Opera Tavern

4.6

281 Reviews

£26 to £40

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 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 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 281 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.

281 Reviews

M
Melissa
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food, amazing service and overall just a lovely place to have a cosy, dim lit dinner!
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R
Richard
VIP
London
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service great food. Just round the corner from the Opera house so truly was a night at the opera
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R
Rachelle
New York City
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We were looking for a good meal at a reasonable price before seeing a show in Covent Garden and Opera Tavern delivered! While small they sat us quickly and we ordered off the menu with help from the server. I will note that while this restaurant is listed as Italian Id describe it as more of a tapas bar. We started with grilled peppers and flatbread and a small charcuterie. Then moved on to the oox cheeks and pork belly. Everything was very good and flavorful. We enjoyed a bottle of wine as well. We enjoyed our meal and were very happy with everything and the value, often difficult to find in an area filled with tourists.
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I
Iain
Cambridge
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I’ve eaten at this restaurant twice in the last two weeks, absolutely love it. Great food, lovely people, great service!!
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E
Elena
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely cosy place in Covent Garden with excellent food.
Is this helpful?
N
Nathan
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All the food was fantastic and the service was outstanding!
Is this helpful?
G
Georgina
Newcastle
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2024
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!!
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M
Michael
London
9 reviews
2.0
9 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2024
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.
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J
Janet
Surrey
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Generally the food was delicious and authentic except for one dish pork belly which was overcooked. We had told the restaurant and they offered to replace the dish but we were too full so we didnt ask for anything else. To oursurprise when we asked for the bill they didn’t charge us for that which was a nice gesture from them!! I would recommend this restaurant and would come again.
Is this helpful?
J
John
Cambridge
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
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?

FAQs

Opera Tavern is rated 4.6 stars by 281 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 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 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 281 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