London
West End, best dressed
Worth dressing up for
Updated
When it’s the big one, the West End has the dining rooms for it. Clos Maggiore’s conservatory and Rules, open since 1798, are the classic Covent Garden treats, with The Ivy and Frog by Adam Handling nearby for dinner around a show. In Soho, Bob Bob Ricard has its booths and champagne buttons, Mountain cooks over fire, and Humble Chicken seats a few couples at the counter for a Japanese tasting menu. A little further out, Ikoyi on the Strand and Pied à Terre on Charlotte Street are the ones for a proposal or a once-in-a-while celebration.
Our picks
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.
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.
Quick answers
What's the oldest restaurant in the West End?
Rules on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, which has been serving since 1798. It's at its most festive in the run-up to Christmas, and there's a cocktail bar upstairs.
Which of these is best before a show?
The Ivy on West Street sits right by the theatres, and Frog by Adam Handling and Rules are a few minutes' walk from Covent Garden's theatres. Book ahead for weekends.
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