Restaurants near Royal Opera House

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 87 metres

  Café des Amis

  For more than 30 years, Cafe des Amis has been a fixture of the Covent Garden theatreland scene and is perfectly placed down an alleyway behind the Royal Opera House.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 107 metres

  The Real Greek

  The most recent branch of the Real Geek mini-chain, this buzzy venue is tucked just around the corner from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden - making it an ideal spot for a bite to eat before or after the show.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 120 metres

  Le Deuxième

  Fully air-conditioned, Le Deuxieme is the sister restaurant to Le Cafe du Jardin and is also located in the trendy Covent Garden hotspot.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 129 metres

  Boulevard Brasserie

  Boulevard Brasserie, a bastion of the Covent Garden restaurant scene since 1991 and owner Ian Shaw's private and public passion, this independent brasserie just keeps on rolling.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 149 metres

  Palm Court Brasserie

  The Palm Court Brasserie is right in the hub of the Covent Garden restaurant scene, this bright brasserie is a useful pit stop among the shops and sightseeing attractions.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 177 metres

  Opera Tavern

  The husband and wife team, Simon and Sanja Morris-Mullins behind the successful Salt Yard and Dehesa tapas bar and restaurants have opened up a third venture called Opera Tavern, located in the heart of theatreland opposite the Drury Lane Theatre.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 197 metres

  Clos Maggiore

  'Clos Maggiore is the most romantic restaurant I've ever been to,' enthused one UK Restaurant Guide user after visiting this alluring place less than a minute's walk from the buzz of Covent Garden's Piazza.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 200 metres

  Orso

  Orso Italian Restaurant is open from noon until midnight and is buzzing all the time being particularly popular with the Covent Garden pre and after theatre crowds.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 205 metres

  Sofra

  Fresh and colourful Turkish home cooking with an eclectic mix of Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern and even Oriental styles, using a wealth of aromatic vegetables and a distinctive selection of herbs and spices.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 206 metres

  Hawksmoor Seven Dials

  Following the success of their Spitafields restaurant, Hawksmoor Seven Dials has opened in Covent Garden located in the old Watney-Combe brewery.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 208 metres

  Moti Mahal

  The first London venture for the famous, Delhi-based Moti Mahal group occupies a prime site in Covent Garden's theatreland and puts on quite a show of its own, with chefs doing their stuff in the glassed-in kitchen.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 217 metres

  Belgo Centraal

  Belgo still lays claim to being top dog in the capital when it comes to mussels, frites and Belgian beers, although it offers much more than buckets of bivalves - the Covent Garden branch (Centraal) is an atmospheric basement, fronted by waiters dressed up like Trappist monks; take your pick from the Bier Hall with its refectory tables or the main restaurant, which sports more intimate booths.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 227 metres

  da Polpo

  Situated in the heart of Covent Garden is da Polpo the third restaurant from Russell Norman and Richard Beatty. This trendy eatery is styled on a Venetian wine bar, and like its siblings features a tin ceiling from New York, bare light filaments, antique maps from Venice and old chemistry lab benches serve as tables with church pews and Dutch school chairs.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 227 metres

  Christopher's

  Christopher's has been established in this majestic Grade II-listed building between Covent Garden and The Strand since 1991. Behind the glorious Victorian façade, you will find an ultra-cool Martini Bar with groovy globe lights, arty wallpaper and a premium drinks list, plus a menu of light brasserie-style dishes ranging from corn cakes with guacamole to Philadelphia steak sandwiches.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 231 metres

  Livebait

  Situated in Covent Garden, the aptly named Livebait offers a taste of the sea in London's famous flower market. With its excellent fresh seafood, vibrant atmosphere, and convenient position in the heart of London's theatre district, Livebait is the perfect choice for a pre-theatre meal.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 236 metres

  Thai Pin

  A tiny theatreland bolthole for fans of easy-going Thai food, this pint-sized restaurant continues to please the showtime crowds and others with its good-value cooking.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 237 metres

