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Opera Tavern, London,

Opera Tavern

4.6
4.6
325 Reviews
£26 to £40
Italian

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 12 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
  • Area
    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, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 325 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
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Energetic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Opera Tavern, nestled in London's theatre district, offers a delightful tapas experience with "fantastic food" and a "lovely atmosphere." Guests rave about the "attentive, friendly service," and the menu's versatility caters to diverse tastes, including gluten-free options. This cozy spot is perfect for pre-theatre dining with "delicious small plates" and a "great wine list."

325 Reviews

  1. S

    Surrey

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing place. Always a pleasure to visit here. Great food, and amazing cocktails and collection of wine. Service was amazing too! Leah who served us was very friendly and helpful.

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  2. Peter

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had the Valentine's Day special menu & it was superb. The 2 girls running the first floor were brilliant.

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  3. Karen

    West Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was great, Richie serving us was fantastic, responsive but not hovering. Prices seemed fair. We were sat by the door - not a great table because of this. Felt our conversation was disturbed every time someone came in. It would be good to have vegan options on the menu. The world will slowly be turning vegan because we’ll have to!

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    Surrey

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and food. Seated on a high bar table but actually they are just as good as a restaurant. Nice decor and a quality enviroment

    Is this helpful?

  5. Deborah

    London

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall this is a fantastic little spot off of the edge of the Covent Garden piazza. Did think the large charcuterie and cheese board was small to share for 4.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Lynn

    London

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food with wonderful friendly service. Large choice of wines and soft drinks. No cheap but worth it

    Is this helpful?

  7. Janeen

    Kent

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was tasty, very enjoyable. Service was pleasant but several times we did have to ask twice. I did book a high table as that was all that was available but the chairs are not comfortable at all so bear this in mind when booking. I would definitely return but it would be much more enjoyable in a booth or table

    Is this helpful?

  8. ELLEN

    Raleigh

    67 reviews

    5.0

    67 reviews

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great tapas and Leah our server was great! Very close to Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. We dined there after a Sunday matinee and glad we did! Very cool laid back vibe

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  9. Jamie

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant always maintains a very high standard of food and a great choice of wine. Combine that with a lovely ambiance and great service for me it’s one of the best around the Covent Garden area.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Katie

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A lovely atmosphere to catch up with friends. Good food and great wine.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Opera Tavern is rated 4.6 stars by 325 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 12 times today
Google Map for Opera Tavern

23 Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JS

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Covent Garden
  • Area
    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, 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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