining, Story Cellar offers the ultimate dining experience. Inspired by Parisian brasseries, with a distinct London twist, take a counter seat for the fiery front row kitchen action.
Nestled into Southampton Street sits celebrated chef Adam Handling’s critically acclaimed restaurant, Frog by Adam Handling. As the flagship site for the chef’s growing restaurant group, Frog by Adam Handling stays loyal to the innovative roots of its sister restaurant in Shoreditch. Here in Covent Garden, Adam’s distinct cooking style has leaped to an elevated, more personal level. The menu continues Adam's signature British style and combines technical savvy with the freshest, high quality produce.
Located in the iconic Covent Garden Market Building, Buns & Buns aims to transport diners on an Asian culinary journey. The restaurant serves up a vast menu of delicious Asian dishes, ranging from specialty brioche buns to short ribs.
Upon entering guests are greeted by a towering bamboo steamer filled with pillowy bao, including Buns & Buns’ signature shiitake mushroom bun and and a bourbon pork belly. The Buns & Buns restaurant features an open-plan kitchen with low marble counter dining where visitors can interact with the chefs, and a full liquor bar stocked with bespoke beverages including yuzu margaritas and lychee martinis.
An elegant evocation of a traditional French brasserie, with an authentic Parisian feel, Balthazar offers informal all-day dining from its home in Covent Garden. Since the restaurant's Covent Garden opening in 2012 following the iconic New York venue in 1997, Balthazar has become known for its abundance of fruits de mer as well as a wide selection of classic French brasserie and bistro dishes.
Menu's are available all day long from breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, through to dinner. The combination of classic cuisine, impressive wine and an irresistible bonhomie combine to make every meal at Balthazar an occasion.
Voted London's most romantic restaurant, Clos Maggiore is an oasis of calm with delicious seasonal menus, using only the finest produce.
Counting Prince Harry as one of its regular guests the initimate dining destination is inspired by the country inns of Provence and Tuscany with candle lit tables and foliage-entwined walls, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The globally renowned wine cellar boasts over 2,500 selections for all occasions, ranging from a modest bottle of ‘Vin De Pays’ to the greatest names in the wine world.
The place to be for British comfort food, taken to the next level in a historic Covent Garden townhouse. Cora Pearl, named after the notorious courtesan herself, serves comforting classics including Spiced Autumn Squash Soup, Crumpet's, Salt Aged Sirloin with Chips and much more. For dessert, indulge in a delightful plate of Milk & Cookies or Bramley Apple Crumble with Custard.
The restaurant is also known for their divine Sunday Lunch menu and an extensive wine list, all served in the relaxing and sophisticated restaurant on Henrietta Street.
Bringing a taste of Peru to Covent Garden, the chefs at LIMA Cantina are taking customers on a culinary journey with simple dishes inspired by the markets and home cooked meals from their hometown.
LIMA Cantina use traditional cooking methods to transform quality ingredients sourced from the UK and Peru, into mouth-watering dishes for you to enjoy. The menu delivers classics such as Pollo a la Brasa (arguably the national dish of Peru and possibly the best roast chicken you’ve ever had), whilst retaining signature Ceviche's and Pisco Sours, and many more Lima locals’ favourites.
Renowned for their exceptional and authentic pasta dishes, Executive Chef Louis Korovilas' menu is a celebration of the simplicity of Italian cuisine. Each dish is freshly prepared daily, serving pasta alongside focaccia, starters, a selection of delicious desserts and curated wine collection. The Henrietta Street restaurant is large yet cosy, making for the perfect London dining experience, a stones throw from the stunning Covent Garden Piazza.
Celebrating the culture and cuisine of Japan, Brazil and Peru, SUSHISAMBA is a unique dining experience atop Grade II listed Market Building. With culinary insrpirations from all three countries, the menu at SUSHISAMBA is extensive and packed full of flavour.
From Japanese tempura and sushi; Brazilian churrasco and moqueca; Peruvian anticuchos and seviche…variety reigns supreme at the Covent Garden restaurant, with plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.
Named one of the world’s Top Ten Best Restaurants in The New York Times by renowned food critic, Ken Hom - Din Tai Fung is famous for their Xiao Long Bao—steamed pork soup dumplings. Freshly prepared in their open kitchen as you wait, expect authentic Taiwanese and Chinese food dished up ready to indulge in.
Sticks 'n' Sushi serve high quality, fresh food based on a unique combination of traditional sushi and yakitori (chicken) sticks from the grill, so those less keen on fish can still enjoy the dining experience. Attracting families to trendsetters, Sticks 'n' Sushi is famous for making the fashionable, affordable, while remaining a friendly and welcoming place to eat.
