Covent Garden sits at the cultural crossroads of London — between the theatre district of the West End, the legal quarter of the Strand, and the labyrinthine alleys of Seven Dials. For centuries it was a working market; for the past fifty years it has been one of the city's most visited entertainment destinations. And at the centre of that entertainment, as ever, is drinking. Whether you want a quiet glass of natural wine, a theatrical cocktail served with dry ice, a pint of cask ale in a room that Charles Dickens once frequented, or a late-night basement bar pulsing with live jazz, Covent Garden has it. This guide covers every significant bar, pub, and wine room in the area — what makes each one special, where to find it, and when to go.
Historic Pubs: Where Covent Garden's Drinking Culture Began
The Lamb and Flag
Rose Street, WC2E 9EB. Hidden down a narrow alley off Garrick Street, the Lamb and Flag is one of the oldest pubs in Covent Garden — records show a tavern on this site as far back as 1638. It was a favourite of John Dryden, who was attacked outside in 1679 (an event still commemorated locally), and later of Charles Dickens. The pub is small, low-ceilinged, and genuinely atmospheric, with wooden benches, flagstone floors, and a selection of well-kept real ales. Expect crowds on Friday and Saturday evenings; weekday afternoons are far more civilised. There is no music, no slot machines, no nonsense — just good beer and good conversation in a room that has barely changed in a hundred years.
The Harp
47 Chandos Place, WC2N 4HS. CAMRA's National Pub of the Year in 2010 and consistently one of the highest-rated pubs in London on every measure that matters. The Harp stocks an exceptional range of rotating cask ales — typically seven to ten on at any one time — alongside ciders and perries, and the small back room provides a quieter retreat from the bar. The staff are knowledgeable and the atmosphere is welcoming to solo drinkers and large groups alike. Arrive before 6pm on weekdays if you want a seat.
The Crown and Anchor
22 Neal Street, WC2H 9PS. A solid Victorian pub on Neal Street in the heart of Seven Dials, the Crown and Anchor combines a strong selection of cask ales and craft beers with good pub food and a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere.
The facade is handsome and the interior retains original period features — etched glass, painted timber, a long bar with pumps stretching the full width. This is the kind of pub that does everything correctly: good beer, fair prices, knowledgeable staff, proper opening hours.
The Marquess of Anglesey
39 Bow Street, WC2E 7AU. Right on Bow Street opposite the former Magistrates Court, the Marquess has a prime position overlooking the piazza approach and a long history as a theatregoers' pub. The interior has been refurbished but retains period character; the bar stocks a good range of draught beers and the cocktail list is solid. Good for pre- or post-theatre drinks; busy on weekend evenings.
Cocktail Bars: Covent Garden's World-Class Mixology Scene
American Bar at The Savoy
The Savoy, Strand, WC2R 0EU. Opened in 1893 and rebuilt in its current art deco form in the 1920s, the American Bar at The Savoy is one of the most famous cocktail bars in the world. It has served Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, and generations of Londoners marking special occasions. The bartenders here are among the most technically accomplished in the city, and the classic cocktail menu is built around the bar's own archive of historical recipes. Prices are high — expect to pay £20–£30 per cocktail — but the experience is impeccable. Book a table; walk-ins are accepted but tables fill quickly on evenings and weekends.
Cato at Seven Dials
Seven Dials, WC2H 9HG. A two-level cocktail bar in Seven Dials combining a bright, plant-filled julep house upstairs with a velvet-lined basement bar below. The cocktail menu is seasonal and creative — built around spirits from smaller producers — and the food menu of small plates complements the drinks rather than competing with them. The atmosphere shifts through the evening from relaxed and conversational early on to more energetic later, and the basement frequently hosts DJ sets and private events. One of the more thoughtfully conceived bars in the area.
Side Hustle at Nomad Hotel
28 Bow Street, WC2E 7AW. Inside the Nomad Hotel, which occupies the former Magistrates Court across from the Royal Opera House, Side Hustle is a tequila and mezcal-focused bar that is considerably more fun than its corporate-hotel setting might suggest. The cocktail menu is built around agave spirits with real expertise — the staff can guide you through the differences between blanco, reposado, and añejo tequilas, and between the various regional mezcal styles — and the tacos and small plates are genuinely good. The high ceilings and original Victorian architecture of the former court building create an unusual and impressive backdrop.
Blame Gloria
28a Henrietta Street, WC2E 8NA. Built inside a converted Victorian public toilet beneath a Covent Garden courtyard, Blame Gloria is precisely the kind of hidden gem that makes London's drinking scene exceptional. Descend the spiral staircase to find a warmly lit, beautifully designed cocktail bar that takes its inspiration from the Almodovar films — all bold colours, strong flavours, and festive atmosphere. The cocktail list is imaginative and well-executed, the music is good, and the staff are entertaining. Book in advance; walk-in capacity is very limited.
Eve Bar
14 Old Compton Street / Covent Garden. One of London's more theatrical drinking experiences, Eve has a deliberately mysterious and witchy aesthetic — dark entrance, candlelit interior, experimental cocktails served with ritual flourish. The drinks list includes things you will not find elsewhere: foraged ingredients, unusual spirits, textures and temperatures that are genuinely surprising. Not cheap, but worth it for a special occasion or when you want to drink somewhere genuinely different.