  Rules

  Established in 1798 and – reputedly – London's oldest surviving restaurant, Rules flies the flag for British food in a remarkably evocative dining room that is both lively yet comfortably familiar.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 239 metres

  Food for Thought

  When it opened almost three decades ago, this cramped bohemian café was in the vanguard of London's vegetarian crusade and has been doing great business ever since.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 252 metres

  Carluccio's

  Antonio Carluccio's new Covent Garden flagship venue occupies an imposing 1860s building on Garrick Street that was once an auction house but now houses a café, deli and private dining facilities spread over two floors.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 254 metres

  Tamarai

  Combining an art gallery, lazy lounge, post-11pm bar and contemporary restaurant, Tamarai on Drury Lane is a high-groove Pan Asian Covent Garden hot spot from the team behind Chor Bizarre.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 256 metres

  Indigo Restaurant, One Aldwych

  The sister restaurant to Axis, Indigo Restaurant is a more casual but equally stylish spot on the mezzanine at One Aldwych, overlooking the buzz of the slick Lobby Bar of this ultra-chic contemporary hotel in the heart of Covent Garden.

  Aldwych, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 259 metres

  Sitaaray

  Bollywood meets biryani at Sitaaray a lavish two-storey venue in the heart of Covent Garden's theatreland, which celebrates the virtues and chutzpah of two of India's star turns - cinema and cuisine.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 262 metres

  Homage Grand Salon, The Waldorf Hilton

  The brainchild of flamboyant hospitality entrepreneur Roy Ackerman, Homage is an ambitious addition to the gold-star Waldorf Hilton (which celebrated its centenary in 2008).

  Aldwych, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 265 metres

  The Forge

  The Forge, formerly the Garrick Street home of L'Estimanet, a converted Victorian church opposite the Garrick Club is the latest addition to a mini-group that also includes Covent Garden fixtures Le Café du Jardin and Le Deuxième.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 267 metres

  Tandoori Nights

  Tandoori Nights is part of a long-established group of Indian restaurants with branches across London and in the Home Counties, this venue is right in the hub of the restaurant action around Covent Garden.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 269 metres

  Salieri Restaurant

  Anyone who has seen Amadeus may recall that Salieri was the composer who got the blame for poisoning Mozart. No such dodgy goings-on in this flamboyant Covent Garden venue, which is theatrically bedecked with mirrors, photographs and puppets.

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 271 metres

  Great Queen Street

  The assembled team sheet for this bright Covent Garden newcomer reads like a London gastropub first XI: there's Tom Norrington-Davies from the Eagle, Trish Hilferty (ex-the Fox), Robert Shaw and Jonathon Jones (Anchor & Hope) plus Mike Belben on the bench.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 277 metres

  Paradiso E Inferno

  A beautiful family owned restaurant located in the West End of London, Paridiso E Inferno is THE place to go for a traditional Italian eating experience.

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 284 metres

  Grand Divan - Simpson's in the Strand

  Dating back to 1828, Simpson's is a fabled haunt of tourists and anyone else who wants to wallow in all things nostalgically traditional.

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 286 metres

  Axis at One Aldwych

  The Axis Restaurant has its own entrance on Aldwych and is located in the basement at One Aldwych, a double-height space that was recently redesigned as part of a radical refurbishment programme, and it now boasts walls covered in mint-green, leather armchairs, and a row of 92 slender birch trunks finished with nickel as a backdrop.

  Aldwych, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 289 metres

  Smollensky's

  Legendary and tireless when it comes to crowd pleasing, Smollensky's on the Strand is an energetic, fun-loving destination renowned for its family-friendly attitude.

