While Mayfair and Soho take top spots for London’s fine-dining destinations, it would be wrong to dismiss Covent Garden as being limited to pre-theatre dinners and post-show drinking holes. A stone’s throw from the culinary haven that is Chinatown, the West End is no stranger to decadent tasting menus, Michelin-starred restaurants and a variety of perfected cuisines ready to tempt even the most discerning of foodies, whether they’re heading for the stalls or not. Here are the best restaurants in Covent Garden. 

Frog by Adam Handling

The flagship, Michelin-starred restaurant from Scottish chef and Masterchef: The Professionals finalist Adam Handling is just as theatrical as one would hope, considering it’s situated at the heart of London’s West End. Diners are positioned directly in front of the open kitchen so they can watch the action unfold, before being served their choice of a meat or vegetarian tasting menu. All ingredients showcase the best of British ingredients, sourced from independent farmers, fishermen and growers, and presentation is second to none. Think sea bream with tiger’s milk and white radish overflowing with wafts of dried ice, before plates of lobster with smoked chilli and roasted lemon; turbot served with mussels and basil; and pigeon, hen of the woods and black garlic. 

34-35 Southampton Street, WC2E 7HG, visit frogbyadamhandling.com

The NoMad Hotel

Despite only opening in 2021, The NoMad Hotel has already made a name for itself as a foodie haven. Comprising its signature eponymous restaurant, the Mexican-inspired Side Hustle, the Library, and the newly-opened cocktail bar, Common Decency – where all menus are created by executive chef Michael Yates – it’s the former that is buzzing every day of the week. Set in a soaring glass conservatory with hanging plants and pale-green furnishings, the signature restaurant’s menus focus on farm, field and coast, featuring king crab tagliatelle; halibut seared with mushroom dashi; pork confit with crispy skin, roasted apples and mustard; as well as a newly-launched Sunday lunch. 

28 Bow Street, WC2E 7AW, visit thenomadhotel.com

Stereo

If you’re looking for guaranteed (and good) live music, head to Stereo, located on Covent Garden’s Piazza. The restaurant-come-music-bar opened at the beginning of 2023, and takes its cues from the vibrant late-night culture of New York with undertones of Parisian chic. Its delectable cocktail and food menus – overseen by chef Andrew Clarke, formerly of Brunswick House and St Leonards – sit harmoniously alongside Stereo’s eclectic daily music programme, where an in-house band plays relaxed soul, funk and jazz tunes in the early evening before building tempo throughout the evening. 

Culinary fare fuses American classics with French influences, so you’ll find plates of cheeseburgers, fried-chicken sandwiches and Stereo hot wings alongside halibut T-bone, lobster pie and Highland Porterhouse steaks. At the bar, pick from bottles by South Bermondsey microbrewery Partizan, Thames Distillers (creating Stereo’s house vodka and gin blends), Biercraft and The Lakes Distillery, alongside an exceptional cocktail menu. Chin chin!

35 The Piazza, WC2E 8BE, visit stereocoventgarden.com

Louie

Louie is an opulent party palace by Parisian hospitality director Guillaume Glipa on Covent Garden’s West Street, bringing the art of French hospitality with a touch of jazz and soul to the capital. Housed in a historic, 19^th-century townhouse with all four floors designed by Dion & Arles, the ground-floor restaurant takes its cues from the classic brasserie, where guests can graze and share little plates of seafood from the raw bar. The first-floor dining room, with its plush and sultry décor, is the perfect backdrop for wine aficionados to discover hidden gems and enjoy Louie’s signature barbecue lobster and tarte tatin. 

After dinner, guests can move to The Alligator Bar, terrace and smoking lounge. The cocktail menu has all the classics, as well as a few special serves, such as the Madame Laveau, Louie’s take on a Margarita, a selection of Cuban cigars, and bar-sized portions of the dining room’s signature dishes. Dining or drinking at Louie also means buying a front-row ticket to discovering artists from around the world, from the recurring Jazz Night Tuesdays, Soulful Wednesdays to All About Rhythm Thursdays, plus DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. Keep an eye out for Louie’s exclusive movie nights at the top-floor Cabana, and vibrant jazz brunches on weekends. 

13-15 West Street, WC2H 9NE, visit louie-london.com

La Goccia

Petersham Nurseries’ Richmond venue has long been a favourite for elegant, Italian-inspired dining in the capital and it didn’t take long for its two outposts in Covent Garden to emulate the same experience. Both The Petersham and La Goccia take their cue from the slow-living and sustainable values synonymous with the Petersham brand, serving seasonal, nose-to-tail Italian aperitivo and dishes. However, when the sun is shining, we love La Goccia’s sunny courtyard, where you can dine al fresco to enjoy plates of cured beef carpaccio with rocket and pickled onion; a Haye Farm salumi board; and radicchio with figs and pomegranate. 

1 Floral Court, WC2E 9FB, visit petershamnurseries.com

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