Restaurants, Bars and Hotels Near the Novello Theatre

The Novello sits on the Aldwych crescent with Covent Garden a few minutes north and the Strand a few minutes south, so the restaurants, pubs and hotels near the theatre are close together and the walk back is short. Catherine Street, right beside the theatre, has several on its own.

Eat

Jamie Oliver Catherine St (2 minutes). Catherine Street, on the same street as the step-free entrance. Modern British cooking with a pre-theatre menu, and it will feed a group with a fussy eater and a vegetarian in it without an argument.

Café Murano (3 minutes). Tavistock Street. Angela Hartnett's Italian, with a pre-theatre menu, and the closest proper Italian to the door.

The Delaunay (2 to 3 minutes). Aldwych. A Viennese café-restaurant and about as dependable a pre-theatre booking as London has. Say what time you need to leave and they will manage it.

Flat Iron (7 minutes). Henrietta Street. The house steak, done well, and they take walk-ins. The cheapest proper meal on this list.

Drink

Nell of Old Drury (2 minutes). Catherine Street. A tiny old theatre pub a couple of minutes from the door, and the traditional place for a pint before the show.

Christopher's Martini Bar (2 minutes). Wellington Street. The ground-floor bar makes a serious Martini with no gimmicks, the grown-up choice for one drink before you go in.

The Lyceum Tavern (3 minutes). The Strand. The straightforward pint, with booths at the back if you get there in time.

The Coal Hole (5 minutes). The Strand. The Savoy's own Victorian pub, set into the side of the hotel in 1904. No booking needed, and it fills up as curtain time gets close, so go early.

Stay

One Aldwych (1 minute). Aldwych, facing the theatre across the road. Five stars and a basement pool, and after the show your walk back is a single crossing.

The Waldorf Hilton (2 minutes). Aldwych. Edwardian, and built as part of the same scheme as the theatre, which is why the two look like they belong together. The closest full-service hotel after a late finish.

NoMad London (4 minutes). Bow Street, in the old Bow Street magistrates' court. The luxury choice when the hotel is part of the occasion.

Z Hotel Covent Garden (7 minutes). Bedford Street. Compact rooms at a sensible central price, fine when the bed is just somewhere to go after the show.