I put this together a while ago if it's of interest - it's on the blog on my signature (sorry it's so long!):
ADELPHI THEATRE
The Nell Gwynne 1-2 Bull Inn Ct, London WC2R 0NP
Small traditional pub with dark wood & hanging lamps. Tucked away in the small alley beside the main Theatre entrance. Near enough to escape for an interval drink.
La Perla 28 Maiden Ln, London WC2E
Great for pre-show cocktails & Mexican food. Mermaid mural & the best tacos in town. Just a few steps from the Adelphi Stage door.
ALDWYCH THEATRE
The Opera Tavern 23 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JS
Lovely bar and restaurant over two floors, with tapas & charcoal grill. Notable for its Ibérico pork and foie gras burger. From Aldwych Stage Door, head along Tavistock St and right onto Catherine Street.
The Delaunay 55 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BB
Old-fashioned high-end dining with smartly turned out staff. Crisp white linen and they even serve Schnitzel (possibly with noodles if they’ve seen The Sound of Music).
AMBASSADORS THEATRE
The Two Brewers 40 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9EP
Classic 19th Century Pub a short zig-zag from the Theatre. Traditional cask ales and simple pub grub.
Dining Logo
Le Beaujolais 25 Litchfield St, London WC2H 9NJ
Whilst the downstairs restaurant is members only, the authentically French wine bar is open to all, offering a wonderful assiette de fromage and boeuf bourgignon. Check website for opening times.
APOLLO THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVE
The Lyric 37 Great Windmill St, London W1D 7LU
A hop, step and jump from the theatre but worth it for the warm welcome and excellent food & craft beers on offer.
The Palomar 34 Rupert St, London W1D 6DN
Eclectic flavours of modern Jerusalem. Mosaic & wood surrounds table seating plus the chance to dine at the bar if you’re lucky enough to find a spot. Booking is highly recommended!
APOLLO VICTORIA
The area around Victoria Station has been undergoing complete renovation for several years. As a result it’s probably better just to meet either inside the station or directly at the Theatre. If you’re arriving early, then The Cask & Glass at 39/41 Palace Street, Victoria SW1 5HN is worth the 5-10 minute detour. Pre-show, the restaurants in nearby Cardinal Place are decent enough but if you’re looking to eat out after the show, head back into Soho.
CAMBRIDGE THEATRE
The Crown Monmouth St, London WC2H 9DD
19th Century pub with tiled exterior. Easily close enough to nip across the cobbled roundabout of Seven Dials for an interval drink. Drinkers spill out on to the pavements in summer.
The Hawksmoor 11 Langley St, London WC2H 9JG
Wonderful steakhouse with set & a la carte menus located in the old Watney-Combe brewery. Features a Monday Wine Club where you can bring your own bottle for £5 corkage.
CRITERION THEATRE
The Queen’s Head 15 Denman St, London W1D 7HN
Although a pub since 1736, the current Victorian building combines with just a touch of Art Deco away from the crowds. The Queen’s Head offers excellent British pub food just steps from the madness of Piccadilly Circus.
San Carlo Cicchetti 215 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HL
Seasonal menu of delicious small plates of authentic Italian ingredients to share or eat alone amongst the pretty light grey Italian marble surrounds. Rather expensive but rather gorgeous.
DOMINION THEATRE
The Flying Horse 6 Oxford Street, London W1D 1AN
The last remaining traditional pub on Oxford Street, the only one in striking distance of the Dominion Theatre and always busy. Designs by Felix de Jong, the leading decorative artist in music hall.
Hakkasan 8 Hanway Pl, London W1T 1HD
Cantonese delicacies, enhanced by ebony and gold traditionally-drawn panels. One of only two Michelin starred restaurants on our list – priced accordingly but worth every penny.
DONMAR WAREHOUSE
The Crown & Anchor 22 Neal St, London WC2H 9PS
British cask ales and classic pub grub with large upstairs bar in the heart of Covent Garden’s cobbled streets. Very busy at weekends as you’d expect.
Belgo Centraal 50 Earlham St, London WC2H 9LJ
Cavernous basement restaurant with vaulted ceilings and waiters dressed as monks serving Moules, Frites and Belgian beers. Right opposite the theatre, if you dined any nearer you’d be on the stage.
DUCHESS THEATRE
The Opera Tavern 23 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JS
See Aldwych Theatre for details
Joe Allen 13 Exeter St, London WC2E 7DT
A Theatreland staple with backstreet entrance. Downstairs you’ll find a classic American menu, walls strewn with Theatre memorabilia, resident pianists and at least one or two famous faces.
DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE
The Harp 47 Chandos Pl, London WC2N 4HS
Full of charm, beer, cider and sausages. Space is tight but there’s seating upstairs. In summer, drinkers spill out into the alley behind.
Barrafina 10 Adelaide Street, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HZ Top notch tapas where you can see your food being prepared before your eyes. You may have to wait to be seated, but worth it for the grilled sardines, stuffed courgette flower and suckling pig.
FORTUNE THEATRE
The Coach & Horses 020 7240 0553 (No website)
42 Wellington St, London WC2E 7BD
Compact Victorian pub serving excellent Guinness and whisky in a narrow-fronted local almost hidden behind flowering baskets.
Sarastro 126 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5SU
Deliciously flamboyant with Opera boxes and Turkish/Mediterranean menu. Live music and décor that’s often in danger of upstaging the show itself.
GARRICK THEATRE
The Bear & Staff 10-12 Bear St, London WC2H 7AS
Ignore the Garrick Arms being next door, and head up Charing Cross Road to the Bear & Staff. Good pre-theatre menu and pleasing to see a decent choice for vegetarians too!
Cork & Bottle Wine Bar 44-46 Cranbourn St, London WC2H 7AN Don Hewitson and Will Clayton have built up a staggering selection of fine wines from around the world. Choose an honest Shepherd’s Pie or stylish Charcuterie. Enchanting little Bistro.
GIELGUD THEATRE
The White Horse 020 7437 5745 (No website)
45 Rupert St, Soho, London W1D 7PB
The type of “spit & sawdust” pub that is fast disappearing as Soho increasingly becomes homogenised and rents go into the stratosphere.
Randall & Aubin 14- 16 Brewer St, London W1F 0SG
Seafood, oysters & modern British cuisine. Great atmosphere, service and if you can stretch your budget, a mighty fine Lobster!
HAROLD PINTER THEATRE
The Tom Cribb 36 Panton St, London SW1Y 4EA
Tom Cribb, one of the greatest boxers of all time, was once publican here. A plaque outside marks his career. Inside, a warm welcome awaits with real ales and fish finger sandwiches for lunch.
Kanada-Ya 3 Panton St, London SW1Y 4DL
The best Ramen in London. Very small inside and at times you may have to queue. Busaba Eathai along the road is also excellent if the line is too big.
HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE
Vista 2 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2TS
Blow the budget with cocktails at the nearby Trafalgar Hotel. One of the world’s best rooftop bars with panoramic views from Nelson’s Column to the Royal Opera House.
Chop Shop 66 Haymarket, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4RF A carnivore’s paradise. Not the lightest on the wallet, but made up for with excellent service and so close to the Theatre that you can almost smell the greasepaint…
LONDON COLISEUM
The Lemon Tree 4 Bedfordbury, London WC2N 4BP
Pretty little pub right beside the Coliseum stage door. Stand outside and you’ll often hear the sound of ENO’s singers wafting down from their dressing rooms.
Thai Pot 1 Bedfordbury, London WC2N 4BP
Established in 1992, again, this is right beside the stage door. The kitchen also supplies food for the Lemon Tree next door. Authentic Thai menu and great value. Highly recommended.
LONDON PALLADIUM
The White Horse 16 Newburgh St, Soho, London W1F 7RY
Look for the art deco exterior and prancing horse. Yards from London’s iconic Carnaby St, chat over pint of real ale and a Gloucester Old Spot sausage.
Dishoom 22 Kingly St, London W1B 5QB
Set curiously around a 1960s retro/colonial style living room, you’ll be hard pushed to find better Indian cuisine anywhere in London.
LYCEUM THEATRE
The Wellington 351 Strand, London WC2R 0HS
Edwardian pub with marble exterior and long wooden bar. Terrace outside. Food has mixed reviews, but you can’t beat the location.
Joe Allen 13 Exeter St, London WC2E 7DT
See Duchess Theatre for details
LYRIC THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE
The Lyric 37 Great Windmill St, London W1D 7LU
See Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for details
Bocca di Lupo 12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB
Choose from dozens of Italian classics like lamb sweetbreads and sea bream carpaccio, freshly prepared in an open kitchen. There’s a one-dish pre-theatre menu – otherwise go Dutch and share a selection of the delicious small plates.