Oriole
E. Covent Garden Piazza area, WC2. A subterranean cocktail bar and live music venue, Oriole has a tropical-meets-vintage aesthetic and a cocktail menu organised around the theme of exploration — each drink drawing from a different region or historical period of global spirit production. The live jazz and cabaret sets make it one of the best evening-out venues in the area; arrive for 8pm to get a table before the shows begin.
Wine Bars: Natural, Classic, and Everything Between
Le Beaujolais
25 Litchfield Street, WC2H 9NJ. A French wine bar that has been operating on this site since 1972, Le Beaujolais is a survivor in the best sense — entirely unpretentious, resolutely French, and completely unconcerned with trends. The wine list is built around French regions with an emphasis on the Rhône and Burgundy, the food is simple bistro fare done properly (charcuterie, cheese, croque monsieur), and the room feels transplanted wholesale from a Paris side street. Go on a Tuesday afternoon and you might have it almost to yourself.
The 10 Cases
16 Endell Street, WC2H 9BD. Named after the founders' habit of buying wines in quantities of ten cases — enough to assess a producer properly — The 10 Cases operates as a wine bar and restaurant with a short, carefully chosen list that rotates frequently as bottles run out. The emphasis is on natural and biodynamic producers from France, Italy, and Spain, and the food menu of small plates is designed to complement the wines rather than overshadow them. One of the better places in Covent Garden for a long lunch or an early-evening bottle.
Lady of the Grapes
16 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7NJ. A wine bar dedicated to wines made by female producers, winemakers, and vineyard owners — an increasingly significant segment of the natural wine world and one that Lady of the Grapes champions with genuine expertise. The list is well chosen and the staff are enthusiastic educators. Small plates and charcuterie. An excellent option for anyone looking for something beyond the standard wine bar formula.
Courtyard Wine Cellars
Covent Garden. A quieter alternative to the busier bars of the piazza, Courtyard Wine Cellars is a small and unpretentious wine room with shelves lined with carefully chosen bottles — many of them available to drink in at a small corkage charge rather than a full restaurant markup. Good for a bottle and a conversation without the noise and pressure of a full bar environment.
Hidden and Unusual Bars
CellarDoor
Zero Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ. Built inside a Grade II listed Victorian underground public toilet, CellarDoor is a cabaret bar that has been operating in this remarkable space since 2007. The bar itself is compact and intimate; the shows — which run most evenings and include drag, burlesque, and live music — are the main draw. Arrive early for dinner before the performance, or book for the late show if you prefer to drink first. One of the most singular drinking experiences in London.
Freud Bar
198 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JL. A long-running underground bar beneath Shaftesbury Avenue, Freud has been operating since the late 1980s and maintains an agreeably scruffy, artistic atmosphere despite the decades. The cocktail list is reliable rather than groundbreaking, but the vaulted brick cellar setting is genuinely atmospheric and the crowd is interesting. Late-night DJs at weekends; quieter during the week.
STEREO
Covent Garden. A subterranean live music and DJ venue in the Covent Garden area with a strong programme of independent music events. The bar serves a straightforward selection of spirits, beers, and wines. More of an event venue than a destination bar, but worth checking the programme if live music is what you are after.
Sustainable and Thoughtful Drinking
Muse at RSA House
8 John Adam Street, WC2N 6EZ. Inside the beautiful eighteenth-century premises of the Royal Society of Arts, Muse is a cocktail bar with a genuine commitment to sustainability — British spirits, minimal-waste cocktails, locally sourced garnishes. The Adam-designed room is one of the most impressive bar settings in London, and the drinks are creative without being gimmicky. Open to non-members; check opening hours as they vary with RSA events programming.
Grand Hotel Bars
The Delaunay Bar
55 Aldwych, WC2B 4BB. Part of the Delaunay restaurant group, the bar at The Delaunay channels the atmosphere of a grand Viennese café — high ceilings, crisp white linen, impeccably dressed staff, and a cocktail list built around 1930s-era recipes updated with modern technique. The martinis are particularly good. Slightly formal in atmosphere, which is precisely the point; this is where you go when you want to feel like you are in a properly grown-up room.
Late-Night Options
Phoenix Arts Club
1 Phoenix Street, WC2H 8BU. A members' club on Charing Cross Road that operates with a very liberal guest policy — essentially, if you know it exists, you can probably get in. The basement bar stays open until 3am on weekends, the crowd is mixed (theatre workers, musicians, regulars, tourists who have been told about it), and the atmosphere is genuinely bohemian in a way that very few London venues manage. Worth membership if you are in the area regularly.
Practical Guide to Covent Garden Bars
The Covent Garden area is well served by tube: Covent Garden station (Piccadilly line), Charing Cross (Bakerloo/Northern), and Temple (District/Circle) are all within ten minutes' walk of most venues listed here. The piazza and Long Acre area can be very crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings from around 7pm; if you prefer a quieter experience, visit earlier in the week or before 6pm at weekends.
Most bars in Covent Garden do not require reservations for walk-in drinking, though the smaller cocktail bars (particularly Blame Gloria, CellarDoor, and Side Hustle) can fill quickly after 8pm on weekends. The American Bar at The Savoy should always be booked in advance for evening visits.
Prices across the area vary considerably: historic pubs typically charge £5–£7 for a pint of real ale; cocktail bars £14–£22 per drink; hotel bars and The Savoy £20–£35. Wine bars generally offer bottles from £35 upwards with a wide range above that.