You are here: Home > Things to do > Food and drink > Restaurants > Pre-theatre dining

Best pre-theatre dining in London

Whether you're heading to a West End musical or a play in Theatreland, London's restaurants offer a huge variety of pre-theatre menus to suit any timescale and budget. 
Content contains affiliate links, marked with asterisks (*). If you click through and make a purchase, Visit London receives a commission – every purchase supports London’s jobs and economy.
A brown table with a red chair in the window of indigo restaurant where diners can see the yellow posters of the lion king theatre show.
Savour a delicious dinner at a top London restaurant before heading to a top West End show. Image courtesy of Indigo Restaurant.

From leisurely three-course suppers to speedy snacks, London has a pre-theatre restaurant for all tastes, and many offer post-theatre dining and entertainment too. 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.

Inamo Soho

A selection of sushis and asian tapas is presented on a table.
Asian tapas, sushis and fusion dishes at Inamo restaurant. Image courtesy of Buyagift.

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 a Unlimited Sushi and Asian Tapas for Two at Inamo.

Where: Soho (134-136 Wardour Street, W1F 8ZP)

Sican

A purple restaurant dining space with black tables and wide yellow fans on the wall.
Be wowed with great food and entertainment at Sican. Image courtesy of Red Letter Days.

A meal at Sican is an experience in itself. This Japanese and Peruvian inspired restaurant in Fitzrovia serves up mouth-watering dishes such as croquette casava, charcoaled grilled chicken, mochi and much more. Tuck into a three-course pre-theatre dinner whilst 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

Where: Fitzrovia (26-28 Whitfield St, W1T 2RG)

Skylon

A place of varous brightly coloured vegetables and leaves.
Enjoy seasonal ingredients at Skylon. Image courtesy of Skylon Restaurant.

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.

Where: Southbank (1 Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX)

Indigo at One Aldwych

Rusted orange chairs at brown tables with yellow flowers in the windows of indigo restaurant in london.
Relax in the chic interiors of Indigo Restaurant. Image courtesy of Indigo.

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.

 

Where: Covent Garden (1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ)

The Petersham

The petersham restaurant in covent garden, filled with floral arrangements interesting paintings and chandeliers.
Indulge at The Petersham in Covent Garden. Image courtesy of Nancy Brownlow PR. Photo Credit: Rebecca Dickson.

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 Noel Coward Theatre and The Royal Opera House.

Where: Covent Garden (Floral Court, WC2E 9FB)

The Swan at The Globe

A white bowl filled with seafood stew with fresh scallop, muscles and vegetables.
Delicious dishes from expert chefs await. Image courtesy of The Swan at Shakespeare's 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 three-course theatre menu is an affordable way to sample the 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.

Where: Bankside (21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT)

Bocca Di Lupo

A white bar with brown stools and chefs cooking.
Grab a seat at the bar and watch the chefs at work. Image courtesy of 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.

Where: Chinatown (12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB)

Joe Allen

Close up on a cheeseburger and its fries accompanied for a glass of red wine at the American brasserie Joe Allen in Covent Garden.
Ask for the off-menu burger at the american brasserie Joe Allen in Covent Garden. Image courtesy of Melon P Marketing

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 Novello Theatre is right next door, with the Savoy Theatre, Novello Theatre and Theatre Royal Drury Lane a stones throw away.

Where: Covent Garden (2 Burleigh St, WC2E 7PX)

Mildreds

An aerial shot of sticky toffee pudding in a large bowl with a side of sauce
Mallow's vegan sticky toffee pudding. Credit and image courtesy of Mildreds Restaurants.

Set in the heart of Covent Garden, the iconic vegan restaurant Mildreds offers a pre-theatre menu of internationally inspired plates, with highlights including gyoza with daikon pickle, amba chick'n kebabs with saffron courgette orzo and sesame tempeh sob with edamame. Mildreds is within easy reach of more than 20 theatres, including Noël Coward Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre.

Where: Covent Garden (79 St Martin's Ln, WC2N 4AA)

Explore by category