NEW LONDON THEATRE
Lowlander Grand Café 36 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5RR
Super selection of Belgian Beers in a stylish and vibrant grand café. Go European with a Continental Sausage Platter or Vegetable Hutsepot. Busy at weekends, as you’d expect, but always fun.
Jar Kitchen 176 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5QF
Small, friendly restaurant with a local, seasonal and low waste philosophy. If that all sounds a bit serious, don’t worry: the food is fun & delicious. Limited opening hours – check online.
NOEL COWARD THEATRE
The Salisbury 90 St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4AP
Victorian pub oozing character, once known as “the actor’s pub” and built on a former prize-fighting site. Etched glass and carved mahogany remain although fish & chips now replace the fisticuffs!
Koha Restaurant & Bar 11 St. Martins Ct, London WC2 4AJ
Better known as Café Koha, this family run Theatreland favourite sits in a little alleyway between two stage doors. Also home to the Show Off piano bar.
NOVELLO THEATRE
Cellar Door Zero Aldwych, London WC2E 7DN
Once a public toilet, this tiny subterranean cocktail bar now plays host to cabaret artistes and burlesque shows. Mirrored walls and dark interiors where once Wilde, Gielgud and Joe Orton loitered.
Joe Allen 13 Exeter St, London WC2E 7DT
See Duchess Theatre for details
THE OLD VIC
The Penny 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Beneath the Old Vic you’ll find a café and coffee shop which turns into a late night beer & wine bar and stays open until 1am (2am at weekends) attracting a funky crowd & occasional thespian.
Meson Don Felipe 53 The Cut, London SE1 8LF
Classic Tapas bar/restaurant. Very laid back with live guitar music most nights and just a few minutes along The Cut from the theatre.
PALACE THEATRE
The Spice of Life 6 Moor St, London W1D 5NA
Victorian, wood panelled pub right beside the theatre, with a good selection of ale and live music in the basement. You might even bump in to the cast of the new Harry Potter play.
Le Beaujolais 25 Litchfield St, London WC2H 9NJ
See Ambassadors Theatre for details
PEACOCK THEATRE
The Ship Tavern 12 Gate St, London WC2A 3HP
Mahogany-panelled 16th century pub 5 minutes walk past Lincoln’s Inn Fields onto Gate St. Quaff a fine cask ale and snaffle a scotch egg while soaking up five hundred years of history.
Coopers Restaurant 49 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PF
A well-kept secret, Coopers is the haunt of barristers from the nearby Inns of Court. Don’t let that put you off – relaxed, unobtrusive service and great food. Weekdays only.
PHOENIX THEATRE
Phoenix Artist Club 1 Phoenix St, London WC2H 8BU
Private Members club but open to the public before 8pm. Frequented by artistic types and many a West End turn. Socialising doesn’t get more theatrical than this.
Flat Iron 9 Denmark St, London WC2H 8LS
Top notch steaks & unruffled service in an industrial/brick setting which still manages to keep a sense of style and flair. Great value.
PICCADILLY THEATRE
The Queen’s Head 15 Denman St, London W1D 7HN
See Criterion Theatre for details
Brasserie Zédel 20 Sherwood St, London W1F 7ED
Grand French art deco restaurant offering à la carte and prix fixes menus from 11.30am until midnight. Home to Crazy Coqs, one of London’s foremost cabaret & jazz venues.
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE
Gordon’s Wine Bar 47 Villiers St, London WC2N 6NE
Wonderfully atmospheric venue, full of candle-lit nooks and crannies. A simple bread and cheese plate for two goes perfectly with any of the fine wines on offer. Delightful terrace.
The Northall 10a Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5AE
Lavish hotel restaurant with a surprisingly affordable Theatre Menu. High ceilings, excellent service and marvellous food make the perfect start – or end – to any theatre trip.
PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE
The Spice of Life 6 Moor St, London W1D 5NA
See Palace Theatre for details
Gauthier Soho 21 Romilly St, London W1D 5AF
Michelin star dining in this fine Georgian townhouse. A home away from home – that’s assuming you’re lucky enough to live with a Michelin-starred chef. Closed Sunday/Monday.
PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE
The Tom Cribb 36 Panton St, London SW1Y 4EA
See Harold Pinter Theatre for details
Busaba Eathai 35 Panton St, London SW1Y 4EA
Consistently great Thai treats from this reasonably priced chain. Location, location, location – you’ll be hard pressed to find better food so close to Leicester Square.
