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Opera Tavern, London,

Opera Tavern

4.6
4.6
351 Reviews
£26 to £40
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 34 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood 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

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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
  • 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.
  • Neighborhood
    Covent Garden
  • Cross street
    Covent Garden
  • 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
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

What 351 people are saying

Opera Tavern reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseEnergetic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Opera Tavern in Covent Garden is a delightful spot for tapas, praised for its "delicious food" and "friendly, attentive service." Ideal for pre-theatre dining, the dishes are stylishly presented and full of flavor. While some find it a bit pricey, the quality and vibrant atmosphere make it worth the visit.
351 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Eat at Opera Tavern often - food and wine are delicious

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  2. lovesfood VIP

    London25 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a super lunch and some delicious food, simply sublime and will be back again.

    Is this helpful?

  3. MNDP VIP

    London15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The perfect spot for pre theatre dinner. Service was friendly, efficient & the the food was stylishly presented & tasted delicious!

    Is this helpful?

  4. jane

    Hampshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Staff all very friendly, and helpful. Food portion size not to big. Food very tasty.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Phil

    London1 review

    4.0

    Dined on March 17, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Very cute little place. Attentive service and mostly tasty food. Pork belly wasn't as tender as expected but still tasted great. Patatas bravas was excellent as were the croquettes. Hake was a lovely dish too. Prawns were a bit disappointing. Nice beers and wine options too so overall a very pleasant meal and evening.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Gaik

    London2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Friendly staff and great food. Quite small but you can eat at the bar.
    Opera TavernResponded on March 16, 2025
    Thank you again for taking the time to let us know how we did. We hope you have a great day!

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner

    Derbyshire1 review

    2.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great staff, great service, but food let it down. It was VERY busy and a Saturday night, but some food was cold, some overcooked and some just not appetising. I’ve been a dozen times over the years and this was a rare failure, sorry OT!!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Victoria

    Oxford7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a really enjoyable experience at Opera. Service was friendly although there we just two members of staff dealing with the whole of the upstairs area which left them a little stretched. The food was good, although some dishes were a little on the cold side by the time it reached us. Not really a problem though as we enjoyed everything we had. The Padron margarita was outstanding. The churros tasted like they were pre-frozen and were a little claggy. All in all, it was a fun and convenient stop-off for our post-matinee dinner. All good, just not outstanding.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Nick

    London5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 14, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Always good. Can be noisy (lively) downstairs pre theatre time excellent food.
    Opera TavernResponded on March 16, 2025
    Thank you again for taking the time to let us know how we did. We hope you have a great day!

    Is this helpful?

  10. OpenTable Diner

    London1 review

    4.0

    Dined on March 14, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great location for pre theatre at Fortune Theatre. Friendly staff and food was great. A tad pricey for the small tapas portions you get but a lovely evening with great energy and a lovely atmosphere

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Opera Tavern is rated 4.6 stars by 351 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 34 times today
Google Map for Opera Tavern

23 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JS

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Covent Garden
  • Neighborhood
    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
  • Phone number
  • 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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