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 295 metres

  Detroit

  An enduring slice of buzzy old Covent Garden, this cavernous bar has been delivering the goods for the best part of a decade and shows no signs of waning.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 303 metres

  Dishoom

  Dishoom is an all day dining concept inspired by the Bombay cafes that were opened by Persian immigrants, in what is now known as Mumbai.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 312 metres

  The Delaunay

  The Delaunay is the latest venture from famed duo Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, set behind an imposing entrance on the corner of historic Drury Lane and the Aldwych.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 315 metres

  The Savoy Grill

  After nearly three years of extensive renovations costing £220 million, the legendary Savoy Hotel opened in October 2010. A few weeks later saw the long-awaited launch of one of London's most iconic restaurants, The Savoy Grill under the helm of Gordon Ramsay Holdings.

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 325 metres

  Dial Bar & Restaurant, Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel

  The Dial Restaurant and bar is located in the Radisson Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel (formerly the Mountbatten) and stands right at the apex of Seven Dials in Covent Garden.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 332 metres

  Giovanni's

  Those in the know reckon that Giovanni's is something of a rarity in theatreland - a genuine, family-run Italian restaurant of the old school that perfectly suited to a business lunch, a romantic dinner or a quick meal before of after the show.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 338 metres

  Mon Plaisir

  Francophiles should not be disappointed with the very, very French Mon Plaisir, with its large tricolour flapping proudly outside, this institution on Monmouth Street near Covent Garden could easily fool you for being the French Embassy.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 352 metres

  The Ivy

  'A table at The Ivy is one of the most sought after pieces of furniture in London,' wrote critic AA Gill about this famous Covent Garden restaurant.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 353 metres

  Bedford & Strand

  Hidden away in a basement on the corner of Bedford Street and the Strand (hence the name), this popular rendezvous combines a retro 'wine room' and bar with a bistro and deli counter.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 358 metres

  The Angel and Crown

  The Angel and Crown in Covent Garden is the latest venture from Tom and Ed Martin of the highly successful ETM Group, their first gastropub in the West End of London.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 362 metres

  Asia de Cuba

  Asia de Cuba is where Asian and Cuban/Caribbean cuisine come together in an ultra modern restaurant at St Martin's Lane Hotel in Covent GardenStart the evening by choosing from the huge selection of cocktails.

  Covent garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 364 metres

  Sway

  Eating, drinking and dancing hold the stage at Sway, a bar/club/restaurant in the upwardly mobile reaches of Holborn. The Grill Menu has an international flavour, kicking off with Thai fishcakes, duck spring rolls and deep-fried goats' cheese with red onion jam before progressing to char-grilled tuna niçoise, blackened Cajun chicken Caesar salad and roast rump of lamb with sweet garlic mash and crispy leeks.

  City, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 370 metres

  Adam Street Restaurant

  Built in 1769 by architect Robert Adam deep in vaults beneath The Strand, this is now a discreet hideaway and private members' club – although non-members are also welcome at lunchtime (although they are expected to pay a £10 cover charge).

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 376 metres

  Tom’s Kitchen

  Situated in the heart of Somerset House WC2R, located off the Strand, Tom's Kitchen Somerset House brasserie opened its doors on the 1st September 2010.

  Aldwych, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 383 metres

  Abeno Too

  The younger sibling of Abeno is a discreet little place just off Charing Cross Road near Leicester Square tube station.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 384 metres

  Belgo Kingsway

  Fancy food and beer in a bank vault is what Belgo in London's Kingsway is offering as a converted former Lloyds bank, with the bank vault having been transformed into a Belgian beer cellar.

  Holborn, South West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 386 metres

  Harlequin Restaurant, Kingsway Hall Hotel

  The Harlequin at the elegant Kingsway Hall Hotel in Covent Garden is a stylish venue that, unlike typical hotel restaurants, is refreshingly relaxed.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 389 metres

  Mela

  Right in the heart of theatreland (with handy menus for show-goers), Mela is a long-serving stalwart of the Covent Garden Indian scene.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 404 metres

  L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

  Crowned 'chef of the century' in his home country, Joël Robuchon is the latest big name to join the French invasion of London with L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in the heart of Covent Garden.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 422 metres

  Terroirs Wine Bar & Restaurant

  A mightily impressive 25-page drinks booklet is a star attraction at this recently opened wine bar-cum-restaurant, which puts on a patriotic Gallic show with its predictable pictures, advertising posters, functional wooden furniture and French chansons warbling the background.

