Covent Garden is one of London’s liveliest and most elegant neighbourhoods: a covered market, street performers, theatres and, of course, a food scene that ranges from familiar chains to the oldest restaurant in the city.
We’ve put together our recommendations to help you decide where to eat during your visit, including a quick detour to Seven Dials, just a few minutes’ walk away.
🍽️ Quick summary
Here’s a quick guide to everything we recommend in Covent Garden, Seven Dials and the surrounding dessert spots:
| Place | Area | Type of food | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Apple Butter Cafe📍 | Covent Garden | English breakfast and brunch | £15–£20 |
| 2Sushisamba📍 | Covent Garden | Sushi with a view of the London Eye | £15–£25 |
| 3Chequers📍 | Covent Garden | Portuguese-style rolls, sandwiches and baguettes with soup | £8–£15 |
| 4Honest Burger📍 | Covent Garden | Burgers (gluten-free option available) | £10–£15 |
| 5Prezzo📍 | Covent Garden | Pasta and pizza | £15–£20 |
| 6Zizzi📍 | Covent Garden | Pasta and pizza | £15–£20 |
| 7Nando’s📍 | Covent Garden | Piri-piri chicken and family-friendly meals | £9–£15 |
| 8Rock & Sole Plaice📍 | Covent Garden | Traditional fish and chips | £18–£25 |
| 9Rules📍 | Covent Garden | London’s oldest restaurant · game (venison, pheasant) | £40–£60 |
| 10Dishoom📍 | Covent Garden | Bombay-inspired cuisine · bacon naan roll | £20–£30 |
| 11Hawksmoor Seven Dials📍 | Seven Dials | Steak and grilled meats | £20–£25 |
| 12Seven Dials Market📍 | Seven Dials | Food hall: meats, cheese counter, burgers and more | £12–£25 |
| 13Aguamiel📍 | Dessert | Mexican churros | £7–£10 |
| 14Humble Crumble📍 | Dessert | Crumble, a traditional British dessert | £6–£9 |
| 15Badiani📍 | Dessert | Italian gelato | £5–£10 |
| 16Arôme📍 | Dessert | French-Asian bakery | £8–£15 |
| 17Vanilla📍 | Dessert | New York-style dessert restaurant | £10–£18 |
Prices may change over time due to inflation…
🍽️ Our favourite restaurants in Covent Garden
Here’s a little more about each place, what to expect and who we recommend it for. These recommendations are designed to help you enjoy London like a local.
1 Apple Butter Cafe
Ideal for: Starting the day with a full English breakfast or a relaxed brunch.
Apple Butter Cafe is a good option if you want to try a classic English breakfast (eggs, sausages, bacon, beans and toast) in a relaxed setting, just a short walk from the main Covent Garden piazza.
They also offer lighter brunch options, ideal if you prefer something sweet or simply want a coffee with some pastries.
2 Sushisamba
Ideal for: A special meal with a view, perfect for a special occasion or surprising someone you’re travelling with.
Sushisamba combines Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine on the same menu, with a terrace overlooking the London Eye and much of London’s skyline.
It’s more about enjoying the experience than having a quick meal, so we recommend booking in advance, especially if you want a table on the terrace.
3 Chequers
Ideal for: A quick and affordable meal between sightseeing stops.
Chequers offers Portuguese-inspired rolls, sandwiches and baguettes, with the option to add a soup included in the price. It’s a good alternative if you’re looking for something light without spending too much.
4 Honest Burger
Ideal for: Burger lovers, including those looking for gluten-free options.
Honest Burger is a British chain known for its quality burgers, brioche buns and rosemary chips. Gluten-free buns are also available for those who need them.
5 Prezzo
Ideal for: Pasta or pizza in a family-friendly setting with something for everyone.
Prezzo is an Italian chain with a wide menu of pasta and pizza, making it a good option if you’re travelling in a group or with children and want something everyone will enjoy.
6 Zizzi
Ideal for: Another reliable pasta and pizza option, similar to Prezzo.
Zizzi is another Italian chain found throughout London, offering stone-baked pizzas and classic pasta dishes. A good option if you’re looking for something tasty and straightforward.