QUEEN’S THEATRE
The Theatre Café 66 Shaftesbury Ave, London, England W1D 6LX You won’t find alcohol here – just scrumptious cakes, coffee and fellow theatre lovers draped over sofas or sat along the benches in the windows. Great for watching theatricals go by.
Tao Tao Ju 15 Lisle Street, Chinatown, London WC2H 7BE
Cross Shaftesbury Avenue to experience the amazing sights and smells of Chinatown. Pass Gerrard St and turn left into Lisle St to find Tao Tao Ju – excellent Cantonese food in an upmarket setting.
SAVOY THEATRE
The Coal Hole 91-92 Strand, London WC2R 0DW
Formerly the coal cellar from the Savoy Hotel, this enormous Victorian pub once hosted performances by Gilbert & Sullivan.
Simpson’s in the Strand 100 Strand, London WC2R 0EW
Beautiful Grand Divan where waiters bring antique silver-domed trolleys to your table to carve 28 day aged beef. Patrons have included Dickens, Bernard Shaw and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
SHAFTESBURY THEATRE
The Old Crown 33 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1BH
The Craft Beer Co. and The Crown at number 51 but we’ve chosen The Old Crown on the corner of New Oxford & Museum Street for the delicious burgers, comfy Chesterfields and haunted staircase.
Da Mario 63 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9AJ
Little family-run restaurant in London, serving great truffle pasta and the best Tiramisu outside of Mama Italia! Cosy, and proper old-school…highly recommended by the Shaftesbury box office.
ST MARTIN’S THEATRE
The Two Brewers 40 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9EP
See Ambassadors Theatre for details
The Ivy 1-5 West St, London WC2H 9NQ
Harlequin windows and the chance to dine with the Hollywood A-Listers. The Ivy’s name comes from the suggestion that “we all cling together like ivy” during the war. Booking essential. Dress code.
ST JAMES THEATRE
The Cask & Glass 39/41 Palace Street, Victoria SW1 5HN
Tiny little pub adorned with flower boxes and hanging baskets. One for the railway enthusiast with its photos of nearby Victoria Station, beloved also of locals and the odd escaped civil servant or MP.
Phoenix in Victoria 14 Palace St, London, Victoria SW1E 5JA
Busy gastro-pub serving Burgers, Steaks and Venison Stew. Despite mixed reviews online, the Phoenix is right beside the theatre and sometimes there’s a lot to be said for sheer proximity!
THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE
Nell of Old Drury 29 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JS
Rumour has it there’s a secret passage leading from the Theatre into the cellar here. That might well be true judging by the number of cast & crew that pop up. You can even order interval drinks!
The Crusting Pipe 27 Clare Market, Covent Garden WC2E 8RD
We’ve chosen the Crusting Pipe for its location downstairs in Covent Garden’s historic Piazza. You’ll often hear string quartets playing and the occasional Opera Diva singing for their supper.
THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET
The Admiralty 66 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DS
Set over three floors, the perfect place to watch the tourists clambering over Trafalgar Square’s sleeping Lions. As you’d expect, busy at most times of day.
Brumus Bar & Restaurant 1 Suffolk Place, London SW1Y 4HX
Stylish restaurant in the lovely Haymarket Hotel, with well-rehearsed staff who appreciate the importance of timing for pre-theatre dining. Elegant with great value fixed menu.
TRAFALGAR STUDIOS
Walkers of Whitehall 15 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DD
Re-opening in June 2016 following a complete refurb. Lovely pub in a quiet courtyard that most people hurrying along Whitehall miss.
Café in the Crypt Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Cross Trafalgar Square to the brick vaulted Café in the Crypt in nearby St Martin In The Fields. Basic self-service refectory, but so atmospheric – and a fraction of the price of nearby restaurants.
VAUDEVILLE THEATRE
The Nell Gwynne 1-2 Bull Inn Ct, London WC2R 0NP
See Adelphi Theatre for details
Rules 34-35 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7LB
The oldest restaurant in London, this is the place where Charles Dickens came to write and Elaine Stritch learned of the death of Noel Coward. Excellent service and classic British menu.
VICTORIA PALACE
Currently undergoing refurbishment
WYNDHAM’S THEATRE
Koha Restaurant & Bar 11 St. Martins Ct, London WC2 4AJ
See Noël Coward Theatre for details
J Sheekey Restaurant 28-32 St Martin’s Ct, London WC2N 4AL Fine fish, oysters and fruits de mer. A favourite haunt of actors & producers. Come for the set lunch menu and oyster bar – just don’t forget there’s a show to go to afterwards!
