The Best Bars and Pubs in London’s Covent Garden

T43Y5M Mr Foggs Tavern a Wood-panelled, old-style tavern themed around explorer Phileus Fogg St Martins Lane, London,UK
T43Y5M Mr Fogg's Tavern a Wood-panelled, old-style tavern themed around explorer Phileus Fogg St Martins Lane, London,UK | © Steve Tulley / Alamy Stock Photo
Jessica Buck

Situated in the heart of the city, Covent Garden is a lively shopping and theatre district and is home to some of the city’s best pubs and bars, perfect for a pre-show drink or a Saturday night out on the town. Whether you’re looking for a pint in a classic pub or a trendy cocktail bar for drinks after a West End show, don’t miss out on these venues.

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Travel back to the Victorian era at Mr Fogg’s Tavern

Mr Fogg’s Tavern offers traditional pub grub and creative drinks

Mr Fogg’s Tavern gets its name from the fictional traveller Phileas Fogg, the protagonist of the 1873 Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days. Its interior is wonderfully eccentric, with all manner of artefacts transporting punters back to the Victorian era. The food is fairly typical – sandwiches and salads during the week, brunch on Saturdays and Sunday roasts with all the trimmings – but the cocktails are more inventive. Try the Punch of the Bison, a mix of Żubrówka Bison Grass vodka, Belvedere grapefruit vodka, orange juice, fresh lemon juice, earl grey tea and honeydew melon syrup.

Marvel at the selection of ciders and perries at The Harp

It may look small from the outside, but The Harp manages to pack in a lot of beer and cider behind its stained-glass windows. It has 10 hand-pumps, plus guest brews, ciders and perries from around the country. This really is a drinker’s pub; while they do serve bar snacks, the booze comes first.

Discover Lamb and Flag, Charles Dickens’ favourite pub

The Lamb & Flag is a Grade II-listed pub on Rose Street, an area of Covent Garden once known for its violent past. The pub itself, which has been serving drinks since 1772, once hosted bare-knuckle prize fights in its upstairs and was a favourite haunt of Charles Dickens. Today, it’s packed with charm and has plenty of ales, beers and an extensive whisky selection. The kitchen serves traditional British pub fare, with a Sunday roast menu.

Head to the Garrick Arms for a traditional British pub experience

Convenient for theatre-goers, Garrick Arms is a traditional pub right outside the Garrick Theatre. Offering a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails, its central location means it does fill up quickly, but high ceilings and large windows keep this traditional boozer from feeling stuffy.

Check out The Porterhouse, one of the largest pubs in London

Split over three floors and 12 different levels, The Porterhouse in Covent Garden is one of London’s biggest pubs – but still manages to feel surprisingly intimate. Run by Irish brewers, the cosy establishment offers up a range of beers and cocktails and brews its own stouts, ales and lagers.

Looking for somewhere to stay in Covent Garden? Book one of the best hotels in the area – close to the landmark Royal Opera House.

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