From the very beginning, Sticks’n’Sushi has refused to be just another restaurant, and to be one of a kind. The restaurant is known for its great food and progressive attitude, setting new standards across the industry. With a variety of menus on offer in the Covent Garden restaurant, Sticks 'n' Sushi is the perfect spot to take a break from the hustle and bustle of London, and enjoy a delicious meal.
Reflecting the passion, people, lifestyle, culture and rich food and wine of Modern Argentina, Gaucho is renowned for their carbon-neutral steak, fine wines and classic cocktails, perfect for weekday lunches, after-work drinks or a Sunday roast.
Drawing inspiration from the passion-fuelled tango clubs of Buenos Aires, Gaucho is layered with iconic design statements, and boasts a more intimate dining area downstairs with pleated curtain walls, as if you were in West End theatre itself.
Based inside the iconic Covent Garden Market Building the EL&N Deli & Bakery serves up hand-crafted patisserie and favourite cult menu classics. The venue also serves focaccias made with Italian deli produce, and folded pizzas, alongside speciality coffee and brunch classics, served all day. Known for their aesthetic dishes, each meal at EL&N is presented beautifully making for the perfect Instagram moment.
The perfect dining experience for pasta lovers, Bancone makes fresh, hand-made pasta daily to enjoy in an intimate restaurant with countertop dining. The menu offering includes mouth-watering options including spicy pork and nduja ragu, and also gluten free pasta options. The restaurant's wine list champions small vineyards, and serves a selection of cocktails with a focus vermouth, bitters and Campari.
Watch the chefs at work with long countertop dining and open kitchen, or book ahead of time for a table, or private dining room.
Award-winning, New York restaurant RedFarm, brings playful contemporary Chinese cuisine and dim-sum to Covent Garden. With dim-sum extraordinaire Chef Joe Ng and Chinese culinary expert and highly respected restaurateur Ed Schoenfeld at the helm, the restaurant is the first outside of Manhattan. The menu takes a fresh approach to Chinese food, with clever dim-sum preparations, small plates and grilled meats.
Expect playful creations and quirky presentations, welcoming staff and killer cocktails complimenting the delicious food.
The Ivy Market Grill brings the familiar luxury of The Ivy on West Street to a relaxed yet sophisticated all-day dining restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden.
With a terrace overlooking the iconic, bustling Covent Garden Piazza, the Ivy Market Grill is perfect for a spot of sunny al-fresco dining this summer. The restaurant boasts a vast collection of menus, from the monthly all day set menu, to breakfast, brunch, kids, vegan & vegetarian, dessert and cream tea, The Ivy Market Grill caters to all needs and all occasions.
This year, The Ivy Market Grill invites you to step back in time to 1917 when The Ivy made its debut in the heart of the West End. Celebrate over a decade of The Ivy with the £19.17 all day set menu, paying homage to the dishes that started it all.
The iconic Royal Opera House hosts a range of eateries including the Piazza restaurant, Piazza rooftop terrace and cafe, available to dine in at any time of the day for both ticket-holders and walk-in visitors.
Dine at the stylish Piazza restaurant, with a refined menu driven by the seasons or take in the unbeatable views of the Covent Garden Piazza from the rooftop bar, with seasonal drinks and light bites.
Bringing culture, heritage and exotic dishes to iconic Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden, award winning, The Barbary takes inspiration from the 16th Century Barbary Coast, from the Atlantic Coast through to the Mediterranean Sea leading to the Middle East.
The restaurant's menu is based around seasonality and produce availability. The food served is always cooked in the purest way, with fire, whether it is grilling on coals or baking in clay ovens.
Inspired by the Danish way of life and their love for porridge on her regular travels to Copenhagen, founder of 26 Grains Alex Hely-Hutcherson launched her first restaurant selling porridge pots. Years on, 26 Grains sits within the iconic and picturesque Neal's Yard, with a menu centring on sweet and savoury porridge, and topped toasts.
The cosy café serves up breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner options including Banana & Tahini Porridge, Caramelised Brioche, Kimchi & Cheese Toasties and a selection of pastries.
A Parisian Bistro in the heart of London, HENRI is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Staying true to head chef Jackson Boxer's style each dish celebrates British food with a nod to French cuisine. Situated on Henrietta Street, the restaurant is the perfect location for a relaxing meal away from the hustle and bustle of London, but still within view of the iconic Market Building.
Serving up breakfast, brunch and dinner, The Breakfast Club offers an extensive menu for diners to enjoy all day long. With plenty of plant-based options on offer, vegan visitors can swap eggs for scrambled tofu, and enjoy the mouth-watering vegan bacon, sausage and chorizo.
Vegan and non-diners alike can indulge in stacks upon stacks of delicious pancakes, club classics, breakfast specials, sandwiches and sides, in the welcoming and casual Seven Dials restaurant.
Diners can enjoy The Late Late Breakfast Club Menu, with American dinner classics including caesar salads, burgers, nachos and loaded tater tots.
