Covent Garden is the shopping and entertainment center of London’s West End. Its cobblestone streets are full of people strolling around designer stores or travelers flocking to attend a ballet performance at the Royal Opera House. Yet, what draws most people to the region is its luxury restaurants. Thus, Covent Garden’s restaurants are teeming with people who enjoy fine dining and eating dishes prepared by Michelin stars chefs. Beau Monde Traveler has created a list of the top restaurants in Covent Garden that any food connoisseur must visit.
The restaurant Clos Maggiore is a haven of tranquillity at the center of the energetic Covent Garden. The cherry blossoms that adorn the restaurant’s conservatory allows a guest to take a step into the season of spring. The flower’s sweet floral perfume creates a calming atmosphere as guests are being served their meal. However, Clos Maggiore’s menu changes regularly in line with seasonal availability. The restaurant offers a five-course tasting menu, including a selection of smaller dishes, mains, and desserts. First, a tender stuffed chicken breast with celeriac and jus is served to guests, alongside wild mushroom risotto, truffle, and crème fraiche. Then for dessert, a fruity deconstructed apple and blackberry pie.
Open in the week from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, The Petersham Garden Nurseries menu focuses on Italian-inspired seasonal cuisine. Its menu includes delicacies such as chicken liver parfait with baby onions and toasted sourdough. Then, fresh cod with clams and sprouting broccoli. Meanwhile, for guests who have a sweet tooth, a dish of rich original Beans chocolate with zisola olive oil ice cream can be ordered.
The Petersham interior draws inspiration from the grand Boglione family home, Petersham House in Richmond. The botanically decorated interior brings natural beauty into the restaurant’s spacious dining room. Yet, the best time to visit The Petersham Garden Nurseries is in the Autumn season. The restaurant is decorated with tall berry branches that cover the floor-to-ceiling windows and babylon dahlias are placed on each table.
The menu at Frenchie references head chef Greg Marchand’s training in classical French cuisine and his worldwide travels. The restaurant has a set menu, an a la carte menu, and a five-course tasting menu for guests to choose from. Yet, favourite dishes from past guests include bacon scones and parmesan gougeres and the French delicacy foie gras.
The designer, Emilie Bonaventure, styled Frenchie in Parisian and contemporary décor with exposed brick walls and white marble tables. Through her exquisite design skills, a guest can enjoy a glass of wine at the bar from the restaurant’s impressive wine list, sourcing wines from Burgundy to California. However, a large open kitchen on the lower floor allows guests to inhale the smell of fresh herbs cooking as they walk by.
Nestled in the heart of London’s theatre scene is The Frog by Adam Handling. The restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin star in 2022, and head chef Adam Handling has been voted Chef of the Year in Food and Travel Magazine. The chef combines interesting ingredients such as waffles and caviar, a dish that creates the perfect blend of sweet and salty. Other unique dishes on his menu include barbecued lobster, wagyu steak, and blood orange, lemon, and oat dessert.
Indigo restaurant is based in One Aldwych hotel. Head chef Dominic Teague’s menu is a selection of cuisine from beloved British favourites with a gentle touch of innovation from his great love of nature. Dominic offers various menus, from a weekend lunch menu to a pre-theatre menu, which includes delicious dishes such as glazed Suffolk pork cheek, and Rhug Estate venison loin with pickled blackberries. With a deep respect for our planet’s changing seasons, Dominic goes to extraordinary lengths to seek the best independent food suppliers from across Britain. As a result, the ingredients are cooked with skill, celebrating individual flavour and the origin of each dish.
The top restaurants in Covent Garden can be found between cafes, cocktail bars, and golden-painted street performers. Restaurants such as floral Clos Maggiore and Parisian Frenchie offer luxury fine dining and Michelin star cuisine, accommodating guests who are looking to sample food from all over the world without leaving the center of London.