The city of London has gone through numerous huge changes over the years to adapt to the interests and requirements of the people who live, work, and visit the capital. One of the most interesting aspects of this development is the way that the history and heritage of certain locations are preserved and implemented to create a visible thread through time for the buildings and businesses that remain and are created there. The evolution of Covent Garden is a wonderful example of this process in action with a thriving and eclectic 21st Century food, drink, and entertainment scene that pays tribute to the last 800 years.
Covent Garden originally belonged to the monks of Westminster Abbey and eventually became an epicentre of trade for West London. The markets grew to be one of the main sources of fresh produce for an ever-growing population in the capital with the first square commissioned by the 4th Earl of Bedford, Francis Russell in 1630. This marked the area’s first transformation into a desirable location for artists, thinkers, and playwrights. By the 18th Century, it was a cornucopia of entertainment venues, taverns, coffeehouses, and luxury dwellings. Following a decline in activity through the changes of Victorian times and the early 20th Century, The Covent Garden Market Authority was established in the 1970s to oversee the fantastic regeneration that continues to this day. With its status as a desirable destination restored and a connection to its heritage firmly cemented, the place is now buzzing with restaurant options that represent some of the finest food choices in the country. Here are a few of our particular favourites for 2024.
Jamie Oliver Catherine Street
Jamie Oliver’s story as one of the greatest culinary figures from this country in the last fifty years is full of successes and failures, reimagining, and new beginnings. It seems fitting then that his latest establishment is placed on Catherine Street in Covent Garden with echoes of a familiar story for the area itself. This is what Jamie Oliver does better than anybody else, great British food in a homely style with occasional twist and surprise thrown in to keep everything exciting. Head Chef Chris Shaill and his team, including celebrated pastry chef Emma Jackson, have created menus with seasonality and provenance as their philosophy for some truly exceptional dishes. As a celebration of English food and produce, the Sunday menu of Dry-Aged beef rump roast or porcini & morel stuffed chicken breast is difficult to match anywhere in London. With daily specials for desserts too, this is a place you will be returning to time and time again.
Da Henrietta
Da Henrietta is a relatively new restaurant located inside Covent Garden’s Henrietta Hotel. It is led by the remarkable Italian Supper Club that has been running as a pop-up kitchen in various locations for over a decade and has now found a permanent home. The venue promises an experimental dining journey across the Italian West Coast inspired by the pioneers from Lazio, Liguria, Toscana, Basilicata, Campania, and Calabria. The founders Silvio Pezzana and Toto Dell’Aringa are renowned for some divine signature dishes such as farinata, the Ligurian chickpea pancake, and ravioli with Delica pumpkin bergamot and hazelnuts. With a wine selection from boutique producers in the same areas, there are rarer and less well-known varieties of grapes to try like Pigato from Ligurian Cinque Terre and Aleatico from Tuscan Maremma. Da Henrietta is an opportunity to experience the marvels of the Mediterranean from one of the hottest spots in West London.
Fatt Pundit
The food of Fatt Pundit documents an incredible journey that led to a fantastic example of fusion cuisine. It began when the Hakka people of the Canton Province in China migrated to Kolkata in India, taking all of their own particular cooking techniques and methodology with them. Once there, they incorporated the unmistakable spices and produce of their adopted home to create something delicious, new, and somewhat familiar. Fatt Pundit offers dishes from this Indo-Chinese culture that are a welcome addition to the mix of influences that now make up the Covent Garden food scene. The dark wood and deep green aesthetic of the premises invoke a cosy and dimly lit, secluded hideaway that is perfect for a romantic evening. Most of the menu is designed to share too, with masala goat, sweet chicken, and spicy beef Momos acting as the perfect starter to set the tone of the meal. The heavenly smooth Malabar curry with tiger prawns or monkfish served with burnt ginger rice and buttery Bing bread deserves a special mention.
Stereo
Stereo is tucked away underneath Covent Garden Market with an energetic mix of food, drink, and live music waiting to be discovered by those who want to experience something a little different and much louder with their meal. The London-based design studio, Afroditi, is responsible for a bespoke layout that creates separate zones in Stereo to curate and guide you through your evening here. The glossy tables and low-profile sofas introduce a cocktail bar environment as the aperitif, before moving on to a New York style restaurant that is built around the expertise of resident head chef, Andrew Clarke. This is a menu of hearty American-inspired steaks, burgers, and shrimp cocktails that creates a moody atmosphere akin to a luxury version of rock and roll dive bar dining. The live music from the stage provides a great soundtrack for some wild drink options with pitchers of Negronis and Old Fashioneds working to get your feet closer and closer to the dancefloor as the night progresses. It’s easy to spend hours here for a unique and fun experience, and with options for late snacks served until 1 am, you may very well find yourself on course for another course later on too.
The renaissance of Covent Garden does not look like it is set to stop anytime soon. This is exactly the right time to go and see for yourself what the scene is really about. Be sure to tick off as many as you can from our guide for the ultimate experience across this classic London destination.
