Opera Tavern

4.6

272 Reviews

£26 to £40

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 16, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 34 times today

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

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
Neighborhood
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

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.

273 Reviews

G
Georgina
Newcastle
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our waitress was outstanding, Fantastic service, the food was lovely except our prawns were a bit fishy. Would still recommend. We visit every time we go to London!!
Is this helpful?
M
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?
J
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?
L
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?
K
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?
E
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?
H
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?
S
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?
J
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?
C
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.
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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.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 16, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 34 times today

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

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.

Opera Tavern

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 272 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Opera Tavern restaurant rated?

Is Opera Tavern currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information