From leisurely three-course suppers to speedy snacks, find the best pre-theatre menus London has to offer, with many venues also offering post-theatre dining and entertainment.
Pre-theatre menus are also an inexpensive way to sample the food at some of London's finest and most famous restaurants either side of seeing a top show.
Take a look at our picks and treat yourself to the best pre-theatre dinner in London.
Best pre-theatre dinner in Covent Garden
Book yourself a top-notch pre-theatre dinner in Covent Garden with our selection of the best dining spots serving pre-theatre food and drinks in the heart of this buzzing London area.
With plenty of fantastic restaurants within walking distance of the city's top theatres, take your pick and order from a set and speedy pre-theatre menu in Covent Garden to start off the night on a high note, before heading to a top London show.
Indigo at One Aldwych
Spoil yourself with a pre-theatre supper in Indigo at One Aldwych Hotel, on the outskirts of Theatreland. The low-key, high-luxe interior design makes for a truly special pre-theatre meal, and the modern British fixed-price menu is excellent value for money. No time for dinner? The tasty bar food is a treat in itself.
Best pre-theatre menu before: Mamma Mia!, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Lion King, The Mousetrap
Where: Covent Garden (1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ)
Price: £42 for two courses, £50 for three courses
Time offer is available: Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm-6.30pm
The Petersham
Nestled in the tranquil settings of the Floral Court in Covent Garden, The Petersham is the perfect pitstop for a pre-show dinner. With its enchanting interiors and moreish seasonal menu, expect a memorable dining experience to kickstart your evening of spectacular entertainment. Nearby, you'll find the Noël Coward Theatre and the Royal Ballet and Opera.
Best pre-theatre menu before: Dr Strangelove, The Nutcracker
Where: Covent Garden (Floral Court, WC2E 9FB)
Price: £39 for two courses, £44 for three courses
Time offer is available: Monday to Friday, 5pm-6pm
Joe Allen
Joe Allen is a favourite with London's theatre luvvies and actors, and it's easy to see why. A cosy, subterranean restaurant, it serves hearty American-style food in a setting so realistic it's like stepping into an old-school New York brasserie. Head there early for the well-priced pre-theatre menu, or opt for a late supper. The Lyceum Theatre is right next door, with the Novello Theatre, Duchess Theatre and Savoy Theatre a stone's throw away.
Best pre-theatre menu before: The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, The Play That Goes Wrong, Mean Girls
Where: Covent Garden (2 Burleigh Street, WC2E 7PX)
Price: £26.50 for two courses, £32 for three courses
Time offer is available: Monday to Friday, 12pm-6pm
Mildreds
Set in the heart of Covent Garden, the iconic vegan restaurant Mildreds offers a pre-theatre menu of internationally inspired plates. Highlights include kimchi gyoza, southern fried plant chick+n burger, and a white chocolate tiramisu. Mildreds is within easy reach of more than 20 theatres, including Noël Coward Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre.
Best pre-theatre menu before: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Dr Strangelove
Where: Covent Garden (79 St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4AA)
Price: £24 for two courses, £32 for three courses
Time offer is available: Monday to Friday, 3pm-7pm
Best pre-theatre dinner in other central areas
Whitcomb's
Set in the boutique The Londoner Hotel is Whitcomb's, a French-Mediterranean restaurant serving simple yet elegant pre-theatre delights including a smoked duck carpaccio and sea bass with white wine, shallots and lemon crème. Choose from tempting desserts such as a rhubarb and strawberry millefeuille or textures of dark chocolate with fresh raspberry, aero crunch and raspberry sorbet.
Best pre-theatre menu before: The Book of Mormon, The Phantom of the Opera
Where: Leicester Square (The Londoner, 38 Leicester Square, WC2H 7DX)
Price: £34 for two courses, £39 for three courses
Time offer is available: Monday to Sunday, 12pm-2.30pm, 5pm-6.30pm, 9pm-10pm (except Friday)
Skylon
Sit back, relax and take in panoramic views of the Thames through floor-to-ceiling windows at Skylon in the Royal Festival Hall. Opt for speedy brasserie-like food or linger over two or three courses of seasonal modern European food, safe in the knowledge it's only a short walk to the National Theatre or The Globe.
