The best places to eat near Palace Theatre in London
If you’re planning a trip to the Palace Theatre in London’s West End, you’ll need to think about more than simply the show you’re going to see. You’ll need to find somewhere to eat near the Palace Theatre as well, and in London’s West End there are so many restaurant options that this might seem overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide to the best restaurants and places to eat near the Palace Theatre in London, giving you lots of different dining options for you and your party. After all, if you can have a lovely meal as well as going to see something special at the theatre, that’s a brilliant night out.
So don’t get lost looking for somewhere great to eat before your trip to the Palace Theatre, follow our restaurant guide and you can’t go wrong.
Y Ming (Chinese)
The first thing you’ll notice about this Chinese restaurant is its standout frontage, with an exterior painted entirely in bright turquoise. Inside, there’s a contrasting red, sage green and blue theme, making it quite unlike any Chinese restaurant decor you’ve probably ever seen.
The menu includes plenty of traditional seafood, chicken, pork, beef and lamb dishes, as well as seaweed and scallop appetizers, rice and noodles. The sheer number of dishes means you’re bound to find something perfect for you. And don’t worry, there’s a whole vegetarian and meat-free dishes section with tofu and vegetables as mains.
Il Cucciolo (Italian)
Serving traditional Italian food in warm and unpretentious surroundings, Il Cucciolo is a family-run restaurant that’s been in Soho for more than 10 years. It’s also incredibly reasonably priced, which is just one of the reasons customers rate it so highly.
Choose from meat and vegetarian dishes, including pasta, pizza, risotto, salads and soups, and a selection of meat and fish dishes including veal. They’re also more than happy to advise on which drink will go best with whatever you’ve ordered.
Viet Soho (Vietnamese)
A restaurant with a heck of a backstory, Viet was opened by political refugees, Nghia and Anh, in 2007. Having fled Vietnam in 1980, they ended up in Soho running a successful restaurant, and that’s just one of the reasons you should consider a visit.
The menu is made up of beautifully presented food, perfectly cooked. You can choose from quick bites, pho-based meals, buns, rice dishes, and udon. And that’s it. The simplicity, and making a small selection of dishes incredibly well, is what makes this a high quality place to eat. Not to mention all the time you’ll save by browsing a menu that’s nice and concise.
The Ivy (fine dining)
Almost everyone has heard of The Ivy, the famously glamorous mainstay of London’s West End which has been open since 1917. It’s a great place to go if you want to splash out and take advantage of the private dining it offers. All the while you’ll be surrounded by oak panelling, modern stained glass windows, and maybe even a celebrity or two.
A comprehensive menu includes classics like caviar, dressed crab, shepherd’s pie and steak tartare. But there’s also a seafood specific section, as well as a range of Asian dishes, roasts and grills. With a history so illustrious to live up to, you can bet that the chefs at The Ivy are among the best, and they know their stuff, so this is a safe choice if you’re looking for a truly memorable meal that’s worth every penny.
L’Escargot (French)
A French restaurant in the heart of London’s Soho, L’Escargot is another establishment with a great deal of heritage. It’s been open for almost 100 years, serving bourgeois French cuisine. And yes, the name is of course French for snails, but the menu is a lot more extensive than that. If you’re looking for somewhere to try lobster bisque or coq au vin, this is the perfect place for you. But if you are looking for some of those famous French snails, L’Escargot happens to serve them as a particular speciality.
A staple among celebrities visiting the West End, you might also spot a famous face while you’re here. Diners have included Coco Chanel, Mick Jagger, Elton John and Dame Judy Dench to name but a few.
La Bodega Negra (Mexican)
This cosy and laidback eatery has both a cafe and a restaurant, so you can visit for a quick bite or a long leisurely meal. The cafe is diner-style, with bright decor and a menu inspired by the street food of Mexico – but with a modern twist.
The restaurant serves meat dishes, seafood and vegetable mains, as well as a selection of tacos. If you arrive on the right night, you might even find you’ve got some live music to munch your tacos to.
