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Opera Tavern, London,

Opera Tavern

4.6
4.6
272 Reviews
£26 to £40
Italian
A photo of Opera Tavern restaurant

Opera Tavern

4.6
£26 to £40
Italian
Covent Garden

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 36 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
Opera Tavern is a beautiful two-storey bar and restaurant in the heart of central London’s theatre land. Located on Catherine Street we are opposite the Drury Lane Theatre, seconds from the Opera House, a stone’s throw from The Strand and a lovely walk across Waterloo Bridge from the South Bank.

A beautiful former pub, the exposed brickwork, bold artwork and flattering low lighting help our two-story restaurant create the perfect atmosphere for a pre-theatre meal or drink. The ground floor houses a long bar with the open grill at one end, and a few tables placed beside the theatre box windows, where guests can watch the world go by.

We specialise in Italian and Spanish influenced tapas and have a charcoal grill on the ground floor where we cook up all manner of stunning small plates.

For groups reservations and Private Hire enquiries, contact us directly at bookings@saltyard.co.uk

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Spanish
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon, Tue 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Wed–Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    020 7836 3680
  • Website
    https://www.saltyardgroup.co.uk/opera-tavern/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Łukasz Kiełbasiński
  • Private party facilities
    The upper floor of Opera Tavern is artistically designed, combining raw brickwork with an exquisite interior. Enhanced by impactful art pieces and soft, mood-enhancing lighting, it's an ideal setting for high-end events or professional meetings. The space caters to 45 seated attendees or 50 standing.
  • Location
    23 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JS
  • Neighbourhood
    Covent Garden
  • Cross Street
    Covent Garden
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Covent Garden Station - 4 min walk<br />Leicester Square Station - 9 min walk<br />Temple Station - 9 min walk<br />Charing Cross Station - 13 min walk
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 272 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • West End (London)

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Opera Tavern offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing small plates" and a "lovely atmosphere." Located in the theatre district, it's perfect for pre-show meals. Guests rave about the "excellent service" and the standout "pork and tuna dishes." Despite being "a bit pricey," the quality and taste make it worthwhile.

272 Reviews

  1. Michael

    London

    9 reviews

    2.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Booked a table for 18.45 only to be told an hour in that the kitchen shuts at 8 and the bar. Should have been informed when booking. I used to come here a lot maybe 5 years ago. I think it has declined in terms of food quality and ambience.

    Is this helpful?

  2. John

    Cambridge

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service was excellent, apart from Brussel sprouts on one of the dishes 😂 I can't downgrade my review because of that though, as it's just a personal choice. I'm sure they would be nice to someone who likes them. I would definitely recommend and return myself.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lauren

    London

    50 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    50 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Great location and atmosphere but was super busy and poor staff were running around so service was slow. Due to this ended up leaving due to time restrictions.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Karen

    London

    65 reviews

    4.0

    65 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great choice of food & nice ambience. Convenient for theatres

    Is this helpful?

  5. Eric

    London

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent for pre-theatre. lovely food and staff.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Hugh

    London

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very enjoyable. Tapas dishes were just what we wanted. Each very tasty and we ended up ordering more. Nice service and good recommendations

    Is this helpful?

  7. Sam

    Brighton

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lives up to all the reviews. Attentive, funny, sweet staff. Delicious food. Damn fine cocktails and not too expensive. Will 100% return.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Joanna

    London

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 5, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was amazing. Ambiance is lovely. I will be going back

    Is this helpful?

  9. Chris

    London

    28 reviews

    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on December 3, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wish I'd known about this place before. Excellent tapas in a calm, relaxed and friendly environment in which you can hear yourself speak. Ironically, the best thing we ordered was eggplant parmigiana, which was rich and unctuous.

    Is this helpful?

  10. John

    Kent

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent meal great service and ambiance. What more do you want!!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Opera Tavern is rated 4.6 stars by 272 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

A photo of Opera Tavern restaurant

Opera Tavern

4.6
£26 to £40
Italian
Covent Garden

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 36 times today
Google Map for Opera Tavern

23 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JS

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Covent Garden
  • Neighbourhood
    Covent Garden
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon, Tue 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Wed–Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Spanish
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Covent Garden Station - 4 min walkLeicester Square Station - 9 min walkTemple Station - 9 min walkCharing Cross Station - 13 min walk
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Łukasz Kiełbasiński
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.saltyardgroup.co.uk/opera-tavern/
  • Phone number
    020 7836 3680
  • Private party facilities
    The upper floor of Opera Tavern is artistically designed, combining raw brickwork with an exquisite interior. Enhanced by impactful art pieces and soft, mood-enhancing lighting, it's an ideal setting for high-end events or professional meetings. The space caters to 45 seated attendees or 50 standing.
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