London
Date ideas in Soho and Covent Garden
Updated
Soho and Covent Garden pack more into a few streets than most cities manage in a whole centre: free galleries, the opera house, a famous jazz club, theatres and a cinema that shows cult classics, with late-night cafés and cocktail bars in between. It's all walkable, so you can start with paintings on Trafalgar Square and end up over an espresso on Frith Street. Plenty is indoors for wet evenings, and when it's dry there are quiet gardens, colourful courtyards and the river a few minutes away. Here's where we'd take someone.
Our picks in Soho and Covent Garden
National Gallery
Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Wander the free national collection on Trafalgar Square, from Renaissance altarpieces to Van Gogh's Sunflowers, then step out onto the steps for the view down Whitehall.
Why it's a good date: It's free, so you can drop in for one room rather than trying to see everything. Each of you picks a favourite painting and makes the case for it over a drink afterwards.
Photo: Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Kiln
Brewer Street, Soho
Address: 58 Brewer Street, London W1F 9TL- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Foodie
- Cheap and cheerful
Pull up a stool at the long counter and share fiery Thai dishes cooked over a wood fire, in woks and in clay pots, right in front of you.
Why it's a good date: Watching the chefs at work gives you something to talk about, and the small plates are made for sharing. It gets busy, so go early or be ready to wait with a drink nearby.
Prince Charles Cinema
Leicester Place, off Leicester Square
Address: 7 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BY- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Catch a cult classic, a late-night film marathon or a sing-along screening at the independent cinema just off Leicester Square.
Why it's a good date: The crowd joins in, which makes even a film you've both seen feel new. Look at the programme together and pick something neither of you would choose alone.
Photo: LavaLampBamboo, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Neal's Yard and Seven Dials
Monmouth Street and Shorts Gardens, Seven Dials
Address: Neal's Yard, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9DP- Activity
- Free
- Outdoors
Wander the seven little streets that meet at the Seven Dials sundial pillar, then duck into Neal's Yard, a tiny courtyard of brightly painted shopfronts, window boxes and cafés.
Why it's a good date: It costs nothing to wander, and there's a café or a cheese shop to stop at whenever you like. Go in the morning or early evening, when the courtyard's at its calmest.
Photo: Anthony Webb, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Swift
Old Compton Street, Soho
Address: 12 Old Compton Street, London W1D 4TQ- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Romantic
Start with an aperitivo at the bright bar upstairs, then head down to the low-lit basement for a cocktail, a whisky or the house Irish coffee.
Why it's a good date: Two bars in one, so you can pick the mood: lively upstairs, intimate downstairs. Upstairs is walk-in, and it's worth booking the basement on a weekend.
See what's on across the floors of London's gallery devoted to photography, a short walk from Oxford Circus, with a café and a bookshop.
Why it's a good date: Photographs are easy to talk about, so it suits a first date. It's small enough to see in an hour, which leaves plenty of evening for a drink in Soho afterwards.
Phoenix Garden
Stacey Street, off Charing Cross Road
Address: 21 Stacey Street, London WC2H 8DG- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
Find a bench in a small community wildlife garden, planted on an old bombsite behind the Phoenix Theatre and run by a local charity.
Why it's a good date: A few steps from the crowds and it's suddenly quiet. Bring a coffee and sit among the plants, then carry on into Soho or Seven Dials.
Photo: Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Clos Maggiore
King Street, Covent Garden
Address: 33 King Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8JD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book a table in the conservatory for classic French cooking under a ceiling of blossom and fairy lights.
Why it's a good date: This is the one for an anniversary or a proposal. Ask for the conservatory when you book, and book well ahead: those tables go first.
Royal Opera House
Bow Street, Covent Garden
Address: Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Big night
See an opera or a ballet by the Royal Ballet and Opera in the red-and-gold auditorium on Bow Street.
Why it's a good date: Dressing up for a night at the opera is a proper occasion. Seats high up in the amphitheatre cost far less than the stalls, and you still get the full sweep of the stage.
Photo: Peter Evans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Chinatown
Gerrard Street, Chinatown
Address: Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London WC2H 7BE- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Graze your way down Gerrard Street under the red lanterns, from dumplings and roast duck to bubble tea and custard buns from the bakeries.
Why it's a good date: Lots of small stops means lots of chances to try something new together. Take turns choosing the next place, and go a little before the dinner rush to skip the queues.
