Covent Garden area restaurants and pubs + bonus question

I'm very fond of Pret, and there are a number of locations in the Covent Garden area if simple, tasty food is more important than ambience.

I have gone to the theater in NYC a number of times, but only once in London, and that was just a few months ago, so not sure my one experience was typical.
I'll probably try to fit in a show on future trips to London.

I read your post and was so excited to respond with this wonderful find. https://www.sarastro-restaurant.com/

We had the best time here. We went after our show for an after show fun time, and it was so much fun. Some people, very well trained and probably were in a show, burst into song. It was vibrant, wonderful and amazing. It’s filled with theatrical decor. We had dessert and drinks.

I’ve been to both London and NY for shows. It’s like do you like vanilla or chocolate better? Each city is great. Though I haven’t been to either since the Pandemic. I’ve seen two original casts in London before the shows came to the states. I think Broadway kind of Americanizes the shows to more mainstream.

Have fun and I hope you like my recommendation for the cafe.

The Petersham Nursery/Hotel from Richmond has a Covent Garden location. The website mentions a pre theatre menu.

I was fortunate enough to see Helen Mirren in The Audience in London so that city has my heart.

Interested in ramen? I like wagamama especially if it’s cold out.

https://www.wagamama.com/our-menu

We too like Sarastros on Drury Ln near Covent Garden. It will really set the stage, so to speak, for your theatrical afternoon or evening.

As far as which city I prefer to attend plays and musicals, I’d have to say London because it’s where we’ve had the most experience with theaters over the years and it signals that we are on holiday. We just saw a musical in London last year and the same musical in NYC last week. I think the quality was the same and I really didn’t detect any Americanization of the production, Moulin Rouge. However when we saw Hamilton in London last year after seeing it in San Francisco previously, they had changed up some King George scenes and lines which we all thought were hilarious.

One disappointment I had with the audience in NYC was that they didn’t seem to be be very respectful or knowledgeable about theater etiquette. There was way too much selfie and picture taking at the beginning of the first and second act and the ushers were very disruptive trying to stop it. I don’t see that same behavior in London theaters.

Seven Dials Market is a food court in Covent Garden with various options. It’s does get busy but there are no reservations so you can be flexible.

I’ve only seen one show on Broadway and the main difference was no bar. No pre show gin and tonic, no interval gin and tonic. I don’t know if this is standard.

Also in New York: no little tubs of ice cream at half-time.

For a quick pre-theatre meal in Covent Garden, I like The Ivy Market Grill.

Shoryu Ramen also has a branch in Covent Garden (Great Queen St). We normally eat at the Regent St location several times when we visit.

Near (15 min walk) from The Other Palace and a great pub meal is the Two Chairmen (Dartmouth St, Westminster).

I haven’t been here post-pandemic, but back in the day I always liked Palm Court Brasserie for pre-theatre dining in Covent Garden. https://www.palmcourtbrasserie.co.uk/pre-theatre

@Helen, we haven’t been to a theater that didn’t have a bar, both in the US and London. They are often on an upper level so depending where your seat is you may not have noticed?

Hands down, London theatre over Broadway. Talent, production options, public transport and yes, ice cream cups at intermission.

It may be outside the area most convenient to the theaters at which you have tickets, but as a solo traveler in 2019, I had a wonderful pre-theater meal at Nopi, on Warwick St. Great food, great atmosphere. Afterward I went to see Ian McKellen’s one-man show at the Harold Pinter theater — definitely a highlight of my visit to London that year.

I can’t choose between NYC and London theater — I’ve been fortunate to see fabulous original cast productions in each city. London ticket prices are way lower than NYC, though!

Have a great trip!

I second a prior poster who recommended The Harp as a good pub to visit. I will add two other pubs that are wonderful in and around the Covent Garden area:

The Lamb & Flag
The Cross Keys

The Ivy was wonderful a few years ago.

I am in London now, staying at The Resident Victoria, which is right next door to The Other Palace Theater. A short walk away (maybe 2-3 minutes) is a place called Nova Victoria/Cardinal Place. There are a bunch of restaurants (including sit down and take-away) and is a very lively area. You will have lots of choices to eat.

https://createvictoria.com/food-and-drink

Thank you all for your suggestions. Just what I needed to keep from waiting until I am hungry to look for food!

Regarding the theatre question, thanks there, too. I'd like to see if my SIL would like to do a short trip to London for theater...as opposed to New York.

I had a wonderful pre-theater meal at Nopi, on Warwick St. Great food, great atmosphere. Afterward I went to see Ian McKellen’s one-man show at the Harold Pinter theater — definitely a highlight of my visit to London that year.

CorrieTen, I have a reservation for Nopi in March of next year on my birthday, and I can't wait. I love Yotam Ottolenghi! And I adore Ian McKellen! To me, he is one of the quintessential British actors.

I tend to avoid a big meal before the theatre, so I either get something light before the show or choose to go post-theatre.

Some of the restaurants that I’ve enjoyed solo before or after the theatre:
1) The Palomar in Leicester Square - Really interesting Middle Eastern small plates, sit at the bar and watch the cooks
2) The Barbary - owned by the same group that runs the Palomar, similar theme
3) The Opera Tavern - Spanish and Italian small plates, very nice selection of wines by the glass
4) Masala Zone - It is a chain, but I enjoy it.
5) Dishoom - Trendy Indian food. The Covent Garden location nearly always has a queue so I generally avoid that location. I actually prefer Dishoom for lunch as it tends to be less crowded.
6) Nopi - I’ve eaten there a number of times. Be aware that the pre-theatre menu they advertise is not available to solo diners. I found that out when I went once before a show and they told me it was only available for ”sharing”.

Some places that others have recommended but were just ok for me:
1) The Delaunay - Austrian food, beautiful setting, but I found it very noisy and I got the schnitzel which was nowhere near as good as the schnitzel I had in Austria
2) Brasserie Zedel - French bistro food, good value. When I was there last October post-theatre, the service was just terrible. Maybe I was just there on a bad night as a number of people have recommended this place in the past.

As far as London vs New York, I prefer London. To be fair, I’ve only seen 4 shows in NY and I have seen more than 50 shows in London over the last 25 years. I think the quality of the performances is comparable. I give London the edge mainly because it is such a comfortable place for a solo traveler to walk around post-performance; I always feel very safe after dark. Plus, they sell ice cream at the interval! The venues in London vary in quality. Some are big and luxurious (e.g., Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Some are rather run down and in need of renovation. Some have poor ventilation and can be uncomfortable when it is hot. Some seats have very little legroom or poor rakes. I do rely on theatremonkey for seating recommendations.

I hope you enjoy your stay!

You can be a part of history at The Lamb and Flag. Here's an excerpt from their website:

"The very first mention of a pub on this site is in 1772, when it was known as The Coopers Arms (the name changed to The Lamb & Flag in 1833)."

Many years ago (many for me, though not so long ago for the establishment) I saw several knights in battle dress having a pint at the front door. Extras in one of the neighbourhood theatres, I guessed.

It's in the Fuller's chain now, usually a good sign. The company maintains a hardy menu, especially for the Sunday Roast. Fuller's beers cover a good range.
33 Rose Street, Covent Garden

https://www.lambandflagcoventgarden.co