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 425 metres

  J Sheekey

  Joseph Sheekey set up his self-named restaurant in 1896, in a back alley just off Charing Cross Road. Since then, the place has become synonymous with seafood, and is now riding on a fashionable high as part of the group that also owns the ultra-fashionable Ivy and Le Caprice.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 427 metres

  Incognico

  The name Incognico is a punning reference to the legendary Nico Ladenis, who was originally involved in this Covent Garden restaurant and although he is long gone, Incognico lives on and its location deep in theatreland close to Cambridge Circus - guarantees full houses before and after the show.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 435 metres

  Les Deux Salons

  Les Deux Salons is a spacious two-floor operation, hence the name, located in a convenient spot for theatreland on William IV Street in Covent Garden.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 458 metres

  Baozi Inn

  A cut-price, streetwise joint from the people who brought Bar Shu to Soho, the Baozi Inn has echoes of its elder sister's palate-numbing Szechuan food, but the emphasis is very different.

  Leicester Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 461 metres

  Shanghai Blues

  An austere carved stone arch marks the entrance to Shanghai Blues a Chinese restaurant in the old St Giles Library on High Holborn.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 505 metres

  Terrace Restaurant & Bar

  The Terrace Restaurant & Bar is the latest venture from dynamic TV chef Patrick Williams, a contemporary pine-clad pavilion in London's oldest square, surrounded by tranquil gardens and landscaped lawns: the 'inside-outside' terrace itself comes into its own for al fresco meals and barbecues in fine weather.

  Holborn, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 511 metres

  Le Bistro Savoir Faire

  Frescos and murals decorate the dining room of Le Bistro Savoir Faire on New Oxford Street, an archetypal, family-run bistro, which has been serving the West End crowds since 1995.

  Holborn, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 512 metres

  New Diamond

  A soup of salted eggs with pork and 'algae' (actually black sea moss) and a glazed steamed custard of three kinds of eggs (hen's, salted duck and 100-year-old) are just two of the weird delicacies to be unearthed at this Cantonese restaurant in the heart of Soho Chinatown.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 514 metres

  Imperial China

  An enchanting courtyard complete with a little bridge and a pretty pool filled with carp creates a striking first impression for visitors to this Soho Chinese restaurant.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 520 metres

  Mr Kong

  Back in business after a fire in 2007, the Kong family's Lisle Street restaurant remains one of the reliable fixtures of the ever-changing Soho Chinatown scene.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 524 metres

  Yming

  It's only a short walk from the throbbing heart of Soho Chinatown, but this rather elegant - almost European restaurant - could be a world away.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 532 metres

  Bincho Yakitori

  Bincho Yakitori is a deliberately casual Soho venue peddling Japanese food in its most accessible, easy-to-eat and unthreatening forms - Bincho Yakitori is the name and also the main gastronomic attraction: 'Bincho' refers to the finest grade of charcoal used by the 'ganko ojisan' (self-styled 'keepers of the flame').

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 534 metres

  The Terrace on the Strand, Charing Cross Hotel

  The Terrace on the Strand is situated in the exclusive Charing Cross Guoman Hotel, built in 1865 this Grade I-listed hotel 'stands as a monument to the power and confidence of the Victorian era.

  Strand, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 535 metres

  The Portrait Restaurant

  Famed for its awesome views of Trafalgar Square and the London skyline (ask for a window table when booking) The Portrait Restaurant is a family-friendly venue par excellence, catering for hordes of visitors, business types, tourists and art-lovers.

