The Best Pre-Theatre Dining in London

Named after a 19th century courtesan who lived nearby before becoming the queen of Parisian nightlife, this bistro-like restaurant has a buzzing yet cosy atmosphere. It sits inside a characterful Covent Garden townhouse and offers a menu that pushes British produce like Wiltshire truffles and Portland crab to the fore. The team recommend a cocktail to go with your pre-show meal, before visiting one of the several theatres nearby, including the Adelphi, Lyceum and Vaudeville.

Did you know that we also recommend hotels? The St Martins Lane Hotel is just a stone’s throw away from Cora Pearl.

Like its older sister, The Wolseley, the inspiration for this bustling restaurant, set just round the corner from The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, is the grand cafés of Europe. As such, the menu is a roll-call of classic dishes from Central European cuisine – so expect schnitzel, sachertorte and plenty of sausages. The affordable fixed price menu is a great option for pre-show dining and there’s a wonderfully grand feel to the interior. Look out for future dates of ‘The Delaunay Presents’, when you are invited to join a star of stage and screen for dinner.

One Aldwych, just a two-minute walk from The Delaunay, is a One-MICHELIN-Key hotel.

There are few places better for a pre-theatre meal than in the theatre itself. Situated on the upper floor of the National Theatre – which is actually a collection of several performance spaces inside one big, Brutalist building – it is a large and lively brasserie serving full-flavoured modern British cooking. Much of its business is conducted pre-show, with a sensibly priced pre-theatre menu for the purpose. If you’ve arrived late and only have time for a drink before your play starts, there’s also a large bar on hand to satisfy.

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Whilst slightly less central than some other options, it’s well worth considering this intimate and clubby bistro from the Jason Atherton stable. Tucked away on Pollen Street, over the road from its older sibling, Little Social feels sheltered from the busy West End crowds but is still just a short walk away from the Piccadilly and Criterion theatres. There is a reassuring appeal to the short 'prix fixe' menu which champions British ingredients and French techniques.

Little Social is not far from the famed Claridge’s, which holds Three MICHELIN Keys.

If it’s a touch of glamour and elegance you’re looking for before taking your seat in the stalls, then Margot will certainly fit the bill. Classic, regional Italian cooking comes in the form of dishes like beef carpaccio and veal Milanese, which are delivered with authenticity, a rustic edge and plenty of flavour. The lunch/pre-theatre menu allows the flexibility of dining before a matinee or evening performance, with The Royal Opera House less than 5 minutes’ walk away.

A mere two minutes’ walk separates Margot from the MICHELIN Guide recommended Middle Eight hotel.

There’s not many MICHELIN-Starred restaurants out there offering a pre-theatre menu; yet SO|LA has successfully bucked that trend with a shortened and notably cheaper version of their usual tasting menu. After a set selection of snacks, you can choose between two options for your starter, main course and dessert. It’s a great opportunity to get a taste of the restaurant’s distinctive Soho-LA blend, with Californian influences abounding in the cooking, décor and all-American wine list. If you’re seeing a Hollywood star on stage, this would be a fitting pre-show destination.

Extend your evening with a stay at either Dean Street Townhouse or Kettner’s, both part of the Soho House group.

There was much excitement when Argentine chef Fernando Trocca announced he was to open a branch of his famed Buenos Aires restaurant in London. The building he chose is, appropriately enough, a 300-year-old former concert hall and is almost as appealing as the cooking itself. A pre and post theatre menu includes dishes cooked over the open fire of a parrilla – and Alma, their basement cocktail bar, is the perfect way to round off an evening.

The Two-Key Ham Yard Hotel, a Firmdale Hotel, is a short walk from the restaurant.