Things to do

Best Restaurants in Covent Garden

By CW Contributor on 25/8/2017

We cut out the chains and tourist pubs to let you know about the best places to eat in Covent Garden

Henrietta, one of Covent Garden's newest offerings

People visiting London from all over the world want to know where to get food in the heart of the West End – which is fair enough because Covent Garden has some of the best food from all over the world: French, Spanish, Italian (or even British). Recently opened or upcoming, here are the most exciting new restaurants.

Henrietta

Simple, seasonal, French-inspired dishes dominate the menu designed by Ollie Dabbous in this Covent Garden hotel restaurant. After closing his eponymous, Michelin-starred restaurant earlier this year, Dabbous has focused on the creation of Henrietta. It's a restaurant with a playful menu led by seasonal ingredients and a cocktail bar that embraces the history of the area.

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The Barbary

The founders of top London restaurant The Palomar return with The Barbary in Covent Garden, an exciting new dining space. The restaurant is unassuming from the exterior but, with a menu inspired by the flavours of Israel and the North African coast, it provides a delight to the senses inside. The Barbary's no booking policy for the majority of the day means that there will be a queue but the heavenly menu makes it worth the wait.

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Petersham Nurseries

Shop, drink, and dine at the glamorous garden centre's new Covent Garden venue. The new Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden, brings the Floral Court to life. The Petersham Nurseries lifestyle shop, delicatessen, and florist will be joined by two new restaurants in September. The food will be simple, seasonal, and Italian-inspired, with an emphasis on quality ingredients. We can't wait to see what they'll have on offer.

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Frenchie

Frenchie, Covent Garden is cut from the same cloth as Frenchie, Paris, and the Parisian bistro-style dining has been convincingly translated to London. The meat and fish are smoked in-house, the wine is Old World, and there is a vast selection of cheeses. Naturally.

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Encant

If you feel like small plates in a small space, try out Encant in Covent Garden, previously called Duende. Tapas restaurants are always tempting, but this one serves foie gras crema Catalana and delectable Spanish wines – what do you expect from a place co-founded by an ex-Bravas Tapas chef?

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Li Veli

Serving up traditional cuisine from Apulia (a region in Southern Italy), the Li Veli use produce directly from their own vineyards and farmland in the Puglia region. The restaurant is ideal for either a quiet and cosy dinner or a relaxed business lunch, and its signature dish is a simple but delicious cheesy pomodoro pasta.

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Indigo

Up in the One Aldwych Hotel, Indigo provides a worthy addition to London dairy-free gluten-free eateries. Make sure to try the Bloxham monkfish braised in lemongrass coriander and coconut milk.

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