  Trafalgar Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 539 metres

  The Giaconda Dining Room

  The old Gioconda Cafe on Denmark Street was an archetype of 'Tin Pan Alley' hip during the 60s and 70s, a venue frequented by the likes of David Bowie, Joe Strummer and Bob Marley - to name but three musical icons who hung out there with cups of coffee and high hopes.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 545 metres

  Café Bohème

  Something of an Old Compton Street institution, Café Bohème was born in 1992 on the ground floor of Nick Jones' Soho House members' club.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 549 metres

  Haozhan

  Haozhan makes an immediate impression with its striking and very 'un-Chinese' decor: the owners apparently took counsel from a feng-shui master, and the result is a bold harmonious mix of emerald-green panels, voguish drum lights, slate floors and bare, dark-wood tables.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 550 metres

  Kettner's

  This doyen of Soho destinations has come a very long way since it was opened in 1867 by Auguste Kettner, chef to Napoleon III.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 556 metres

  Abeno

  No-frills Japanese home cooking within walking distance of the British Museum is just the ticket – especially if you're weary after delving into the mysteries of the Land of the Rising Sun.

  Bloomsbury, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 565 metres

  Bar Shu

  The name 'Bar Shu' is a poetic reference to the ancient kingdoms that make up the Chinese province of Szechuan, and this hot new Soho arrival aims to promote and celebrate its cuisine in palate-tantalising detail.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 566 metres

  Patara

  The flagship London branch of the international Patara chain is a striking, upmarket venue that has been designed to resemble a traditional Thai pavilion, complete with chiselled sandstone walls, ornately carved palm wood columns and luxurious red seating.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 568 metres

  New Fook Lam Moon

  A Soho Chinatown faithful since 1982 (when it was simply called Fook Lam Moon), this restaurant has all the trappings you might expect from a long-running Gerrard Street address: slightly cramped surroundings, a colourful window display of barbecued meats, swift service and a huge menu focussing on earthy specialities from Canton and Peking.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 579 metres

  The National Dining Rooms

  'Food for the people' ought to be Oliver Peyton's rally call after having scored a hit with Inn the Park, he set his sights on The National Gallery opening The National Dining Rooms on the site once occupied by Crivelli's Garden.

  Trafalgar Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 582 metres

  The Hampshire Bar and Restaurant, Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel

  The Hampshire Bar and Restaurant is set in the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel, overlooking the bright lights of Leicester Square in the heart of theatre land, this is a tranquil retreat close to the bustle of the West End.

  Leicester Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 584 metres

  Wagamama

  'Positive eating for positive living' is the message behind this group of Japanese noodle bars. Wagamama is now an international brand peddling the idea of lifestyle nutrition, with branches throughout London and the UK as well as franchises abroad.

  Bloomsbury, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 586 metres

  L'Escargot, Picasso Room

  There are no prizes for guessing the artistic theme that defines L'Escargot's intimate first-floor Picasso Room, which is a world away from the cosmopolitan hubbub of the Ground Floor brasserie.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 586 metres

  L'Escargot, Ground Floor

  L'Escargot first opened its doors in 1927 and has become a Soho institution over the years. The ever-buzzing Ground Floor has been given the full treatment by David Collins, with pastel-coloured walls providing the backdrop for paintings by modern luminaries ranging from Chagall and Matisse to Warhol and Hockney.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 601 metres

  Delhi Brasserie

  A long-running Soho Indian that has seen many nearby restaurants come and go, the Delhi Brasserie continues to go its way with a menu of emphatically spiced, crowd-pleasing curries and skilful tandooris.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 604 metres

  Pearl Restaurant and Bar

  An imposing Portland stone arch marks the entrance to Chancery Court, formerly the headquarters of Pearl Assurance, and now a cutting-edge hotel with a progressive restaurant called Pearl.