Photo: Robert Lamb, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Ronnie Scott's
Frith Street, Soho
Address: 47 Frith Street, London W1D 4HT- Event
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Romantic
Book a table for an evening of live jazz at the Soho club that has been bringing the world's best players to Frith Street since 1959.
Why it's a good date: The band's a few feet from your small table and the lights are low: it's hard to beat for atmosphere. Book ahead for the main show, or try the late show if you're making a night of it.
Photo: Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Foyles
Charing Cross Road, Soho
Address: 107 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Browse six floors of books around the bright central atrium of the big bookshop on Charing Cross Road, then stop at the café.
Why it's a good date: Split up for ten minutes, each choose a book for the other, then swap over coffee. It's free to browse, and dry when the weather isn't.
Photo: DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Cahoots
Kingly Court, off Carnaby Street
Address: 13 Kingly Court, London W1B 5PW- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
Head down into a cocktail bar styled as a disused 1940s Underground station, with retro drinks and period detail everywhere you look.
Why it's a good date: Playful and full of things to point at, so there's never an awkward silence. It gets lively late on, so book if you want a table.
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge, off the Strand
Address: Waterloo Bridge, Strand, London WC2R 0AA- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Walk out onto Waterloo Bridge from the Strand around sunset for one of the best views in London, with Westminster and the London Eye one way and St Paul's and the City the other.
Why it's a good date: It costs nothing and it's properly romantic when the light goes. Carry on to the South Bank for a drink, or turn back towards Covent Garden for dinner.
Photo: Jwslubbock, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Perch at the counter or grab a pavement table for an espresso at the Soho café that has been open on Frith Street since 1949.
Why it's a good date: The place to end up after a show or the jazz across the road, when you're not ready for the night to end. Look up for the plaque: John Logie Baird first showed off television in this building.
Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Bao Soho
Lexington Street, Soho
Address: Bao Soho, 53 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AS- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Squeeze into the tiny original Bao on Lexington Street for soft Taiwanese steamed buns and small plates to share.
Why it's a good date: It's held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for years and still feels like a little neighbourhood spot. It's walk-in only, so go early or late to keep the queue short.
Bancone Covent Garden
William IV Street, Covent Garden
Address: Bancone, 39 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share bowls of fresh handmade pasta at the long marble counter of this smart little pasta bar off Trafalgar Square.
Why it's a good date: It feels far posher than the bill suggests, which makes it a great pre-theatre pick. Sit at the counter to watch the pasta being made.
Imad's Syrian Kitchen
Kingly Court, Soho
Address: Imad's Syrian Kitchen, Top Floor, Kingly Court, London W1B 5PW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Climb to the top floor of Kingly Court for warm, home-style Syrian cooking from chef Imad Alarnab, with mezze to share.
Why it's a good date: Generous, comforting food with a lovely story behind it, and a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name. Have a nose round the courtyard's other spots after.
Brasserie Zédel
Sherwood Street, Soho
Address: Brasserie Zédel, 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Romantic
Walk down the stairs off Piccadilly into a vast gilded Art Deco dining room for classic French brasserie cooking.
Why it's a good date: It looks like a big night out but the set menu is one of the best-value meals in the West End. Stay for a drink in the Art Deco bar next door.
Kanada-Ya St Giles
St Giles High Street, St Giles
Address: Kanada-Ya, 64 St Giles High Street, London WC2H 8LE- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Slurp rich tonkotsu ramen at the busy little noodle bar by Tottenham Court Road, where the noodles are made in house.
Why it's a good date: A warming bowl each on a cold evening, and quick enough to fit before a gig or a show. There's often a queue at peak times, so go a bit early.
Koya Soho
Frith Street, Soho
Address: Koya, 50 Frith Street, London W1D 4SQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Grab a seat at the Frith Street udon bar for thick, springy noodles made fresh every day, hot or cold.
Why it's a good date: Simple, calm and very good, a nice change from Soho's busier spots. It doesn't take bookings, so expect a short wait at busy times.
Poppies Soho
Old Compton Street, Soho
Address: Poppies, 55-59 Old Compton Street, London W1D 6HW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share fish and chips the proper way at the retro chippy on Old Compton Street, all vintage signs and old-school charm.
Why it's a good date: A fun, unfussy sit-down chippy right in the middle of Soho, handy before a film at the Prince Charles or a show.
