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Dinner before a West End show is one of London's great evenings out, but it takes planning: you need somewhere close to the theatres, quick enough to have you in your seat by curtain-up, and ideally offering a good-value early set menu. This guide covers the best pre-theatre restaurants around Theatreland.
What makes a good pre-theatre restaurant
The key is location and timing. Choose somewhere within an easy walk of your theatre, look for a dedicated pre-theatre or early set menu, which many restaurants offer at a lower price before around seven in the evening, and tell the staff you have a show so they can pace your meal. Booking an early slot is essential.
Covent Garden and Theatreland classics
The streets around Covent Garden are made for this. J Sheekey has fed theatregoers and actors for over a century, the grand Balthazar brings a Parisian buzz, and the flower-filled Clos Maggiore is as romantic as it is convenient. The Ivy remains the classic showbiz address, and Dishoom Covent Garden is a lively, well-priced option a few minutes from the stage doors.
Grand brasseries and good value
For style at a sensible price, the magnificent art deco Brasserie Zedel near Piccadilly serves a celebrated pre-theatre set menu in one of the grandest rooms in London, and its neighbours in Soho offer countless quick, characterful options. These are the places to eat well without missing the overture.
Good to know
What time should I eat before a West End show?
Most West End shows begin at half past seven, so booking dinner for around half past five or six gives you time to eat unhurried and walk to the theatre. Many restaurants offer a lower-priced pre-theatre menu in this window, so it pays to ask when you book.
Which restaurants are closest to the West End theatres?
The restaurants around Covent Garden and Soho, including J Sheekey, The Ivy and Dishoom Covent Garden, are within a few minutes' walk of most West End theatres. Brasserie Zedel near Piccadilly Circus is also handy for the theatres at that end of the district.
Where to go next
Line up the show itself with our guide to the best West End shows, or browse the best restaurants in London.
