When you’re on your way to a hopefully wonderful theatre experience, you often want to treat yourself to a nice meal but you don’t have much time to spare so you need to eat near the theatre. Over the years I’ve gained a few regular and less regular places that provide reliable quality pre-theatre food.
London:
Near Oxford Street (e.g. London Palladium, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre):
- 28-50 degrees – great wines by the glass, seafood
- Berners Tavern – posh English food, great cocktails
Near Piccadilly Circus (e.g. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Piccadilly Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, Apollo Theatre):
- Balcon – Italian, truffles, posh
- Brasserie Zédel – buzzy, classic French food
Near Leicester Square / Soho (e.g. Piccadilly Theatre, Wyndham’s Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Queen’s Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre, Noel Coward Theatre):
- Le Relais de Venise – one menu, salad + (steak + frites) x 2 = awesome
- Gauthier Soho – modern, cool Soho townhouse
- J Sheekey – fresh seafood at the Atlantic bar
Near Covent Garden (e.g. Cambridge Theatre, Savoy Theatre, Piccadilly Theatre, Adelphi Theatre, Palace Theatre, Novello Theatre, Shaftesbury Theatre, Dominion Theatre, Royal Opera House, Phoenix Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, London Coliseum, Arts Theatre, New London Theatre, Duke of York’s Theatre):
- Balthazar – French, efficient and friendly
- Lima – Peruvian, unusual
- Ivy Market Grill – meaty, good wines by the glass
- Polpo – Italian, tapas selections
- Clos Maggiore – romantic, Italian/French
- Tredwell’s – English, smart/casual
- Barrafina – Spanish tapas at the bar
Near Charing Cross (e.g. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Savoy Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Adelphi Theatre, Garrick Theatre, Noel Coward Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, Trafalgar Studios):
- Balcon – Italian, truffles, posh
Near Waterloo (e.g. the Old Vic, Young Vic, Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre):
Near The O2:
- Gaucho – steak, sides, coolness
Near St Paul’s (e.g. Bridewell Theatre):
- Bread Street Kitchen – meat, cocktails, bread
- Humble Grape – wine flights, food platters
Near London Bridge (e.g. Menier Chocolate Factory):
- Rabot 1745 – chocolate, seafood and St Lucian influences
Oxford
Central (e.g. Holywell Music Room):
- Quod – varied menu, buzzy
Newcastle
Central (e.g. Newcastle University Students’ Union):
- Miller and Carter – steak and set menus
New York
Near Broadway (e.g. Al Hirschfeld Theatre):
- Marseille – very New York, lively, varied menu
Milan
Near La Scala opera house:
- Il ristoranti Trussardi alla Scala – ultimate Italian posh truffles
Las Vegas
Wynn (for Wynn Theatre) and Treasure Island (for Treasure Island):
