Covent Garden is one of the most family-friendly areas of London for visiting tribes. Packed with stores, eateries, tourist traps and attractions, there is something for everyone, of all ages. Badged as a foodie paradise, there are plenty of high-end eateries, experimental restaurants, and plenty of keenly-priced diners to tempt the crowds.
Depending on their age, there’s the joy of retro clothes shopping in the vast spaces of Rokit or Wow Retro, which can make a teenager’s day with a classic tee, bag or pair of imperfect-perfect jeans.
Younger family members might enjoy the street performers around Covent Garden itself and the Huntfun treasure hunt is a great way to get them to stop worrying about tired legs while exploring.
And we haven’t even got around to including all the traditional destinations like the main attraction of the Apple Market at the heart of Covent Garden, the dozen major theatres, with stops at the Royal Opera House, London Transport Museum and many other attractions.
At some point, food will come into the equation, and you’ll be left thumbing through the hundreds of restaurants in the immediate and adjoining areas of London. Here are our recommendations for some great family lunches or dinners at Covent Garden restaurants.
Great Places to Eat in Covent Garden
A great place to start your day is Bill’s Restaurant & Bar on Covent Garden, serving breakfast with the magic words “bottomless pancakes” at £9.95 (3-5PM annoyingly). Food is served up to dinner with optional cocktails to round off your evening or day out, with a range of sharers to kid-friendly burgers and shawarmas to suit all tastes.
On the dinner menu at Bill’s for grown-ups are delightful starters including crispy sticky duck, chicken and sesame dumplings, with tuna steak or duck curry (with a vegan option) as complimentary mains.
If you want to win some youth kudos, Jamie Oliver (even if he isn’t that young anymore) on Catherine Street has a kids’ menu with super tomato pasta, crispy fish fingers, baked potato wedges, and a buddy burger or sticky lemon chicken for them and plenty for adults on the A La Carte, set or Sunday menus.
The menus change with the seasons and there are some meals adults may recognise from Jamie’s books and TV shows. The menu is built around carefully-sourced ingredients, keeping in tune with modern consumer demands, with ingredients from British farmers, producers and makers.
Family Dining Outside the Usual
With a welcoming dinosaur painted on the exterior brickwork, we can see kids heading to Chill Since ‘93 under their own steam rather easily.
A pizza spot with flair and a relaxed feel to it, CS93 is perfect for families. The menu is simple and familiar to all ages but delicious with a range of rustic sandwiches and cookies also on hand to top up the family at lunch or wind down after a hard day’s tourism.
For something a little more global, Buns and Buns is in the heart of the Covent Garden market, and offers English breakfasts early, then Asian bao buns and plenty of noodle dishes in the evening to test those teen taste buds.
For a family with vegetarian or vegan needs, Mildreds offers a plant-based and flavourful menu. With a kid’s menu offering hummus dip dabs, nuggies, peas and fries, bangers and beans or scrambled tofu with rainbow rice, everything is highly colourful and the adult menus look to die for too!
If the family likes an Indian, then Cinnamon Bazaar is both competitively priced and packing in some special fusion dishes that all ages will appreciate. From lamb rogan josh shepherd’s pie to baked tilapia fillet or spiced confit of duck leg, it is a charming concept that goes out of its way to feel like your family has turned up in a native Indian restaurant.
Another popular Indian destination for families is Dishoom Covent Garden. It goes for a Mumbai-style café vibe, is open all day, and offers a welcoming and comfortable break from the bustle outside. With plenty of milder dishes and Western offerings for kids, from omelettes to porridge, paneers and the sweetest of Indian puddings, Dishoom will go down a treat.
For older children looking for some pizazz, Yori is a Korean restaurant with at-the-table grills to add a little heat and interactivity to a meal. From savoury pancakes to Korean deep-fried chicken, stews and stir fries, most young adults will find something to wow them on the menu.
Enjoy That Covent Garden Vibe
With the demanding locals and tourists always on the hunt for something new, Covent Garden is home to so many great and up-and-coming restaurants, with new pop-ups, street food and other options always appearing tucked away on a street corner or down an exciting alley.
If the adults want to escape the teenagers for a while and feel the original Covent Garden vibe, try Rules, London’s oldest restaurant on Maiden Lane, now into its third century of feeding the locals. There is no child menu, but children are welcome up to 7PM, with plenty of familiar English classic favourites to choose from.
Whether you need a quick snack to revitalise young, flagging, legs, to fill a grumbling tummy, or want to cap off your day with an amazing family meal, Covent Garden has it all. This makes it a great place to enjoy the bustle of the city passing by while you enjoy a familiar taste or an exciting new menu with a dash of culture.
With the theatres not far away and other attractions a short tube ride away, Covent Garden can be the fun and joyous dining heart of your family’s London experience! Whatever your favourite food, or if your family is on a quest for something new, there are plenty of options and discoveries to be had in and around the cheery streets of Covent Garden.