  Holborn, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 605 metres

  Ronnie Scott’s

  Born in 1959, Soho's iconic jazz venue recently underwent major surgery but it's now fit, well and strutting its stuff once again.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 615 metres

  Gauthier Soho

  After more than ten years at the Michelin starred Roussillon, French Chef Alexis Gauthier and sommelier Roberto della Pietra moved from Pimlico to this elegant Soho townhouse on Romilly Street and called it Gauthier Soho.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 618 metres

  Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel, Bloomsbury Street Bar and Restaurant

  Set amid fashionable Georgian squares and imposing university buildings close to the British Museum, the Bloomsbury Street Hotel offers top-flight West End facilities and easy access to London's tourist attractions.

  Bloomsbury, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 619 metres

  St John Hotel

  The St John Hotel in Covent Garden opened in Spring 2011, formerly Manzi's famous seafood restaurant the site has become the latest outpost of Fergus Henderson's 'Nose-to-tail eating' or rather 'From table to bed'.

  Covent Garden, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 620 metres

  Leicester Square Bar & Restaurant, Radisson Edwardian Leicester Square

  The Leicester Square Bar & Restaurant is the perfect retreat from the hustle of its namesake. This is a cool and intimate space with a pleasantly relaxed vibe.

  Leicester Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 624 metres

  Barrafina

  The eagerly awaited younger sibling of Fino in Charlotte Street is a tiny, atmospheric place that has been designed to look and feel like an authentically cheery tapas bar.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 627 metres

  Polpetto

  Polpetto meaning baby octopus is the sibling to the well regarded Polpo, this is the second venture from owner Russell Norman who used to be head of operations for Caprice Holdings.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 627 metres

  The French Kitchen

  Located close to High Holborn tube station, The French Kitchen offers a rustic, all-day French Bistrot menu. Whether it's a quick coffee before work, a business lunch for two or a private party for up to 40 guests, it offers a welcoming environment and traditional French favourites.

  Holborn, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 627 metres

  The Gay Hussar

  Something of a Soho institution, the Gay Hussar packs a lot of character within its caricature-lined wood-panelled walls. Low lighting and plush furnishing add to the intimacy of the atmosphere, but it's the traditional Hungarian cuisine that really commands attention.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 653 metres

  Creation Restaurant, Radisson Edwardian Kenilworth Hotel

  The Creation Restaurant is set in the Radisson Edwardian Kenilworth Hotel, located in a prime site a stone's throw from the British Museum and within easy reach of the West End shops, this luxurious modern hotel is a sleek retreat suffused with rich colours, fine artwork and designer furniture.

  Bloomsbury, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 659 metres

  Landseer British Kitchen, The Bloomsbury Hotel

  The Landseer British Kitchen is a modern informal restaurant set in The Bloomsbury Hotel on Great Russell Street. This majestic neo-Georgian building was designed by celebrated British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens during the 1930s and it has been sympathetically transformed into a deluxe hotel within easy reach of Covent Garden and the West End.

  Bloomsbury, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 677 metres

  Arbutus

  Anthony Demetre and Will Smith hit the ground running when they opened Arbutus, within six months it had scooped Time Out's 'Restaurant of the Year' and 'London Newcomer of the Year' in the Good Food Guide; a Michelin star in 2007 was the icing on the cake.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 682 metres

  Quo Vadis

  Founded by Peppino Leoni in the 1926, the original 'Leoni's Quo Vadis' was a fixture of the Soho scene for more than 50 years.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 682 metres

  Malabar Junction

  The discreet Tardis-like frontage of Malabar Junction gives little idea of the stately delights inside this authentic Indian restaurant on Great Russell Street.

  Bloomsbury, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 684 metres

  Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar

  The celebrated chef Massimo Riccioli has opened the self-named Massimo Restaurant & Oyster Bar in the luxurious Corinthia Hotel, just steps away from Trafalgar Square.

