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Covent Garden restaurants have a more relaxed, casual vibe than the usual Knightsbridge and Mayfair eateries, but if you are looking for something slightly different, then maybe they’re just the ticket.
Clos Maggiore, 33 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2
Let’s start with the Grande Dame of Covent Garden restaurants, Clos Maggiore. A restaurant that is so romantic and so pretty that we have mentioned it no less than three times before. Some might say that it is overkill, but if you have spent the evening here, you will see why Clos Maggiore is a Covent Garden institution. Even the most unromantic person cannot help but fall for the charm of Clos Maggiore.
Clos Maggiore is so magical that it is almost ethereal. Palm trees, a canopy of white blossom and manicured shrubs decorate the dining room. If you visit in summer, the glass roof opens, flooding this opulent yet charming restaurant with sunlight. Coupled with excellent service, an extensive wine list and the most incredible French cuisine, Clos Maggiore will be sure to impress every lady – an oasis of calm within busy Covent Garden. Don’t just take our word for it; Clos Maggiore is award wining, having been named London’s Most Romantic restaurant by Architectural Digest and several AA Rosette Awards for Culinary Experience. Take time to spoil yourself and a beautiful companion here.
Twenty8 at the Nomad, 28 Bow Street, WC2E 7AW
Steeped in history, this Manhattan-themed eatery is most certainly impressive. With a gorgeous dining room, great food and innovative cocktails, Twenty8 definitely has the wow factor. Twenty8 NoMad, situated in the old Bow Street Magistrates Court site where Oscar Wilde was famously jailed, is a beautiful brasserie, perfect for a long, lazy dinner date.
To start, you and your date should break the ice over a cocktail at Side Hustle, Twenty8’s bar. Side Hustle is a destination in itself. So much so that it was named Best International Hotel Bar in 2025. Attentive staff, a lot of agave-based cocktails and small plates of tacos. You and your date will not regret starting your evening here.
Once at your table, you and your gorgeous date will be greeted by stunning mirrored ceilings and flocked silk upholstered chairs. Grand but contemporary, not stuffy or pretentious. And here’s the thing: Twenty8 is a hotel restaurant. They usually fall into two distinct categories: uber fine dining with some superstar chef’s name above the door, charging a million pounds or somewhere stale, dull and offering a less than memorable burger or dry pasta dish. Twenty8 is neither of these. It is packed to the rafters with character. The menu is almost predictable brasserie fare on the surface, but done exceptionally well. Expect prawn cocktail, oysters with Bloody Mary sauce, steak, chicken with foie gras and truffle. I think sometimes this is what you want from a dinner date restaurant: predictable, solid, dependable, and to be made to feel special. The staff here are known for their affable manner, and it is easy to see why couples return to Twenty8 over and over again.
Balthazar, 4 – 6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5HZ
An absolute classic. Always a buzzy atmosphere at Balthazar, meaning you and a smoking hot companion can fade into the background and enjoy an intimate dinner date. Restaurateur Keith McNally’s Covent Garden outpost is a firm favourite for lunch and dinner dates. 13 years and still going strong, the eatery is continually packed out daily. Clientele keep coming back for steak frites, French onion soup and lobster. This French-themed bistro can sell over 200 steak frites per day.
You and your date will feel transported to Paris once you enter Balthazar. Rag doll effect walls, dark cherry wood accents, red leather upholstered banquettes, Art Deco mirrors, shelves of rustic-looking red wine bottles and almost an orange hued, vintage style light fixtures. It is perfect for a first date; it is not stuffy or pretentious. Baltazhar is one of those places that just always seems to have a good atmosphere any time of year.
Savoy Grill, 100 Strand, WC2R 0EZ
Out of all of the wonderful Covent Garden restaurants, there is no better spot for a pre-theatre dinner than the Savoy Grill. Start your romantic evening off in the most special way and treat you and your date to the finest West End prelude dinner. Perfectly timed to start at 5pm on weekdays, you can enjoy up to three courses for just £64.
If you were after a longer, more leisurely lunch or dinner, then the Savoy Grill is a fantastic choice. As you pull up to the world famous hotel, you are greeted by charming doormen who will gladly show you to the Savoy Grill. Here’s the thing: the staff at the Savoy make everyone feel like a Hollywood star or royalty. Whether you are a hotel guest, popping in for drinks at the American bar or dining at the Savoy Grill. I suppose it’s because so many famous faces have frequented The Savoy; Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor, The Rolling Stones and Amy Winehouse, to name a few. Everyone who steps through the door of The Savoy is made to feel like someone.
The menu is traditional yet majestic. A British meets French affair including dishes such as oysters, caviar and potted crab to start with mains of beef wellington, Dover sole and Côte de boeuf. Save room for dessert because who can resist Crêpes Suzette or sticky toffee pudding? You and your hot date will be dining in a beautifully refurnished Art Deco style restaurant with pristine white table cloths on round tables, illuminated columns and a giant Swarovski chandelier suspended above. For a luxurious dining experience, make a reservation at the Savoy Grill.