Best pre-theatre menu before: any show at the National Theatre or The Globe
Where: Southbank (1 Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX)
Price: £30 for two courses, £35 for three courses
Time offer is available: Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm-6.30pm, 9pm-10pm
The Swan at The Globe
With views across the river Thames, modern British cuisine and the fact you can simply walk next door to Shakespeare's Globe, The Swan at The Globe is an ideal pre-show venue. The two- or three-course River View set menu is an affordable way to sample seasonal British food, while ensuring that you don’t miss the show. Covent Garden is a 30-minute walk away from The Swan at The Globe, an ideal location if you're not in a rush.
Best pre-theatre menu before: any show at The Globe
Where: Bankside (21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT)
Price: £29 for two courses, £35 for three courses
Time offer is available: Monday to Saturday, 12pm-2.30pm, 5pm-9pm, Sunday, 12pm-2.30pm, 5pm-6pm
Inamo Soho
Set in the heart of Theatreland, Inamo Soho serves high-quality pan-Asian cuisine in stylish surroundings and with a state-of-the-art ordering system. Choose from the à la carte menu or opt for the four-dish set meal (not available during December) for a perfect budget-friendly pre-theatre feast. Grab a table here if you're heading to the Prince Edward Theatre and the London Palladium.
Book the Unlimited Sushi and Asian Tapas at Inamo.
Best pre-theatre menu before: MJ The Musical, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Les Misérables
Where: Soho (134-136 Wardour Street, W1F 8ZP)
Price: £39.95 for unlimited sushi and Asian tapas
Time offer is available: Monday to Wednesday, 4pm-10pm, Thursday and Friday, 12pm-10.30pm, Saturday, 11am-10.30pm, Sunday, 12pm-8pm
Cheap pre-theatre dinner in London
Bocca Di Lupo
Since opening its doors in 2008, Bocca Di Lupo has won many awards for its honest Italian cuisine. The menu changes daily, which means that avid theatre-goers will always find an exciting new dish to savour. A family business at heart, expect a welcoming atmosphere that will set the tone for the rest of your evening – wholesome, hearty and a lot of fun. This spot is perfect for those seeing a show at Sondheim Theatre, Delfont Mackintosh Theatre and the Apollo Theatre.
Best pre-theatre menu before: Les Misérables, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Where: Chinatown (12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB)
Price: £18 for two courses, £25 for three courses
Time offer is available: Monday to Friday, 12pm-6.30pm, 9.30pm-11pm
Sican
A meal at Sican is an experience in itself. This Japanese and Peruvian-inspired restaurant in Fitzrovia serves up mouthwatering dishes such as croquette casava, charcoaled grilled chicken, mochi and much more. Tuck into a three-course pre-theatre dinner while enjoying live entertainment before heading off to the West End. This spot is just a short walk from the London Palladium and the Dominion Theatre.
Book a Three Course Pre-Theatre Dinner at Sican for Two.
Best pre-theatre menu before: The Devil Wears Prada, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Where: Fitzrovia (26-28 Whitfield Street, W1T 2RG)
Price: £58.99 for three courses for two people
Time offer is available: Tuesday to Friday, 4.30pm-7.30pm
What is the pre-theatre menu?
Pre-theatre menus in London are speedy set menus specifically designed to cater for theatre-goers before or after they've seen a show in the West End.
Pre-theatre menus are often available at restaurants located within walking distance of the city's top theatres and usually include two or three courses served in a short period of time to ensure you arrive at the theatre on time.
Find more theatre inspiration
Check out our video for more theatre inspiration, including some of London's most loved and longest-running shows, pre-theatre dining and ways to book tickets.