  Trafagar Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 685 metres

  Dean Street Townhouse

  Combining a 39 bedroom boutique hotel and sleek dining room, the Dean Street Townhouse is the fabulous new establishment from the Soho House Group - perched along Soho's fashionable Dean Street, this superb new restaurant has got everyone talking with its stylish dining room complete with cool red banquettes, a fabulously well stocked long bar and works of art by various contemporary British artists.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 685 metres

  The Northall at the Corinthia Hotel

  The Northall restaurant in the Corinthia Hotel is situated in a prestigious location, a short stroll from Trafalgar Square. The large dining room impresses with its good looks, towering white pillars and large contemporary chandeliers, tan banquettes and armchairs set against crisp white linen laid tables and elegant arched windows look out over the Embankment and Whitehall.

  Trafalgar Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 686 metres

  The Court Restaurant

  To celebrate the millennium, the hidden courtyard at the heart of the historic British Museum was transformed into the Great Court, a two-acre public square enclosed by a spectacular glass roof.

  Bloomsbury, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 692 metres

  Boulevard Bar & Dining Room

  The Boulevard Bar & Dining Room in Soho is the younger brother to the long-serving Boulevard Brasserie in Covent Garden, this lively venue is dedicated to providing 'a metropolitan haven for all-day, laid-back dining and drinking'.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 724 metres

  The Red Fort

  The Red Fort has been a popular Indian restaurant in Soho since its establishment almost twenty years ago, and it has gone from strength to strength since its recent £1.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 726 metres

  Jom Makan

  Tucked in alongside the National Portrait Gallery, Jom Makan is one of the few restaurants in the West End to specialise in authentic Malaysian cuisine.

  Trafalgar Square, South West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 728 metres

  R.S. Hispaniola

  Arguably the best known of all floating restaurants, the R. S. Hispaniola has been moored alongside Victoria Embankment by Hungerford Bridge for years.

  Victoria Embankment, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 743 metres

  Albannach

  Opening Albannach, a Scottish restaurant directly opposite that most English of tourist hot-spots sounds pretty daring, but that's the deal at this flash West End venue where floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto Trafalgar Square, making the bar an unrivalled location.

  Trafalgar Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 758 metres

  Refuel Bar & Restaurant

  The Refuel Bar & Restaurant is situated on the ground floor of the Soho Hotel in Richmond Mews, a quiet street close to London's Theatreland.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 772 metres

  Thai Square

  The flagship of the Thai Square group is in a prime spot overlooking one of London's most famous landmarks. Once an imperious embassy building it is now filled with antique Thai Buddhas, specially made terracotta friezes and stone carvings from the homeland.

  Trafalgar Square, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 772 metres

  Hakkasan

  Hakkasan sets out its glamorous, Michelin-starred stall up a dodgy alley just off Tottenham Court Road: you might miss it altogether were it not for the taxis and the trendy types hovering about outside.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 779 metres

  Carom at Meza

  Soho punters may remember 100 Wardour Street as the home of Mezzo, which was at one time the flagship of the Conran restaurant empire (now D&D London).

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 782 metres

  Hason Raja

  Named after a celebrated Bangladeshi mystical poet and playboy, Hason Raja on Southampton Row is a forward-looking restaurant done out in soothing modern style with suede Italian furniture, elegant glass wall partitions, exotic floral arrangements and - of course - the odd picture of the man himself.

  Holborn, Central London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 788 metres

  Bocca di Lupo

  The curious name translates as 'mouth of the wolf' - it's apparently a term of endearment in Italian - but there's nothing ferocious about this sleek new Soho theatreland venue, which has the bonus of a marble-topped bar where you can sit and watch the chefs as they go about their work.

  Soho, West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 788 metres

  Brumus Bar & Restaurant, Haymarket Hotel

  Right next door to the Haymarket Theatre in the heart of the West End, this impressive, recently opened hotel is 'new London' personified.

  Trafalgar Square, South West London

• Distance from Royal Opera House: 794 metres

  Mint Leaf

  Seriously subdued lighting sets the tone in the groovy Mint Leaf basement bar and restaurant close to London's theatreland, and the entire space is a remarkable feat of contemporary design.

  Trafalgar Square, South West London