Seven Dials Market
Earlham Street, Seven Dials
Address: Seven Dials Market, Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LX- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Wander the food hall in an old banana warehouse off Seven Dials, pick a street-food counter each and meet back at a shared table.
Why it's a good date: Lots of choice under one roof, so nobody has to compromise. It's a good warm, dry spot on a rainy day in the West End.
Rules
Maiden Lane, Covent Garden
Address: Rules, 35 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7LB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Cosy
Book a table at London's oldest restaurant for classic British cooking and game in a red velvet room hung with old paintings.
Why it's a good date: Two centuries of history on the walls and a real sense of occasion, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Have a drink in the cocktail bar upstairs first.
Ikoyi
Strand, Temple
Address: Ikoyi, 180 Strand, London WC2R 1EA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Book the tasting menu at the Michelin-starred restaurant on the Strand, where West African spice meets the best British produce.
Why it's a good date: Bold, surprising food in a calm, low-lit room: the one for a once-in-a-while celebration. Tables go fast, so book well ahead.
Bob Bob Ricard Soho
Upper James Street, Soho
Address: Bob Bob Ricard, 1-3 Upper James Street, London W1F 9DF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Slide into a private booth in the glamorous jewel-box dining room, where every table has its own button for more champagne.
Why it's a good date: Over-the-top in the best way, with classic dishes served with lots of ceremony. Dress up a bit and ask for a booth when you book.
Frog by Adam Handling
Southampton Street, Covent Garden
Address: Frog by Adam Handling, 34-35 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HG- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Settle in for Adam Handling's playful Michelin-starred tasting menu just off the Covent Garden piazza.
Why it's a good date: Fun and friendly rather than hushed, with a strong champagne list for toasting something. Start or finish in Eve, the bar downstairs.
Pied à Terre
Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia
Address: Pied à Terre, 34 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book a quiet table at the long-running Michelin-starred restaurant on Charlotte Street for refined, seasonal French-leaning cooking.
Why it's a good date: Small, intimate and properly grown-up, which suits a proposal or an anniversary. It's a short stroll north of Soho Square, and there's a full vegan tasting menu too.
Mountain
Beak Street, Soho
Address: Mountain, 16-18 Beak Street, London W1F 9RD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Share plates cooked over fire at Tomos Parry's Michelin-starred Soho restaurant, with a long wine list to match.
Why it's a good date: Lively and glowing, with the open kitchen at its heart. Book a table, or try for a counter seat on the night to watch the grill.
Humble Chicken
Frith Street, Soho
Address: Humble Chicken, 54 Frith Street, London W1D 4SL- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Book two seats at the counter for a Japanese omakase tasting menu, built around the grill, at this tiny Michelin-starred spot.
Why it's a good date: Watching the chefs work up close makes it feel like a show for two. Seats are few and paid for up front, so plan well ahead.
The Ivy
West Street, Covent Garden
Address: The Ivy, 1-5 West Street, London WC2H 9NQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Dress up for dinner at the original Ivy on West Street, the theatreland institution with stained-glass windows and a buzzy dining room.
Why it's a good date: A classic London treat, right by the theatres, so it works before or after a show. Book ahead for weekends.
Dates in Soho and Covent Garden: quick answers
What are good rainy-day dates in Soho and Covent Garden?
The National Gallery is free and big enough for a whole afternoon, and The Photographers' Gallery is a smaller alternative. A film at the Prince Charles Cinema, a browse round Foyles, or an evening at Ronnie Scott's or the Royal Opera House all keep you dry.
Are there free or cheap date ideas in Soho and Covent Garden?
Yes. The National Gallery, Foyles, the Phoenix Garden, Neal's Yard and Seven Dials, and the view from Waterloo Bridge are all free. For a cheap night, graze round Chinatown, catch a film at the Prince Charles Cinema and finish with a coffee at Bar Italia.
Where should we go for cocktails on a date in Soho?
Swift on Old Compton Street has a bright aperitivo bar upstairs and a low-lit basement below, good for a cocktail or an Irish coffee. For something more playful, Cahoots in Kingly Court is a bar dressed as a 1940s Underground station.
Save these to your jar
Dote keeps every date idea you find in one jar you share with your partner, and tells you which ones suit the weekend weather. It's free on iPhone and Android.
.jpg?utm_source=dote.day&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=guides){kind=link}
_01.jpg?utm_source=dote.day&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=guides){kind=link}