7 Nando’s
Ideal for: Piri-piri chicken in a casual setting, whether you’re travelling in a group or with family.
Nando’s is known for its grilled chicken marinated in piri-piri sauce, with different levels of heat. They also offer family-style meals, ideal for groups.
Nando’s has several locations across London, so if you enjoy it, you don’t have to wait until you’re back in Covent Garden to have it again.
8 Rock & Sole Plaice
Ideal for: Trying traditional fish and chips at a historic chippy.
Rock & Sole Plaice opened its doors in 1871 and is considered one of London’s oldest chippies. They serve battered and fried fish (cod, haddock and plaice), accompanied by thick-cut chips.
It’s traditional, but it’s not one of the cheapest options. Being in a busy tourist area, prices are higher than at a neighbourhood chippy.
9 Rules
Ideal for: A historic dining experience at London’s oldest restaurant.
Founded in 1798, Rules is officially London’s oldest restaurant and has survived nine British monarchs. Writers such as Charles Dickens and actors such as Charlie Chaplin were among its regular guests.
Its speciality is game: venison, pheasant and other seasonal dishes, along with classic British pies and puddings. The atmosphere, with wood panelling and walls covered in old paintings, is part of the experience.
There is a smart-casual dress code (no shorts or sportswear) and booking in advance is recommended.
10 Dishoom
Ideal for: Indian-inspired cuisine with a British twist, in a lively setting.
Dishoom recreates the style of old Bombay cafés, with ceiling fans, sepia photographs and a menu that runs from breakfast through to dinner. This is the original branch of the chain, which opened in Covent Garden in 2010.
The bacon naan roll (with egg, if you like it), their most iconic dish and a great breakfast option.
🧭 Just a short walk away: Seven Dials
Seven Dials is just a few minutes’ walk from Covent Garden and is a must-visit if you enjoy good food. Here are two options you shouldn’t miss.
11 Hawksmoor Seven Dials
Ideal for: Steak lovers looking for a more special dinner.
Hawksmoor is a renowned British steakhouse known for the quality of its cuts, using selected breeds and carefully controlled ageing. Its Seven Dials location was one of the chain’s earliest restaurants.
12 Seven Dials Market
Ideal for: Groups with different tastes, because everyone can choose something different.
Seven Dials Market is an indoor food hall with a wide variety of stalls: grilled meats, a cheese counter, burgers, steaks and much more, all served around communal tables.
The burgers from Bleecker Burger, and the Pick & Cheese experience, the world’s first conveyor-belt cheese restaurant, where you pick small plates of British cheese as they pass in front of you.
🍰 Save room for dessert: sweet treats in the area
Between Covent Garden and Seven Dials, you’ll also find some great dessert options to finish your meal on a sweet note.
Aguamiel
London’s first dedicated churro shop. They serve freshly fried churros dusted with sugar and cinnamon, with dulce de leche, condensed milk or chocolate for dipping. They also serve horchata and Mexican hot chocolate.
Humble Crumble
If you want to try a traditional British dessert, crumble is a great choice: cooked fruit (apple, rhubarb or berries) topped with a crunchy crumble layer, which you can pair with warm custard, ice cream or chocolate. They have a stall at Seven Dials Market.
Badiani
Italian gelato shop founded in Florence in 1932, famous for its Buontalenti flavour. Its Covent Garden location is slightly hidden away on a quiet pedestrian street near the main piazza.
Arôme
A very popular French-Asian bakery offering breads, cakes and creative pastries (think croissants with unusual flavours). There is often a queue, so if it’s busy, it’s worth waiting a little.
Vanilla
Vanilla is a New York-style dessert restaurant, designed for those who want to finish their walk with something seriously sweet in a polished setting. A good option if you’re looking for something different from the usual market stalls.
📍 View on Google Maps💬 What did you think of our recommendations?
Tell us in the comments if you’ve already tried any of these places, or if there’s somewhere you loved that you think should be on this list.
💬 Leave a commentThanks for reading — Explora Londres 🧡
